NCIS bonding fic
Written for Kungfunurse for her birthday while IMing with her and Nancy.
As usual, late night silliness ensues.
Title: Interdepartmental Co-operation
Author: Arnie
Genre: AU, bonding fic, gen
Rating: PG
Summary: While working a case, Tony runs into NCIS
Length: 2,872 words (including comments)
Thanks to KFN for the title!
Interdepartmental Co-operation
by Arnie
Gibbs scowled as he stalked into the apartment. If it wasn't bad enough that they had three dead marines, they also had various members of law enforcement to deal with. If the Baltimore PD thought they were going to claim this case, they were wrong.
"Who's in charge?" he demanded, looking around the room.
A smug looking man in a plain suit stalked up to him. "I am. And you are?"
Gibbs stuck his ID in the smug face. "Gibbs. NCIS. We'll take it from here."
The guy pushed Gibbs's hand away. "This is on our territory -"
"And it involves Marines. Our case; move out."
For a moment, Gibbs thought the guy was going to push the issue as his eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared, then, "DiNozzo!"
"Yeah?" A Guide came through a doorway to the right of them, and stopped, his gaze flickering with Gibbs and the Baltimore PD cop.
"We're out of here."
[KFN: the swagger cop can go, leave the guide behind]
"But I -" As Gibbs stared at him, the Guide put the book he'd been holding down. "Sure thing." He took a few steps to the right, away from Gibbs, as if trying to circle around to use the cop as protection, and the Sentinel smiled slightly.
"Been taking pictures?" Gibbs asked, flicking a look at the camera DiNozzo still held.
The un-named cop bristled. "DiNozzo takes pictures for us to use, yeah. What's your problem?"
Gibbs smiled. "Maybe we can find a way to work together."
[KFN: he wants Tony's... pictures
KFN: and guidely wiles at his side]
The Guide's eyes widened. "I don't think that's a good idea, Bryant," he muttered.
[Nancy: oh yeah
Nancy: I bet he doesn't]
Gibbs held back his growl as Bryant brushed the Guide aside. "Work together, how?"
[Nancy:
KFN: you leave me the guide, and I'll leave you your larynx all in one nice piece. that seems fair to Gibbs, I'd bet]
The Sentinel gazed at the Guide. "Special Agent Todd left her camera behind."
"No, I..." Kate's eyes met Gibbs's and she continued, "must have left it at home."
DiNozzo's gaze skittered between the three of them. "She can borrow my camera." He gave a half-hearted leer that was ruined by the scent of his nervousness. "Any time."
[KFN: aww, Tony's trying so hard to hang on to his equilibrium, but he's just kind of thrown off balance by his Sentinel's sudden appearance
KFN: he's so cute when he's flustered]
Gibbs ignored the glare Kate was directing at DiNozzo. "So we'll borrow your camera and," he reached around Bryant and grasped the Guide's arm firmly, drawing him around to his side, "might as well borrow your man too. He can liaise with us."
[KFN: right, interdepartmental cooperation isn't dead yet]
Bryant shrugged, apparently oblivious to the byplay or the way DiNozzo was gasping for breath. "Fine with me. I'll catch up with you later, Tony." Casting one last glare at Gibbs, he left.
~'~
Tony gulped as his last bit of protection went out the door. "I..." The Sentinel's gaze swung back to him, and Tony babbled, "Don't think I'd be too good at working with NCIS. I have a phobia - about the sea. And sailors. And ships."
[KFN: and other things that start with "S", like, Sentinel?]
Gibbs smiled at him - or, at least, bared his teeth in a way that could, if you were feeling nervous, like Tony was, appear to be in a predatory way. "Or Sentinels?"
[KFN: that Gibbs is a sharp one
KFN: look at all the pretty teeth, Tony
KFN: of course Gibbs would never let the bonding get in the way of the case]
Tony stepped back, nearly falling over the coffee table. "No! Sentinels are uh...fine. At a distance." A long distance. Say a mile or more. 'Oh God, he was baring his teeth again.'
[KFN: though, if it was holding up the case, Gibbs might just bond with him to get him over his groundless fears of things that start with "S"]
"You're a Guide?" The woman, Kate, seemed amused.
Gibbs directed the smile at her, and Tony noticed that she seemed a little flustered too.
"Well, I'm not a Sentinel. I couldn't tell." She shrugged. "I'll go wait for Ducky to arrive then, shall I?"
[Nancy: DON"T LEAVE ME
KFN: run Tony!]
Tony was almost sure he managed to stop the whimper as she left the room too. He didn't suppose the three dead marines would rise up to stop the Sentinel either.
Though he would be kinda freaked if THEY left the room as well.
[KFN: now's the time for bluster if ever Tony's life depended on it
Nancy:
Nancy: umm
Nancy: Sarie?
Nancy: have you umm seen the Mummy???
Sarah: yes - and no, they're not coming to life]
"I'll uh...just get on with taking the pictures, seeing as I have a camera," Tony said, backing towards the door again.
[KFN: waaaay over here
KFN: check out how good this long distance lens is]
"Before you do..."
Tony froze, his gaze fixed on the Sentinel.
"What was the book you brought in?"
Sighing in relief, Tony picked it up, and handed it over. Though, if he'd thought about it, the Sentinel would have to be one freaky Sentinel if he was gonna suggest bonding in an apartment with three dead marines. Tony had never heard of a Sentinel who was into that.
[KFN: yes. you're perfectly safe. completely. for now
Nancy: riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight]
Gibbs flicked open the book, his gloved hands sliding over the pages. "Interesting."
"I thought so."
Ignoring his nerves, Tony moved to stand beside the Sentinel. "These three," he pointed out the pictures that were most disfigured in the album, "are our dead guys."
Gibbs tilted the album slightly, the light reflecting off the glossy pictures. "Someone didn't like them."
"But if you turn the page."
The page was turned, and the Sentinel raised his eyebrows.
"Looks like they're not gonna be the only victims," Tony said.
~'~
[KFN: why would the killer leave behind his treasured possession like that?
Nancy: Tony is the killer!
Nancy: I knew it!
KFN: um
Sarah: okay - but Gibbs is going to have to cover up the crime
Nancy: good
KFN: stop turning Tony evil!
KFN: *stomps foot*
KFN: ouch]
An hour later, Tony was feeling a lot less nervous as he sat in NCIS' Forensics lab listening to a lab tech called Abby rave about the clarity of the pictures.
"You think you can identify them?"
Abby turned, a huge grin on her face. "Watch the master at work!" she ordered.
Tony sat back, obediently watching as her fingers danced over the computer keyboard.
Pictures flickered across the huge screen, too fast for the eye to follow.
"With a little bit of computer magic..." Abby pressed more buttons. "We can clean up the pictures and...." She gazed up at the screen expectantly.
As if on cue, the pictures stopped flashing, a "identification verified" appearing instead.
Tony got to his feet. "Another potential victim," he said.
"Or possibly already a victim," Abby replied.
"What have you got?"
Tony turned as Gibbs walked in.
"One ID so far, and the other shouldn't be far behind," Abby told him, looking pleased.
"Good work. So who's the marine?"
Abby accepted the giant Kaf-Pow Gibbs held out to her and turned back to the screen. "Lieutenant Jake Kelling. Stationed in Baltimore."
"What a surprise," Tony murmured.
The computer beeped again, and another two pictures appeared.
"And a Lieutenant Matthews. Also Baltimore."
Tony gazed up at the five pictures. "So three dead, and two to go?"
Gibbs nodded. "Looks that way. You're with me. Kate'll meet us in the car."
[KFN: I bet he starts calling him Boss and doesn't even realize it. Poor guide doesn't have a chance]
"Sure thing, Boss."
~'~
"So we have two IDs?" Kate asked, her gaze going from the back of Gibbs's head to the side of Tony's face.
"Yep," Tony said over his shoulder, his voice sounding strained as he clung to the side of his seat.
Kate hid her smile. "You'll get used to how Gibbs drives. He likes to get places in a hurry." She clung to the door as the car squealed around a corner, then added, "We all get used to it. In time."
Tony nodded, his jaw muscles clenching tightly. "I can tell," he finally managed to answer.
The car slammed to a halt and Kate got out of the car gratefully. She'd thought that Gibbs would drive a little bit more carefully, what with having a Guide in the car and all, but he hadn't.
[KFN: well, he needs a guide who is not only smart enough, but tough enough to keep up with him. no wonder he's not bonded already]
Throwing a glance at the Guide, she wondered if she could get him to tell Gibbs that cars had more than one gear. Gibbs was less likely to shoot a Guide for saying that.
As they reached the door to Matthews' apartment, Kate was glad to see Tony already had a gun in his hand, his stance professional. At least if Gibbs was going to bond, he'd picked a Guide who had some clue what to do. They'd all been concerned about that one.
"Matthews!"
Tony grinned slightly. "Maybe he's a heavy sleeper, Boss."
As Gibbs threw Tony a glare, Kate bit her lip. It wasn't going to be dull having him around.
Gibbs turned his attention back to the door and Kate saw the intent look in his eyes. He sniffed, then, "C-4!"
They scrambled, Gibbs's hands shoving at her and Tony as they ran down the hallway.
As they staggered to a halt, Tony asked, "Boss?"
"Get down!"
Kate hit the floor, oofing as Tony fell half on her, and Gibbs fell on him. "You know, guys, this is not what I -"
The rest of her words were lost as the building shook, and bits of Matthews' door flew past.
Kate sat up slowly, her ears ringing.
Gibbs looked a little dazed, and Kate winced, hoping he'd had his hearing dialled down.
"Boss? Boss?!" As Gibbs sat up and grinned at Tony, the Guide seemed to realise what he was doing, and pulled back. "I was just concerned, that was all."
Kate accepted the hand Tony offered her, and followed him and Gibbs back to the apartment - what was left of it.
"I was just concerned. Honest," Tony repeated insistently.
She glanced at him. "Then why do you keep calling him 'Boss'?" As Tony stopped dead in the hallway, Kate grinned and kept on walking.
Gibbs turned and looked at them both. "Looks like we found Matthews."
~'~
Doing his best to ignore Gibbs, which, he admitted to himself, was pretty difficult, Tony kept his gaze fixed on the screen showing pictures of their victims.
"Four dead -"
"Don't say it!" Gibbs interrupted.
Tony glanced at him, then turned away. "Okay." He refused to say 'Boss'. After all, Gibbs wasn't his Boss.
Not that he'd been his Boss when Tony had been saying it. It had been an accident, that was all
A mistake anyone could make.
The screen changed, and Tony looked back at it, glad to have something to focus his attention on.
"So far, we have four dead marines. Three dead in Johansson's apartment - Johansson among them - and Matthews -"
"Blown to bits in his own," Tony put in.
Gibbs scowled at the screen. "He was already dead when the bomb went off."
Turning back, Tony looked at him. "How'd you know that, B-" He bit the last of the word off.
From the smirk Gibbs threw him, he'd known what it was anyway. "I could hear the counter on the bomb, but no heartbeat."
"So since Matthews was in there after the bomb went off -"
"He was in there before, but he was already dead."
"Then why blow up his apartment?" Kate asked from where she was sitting at her desk.
"Kelling." Tony looked at Gibbs. "If Kelling's behind it, he could be faking his own death."
Gibbs nodded. "He wasn't dead in his apartment."
"All we need is a motive."
Kate stood up. "We have one. Or a possibility of one." She pressed a button and a page appeared on the screen. "Kelling's bank statement."
Tony raised his eyebrows., "Since when do marines make that kind of money?"
"They don't," Gibbs retorted. "Kate, I want you to do through everything we've got on Kelling - find out where that money came from."
Kate smiled. "There's more." She pressed more buttons. "All four of the marines had a substantial amount of money paid into their accounts over a period of time. They all withdrew the money recently."
"There was no money in the apartment," Tony pointed out. "You think Kelling took it all?"
"We're gonna find out," Gibbs said
~'~
Once they knew that Kelling was, most likely, still alive, and was faking his death, it didn't take them long to track him down to the airport where he and Matthews' girlfriend were catching a plane.
Tony grinned as he wrestled the girlfriend to the ground. "Is life in NCIS always this interesting?" he asked.
Gibbs finished snapping the handcuffs on a sullen Kelling. "Why, you interested in joining my team?"
Tony's eyes widened. "Uh, well, I -"
[Nancy: he can wrestle me
KFN: hands off woman! property of Gibbs]
Gibbs smiled as he dragged Kelling to his feet. "Once we've sorted these two out, we can discuss it."
Perhaps predictably, Matthews' ex-girlfriend spilled the beans on Kelling. It seemed loyalty was something that didn't rate highly on Nancy Kiffinator's priorities.
[KFN: hey!
KFN: I seem to bear some slight resemblance to that woman...
Nancy: :o
Sarah: any resemblance to people, living or dead, is PURELY coincidental
KFN: sure]
As she hobbled to a seat in the interrogation room, Nancy Kiffinator glared at Gibbs. "I don't suppose I could get some ice for my feet, could I?" she demanded.
"Maybe once you reach jail."
Leaving the room, Gibbs snagged Tony's elbow and dragged him off to another interrogation room.
Tony smelt nervous, but he leaned on the table and stuck his hands in his pockets casually. "Gonna interrogate me?"
Gibbs locked the door. "Not quite." He heard the Guide gulp as he moved around the table towards him.
"Hey, is that Abby in there?" Tony pointed to the one-way mirror, then made a quick dash for the door.
Gibbs, not having had foot surgery lately, found it easy to catch him, and reeled him in. "Nope. There's no one in there."
[KFN: there does seem to be a rash of foot surgeries lately...
Nancy: RUN
KFN: or at least squirm convincingly]
"Are you sure? Maybe I should go check?" Tony suggested, trying to pull his arm free.
Gibbs let go. "Just sit down and talk to me."
Tony looked at him for a few seconds, then sighed and took a seat.
Then started talking before Gibbs could even get a word out. "I know you're a Sentinel and everything but it would never work between us. You're a Sentinel, I'm a Guide -"
"So we're compatible," Gibbs put in.
"You work in DC, I work in Baltimore -"
"You can move."
Tony's eyes flickered at that. "You're a special agent in NCIS, I'm a cop."
Gibbs sat on the table. "People can change careers."
Tony sighed. "I suck at relationships, and I'll drive you crazy."
Gibbs grinned. "I've been divorced three times."
"Yeah?" Tony looked a little heartened by that.
"And you already drive me crazy, DiNozzo." Gibbs leaned down and gazed into Tony's eyes closely.
"Oh. Well." Tony blinked. "I don't have any more arguments."
Gibbs grinned. "So let's bond."
He waited until he got a slow, uncertain nod from Tony, then leaned in, grasping the Guide's hair in one hand and pulling gently.
[Nancy: he is JUST GVING IN?
KFN: Tony needs to be loved, Nan.
KFN: it's just the way he is, you know
Nancy: well yes
Nancy: but still!
Nancy: where is his DIGNITY]
As the Guide relaxed and tilted his head back, the Sentinel scented at the base of his neck, then, at the first sign of tension, he bit down hard.
The Guide cried out, one hand flying up to grab at the Sentinel's shoulder, as the Sentinel pushed forward through the crumbling mental barriers and into the Guide's mind. Their minds merged and the Guide relaxed, his hand falling back down into his lap, the only thing keeping him upright seemed to be the Sentinel's hold on him.
As Tony melted against him, Gibbs straightened slightly, and sighed. They were bonded.
"Boss?"
"Hmm?" Gibbs blinked to wake himself up a little, wondering how soon he could take his Guide back to his house so they could sleep.
"Have you really been divorced three times?"
Giving a huff of laughter, the Sentinel pulled his sleepy Guide to his feet. "I'll tell you about it another time."
The End
As usual, late night silliness ensues.
Title: Interdepartmental Co-operation
Author: Arnie
Genre: AU, bonding fic, gen
Rating: PG
Summary: While working a case, Tony runs into NCIS
Length: 2,872 words (including comments)
Thanks to KFN for the title!
Interdepartmental Co-operation
by Arnie
Gibbs scowled as he stalked into the apartment. If it wasn't bad enough that they had three dead marines, they also had various members of law enforcement to deal with. If the Baltimore PD thought they were going to claim this case, they were wrong.
"Who's in charge?" he demanded, looking around the room.
A smug looking man in a plain suit stalked up to him. "I am. And you are?"
Gibbs stuck his ID in the smug face. "Gibbs. NCIS. We'll take it from here."
The guy pushed Gibbs's hand away. "This is on our territory -"
"And it involves Marines. Our case; move out."
For a moment, Gibbs thought the guy was going to push the issue as his eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared, then, "DiNozzo!"
"Yeah?" A Guide came through a doorway to the right of them, and stopped, his gaze flickering with Gibbs and the Baltimore PD cop.
"We're out of here."
[KFN: the swagger cop can go, leave the guide behind]
"But I -" As Gibbs stared at him, the Guide put the book he'd been holding down. "Sure thing." He took a few steps to the right, away from Gibbs, as if trying to circle around to use the cop as protection, and the Sentinel smiled slightly.
"Been taking pictures?" Gibbs asked, flicking a look at the camera DiNozzo still held.
The un-named cop bristled. "DiNozzo takes pictures for us to use, yeah. What's your problem?"
Gibbs smiled. "Maybe we can find a way to work together."
[KFN: he wants Tony's... pictures
KFN: and guidely wiles at his side]
The Guide's eyes widened. "I don't think that's a good idea, Bryant," he muttered.
[Nancy: oh yeah
Nancy: I bet he doesn't]
Gibbs held back his growl as Bryant brushed the Guide aside. "Work together, how?"
[Nancy:
KFN: you leave me the guide, and I'll leave you your larynx all in one nice piece. that seems fair to Gibbs, I'd bet]
The Sentinel gazed at the Guide. "Special Agent Todd left her camera behind."
"No, I..." Kate's eyes met Gibbs's and she continued, "must have left it at home."
DiNozzo's gaze skittered between the three of them. "She can borrow my camera." He gave a half-hearted leer that was ruined by the scent of his nervousness. "Any time."
[KFN: aww, Tony's trying so hard to hang on to his equilibrium, but he's just kind of thrown off balance by his Sentinel's sudden appearance
KFN: he's so cute when he's flustered]
Gibbs ignored the glare Kate was directing at DiNozzo. "So we'll borrow your camera and," he reached around Bryant and grasped the Guide's arm firmly, drawing him around to his side, "might as well borrow your man too. He can liaise with us."
[KFN: right, interdepartmental cooperation isn't dead yet]
Bryant shrugged, apparently oblivious to the byplay or the way DiNozzo was gasping for breath. "Fine with me. I'll catch up with you later, Tony." Casting one last glare at Gibbs, he left.
~'~
Tony gulped as his last bit of protection went out the door. "I..." The Sentinel's gaze swung back to him, and Tony babbled, "Don't think I'd be too good at working with NCIS. I have a phobia - about the sea. And sailors. And ships."
[KFN: and other things that start with "S", like, Sentinel?]
Gibbs smiled at him - or, at least, bared his teeth in a way that could, if you were feeling nervous, like Tony was, appear to be in a predatory way. "Or Sentinels?"
[KFN: that Gibbs is a sharp one
KFN: look at all the pretty teeth, Tony
KFN: of course Gibbs would never let the bonding get in the way of the case]
Tony stepped back, nearly falling over the coffee table. "No! Sentinels are uh...fine. At a distance." A long distance. Say a mile or more. 'Oh God, he was baring his teeth again.'
[KFN: though, if it was holding up the case, Gibbs might just bond with him to get him over his groundless fears of things that start with "S"]
"You're a Guide?" The woman, Kate, seemed amused.
Gibbs directed the smile at her, and Tony noticed that she seemed a little flustered too.
"Well, I'm not a Sentinel. I couldn't tell." She shrugged. "I'll go wait for Ducky to arrive then, shall I?"
[Nancy: DON"T LEAVE ME
KFN: run Tony!]
Tony was almost sure he managed to stop the whimper as she left the room too. He didn't suppose the three dead marines would rise up to stop the Sentinel either.
Though he would be kinda freaked if THEY left the room as well.
[KFN: now's the time for bluster if ever Tony's life depended on it
Nancy:
Nancy: umm
Nancy: Sarie?
Nancy: have you umm seen the Mummy???
Sarah: yes - and no, they're not coming to life]
"I'll uh...just get on with taking the pictures, seeing as I have a camera," Tony said, backing towards the door again.
[KFN: waaaay over here
KFN: check out how good this long distance lens is]
"Before you do..."
Tony froze, his gaze fixed on the Sentinel.
"What was the book you brought in?"
Sighing in relief, Tony picked it up, and handed it over. Though, if he'd thought about it, the Sentinel would have to be one freaky Sentinel if he was gonna suggest bonding in an apartment with three dead marines. Tony had never heard of a Sentinel who was into that.
[KFN: yes. you're perfectly safe. completely. for now
Nancy: riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight]
Gibbs flicked open the book, his gloved hands sliding over the pages. "Interesting."
"I thought so."
Ignoring his nerves, Tony moved to stand beside the Sentinel. "These three," he pointed out the pictures that were most disfigured in the album, "are our dead guys."
Gibbs tilted the album slightly, the light reflecting off the glossy pictures. "Someone didn't like them."
"But if you turn the page."
The page was turned, and the Sentinel raised his eyebrows.
"Looks like they're not gonna be the only victims," Tony said.
~'~
[KFN: why would the killer leave behind his treasured possession like that?
Nancy: Tony is the killer!
Nancy: I knew it!
KFN: um
Sarah: okay - but Gibbs is going to have to cover up the crime
Nancy: good
KFN: stop turning Tony evil!
KFN: *stomps foot*
KFN: ouch]
An hour later, Tony was feeling a lot less nervous as he sat in NCIS' Forensics lab listening to a lab tech called Abby rave about the clarity of the pictures.
"You think you can identify them?"
Abby turned, a huge grin on her face. "Watch the master at work!" she ordered.
Tony sat back, obediently watching as her fingers danced over the computer keyboard.
Pictures flickered across the huge screen, too fast for the eye to follow.
"With a little bit of computer magic..." Abby pressed more buttons. "We can clean up the pictures and...." She gazed up at the screen expectantly.
As if on cue, the pictures stopped flashing, a "identification verified" appearing instead.
Tony got to his feet. "Another potential victim," he said.
"Or possibly already a victim," Abby replied.
"What have you got?"
Tony turned as Gibbs walked in.
"One ID so far, and the other shouldn't be far behind," Abby told him, looking pleased.
"Good work. So who's the marine?"
Abby accepted the giant Kaf-Pow Gibbs held out to her and turned back to the screen. "Lieutenant Jake Kelling. Stationed in Baltimore."
"What a surprise," Tony murmured.
The computer beeped again, and another two pictures appeared.
"And a Lieutenant Matthews. Also Baltimore."
Tony gazed up at the five pictures. "So three dead, and two to go?"
Gibbs nodded. "Looks that way. You're with me. Kate'll meet us in the car."
[KFN: I bet he starts calling him Boss and doesn't even realize it. Poor guide doesn't have a chance]
"Sure thing, Boss."
~'~
"So we have two IDs?" Kate asked, her gaze going from the back of Gibbs's head to the side of Tony's face.
"Yep," Tony said over his shoulder, his voice sounding strained as he clung to the side of his seat.
Kate hid her smile. "You'll get used to how Gibbs drives. He likes to get places in a hurry." She clung to the door as the car squealed around a corner, then added, "We all get used to it. In time."
Tony nodded, his jaw muscles clenching tightly. "I can tell," he finally managed to answer.
The car slammed to a halt and Kate got out of the car gratefully. She'd thought that Gibbs would drive a little bit more carefully, what with having a Guide in the car and all, but he hadn't.
[KFN: well, he needs a guide who is not only smart enough, but tough enough to keep up with him. no wonder he's not bonded already]
Throwing a glance at the Guide, she wondered if she could get him to tell Gibbs that cars had more than one gear. Gibbs was less likely to shoot a Guide for saying that.
As they reached the door to Matthews' apartment, Kate was glad to see Tony already had a gun in his hand, his stance professional. At least if Gibbs was going to bond, he'd picked a Guide who had some clue what to do. They'd all been concerned about that one.
"Matthews!"
Tony grinned slightly. "Maybe he's a heavy sleeper, Boss."
As Gibbs threw Tony a glare, Kate bit her lip. It wasn't going to be dull having him around.
Gibbs turned his attention back to the door and Kate saw the intent look in his eyes. He sniffed, then, "C-4!"
They scrambled, Gibbs's hands shoving at her and Tony as they ran down the hallway.
As they staggered to a halt, Tony asked, "Boss?"
"Get down!"
Kate hit the floor, oofing as Tony fell half on her, and Gibbs fell on him. "You know, guys, this is not what I -"
The rest of her words were lost as the building shook, and bits of Matthews' door flew past.
Kate sat up slowly, her ears ringing.
Gibbs looked a little dazed, and Kate winced, hoping he'd had his hearing dialled down.
"Boss? Boss?!" As Gibbs sat up and grinned at Tony, the Guide seemed to realise what he was doing, and pulled back. "I was just concerned, that was all."
Kate accepted the hand Tony offered her, and followed him and Gibbs back to the apartment - what was left of it.
"I was just concerned. Honest," Tony repeated insistently.
She glanced at him. "Then why do you keep calling him 'Boss'?" As Tony stopped dead in the hallway, Kate grinned and kept on walking.
Gibbs turned and looked at them both. "Looks like we found Matthews."
~'~
Doing his best to ignore Gibbs, which, he admitted to himself, was pretty difficult, Tony kept his gaze fixed on the screen showing pictures of their victims.
"Four dead -"
"Don't say it!" Gibbs interrupted.
Tony glanced at him, then turned away. "Okay." He refused to say 'Boss'. After all, Gibbs wasn't his Boss.
Not that he'd been his Boss when Tony had been saying it. It had been an accident, that was all
A mistake anyone could make.
The screen changed, and Tony looked back at it, glad to have something to focus his attention on.
"So far, we have four dead marines. Three dead in Johansson's apartment - Johansson among them - and Matthews -"
"Blown to bits in his own," Tony put in.
Gibbs scowled at the screen. "He was already dead when the bomb went off."
Turning back, Tony looked at him. "How'd you know that, B-" He bit the last of the word off.
From the smirk Gibbs threw him, he'd known what it was anyway. "I could hear the counter on the bomb, but no heartbeat."
"So since Matthews was in there after the bomb went off -"
"He was in there before, but he was already dead."
"Then why blow up his apartment?" Kate asked from where she was sitting at her desk.
"Kelling." Tony looked at Gibbs. "If Kelling's behind it, he could be faking his own death."
Gibbs nodded. "He wasn't dead in his apartment."
"All we need is a motive."
Kate stood up. "We have one. Or a possibility of one." She pressed a button and a page appeared on the screen. "Kelling's bank statement."
Tony raised his eyebrows., "Since when do marines make that kind of money?"
"They don't," Gibbs retorted. "Kate, I want you to do through everything we've got on Kelling - find out where that money came from."
Kate smiled. "There's more." She pressed more buttons. "All four of the marines had a substantial amount of money paid into their accounts over a period of time. They all withdrew the money recently."
"There was no money in the apartment," Tony pointed out. "You think Kelling took it all?"
"We're gonna find out," Gibbs said
~'~
Once they knew that Kelling was, most likely, still alive, and was faking his death, it didn't take them long to track him down to the airport where he and Matthews' girlfriend were catching a plane.
Tony grinned as he wrestled the girlfriend to the ground. "Is life in NCIS always this interesting?" he asked.
Gibbs finished snapping the handcuffs on a sullen Kelling. "Why, you interested in joining my team?"
Tony's eyes widened. "Uh, well, I -"
[Nancy: he can wrestle me
KFN: hands off woman! property of Gibbs]
Gibbs smiled as he dragged Kelling to his feet. "Once we've sorted these two out, we can discuss it."
Perhaps predictably, Matthews' ex-girlfriend spilled the beans on Kelling. It seemed loyalty was something that didn't rate highly on Nancy Kiffinator's priorities.
[KFN: hey!
KFN: I seem to bear some slight resemblance to that woman...
Nancy: :o
Sarah: any resemblance to people, living or dead, is PURELY coincidental
KFN: sure]
As she hobbled to a seat in the interrogation room, Nancy Kiffinator glared at Gibbs. "I don't suppose I could get some ice for my feet, could I?" she demanded.
"Maybe once you reach jail."
Leaving the room, Gibbs snagged Tony's elbow and dragged him off to another interrogation room.
Tony smelt nervous, but he leaned on the table and stuck his hands in his pockets casually. "Gonna interrogate me?"
Gibbs locked the door. "Not quite." He heard the Guide gulp as he moved around the table towards him.
"Hey, is that Abby in there?" Tony pointed to the one-way mirror, then made a quick dash for the door.
Gibbs, not having had foot surgery lately, found it easy to catch him, and reeled him in. "Nope. There's no one in there."
[KFN: there does seem to be a rash of foot surgeries lately...
Nancy: RUN
KFN: or at least squirm convincingly]
"Are you sure? Maybe I should go check?" Tony suggested, trying to pull his arm free.
Gibbs let go. "Just sit down and talk to me."
Tony looked at him for a few seconds, then sighed and took a seat.
Then started talking before Gibbs could even get a word out. "I know you're a Sentinel and everything but it would never work between us. You're a Sentinel, I'm a Guide -"
"So we're compatible," Gibbs put in.
"You work in DC, I work in Baltimore -"
"You can move."
Tony's eyes flickered at that. "You're a special agent in NCIS, I'm a cop."
Gibbs sat on the table. "People can change careers."
Tony sighed. "I suck at relationships, and I'll drive you crazy."
Gibbs grinned. "I've been divorced three times."
"Yeah?" Tony looked a little heartened by that.
"And you already drive me crazy, DiNozzo." Gibbs leaned down and gazed into Tony's eyes closely.
"Oh. Well." Tony blinked. "I don't have any more arguments."
Gibbs grinned. "So let's bond."
He waited until he got a slow, uncertain nod from Tony, then leaned in, grasping the Guide's hair in one hand and pulling gently.
[Nancy: he is JUST GVING IN?
KFN: Tony needs to be loved, Nan.
KFN: it's just the way he is, you know
Nancy: well yes
Nancy: but still!
Nancy: where is his DIGNITY]
As the Guide relaxed and tilted his head back, the Sentinel scented at the base of his neck, then, at the first sign of tension, he bit down hard.
The Guide cried out, one hand flying up to grab at the Sentinel's shoulder, as the Sentinel pushed forward through the crumbling mental barriers and into the Guide's mind. Their minds merged and the Guide relaxed, his hand falling back down into his lap, the only thing keeping him upright seemed to be the Sentinel's hold on him.
As Tony melted against him, Gibbs straightened slightly, and sighed. They were bonded.
"Boss?"
"Hmm?" Gibbs blinked to wake himself up a little, wondering how soon he could take his Guide back to his house so they could sleep.
"Have you really been divorced three times?"
Giving a huff of laughter, the Sentinel pulled his sleepy Guide to his feet. "I'll tell you about it another time."
The End