DiNOZZO'S KID BROTHER

By

Ashleigh Anpilova

Tony shows he's deeper than he often appears to be.

A DiNozzo-centric gen story.

Written: July 2009. Word count: 300.

To Tony's mind teasing Tim, playing pranks on him, trying to get him to do all the work was a sport, a game, but in a good way. He didn't do those things to belittle Tim, although sometimes he knew he went too far and did his best to put it right. He did them because he liked Tim, he respected him, he wanted to help him grow, improve. In short, he saw Tim as the kid brother he'd never had.

When he upset his coworker, inadvertently or on occasions, in his darkest moments, deliberately, he did feel bad about it, even though he never let it show. Well, brothers didn't, did they? Just as they didn't tell one another how much they cared. They showed one another instead.

That was one of the reasons it was Tony who, after Tim's shooting, hospitalization and several surgeries, spent hour upon hour at Tim's bedside. Even after the doctors had said there was little hope, Tony stayed by Tim's side.

"Come on, kid," he said one evening. "Don't you dare die on me. If you do, Gibbs'll kill me, and I'll haunt you for the rest of your days."

The next day, to everyone's (except Tony's) surprise, Tim opened his eyes.

That was the easy part.

The hardest part was yet to come.

The hospital staff swore it was only Tony who had kept Tim going. It was Tony who got Tim on his feet and walking - admittedly to get away from Tony's constant teasing and ribbing and pushing and at times downright bullying.

And finally Tim got to go home and Tony took up residence on Tim's couch. That night it would be just them; they'd eat popcorn, drink beer, and watch the ball game. Just Tony and his kid brother.

Feedback is always appreciated

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