A/N: This is my new fic. I know I should probably finish "Parallel Universe" first, but I started writing this during one of my classes, just out of boredom, and I kinda liked the idea. I hope you'll like it too and will give me some feedback!!

Also, Valentine's Day is coming up... Wonder if I should write my first one-shot fic...

Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS or any of its characters.

The phone rang in the bullpen. Tony looked at it, uncertain if taking the call or not. It was 5.40 PM on a Friday night and he was really looking forward having a relaxing yet fun weekend. He knew that getting a new case at the time, on a Friday, meant giving up on his two planned following days. He felt like he hadn't had a completely free weekend in ages.

The phone rang for the fourth time; the committed special agent part of Tony DiNozzo finally kicked in, and the man decided to pick it up.

"NCIS. Special Agent DiNozzo."

On the other end of the line nobody spoke for a while.

"Hello, is this Anthony, Anthony DiNozzo?" a female voice spoke with a feeble and slightly shaky voice.

"Yes mam', what can I do for you?"

There was a small pause and then the woman spoke again.

"I am Laura. Laura Todd."

Tony just stood there, pondering why that name sort of rang a bell in his mind.

The voice on the other side of the line sighed deeply, before explaining.

"Caitlyn Todd is… was my daughter."

Tony closed his eyes for a few seconds, registering the information; it had been a while since he last heard that name out loud.

"Mrs. Todd… How may I help you?"

"Well, you know Caitlyn – Kate – she hated when I called her Caitlyn," she paused as she was reminiscing something, "anyway, she always told me I should have called you or Agent Gibbs, if something happened…"

Tony shivered unconsciously.

"Of course, Mrs. Todd. What happened?"

"I got a tape… Well, someone sent a tape addressed to me this morning and they're asking for ransom…"

She paused, unsure of how to explain the situation.

"Are they holding hostage someone of your family?"

"Yes…"

Tony felt the pain in her voice; it was heartbreaking.

"In the tape... You know, it's dated November 13, just two days ago. I know how easy is to make these things up with today's technology. I mean, I know and I accepted the fact that she's dead and this is just a cruel prank that fate is playing on us..."

Tony listened at her carefully. She definitely couldn't mask her insecure tone like Kate could. He was almost afraid of asking the question he knew he had to ask.

"Who's in the tape, Mrs. Todd?"

He heard the woman sighing loudly on the other end of the line.

"It's Caitlyn. She's on the tape and there's a guy next to her, pointing a gun at her head and saying he wants $ 500,000 by the end of the week or he's going to kill her."

In that moment Tony was glad he was the only one in the bullpen, because what he just heard made him literally stumble and fall from his standing position next to his desk to the side of the drawer holding all his files.

"Mrs. Todd, I will need the tape for our technicians to analyze and also I will need a list of people that might be holding a grudge against your family. The tape must have been or made before Kate's... death, or it's a just very well made fake. Our forensic team here at NCIS will be able to verify that and give us some answers in no time."

"Agent DiNozzo…"

"Please, call me Tony."

"Tony, in the tape, it was specified not to alert the authorities. I was hoping you could help me out and keeping this between us… I haven't told my husband or my children."

Tony sighed. He couldn't keep this hidden from Gibbs.

The woman continued.

"My husband's heart couldn't stand this. He was already devastated by Kate's death. And I know that if cops are involved I won't be able to hide it from him anymore. Please."

Tony understood her situation and decided to act impulsively and follow his gut feeling. He owed it to Kate.

"Okay, Mrs. Todd. I will take the next flight to Indianapolis. I will be there later tonight."

"Thank you so much, Tony. I really appreciate your kindness and I am sure Caitlyn would have appreciated it too. You are of course welcome to stay at our place and I will make sure to cover all of your travel expenses..."

Tony couldn't help but hearing the incredible amount of pain in the woman's voice every time she mentioned Kate's name. He felt the same every time he heard it. Four years had gone by since she was murdered; very few things had stayed the same. Life had forced them all to move on.

"Mrs. Todd, I am grateful, but you really don't need to do all of this. Kate was a dear friend of mine and I am sure she would have done the same for me."

"I insist, Tony. I will set up a room for you."

Tony politely accepted Mrs. Todd offer to stay at their place and proceeded to book a flight to Indiana. He thought he wouldn't have had any reason to visit that state again after Kate's death, but he had been wrong.

He left the NCIS headquarters a few minutes later, after absentily gathering his stuff, skillfully avoiding his teammates. He drove to his place in autopilot. After packing a few clothes, enough for the entire weekend, he took a taxi to the airport, trying to prepare himself mentally for the emotional trip he was going to face during the next few days.

R&R, please!!!