Two Cups
The marine weighed 260lbs, maybe 250lbs. Lucky for Tony it was all muscle and fury and he was caught in the marine's off base apartment in Quantico.
"You're only going to make this worse for yourself, bucko, so why don't you come in peacefully," Tony said as he tried to inch his way towards the door.
PFC Morris Stills was selling drugs, mainly uppers and roofies, on base. Unfortunately for him, one of his clients, a PVT Thomas Dooley, used the roofies to drug and murder a woman. Once they had proved it was Dooley, who killed the woman, Gibbs demanded his dealer and Dooley gave up PFC Stills. Since they were feuding with each other, Gibbs sent Tony to pick up Stills. They had a difficult time sitting in the same bullpen with each other lately, so sitting in the same car would be intolerable. Agents David and McGee were out picking up a witness for another case.
Tony convinced himself that this was a cakewalk, an easy arrest. Once or twice he'd picked a suspect up on his own. Most people don't want to resist arrest because it's more trouble than it's worth. The minute he said: "Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo, may I come in?" and the incredible hulk opened the door, he knew he was in trouble.
"Fuck you, I ain't going to jail," said Stills.
"How do you think this is going to end? You get past me then disappear and NCIS, FBI, and every other alphabet organization and police department isn't on the lookout for you. Stills let me take you in and then…"
Tony didn't get to finish his damned speech and it was such a good speech. He thought it up on the spot and it had humanity, pathos, and even a little humor, but Stills attacked him. Going for his Sig Sauer, Tony was caught with hands down, so the first punch to the jaw didn't so much ring his bell but elongates his sense of perception then snap it back into place.
Stills grabbed him by his suits lapels and he heard zipping. Oh come on. It's a Zegna suit. Next Stills gave him a right hook to the stomach and Tony's lunch from yesterday threatened to come up. After the right hook came a knee then and elbow to the back of his neck. He was well into his fourth or fifth boot to the ribs when he saw the marine stumble over him and into the wall then a familiar voice: "Federal Agent, make another move and I shall shoot you dead."
Ziva David, his chocolate eyed and chocolate haired Mona Lisa, stood there with her Sig Sauer on Stills while good old McGee handcuffed Stills and looked down at the senior field agent of Gibbs' MCRT and asked: "You okay, Tony?"
"Hmmm, hmmm," he mumbled as he lay there on the floor and felt his body ache from the attack I'm too old for this shit. Ahh, Lethal Weapon, a classic of its genre.
Ziva squatted down and said: "Tony, are you okay?"
She waited for an answer then asked: "Can you hear me?"
"I'm all ears. Oh, wait that's Ray not me," he said sarcastically then spat blood from his mouth.
His Mona Lisa, maybe even the love of his life, was engaged to marry CIA Officer Ray Cruz. Several times he tried to corner her and tell her his feelings but she wouldn't hear it. She was getting married in a year and Tony did not have a say in it. After their last conversation she fell into a permanent state of anger towards him.
"I need a bus. I've got broken ribs, concussion, and God knows what else," he said.
"I'll call for one," she said.
She looked at him with a mixed expression of annoyance and concern.
"Gibbs send you?" he asked then grimaced in pain.
"He had Abby pull up Stills file and saw the man and knew it was more than a one man job," she said.
"Yeah, it was a one ninja, job," he chuckled to himself then moaned in pain.
Ziva smiled then made the call.
NCIS
Three broken ribs and grade two concussion and many aches and bruises. Tony was told by Gibbs he was off roster for three weeks. Three days in the hospital with visits by Jimmy, Abby and Ducky, but not his teammates.
"Gibbs and the team are busy?" asked Tony.
"Just finished a murder, Anthony, I suspect Jethro will be visiting you at home," said Ducky.
Tony looked the geriatric medical examiner and offered him an understanding smile.
"Don't think so, Ducky. We had a bit of blow out a few days ago. I told him to shove his rules up his ass and don't' expect me to follow any rule that isn't in the NCIS handbook from now on or I'll file a complaint against him," Tony told him.
"Why did you do that, Tony?" asked Abby.
She had a pair of back jeans and a tight red tee shirt to go along with a dog collar and black blood red lipstick and raven hair in pigtails. Tony was like a brother to her, but Gibbs was a surrogate father. He understood since he once thought that way, but Ziva's engagement and his bitterness towards rule 12 had hurt the relationship.
"Ziva," was his answer.
Tears filled Abby's green eyes, much the same color as his own. She understood what he meant. He could have just as easily said lost love. No one understood how hard love came to him more than Abby.
"I'll take you home, Tony, and make sure you're alright," said Jimmy.
"Thanks, Jimbo."
"And don't worry about your relationship with Jethro, Anthony, he is probably allowing time to pass to allow both of you to calm down and deal more rationally with your argument," said Ducky.
"I told him his damned rules kept me from Katie and now made sure that Ziva married someone else," Tony said and then he looked at Ducky and offered him a joyless smile, "and I meant every word I said. I told him I want off the team."
"Oh, Anthony," said Ducky then shook his head sadly.
"Tony, you have to make up with, Gibbs. You two have been a team for so long I don't think Gibbs could function without you. He counts on you to protect his back. You're his longest lasting partner. You're family," Abby said.
"I'll buy him a bulldog," Tony said bitterly. "I want off the team."
"Have you told Ziva and McGee yet?" asked Ducky.
"Neither one of them has visited me, Ducky. Ziva is mad at me because she thinks I'm playing some kind of game with her and poor McGee is trying to stay out of the line of fire between me and Gibbs," Tony said.
"Tony, you're a team, the three musketeers and Gibbs. You can't leave the team. Just don't do anything rash," pleaded Abby.
"I'll think about it, Abby, just for you," he said and a real smile brightened his handsome face for the first time.
"Come on, Abigail, let Anthony get ready to leave," said Ducky.
Abby and Ducky left leaving Tony with Jimmy.
"You have clothes for me, Jimmy?" asked Tony.
"Right here," he said and lifted an overnight bag up to show him.
"Great."
NCIS
Jimmy dropped Tony off. He wanted to stay with him but Tony said he just wanted to be alone. Once he was sure Jimmy was gone, Tony took out his laptop and a bottle of Glenmorangie Signet Single Malt Scotch. He filled a Waterford crystal tumbler glass.
Going into his NCIS e-mail he composed an e-mail to Director Vance.
Director Vance,
I'd like to request an immediate transfer from the DC office's number one MCRT. I believe my career has stalled and wish a different venue in order to invigorate it. If possible I would to have this transfer completed before my sick leave is up, so that I don't have to return to the DC MCRT.
Sincerely,
Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo, Jr., Senior Field Agent
He sent the e-mail then sampled the single malt. Now Vance has a chance to get rid of me and put another one of his kind of agents on Gibbs' team.
NCIS
Three days passed and Tony let it be known to Abby and Ducky that he wanted no visitors. Jimmy was allowed to come to check on his ribs and no one else. Since it was a slow afternoon, Ducky let Jimmy go early to check on Tony. He was working on paperwork when Gibbs came in.
"Duck," Gibbs said.
"You want something, Jethro," said Ducky.
"Where's Jimmy?" he asked.
"Mr. Palmer went to check on Anthony," said Ducky.
Gibbs exhaled then ran a hand through his silver hair, as his jaw tightened.
"How is he?" asked Gibbs.
"Beat up physically and emotionally, Jethro. Physically he will heal, but emotionally he will be in pain for a long time," said Ducky.
"He'll get over it," Gibbs said.
"Ah, yes, his resilience. It is a proven fact that we are more resilient when we are younger. He not the young man he used to be. He is a man seeking love and feeling it was denied him for a petty reason," said Ducky.
"I have rule 12 for a reason," said Gibbs.
"Yes, I know. What you need to ask yourself is what the real reason for your rule is," said Ducky then he looked down at his paperwork not wanting to talk any further on the subject as it was getting his cackles up.
Gibbs glared at Ducky for a moment the returned to the bullpen. Ziva and McGee could see the anger wafting off of him and suddenly wished Tony was here to diffuse Gibbs' mood.
Standing at the railing looking down from mezzanine. Vance saw that his number one MCRT was straining under tension. It needed to resolve that tension and he had an idea how to do that.
NCIS
Tony was sitting on his sofa in jeans and a red OSU pullover hoodie. He was sipping some scotch and treating himself to a Magnum PI. There was a knock at his door. Reluctantly, he got up and answered it. If this is one of my team, I'm shutting the door on their faces. He opened the door to see Director Vance at his door.
"Agent DiNozzo, I got your e-mail let's talk," he said.
"Come in, Director."
NCIS
It had been two and half weeks since she had seen or spoken to Tony. By now he would have disobeyed orders and come back to work early and told her that he just couldn't be away from her that long and given her one of his smiles. She rolled her eyes and pretended to be annoyed, but her heart would flutter.
Since Gibbs let them go early, Ziva decided to go over to his place. Their argument had to end sooner or later. Even Ray, who wasn't fond of Tony, admitted that she was in a better mood when they were friends then when they were fighting. She arrived at his apartment, parked her car, and made her way up to the his second floor apartment and knocked. No one came to the door, so she knocked again.
Afraid that something might have happened to him, she picked the lock to his apartment door and walked in to be shocked that all his furniture was gone. She ran into his bedroom, her heart racing and a knot starting to twist. His bedroom was empty, no furniture, no clothes in her closet, Tony was gone.
She didn't know whether to cry or scream in anger. He had left. The bastard had just up and left without speaking to her, without even saying goodbye. She took her smart phone out and called Gibbs.
"Gibbs."
"Tony's gone," Ziva said.
"Gone. Someone took him?"
"No. His clothes are gone and his furniture. He's left," she said.
Gibbs didn't respond. He hung up furious with DiNozzo, who up and left, and Vance, who probably let him go without a word. Getting up he stormed up to the Director's off. He knew Vance was still there.
"Leon," he walked into the office, "where is DiNozzo?"
Vance was seated behind his desk. He took his time and slowly put down the file he was reading.
"He asked for a transfer, Gibbs, and I obliged him with a promotion," said Vance.
"What did you do send him off to Norfolk or Maine?" asked Gibbs.
"He's on his way to London to get settled into his position as a supervisory agent on Counterintelligence and Counterterrorism Unit," he told Gibbs.
"Jesus, Leon, you shouldn't have done that without giving me a chance to speak to DiNozzo," said Gibbs. "It's just wrong."
"I did what was best, Gibbs. You may not believe it, but I did what was best for your team and for Agent DiNozzo. He wanted transfer before his leave was up and I provided him with an alternative to quitting," said Vance.
"Should have talk to me, Leon," said Gibbs.
Gibbs walked out of the Director's office and down to his desk. Once he was seated, he took a flask from his drawer and took a swig of bourbon. Damn it, DiNozzo, you should have talked to me.
NCIS
Tony was on a Virgin Airline flight to London. Seated comfortably in his seat he looked out the window at the grayish blue water below him. It was been years since he'd been to England for a visit to his family. His name might be DiNozzo but Paddington blood flowed through his veins, and Paddington blood had money and standing.
He'd always pointed out that his father disinherited him because that little fact suited his need to distance himself from his privileged, lonely, and sometimes painful upbringing, but his mother left him a substantial trust fund which kicked in when he was twenty-five. It was administered out of the Isle of Man for tax purposes under the name Anthony Paddington LTD. Tony found himself only using it over the years for buying clothes, especially Italian designer suits, and DVDs. Everything else he paid for himself. But now it was time to change that. He was in Paddington territory, so now it was time to spend Paddington money.
Anyways, he was actually excited about his new job. They are a excellent team missing only one thing leadership, which you will bring to them, along with investigative skills, field experience, and street smarts. I think you are going to be difference maker, said Vance. The words surprised him. Even though he knew Vance was probably delighted to be rid of him, he knew he would not give him such an important position without the belief he would succeed.
NCIS Counterintelligence and Counterterrorism units were treated better by other intelligence agencies, such as Mossad, then they were by CIA NSA, CIS, ONI, INSCOM, DIA, Air Intelligence Agency, and more. Everyone thought of the CIA when they thought US spy agency, but there were so many more.
With a tingle of amusement, Tony thought, I'm finally get to play James Bond. Maybe I can find a Moneypenny or Pussy Galore to make me forget about Ziva.
Chapter Two
Three Months Later.
Instead of buying an overpriced apartment in London, Tony purchased a barge, which he docked on the Thames at a residential mooring and lived in. Besides good deck space and a wheel house that he used as an office, it offered a large double cabin which he used as a living and kitchen. With rich beautiful wood floors and half way up the walls, the rest of the wall was painted in forest green. He fit in this a large, long sofa, and one armed chair, a heater, a fifty inch Plasma screen, and good selection of his DVDs. The kitchen was more a well designed and stocked kitchenette with stove, microwave, refrigerator, and a long bar top which acted as a table for him and two other guests. At one the kitchen there was a door that led to a tiled, nice bathroom with a shower, no bath, and at the other end of the boat a door that led to his bedroom, which had a queen sized bed, chest of drawers, heater, and good sized closet. He had plenty of storage, easy access to work at Eastcote Street, as well other locals, such as Vauxhall Cross on the South Bank of the Thames, the home of MI-6, which handled foreign intelligence, and Thames House on Milbank, which was the home of MI-5, which handled domestic intelligence.
He went to a bar with his team last night for a few pints and ended up taking home an attractive brunette named Jocelyn. She worked as Public Relations executive. As he turned over in bed he saw the her exposed buttocks where the blanket had been pulled away by him in his sleep. He studied her buttocks for a few moments. As far as English women buttocks went it had a nice shape to it, maybe not the stunning ass of the woman he was trying to forget, but a nice one. Taking his left hand he slapped her ass.
"Hmm," she moaned then turned her head and looked at him. "You're even more dishy when I'm sober."
She stared into his green eyes and smiled.
"I don't know about you but I have to go to work," he said.
She looked at her watch seeing it was six am and sighed: "God, yes. Do we get to do this again?"
"I'll give you my card," he said with a rakish smile.
"I forgot to ask you what you did?" she asked.
"Oh, I work for the US government. You know a bureaucrat," he said.
She got up on her elbows and stretched and kissed him.
"I still like you," she said.
NCIS
It was past noon when Ray showed up at the deli for lunch with Ziva. It was a snowy December day and he looked cold even in his wool overcoat. Brushing the snow off of him, he walked over to where Ziva already sat, took off his overcoat, tossed it on top her, which occupied an empty chair, and sat down. She had already ordered for them. He had a corned beef sandwich with hot mustard and a coffee and she had a Philly cheese steak and a tea. Tony had introduced her to the Philly cheese steak.
"You look upset," she said.
He grimaced instead of answer.
"Work?" she asked.
"Problems, well not problems, but some difficulties in London," he said.
She heard London and cringed. That was Tony's home now, an ocean separated them yet she still clung to the hope to see him again. The longer they were apart the more she realized how deeply she cared for him. Or was it love.
"Can you speak about it?" she asked.
"Yeah, especially since you know the problem. It has one name: DiNozzo," he said then took a bit of his sandwich.
"Really, how is he causing trouble for the CIA?" she asked actually surprised by his admittance.
"Well, suddenly, he's in London and gone is the Italian stallion charm and it's been replaced by creamy English charm. Who knew he mother came from a prominent English family. He has MI-5 and MI-6 eating out of his hand. Two joint ops have been shifted over to NCIS by MI-6 and MI-5 has him his team working with them on an op now. In my new position as a collections manager, he's interfering with our flow of intel," said Ray.
Ziva tried to keep a calm face. Just the mention of Tony made her feel flush and her heart beat a little faster. She didn't want to see this.
"In Mossad we would deal with this problem by having him removed from the equation," she said.
He laughed: "I'd love to put a hit on him. I'm told that MI-5 and MI-6 love him so much because he makes fun of us. I heard he said that the CIA stands for Collective of Incompetent Asses. He even has a nickname for me," growled Ray.
"What?" she asked.
"Nothing," he said.
"Ray, tell me. I can see it upsets you," she said.
"Dumbo," he said softly.
She knew that Ray hated when people made fun of his ears. Tony is being cruel.
"He is just jealous of you," she said with an understanding smile.
"I doubt it. From what I've heard he's already slept with half the attractive women at MI-5 and still has MI-6 to work on," he said. "I hate the bastard but I have to admit his charm does work on a lot of women."
He reached over and took her right hand in his right hand.
"At least, it never worked on you," he said.
"Never," she smiled. Except Paris. It worked in Paris. But that was not charm. That was something else.
"Well, I'm supposed to go to NCIS and speak to Director Vance and Assistant Director Granger and submit a complaint about him after we have lunch today," he said. "I think we are even slated to have a conference hookup in MTAC with him."
NCIS
Tony arrived at work wear a Savile Row charcoal grey chalk strip two button suit with a light grey custom made dress shirt, and a salmon tie to add some color. His black oxford shoes shined as if he was a marine. He was ready for the conference call. Walking in to his team's bullpen he was everyone was already arrived for work. At thirty one years old Boadicea Hewitt was his senior officer. Like most morning he found her sitting at her desk reading her Kindle. She was a stunning auburn hair, green eyed, Anglo-Irish beauty. Even though they had plenty of intel analyst, his team had their own, Kashi Keshab, a thirty year old British Indian exotic beauty with light brown skin and black eyes that seemed to see through you. His IS, or computer guy, was Keith Fleming, a twenty eight year old, scruffy grad of Caltech and James Bond-phile. And finally there was Kenneth More, his MI-5 liaison and the man who turned him onto Savile Row. They shared the same age, a taste for single malt scotch and expensive suits.
"Good morning, Boss," said Fleming.
"Tony, did you go home with Jocelyn? You seem to have a biggie for her," said Moore.
"I don't kiss and tell," he smiled then sat down at his desk.
"You are due in MTAC ten minutes," said Boadicea.
"I know, my warrior princess," he nodded to her.
"Are you in trouble?" asked Kashi.
"Not that I'm aware of, Kebob," he said.
"One last time, it is Keshab," she said with heat in her voice that sounded to be more than anger. "I am not something to be eaten."
"I wouldn't say that," he smiled slyly.
"Hey, boss, who is going to Canada with the MI-6 agent to check the lead on Amir Latif?" asked Keith.
"I am and," he said then looked around the room finally stopping of Kashi. "Kebob."
"Wonderful, I get to spend quality time with you," she said, which drew a laugh from Boadicea. She knew that Kashi was fighting her attraction to their supervisory agent and losing the battle and it annoyed her. Boadicea was a lesbian and she had to admit she found him charming and even wondered what a roll in the hay would be like.
"We leave tomorrow," he said. "Montreal. You speak French, right?"
"Of course," she said then smiled triumphantly.
"Well, children, I have to speak to our fearless leaders in Washington DC," he got up and went to the elevator and took it to the subbasement where MTAC was located.
Stooping his six foot two frame for the retinal scan, the door unlocked. He entered and saw the multiple screens had two ops in the Middle East up, the CCTV fed of their building, and in the middle Vance, Granger, and Collections Manager Cruz.
"Agent DiNozzo, you're looking dapper," said Granger, who liked the fact that Tony was kicking the CIA's butt in London.
"Savile Row. I have to admit that I still prefer Italian designers, but if it's good enough for James Bond," he smiled.
"Hmm. Like you're James Bond," said Ray.
"CI-Ray, long time never wanted to see again," said Tony flippantly.
"The CIA is complaining about you stealing ops," said Vance, "and showing disrespect."
"I show them as much respect as they show us, sir," he said.
Just then Ziva entered MTAC. She was due to speak to Chad in Bahrain, so she had an excuse to be in there, but she really just wanted to see Tony again. Looking up at the screen she stared at him. His hair was a little longer combed to the side and without too much product to keep it in place, the suit impeccable, the smile stunning, and the eyes were missing something. You had to know him for years and well, and maybe even love him, to see the sadness in them.
"Are you headed to Canada tomorrow, Montreal, right?" Granger asked changing the subject just to frustrate the CIA representative.
"I'll be there with Agent Kashi Keshab. The CSIS has someone in custody who knows of Latif and we insisted to be there along with reps of MI-6 for the interrogation," said Tony.
"Canada," snorted Granger, "The man must have given up to them to end up in their hands."
"Latif was making Montreal his home base only a year ago, so we hope there are still fresh traces of him," said Tony.
"Montreal in December. Bring warm clothes and they might not even work," said Granger. "Once done with Montreal come I want you hear for a face to face meeting before returning to London."
"Yes, sir," he said.
"Agent DiNozzo, what do you say about the complaint the CIA has filed against you?" asked Vance.
"I am sorry if there is an misunderstanding between our agencies. From now on I will show all the respect to the CIA do it, and as for any other matters, I attempts I'll try to be nice," he smiled.
"Thank you, Agent DiNozzo," Vance said.
He made the gesture to cut the feed and Tony disappeared. For Ray the experience was completely unsatisfactory. In essence DiNozzo said nothing and he said it with a file.
The three turned and started up the stairs, when Ray noticed Ziva in the corner with her head down and scribbling some notes on a pad of paper, He wanted to talk to her, but she kept her head down paying no attention to them as they left. Tony will be coming for a visit. Why does this make me so nervous?
Getting close to finish Masks, Deflections and I am working on rewriting a novel I published years ago to put on Kindle. So, with one story almost done, rewriting to do, insomnia keeping to two to three hours a night, I thought I'd start another story.