Chapter Text
"Agent DiNozzo, there's a call for you on line 2," said Sarah the NCIS receptionist.
"Thanks Sarah," Tony said into the phone and reaching forwards he pushed number 2 allowing him to take the call,
"Hello, Special Agent DiNozzo speaking."
"Hey Tony, its Mike Timms," the voice paused waiting for DiNozzo's response.
"Oh hey, long time. How are you and the family?" Tony said excited but curious as to why his old partner from Baltimore PD would be calling him. Listening closely, Timms told him his family were great and that his wife was expecting their third child. Congratulating his friend Tony asked why his friend was calling him.
From across the bullpen Gibbs was trying to hear what was being said by Tony to the mystery caller. Not that Jethro was possessive or anything, but Tony seemed excited by the voice on the other end of the line. Glancing at the younger man, Jethro decided that he seemed happy enough and went back to reading through the report on his desk.
"Tony...," Mike paused not sure how to say what he needed to, "look I don't know if you've heard or not, so I thought I had better ring you. I saw it in today's paper, Tony, your Mum died yesterday."
The words hit Tony like a slap on the face, "Oh God ...No." he gasped.
"I didn't know if anyone had rung from your family, but knowing your father I didn't think they would have. Tony, are you ok? Do you need me to come up there?" Mike waited.
"No Mike, you don't need to come here. Thanks for the offer, can you try and find out when the funeral is and let me know, please."
"Sure anything. Just let me know if you need anything, Ok?"
"Thanks again, I'll speak to you soon," the two men exchanged goodbyes and Tony hung up his phone.
"DiNozzo...Tony," Gibbs paused looking down at his agent, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing Boss," Tony lied. He couldn't tell Gibbs. Couldn't tell him that his beloved mother was dead, that he'd never get to put right everything that had gone wrong, never get to tell her how much he loved her. He would never get the chance since his father had kicked him out of their lives when he had decided to become a cop, a gay one at that and he hadn't seen either of them since.
Gibbs knew Tony was lying to him, he could see it in his senior agents eyes, Tony had never been able to lie to him and until then Gibbs didn't think he ever had. But no matter what his feelings for Tony he knew he couldn't push him into opening up to him. Deciding to retreat for now Gibbs said,
"You know if there's anything you need to talk about I'm here, ok?"
Tony looked up into his boss's eyes;
"Thanks Gibbs." was his simple reply. He knew he would need some time off to attend the funeral but he could go to the director to request that, he didn't think that Gibbs would want to be troubled by his personal life.
Sitting quietly at her desk, Kate had watched the scene as it had unfolded, the profiler in her knew Tony was lying to their boss and his body language was screaming out to her that something had gone seriously wrong in her partners life and it all had to do with the phone call. Looking at Tony she watched him as he watched their boss go back to his desk. She could see the hurt in his eyes, but there was something else too. Need and longing were the only two words she could think of as she observed her partner. Suddenly Tony looked straight at her as though he'd realised he was being watched, he smiled at her and then looked back at his computer screen. Not more than five minutes later Tony couldn't sit there any longer, he needed to get away from their prying eyes. Standing he made his way to the elevator and hit the button that would take him to his best friend.
The noise of her music hit him as he stepped from the elevator into her domain. Standing still he observed her for a moment as she bobbed up and down in time to the music. The tears that had threatened whilst he was in the bullpen were now running down his face. As though sensing someone in the room with her Abby quickly spun around to shout at them for sneaking up on her until she saw her friend. Quickly she crossed the room and gathered him into her arms as he started to collapse to the floor,
"Honey, what's wrong?" she said softly as she cradled him in her arms.
"Oh God Abs...she's dead," he managed between sobs.
"Who is sweetheart?"
"My..Mum," he said quietly, the tears beginning again.
"Oh Tony," she pulled him closer, gently rubbing his back trying to soothe her friend. They stayed there for what seemed like hours until his tears stopped. Easing gently back she lifted his chin until he was looking at her,
"Come on I'll take you home, and we can order a pizza and talk."
Smiling wanly at her he muttered, "Thanks Abs."
About twenty minutes later they were in Tony's living room sitting on the couch with the pizza on the coffee table in front of them.
"I know I don't know everything that went on with your family, but I know that you'll need a friend to go with you to the funeral," Abby paused, reaching over she touched his arm, "I'd like to be that friend if you'll let me?"
"Would you, I really don't want to go back but it'll be my last chance to say goodbye."
Abby could see the hurt in his beautiful hazel eyes but she could also see the fear,
"Sweetheart, I wouldn't expect you to go back there alone, but Tony we need to talk about what happen all those years ago. I need to know what it is I'm walking into."
"Yeah," he sighed, "I guess it's only fair but it's painful, you know. I've tried to put everything behind me but my father has a way of invading my life every now and again," Tony said curling further into the comfort of her arms, safe and loved. He had a feeling he need to be to tell her the whole truth about his father and his childhood.
"Just take your time, you know you can trust me with whatever it is, don't you? You've helped me through some of the worst shit in my life, now it's my turn to help you," Abby said softly, gently she placed a kiss into his hair.
After a couple of minutes Abby felt Tony snuggle closer.
"I was about eight years old the first time he beat me, I mean really beat me. He came in early from work and I was playing on the living room floor with my toy cars. He walked straight through the middle of them, standing on a couple. The next thing I know he had his belt off and was lacing into me. The more I begged the harder he hit me. My mother heard the noise and came running in, she grabbed his arm to stop him so I took my chance and ran to my room. Later after everything had calmed down my mother appeared in my room, she had a split lip and black eye. I guess that was her punishment for trying to stop him," Tony paused as he sobbed, he tried to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall, taking a deep breath he continued, "after that the beatings became regular, I would try to stay out of the way but, no matter what I did it was always wrong. I think he liked the idea of a son and heir but didn't like the idea of having to raise a child. Something changed the night of my thirteenth birthday; I have no idea what but that was the first night he came into my room. He was drunk, I remember waking as I heard the door opening thinking I was going to get another beating. I didn't dare look so I pretended to be asleep. Before I realised what happened, he had the covers off me and I was pinned face down on my bed. I began to scream, so he hit me. He whispered in my ear that if I didn't keep quiet he would kill my mom. Then he pulled down my pyjama bottoms and forced my legs apart." Tony stopped. He glanced up at Abby; tears were streaming down both their faces by now.
"Oh God Abby..it hurt so much, that was the first time he raped me. After he finished he climbed off me and dragged me up to face him. He said if anyone ever found out he'd kill her. I hurt so much; I crawled to my bathroom and tried my best to clean myself up. I was bleeding and everytime I moved pains shot through my body. The following morning I could hardly move, I hid in my closet so they thought I'd gone to school. I stayed in there all day until it was the time I would normally come home. After a while I blocked out his visits and became more and more withdrawn. Eventually he got bored with fucking me and move onto his young secretary. That was when I was shipped off to boarding school."
"Tony," Abby said softly as her breathing hitched, she was trying her best to control the tears but hearing Tony's heartbreaking story she couldn't help herself, "he can't touch you anymore, you're a grown man and now you can fight back!"
"Abs, I can't. How would I face people if this ever got out! What the hell would Gibbs think of me?!"
"It wasn't your fault, you were only a child. You did what you though was right at the time to protect your mother," she could see Tony digesting her words but she knew his fear of his father was still strong, even after all these years.
"I don't know it's going to be hard enough facing the bastard, he brings up so many bad memories, and I don't think I'm going to be able to do this!"
Abby pulled him tight against her,
"I'll be right there with you, all the way, anything you need, ok?"
"Thanks Abs," he replied quietly, reaching up he gently kissed her cheek. Tony snuggled back down against her chest listening to the sound of her heartbeat. Finally he gave in to his exhausted body and drifted to sleep.
Feeling Tony become more relaxed against her, Abby realised he had fallen asleep. Easing her way from beneath him she laid him down and covered him with the afghan from the back of the couch. Knowing he wouldn't have thought about arrangements she phoned Director Morrow to request time off for Tony and herself, explaining it was for them to attend the funeral. The Director readily agreed and also sent Tony his condolences. That done Abby went online and booked them into a hotel for their stay. They would drive there and stay for a few days. The ringing of Tony's cell interrupted her thoughts, answering it quickly before it woke her friend,
"Hello?"
"Em.. Hi is Tony there?" the voice questioned.
"Yes he is but he's sleeping right now, can I help you?" Abby inquired, keeping her voice low trying not to disturb Tony.
"Possibly, but who is it I'm talking to?"
"I'm one of Tony's friends from work, Abby. And you are?"
"Mike....Mike Timms, his former partner from Baltimore," Mike proceeded to tell Abby that the funeral would be noon the day after tomorrow at the local crematorium. Abby thanked Mike and told him that she would pass on the information to Tony when he woke up. No sooner had she hung up then the cell started to ring again, the caller ID a very familiar one,
"Hey Gibbs," she answered.
"What... Abby what are you doing with DiNozzo's cell?" asked brusquely.
"Boss man, he needed someone to talk to so he came to me. He's finally asleep and I'd rather not wake him. You know if you lost some the attitude with him once in a while he might have come to you!" Abby giving Gibbs his tone right back. She knew under the surface Gibbs liked Tony but he continued to ride the younger man hard, and right now Tony didn't need this.
Realising he'd pissed Abby off he lessened his tone and asked,
"What's wrong? He wouldn't say earlier when I asked him and then he took off. I'm just worried about him, Abs. He looked so lost!"
"His mum died yesterday. The call he got was from his former partner. He thought he'd better ring because he knew Tony's family wouldn't."
"Why wouldn't they, he's their only son!" Gibbs' curiosity piqued. He knew that Tony came from a rich family and that his senior agent had been disinherited for choosing to become a cop, but still this was his mother why would they exclude him from something so important. There had to be more that Tony hadn't told him and that wasn't in the background check he'd done when he'd hired DiNozzo. "Abs, is he OK?"
"Not really," she replied, a little taken aback by the care and concern now evident in her boss' voice," he's taking it really hard, but I'll go with him and make sure he's safe!"
"Why wouldn't he be safe?" Gibbs quickly said picking up on Abby statement. Thinking to himself he knew he would have to get to the bottom of this, he couldn't let Tony do anything dangerous and something that might result in him being hurt. He knew he cared more than a boss really should but he couldn't help it, Tony seemed to bring out that side of him.
"I ....I...," she paused, "look Boss Man; it's not my place to tell Tony's life to you or anyone, it's his. He needs help to get through this and he asked me, I just hope I can help and be strong enough for him."
"OK Abs, let me know if I can help in anyway and tell Tony that I ..." he stopped himself quickly realising that he'd almost said 'love him'. "Just tell him if he needs anything! OK Abs?" With that Jethro hung up. His thoughts were running though his head so fast. What sort of trouble could happen to Tony by attending his mothers' funeral? Why would Abby need to protect him? He had to find out and he didn't have much time to do it in.