Life's unexpected journey.
Chapter 1.
Tony never though he would ever meet anyone that would make him feel the same way as he had about Ziva, but Debra had certainly done that, the moment they met, or rather the moment they bumped into each other in the club they'd both been out too, he bought her a drink to apologise for bumping into her & they ended up chatting, & even though he hadn't really learnt anything about her, he knew he wanted to get to know her. When he got back to the hotel again afterwards, he said to himself "Don't do this to yourself again DiNozzo." But he had a feeling it was going to be a waste of time, as he somehow knew that their paths were going to cross again, despite them having not exchanged any details either.
A few days later he was right, because he was just heading back to the hotel once again, after having met up with some friends for lunch, during his holiday in Spain. As he was doing so & passing a derelict building he could hear a tussle going on inside, followed by some gun shots, just as his special agent instincts started to kick in, & he was thinking about going in, a man comes running out & he hears yells of
"Stop him!" He then gives chase & manages to catch him, although there is a tussle & he does end up on the floor with him, the next moment
he hears a voice say "Here I think you may be in need of these." As he then turns he sees Debra standing there with a pair of handcuffs in her hand, passing them too him. He then puts them onto the man he's caught & get's him up. When he then gets a proper look at her, he notices that she's wearing an NCIS cap & jacket,
she then says to him "Thanks for the help. "That's ok, so you're an agent too?" One of her team then come & takes the man off Tony, as she says "Thanks Joe, take him back for us. I am special agent Debra Kingston."
She takes out & shows him her ID, then adds "You?"
He answers "Special agent Anthony DiNozzo, & I'm based in Washington."
She then says "Do you want to come back to the office for a coffee or something as a thank you for your help, as it's about the best I can do, for now anyway."
He replies "That would be good." They then walk together round the corner to her car, get in & head to the office.
Once they get back to the office again they head to the conference room, & she gets him a coffee, just as she's about to get her own, she gets a call asking for help with the suspect they caught, so she goes to help. When she comes back once again
she says "Sorry about that, I think he's determined he's going to be a pain." She then has another go at trying to get herself a coffee, but he's already got up too do the same for her, so they both grab the coffee pot at the same time, which means their hands touch, but they just smile at each other & he gets the coffee for her, after handing it to her, they then both sit down together.
He then asks her "So how long have you been here for?"
She replies "I've been here about five years now, a year just as an agent & then four as team leader."
He then asks "You were here when EJ was then? Before she came to DC for the port to port killer."
She answers "I was & built the team up from the ground when she & the others left, & while it was still going on. It's been difficult, but I think we've finally got there, & I'm proud of my team, so what about you?"
He replies "I've been in DC for fourteen years now, before that I was a cop in Philly & then Baltimore after that. How did you end up in NCIS? As I sense that you're from England, & not really that close to a centre."
She replies "My mum is from the south coast of England, but my dad was from America & in the marines, so I've always been around various bases & things. When I left school I wasn't really sure about what I wanted to do, went to law school & very nearly ended up joining JAG, but then we had an NCIS agent come & do a talk with us, so decided on joining from there. After completing training I was agent afloat on a few ships, but ended up getting fed up with not having a place I could call my own, & being a nomad, so decided on settling down when the job here came up, & the rest of course is history."
He then asks her "If a job came up anywhere else, would you take it?"
She answers "I don't know, I suppose it depends on what the job is & where it is, then I might do, it depends, as I have really loved being more settled here. What about you? You've remained in the same place all this time."
He answers her "It's because I love it in DC, although things might've been different at the time EJ came here, because I was originally offered the job here. At the same time I was involved in a big undercover op, & I knew it would tae a long time to get in as far as I had done, so decided on not taking it."
She asks "Do you wish you'd taken it?"
He says "Sometimes, as just before getting started with the undercover assignment I was running the team, because our boss Gibbs had quit, so I was running the team. Yes I did make some mistakes & it was a difficult time, but I managed to keep the team together. He then did come back again, & stepped back in as team leader. He's been my mentor ever since I first joined, & due to having been in a coma just before he quit, he could still be a bit hazy over things on his return, so I felt that I should stay & support him, & have ended up just staying there."
There's then a knock on the door & Joe comes in & says "The doctor has given his clearance for you to interview."
"OK you & David put him in interrogation, & I'll be there in a minute. It looks like I'm going to have to go, but you're more than welcome to observe if you want too."
He replies "It's OK thanks, I'll leave you too it." She then takes out one of her cards & gives it too him & says "Call me later, as I would like the chance to be able to thank you properly."
"OK I will, or you can call me." He then does the same with one of his cards.
After having some lunch together as her thank you to him, for the remainder of his holiday they end up spending a lot of time together, having lunches or meals out & sometimes just drinks. As they tentavilly get to know each other, he keeps finding himself conflicted, because part of him just wants to get her into bed, but on the other hand he feels that there's something special about her, & if there's a chance for them to get together, then he doesn't want to throw that chance away. For Debra she also finds that she's feeling the same the way, because it is nearly a year ago since her last relationship, & if he made a move on her she knows she's happily end up in bed with him, but with the circumstances of how her relationship ended she's also scared about the same thing happening again, so she's afraid of letting go for them to have a chance. By the time he goes back to DC again & they have a final meal together on the night before he leaves, they both find they have regrets about not admitting their feelings for one another.
As things turn out, fate ends up bringing them together again, as shortly after his return to DC their suspect who he helped to arrest has turned out to be a part of a big gang, who are drug running on American Navy ships, between Spain & DC. With the arrest of Lee the gang leaders then get themselves out of Spain & move things to DC instead. At first she thinks that she might just have to hand everything over to them, but as things are still coming up at her end, she decides that perhaps it should become a joint op, so she gets everything together case file wise & then calls the director Leon Vance, who agrees with her, so they agree to a meeting in a few days time. Despite she & Tony also having stayed in touch with each other via E mail or the phone, which a few times they have also turned a bit flirtatious, she decides on keeping the trip quiet, so that she can surprise him.
After arriving in DC she checks into her hotel, then goes to find Tony's apartment. On the way there though she runs into a bit of trouble, as she starts to sense that she's being followed, all of a sudden she hears a shot ring out, & ducks into an alley & realises that she's been hit in the shoulder. She then manages to run & hide in the alley, before finally collapsing. Once she hides & starts to loose consciousness, she presses the speed dial number on her cell for Tony, when
he answers she says weakly "Tony, help me, I'm in trouble." When she then passes out. Tony was in his apartment as she calls, so after calling her name a couple of times, he hangs up & calls McGee "McGee can you trace the last call to my phone? I need to leave the line clear in case she tries to call again, so call me when you find out.
As he then grabs his jacket & keys, he dashes out of the apartment as the phone goes again, he answers it with a "Hi." It's McGee who tells him the location of the cell & that it's still on, he realises where it is & goes running down the road to the alley, as he reaches it he gets his gun & torch out, then takes it slowly as he starts to search for her. As he approaches near to where she is, he nearly goes straight past it, but luckily he hears a sound which makes him turn round, he then sees her on the ground against the wall, as he then sees the blood, he crouches down & checks for her pulse,
her eyes then flicker open & she weakly says "Tony?"
he quietly replies "It's me." He then calls 911 & Gibbs. As she flickers in & out of consciousness, he applies pressure to her shoulder to stem the bleeding, as well as trying to keep her talking
"What are you doing here?"
She replies "I was coming to see you as a surprise, because the case I've been working on has bought me here, I'm supposed to be seeing Director Vance in the morning. As I was walking along I started to get the feeling I was being followed, I heard the shot & knew I'd been hit. I ran in here & got myself hidden, but they still followed & didn't thankfully find me."
He asks her "Where are you staying?"
"At the Adams House"
The paramedics then turn up, & shortly after that so does Gibbs "What's going on DiNozzo?"
He explains to him "This is Special Agent Debra Kingston, she's in charge in Rota, & we met when I was in Spain. I got out of her that the case she's been working on has bought her here, as she's supposed to be seeing Vance in the morning. She had a feeling that she was being followed as she was coming to see me. She was shot somewhere round the corner on the street & managed to hide round here, but she did hear them follow, I think they were probably going to finish her off if they found her."
"OK, where's she staying?"
"She told me that it was at the Adams House."
He tells him "I'll get over there, because as well as her, they may also be after the case files. You go with her to the hospital & keep guard; I'll get Bishop & McGee to come & process the scene, plus also let Vance know what has happened."
Later on Gibbs goes to the hospital & finds Tony waiting outside her room,
he asks him "How's she doing?"
He replies "She's been pretty lucky as it was a through & through, they also suspect that there may be a bone chip. They're just stitching the wound at the moment, and then she's free to go."
Gibbs says "Vance has said he wants her in protective custody, as her room was a wreck when I got there, I've got her stuff in the car. Luckily she's hidden the files up so well, they didn't find them."
Tony asks him "Do you want her to come home with me? As at least she does know me, & I am the only familiar face round here that she knows, so it might help."
"As long as you look after her." "I will do, I promise."
Gibbs then asks "By the way is she British?"
Tony replies "She is, why?"
Gibbs answers "I think there's a chance that she could be my god daughter, as her name seemed familiar, is her father Tyler Kingston?"
"I don't know as she never told me his name, but when we first met in Spain I asked how come she'd joined NCIS with being British, & she explained about living on American bases & things, because of her father being American & in the marines, so if she is your god daughter how long has it been since you last saw her?"
"It was just after Shannon & Kelly's funeral. They'd gone back to England after it, because he'd been based there. Her mum did send me updates & things every so often, until they got based somewhere over here, as she was just finishing high school."
"Well I can fill in a little bit for you, as when we met she told me that after uni she was going to join JAG, as she was doing law, but changed her mind when an NCIS agent visited them, & joined up. She was then mostly an agent afloat, until she joined Rota when EJ was there, then when EJ came here; she stepped up & became team leader."
"Thanks, would you mind if I went in there first, before we get her back to yours?"
"No you go ahead."
Once the doctor is done with her, he goes in & says "Hi Debra."
She turns round & smiles at him "Hi Uncle Jethro, I had a strange feeling after Tony said Gibbs when we met that it might be you."
He replies "I think that now you're older it can just be Jethro now, except for the circumstances, it's nice to see you again."
"& you too."
"We'll have a proper catch up while you're here, when Tony explained about you seeing Vance in the morning, I called him & he wants you in protective custody, so Tony has said that you can stay with him. So what happened, & what are you doing here?"
She answers him "I've been working on a case where there's been some drug running on Navy ships between Rota & here. The person that Tony helped us arrest was a part of the gang, & he pretty much grassed them all up. They were all based in Rota, including the gangs leaders, we were very close to getting them when they ran & came here, leaving just the minor members left behind. I then noticed that via reports of crimes & things coming from here were the same kind of things that had been happening to us, so guessed that they were trying assert themselves here now & thought I ought to come & help, which is why I was seeing Vance in the morning. After getting here I was going to give Tony a surprise, & it's not because of anything else other than friendship. When I was walking to his, I started getting the feeling I was being followed, the next minute I heard a shot & knew I'd been hit; I then managed to hide where Tony found me. I did also hear them follow, so I was glad I managed to hide. I can't work out why though that they've come after me, as they've never targeted us, while we've been investigating the case."
"It might be because you've come here & they think it's now a joint investigation, so we'll now catch them, or there could just be a chance that you might've missed something, & they may think that you have seen it, because when I got your stuff from the hotel, the room had been ransacked."
"They wouldn't have found anything as I'd not unpacked yet, but there's a secret compartment in my case that only I know about, so all the files are in there. If you want them though you & Tony will have to help me, because I won't be able to do it one handed."
"We will do & we're still going to be seeing Vance in the morning, & of course you can help us where you can do, but until you get the all clear with your shoulder, other than bringing you in & taking you home again that will be all you can do. Now what about telling you're mum & dad or Claire about this & where you are?"
"I'll call them later."
"It's ok; I can do it for you, especially as it would be good to have a talk with them again."
"Thank you their numbers are in my cell in my bag." The doctor then comes back & gives her some painkillers to take away with her, which she has to take as prescribed & get as much rest as possible, plus go back again in a weeks time for a check up. Other than at night in bed she has to wear the sling all the time, & that night will be the only night that she has to keep it on. As soon as he goes Gibbs helps her off the bed & picks up her bag. They then go & meet Tony outside.
"You two go ahead & I'll catch you up, but not too far behind, just in case we get followed."
A while after they get in Gibbs arrives with her bags; they put her suitcase on Tony's bed
Gibbs asks "So what do we need to do?"
She answers "When you get it open, in the hinge there's a button, press that & pull it apart. Now on the empty half there's a pocket in the side, just undo the zip & it's in there."
Tony says "That's amazing, where did you get that?"
She replies "Thanks Tony, it was from my sister Claire, as she owns a company that sells bags & things, plus designs ones for peoples needs. I kept getting fed up with files getting in a muddle & needing sorting if I needed them while travelling & things, with that pocket I didn't need to do it anymore. It also comes handy in situations like this, as everything is hidden, so unless someone strikes lucky, it can't be found."
Gibbs says "I'll take these for you & keep them safe."
"Thank you."
"Now promise me you'll get some rest, & we'll see you in the morning."
"I promise I will do."
Once Gibbs has gone & they get left alone,
Tony says "You take the bed & I'll have the sofa."
She replies "Are you sure, as I don't mind taking the sofa?"
"I'm sure as you need rest, & I know for tonight it is going to be difficult, so you need to be as comfortable as possible. Now is there anything I can get you?"
"I could do with something to eat please, as I've not eaten anything since I left home & I'm starving, seeing as part of my surprise as well was going to be taking you out for something to eat."
"That would've been very nice, it's a shame that things went wrong, because it would've been so good to see you at the door, rather than having to find you in the mess you were in. I'll go & phone for a takeaway." She then kisses him on the cheek & strokes the side of his face. "What was that for?"
"It's to say thank you for coming to find me, & for keeping me safe."
"I promise I will always keep you safe." They come close to kissing, but eventually he shakes himself out of it.
"Please make sure you get something that I'll be able to manage one handed."
"I'll try, but if you can't manage I can always help you." He flashes her one of his mischievous smiles, as he walks off to get the phone.
While they're waiting for the food to come her phone, as she sees the number she goes out to the bedroom, as it's her parents. As soon as she's finished talking to them it goes again, & this time it's her sister Claire. This time even if he knows he shouldn't invade her privacy, he can't resist standing near by so he can eavesdrop on her conversation.
Claire asks her "So are you ok?"
She replies "I'm fine Claire honest, just in a little bit of pain, but it's not the first time this has happened."
"I know it isn't, but we do still worry, especially when we find out that you're not even in Spain when it happened."
"Well I was sort of hoping to get here first, then call you all once I'd settled tomorrow, I didn't know this was going to happen, did I? The main thing is I'm being looked after, & of course I've got my godfather here as well."
"Ok, so what about Tony, have you told him, or will you tell him that you love him?"
"I don't know, I might do, but I'm still finding it hard."
"Of course you probably are, but you have to put the past behind you, & let yourself go."
"I know I do, as I do love him very much, & I know that Matt would be very happy for me, it's just part of me is scared to let go, in case the same thing happens again. I've always known as an agent you can loose the people you love, & that I was going to loose Matt anyway, but it was sooner than we thought it was. Plus even if I tell him, can we really manage with a long distance relationship; because once this case ends I will have to go back to Spain again. He's also protecting me & I'm scare that if I come out & tell him that I love him, & he doesn't feel the same way, things will be really awkward between us, plus I really love him as a friend as well, & I don't really want to loose him as a friend either."
"You need to follow your heart, & if you want to be with him, you should pluck up the courage to tell him. Look I know you're not big on the marriage & kids thing, but who knows? He could end up changing you on one of those points, you just need to let go."
"I'll try, but in a way even though it's been a year since I lost Matt & now he'd be happy for me if I found someone new, I still sort of feel guilty that I'm somehow disrespecting his memory."
"There will be part of you that will feel like that, but you're not, & he would want you to be happy." The doorbell then goes,
so he creeps away to answer it, then calls "Foods here!"
"Ok I'll be there in a second. I'd better go Claire as our food is here."
"Ok, but please keep yourself safe & make sure you call. If anything happens between you & Tony, let me know, or just want to talk about anything to do with him, please call as well."
"I will do I promise." They then say goodbye & she goes out to join Tony.
After getting the food & drink sorted they go & sit on the floor at the coffee table
Tony says "So I guess that as the calls were from your family, Gibbs called them."
"He did, as that was my mum & dad, as well as my sister Claire. They're glad I'm ok, although the only problem with Claire is that before she started up the bag business, that I said about earlier, she was a psychologist, so as well as giving some good advise at times, she does also tend to analyse everything, but I do love her & she's a great friend, plus I love my nieces & nephews as she has four kids, that's why she gave up the psychology stuff, & started up the bag business."
"Isn't it hard though being away from them, I know in Spain you're fairly close, but here you're a lot further away, have you got anymore brothers & sisters?"
"I've got a younger brother Paul, he's thirty & in the Royal Marines, I don't know how long it will be though, as he got married last year. He's just home from his fourth tour of Afghanistan, although I have a feeling that unlike dad, if he stays in he might end up going into the training side of things, as he can be a great teacher."
"What about you? Have you thought about marriage & a family?"
"With being the oldest I think it was always expected, plus with me & Claire being so close in age we both fantasised about it, & yes I did want it, but I think that due to being such a nomad until I was a teenager I inherited the being on the move bug, as I only got settled while at high school & uni, then again during the time of my agent training, by the time that ended I think the wanting to be on the move bug hit again, & it was fulfilled with being agent afloat, then of course there was no chance of meeting anyone then, & I think I went through a stage of playing the field when I was in port. Just before going to Spain I met someone & thought he could be the one, but he cheated on me. So when I got settled in Spain I stayed single for ages, as I found it difficult to trust anyone. Someone did then come into my life who I thought was the one, but it's a situation that's difficult to talk about, even so I do still hope I can meet someone special. I think with my age it might be possibly too late to meet someone special & have kids. So I would probably be happy just to have someone special in my life, & that I can spend the rest of my life with."
"Well just remember that whatever happens I will always be here for you, even if you've gone home. Saying that if you did by any chance meet someone special while you were here say, would you relocate once again?"
"I think I would do, as I don't know what it is, but I do honestly feel it's time to settle once & for all. I know I'd probably make up my mind at the time, but I could even possibly consider giving the job up, that's if I someone in time to have kids & they want them as well of course. Plus I think it's today that has made me consider it, because it's the third time I've been shot, & I worry that I won't be able to take another time of it happening, & it's bought back everything, with the thing I can't talk about, & made me realise what it's like for both sides of the coin, but mostly for the person that has to find them & has to pick up the pieces."
"Look I wanted to be there for you, & I was very glad you reached out for me, whenever you also feel ready to tell me about what happened, I will be here for you."
The emotions then get to her, & as she says "Thanks Tony." She bursts into tears, so being careful of her arm he gives her a hug until she settles down.
Later on when she's gone to bed, with tony being on the sofa, but he's awake as he's worrying about Debra, not only that he's trying to work out how to play things because he knows he's in love with her, & from overhearing her talk to Claire, he knows she feels the same way about him, but it's whatever happened in her previous relationship that's holding her back. He knows that he should give her time, but he's scared that she'll end up going back to Spain again, & they won't end up admitting to each other, how they really feel. Although he does have a feeling that in a way she's trying to tell with the way she's been saying certain things, & also with some of the looks she's been giving him. In the end he decides that he'll give her the time she needs, but if it starts to look like she might be heading home, he will make sure they talk, as he's determined that he's not going to loose another person that he's in love with.
For Debra she manages to get some sleep, before she wakes up in pain. At first she thinks she can ignore it, but it gets intense so she goes to take some tablets in the kitchen. Of course with trying to do it one handed it's a no go, & in the end the container drops to the floor with a bang. As she looks down on the floor it's gone under the table, so she groans.
"Here let me" She turns to see Tony standing in the doorway in just a t-shirt & boxers.
"Thanks." He then goes over, picks them up, gets a glass of water & gives them too her.
"You ok?" "I'm fine, just woke up in pain & thought I could ignore it, but I couldn't. Sorry if I woke you."
"It's ok, I was awake anyway, you go back to bed, & I'll sort out a drink for you." She does as she's told, but adjusts the pillows so she's comfortable sitting up. When he's made the drinks he takes them in the bedroom, & after putting hers down,
he goes to leave, but she grabs his hand & says "Stay, keep me company."
"You sure?" "I'm very sure." He goes round the other side of the bed, puts his cup down & gets into bed next to her. As he gets in she picks up her cup & as he carefully puts his arm round her injured shoulder, she lays her head on his chest.
He asks again "Are you sure you're ok?"
She replies "I'm very sure, that's partly why I was trying to ignore the pain & go back to sleep again, because you're bed is as comfortable as mine is, as normally when I'm in a strange bed it takes me a few days to sleep properly, & I have a feeling that if the pain hadn't woken me up, I would've slept all night."
"I'm glad that it was just because of that, & not anything else."
"As you said you were awake as well, I hope it wasn't because of being uncomfortable."
"No I'm ok, just one of those nights of having a number of things going through my head."
"I hate getting nights like that, I get it sometimes during difficult cases. Although when I first started quite a few cases got to me, & I struggled to sleep a lot." "You know at anytime you want to talk, I'll be here for you, even if I've gone home."
"Thank you, & it's the same for you, I'll be here for you anytime you need me. Saying that you say if you go home, does it mean you may not go home, if you decide you want to stay here?"
"Well I have to go home & get sorted with what to bring here, as well as getting the apartment up for sale, but if I find I feel settled here, or have a reason to stay here, then I would stay. Not only that with having spent most of my life in this country, despite my family being in Britain, I've always said my heart belongs here. I know that today was the first time in years that me & Jethro have seen each other, but we were always close & in a way it would be nice to have my godfather in my life again. I'm sure as well that even if I am closer to my family in Spain, we hardly see each other. Who knows? Even though it's further away we might get to see each other more, as it is my dad's home country."
"Well I would be happy to have you around if you stayed, & if you needed any help with moving if you stayed, I would be happy to help you."
"Thank you & you will most probably be the first to know, if I do decide to stay."
As she puts her cup down & yawns he says "I'll let you get some sleep, & get back to the sofa again."
"It's ok, I trust you, & I'm sure you'll be more comfortable in your own bed, & I'd love you to stay with me."
"I will stay with you, as long as you're sure?" "I'm very sure."
They both settle down & she lies on his chest, as she starts getting sleepy & thinks that he might be asleep, she whispers "I love you Tony." He whispers back "I love you too." & then gently kisses the top of her head. She smiles to herself & as she goes to sleep she thinks 'You must tell him face to face.'
A/N: I hope you enjoy this new story from me, I'm so far enjoying writing this one, & think it might be my favourite of the two, although I do think I got a bit carried away with myself. I was originally going to end it on the shooting, but then decided to add the final bit, so I hope you enjoy & don't find it too boring! So what will happen with Tony & Debra, will they manage to admit their feelings for one another, hopefully all will be revealed soon! xxx.