Chapter Five: When It All Falls Apart
Things were definitely not fine, McGee decided as he looked across the squad room at his lover. The older man appeared to be focused intently on his background checks, but McGee had a sneaking suspicion that they merely served as something to look at other than him.
He sighed heavily as he turned back to his own stack of files. He'd been wanting to pull Tony aside and talk to him about what had happened a few days earlier, but their current case had them pinned down working leads for the past 48 hours.
"Hey Tony, did you get a chance to start the background for the Sergeant's wife yet?" He asked, hoping to receive some acknowledgement from his partner.
Clenching his teeth at the sound of McGee's voice, Tony snapped the file in his hand shut before pushing himself to his feet. "Boss, here's the background on the Sergeant's wife."
Dropping his own folder to the desk with an irritated sigh, Gibbs stood. "DiNozzo, with me."
Sitting back in her own chair, Ziva couldn't help but watch curiously as the two agents made their way to the elevator, Tony following after Gibbs like a scolded child.
Privately, she couldn't help but feel relieved at Gibbs' intervention. Something was clearly not right between Tony and McGee, though for awhile, it had seemed that Gibbs hadn't noticed the mounting tension
She should have known better. Gibbs noticed everything.
The elevator doors had barely closed when Gibbs hit the emergency switch.
"Wanna tell me what the hell is going on?" The older man growled.
"No idea what you're talking about, boss." He cringed in anticipation of the headslap that never came.
"You know, for someone who does a hell of a job under cover, you're a terrible liar. What the hell is going on with you and McGee, Tony?"
Setting his jaw, Tony refused to meet Gibbs' eyes as he settled into a stubborn silence.
"DiNozzo," Gibbs growled.
"None of your business," Tony spat before he could stop himself.
"You made it my business when you brought it into my damn squad room!"
Frowning at his boss' sharp tone, Tony immediately dropped his gaze to the floor, knowing that he'd crossed the line.
"'M sorry," he muttered miserably.
"I don't want a damn apology, I want you to stop acting like a five year old."
Tony didn't respond as Gibbs reached out and punched the emergency switch, setting the elevator into motion.
"If you can't work this out, I'm going to have to have him transferred."
"Gibbs--!"
"I can't have your little spats affecting the team. You deal with it," he growled as the elevator doors opened. "Or I will."
Both Ziva and McGee looked down at their desks, pretending to study the folders in front of them when the elevator doors opened, depositing a surly Gibbs and a sullen Tony.
Though he didn't lift his head, McGee watched out of the corner of his eye as Tony walked over to his desk and plopped down unceremoniously in his chair. He shuffled a few papers around before he leaned back in his chair.
"Hey Probie, you have that file on the Sergeant?"
It was all McGee could do to keep the silly smile from his face as Tony addressed him.
"Uh... Yeah, I do."
Leaning over in his chair, Tony allowed his fingers to brush McGee's lightly, a tentative smile on his face as he accepted the folder.
Grinning to himself, McGee turned back to his own desk. Though things had definitely not been fine, McGee was fairly certain that after they had a chance to talk, things would be able to go back to the way they were with his lover.
Or so he hoped.
OoOoOoO
Tony stepped off the elevator and into Abby's lab, smiling when he saw his friend bouncing along to her music.
"Abby!" He shouted over the music Stepping up behind her, he tugged her pigtail gently, his grin widening when she jumped.
"Tony!" She squealed as she spun around, poking her finger into his chest. "Sneaking up on people is not nice," she scolded as she muted her music.
"You make it so easy though," he teased as he sank down on the extra lab stool.
She eyed him curiously for a moment before turning back to her computer. "You're looking more perky today. This mean you're talking to McGee again?"
Tony chuckled. "I don't know what you're talking about, Abs."
"You really think Gibbs and I don't talk?" She challenged with a cocked eyebrow as she settled her gloved hands on her hips. "The two of you have been driving him nuts! Did he take the news THAT badly?"
"What news?"
Glancing over at the sound of his lover's voice, Tony could feel the color leaving his face. "What are you doing down here?" He asked, ignoring McGee's question.
"I was hoping I could catch you before you came back upstairs so we could talk," McGee responded suspiciously, frowning at Tony. "WHAT news?" He asked again, his tone a little sharper than intended.
"Anthony DiNozzo! You haven't TOLD him?" Abby asked incredulously.
"Tell me WHAT?" McGee asked, confusion evident in his voice as he looked back and forth between his partner and their raven haired friend.
"Abby... Can you give us a minute?" Tony asked, swallowing hard as he stood from his stool.
"Take it into the office," the Goth responded curtly, her cool demeanor a clear indication that she was not happy.
"Tony... What's going on?" McGee asked, pulling away as Tony reached for him.
"Can we just... Please?" He asked, gesturing to the office.
Glancing back at Abby, McGee frowned as he noticed the way she clenched her jaw, her green eyes focused intently on the screen in front of her.
He wasn't sure what was going on, but he didn't have a very good feeling about it.
McGee followed after Tony dutifully, crossing his arms over his chest as he perched on the edge of Abby's desk.
"I don't... Really know the best way to say this, so I'm just.. Going to say it," Tony announced, though he didn't continue.
Instead, he began to pace in front of McGee, running his fingers through his hair nervously.
Pushing himself off the desk, McGee stepped in front of Tony, cupping his face gently in his hands. "Tony," he said quietly, failing to keep the concern out of his voice. "Focus. What's going on?"
"I'm p-" he started, though the words caught in his throat.
"What?"
"Pregnant," he finished lamely, his voice barely above a whisper as he looked away.
"You're what?" McGee spat, pulling his hands away quickly.
"Don't make me say it again," Tony pleaded.
"You... How... What?" He backed away from the man in front of him as he tried to process this new information. "How... Long have you known?" He asked, the anger at not being told sooner evident in his voice.
"Just a few days."
"And you didn't think it was important to TELL me something like this sooner? Is it even mine?"
A low growl escaped from Tony's throat as his remorse at not telling McGee sooner quickly morphed into anger at the not-so-veiled accusation.
"Of course it's yours," he snarled in response. "And really? You're really going to get pissed off because it took me three days to tell you? That's funny because its been MONTHS and you still haven't told your family about me!" Tony reminded him bitterly.
Outside in the lab, Abby couldn't help but frown at the loud voices coming from the office. Removing her gloves, she dropped them onto the counter before she headed for the automatic doors.
"THAT's why you didn't tell me?! Because you were too busy pouting over the other night?!"
"I TRIED to tell you!"
"Obviously not hard enough!" McGee spat. "Which is funny, considering you had no trouble telling Abby!"
"Hey now," Abby interrupted, putting her hand on McGee's chest. "I'm the one who ran the blood test."
McGee ignored her, brushing her hand away from him. "I bet you ran off and told everyone but me out of spite, didn't you? Because that's how you are! You're selfish and vindictive and--"
"Fuck you, McGee."
The younger man laughed bitterly. "You won't have to worry about that anymore because I can't even stand to look at you."
Balling his hands into fists at his sides, Tony pushed passed McGee and Abby as he stormed out of the office.
McGee clenched his jaw as he watched the older man punch the button for the elevator angrily before he turned back to the wide-eyed Goth at his side.
"Timmy--"
"Don't," he warned. "He should have told me."
"He should have," she agreed. "And if I had known he hadn't, I would have."
"He's just so--"
"--Scared, Timmy. He's scared."
"I thought you were on my side."
"I was until you flipped out on him like that. You should cut him a little slack. This came as a huge shock to him and he's still struggling to deal with it."
"A shock to him?! At least he's had days to process it! How about cutting ME some slack?"
With a quiet sigh, Abby pressed a kiss to her friend's cheek. "Don't let this ruin everything. He needs you. Now more than ever."
McGee snorted, crossing his arms over his chest. "Yeah. According to Tony, he doesn't need anyone."
OoOoOoO
Abby pulled up outside of Tony's apartment building and looked up at
his window, seeing the dim blue light from what she knew would prove to be his TV. She hesitated momentarily, contemplating starting her car and heading back to Gibbs' when she remembered the homemade dinner she had sitting in the passenger seat.
Her mind made up, she threw the car into park before she could change her mind. Grabbing the container, she climbed out of the car, praying that he wouldn't slam the door in her face.
The elevator ride to the third floor didn't last nearly long enough, she decided as the doors opened with a ding that echoed through the quiet hallway.
Her heavy boots thumped loudly on the floor as she approached his door. Raising her hand, she knocked tentatively.
Groaning at the sound of the quiet knock on his door, Tony debated pretending to be asleep. Unfortunately, that plan went out the window when the second knock was followed up with a pleading voice.
"Tony?" Abby called. "I know you're in there. Open up... Please?"
He pushed himself to his feet slowly and trudged over to the door. He pulled it open just enough to peek out.
"I'm really not in the mood for company right now, Abs."
"I made you dinner."
"Not feeling very hungry."
"You have to eat, T. Please? I won't stay long."
He eyed her warily for a moment before he pulled the door open with a sigh.
Offering him a brief smile, Abby slipped passed him into the apartment, heading straight for the kitchen.
"Go back to the couch," she ordered. "I'll heat this up and bring it right in."
He stared after her retreating back for a minute before he padded back to the living room, sinking down on the couch with a groan. Muting the television, he propped his feet up on the coffee table and waited somewhat impatiently for Abby to return.
Coming into the living room, plate in hand, Abby sank down on the couch beside Tony, ignoring the suspicious look he threw her way when she handed him the plate.
"How are you feeling?" She asked as she settled against his side.
"Really? We're going to have a conversation about feelings?" He snorted. "I'm fine."
Frowning at his biting tone, Abby pulled away from him. "I know you're upset over what happened today Tony, but you don't have to be such an ass. I told you the day you found out that you had to tell him."
"I tried! I went over there as soon as I left you the other night!"
"So why didn't you?"
Dropping his feet to the floor, Tony set his plate on the table a little harder than necessary, his food untouched as he pushed himself to his feet.
"Tony, don't push me away," she pleaded.
"I'm not pushing you away."
"Then talk to me. Why didn't you tell him?"
"I couldn't."
"Why?" She asked, trying hard to keep the exasperation out of her voice.
"Because he made it clear that I'm not as important to him as he is to me and I didn't want... I want him to take this... Me, us, whatever seriously because he really cares. Not because he feels obligated to because we fucked up."
"Of course he really cares about you. What made you think he didn't?"
"He hasn't told his family about us. I had to leave the other day before I got a chance to talk to him about the b-- about this because Sarah was coming over for dinner."
"Oh Tony."
"I mean, I guess I can't really blame him for not telling them at first because, you know, I'm supposed to be this commitment phobic playboy who doesn't take anything seriously but its different this time, Abby. At least I thought it was."
Taking a deep breath, he sank down on the couch, tangling his fingers through his hair as he put his head in his hands.
Lowering herself to the cushion beside him, Abby wrapped her arms around her friend's shoulders, pulling him into her embrace.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gotten on your case this afternoon. I should have known if you didn't tell him, that you had your reasons."
"I tried to tell him," he repeated miserably.
"I'm so sorry."
Pulling away, Tony pushed himself to his feet once more. "Thanks for dinner, Abby but I think I'm just... Gonna go crash."
"Alright," she said with a nod as she stood. Wrapping her arms around him, she pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek. "Get some sleep, okay? I'll see you tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah," he said, forcing a smile. "I'll see you tomorrow."
OoOoOoO
"McGee."
Pulling the phone away from her ear, Abby frowned at the receiver before speaking into it.
"I thought I called Tony's desk," she said, unable to hide the confusion in her voice.
"You did. He's not here."
Truth be told, Abby was only moderately surprised at that revelation. Tony had been really upset when he'd left her to go to bed the previous night, trusting that she would take care of locking up the apartment when she left. Though he had said he'd see her at work, she'd had a sneaking suspicion that she wouldn't.
"Uh... Abs? Is there something I can help you with?" McGee asked.
She hesitated briefly. She had initially called to check on Tony, but she decided the seize the opportunity in front of her.
"I think I might have something. Come take a look?"
"Be there in five," he promised before disconnecting the line.
True to his word, it didn't take McGee long to make it down to the lab.
"What have you got, Abs?"
"Been practicing your Gibbs impersonation? Not bad, but it needs to be a little... Nevermind," she said, spotting the bored look he threw her way. "Where's Tony?"
Abby didn't miss the way McGee stiffened at the name.
"No clue," McGee responded coldly. "It's not my job to babysit him."
"You know something," Abby said, putting her hands on her hips, "I promised myself after yesterday that I was going to keep my cool until I heard the whole story. But right now, I can't blame Tony for not telling you."
"That's--"
"--Not fair, yeah yeah, I know. Unfortunately for you, I don't really give a crap. Let me ask you something, Timmy. And I want you to think long and hard about this before you answer. Is three days REALLY worth throwing away everything you have with him?"
He stood in stunned silence as her words sank in. "I'm not--"
"You did."
"You don't... You have no clue what it's like to find out that someone kept something that big from you! He should have told me as soon as he found out! I deserve that much!"
"Timmy--"
"Do me a favor, okay? Just stay out of this from now on. It has nothing to do with you and I don't need you lecturing me."
"McGee!"
He ignored her as he turned, stalking out of the lab without so much as a glance back.
A/N #2: Ooooh! A cliffhanger? No I didn't! *Oh yes I did!* I'm a horrible person for that and I'm sorry :D But you know what'll help it get resolved faster? Reviews! ;) Hook me up, y'all!
Chapter End Notes:
A/N: Hello again! You guys see how fast I update when you send me reviews?! First things first, a huge again to everyone who took five seconds out after reading the last chapter to send me a review. You guys keep me going and make it easier for me to write! A huge thank you, once again, to my bffl Kelley, because I'm serious y'all, this story wouldn't happen without her. Love you chica! Now that all that mess is out of the way, I'm offering you a fair warning: This chapter is pretty heavy on the drama and for that, I apologize. But I'm not really *that* sorry because my screenname *is* TonyWhumper after all :D