Author's Note: To enjoy this crossover story, please read "Apartment 7, Spike's Own" first, a five-minute one-shot story. Apartment 7 also featured in "Hope" specifically Chapter 9, entitled "The Money Trail".

St Elmo's Coffee Pub in Washington, D.C. actually exists but I don't own it nor even set foot inside it. Everything said about it in this story was based on their internet site.

This is a unique triple crossover, hope you enjoy it. Thank you.

The Elf Lord Cometh

There's a message on his Facebook account, "Comin' to TO buddy. Time to catch up?" Spike's face brightened, "Yes," he pumped his fist. The message was from his buddy Timothy McGee of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service based in Washington, D.C.

They first met over three years ago through a symposium they attended on the challenges of Computer Forensics, sometimes also called Digital Forensics or Cyberforensics, a relatively new and fast evolving science for modern crime fighters. To be precise, Spike was attending, Tim was leading. The Canadian was at the symposium simply out of interest, his way of enjoying his holiday. Or ordinarily, in the normal course of their duties they wouldn't cross paths.

Tim "Elf Lord" McGee attended the world famous MIT and John Hopkins University, and had a reputation as a computer forensic expert. Michaelangelo "Spike" Scarlatti didn't study at an Ivy League university but was a brilliant scientist nevertheless. Computer forensics was more like a hobby for him; his passion was elsewhere, chemistry and robotics.

Besides being on the brainy side, they shared one other adorkable reputation at work. Tim has been with the NCIS for nine years and the poor sod was still "probie", a tag he couldn't seem to shake. "Soon," he told Spike, "I won't be probie anymore." Spike teasingly told him "Sure, they'd retire you to pasture eventually." On the other hand, Spike couldn't shake the "puppy" identification tag he had acquired even after nearly five years with the SRU.

Surprisingly, they initially bonded over coffee. When the conference broke for lunch, Tim overheard Spike asked his fellow attendees where to find the best, being a native, Tim offered, "I'm going to St Elmo's Coffee Pub. It's a fun place." Spike was not one to refuse anything that sounded remotely Sesame Street-ish so he went along. He wasn't disappointed with the menu and the ambience and made a mental note to return on Thursday evening when a live not so modern jazz band played. It was, not strangely for Spike, the most enjoyable time of his week holiday in the American capital.

When they returned to their respective nests, Tim and Spike continued to keep each other abreast of their personal and career developments through social media. The world didn't have enough supply of geeks, they were a rare life form. So when opportunities arose geeks tended to connect with each other if only for the sake of laughing at the same jokes.

Spike replied to the FB message, "Stay at my apartment." The two exchanged information, Tim gave the 'when' and Spike gave the 'where' and added, "I'll pick you up at the Airport if it coincides with my day off." As it happened, it was Spike's day-off. He went to the Airport to meet Tim who was very excited to get away on holiday.

Tim was out of the plane and out of customs before anyone could say boo, Spike flashed a dimpled smile, "Welcome to Toronto, buddy." A quick man-hug then Spike inquired, "Is that it?" looking at Tim's one sports bag. "I travel light."

"Ok, let's go."

They were home within 45 minutes, not bad considering it was peak hour. They went up to the second floor to Apartment 7. Spike punched in his entry code at the door, they walked in and the motion sensitive apartment came to life, "Sweet," Tim said excited to be in the apartment he's often heard about. Spike gave him a tour and was very amused after Tim had said, "Sweet" about a dozen times.

"I like your place," he said. "Can I see the schematics?" Spike pulled a drawer from his secret cupboard and laid out the full diagram of the apartment for Tim to see. It detailed not just the lay-out but also the mechanism he used for the motion sensors and the infrared technology. "Sweet," Tim said again. McGee was very impressed. It now inspired him to do something to his own place.

The espresso machine made cappuchino for Spike, "What would you like?" he asked Tim. "Latte," he said, "one sugar". He watched Spike program the machine to make the hot beverage to his specification, "Sweet," the visitor said.

When they finished drinking their coffee, Spike introduced his visitor to his mini babycakes, a miniature robot. "It's not built for sniffing bombs yet. Not long now," he explained to Tim. "I just have to buy a detection component but it's too expensive."

The television screen came on by itself, "Hey Spike," a voice called out. It was Yoh-Lin, Spike's CSIS handler. The SRU Techie replied, "Hey Yoh, what's up?" Yoh-Lin pointed his chin to inquire about the tall guy standing behind him, "Oh, this is Special Agent Timothy McGee, NCIS, he's my house guest." He turned to Tim and pointed at the television, "That guy inside the TV is Yoh-Lin, CSIS." They all laughed there being an easy camaraderie among geeks.

"I'll call you later," said Yoh-Lin, "Enjoy the visit Tim." He signed off as quickly as he appeared on screen. Tim was intrigued, "What was that about?"

"When I'm not busy, I consult with CSIS."

"When you're not busy? Between SRU, bomb disposal, robotics and computer forensics, when do you find the time?" Spike shrugged, "Same way you find the time between investigating crimes with NCIS, lecturing, computer forensics and writing best-sellers."

Tim returned his attention to the schematics, "This is brilliant. Can I see your generator?" Spike opened the secret cupboard and it revealed a small generator that would kick in in case of a black out; and, a secondary solar powered generator sitting just outside the small balcony.

They entered the bedroom which doubled as Spike's office, he showed Tim where the bed was, "Feel free to use everything but don't touch the computer or CSIS will break the door down," they laughed at the silliness of it all.

Tim unpacked; except for a few pieces of clothing item all he had with him was a plain looking laptop that no doubt was heavily encrypted. The visitor had one question, "This place is swept for bugs right?" Spike smiled, "It's self-detecting for bugs." What the Techie meant was if there was a bug in the apartment, it would sound off a static noise. "Sweet," said McGee.

Spike's pager buzzed, "Duty calls. You're going to be ok, buddy?" Tim said there was nothing to worry about, "I'll make myself at home."

Spike hurriedly drove to SRU HQ, "What's up?" They were being called to active duty on their day off, there's got to be something big a brewing. He was however surprised to find that he was the only one from Team One called to active duty. Sgt Donna Sabine met him on arrival, "Bank robbery in progress, we don't have a Techie. You're it."

He quickly changed into his tactical uniform and climbed in the Command Truck ready for anything. T3 arrived, the armed robbery quickly escalated to hostage taking. Spike hooked into the bank's cameras only to find out that they had been disabled, as in physically cut. "Sgt Sabine, they cut the cameras off. No eyes, I repeat, no eyes." He got out of the Truck fully expected to be utilised as part of the tactical team, Sabine had another idea, "Spike, is there a chance we can hear them inside? I want to know what they're saying but not telling us."

Spike smiled, "All I need is a cell number. Leave it with me." The Tech whiz went back in the Truck, called the Bank's HQ and requested for the Manager and the staff cell phone numbers. He was provided with all six, there was a chance at least one of these phones would be in an ideal location to eaves drop on the subjects.

He downloaded, installed and validated a sophisticated flexi bug software into the cell phones. Once he had done this, he used his own phone to remotely turn them on by sending an SMS. The message turned the devices into listening aides. Once activated, he could hear the surroundings of the cell phones and the conversations going on around them. Luckily, one of the cell phones was left on the centre teller counter and this proved to be the best listening devices of the six.

Spike announced over the comm link, "Sgt Sabine ready. We can hear them."

The female Sargent acknowledged with "Copy that." She called the branch's landline number and started negotiations with the primary subject, an alpha male who claimed to be "Tony."

"Tony, my name is Sgt Donna Sabine of the Strategic Response Unit. I'm here to talk. What can I do to resolve this quickly and before anyone get hurt?"

Tony replied, "Fine, talk. I have nothing to say but you can talk all you want." He hanged up on her. The T3 Boss realised that they had entered a very dangerous phase, when the subjects refused to talk, there was no way negotiation could progressed. Spike called to her, "Boss, you've got to hear this."

Sabine climbed up the Truck, listened with Spike to the voices the cell phones were picking up. They heard a couple of names, a Jerry and a Frank, so far no Tony has been mentioned. So either Tony didn't exist, the subject provided them with a false name; or, they had to wait a little longer to hear his name mentioned.

They discerned what sounded like American accent. "They're Yanks, I think." Spike hazarded a guess.

"I agree."

"I know someone who can confirm, that's if you don't mind having an American agent on board."

Sabine nodded her consent, "Anything to get these people out of there."

Spike called Tim on his cell phone, "Buddy, need your help. Do you mind if I send a uniform to pick you up?" Tim was happy to assist, "Ok, I'll wait outside." Within seven minutes, a black and white had arrived at Spike's building entrance to escort Tim to the crime scene. The Tech introduced Tim McGee to Donna Sabine. "This is Special Agent Tim McGee, NCIS, my house guest. He just arrived this morning." Donna laughed in spite of the tensed situation, "Welcome to Toronto, Tim." McGee beamed and said, "No problem, glad to help."

Both Spike and Tim eaves dropped on the cell phones, the American looked at his host, "They're fellow Americans," McGee said almost embarrassed, "At least Frank and Jerry are. I can faintly hear a third person. If only he'd come closer to the phone."

"Do you mind," Tim pointed to the on-board computer. "Help yourself," said Spike who moved out of the way. McGee contacted the FBI, the American agency in charge of all bank robberies which is a federal offence. Not long after he has made contact, a senior Special Agent from the Los Angeles Bureau called, "Special Agent Don Eppes, LA Bureau, how can I help you?"

"I'm First Officer Mike Scarlatti of the Strategic Response Unit, Toronto. Special Agent Eppes, thank you for calling back immediately. We have a robbery in progress. At least two Americans are involved. We also think this may not be the first time they've committed bank robbery. So far we can confirm a Jerry and a Frank, we haven't been able to confirm the name of the third person."

Don Eppes casually said, "Let me guess, someone has told you his name is Tony."

They all heard this on their comm, Sgt Sabine returned to the Truck, "Sorry to interrupt, I'm Sgt Donna Sabine of the SRU. Have you been able to confirm the identity of the third subject, I believe he's the alpha male?"

Eppes replied, "Sgt Sabine, Don Eppes. According to witnesses, he's real name is Alfonso. I can confirm it's an American crew. They don't negotiate. In two robberies when they were cornered they blew up the buildings and escaped. Two fatalities. Let me place you on hold for a minute," they heard Eppes typed in the keyboard.

"The robberies started 18 months ago. They first struck in LA early December 2010, then Texas, then Florida where they blew up a building. Then they hit a bank in New Jersey, then a bank in New York where they were cornered again and blew up the building, that's where we had the two fatalities. The total takings had added to over two million. We noticed a pattern about the robberies; the banks were hit after they had just received a huge cash delivery."

That's a thought, Spike looked at Tim, "There could be an insider." The clever one called Mike Scarlatti smiled and said, "If there's an insider I may have a way of finding out who."

They all fell silently impressed.

You would be too if you read the next chapter?