Pleased with their success and the delaying tactics, the heavies hurtled down the track. Heavy#1 was on the phone to their employer,

"We have the plans. We will meet you as arranged in about half an hour. Have the money as agreed."

The engine began to make a rattling sound and then died.

"What's happened," shouted Heavy#1, "get it started again."

The driver got out to lift the hood to see what was wrong. At that moment, Ziva, McGee and several members of Sherriff Kennedy's police force emerged from the bushes with guns drawn.

"NCIS! You know what to do," said McGee, "so please do it as quickly and quietly as possible."

"You are under arrest for ... for so many things," said Ziva with an evil smile.

NCIS

Ziva and McGee ran up the slope.

"Boss, it worked! " cried out McGee. "Abby's tampering with the gas made the truck grind to a halt just like she said it would."

"And we intercepted the call that the kidnappers made to their employer. Agent Balboa and his team are on their way to arrest him," said Ziva, "I have the feeling that our new friends will soon be singing like budgerigars ."

"I don't think that's right ...,"began Tim, "Boss, what's wrong. Where's Tony?"

Gibbs looked back at him with a wild look in his eyes.

"The bastards pushed the truck off the side. Tony was still in it."

Ziva and McGee rushed to the edge of the quarry and looked over. Gibbs's truck was lying upside-down, bent and twisted at the bottom. As they watched, it burst into flames. For a moment or two they looked in horror, frozen to the spot, a sense of overwhelming loss washing over them.

"Agent Gibbs, over here!" came a voice. They turned and saw Drew peering over the edge of the cliff. He was pointing down the slope, "I think he's down there, caught on a ledge about half way down."

Gibbs, Ziva and Tim hurried over to where he was standing and looked down. In the gathering gloom they could just make out Tony's crumpled body. McGee opened his mouth to shout out but Gibbs stopped him,

"Can't risk startling him, Tim. That's a pretty narrow ledge he's on. He could easily roll off. Call Ducky to come up here and get the Sherriff to get some ropes and equipment so we can get him out."

"Yes, Boss. Where are you going?"

"I'm going down to see what's going on."

"I think it would be better if I went, Gibbs," said Ziva, "I am smaller and lighter, there will be more room for me."

"Not today, Ziver," said Gibbs, "this is my job."

So Gibbs carefully picked his way down the crumbly surface, trying not to cause stones to fall on to his fallen agent. After some minutes, he reached Tony's side and managed to kneel down next to him. He was lying face down right on the edge so he carefully rolled him back to relative safety hoping that he wasn't doing any more damage. He brushed some dirt off Tony's face and patted one cheek gently,

"Tony ... Tony ... are you with me?"

"B ...b...boss, what are you doing here?"

"Looking after you, Bozo. Where does it hurt?"

"Everywhere," moaned Tony, "I don't want a head slap for a while."

"OK, I'll give you a break for a day or two. We'll just wait for help to arrive." He saw that Tony was shivering so he removed his coat and tucked it round him.

"Thanks, Boss." There was silence for a few moments, then, "Boss ..."

"Yes, Tony,"

"I think your truck might be a bit banged up."

NCIS

It took another hour to get Tony and Gibbs back to the top of the quarry and by that time, Tony had either fallen asleep or passed out. Drew had gone to the hospital where Jake and Lia were being checked out. Ducky gave Tony a quick check up when he reached the surface,

"I don't think there's any major damage, Jethro. Bumps, scrapes and lots and lots of bruises. He might have a mild concussion but he was lucky, I think he got out just as the truck went over so he managed to roll most of the way rather than falling a great distance. We may need to restrain Abigail from too many hugs for a while! I'll go with Ziva and Timothy and meet you at the hospital."

Gibbs climbed into the back of the ambulance, one glare at the paramedics being enough to stop any possible protests. He kept careful watch all the way there and talked to Tony whenever he surfaced enough to make any sense.

Ducky was proved right. Tony had numerous cuts and scrapes and a chipped ankle bone but, for someone who had fallen out of a truck as it flew off a quarry edge, he was remarkably unscathed. The doctor decided to keep him in overnight but said he could probably all go home the next day.

Gibbs had sent Ziva, McGee and Ducky back to the Drummonds for the night with a reminder to let Turk out of the broom closet. He settled down to stay with Tony. A knock sounded at the door and Drew came in,

"Do you mind if I have a word with Tony, Agent Gibbs? I think the nurses have just made a fresh brew of coffee if you want a refill."

Gibbs jumped up. "A good officer, who understands a marine and his coffee. Thank you, Commander!" He gestured towards his empty seat. "I think he's just dropping off to sleep so don't stay too long."

Drew nodded and sat down,

"Tony, are you awake?"

Sleepy eyes opened, "I am now."

"Tony, I wanted you to know why I said those things at the quarry ..."

"It's all right. Gibbs explained that there was a last minute hold up with Sheriff Kennedy's team being in place and he told you to play for time."

"Yeah, but I wish I could have thought of another way. You know I didn't mean it."

"Of course I knew ... that Lia and I had already decided we weren't right for each other before you came along, that you were never basket ball captain ... although I do work for an agency nobody has heard of!

"And you are our best friend ... you know that too?"

"I guess. What happened with Fluke though?"

"Fluke? Oh, you mean Luke? What do you mean? Lia told me about his 'visit' – you certainly livened up the place!"

"Didn't you know about all his problems ... with the girlfriend and the baby?"

"No, but I didn't work with him that closely. I left it to the sergeant and the lieutenant to deal with it all. I assumed that they knew what was going on ... all that touchy feely stuff isn't really me."

Tony chuckled, "it's one of Gibbs' rules, never assume. I must be more out of it than I thought if I can't remember which one it is."

Drew laughed. At that moment, Gibbs came in and saw his face transformed – a twinkle softened the hard brown eyes and the smile lit up his face.

"I'll leave you to get your rest. You'll come back to the farm tomorrow." As he turned to go, Tony gripped him by the wrist,

"One more thing. Why are you sending Jake to boarding school? You hated it."

"He was angry that we were moving again so we thought that boarding school might be an answer, you know, stability, he could stay there if the Navy post me somewhere else. You know that could happen, there's no guarantee that the Annapolis posting will last three years. And besides, he'd been watching the Harry Potter films and began to think that boarding school might be cool after all."

"I know it's none of my business, and hell, I'm not really qualified to say anything, but Jake thinks you don't care about him."

"Hey, it is your business, we made you Jake's godfather for a reason. We'll work on it, I promise but, like I said, I'm not good at the touchy feely stuff."

"I know what it feels like to think your Dad doesn't care ... don't make Jake go through that." Drew nodded, he knew there weren't many people Tony would have shared that pain with.

Lia and Jake poked their heads round the door,

"Can we come in. The doctor says we can go home," said Lia.

Tony waved for them to come in.

"Are you OK," he asked, "no side effects?"

"We're fine, in fact I woke up feeling really well rested. You're the one who fell off a cliff!"

"I bet it was really great," said Jake, "I wish I hadn't been asleep when it happened."

Lia hugged Jake closer and closed her eyes in horror at the idea.

"Tony, I ... we ... don't want to say," stammered Lia tearfully."

"Then don't say it," said Tony, "think of it as me fulfilling godparently duties."

"We'll just say 'thank you' then and tell you that you're coming home with us tomorrow and you'll stay with us until you're better," said Drew firmly.

"OK," said Tony, "but, guys, do me a favour, less of the strong, silent stuff, it is OK to talk."

Drew laughed again, it seemed to come quite easily to him now that all was well. "We'd better go, you need some sleep and I want to find out what Turk's been up to."

Lia kissed Tony and the usually undemonstrative Jake surprised him with a hug

And they were gone, leaving Gibbs to keep his vigil over Tony.

NCIS

Next morning McGee brought Gibbs a fresh cup of coffee and a bacon sandwich from the hospital cafeteria. Tony was still sleeping.

"Thanks, McGee, Any news on the kidnappers?"

"Yes, Boss. Agent Balboa's team arrested the kidnappers' employer and the kidnappers are singing like budgerigars ... according to Ziva anyway."

Gibbs grunted with satisfaction and took a sip of his coffee.

"And there was a message for Tony ... from Gregor." Tim put a piece of paper on Tony's locker.

Ducky walked in,

"Ah, good morning everyone, And is how the patient today?"

"Hungry ..." came a sleepy voice, "is there a bacon sandwich for me too, McChef?"

"I'll go and check with the nurses to see what you're allowed to have," intervened Ducky smoothly.

"No loopy juice," called out Tony as Tim and Ducky left. "Boss, I'm not real clear on what happened with the weapon plans. Fill me in, will you?"

"To cut a long story short. Petty Officer Luke misfiled something and caused a flap. Admiral Jennings decided to try and take advantage of the situation."

"All this because of something trivial like putting a piece of paper in the wrong place?" asked Tony.

"Seems so. Just proves that paper work is dangerous. I don't think it will turn out well for Admiral Jennings, I have a feeling the merits of early retirement are being pointed out to him," said Gibbs.

Gibbs remembered the message McGee had brought in and handed it to Tony. Tony read it and smiled,

"Dean Watkins ... turns out he's decided to ask for help after all. Must have been what you said to him, Boss. Thanks."

"Nothing to do with me, Tony, I didn't get round to talking to him. All down to you. Abby will probably be arriving soon, why don't you rest a bit longer, you'll need your strength."

"On it, Boss."

As they sat there quietly Gibbs McGee's voice came drifting through from the corridor outside.

"Ducky, can I ask you something?"

"Of course, Timothy, what's on your mind?"

"There's something I don't understand. Tony seemed to be real upset about Donnie Watkins ..."

"I believe the young man's name is Dean Watkins," supplied Ducky.

"Over Dean Watkins ... and then he went to all that trouble over Petty Officer Fluke ...

"Luke," corrected Ducky.

"Luke ... and then he smoothed it over about Mark MacIntosh. Why did he do that? You'd think after all these years of being in law enforcement that he'd be used to things like that."

There was a short silence,

"Timothy, do you love your country?

"Of course."

"Is that why you became a federal agent? To serve your country?"

"Er ... yes, I suppose it is."

"Why do you think Tony became a federal agent?"

"I don't know. I'm pretty sure he loves this country."

"I think he does too, but I think he became a police officer more because, in a way, he loves people."

"Is there a difference, Ducky?"

"I think so. If you love your country or love the idea of justice, you see the big picture. Tony loves his country, loves justice but he sees how people get caught up in the machinery and he joined the police to protect people, to look after the vulnerable, the weak – and sometimes that means people on the wrong side of the law as well. Tony's not good at abstract theories – he always sees the detail. The things other people see as trivial I fear it's a curse as well as a blessing. Ah, here come the nurse."

A few moments later, Ducky put his head round the door,

"Breakfast is on its way, Anthony. Cereal and toast, I fear, rather than bacon sandwich but no 'loopy juice'."

Tim's head joined Ducky's at the door.

"We're going to head back to the Navy Yard later on, Boss. Are you coming or are you going to the Drummonds?"

"I'll go back with you. I haven't got my truck anymore so you might be driving me for a while."

McGee groaned and withdrew his head.

Gibbs turned back to look at Tony whose eyes were now open; he couldn't tell if he had overheard the conversation between Ducky and Tim. It didn't really matter, he hoped that Tony knew that he understood why certain things sometimes caused him to struggle with the job. He decided not to take Tony's advice to Drew and Jake which meant that he would stick with the 'strong silent stuff'. He simply nodded at Tony instead. Tony nodded back. Enough said.

NCIS

A few days later, McGee, Ziva and Abby were discussing the case as they arrived in the squad room.

"I am still surprised that Commander Drummond and Tony are such good friends," said Ziva, " they seem to be very different characters. The Commander is very correct and organised and, let us be frank, Tony is not."

"But he has a lovely smile," said Abby, "he looks quite different when he smiles. Almost mischievous. When he smiles I can really see why he and Tony are friends."

"I know what you mean," said Tim, "but I'm still with Ziva. The Commander is quite, well ... proper, I suppose. "

As they reached their desks they were surprised to see Drew talking to Gibbs.

"Good morning everyone," he said in his usual serious way, "I'm glad I've seen you. I was just telling Agent Gibbs that you are all invited to a cook out at the Drummond farm on Saturday. Tony's recovering well and is determined to do the cooking. He expects to be back at work next week and Agent Gibbs says you can take him back with you."

Everyone looked pleased at the thought not only of cook out, but of Tony returning to work. They wouldn't tell him, of course, but they had missed him. Drew left.

"Back to work," said Gibbs. Ziva, Tim and Gibbs all sat down at their desks ... which, with their chairs, promptly collapsed beneath them. From their positions on the floor they heard Drew's laughter coming from the elevator.

AN: thank you to everyone who came along for the ride ... those who favorited and those who reviewed.