Tony took a deep breath, focusing the scope on his target. He fired off one shot. The watermelon exploded, as the round penetrated. He smiled, taking a deep breath.
"Now you're getting it, T." A man in black camo said, kneeling next to him.
"Yeah, and it only took four months."
"Speaking of four month, you wanna tell me why you're doing this?"
"I told you, Sammy. I've seen too much. I want to move out to the woods, and live off the land."
"And how does you sleeping on my couch for four months fit into that plan? Come on, Tony. We've been best friends since the academy. You're up to something."
"Why can't a man learn to shoot a sniper rifle without getting the third degree?"
"The question answers itself." Tony laughed, getting up.
"You on duty tonight?"
"Yeah, I start in an hour."
"I'll explain it all when you come in, OK?"
"You better. My girlfriend's sick and tired of seeing your tired mug on my couch."
"Hey, what happened to the code?"
"Tell me about the code when you fall in love." Sam said, walking off.
McGee stepped off the elevator timidly. Abby's moods lately had been more eratic . She didn't take to loss and change well, and when Tony turned in his badge and left without a word, she got hit with both. He took a deep breath, and walked in, finding Abby at her computer.
"Abs . . ."
"I FOUND HIM!" She screamed, giggling.
"Found who?" McGee asked, walking over. Abby laid a gibbs-slap on the back of his head.
"Tony."
"Where is he?"
"Cleveland. He just used his credit card to purchase a ticket to . . . . Oh, no."
"What, Abby?" She turned, to see Gibbs.
"Nothing, I was just . . ."
"Working on a case." McGee said, finishing her sentence. Gibbs slapped him twice in the back of the head.
"That was for both of you lying to me. Abby, you want to tell me what's going on before Elf Lord gets a concussion?"
"I found Tony."
"Where?"
"Cleveland. He's flying to France tomorrow." Gibbs nods, walking out.
"I wonder where he's . . ." Abby Gibbs-slaps him again.
"I'm going to change your name from Elf Lord to Captain Obvious."
Tony packed the last of his clothes into the small suitcase. He normally didn't travel light. But, he reminded himself, when this was over, clothes wouldn't be an issue. He smiled, leaving a note on the couch. Sam was one of his best friends, but the less he knew about this, the better.