TITLE :: Monster

RATING :: M

PARING :: DiNozzo/OFC – Gibbs/DiNozzo

WARNING :: Mentions of domestic violence

DISCLAIMER :: I do not own ANYTHING having to do with the TV show NCIS or its characters.

SUMMARY :: You think you know somebody…you feel safe and comfortable with that person. But is it possible to have that feeling of comfort last a lifetime? Tony DiNozzo isn't so sure. Can his teammates/friends help him make the right choices when it comes to his private life?

Chapter 1

Special Agent Tony DiNozzo walked into the squad room of the Washington DC branch of NICS. In his hand was a drink holder with four drinks securely inside the cardboard. "He wasn't surprised to his boss already sipping his own large coffee, but also knew he would get a smile from the older man for bringing him another one for later.

The whole team had been working on case that was still in progress after three days. Sure, they had, had cases more intense than this, but at the same time this one was beyond intense and weird.

"Any news from Abby?" Tony questioned Tim McGee and Ellie Bishop who were both at their desks typing away. They didn't even seem to notice when he handed each of them a fresh cup of coffee.

Gibbs was the one to speak up. "She's still working with the possible DNA sample." He had been the only one allowed down in Abby's lab the past few days because she felt the more people around evidence the harder it would be for her to run the forensics. Of course Tony, Tim and Ellie both protested saying they would help not contaminate, but Abby still stuck by her guns on this.

"I'm almost certain it is not Jeffery Harold." McGee said looking up at the rest of the team who was looking right at him waiting for his answer. "I think he might have SOMETHING to do with it but I doubt he pulled off the actual killing since he is still behind bars."

"McGoofy…You do realize people do crimes from prison all the time." Tony pointed out.

McaGee didn't listen to Tony and continued his train of thought. "He was in prison in Oregon, it would be rather hard to get from the West to East coast just to commit a crime and get back to your cell in time."

"He's got a point." Ellie said with a shrug. "I still think we should focus more on Kimble, he's got the motive and he doesn't live across the country."

"He actually lives down the street from ME." Tony said making a face. "I think I need to move."

Gibbs rolled his eyes, "So let's do that, focus on Markus Kimble." He looked at Tony. "Since you live so close to him, knowing the neighborhood and all. Why don't you take Bishop and scour the area for evidence, while Tim and I will head for his work, which I do believe is Raygon Roofing."

Everybody in the room nodded their head.

Tony was grabbing his 'to-go' bag when the elevator dinged and a very attractive blonde came walking off and heading towards Tony.

"Hey Bec…what are you doing here?" Tony questioned his wife of the past five years. Sure, it wasn't that weird that she was visiting him at the office, but it WAS weird that she hadn't informed him either before he left work or sent him a text or call to say she was coming.

Rebecca (Becca) Lawson-DiNozzo smiled at Tony and everybody else that was still gathering their backpacks full of investigative materials. "Hi guys I don't mean to bother you since it looks like you are all heading out but can I barrow Tony for a second?"

Everybody looked to Tony, including Gibbs. They all tried to keep their private lives out of the office, but sometimes that wasn't possible. "We'll head out, but you guys can go once you're done talking." Gibbs said to Tony and Becca. He grabbed his bag and walked with Tim to the elevator.

Meanwhile Ellie cleared her throat nervously. "I am going to go sip this coffee in the breakroom." She told the couple before dashing off to do just that.

With nobody left in the squad room Tony looked to Becca. "What's up?"

"You used all the milk and bananas." Becca stated like that was the end of the world.

Tony made a face, "I what?"

Becca glared, "You heard me just fine."

"Beca I am at work." Tony pointed out. "Can't this wait until I get home?"

Becca snorted, "Which will be when? You have been coming into the bedroom after midnight for the past week. When will we have time to talk?"

Tony reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. He grabbed three 20 dollar bills and placed them in Becca's hand. "Go buy yourself new bananas and milk and go to the spa or something."

This did not help the situation like Tony wished it would.

"You can't pay me off like that…who do you think I am?"

"Becca please." Tony almost wined, "I have work to do and it would be certain I wouldn't get home on time if you start something now."

Becca huffed and shoved the money in her purse. "This isn't over." She said before storming to the elevator.

Tony flopped into his desk chair and put his head in his hands, praying the headache he felt coming on would go away. 'Why is Becca being so demanding?' he thought to himself as he sat there contemplating on the issue. It wasn't until somebody cleared their throat did he look up and notice Abby standing there with sad eyes.

"I heard you guys." Abby simply stated.

Tony was confused for a second before he realized what Abby was saying. "It's nothing…probably just moody girl stuff."

Abby rolled her eyes. "Don't talk about 'moody girl stuff' with another girl.

"Right," Tony said and then sighed again. "Again it's nothing so please don't pry."

Abby a bit taken back with what Tony said but did what he asked and didn't continue to pry into his private life. "When you guys get back from the field I will have some information for you." She said before turning and heading for the back elevator.

It took Tony a few more minutes to collect himself before he stood up and grabbed his backpack. Just as he was grabbing it Bishop came walking into the room, also holding her backpack.

"Sorry about that." He apologized to Ellie as they headed to the elevator opposite to the one that Abby had just went to.

Ellie shrugged, "No big deal." She said as they rode the elevator to the parking garage to pick up the other NCIS issued car. One they were on their way Ellie started asking some questions Tony wasn't in the mood to discuss.

"Did you do anything fun the other day for your anniversary?" Ellie questioned.

Tony glanced at the young woman sitting next to him and then looked back at the road. "She had to work." He simply stated hoping to end that line of conversation.

Of course Ellie being Ellie had her continue her line of questioning. "Oh that is awful, if it had been my anniversary I would have made sure to get the night off at least."

"Yeah well you aren't Becca." Tony stated once again praying that Ellie would simply shut up and let them get through the work day.

"True," Ellie said and thankfully let the conversation go.

"I'm just going to park in my parking spot at home and we can walk around from there." Tony said as he parked the car in his apartment complex and both he and Ellie grabbed their backpacks and headed down the sidewalk to check out various day-time hangouts that their suspect would have had the opportunity to work out of or at least have some connection.

It took Ellie and Tony until around 5pm to get finished with their investigation. They had heard from Gibbs and McGee a few hours earlier that said they were back at the office actually working with Abby on some evidence they found. Now two hours later Tony parked in their NCIS parking spot and the two of them headed upstairs to the squad room to hopefully debrief the day and then get to go home.

BUT they had no such luck. Instead all four team members stayed until after 11pm going over and over again parts of the case and like always coming up with absolute junk.

"Can we PLEASE go home?" Tony whined and it wasn't just a playful whine. "We've been at this since this morning, we're all going to have eye damage if we don't stop staring at computer and TV screens."

"What's the difference of you staying here looking at TV screens when you would do the same at your house." McGee stated playfully

Tony didn't take it playfully though. "I happen to want to get home to my wife, not the fucking TV set."

Everybody in the room went quiet until Gibbs stood up from his desk. "DiNozzo, with me." He said walking to the elevator/conference room."

"Great," Tony grumbled to himself as he followed after Gibbs and got on the elevator just before it shut. He didn't say anything though, but waited for Gibbs to speak up.

Gibbs too was quiet for a second before clearing his throat. "Haven't seen you blow up like that in years, something going on?"

Tony shook his head, "Right as rain, Boss."

"Why don't I believe you?"

'Great' Tony thought to himself. He REALLY didn't want to talk to Boss and good friend about anything right now. "I just want to go home, it's been a long day and I want to see Becca. I mean you should understand that having been in multiple relationships that have gone to pot due to your job. I don't want that." The more he said these things the more he realized he wanted it to be the truth. He WANTED to make his marriage work. He just needed the support of his friends or he probably wouldn't be able to do it. It wasn't exactly the response he wanted to have come out of mouth but it did. "Can't you just leave it alone!" exclaimed but quickly looked down at his feet?

Gibbs raised an eyebrow, "If that is what you need…"

"I do." Tony answered and started the elevator back up so he could get his stuff from the squad room. "Right now I just want to go home to my wife."

This time Gibbs didn't say anything as he watched Tony gather his things and practically dash back to the elevator.

Tony quietly unlocked the door to his apartment and toed his shoes off in the entry way. He thought he was being quiet when a light turned on in the living room and there was Becca staring at him.

"You told me you would be home before now." Becca slurred.

When he heard his wife's tone of voice Tony knew the glass of dark red liquid in her glass was NOT the first. "I have never made a promise that I would be home at any certain time, you know my job is too up in the air to make promises."

Becca sighed, "You need to be on time to spend time with your wife." She said as she put her wine glass on the coffee table in front of her and then crossed her legs at the knee. "Please tell me you figured out this case and we don't have to worry about these late nights for a while."

It was Tony's turn to sigh, "Nothing is figured out yet but you should be happy I didn't stay at work all night finishing it."

"It wouldn't matter you come home so tired that there is never any time for me."

Tony literally put his hands up in the air in exasperation. "You keep giving me all these mixed messages lately. First you are happy about my job because it pays well and you can go out shopping with your girlfriends. BUT when I stay late at said job you completely lose it."

This got Becca's attention and she stood up going to stand right in front of Tony. "You have NEVER seen me lose it and believe me you don't want to" said the petite woman that reached only 5'2" on a good day.

"Is that a treat?" Tony questioned with a raised eyebrow. When she didn't say anything back he groaned. "You are not thinking clearly and *I* am going to bed." He said heading down the hall to the master bedroom.

While he was brushing his teeth and washings his face he could feel the presence of somebody standing behind him. He looked up to see Becca standing there with an intense expression on her face. "What?" he questioned, really not in the mood to fight any more than they already were.

"Nothing." She stated before moving to use the toilet.

Tony shook his head and finished up his business in the bathroom and headed out to the bedroom. He stripped to his boxers and climbed under the covers with a heavy sigh. He was bone tired that was for sure.

Becca joined him in bed a few minutes later. She was quiet and didn't move for a few minutes but when she did move it caught Tony a bit off guard. Her hand went right for his crotch and gave his member a squeeze.

"Bec…" Tony stated with a slight groan. "I'm not in the mood."

"I can make you in the mood." Was her reply.

Tony shook his head and reached down to move her hand from his cloth covered member. "I have to be up at 5am, it's after 12am now. I really need my sleep."

Becca sat up and glared down at Tony. "And your wife really NEEDS you."

Tony sighed, "Becca please." This wasn't the first time that she had done this and it never turned out pretty. Of course he would admit to friends that he liked having his wife in charge in the bedroom on occasion but when you get a drunk aggressive wife in the bedroom it wasn't a good thing.

Becca moved so she was sitting on Tony's lap. "You don't mean anything you're saying. You love sex and I can make sure it's completely worth your while."

"I'm going to sleep in the guest room." Tony said gently pushing Becca onto her side of the bed before he stood up, grabbing his pill. "You figure out things on your own."

Tony seriously thought that Becca had vampire tendencies because she could be one place one second and another place a second after that. In this case she was at the bedroom door right as soon as he got to it.

"You're not leaving."

"I am." Tony said as he reached for the doorknob.

Becca moved so she was in front of Tony. "You leave this room, you are never coming back."

Tony wasn't sure what she meant by that but he didn't like it. "I would gladly stay in my own bed if you weren't acting like a complete spaz."

That was all it took and soon Tony was standing in the kitchen holding a frozen bag of peas to his eye.

"I am SO sorry baby." Becca said trying to baby him as much as possible. "Does it hurt?"

Tony looked at her like she had lost her mind. "Of course it hurts!" he couldn't believe it his wife had punched him in the eye. Sure, she was spicy and yelled a lot sometimes but she never got physical.

"If you come to bed I can make it up to you…"

Again Tony's look was of pure amazement. "The only way I am coming to bed is if you stay to yourself. I am not happy with you right now." He answered honestly as he carried his bag of peas and headed to the bedroom. He didn't look to see if she was following but just climbed into bed with a heavy sigh.

Becca joined him a few minutes later but neither of them said anything as drifted off to sleep.

TO BE CONTINUED