The Right Turn
Summary: Set almost straight after A Man walks into a Bar. Tony contemplates what Rachel had told him what Kate had thought. He decides it's time to reassess himself. After an overseas assignment, Tony comes back a changed man… But is the change a right one as people begin seeing the real difference.
NCIS Autopsy
When the Autopsy lights were off, it was a dark and lonely place. Silence reigned supreme and sometimes you could almost hear the dead's stories. On the other hand, if there were any secrets that were let out, they wouldn't go running and telling. A lone silhouette poured the contents of a bottle into a glass and sipped.
"Was it true, Kate?" Tony asked and twirled the glass around in his hand. "Did you think I could've been much more?" At least the dead won't talk. "You know what Autopsy really is… It's a place where the dead speak," Tony said as he imitated the old actor Fred Gwynne.
He drunk more of the bourbon and placed the glass down. Around NCIS, bottles were hidden in drawers so when the real need to arise they could have a drink. It was a special form of anti septic that would help cleanse any wounds that might be reopened. A single Autopsy light came on.
"Thought I might find you here, Tony," Ziva's voice broke the silence. She nodded when he offered her a glass and a drink.
"Are you alright?" Things had been revealed. Things that they would've preferred to have kept hidden. Tony nodded to Ziva as an answer. "Just the last time we were down here drinking was after Jenny's death," she explained the reason for asking the question.
"And since then, life sure has gone downhill," Tony drew an imaginary circle on the desk with his finger, slowly decreasing its diameter until his finger stayed in one spot. "Spiraling until trapping us where we are now," he stated with a slight smile.
"I'm going away for a couple of weeks," Tony broke the silence again. "Part of the investigation to those two disappearances and killing in that unit near the Gulf of Oman," Tony leaned back in the chair.
"Iran?" Ziva asked.
"Congratulations… You've won the Tupperware!" Tony exclaimed loudly. Autopsy amplified his voice more. That part of the world was dangerous. He wasn't naïve about that fact but right now he wasn't concerned.
"Tony… Be careful. You're not going by yourself are you?" Ziva asked without hiding the concern in her voice.
"Careful, Zi," Tony chuckled. "For a moment there, you almost sounded like you cared," he said.
"I do care," she defended herself.
"Yeah," Tony finished off the bourbon that was in his glass. "Reinvention… I've hated shrinks. Never cared who they are or what else they do. Hell, never dated one and never will. But something came up. I think it's about time I start rediscovering myself and force a change. Can't be Tony DiNozzo the clown forever," Tony said as he stood up.
Ziva didn't say anything.
"I'll see you when I get back. And when I do… You'll see a changed man. I'm gonna go and I'll come back fightin' men," Tony said as he turned around.
"What?" Ziva asked as she put the bottle back in the drawer.
"1989 Civil War movie Glory. Directed by Edward Zwick. Starring Matthew Broderick, Cary Elwes and Morgan Freeman. What's funny… It was just 3 years after Broderick played school kid Ferris Bueller and just 6 years after he did Wargames," he explained.
"Wargames?" Ziva queried. Even with the lowlight, Tony could see the confusion in etched on her face.
He smiled brightly. "How about a nice game of chess?" Tony responded in a robotic tone.
Xxxxxxxxxx
NCIS Autopsy
Tony had his bag slung over his shoulder and was killing time. The irony wasn't lost on him when he was down in autopsy. "Ready for your trip, Anthony?" Ducky asked the young man who was dressed in casual traveling clothes. "Do be careful over there won't you, Anthony?" He said.
"Why do people keep saying that to me?" Tony raised his voice. Even Palmer looked up from his books.
"We all know your tendency to get into trouble," Ducky turned around so Tony couldn't see the smile.
"Well I'm going into a dangerous country… Hanging out with dangerous people. So logically I should be alright," Tony chuckled. Considering he always seemed to get into strife when doing something normal and safe.
"Ah… Um," Tony stuttered a little.
Ducky assumed that he was about to say something personal. Usually, Tony was articulate but when it came to meaningful things he stuttered a little… Still fearful of being ridiculed if he displayed his feelings.
"Do you think when people reach a certain age it's impossible to change. I know what they say about a leopard changing their spots… That it can't be done," Tony said as clearly as he could.
"Dear, Anthony. It's never too late to initiate change if one so wishes. But the older one gets, the more they have to want the change for themselves. For other people is more difficult," Ducky explained. "What's this about?" He was curious.
"Time this leopard became a lion. I'm going out to hunt some gazelles," he said as he got louder the further he got. Then made a roaring noise.
"That lad just gets stranger and stranger," Ducky commented.
"Hello, Boss," Tony greeted. "On my way to the airport now. Swear that one more person that tells me to be careful… I'm going to go insane. Hell, I might get into trouble just for the hell of it," Tony laughed as he stepped into the elevator.
Gibbs hated elevator rides at times. You couldn't hear conversations until the door opened and there was no way on Earth you could know what you were walking into. Tony doing growling noises was strange even for him. Gibbs began second guessing him self on whether sending Tony would be a great idea.
"Tony… Is something wrong?" Gibbs asked as Tony was waiting for the elevator door to close.
"Nah," Tony answered as the door finally closed.
Gibbs couldn't help but smile. He wasn't sure if Tony was making a particular Harrison Ford reference or if he was merely reading too much into it. It was similar to a scene in a movie who's title escaped him where Ford was in an elevator and a girl said 'Maybe I just don't like you' and Ford replied 'Nah' with a cockiness that only Harrison Ford could make funny.
"Morning, Duck," Gibbs greeted. "They're sending over the records of the two missing soldiers and dead one. Done by courier. I need you to look over them and decipher them. I want to know what they were like," Gibbs said before turning around.
Ducky nodded as Gibbs walked away. "You ever have an interest in psychology, Mister Palmer? The ins and outs of a human's brain is a rather interesting form of design. A complex device protected by simplistic and fragile bone. Inside that brain is the ability to control a full human being. Something that no other machine or thing has done," Ducky continued. His young assistant still had his head buried deep in a book.
"Mister Palmer," Ducky didn't like being ignored.
"You think that'll be on the test," Palmer had only been half listening. "Instead of Gray Matter they should say Gray matters," he said.
"I believe it's time for you to take a break, Mister Palmer," Ducky suggested.
"After this chapter," Palmer responded after checking his notes again. He knew it was time to take a break since it seemed that books was all he could think about.
Xxxxxxxxxx
Five Days Later…
NCIS had become quiet… Professional… Efficient… Dull. Gibbs knew that McGee was trying to fill the void by taking a lighter role but in doing so managed to get on the wrong side of Abby. Ziva agreed with Abby and somehow pissed off Abby even more.
Gibbs was thankful to have the opportunity to speak with his Senior Field Agent. He wasn't expecting communication since the Oman mission had been classified. No finessing or ass-kissing convinced the CIA to read him in. It took a lot of playing to get an Agent out there.
Now he was summoned to M-TAC where Tony was going to do a quick blank filled fill in. The large screen came to life. The static filled satellite feed showed Tony sitting at a desk but nothing around that gave Gibbs any clue to where he was.
"Hey, Boss," Tony greeted normally as if nothing was amiss.
He noticed the damp look on Tony's face and neck. Wherever his Senior Field Agent was, it looked uncomfortably hot. "Whatcha got, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked.
"Been talking to a few people… Nothing's come of it so far. I'm being taken to… Well can't say, Boss and I will continue the investigation from there," Tony responded. He kept a smile on his face.
"Sounds serious…" Gibbs was about to add something else to the conversation.
"Hey, I know, Boss. Nothing's happening. Been quiet and expecting quiet. The only noisy thing is target practice. But as always I will solemnly swear to watch my back," Tony held up his hand as if he was doing a boy scout salute.
Gibbs shook his head.
"Won't be able to touch base again until at least a week, Boss. SOP you know? Standard Operating Procedure," Tony said calmly. He wiped some sweat from the hairline and checked his fingers.
"Watch yourself out there, DiNozzo," Gibbs said, making it sound more like a warning.
"Knew you cared, Boss. There's nothing out here I need to watch out for out here. Nothing going on. Ah… I have to go. It's like sharing a house with a women and only one phone. Must go. Hope things are running smoothly while I'm gone. Don't wanna come back into world war three," Tony smirked as he stood up. He knew there were was some sort of power play going on when he wasn't there. Sometimes he felt like he wanted to be a fly on the wall.
Gibbs smiled slightly as the screen went blank.
Xxxxxxxxx
Gibbs had just stepped out on the landing overlooking the Squadroom when Abby suddenly appeared beside him.
"You talked to him didn't you? Tony I mean. How is he?" Abby asked in her usual rambling tone.
"Yes, Abs," Gibbs answered. He watched McGee walk around the bullpen while holding a ruler to his head. He was saying something but Gibbs wasn't really listening.
"How is he? Is he keeping safe?" Abby pleaded for not only answers but an answer that would calm her worry.
"He says it's quiet out there and nothing is going on," Gibbs relayed what Tony had told him.
"You believe him?" Abby asked since she was extremely doubtful.
"That's what he told me. And he wasn't bothered by anything," Gibbs answered. Actually he didn't believe things were as smooth as Tony was making them out to be. A compliant DiNozzo usually meant trouble.
"I have to go," Gibbs said as he walked down the steps. McGee had rushed back to his computer as if expecting something. "What have you got?" Gibbs asked in his gruff manner. There was a round of nothings as McGee slapped the desk. "Oh and McGee if you want to walk around with a Ruler on your forehead I'd attach it permanently," Gibbs threatened.
McGee and Ziva glanced at each other with questioning looks.
Gibbs turned and almost walked right through a man with thick black hair just standing there. He stood with a certain amount of uneasy silence. Gibbs looked down and saw the rectangular laminated visitor badge.
"Can I help you?" Gibbs asked.
"No… Not really. Clayton Webb. I want to pass along a message. I work in the CIA. We've been tracking some activity from your computers… Yours especially," Clayton pointed in McGee's direction.
And McGee gulped.
"Wait we've gone through proper channels," Gibbs stated.
Clayton Webb didn't flinch when Gibbs walked around him to sit at his desk. He swiveled to face him. "That's not the point, Special Agent Gibbs. It's about your current case involving the Gulf of Oman," Clayton gave the reason he was there. "There's nothing going on over there," he told him.
"That is a fact? I have an Agent there," Gibbs stated. Even Tony was saying there was nothing going on there.
"I'm well aware of Agent Tony DiNozzo's deployment. It's imperative that you drop the in depth checking into the operatives," Clayton said.
"I thought nothing was going on," Ziva piped up.
"There IS nothing going on over there. But continuous investigation can minimize their effectiveness in any further operations," Clayton told them. He wasn't about to leave until the situation had become effectively clear.
"We have an investigation to run," Gibbs stood up to his full height.
"If you want information… You don't ask the CIA. You'll hand over any paperwork regarding The Gulf of Oman and information on the alleged missing men. Don't try and trick me we know what you've asked for and what you have received. Any further digging and we will take action," Clayton Webb threatened. There were times he had ordered the crashing of computers or viruses even. It wasn't standard but it served it's purpose.
"Fine," Gibbs said coldly as he made the call to Ducky and Abby. They agreed to hand over everything to Clayton Webb and the CIA. "My Agent?" Gibbs narrowed his eyes.
"He is being looked after and kept out of harm's way," Clayton chuckled lightly. "I think he's having the time of his life actually," he assured the Lead Agent.
Gibbs wasn't convinced. The more it went on, the more concern he was feeling. Ducky and Abby soon came up with boxes in their hands and dumped them on the desk for Clayton to pick up.
Gibbs went through his filing cabinet and put a couple of files on the boxes. "We'll email you our computer files," Gibbs stated. He was still annoyed at having the case taken away from him.
Clayton produced a USB Memory stick and handed it to Gibbs. Gibbs obediently inserted the memory stick and started searching for the files to move in there. Once done he tossed it over to McGee who fumbled a catch.
McGee moved the data onto the memory stick as well before tossing to Ziva. Clayton watched as the Former Mossad Officer did the same. She ditched it in his direction and before he could move, the memory stick bounced off his chest and landed on the floor.
"Good," Clayton picked it up and put it securely in his pocket. It was strange to see such an efficient team being so unprofessional. "No wonder why Trent didn't like you guys," he picked up the couple of boxes and adjusted his arms so that it felt lighter to carry. "Guess it'd be too much to ask for a hand," a cold Gibbs stare was all he got in response.
"Thank you," Clayton said. He managed to wiggle a finger free and moved it to act as a wave.
Xxxxxxxxx
Two and a half weeks later
Gibbs double timed it into M-TAC. He felt stupid for rushing to talk to his Senior Field Agent since his others seemed to be acting insane. Now… Instead of James Bond, Bruce Willis it was now Doctors, Vipers and God knows what.
Gibbs waited in front of the large screen as the snowy picture came to life. Tony looked like he was in the same place as he was a couple of weeks ago.
"Boss?" Tony stated as he adjusted his collar.
Gibbs didn't answer right away. The resolution of the picture was terrible and a little jumpy. But something didn't look right. There was like a dark look about him. One he had only seen on a couple of occasions.
"Can you hear me, Boss?" Tony asked, thinking there was something wrong with the link.
"You okay, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked.
"Fine, Boss," Tony answered after seemingly taking the time to think of an answer. "Soon on the way back. Hey, Boss?" Tony asked.
"What is it, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked.
Tony licked his lips a little before continuing again. "Is everything alright at NCIS? I heard that CIA has taken over the investigation. I had to relay everything to someone else… Sorry, Boss," Tony said with a shrug.
"There's always something going on. Another case," Gibbs responded. He noticed Tony had readjusted his shirt. In the three weeks away he had dropped some weight. That wasn't an unusual thing for somebody on deployment to have happen.
"I'm going to be coming back tomorrow," Tony said as he shifted in his seat.
"How'd everything go? You alright?" Gibbs asked again.
Tony let out an elongated sigh. "It was uneventful. Really dull." Tony said convincingly. "See you when I get back," he said before the screen turned dark. Gibbs bit his bottom lip as he walked silently out of M-TAC. He told nobody of his concern about sending his Senior Field Agent out that way and nothing happening or uneventful sounded more like… 'unofficial secretive shit happened' which was usually the case when the CIA was involved.
Xxxxxxxxxx
A/N: I got this idea from watching a movie that really got to me. One that struck a real nerve. Also… In this story, I decided to use CIA operative Clayton Webb instead of Trent Kort. Praise and criticism welcome as always.