The Cascade Effect Chapter Seventeen/??
The Cascade Effect
Rating: NC-17
Summary: One Event, One Minor change in the way something happens can change a lot of events in the future.
Disclaimer: I don’t own so no sense suing.
Chapter Seventeen
A week later and Gibbs was back stateside. Kelly had gotten back five days before that and Tony had stayed with her at Gibbs’ house after someone had attempted to break into the house while Kelly was home alone. Tony had called Gibbs to assure him that he would stay with Kelly so that Gibbs didn’t have to come home early. Thankfully after Kelly had gone in to talk to the director Jenny had pretty much dropped the Grenouille Op. It had done wonders for Tony’s relationship with the director. He’d noticed that the unknown woman was stil hanging round his apartment and had questioned the director about it. She flat out admitted that she’d thought about casing his apartment building herself but had decided against it and that her and Tony were the only two people that knew about the Grenouille Operation she’d asked him to do. It had made Tony extremely wary but he had been able to tell that Shepard wasn’t lying. So he told Gibbs and Kelly as soon as he could and they both told him to spend some night a week away from his apartment just in case.
His working relationship with the director had taken a turn for the better, especially after an old flame of the director’s decided to make an attempt on her life. He’d realized that while Jenny Shepard was a pain in the ass she was also still a human being that did get scared. That was the real turning point in how they dealt with each other. He knew she was still miffed about his refusing the Grenouille Op but she was putting that anger aside like a proper director should. It still didn’t make Tony any more fond of her but at least they could get along more amicably then before.
It was a month later when Gibbs returned to Active duty as an NCIS Field Agent. It was a relief for Tony because trying to keep the team from going over the deep end and being the team leader was beginning to wear on him. Director Shepard had called him up to her office so he went.
“Tony, how would you rate your recent performance as team leader?” Jenny asked as she walked around to stand behind her desk.
“I would say a solid B…minus. I’m being fired aren’t I?” Tony said, concerned. Especially when Shepard looked at him oddly.
“In a manner of speaking, yes.” Jenny told him.
“If this has to do with Gibbs coming back I have no problems working for him.” Tony said, arms crossed in front of him.
“These orders are for you.” Jenny said, handing a file to Tony.
“NCIS Rota, Spain.” Tony said, shocked. He looked at the director in surprise.
“Your own team. Congratulations.” Jenny said, smiling at Tony. He was a good team leader in her opinion.
“Wow. Uh, I don’t know what to say.” Tony said, it was the truth after all.
“Your performance these last four months has been exemplary. You’ve earned it.” Jenny said, sitting down behind her chair.
“What about my family? I don’t want to uproot them.” Tony said, walking to stand in front of the director. He didn’t want her to get any ideas of trying to get him to take the La Grenouille mission so he stuck with the story of him having a family.
“So you’re passing on a promotion that any other agent in this building would kill for all because you’re worried about uprooting your family? I don’t think so.”
“Okay.” Tony said, taking the seat right in front of the director. “I’m worried about Jethro.”
“Jethro’s fine.” Jenny said.
“Then how do you explain that thing on his upper lip? Looks like Wilford Bremley Jr.” Tony said.
“So you’re turning down a promotion because of a mustache?” Jenny asked, smiling in mirth thinking it was a joke.
“His memory’s still screwed up. He called Ziva Paula yesterday. I just want to make sure he’s 100% before I leave.” Tony told her.
“I see. And how long might that process take?”
“I don’t know; maybe a few months.”
“How does seventy-two hours sound?”
“Very fast.”
“It wasn’t a question. I need an answer by the end of the week. Tony, if you pass this up another opportunity like this might not come up for years.” Jenny told him, becoming very serious.
“Can we keep this like, my family’s status? Just between the two of us?” Tony asked, having moved to stand by the door.
“If you wish.” Jenny told him.
“Thank You.” He said opening the door and leaving.
Their case took three days to solve. A missing Navy lieutenant that they had found out was actually profiling men to find a husband. She was a female McGee. Once they had closed the case Tony stood outside the director’s office before knocking.
“Come in Tony.” She called.
Tony opened the door and loked around it, “How’d you know it was me?” he asked as he peered at her.
“Because your deadline passed hours ago.” Jenny said.
Tony walked in and closed the door before coming to a stop in front of Shepard’s desk.
“I’ve made my decision.”
“And I respect it. Sometimes I even wish I’d made the same one myself.”
“But I’m passing on the promotion, Jenny.” Tony told her. He wasn’t ready to leave Gibbs.
“I know.” She told him.
“Well… Ho…How can you know? I just made up my mind behind the door.” Tony said, a little confused.
“To get here, in this office, especially as a woman my career has been on the fast track my entire life. And between you and me, sometimes I wish I’d taken it a little slower.” She told him.
“So you’re not disappointed?” Tony asked.
“No. Actually I’m feeling a bit proud at the moment.” She told him. It was the truth, Tony obviously understood that he needed to be ready and he felt he wasn’t. It was a sign of a good agent, one that would be able to make it very far.
“Hmm.” Tony said, standing just that little bit taller.
“Go home and get some sleep.” She told him, watching as he headed towards the door.
“Good night, Jenny.” Tony said right before opening the door and leaving. He needed to get to Gibbs’ house to pick Kelly up for their evening out. They were planning on seeing a late night movie before having dinner, something that Tony had skipped.
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With Gibbs back at work Tony could rest easy. Yeah, he’d told Shepard that he was worried about Gibbs because of his mustache but in all honesty Gibbs had done that to screw with everyone, including Tony. Gibbs had deliberately kept the mustache just to screw with everyone. Tony knew it too, because he’d been there when Gibbs had actually shaved. He’d been teaching Kelly more riffs on the lead guitar when Gibbs had come down the stairs with the mustache. Kelly’s exclamation had shocked both Tony and Gibbs.
“Dad! What’s with the pornstache? You look like some big porn mogul or some strange version of Franks. You should shave it.” Kelly had said. Tony had looked at Gibbs then Kelly then back to Gibbs with wide eyes before he started to laugh softly. Gibbs had even joined in once Tony had reached the falling down with laughter stage of his mirth.
When Gibbs finally shaved the “pornstache” as Tony called it, all thanks to Kelly, everyone was relieved. Even Tony, because the furry upper lip was weird not to mention Gibbs seemed mellower with it. Admittedly Tony had seen him mellow at home so it wasn’t as big of a deal for him as he made it out to be.
When Halloween rolled around Tony just knew strange things would happen. Ever since he’d become a cop they always had. Thankfully only bad guys were killed in their case. Tony ended up crashing at Gibbs’ house after being accosted by the still unknown woman that had been hanging around his apartment building. He used the excuse that he was just picking up some things before going to his lover’s place. He figured maybe if he told her that she would leave him alone. No such luck, unfortunately.
It would be another few weeks and they would meet Colonel Hollis Mann, who was all over Gibbs like a bitch in heat. Gibbs had managed to put her off though, which was a good thing because Tony could not see Kelly dealing with that…woman. She’d probably kill her. If Tony didn’t first that is. Unfortunately the colonel couldn’t seem to take a hint and decided to show up unexpectedly at Gibbs’ house while Tony was there. He was teaching Kelly some more riffs and talking with Gibbs when Mann showed up. Kelly stood up and told her to get the hell out before she called the police and charged her with breaking and entering into a federal agent’s home. Apparently Ziva had told Mann where Gibbs lived, not realizing that Gibbs had been rebuffing Mann’s advances. He had no intention of dating any more red heads, let alone one that wasn’t a red head. Two marriages, failed marriages, had shown him that he couldn’t replace Shannon, which is what he’d been doing. That and, unbeknownst to Tony, Gibbs had his eyes set on Tony, even though Gibbs himself was being stubborn. It was a constant point of contention between Kelly and her dad. Tony didn’t know that though.
That same week Tony was once again accosted, this time more politely, by the unknown woman. Tony had managed to learn her name though; Jeanne Benoit. It was at that point Tony told her flat out that he was in a committed relationship and to please leave him alone. Hopefully she would. Tony had recognized the name immediately as that belonging to Renee Benoit aka La Grenouille’s daughter. He told Gibbs the first moment he got a chance. Tony was told to keep a recorder on him and every time she accosted him to record the conversations, just in case. Tony did have a knack for getting into trouble. It wasn’t like Tony went looking for trouble, trouble always just found him.
Tony was sitting at home when he got an unexpected guest. Jeanne Benoit stood at his door, obviously wanting to be invited in. Tony was smarter than that and immediately went to his bedroom and called Kelly, who was doing some report for University with her dad’s help. He did know more about history as he had lived it being in the Corp and all.
“Kelly, Jeanne Benoit is standing outside of my door in a trench coat. It’s very suspicious.” Tony told her, hearing her relay the information to Gibbs as well.
~“Tony, I’m gonna come over and scare her off. Hopefully she’ll take the hint this time. Just open the door when I get there.” She told him, gathering her keys and coat before heading out the door.
“How will I know it’s you?”
~“Oh you’ll know it’s me. You better pack a bag too. That way she can’t pull this same stunt again. See you soon.” Kelly said, before taking a page out of her dad’s book and hanging up before Tony could reply.
Tony looked at his phone before grabbing a duffel from his closet and packing some clothes and hygiene products. Apparently Kelly planned on holding him hostage. He didn’t know that she planned on having him bring the supra and that Gibbs was actually driving her over there.
Twenty minutes later there was a knock on his door. He’d recognize that knock anywhere; it was the old ‘Shave and a haircut…two bits’ tune. It didn’t hurt that Kelly also called through the door right after.
“Papà! You home?! Papà!”
Tony went over to the door and opened it. “Kelly, what…oh shit! Sorry ‘bout that bambina. It’s been completely ass backwards and flat out hauling ass at work that I completely forgot I was supposed to pick you up from School. Forgive me?” Tony said, hamming it up for Jeanne, who was stood off to the side.
“It’s okay Papà. I know what it can be like, we’ve been dealing with it for a while haven’t we? Come On. Supper should be done soon and I am starving.” Kelly said, really putting on the act for Jeanne.
“Yes we have, bambina. Oh, Ms. Benoit! What are you doing here?” Tony said, before acting surprised as if he’d just now noticed the woman was there.
“I was hoping we could talk. Get to know each other better, Tony.” Jeanne purred. It sickened Tony. “How ‘bout you send the little girl home?” she went on, giving a heated look at Kelly, that look promised all kinds of pain.
“Excuse me? I think you’d better leave ma’am.” Tony said.
“Why? Just send this…girl on her way home and I can show you what a real woman is like.” Jeanne said, trying for a sultry look and just repulsing and pissing Tony off instead.
“Look, Ms. Benoit…”
“You can call me Jeanne, Tony.”
“Ms. Benoit, this is my step-daughter and I’d kindly thank you not to talk ill of her in front of me. Now, I am leaving to go be with my family so if you don’t mind. Have a good day, Miss. I’m sure you can see your way out of the building. Or do I need to call the super?” Tony asked, venom lacing his words.
“No, I can see myself out.” She said, turning on her heels and leaving.
Tony sighed once she was out of earshot and sight. “Thank God she’s gone. Let me grab the keys to the Supra and we’ll be on our way.” Tony told Kelly, grabbing his keys and locking the door behind him.
They both noticed Jeanne watching them from a darkened corner. Tony smirked and tossed his duffle in the back seat of the Supra before climbing behind the wheel and tearing out of the apartment building’s lot and heading towards Gibbs’. He saw Jeanne hop into a car and start to tail them but Tony’s superior driving had them losing the tail rather quickly. Kelly called her dad and had him open the garage doors so that Tony could pull directly in to the garage, just in case someone spotted Tony’s bright Day-Glo Orange Supra and asked questions or Jeanne happened to pass through the neighborhood. It wouldn’t do for Jenny Shepard to get wind of Tony’s cars being spotted at their house all the time. She might start suspecting things that, while Kelly wished they were true, were not.
It would be another few weeks before either of them saw Jeanne again, thankfully. But not one of the three thought anything of what the coming weeks and months would bring.
TBC…
AN: Another chapter done. Hope ya’ll like it and all comments, reviews, and constructive criticism are appreciated. All flames will be used to start a bonfire to melt the snow and flamers sent to the deepest pits of Hades possible. The shave and a haircut two bits is a classic tune, one that I do actually use when I knock and always is fun. The best movie reference for it is “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” in my opinion. Great movie and an awesome little ditty, especially for someone as musically inclined as I am.
Chapter Eighteen>