Category: Angst. Lots and lots of angst.

Rating: This part - G

Characters: Gibbs/DiNozzo mainly

Series: No

Spoilers: None intended but anything might get a mention

Summary: When the boss offers to pay for food, don't say no.

Archive: Just tell me where it's going

Additional `stuff': My first fic based around NCIS. Apparently, that could be Medic Alert bracelet around Gibbs' wrist.

Title: Tough love

Gibbs replaced his phone. `Dinozzo!'

Anthony appeared from around the corner of Kate's desk, soda can in one hand, sandwich in the other. `Boss?'

`Director wants to see us.'

Dinozzo swallowed hard. `Um…okay…I'll just go change into…'

`NOW Dinozzo!' Gibbs bellowed.

Casting a desperate look back over his shoulder at Kate, Anthony trailed helplessly after Gibbs.

Outside the Directors office…

`I didn't report you for…you know, hitting me.' Anthony hissed.

`Hitting…you?' Gibbs asked through gritted teeth, temper rising.

`Yeah. The other day, remember. Cary Grant…McGee…?' Dinozzo swallowed hard.

`No.' Gibbs forced out.

Anthony sighed theatrically. `Well you did, and I didn't so…'

Gibbs shook his head. `I did not *hit* you. I…well, I didn't hit you!'

From behind him, Director Morrow's amused voice caught Gibbs by surprise. `I'm pleased to hear it Agent Gibbs. I hear he bruises easily.'

Gibbs laughed. Tony scowled. The Director held his door open for both of them. `Come on in.'

Tony bounded down the stairs, ignoring the odd looks from those on the staircase with him. `Yes! Yes! Yes!'

Gibbs followed more sedately, smiling inwardly. Tony had had a tough few weeks. He deserved the praise. And the Director had immediately agreed to Gibbs' request for the official pat on the back. After a few more steps, Gibbs patience was exhausted.

`Dinozzo if you don't shut up this second I'm gonna push you down the stairs.' Gibbs threatened.

Pouting, Tony instantly slowed and quietened down. But his grin remained in place.

`Boss?'

Gibbs looked up from the file open in front of him. `Agent Dinozzo?'

Biting his lip, Tony forced a smile. `Uh…we're heading out for pizza. Wanna tag along?'

`Tag…along?' Gibbs stared until Tony backed away, hands up defensively.

`Forget it…just a thought.'

Gibbs shrugged, got up, casting a final glance at the flickering image on as the computer tried to match the photograph on the desktop. `Why not.'

Shocked, Tony cast an apologetic look at Kate who was answering her phone. Folding it closed, she shook her head. `Tony, I'm sorry…I gotta take a rain check.'

Tony thought quickly. `Um…no problem…we can do it another night, right boss?' He turned to Gibbs.

Gibbs nodded. `Yeah. But next time it's on you, not me.'

`You were…gonna buy?' Tony stared.

`Uh huh. One time offer.'

Tony grabbed his jacket. `I'm not missing this. Kate we'll do it another night, okay?'

Kate nodded. `Sure Tony.' She was out of the door before Tony had his jacket on.

Local Pizza place…

Gibbs handed the menu back to the waitress and smiled apologetically as Tony wrestled with the various combinations of toppings, finally settling on his choice after Gibbs `offered' to choose for him. He ordered a diet soda and wasn't surprised when Tony ordered a beer.

As they waited, the scents and sounds of the small restaurant wafting around their table, Gibbs began to tune out most of Tony's constant chatter, focusing on two seemingly innocuous topics. Rule nine and the sewer.

The former seemed just to disappoint Tony. That the marine he had briefly shared his underground incarceration with wasn't familiar with the apparently endless list of `rules' Gibbs quoted frequently.

The latter seemed to disturb him more. And not for the obvious reason Gibbs first guessed.

The food slowed, but didn't stop, Tony's flow of conversation, requiring little from Gibbs but the occasional nod or verbal indication that he was listening. Eventually, Gibbs' patience was exhausted. `Tony…Anthony…Agent Dinozzo!'

Tony's voice tailed off. Pizza slice almost at his mouth, he paused and looked up. `Uh…yeah boss?'

`Can we agree that Rule Nine got you out of the sewer?'

Tony considered the question for a moment. `Uh…yeah…I guess.'

Gibbs nodded, took a sip of soda and sat back, full after only two slices of pizza. Tony, however, seemed to show no such signs, already half-way through his third slice.

Tony frowned. `Is there something wrong with your pizza?'

Gibbs smiled reassuringly. `No. I'm full.'

Apparently satisfied, Tony continued to eat.

After a few more minutes, Gibbs got up. `I'll be right back. Do *not* talk to any strange women. Or men.'

Dinozzo finished a third slice of pizza and was wiping his fingers when he overheard someone who had just sat down warn the waitress `there's a guy in the bathroom doing drugs'.

Dinozzo walked across to the table and leaned down. `About six-two, grey hair?' The man nodded and Dinozzo flashed the waitress his best smile and his badge. `I got it.'

Reassured, the waitress smiled and offered the man at the table a free dessert.

Dinozzo pushed the bathroom door open and frowned as Gibbs walked towards him. `You know we get random drug tests, right?'

Gibbs stared Dinozzo into a nervous back-track. `Um…I meant…uh…this guy…he said…'

Gibbs shook his wrist. `Did you think this was a fashion statement?'

Dinozzo focused on the silver chain around Gibbs' wrist he hadn't really noticed before now. `Medic Alert.'

`Yes.' Gibbs confirmed.

`Cos you're...?'

`Diabetic.' Gibbs said in a tone that didn't suggest he was open to discuss his medical history.

Tony squirmed in the car and Gibbs finally snapped: `Sit still or I'm gonna push you out!'

Tony wriggled some more and tried to sit still. After a few more minutes, he shook his head. `It's no good. I really have to pee!'

A few more minutes passed, during with Tony continued to squirm and cast surreptitious glances at Gibbs. Finally, Gibbs pulled off the road and into his driveway. `You pee and you leave Tony.'

Desperately, Tony nodded, the relief on his face when Gibbs opened the front door making Gibbs wonder if he wasn't in real difficulty rather than the usual Tony fuss.

End of part one…

Tough Love Part Two...click here

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