NCIS: Seeds of discord (Sequel to Slip-up)
Title: Seeds of discord (Sequel to Slip-up)
Author: Nightchild78
Characters: Anthony DiNozzo, Kate Todd
Rating: K+
Word Count: 809
Warning/Spoilers: 1X20 Missing
Summary : What happened after Gibbs' infamous reply in the bullpen and how it irremediably affected Tony's relationship with his co-workers.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
A huge thank you to the talented
thepeachymonkey who took time to beta it for me and make it readable. Your help is priceless.
Fighting back nausea, Tony fumbled with the buttons of his shirt in his haste to get rid of his soiled clothes. All he wanted was to jump in the shower and wash off the filth and stench of the sewers.
He was about to take his pants off when he felt a presence behind him. Whipping around, he came face to face with a fairly flustered Kate, and couldn’t help but to let out a sigh.
“Kate, what are you doing here?” He forced a cocky smile on his lips, pointing at the door behind her. “I don't know if you have noticed, but these are the men's showers.”
Kate awkwardly shuffled her feet.
“I know, but I need to talk to you.”
Tony threw his ruined shirt in a garbage can and sat on a bench to take off his shoes and socks.
“Listen, it’s not that I don’t appreciate your company, but right now all I want is to climb into that cubicle and scrub my skin raw.”
Kate averted her eyes, a hint of pink coloring her cheeks as the Catholic school girl in her tried to conjure the vision of a very naked Tony lathering himself under the shower.
“Yes, of course. I… I won't be long. It's just that... it was a joke, you know. He was really worried sick. I don't know why he said what he did, but...”
Tony gave Kate a puzzled look.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
Kate took a deep breath before speaking again, this time less hurriedly.
“What Gibbs said to McGee after he told you that you were irreplaceable. He didn't mean it. Well, I don’t know what he meant exactly. But I'm sure he didn't want to imply that McGee could replace you if you were dead. And about the fact that McGee was at your desk. It was just a question of convenience. It’s not that...”
Tony stood up and held Kate gently by the upper arms to stop her rambling.
"Whoa, whoa. Calm down, Miss Over Excitement," he quipped. "You're gonna snap an artery."
Looking her straight in the eyes, he carried on.
"I’m very grateful to you for being so worried about my well-being, Kate. But you can stop twisting yourself in knots. It’s just a piece of governmental furniture we’re talking about, not the throne of England. I don’t own it and I really don’t care who is sitting at it. As for Gibbs, I wouldn't have lasted all this time with him if I had taken everything he said to heart. So don’t make a fuss over nothing.”
Kate gave Tony a doubtful glance.
"So, you're not mad?"
Tony cocked an eyebrow and shrugged.
“Why would I be?"
“You're okay?” Kate asked skeptically.
“Peachy.”
Tony let go of Kate's arms and took a step backwards.
"Now, if you don’t mind. I’d really, really like to take that shower. As you so rightly pointed out earlier, I stink.”
Kate nodded and reluctantly headed to the door.
“Yes, of course. See you tomorrow, then?”
“Yes. See you tomorrow,” Tony favored Kate with his usual dazzling smile, but it faded as soon as she walked out the door.
With a stony face, he threw away his trousers and turned on the tap. Stepping under the steamy spray, he shook his head.
God, poor Kate was really the worst profiler he had ever met.
First her, and now McGee. Did she really think he was so stupid and gullible that he hadn't seen it coming?
Though Tony might act like a goof most of the time, that didn’t mean he was an idiot. He knew all too well how one nail drives out another and there was no doubt that he was about to become a second best for Gibbs. He hadn’t missed the gleam in the former Marine’s eye whenever he looked at Kate and McGee. The same gleam he had seen shine years ago, in Baltimore. The same he could see now slowly fading as far as he was concerned.
He didn’t really feel threatened by Kate. But he was fully aware that he was slowly becoming an outmoded model compared to younger and more graduated agents like McGee.
It was obviously a lost battle, but he didn't intend to give up so easily. If the kid wanted his job, he would have to earn it. Not that he had anything against him personally, but Tony had worked too hard, and for too long to be where he was. He had no intention of giving up without a fight.
Tony had no family, no serious relationship since Wendy left him, and no real social relations outside of work. His job as Gibbs’ SFA was the only thing that made sense in his life. If he lost that, he would lose everything.
(I'm considering writing one last part dealing with Tony's departure.)
Author: Nightchild78
Characters: Anthony DiNozzo, Kate Todd
Rating: K+
Word Count: 809
Warning/Spoilers: 1X20 Missing
Summary : What happened after Gibbs' infamous reply in the bullpen and how it irremediably affected Tony's relationship with his co-workers.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
A huge thank you to the talented
thepeachymonkey who took time to beta it for me and make it readable. Your help is priceless.
Fighting back nausea, Tony fumbled with the buttons of his shirt in his haste to get rid of his soiled clothes. All he wanted was to jump in the shower and wash off the filth and stench of the sewers.
He was about to take his pants off when he felt a presence behind him. Whipping around, he came face to face with a fairly flustered Kate, and couldn’t help but to let out a sigh.
“Kate, what are you doing here?” He forced a cocky smile on his lips, pointing at the door behind her. “I don't know if you have noticed, but these are the men's showers.”
Kate awkwardly shuffled her feet.
“I know, but I need to talk to you.”
Tony threw his ruined shirt in a garbage can and sat on a bench to take off his shoes and socks.
“Listen, it’s not that I don’t appreciate your company, but right now all I want is to climb into that cubicle and scrub my skin raw.”
Kate averted her eyes, a hint of pink coloring her cheeks as the Catholic school girl in her tried to conjure the vision of a very naked Tony lathering himself under the shower.
“Yes, of course. I… I won't be long. It's just that... it was a joke, you know. He was really worried sick. I don't know why he said what he did, but...”
Tony gave Kate a puzzled look.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
Kate took a deep breath before speaking again, this time less hurriedly.
“What Gibbs said to McGee after he told you that you were irreplaceable. He didn't mean it. Well, I don’t know what he meant exactly. But I'm sure he didn't want to imply that McGee could replace you if you were dead. And about the fact that McGee was at your desk. It was just a question of convenience. It’s not that...”
Tony stood up and held Kate gently by the upper arms to stop her rambling.
"Whoa, whoa. Calm down, Miss Over Excitement," he quipped. "You're gonna snap an artery."
Looking her straight in the eyes, he carried on.
"I’m very grateful to you for being so worried about my well-being, Kate. But you can stop twisting yourself in knots. It’s just a piece of governmental furniture we’re talking about, not the throne of England. I don’t own it and I really don’t care who is sitting at it. As for Gibbs, I wouldn't have lasted all this time with him if I had taken everything he said to heart. So don’t make a fuss over nothing.”
Kate gave Tony a doubtful glance.
"So, you're not mad?"
Tony cocked an eyebrow and shrugged.
“Why would I be?"
“You're okay?” Kate asked skeptically.
“Peachy.”
Tony let go of Kate's arms and took a step backwards.
"Now, if you don’t mind. I’d really, really like to take that shower. As you so rightly pointed out earlier, I stink.”
Kate nodded and reluctantly headed to the door.
“Yes, of course. See you tomorrow, then?”
“Yes. See you tomorrow,” Tony favored Kate with his usual dazzling smile, but it faded as soon as she walked out the door.
With a stony face, he threw away his trousers and turned on the tap. Stepping under the steamy spray, he shook his head.
God, poor Kate was really the worst profiler he had ever met.
First her, and now McGee. Did she really think he was so stupid and gullible that he hadn't seen it coming?
Though Tony might act like a goof most of the time, that didn’t mean he was an idiot. He knew all too well how one nail drives out another and there was no doubt that he was about to become a second best for Gibbs. He hadn’t missed the gleam in the former Marine’s eye whenever he looked at Kate and McGee. The same gleam he had seen shine years ago, in Baltimore. The same he could see now slowly fading as far as he was concerned.
He didn’t really feel threatened by Kate. But he was fully aware that he was slowly becoming an outmoded model compared to younger and more graduated agents like McGee.
It was obviously a lost battle, but he didn't intend to give up so easily. If the kid wanted his job, he would have to earn it. Not that he had anything against him personally, but Tony had worked too hard, and for too long to be where he was. He had no intention of giving up without a fight.
Tony had no family, no serious relationship since Wendy left him, and no real social relations outside of work. His job as Gibbs’ SFA was the only thing that made sense in his life. If he lost that, he would lose everything.
(I'm considering writing one last part dealing with Tony's departure.)