Prologue: A bad day

Okay, this is my first story and I'm kinda new to writing on sites. I just hope I get this right and that people like it. This is Tony centred. And takes a lot of elements from Arrow; but you don't need to watch the show; I'll be changing some things.

I don't own NCIS or any other element I take from other shows.

When Tony got to work that morning he already had the mask on. The jokes were more forcefully put and the smile seemed to strain slightly. He laughed a little less, but not enough for his co-workers to notice. "Why do you insist on these lies?" Ziva asked later in the day as she cornered him in the toilet again. This time though the man who didn't wash his hands was gone. "Is it not enough for you to let us in?"

Tony smiled largely; it took a little effort he'd later admit. "Why Ziva!" he exclaimed with faux happiness. "Did I detect some caring?"

She raised an eyebrow and held her chin already higher; "You are my partner it is my job to care. You can talk to me." It was ironic she said that. She was the one usually keeping secrets and now she wanted his. She wanted to know what went on in his head; wanted to know just how hurt he was. Tony knew though; a lesson he'd learned years ago; letting people in could be dangerous.

"Oh and you're not secretive?" he snapped suddenly. "I've seen stones that want to talk more to me than you." He zipped up her pants and glowered as the ex-spy looked momentarily flustered. "And even if you talk, it's degrading, meant to bring me deeper down." She nodded and opened the door.

She frowned, "It was not my intention to make you unhappy." Ziva muttered as she walked out.

Tony calmed down before exiting. He gave off the arrogant smile to everyone who passed. Showed them how little he cared. He reached the bullpen and sat down on his desk with his shoes on the table and head laying back into his hands. He closed his eyes and snoozed. He didn't bother working cases while everyone was here. It was hard thinking around so many distractions to his senses.

It may have been years since he last needed those survival instincts require but that didn't mean he didn't try to stay alert. It was almost during the end of the day when everyone went to leave and a cleaning crew came through that Gibbs finally entered the Bullpen from who-knows-where.

He walked past Tony knowing full well that the man was awake. "Director wants to see you." The man merely said. Tony waited a few seconds before reacting and when he did he made sure it was slow. He made sure to show everyone he was tired and that was the only reason he wasn't joking and bothering them. Gibbs looked at Tony with a small crease in his eyebrows. "Make sure you're ready." He stated before going back to work.

The others pretended not to see or notice the words. They kept themselves glued to their work and stayed out of both men's ways. Tony didn't know what the man said or why he suddenly gave a mildly sympathetic gesture. Tony only nodded before stretching a little, more for show than anything. He then made his way up to the director's office.

What he didn't expect were the two detectives. Nor did he expect the director's sad gaze. He didn't miss the glance the cops gave each other. This was a look he'd seen a lot of times. A look he'd given multiple times. A look he'd seen in himself and Gibbs when talking to dead loved ones. "Something wrong director?" he asked casually placing an extra mask of forced calm on his features. "I didn't accidently spray paint your cars, eh?"

The two men looked hopelessly at the director. It was obvious that both had only been in the jobs a couple of months. Director Shepard nodded, "You can leave gentlemen." Both men only nodded giving one last hopeless glance to Tony they wordlessly left. The director started at her agent for a second before looking down.

"What's wrong Jen?" he asked confused, giving a small chuckle, "I didn't do anything stupid did I?"

"Did you really love her Tony?" She asked suddenly looking.

Tony got uncomfortable here, "Yes." He said simply.

Director Shepard sighed, "Why didn't you tell me you two made up." She asked.

Tony gulped, where was she going with this? "It didn't last long; I couldn't live the lie."

Director Shepard nodded. "Why don't you take a seat Tony…?" And then she began to explain; yet Tony only heard bits and pieces. "Killed…one shot…dead instantly…sorry…pregnant."

At the last one Tony looked up, "What?" he asked dazed. He could feel the masks slip; could feel himself become fragile.

He felt like he was being ripped in half, "She was pregnant Tony."

"D-Did they get the . . . killer?"

"No." Two letters. Two letters that caused his whole calm demeanour come crashing down. Two words that made him revert to his cold anger he'd last known so many years ago. He stood up stiffly. He kept himself contained enough to stop from throwing the chair at the wall.

"I need to take some time off." He said and for a second Jenny looked stricken. She could guess what he might do but like so many people she didn't really fully know what his plan was. "If Gibbs askes, tell him I'm off on vacation." He didn't wait for answer, didn't wait for any rejection that might come. He walked mechanically through the door and slammed it a little harder than necessary.

He walked stiffly down the stairs with a determined glower on his face. There was no smile; no hard fought mask; no calm, just the cold indifferent man he'd been so long ago; a man out for blood. "Tony." He heard Ziva ask confused, "What happened?" He knew she was concerned but he couldn't speak now. He didn't go for the elevator; he went straight for the stairs making sure to not just jump each flight.

Ziva looked to her other co-workers confused, Gibbs didn't seem to notice his agent's rushed exit and McGee looked just as confused as her. "Uh, boss?" The MIT grad asked, "Did you see-"

"Leave it alone," Gibbs said finally looking up. He gave both of them a small glare, "This is something Tony has to do himself." He knew what his agent wanted to do; he'd been there. Gibbs also knew that Tony would be gone for quite some time, "And you're SFA for now, is that clear, Elf lord?" out of everyone here Gibbs could understand, he wouldn't intervene but he'd understand.

Ziva looked worried, and then she met the glance of Director who looked down at them. She looked troubled and when she caught Ziva's confused gaze she merely shook her head.

Tony reached the car lot and got his car. It had been a small mercy they'd blown up his alias's car and not well, his car. He sat in the seat and thought it through. They'd made up a week ago yet with each thing they did together he felt more and guiltier for leading her to believe he was someone he was not. It felt agonizing and finally he ended it. In a fit of rage he his driver side window resulting it to smash and fall cutting his skin.

Tony stared at his bloody hand and let out one tear; "Jeanne…" Dear god, they would've been parents. With that he had his plan set. Whoever killed her wanted to cause him pain; they'd succeeded but that wasn't the point. He headed home, he had a feeling there'd be something for him there. And then he'd need to go somewhere he hadn't been in a long time.

When Tony reached his apartment he took out his gun and made sure to make a lot of noise coming in. He went to the living room where he found someone he really hadn't suspected. "Well you took your time." Trent Kort said with a smile. He had a gun pointing at Tony just like Tony had a gun pointing at him. "Even René was on time for his death."

"You killed her." Were the only calm words Tony had.

"Yes, I did, old chum." He looked like a wolf ready to attack. "It's your fault actually."

"She was pregnant." It seemed sentences of more than three words were all he was capable of. "Why?"

"You've been added to the CIA hit list; that was just my form of warning you." He smiled Cheshire like. "You've got about two hours before every assassin asset we have is coming down on you…hard." He stood up, "But I could kill you now and save us all the time."

Tony's hand shook as he watched Kort. The man took his gun and held it an arm's width before crouching down and throwing it to the side. Tony scowled but did the same; "I'm going to crush your skull." Tony muttered. Kort just smiled smugly and attacked. He threw a punch and to his amazement Tony dodged it. Tony grabbed the arm and dragged it over his back causing the CIA agent to land hard on the ground. He had the wind knocked out from him but Kort quickly scrambled up as Tony waited.

Kort scowled but tackled the NCIS agent. While on the ground he pinned the man between his legs and began delivering a few brutal punches to Tony's face. In anger Tony threw him off and while Kort was on his stomach grabbed him by the neck and pulled himself with Kort in a sleeper hold up. Kort elbowed Tony away from him and as Kort struggled to breathe Tony came forward and kicked him in the face.

As Kort fell back stunned he found the gun. He stood up with it concealed behind his back and as Tony walked forward he shoved into the NCIS agent's face. Tony grabbed the gun hand and dragged it up as he delivered a punch to the CIA agent's solar plexus. Tony grabbed Kort's head and suplexed him into a table making the CIA agent release his hold on the gun.

As Tony stood up out of breath Kort looked stunned at him. "How?" he asked only able to get out the word between taking gulps of air.

Tony said nothing to the man lying on the broken table but he did pick him up and made a move that Gibbs showed him. He could distinctly hear the snap of bones and the man falling down, now no longer needing oxygen. Finally Tony spoke, "I had a lot of teachers." Tony opened up his phone making sure not to stare at the broken man beneath him. He then dialled a number he hadn't called in years.

He now had assassins and a pissed off CIA agency. There was only one man Tony knew who could help him. "Slade, I need help . . ."

He heard the Australian voice on the other end chuckle; "I'd say kid," Slade Wilson said, "I hear you've gotten yourself in some deep shit . . ."

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