NCIS- "No Better Place" Complete (part 2)
0-0-0-0 Part 12
Tony opened the door and smiled in pleased shock. "Ernie... What are you doing here? Come in."
The elderly man came in with the Japanese man who Tony knew was a former Imperial Japanese army lieutenant as well as Jethro's favorite sushi chef, as well a middle age woman. "I went to visit you and Gibbs at NCIS headquarters only to find out that you have time off because you gave birth. Where is this little wonder girl the nerdy agent was telling me about?"
Still smiling, Tony led the three people into the living room, where Gibbs was just finished changing one of Katie's dirty diapers. "Hey, Jethro look who's here to visit Katie."
"Corporal Yost. It's a pleasure to see you again, sir. I'd shake your hand, but my daughter has gifted me with a mess." Gibbs nodded to them as they sat on the couch.
"I've told you, Gunny. Call me Ernie. You know Tashi, but the pretty little thing with us is Keiko, his daughter. She drove us here today." Ernie said introducing his company as he waited for Gibbs to finish disposing of the dirty diaper.
Tony picked up Katie and held her out to Ernie. "Do you want to hold her?"
With completely steady arms, Ernie took the child of one of his favorite people. "Hello, baby girl... You called her Katie... Named her after Kate?" Smiling down at the baby the former Marine shifted to allow Tashi and Keiko to see the little girl as well.
"Beautiful child." Tashi said nodding to his daughter, who smiled and took one of the baby's hands in her's.
Once he'd washed his hands, Jethro walked back into the living room and smiled at Ernie. "Not that you aren't welcome, but are you here for a reason?"
"Naw... not really a reason. Just wanted to tell Tony that I'd moved. He visits and calls; I didn't want him to worry when I wasn't at my old place." Sighing, Ernie handed the baby to Tashi before speaking to Tony and Jethro again. "The doctor wasn't comfortable with me living on my own... After telling Tashi here, he offered me a place with him and his daughter. It's kind of nice having my drinking buddy right there in the same house."
This made Tony chuckle and shake his head. "I'm sure it is... Just don't drink too much there, Ernie. I want my daughter to have someone to call Grandpa... and you fit it far better than any relative I have that she could call that... If you don't mind that is..."
Blinking slowly, Ernie puffed his chest a little before nodding. "Of course I don't mind."
"Good. Now that this is settled we can move on to other things... like how would you three like to stay for lunch? I've got lasagna baking." Tony offered with a smile.
After a shared look between the three, Ernie nodded. "That'd be nice. It'll also give me more time with my granddaughter."
0-0-0-0
It was a dark night. There was a new moon, so there was no moonlight to help break up the darkness. This however, served the purposes of the one lone figure out in the pre-dawn darkness.
Moving to the antique Mustang, the woman dressed in black sneered at the child seat in the back of the car. While the woman moved around the car, she muttered in low angry but mostly insane way. After finding an area that looked good, she dug down into the packed snow near the driver's door. There she buried a small device.
Once she had covered the devise in a little snow, she stepped back and looked longingly at the bedroom window. "Soon, Jethro." she murmured then left with a blown kiss.
0-0-0-0 Part 13
"Come on, Dinozzo. We're going to be late for your first day back." While Jethro would never say it, he was happy that his lover would be returning to duty. The office just wasn't the same without Tony's unique brand of humor. On the other hand, he was a little worried about leaving Katie with the NCIS day care center. Before Abby had brought it up, he'd never known their organization had a day care center.
Rushing down the stairs, Tony smiled as he adjusted his tie. "Sorry, Boss. I just wanted to look my best for the first day back."
This made Jethro roll his eyes and smile at Katie, who was sleeping soundly in her car seat. "We should go."
"Let me grab her bag, and then we're good to go." Tony quickly gathered the rest of his things and smiled when Gibbs grabbed the car seat.
As they walked outside, Jethro smiled and nodded at the paper boy as he pitched the newspaper.
Seconds later an explosion had Jethro wrapping himself around the car seat and Tony pulling his gun.
0-0-0-0
"What was a landmine doing in the snow beside my drive way?" Gibbs was demanding a little while later as McGee and Ziva were pulling pieces of device out of various places and cataloging the scene. Meanwhile, inside, Ducky was looking Katie over. She hadn't stopped crying since the landmine had been triggered by the newspaper.
Putting away his instruments, Ducky smiled as Tony continued to try and sooth the distressed infant. "I don't believe she's injured. It was probably a scary enough event the wee thing just couldn't handle it... and then all the added lights and sounds from the response team just made things worse. Let her calm down and then rest a while... She should be fine. However, a trip to her pediatrician in the next few days would also be wise."
"Thanks, Ducky... I just can't believe someone would do this." Tony said as he walked, trying to calm his daughter who was held to his chest, where she had mostly been held since the incident.
Ducky shook his head. "I'm afraid this profession is not the safest... And Jethro in particular has made some notable enemies."
This made Tony nod with a wry expression. "I know... I just wasn't prepared for someone to try and blow us up at home... At work, sure... But this place was always supposed to be safe."
"That is an illusion most people cling too, even after it is not wise. In this instance, I believe it would be unwise to condemn the entire house. It is entirely possible that this is a person easily caught with obvious motives." Ducky patted Tony's shoulder before moving to the door and informing Gibbs of Katie's health.
0-0-0-0
Tim McGee wasn't known for his bravery when it came to facing Gibbs, but in this case he was even more inclined to stuttered and wet himself. "Hey, Boss."
"What is it, McGee?" Gibbs looked up from his computer and stared at the younger agent.
Clearing his throat, Tim held out his findings on the land mine parts they'd recovered. "It seems that the devise planted in front of your house... came from NCIS lock up."
This news stopped Gibbs mid-reach for the papers. "What do you mean, Agent McGee?"
"Checking the remaining serial code, I found that the land mine was part of a crate stolen from a Marine shipment coming out of Norfolk headed for Iraq... One was used to kill a Marine a couple of months back. When the suspect in the case was caught with the rest of the shipment, they were confiscated and locked up here, pending the trial." Tim drew a breath after he was done, having forgotten to do so during his report.
Gibbs stared at Tim waiting, and when the young man didn't go on, he verbally prodded him. "And? Who was the last one to check out the evidence?"
Jumping, Tim was already moving towards the elevator. "I'm going to check that out now, Boss. I'll call the moment I know anything."
"Do that, McGee." After the 'elf lord' was gone down to evidence lock-up, Gibbs looked over to where Tony was talking to someone on the phone. Gibbs was impressed with his lover. As soon as Katie had calmed down, Tony had entrusted her to the child care center and set to work trying to track down who was trying to kill them.
When Tony hung up the phone, Gibbs caught his gaze and raised an eyebrow.
"Nothing is being said among the contacts. As far as anyone is concerned, this is just a random un-motivated attack. One guy even suggested it could just be a hate crime." Tony said, answering Gibbs' unasked question.
Cursing mentally and then out loud, Gibbs held back the urge to kick or shoot something. This made Tony get up and move over to his desk. "Don't worry, Boss. We'll find who's done this and I'll make sure you get third shot at them."
"Third?" Gibbs asked a little smile forming.
Tony nodded leaning a hip on Gibbs' desk. "Right behind myself and Ducky."
With a chuckle Jethro leaned back in his chair. "Why behind Ducky?"
"That man is scary. While he was checking Katie over he was smiling his normal Ducky-smile all the while talking about how many forms of torture can be visited upon the human body before it succumbs to death." Tony said it in a half joking manner, but in truth what he'd heard out of Ducky had made him re-evaluate his mental summary of their friend the ME.
Still chuckling quietly, Gibbs nodded, knowing what Tony had seen from their normally mild-mannered Ducky.
0-0-0-0 Part 14
When the trail on the land mine shipment went cold, Jethro and Tony were forced to put the case on the back burner. However the former gunnery sergeant remained on edge, as his Marine training dictated. This kept Tony on edge as well. It wasn't until two weeks after the land mine incident that Tony was extremely grateful for his lover's paranoia.
"I think that we got everything, baby girl. We can just hope you daddy is grateful for me picking up the stuff to cook." Tony chatted at Katie who was in her car seat in the back of the Mustang.
Just as he was about to go on, his investigator training kicked in and he focused on the dark green SUV that was couple cars behind them.
"Katie, my dear, I do believe that someone is following us. Let's just check to make sure. We wouldn't want your daddy coming in with guns blazing if it's just someone going the same way." With a quick flick of his hand, Tony turned down a side street he knew he could get off of easily if need be.
When the green SUV followed, Tony started to reach for his phone when the sudden report of a high caliber gun could be heard coming from behind him. In response to this and subsequent sound of the bullet hitting his car, Tony assumed the defensive driving stance and began to try and out maneuver the larger vehicle.
At the second bullet, Tony knew he was in trouble because of the way the Mustang jumped. Feeling the tire blow made Tony grit his teeth and hold onto the wheel as the car began skidding.
"Fucking hell." Tony cursed as he did his best to keep the car on the road. Seeing that it wasn't going to happen, he shifted his goal to trying to keep the car from flipping as they hit the ditch.
A few minutes later, Tony out of the car with his gun drawn, looking for the SUV. Inside the car, Katie was crying loudly, reassuring Tony that she was alive and okay enough to cry. When he didn't see the vehicle with the shooter, he holstered his gun and hurriedly climbed in the back of the car as he pulled his phone.
As he was dialing his lover, Tony was doing his best to reign in his fear-based rage.
The moment Jethro saw Tony's number on his caller ID he knew something was wrong. "Tony?"
"Get the truck and bring it to three blocks past East 143rd and Palmyra. Someone in a green SUV shot out a tire out of the rear of my car, making me ditch it." Tony said balancing the phone between his ear and shoulder as he got the still crying Katie out of her seat.
Getting quickly to his feet, Jethro got Tim's attention by snapping his fingers. "Are you okay? Should I send EMTs?"
Tony held Katie close, bouncing her gently as he got out of the car. "No... But if Ducky is free bring him."
Quickly, Jethro made a note to Tim who'd come over after he'd been snapped at. //Get the truck ready and get Ducky. ASAP.// The young agent ran to do just that.
"Why's she crying? Is she just scared?" Jethro asked trying to talk Tony into a calmer state by making him focus on Katie.
Tony studied the baby carefully. "I don't see any cuts or anything. I think she's just freaked out by us hitting the ditch... Jethro, it was a green Durango... Virginia plates. Echo. Charlie. Four. Four. I couldn't get the rest of it. Get a BOLO on that bastard. I would bet money that it’s the same one who planted the land mine."
"Echo. Charlie. Four. Four. I got it. I'll have Ziva run the plates. You just stay there. As soon as I get to the truck, I'll call you back on my cell... Get to a safe distance from the car and wait." Jethro ordered before handing up and grabbing his things. Looking to Ziva he said, "Green Durango. Virginia. Echo. Charlie. Four. Four. I want a BOLO... Have it read 'for attempted murder of a federal officer'. Suspect is armed and dangerous."
Nodding, Ziva started on getting the BOLO in the works.
0-0-0-0 Part 15
Jethro was the first one out of the truck. He pointedly ignored the bullet hole in the car and the fact it was in the ditch. Hurrying to where Tony sat with Katie on his lap, Jethro put a hand to his shoulder. "Are you okay?"
Going into his lover's arms, Tony relaxed for the first time since the incident. "We're okay... I got her to stop crying a bit ago. Did you get the BOLO going?"
"I put Ziva on it before we left." Jethro pulled Katie from his arms then held Tony on the other side.
Just then, Ducky hurried up and took Katie. "Let's have a look, darling."
As soon as he was sure Ducky had Katie well in-hand, Gibbs led Tony off. "Did you see anything other than the car? Could you see the driver?"
Tony shook his head. "Tinted windows... looked like a 'Company' vehicle. Jethro, you would tell me if you had any enemies in the government, wouldn't you?"
"None that I know of. We'll figure out who's doing this." Gibbs growled as he noticed Tim pulling the bullet out of the car.
This made Tony smile. Something about the over-protective side of Gibbs made him feel safe and happy. "I know we will."
0-0-0-0
"Boss, we've got the shooter." Tim's words made Gibbs and Tony look up from their respective desks. Getting Katie from where she was sleeping in her car seat beside his chair, Tony walked over to stare at his co-worker.
Gibbs nodded for him to go on. "Yeah?"
Rising, Tim gestured to the elevator. "He's down in the interview room right now."
With a darkly pleased expression, Gibbs started for the elevator. When Tony started to join him, Gibbs shook his head. "Keep Katie here. I'll let you know anything important."
"I don't like this." Tony told Katie as Ziva and Tim joined Gibbs in the elevator. After a couple of minutes, Tony went to the elevator with Katie on one arm and the diaper bag in the other. "Let's go visit Auntie Abby."
Once down in the lab, Tony stood beside Abby as the Goth snuggled Katie. "I can't believe Gibbs wouldn't let me be with the others watching the interrogation."
"I think he was going to have enough trouble holding himself back, as is. Knowing you and Katie were behind the glass would just make it harder." Abby said seriously as she twirled with Katie in her arms. As she finished twirling she saw some one behind Tony, but before she could say anything a shot was fired and Tony went down with a spray of blood.
Turning, Abby started to run only to be stopped by a burning feeling in her back as the world went black.
0-0-0-0 Part 16
When Ducky opened the door to the interview room, Gibbs knew something had happened.
"Jethro... please step out." Ducky gestured him out of the room.
With a final glare at the young man who'd been hired to shoot Tony off of the road, Jethro stepped out and closed the door behind him. "What?"
Drawing Jethro down the hallway towards the elevator, Ducky spoke in a low tone. "Tony and Abby are being taken to the hospital."
"What? What happened?" Gibbs asked as he allowed Ducky to guide him.
"We don't know yet. Mr. Palmer was dropping off a sample to Abby when he found Tony and her bleeding in the lab. After summoning me and calling for an ambulance, he began emergency medical care. I arrived and found Tony to have a bullet burn on his head and Abby two bullets in the upper back. Jethro, what the problem is, above all, is that Katie is missing." Ducky said in a low tone.
Rage filled his face as he punched the button on the elevator over and over in the hope it would make the trip go faster. "How in the hell did this bastard get into NCIS headquarters?"
Once on the ground floor he went straight to where the noises of the EMTs loading up his two people. Stepping beside Tony, as Abby was already being loaded, Gibbs put a hand to his shoulder. "Tony?"
The EMT shook her head. "He's out cold, sir. But his vitals are good."
Before Gibbs could demand a status report, his cell phone went off, making him growl and answer it. "What?"
"Agent Gibbs?" the female voice made his eyes narrow.
"Look, you can tell the Director whatever she wants-" he started only to have the Director's secretary interrupt him.
Cynthia glanced to the door she sat outside of. "It's not that." she whispered while turning to stare at the door, wondering what was happening inside. "The Director just went by me with Katie... there was blood on Katie's jumper."
"What?" Glancing around, he got a couple of MPs attention as he headed towards MTAC.
The secretary noticed the door to the Director's office opening and hung up quickly.
Jen smiled at Cynthia as she shifted the newly re-dressed Katie riding on her hip. "Cynthia, I'm going out. Katelyn and I won't be back until tomorrow. If Jethro calls tell him we're expecting him for dinner."
Seeing the half-crazed expression in the Director's face, Cynthia thought fast. She knew she couldn't let the Director out of the building with Katie. "Director, I have some things that will have to be signed before you go. I wouldn't bother you on the way out, except that they need to be in the afternoon post."
"Of course." Stepping closer to the desk, Jen picked up a pen and waited for the papers.
Cynthia slid her some files. "Here, let me hold her while you do that." She held out her arms while holding her breath.
With a put out expression, Jen sighed before handing the little girl over to her trusted secretary.
As she was starting to open the first file, a voice from the stairs had her stopping and turning.
"Jen... let me see your hands." Jethro's cold voice washed over the crazy woman's mind and she turned with a smile.
"Jethro, I didn't expect you this early. I was going to take Katelyn for a mommy-daughter day. Did you want to go to lunch with us?" Jen stepped towards him, a sweet smile on her face.
Cynthia, seeing her chance, slipped by the Director. In her arms Katie looked ready to cry. "Agent Gibbs, I'm taking Katie to Dr. Mallard."
"Good girl." Jethro said never taking his eyes off of Jen, who seemed to be realizing something was not right.
Jen started to step forward, only to have Jethro train his gun on her head.
He stared at her with cold uncompassionate eyes. "Stop there, Jen. I don't want to have to shoot you."
"What are you saying, Jethro? You'd never shoot me." Jen started forward again only to stop when four MPs came up behind Gibbs. "What is the meaning of this?"
Jethro never took his sight off of her. "Arrest her... and make sure she doesn't have the gun on her."
Before she could issue any orders, the MPs were on her and cuffing her. "Stop this joke, Jethro. It's not funny anymore."
"This stopped being funny when you shot Tony and Abby." Jethro finally holstered his weapon and went to get his daughter.
Downstairs, Ducky held Katie while Cynthia hovered nearby. "I don't know what's gotten into the Director... she's never done anything like this."
Gibbs answered this as he came downstairs and took Katie, who seemed very happy to be in her daddy's arms. "She's crazed."
As he was about to go on with a few more derogatory comments, Tim came up. "Boss, I've got the car and her car seat if you're ready to follow the ambulance."
"Good, McGee." Gibbs followed, holding Katie close and glaring at anyone who got too close.
0-0-0-0 Part 17
Tony was sitting with the others, waiting on news about Abby. After waking up from being knocked out by the bullet burn, he insisted on being there with the others. Holding Katie, Tony shared a couch with Gibbs who had an arm around them both.
When Ducky came out with a relieved expression they all breathed out in relief even before he spoke. "Abigail is going to be fine. Both bullets penetrated the right lung, but the doctors were able to remove them. Soon she'll be back to her normal peppy self."
"Thank God." Tony breathed a sigh of relief that was also echoed by the others.
Just as Ducky was going to tell them to go home and rest, Ziva came walking up an upset expression on her face.
"What's wrong?" Gibbs asked slightly glaring at the woman Jen had put into his group.
Clearing her throat, Ziva looked him in the eyes. "Director Sheppard shot and killed three MPs while she was escaping... But she left Tony a message." The nervous Mossad agent held out the evidence bag to her boss.
Jethro took it and tilted it so both he and Tony could read it.
//Tony, that is my husband and daughter. You can't have them. I’ll see you and them dead before I let you keep them.//
Looking up, Tony blinked at his lover. "She's nuts."
"Obviously... and with her Special OPs training it'll be hard to catch her. We're going to need security." Gibbs glanced at Tim who nodded.
Tony held Katie closer and looked around as if the crazy woman could jump out from around a random corner.
Seeing this, Gibbs put a hand on Tony's back, trying to steady him. "Don't worry; we're going to get her."
"Damn right we will...” Tony said looking down at Katie before turning to Ducky. "Hey Duck-man. I need to borrow you car... can I?"
This made Ducky blinked before nodding and holding out his keys. "I don't mind but you shouldn't be driving with that head wound."
"I got cleared by the doctors. Thanks." Tony took the keys with a couple whispered words to Gibbs left quickly.
0-0-0-0 Part 18
Silently, Tony slipped up to the door, holding Katie close to his chest. Knocking, Tony connaturally looked around while bouncing on his feet, mentally praying that she didn't wake up.
When the door opened, Tony smiled at Keiko. "Gomen, Keiko... I need a favor of you, Tashi and Ernie."
"Come in. Get the baby out of the cool air." the half-American woman said as she stepped to one side.
Smiling with a grateful edge to it, Tony hurried inside. "Thank you so much."
Inside, she directed him into the living room where Ernie and Tashi were talking over drinks. Both of the WWII veterans looked up with happy, then concerned expression. Half rising, Ernie frowned. "Tony, what's wrong? Why do you have my granddaughter out in this chilly spring weather?"
"I was hoping that you three wouldn't mind watching Katie for a couple of days... There's a crazy person trying to hurt her. She's almost got Katie a couple of times. I can't catch that crazy bitch if I'm worrying about Katie and her safety." Tony said as he allowed Tashi to take Katie from him.
Keiko brought tea in and petted Katie's hair. "How could a person hurt someone so small and innocent?"
Rubbing the back of his neck, Tony shook his head. "I wish I knew how Sheppard's mind worked... It'd make it easier to catch her."
Ernie shared a look with his housemate and Keiko. After a nod from both, the former Corporal patted Tony's knee. "Don't worry about Katie. She'll be safe here. Keiko's here and Tashi and I are still spry enough to shoot an intruder. Go catch the crazy while we play grandpa."
"Ooji-san." Tashi corrected as he lifted Katie up to smile at her blinking awake eyes.
Relieved, Tony slumped a little before rising and handing Keiko the diaper bag-cum-back-pack. "There's enough stuff in here for three days... Even if we haven't caught Sheppard by there, I'll be back for Katie." Leaning down, Tony kissed Katie's hair before going to the door. "I can't stay too long... just in case someone is watching. Please take care of her."
Knowing if he looked back he wouldn't be able to leave, Tony hurried out of the house, leaving his daughter with the only people he felt he could trust outside of NCIS.
0-0-0-0 Part 19
"Dinozzo... where have you been?" Gibbs grabbed Tony the moment the other man walked into the house. Noticing that he wasn't carrying the carrier with Katie, Gibbs froze. "Where's Katie?"
Unable to hold back the tears any longer, Tony burrowed into his lover's chest and began to cry. "I took her to the only person I could trust. She's safe, I promise."
Wrapping around Tony, Gibbs looked back at McGee and Ziva, who'd been there trying to help him find Tony. The two other field agents turned their back on the private moment.
When his tears were under control, Tony looked Jethro in the eyes. "When we find the Director... we take her out. I don't care if it's with a bullet or a padded cell. But if one of those two things doesn’t happen in the next three days, Katie and I are dusting."
The soft pronouncement scared Gibbs more than he cared to admit. "You can't just run away, Tony."
"Want to lay a wager on that, Jethro? I've already got a new life for Katie and me. I didn't make one for you, because I knew you would never run and hide." Tony told him in a perfectly calm tone.
"Hopefully it won't come to that." Tim said speaking up for the first time.
With a sad half-smile, Tony nodded. "I hope so too, Probie. But I'm not taking any chances. Not when a former Director of NCIS is trying to kill me and my daughter."
"Enough. Ziva, McGee have we got anything else on Jen's location?" Jethro pulled Tony over to sit while he stood nearby, completely putting what Tony said about running away without him, out of his mind.
To this Ziva nodded. "I have a contact who believes the former Director is trying to secure funds... without much success."
Here, McGee added his own info. "I've alerted all surrounding military installations about her mental state. I've also put a BOLO on her and her car to the local LEOs."
"Good. Keep checking our contacts... Make sure no one is helping her." Gibbs said putting a hand on Tony's shoulder.
0-0-0-0 part 20
With the skills learned from years as first a Marine sniper and then a NCIS field agent, Jethro followed Tony to where he had taken Katie for safe-keeping. Since he had never thought of Ernie as a reliable person to leave their daughter, Jethro knew no one else would have either.
Once Tony was inside of the house, Gibbs got out and leaned on the Mustang. Since the three days had passed, Jethro knew if he let Tony out of sight he'd never find them.
When Tony came out with Katie in his arms, Jethro smiled at his shocked expression. "You're not going anywhere without me."
"I thought Marines didn't run away." Tony said moving to place Katie into her car seat.
Jethro got his bags out of the car he'd been driving and put it into the floor boards beside Tony and Katie's. "I lost my family once... then I got a second chance. I'm not losing this one." Before Tony could ask the questions in his eyes, Gibbs went on. "We need to hurry; I've got a plane waiting for us."
Tony could only blink before his face bled into a smile. "Where are we going?"
"Don't want to say just yet. When we get in there air. Follow me so I can drop the car off with McGee." Jethro told him as he started back to his car.
Smiling, Tony got into the Mustang and followed his lover. He wouldn't ever admit it, but he was very happy that Jethro was going with them.
0-0-0-0
"Do you think she'd ever going to be found?" Tony asked as he played with Katie in the sand on the beach near their home.
Jethro turned his head from his fishing off of the dock he was on. "I know she will. I trust NCIS to clean up their mess, if nothing else."
This made Tony smile and look about their home of eight months. When Jethro had put them on a plane, Tony had been certain there were going to Mexico. He'd been shocked to see their destination. Once in Florida, they'd traveled south into the Keys. There, they'd settled into a small house, already set up for them. He'd never expected Gibbs to be able to set up a new life for them so quickly. While they were in their exile, Jethro had told him about Kelly and Shannon, after Tony had asked. It had made so much about his lover make sense. Knowing it was a touchy subject, Tony had chose to leave it alone until Jethro brought it up. He also wisely didn't mention the changes their exile had brought to Jethro.
Their exile had been an interesting time for the family. Tony and Jethro had spent most of it watching their little girl grow and change. They also spent time with each other, making their relationship more stable.
"Yeah, they don't want the law suits leaving a crazy woman on the streets would bring." Tony shook his head as he watched Katie pull herself to her feet and waddle over to the dock. There she babbled, demanding Gibb's attention.
Jethro walked over and picked her up. "You're just like your daddy... showing off every new skill." Looking to Tony, he shifted her onto his hip. "Every day she's getting steadier on her feet. She'd going to be running soon."
"Yeah... she'd either going to keep us young or make us old." Tony moved over to stand by them, watching his lover and daughter.
Playing with Katie's dark mink colored hair, Jethro smiled as she grinned at him. "I wonder if they got the pictures from her birthday."
This made Tony smile and nod. "I'm surprised that Abby and Ducky didn't track us down for her party."
"I'm sure they tried. But this place and all of our new identities were done by people far better than those two." Jethro handed Katie to Tony to gather his fishing gear. "It's getting too hot out here for her. Let's got take a siesta."
"Good plan."
0-0-0-0 Part 21
When Jethro answer the phone he was shocked to hear his former boss and partner. "Mike? How did you get this number?"
"Easy there, Probie. If I were you and wanted to disappear, I'd go to a retired spook that owed me a huge favor. The reason I'm calling is to tell you that you can go home." Mike settled into back into his beach chair and winked at the woman who'd brought him the phone.
Jethro stood a little straighten and gestured Tony closer. "What do you mean?"
Mike puffed his cigarette and smirked on getting one up on Jethro. "That former Director is dead."
"How did you find out?" Gibbs demanded.
Coughing a little, the retired investigator cleared his throat. "Because I shot the crazy bitch. Seems she found a picture with you three on the beach... assumed you were down here and came in ready to kill. Only she found one pissed-off retiree with a sawed-off shot gun not legal by US standards. When she waved her little pistol in my face I blew her ass back out the door she'd come in."
For a moment Gibbs didn't say anything before he smiled at Tony. "I guess this means we owe you."
"Well, next vacation you can bring Katie to see me." Mike said smiling at the happiness in his friend's voice.
"Planned on it any, Mike. I'll have to get back with you on the time for that." Jethro make his good byes and turned to Tony.
Tony, meanwhile, watched all of the emotions run through his lover's eyes. When Jethro hung up, he immediately pounced. "What did Mike say?"
"Jen Sheppard apparently got one of Katie's birthday pictures. She thought we were in Mexico with Mike. When she burst in and demanded information with her pistol, Mike met her with a sawed-off. I'm going to get in touch with Ducky and see if they've heard anything." Going to the desk, Gibbs got one of his emergency disposable cell phones. Silently hoping, he put in a call to Ducky.
The ME was all smiles when he realized who was on the phone. "Jethro... I thought I would hear from you after the former Director was returned and we verified her identity."
"So it was her? For certain?" Gibbs breathed out slowly, knowing Ducky wasn't required to tell him anything.
With a reassuring tone, Ducky replied. "I did the autopsy myself and Abby did the DNA. Physical, teeth and DNA were all matches to Jen Sheppard. She's very much gone, Jethro. You're safe to come home if you like."
Looking to Tony, who was already packing, Jethro smiled before answering. "We'll be there soon."
"Good. I've very much missed you three and poor Abigail just hasn't been the same without you. Not to mention Timothy and Ziva. They've been added to one of the other teams and are suffering for it. No one uses them to their full potential as you do." Ducky said smiling at Jimmy who was beginning to smile, apparently having figured out who he was on the phone with.
This made Gibbs sigh. Looking to where Tony had disappeared into the master bedroom, Jethro spoke softly. "To be honest, Ducky... I don't think I'll be coming back to work. Maybe full retirement is the best option."
Ducky frowned, but didn't comment too much on it. "We can talk more on that when you get here. I'll be expecting a phone call from you when you know your travel schedule."
"Of course, Ducky." With that Gibbs hung up to go help Tony get everything they would need to take with them.
0-0-0-0 Part 22
"Ah... DC air... I'd forgotten how much it smells." Tony said with a slight roll of his nose as he shifted Katie higher in her harness and looked around the busy airport they'd flown into.
Jethro nodded before gesturing to where Tim was waiting near the luggage claim. "We should go before the puppy wets himself in excitement."
This brought a chuckle from Tony who started over to the young agent. "Probie! Long time no see."
Tim smiled at them before leaning down to Katie. "Hello, Katie. It's been a while since you've seen Uncle Tim, huh?"
Blinking slowly, Katie simply stared at him before looking up at Tony.
"Sorry, Probie. She doesn't remember you." Tony smiled sheepishly, before pulling her out of her harness and handing her over. "Go to Uncle Timmy while Daddy and Papa get the bags."
Katie allowed Tim to hold her for a moment as she studied him. Apparently she saw something she liked and snuggled to him with a happy smile.
0-0-0-0
On the drive to Gibbs' house, Tim kept up a constant chatter about everything and anything he could think of.
"Abby and I cleaned your place after Ducky told us you were coming home. We also swept it for any surprises the former Director might have left." Tim said as he pulled into the drive way. There, on the front step, was Abby, obviously too excited to wait inside.
As soon as the car stopped Abby ran up and wrapped around Gibbs. "I've missed you so much." After letting him go, she went to Tony and hugged him before taking Katie from him. "Come to Auntie Abby, Katie-girl."
With a chuckle, Tony allowed the Goth to take off with his daughter. On the porch Ducky and Ziva had stepped out to smile in welcome.
Turning, Tony smiled at Gibbs, who'd put a hand to his back. "We're home."
"Almost doesn't seem possible... but it will be nice to get back to work." Jethro said honestly as he handed Tony his bag before he grabbed Katie's and his own.
This made Tony laugh. "Retirement too boring?"
Gibbs nodded, willing to admit it. "I love spending time with you and Katie, but..."
"You need to fulfill your Superman quota?" Tony supplied and then ducked as Gibbs slapped at his head.
"Can it, Dinozzo. We're not even back at NCIS and you're taking up you old bad habits. You'd better hope our daughter doesn't pick any of those bad habits up." Jethro was smiling as he said this, leading Tony to the door where everyone was waiting.
Smirking over his shoulder, Tony winked playfully. "But you love me anyway."
This brought a sigh and a head shake from Gibbs before he answered. "I do, but I wonder at the sanity of it."
Upon moving into the house, both men smiled at their associates. In the middle was Katie. Moving towards them, Tony and Jethro happily rejoined their family, knowing that there could be no better place for them or their little girl.
THE END