Inure

Tony’s whole life had inured him to people looking down on him and seeing him as a joke or a general waste of space or many other things. He had thought after Gibbs left and Palmer had been the only one to see how he was struggling that Palmer would never see him that way, but apparently it had only taken less than a year after Gibbs return for Palmer to see him the same way as everyone else.

Gibbs. Gibbs was a whole different matter. Gibbs had always trusted Tony to a certain extent. Even while Gibbs clearly struggled with his memory loss Tony could tell he still trusted him as an agent. However, even before Gibbs memory loss there had been signs that Gibbs didn’t trust him at a personal level anymore. Tony frankly didn’t know what had happened. He used to feel more comfortable at Gibbs house than at his own apartment, but even before Gibbs lost his memory that feeling had been waning.

He still couldn’t say no to Gibbs though. He kind of hated himself for that. He struggled not to take his frustration out on everyone around him, but he knew McGeek and Ziva had taken more than they deserved. He’d have to figure out a way to make it up to them that wouldn’t go to their heads. That would have to wait until after the dinner, however.

Finally, the long day was over, but now the real horror show started as he headed over to Gibbs. He pulled into Gibbs driveway and just sat in his car as he tried to work up the courage to actually enter Gibbs house.