Hey everyone (: Welcome to my sequel, Wavering Washington! So excited to be back! Lol, sorry I sound like a game show host or something. Anyways, for those of you who don't know, this is a sequel to my other story Baltimore Beginnings. WAIT! I can already see some of you clicking the back button because you haven't read that one. If you don't want to read the first story, no problem, I wrote some highlights of what you need to know at the bottom (: I always hate it when I like the 2nd story and not the 1st, so I just get really confused trying to read it. Lol, I don't want to do that to you!

For those of you who HAVE read that one...Thanks for coming back (: This one will probably wrap up everything I DIDN'T last time. You guys have been awesome, and spoiling me with all your thoughts and opinions. Hope this one keeps up to par with my last!

Chapter 1~

*Present Time*

Tony DiNozzo walked briskly up the sidewalk, hands in his pockets. The fall breeze hit his face, reminding him to zip up his jacket.

The house he was moving towards looked like a typical American dream home. Two stories, small, and homely. A chimney was huffing out smoke in an old fashion sense, making the whole place seem warm and inviting, with the shrubs cut and trimmed to perfection.

Whistling to himself, Tony continued to the driveway, his mind focused on James Bond and The Defiant Ones. As he made his way to the porch, where two rocking chairs sat, a larger figure popped its head up at the sound of Tony's approach.

"Hey there girl." The agent greeted the dog and it let out a small bark in response, shooting up to meet him excitedly. It was a hunting dog- weimaraner to be exact, with a slim grey body and pulsing golden eyes.

"Aw, Zelda!" Tony beamed as the dog jumped on him, licking his face with exaggerated tail wags "Hey there beautiful- You miss me? Good girl." He laughed, wrestling with her as she attempted to nip at his ear playfully.

Normally, the NCIS agent would be the first to admit dogs didn't exactly like him- but there seemed to be an exception to everything. When Tony and his Baltimore partner, Alex Smith had reached their first year working together, Tony had gone out of his way to get Zelda for him, his daughter having told him that Alex always wanted a dog. So he did some research, learning some things about the Smith family so that he could make a good pick for the puppy.

Vanessa wanted something she could run with, wanting to constantly move. Her sister Rachel, just wanted a dog that was smart (Apparently, her first dog was not a success in that department), and Alex's wife wanted something that would keep her company at home. Alex himself had mentioned he wanted something he could build a strong bond with.

All of which led to Tony buying little Zelda, who was only three weeks old at the time. His partner had been completely ecstatic at the time, seeming more like a small child than a senior cop.

Over the years, Tony had come over often enough and helped train Zelda so that the dog had been fond of him as well.

Tony wondered often if he should get a dog, just because Zelda always seemed to lift his spirits. He loved being around her. Of course, reason would kick in soon enough and slap him in the face. He was a federal agent, and didn't really have much time to take care of much aside from himself. And even then- according to others he didn't always do a stellar job.

"Anthony?" Tony looked up at the familiar voice and smiled, trying to appear innocent.

"Hey there Mrs. Smith. I wasn't doing anything." He told her unconvincingly from the ground as Zelda laid down on top of him.

"That certainly looks to be the case." She laughed, gesturing him inside. "You didn't call. Is there a problem?"

"Nah." He responded walking into the heated living room and slipping off his coat "I just wanted to see you guys. It's been forever."

"More like a week."

"A very long week." He told her with a grin and the blonde woman rolled her eyes fondly.

"Trust me, it was for Alex too. I don't think he's used to something called quiet."

"What? I'm afraid I don't understand that word. I have never heard of this 'quiet' thing." Tony frowned mockingly. He rubbed Zelda's head once more before falling into the nearest arm cushion and smiled.

"Alex isn't here?" he asked and Scarlett nodded, looking him over in the same critical manner she always did when he came over.

"He went to the store. He'll be back any second." She told him and disappeared into the kitchen for a moment, bustling back seconds later with a tray of soup, cookies, and hot chocolate. Tony couldn't exactly say he was surprised, but that didn't stop the look of exasperation on his face.

"I'm really fin-"

"Eat." She cut him off and gave him a challenging look that practically dared Tony to try and refuse.

"Alright, alright." He sighed, not really putting up too much of a fight, considering it was Scarlett's cooking, and damn if it wasn't good.

Scarlett smiled lightly, choosing not to comment as she went around the house. Her voice hummed over the air, straightening pictures and dusting off tables. Every so often she would pause and touch Tony's hair or shoulder, as if making sure he was definitely there and alive. It was something the agent normally wouldn't tolerate, but Scarlett would always have that right to him.

The next ten minutes consisted mainly of Tony eating as Scarlett updated him about the world of the Smith's. From parties (which she still insisted she went to, despite her age of almost sixty) to hunting trips to vacations in Ireland (don't ask). An occasional comment would be made by Tony, only to shushed by the older woman, and given more food until he literally was almost bursting.

"…and then I told Mr. Johnson- he was there you know- I told him about you. I said that federal agents weren't all that bad and my husband was partners with one. He seemed to think that Feds were annoying and what not, but I set him straight. He would like to meet you, you know. He is under the impression I just made you up out of the blue!" Tony laughed, patting Zelda's head, which was now in his lap, the dog licking her chops as she stole his last slice of bread.

The banging of a door interrupted them, causing the couple to look up and over at the front of the house.

Alex Smith looked quite a bit different then when Tony had worked with him.

His hair which used to be peppered with silver, was now all a dark grey, only specks of the old black color shown. Tan skin was more leathery than before, crinkled near his eyes, which were still the same vivid blue they had always been and were filled with laughter, aside from the dark shadows which screamed of haunted memories.

"Tony." He greeted when he saw the younger man, and clamped a hand on his shoulder. "You're here." There was no mistaking the pleasure in his voice, and Tony smiled when he heard it, feeling an incredible warm feeling expand on his chest.

"You sick of me already?" he asked lightly and Alex laughed, ruffling his hair. Again, it was something Tony would kill anyone else for doing- but it was Alex so he let it go.

He really needed to quit being such a pushover at times.

"Never." Alex grinned and accepted a tray from his wife as he sat down next to his ex-partner. "How are things going? Particular reason for your surprise visit?"

"Jeez. Maybe I just missed you." Tony told him and laughed at the raised eyebrow that he was given in return. "Alright, so I've had a rough week."

"Was it kids?" Alex asked sympathetically and Tony winced.

"It wasn't a case." He admitted and this time Scarlett popped her head back in with narrowed eyes.

"Gibbs?" she asked and from the kitchen, you could hear the very scary sound of a knife being sharpened.

"Uh…Well, in a way I guess." He told them cautiously and laced his fingers together. "It was mainly Ducky's doing. He got everyone curious about how Gibbs and I met." He shrugged and Alex leaned back, patting his leg so Zelda got up from Tony and trotted over to him.

"People pestering you about it?" he asked warily and Tony shook his head.

"No, we just kind of sat down and told the story."

Worried blue eyes latched onto him and Tony gave a reassuring smile.

"They liked the part where I slammed Gibbs face into a wall." He told him lightly and Alex snorted, and shook his head.

"Is that the part you guys are at?" he asked and Tony shook his head.

"No, we're finished. But everyone else is waiting to hear about my first case at NCIS now. Apparently Ducky and Abby promised we'd hear about that one too. I wanted to know if you could drop on by later?" he said, making the last sentence into more of a question.

"Sure, you never give me any good details about stuff anyways." Alex said, slight suspicion latching in his voice and Tony laughed.

"I do too." He argued and grinned as the suspicious look on his friend's face grew "Alright, alright. My co-workers want to meet you. I believe Ziva's words were something along the lines of 'I will meet him. Dot.'"

"Dot?"

"She meant period, but still isn't up to par with American terms." He chuckled and his ex-partner snorted, petting the top of Zelda's head.

"Well, that should be fun." He stated "Meeting these co-workers I hear so much about…" he snickered "Just call me when you start so I can come. Not like I can do anything around here anyway."

"Excuse me Alexander Smith?" Scarlett said, poking her head back in "I can name a few things you can do around here. Perhaps picking up your laundry every once in a while? Or cooking? Or cleaning?"

"I picked up my laundry last week!"

"Well here's the thing sweetheart, since you wear clothes every day, it becomes a daily thing." Scarlett laughed, throwing a spoon at her husband.

"Yeah, Alex." Tony joined "Get with the program, jeez."

"Thank you Anthony." Scarlett grinned as Alex gave a cry of outrage at his friend's betrayal.

"Sorry Al, but your wife is much scarier than you." Tony confessed and stretched as he got up, looking around the room. "Well, I got to get back." He sighed "We have a case, and I told everyone I'd meet them at the crime scene. Though I already know the wife did it." He smirked and Scarlett nodded approvingly.

"Well Alex, when you die at least you know that Tony will know the truth."

"How comforting." Alex grumbled to his wife and the NCIS agent laughed, waving merrily as he exited the door.

"Shalom!" he called over his shoulder and Scarlett shook her head.

"Shalom? Where does he pick up these things?"

In the end…Tony got fifty bucks. Ten from Abby, McGee, Jimmy, Ziva, and the sheriff who worked on the case with them.

It was the wife.

How very cliché. Tony didn't mind though as his friends paid up, grumbling half-heartedly.

"One day Probie Wan Kenobi" Tony smiled as he snatched the bill out of McGee's hand "You will understand women, and know the wife shall always be suspect number one."

"Please." Tim muttered under his breath and Tony's smile got wider.

"You don't have to believe me." He told him with a shrug "That just means I get more money."

"Stop. You are running
me up a wall." Ziva growled at them from her desk as she glared at her report.

"Driving up a wall Zee."

"Driving? Who on heavens would drive up a wall?" she asked and Tim grinned at the second butchered American expression.

"You might." Tony told her seriously and Ziva considered.

"Perhaps if we needed to get over one, yes." She nodded solemnly and the remaining agents grinned at their teammate.

"MCGEE! ZIVA! TONY!" Abby yelled, grabbing Tim's hands and propelling him forward. "AUTOPSY! NOW!"

"Ow." Tony groaned "My ears."

"They are busting." Ziva complained.

"Bursting." McGee corrected and Ziva gave them each a cold look.

"Come on." Abby told them, arms crossed.

"Hold your horses." Tony told her as they all scrambled forward, not noticing the strange look Ziva gave him.

"Horses." She said to herself "Not hippos…"

Abby was bouncing as she led her friends down to Autopsy, not seeming to have a worry in the world. Her green eyes were lit with excitement as she entered waving merrily to Ducky and Jenny who were all solemnly in discussion.

"What are you three doing in here?"

"Ducky! We're going to tell the story remember? Now where's Palmer and Gibbs?" she asked, marching around to gather chairs around an autopsy table.

"Uh…Jimmy is…busy." Tony spoke up quickly "He had to go down to legal and get some stuff straightened out, no biggie." He grinned and everyone turned to him and shrugged, not noticing Tony's breath of relief. Pulling out his phone he quickly sent out a message.

Come to autopsy ASAP, I covered for you this time. Where the Hell are you anyways?

Snapping the phone shut, he tucked it back into his pocket and yawned, as Ducky talked on the telephone loudly.

"Ah! Jethro, I just wanted to reach you because… Oh…I see…Hmm…Yes? Is that so? Well…Alright then. Come on down here." He told the phone and set it down.

"That the Boss?" McGee asked as he leaned his head on the table from exhaustion.

"Yes, Jethro is on his way down." Ducky smiled and settled himself down into a chair next to Jenny. At that moment, Jimmy rushed in, the doors swooshing open dramatically as he made his entrance. Tony noticed with mild amusement that his hair was mused and face flushed like he had ran a marathon. Three guesses on where the younger man had really been. Tony shook his head, making a mental note to confront his friend and find out what- or rather who he was doing. If Jimmy had trusted the agent to cover for him, he would have to trust him to know the truth as well. Which Tony was sure would make for a very interesting story.

"Mr. Palmer! How kind of you to join us." Ducky greeted at his assistant's bashful smile and shook his head.

"Where's Agent Gibbs?" he asked and Ziva jerked her head towards the door.

"He will be coming soon." she told him and began to pick dirt out of her nails with her knife, barely noticing McGee's exasperated eye roll at the movement. "I could always use it to stab you McGee." she said flatly and the younger man instantly looked taken aback.

"So, how's this story compared to the last?" Tim recovered, looking brightly at his assembled team.

"Better!" Abby jumped in, beaming "I can't believe we haven't thought of telling you all this before! Tony was so adorable when he first came to us! You know those cute lambs? He was like that! Except he would be a cute lamb that would be decked out in cool shades and fancy ties- you know- the works." The agent in question blinked, looking slightly taken back at the less than flattering comparison. He wondered briefly if this was what it was like having a crazy sister or mom cooing humiliatingly over you with other family members or friends. His mind then skipped to wondering if his own sister and mother would have done anything like that if they had lived long enough.

"Lambs do not wear sunglasses." Ziva commented idly from the side, frowning as she tried to picture the scenario. "At least not the ones in Israel. This is not an American term, no?"

"Nope." Abby told her, popping out the 'p' "If lambs did wear shades though, that would be the Tony lamb."

"Why am I being compared to a lamb? How about something a little more manly please? Lion? Wolf? Bear?"

"Maybe a bear cub." Abby grinned.

"Cub?! Why do I have to be a cub?!" Tony asked outraged and the Goth giggled enthusiastically.

"Well, Gibbs is obviously the Papa Bear." she beamed and the rest of the group rolled their eyes, aside from Ducky who was smirking with twinkling eyes.

"Could I be a panther then?" the SFA tried again and McGee snorted.

"A panther? Why would you want to be a panther?"

"Two words McIgnorant. Pink. Panther." he said and flopped out of his chair to demonstrate a series of spy moves as he hummed the theme song. "Duh dun. Duh dun. Duh dun, duh dun, duh dun, duh dun, duhhh dunnnn. Da, da, dun, dun!" Tony sang, trying to turn his last move into a somersault when he hit a pair of legs and stumbled over, looking up innocently at the raised eyebrows that were now directed at him.

"Hey there Boss. I see you made it." he greeted from the ground and waved merrily and the lead agent.

"Do I even want to know?"

"Abby started it." he laughed and hoisted himself up in order to try to regain his image of a mature federal agent for his Boss' sake. Gibbs, for his part, looked over at the rest of the group who was laughing, or in Ducky and Jenny's case, chuckling fondly as the lead agent shook his head, far from understanding what was going on.

"Alright then, everyone ready?" Abby asked, looking around excitedly. When a group of nods came around she patted her legs as a drumroll and gestured to Ducky who took a sip of his Earl Grey tea.

"Ah, yes. So out story now starts the Monday morning after Anthony's hiring. Now let me tell you, for most people, their first days here at NCIS is nothing above boring. Paper work and what not. Of course though, this is Anthony now, so-"

"Hey! What's that supposed to-"

"Shhh!" a group of people snapped.

"Hmph."

"As I was saying. Dear Anthony's first day was nothing short of exciting. And our poor, dear Jethro had no idea what he was about to get into..."

And for my lovely new readers, neither do you! Now as I said before, this story is a sequel to my Baltimore Beginnings. The first time I wrote this chapter, I tried to make it in a way that you could read the story without having to read this first one butttt... I didn't like it. So here's the highlights you should know from it-

-In Baltimore Beginnings it was about the team finding out how Gibbs and Tony met, Ducky being the story teller and a lot of flashbacks being used to tell you, the readers, what happened.

-Tony's first partner was Alex Smith, who retired after his two daughters (both close friends of Tony) were murdered by a suspect they were after in the case he and Tony were working on with Gibbs.

-Tony's past includes his mother dying of lung cancer and him having a twin sister named Amelia who was killed (no known how...yet) when he was 12 years old before being shipped off to military school. (Both plausible scenarios if you think about it :P)

-Umm...Oh yeah! Sam Gavotte (or also known as Scotts or err...'Whatever his name is') is an OC of mine that works on Gibbs team for now. He is supposed be a small, private, easily scared man, who fears Gibbs and Abby. His partner is Vivan Blackadder, who is from the show (: (she was fired after the third episode I believe).

-Scarlett, is Alex's wife and a close friend to Tony...

And I really think that's it. Personally, I would recommend you reading the first one but if not, here are the highlights! If you I write something that confuses you, just leave it in a review for me and I'll PM you back with an explanation (: Remember to leave me lots of comments! I love them!

Love,

Kensi (: