AN: Takes place directly after the closing of Season 7, "Rule 51." Was going to be a continuation story but since we are into Season 8 already, it can stand alone. Enjoy!
Reynosa: I don't want your death, I want your life.
"You heard him Probie…no one leaves."
Tim was pacing the bull pen. "Actually I didn't hear him Tony…I heard you, tell me, what he told you to tell us."
Abby changed her worried expression momentarily and chimed in. "Anyone ever tell you, you ramble McGee?" The three of them only stared at her in response. "What?"
Tony continued. "Listen, it doesn't matter if I'm the messenger or not, the boss wouldn't say it, if it wasn't important."
"That's just it Tony, he left out the important parts."
Ziva joined in as well. "Yes…for example, who, what, where, when and why?"
"He's the boss, not encyclopedia Britannica."
"Then perhaps you will tell us what Vance had you doing?"
Tony averted eye contact. "Irrelevant."
"I highly doubt that." Ziva approached the front of his desk along with her other teammates.
He took in their expressions. "He had me tailing someone. End of story."
They remained with their arms crossed, not satisfied with his response.
"Come on, you guys wouldn't interrogate the boss."
"He is not here, Tony, you are." Ziva prodded him. "Now is not the time for keeping secrets."
Tony relented. "Okay, but not here…"
The dimmed autopsy lights were all too familiar as the team circled together.
"Déjà vu." Abby said simply.
Ziva shrugged. "Before my time yes?"
"Actually, during your time…you were kinda out of the office…" Tony explained briefly. "Doesn't matter, look…Vance had me tailing Alejandro."
"Alejandro? Why?" Abby was quick to ask.
"Not entirely sure. I was told to observe and report."
"And what did you observe?"
"The back of his head…until Franks showed up."
"Mike Franks?" Tim questioned.
Tony didn't even dignify his question with an answer.
"Was Mike okay? How did his hand look? Was the rest of him in one piece?"
"Physically, yeah. But he had a look in his eye…"
"Vengeance, yes?"
Tony's response was simple. "Is there any other kind?"
Only before the conversation could continue Tony got a phone call that lasted less than thirty seconds. And there was only one person who could get their point across in that amount of time.
"That was Gibbs…is he okay? What did he say?"
"He's coming back home."
"Where was he?" Ziva questioned.
"Still water."
Abby cringed. "Oh man. I got a bad feeling."
Tony motioned for them to head back upstairs. "You and me both Abs, you and me both."