Fallen angel on the ground [lift me up and kick me down]
"DiNozzo. Morasca. Go talk to the neighbors, see what they can tell you about Lieutenant Parker."
Nodding, Anna packed up her things, pausing when her partner hesitated. His date..."It's dinner time, Boss... maybe now's not the best time to bug the neighbors..." All Gibbs had to do was stare and DiNozzo rushed off to meet her at the elevator with ( Read more... )
Nodding, Anna packed up her things, pausing when her partner hesitated. His date..."It's dinner time, Boss... maybe now's not the best time to bug the neighbors..." All Gibbs had to do was stare and DiNozzo rushed off to meet her at the elevator with ( Read more... )
Tony had a funny feeling in the pit of his stomach. He needed to go back, but this was his first date after the terrible split with Jeanne, and he felt that he needed this, too. Having no other option while he waited, he decided to bug Anna again.
He let the phone ring... and ring... and ring... until her voicemail picked up. Tony left a message, then called back, repeating the process. Something wasn't right.
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"You are under arrest for assaulting a federal agent." She growled and hauled the guy to his feet, taking him to her car and heading back to NCIS.
Gibbs had yelled at her for going alone, McGee and Abby hovered over her worriedly, and Ziva "gently" booked him. Gibbs let her go home for the night and called DiNozzo to explain Anna had been attacked and sent home, and to yell at him for letting her go alone. However, Anna was at her apartment massaging the bruises and cut marks on her neck.
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...And what Gibbs was going to do to him.
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"Your partner, the woman who was under your command," he paused, letting it sink in, "was attacked tonight." Gibbs couldn't even look at him right now. "If I didn't need you so damn much, DiNozzo, you never would've stepped foot in this office again tonight ( ... )
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Tony's stomach was in knots. The guilt he harbored from the deaths of Jenny and Kate ate at him more and more with each passing day. He knew he couldn't live with himself if anything worse would've happened to Anna. This was bad enough.
He choked back tears as he studied her wounded form, and cautiously rested his forehead against hers, closing his eyes as he took a deep breath. "This never should've happened," he admitted softly.
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Tony sighed softly and gently pulled her closer to him. "It couldn't have been predicted, but it could have been prevented." He knew he was wrong, and he knew he'd get pulled into the Director's office for this one. He just wished that no one had to hurt because of his mistake.
"Yeah," he nodded with complete sarcasm and disgust in his voice. "She stood me up. It was perfect." When she told him he deserved to be happy, he disagreed, but chose to ignore the comment. She hadn't known about the other three women in his life- The ones who hurt because of him- the ones who lost their lives because he failed to perform his duties to the best of his ability.
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Reaching up she took his face into her hands and met his eyes. "Then if I ever see her, I will have to glare at her and headslap her for standing you up. That is unexcusable." Brushing her thumb over his cheek, her look turned serious. "I don't know what has happened in the past, Tony, but in spite of that, you deserve to be happy with someone that loves you."
Her hands fell from his face as she studied him for a moment and pulled the taller man in close, holding him tightly. "Everything is going to be okay, Tony. I promise."
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"Don't," he closed his eyes as he battled his emotions, stopping her, "don't take the heat for something I did. I knew better."
Tony tried to hide his eyes, but when she cupped his face, he didn't have an option. "It's not worth it." He took a deep breath and exhaled softly. "No, you don't. It's better that way." He simply shrugged his shoulders when she talked, again, about him needing to be happy. He had someone that loved him, and he ruined a good thing.
When she pulled him closer to her, he sniffled and nodded, still fighting his emotions. "Thank you."
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"You're wrong, Anna." Tony frowned as he shook his head in disagreement. "I deserve every bit of what I'm going to get."
Tony nodded understandingly and cocked his head as she put his hand on her back, running his fingers over her scar. He wanted to ask what it was from, but he knew if she wanted him to know, she would tell him on her own terms. He was just appreciative that she was letting him in, and he didn't know why, but he felt like he could share his own feelings with her, too.
"I know. Some demons just don't know when to leave you alone." He didn't really want to open up- to anyone- but he felt he needed to, so he did. "I face mine everyday... everytime I look in the mirror. The faster and farther I run from them, the closer and more painful it gets." Just then, the haunting memories came flooding back to him. He grabbed his chest and turned away from her. "I-I can't do this."
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Tony could sense her uneasiness, but he remained silent, waiting for her to open up to him. He knew how much he hated people prying for information when it came to himself, and he knew how similar he and Anna were, so he gave her all the time she needed.
His body was trembling and he shook his head in disagreement again. "No. No, it's not okay. It's not okay that Kate died right in front of me and there was nothing I could do! It's not okay that I hurt the only woman I've ever loved! It's not okay that Jenny's dead because of me! It's not okay that I could've gotten you killed! I... I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"
Tony quickly stood up and made his way into her kitchen, leaning on the sink for support. He forced himself to take deep breaths and fought the tears. He was breaking, and even though he knew Anna knew it, he wouldn't allow her to see him this way- He couldn't. She needed him to be strong for her, but knowing that he was the reason she needed that strength was killing him.
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