New World (Dis)Order - Chapter 1: How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria - NCIS/Dark Angel Crossover
Title: New World (Dis)Order
Chapter: 1 - How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria
Characters/Pairings: Minor Abby/McGee
Spoilers/Warning: M
Summary: When Logan finds a home for Maria his past collides with his present and the young girl is not the only one to be rescued, or to find a family.
Disclaimer: I neither own NCIS nor Dark Angel and probably never will, please don't sue this is just for harmless, non-profit entertainment.
Author's Note: NCIS/Dark Angel crossover set at the end of DA 1x03 'Flushed' and inspired by a quote in that episode and one from NCIS 3x05 'Switch'. The events of NCIS happened before those of Dark Angel (age is irrelevant in my world). Crossposted at fanfiction.net under the alias Violetwarnercobalt and at fanfictionspace.com under the alias DiNozzoitis.
Chapter 1: How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria
Logan sat silently in his parked car, hands gripping the steering wheel, staring up at the farm house. He knew he should go in but he couldn't find the courage to face two of his oldest friends. Sure they knew about his still recent change in condition, hell they had seen the footage of the shooting on TV just like everyone else, but this was the first time that they would actually see him in his wheelchair, never in a million years did he think he would have to face them like this. Feeling both vulnerable and trapped he tore his infamous eyes away from the house. Now facing the passenger seat his sight fell upon the quiet blonde girl seated next to him.
In his selfish state of nervousness he had almost forgotten that she was the reason why he was parked there. It didn't help that the fragile girl hadn't spoken a word in the two or so hours since they left the city, even now she sat in silence, hands folded in her lap, gazing intently through the glass of the car's windshield.
His heart broke a little, there he was, a man of wealth with a family of friends, feeling sorry for himself while the young girl beside him knew nothing but a life of pain and abuse.
Mentally slapping himself over the back of the head he unbuckled his seat belt and began to speak in a hushed voice.
"Are you ready Maria?" Her reply was nothing but a soft nod and the girl released the seat belt as she got out of the car.
While Logan transferred himself from the driver's seat into his chair Maria stood at the closed door on the other side of the vehicle.
For the first time since leaving the penthouse he wondered whether he should have accepted Max and Bling's offers to come along for the ride, if not for his own sake then to support Maria. The poor girl's life had changed so drastically in a matter of hours and Logan, more than anyone, knew how that could shake a person to their core. 'At least hers had changed for the better' he thought.
Fighting the urge to vomit Logan forced a smile onto his face and looked up at the girl who had come to stand beside him.
“You don't need to worry you know,” he wasn't exactly sure whether he was talking to himself or his companion, a little of both he guessed “My friends are really good people, they are going to love you no matter what.”
“What if they don't? What if it turns out to be just like at the warden's house?” her voice barely more than a whisper.
If he hadn't have had experience with abused children before he would have given in to his urge to place a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Her already too white face seemed to pale as she looked at the door at the end of the path.
“Maria, I know you don't know me but I give you my word, these people are nothing like the warden and his wife. They are kind, caring people; I've known the wife for almost 20 years and her husband for about 18, I wouldn't even think about leaving you with them if I didn't trust them with my own life.”
When she finally made eye contact with Logan he could see that even though there was doubt still in her eyes there was also a flicker of something else, hope perhaps?
“Well we better get this over with now because the longer we wait the harder it will be.” Logan sighed, knowing this time his words were aimed at himself. He wished that he could be as sure about his friends reactions to him being in the chair as he was about their acceptance of their new daughter.
Logan knew that they had tried to visit him when he was in the hospital recovering, the get well card filled with familiar handwriting had proven that. He couldn't be sure if they had come to see him while he was still unconscious, if they did then neither Dr Carr or any of the nurses hadn't mentioned it. As soon as he was awake and fully aware of what had happened to him he had made it clear to the hospital staff that he didn't want any visitors, no matter who they were. Back then he had had too much to deal with.
Apart from the phone call the other night, the one to arrange Maria's adoption, Logan had only sent the couple a few short emails in the time since he had been released a little over three months earlier. He hadn't been ready for things to change between the three of them again, he still wasn't sure if he was ready now.
The two of them both slowly made their way down the path, like prisoners heading to their own execution, sharing matching expressionless faces.
It was almost a minute before Logan got up the courage to ring the door bell. As his fears of his friends reactions kept playing in his head he unconsciously wheeled himself off to the side so he wasn't directly in front of the red painted door.
They didn't have to wait long for the occupants to answer, 'why would they' Logan thought to himself, they were expecting them after all.
His heart skipped a few beats as he saw his two friends, barely changed with age. Right there in front of him stood the same fair haired man dressed remarkably like an English professor, odd considering he was now an almost full time dairy farmer and only a part time author, and the same perky forensic scientist Goth turned teacher, though she was now minus her once trade mark pigtails, that he had spent the better part of his adult life with.
Abby immediately ran to give Logan one of her famous bone crushing hugs, however, she paused before embracing her old friend.
“It's OK Abs, good and bad news of a blown out spinal cord is no pain...” While the dog collared woman almost hugged the life out of him, Logan noticed McGee flinched at his words.
“Tony, I've missed you!”
Maria, who like McGee, had been trying to avoid eye contact with everyone, gave her escort a quick but confused look at the name he was called. That was one of the reasons why he had refused Max and Bling when they volunteered to take Maria, Abby and Tim would always see him as Tony DiNozzo, no matter how many times he tried to correct them. It was another thing he just wasn't ready to do, explain the sordid details of his past to his new friends, people who had only ever known Logan Cale.
“Abs... Missed you too... Can't breathe...” he managed to choke out before she let go and straightened herself out as he readjusted himself in his seat.
“Abby, Tim I would like to introduce you to Maria... Maria this is Timothy and Abigail McGee.”
Maria had only enough time to let out a softly spoken greeting before she too was enveloped in one of Abby's less bone crushing hugs. If the poor girl hadn't been through so much Logan might have laughed at the sight of Maria tensed straight as a stick, stunned look on her face.
For the first time since they arrived McGee spoke up “Ah... um... Abs... Maybe you ought to let Maria go so she can breathe and we can let her and Tony in out of the cold. They must be tired after the drive and Maria probably wants to get settled in...”
“Oh right Timmy, sorry Maria I'm just so happy you are joining our little family! Come inside you guys. Oh and Tony, don't ever call me Abigail again!” Abby let go of the girl and gave her friend a wicked grin with a pointed stare.
McGee held the door open for them all as Abby led Maria and Logan inside. Logan's stomach twisted and knotted, the presence of butterflies undeniable, as again McGee failed to make eye contact with the bespectacled man.
'This is going to be worse than I imagined.' Logan thought with a sigh and a push of his chair.