~Credit for the idea of this story goes to the lovely Tat. I'm gonna have way too much fun writing it :) Enjoy the first chapter!
-Alyssa~
The windows of the building let the bright, sunny morning into the bullpen, as the team settles into the office for the day.
The three team members all keep "busy" at their desks, awaiting their fearless leader's return so they can continue the case.
Tony tosses his pencil into the air over and over, attempting to catch it right-side up each time. McGee looks over when he sighs in defeat once more, and squints at the senior field agent. "Tony," he starts, "what are you doing?"
"I'm trying to keep myself occupied, McNosey," he answers as he continues to fling the pencil vertically. "Gibbs said not to go any further on the case, so that's what I'm doing. That's what we're all doing. I'm trying to catch a pencil. You're snooping. Ziva's playing online poker, right hon?"
The men pause and look over at the Israeli, who is leaning very close to her computer screen, studying it intensely.
"My opponent has lost to me five times in a row," she calls to them. "Yet he keeps raising the bet. I am unsure of what he is playing at, but I do not want him to beat me."
Tony turns back to McGee. "She's actually quite good. Won us a few hundred dollars last week."
Suddenly, Ziva jumps out of her chair, her large belly jiggling around as she cheers. "Ha!" She points to the screen. "I knew you were bluffing."
"I guess she just won us some more," Tony says. "Way to go, sweetcheeks!"
The elevator dings, and the gray-haired fox exits swiftly, entering his team's area. They freeze and look to him is he walks through, giving a sideways glance at his pregnant 'daughter', and heading to his desk.
"Did Abby get anything, boss?" Tony chimes in.
Gibbs doesn't reply, instead shuffling through some papers on his desk.
"Boss?" McGee asks hesitantly. "Can we get back to work?"
Gibbs slams a draw of his desk shut as he grabs a stack of files and heads to the stairs. "DiNozzo," he says as he passes. "With me."
The team members look around at one another, confused. Tony looks to Ziva, who merely shrugs at the command, while McGee watches his boss with a look of confusion.
Tony quickly catches up to his boss as he makes his way up the stairs, and heads for the director's office.
"The Director, boss? What's going on?"
Gibbs pushes open the door, and promptly walks past the secretary's desk, charging into the office.
Director Vance stands behind his desk hanging up the phone as the men enter. He looks up upon their arrival. "Did you tell him?" he asks.
"Saved it for you," Gibbs replies as he tosses the files onto the conference table.
Tony's confusion only grows as Vance moves towards the table. "Tell me what? What's going on?"
Vance takes the remote off the table, and points it at the flat screen on the wall. It flashes on, and a man's face appears. "Do you remember this guy, DiNozzo?"
Tony looks up that the screen, and his face softens. "Yeah, that's Tom. Tom Granger, right? Cool guy. Great taste in movies. Used to be an NCIS agent, quit, lives in Vancouver." His eyes flutter up, thinking back in his memory. "Met him about, what, two years ago? The DeVille case? He specialized in knives, helped us identify the weapons. Why, is something wrong with him?"
"We need his help," Gibbs chimes in, opening one of the files on the table. "The markings we found. Abby says they're unique. Like the ones we saw in the DeVille case, but not the same." He flips through a couple pages as Tony analyzes them.
"Turns out we never hired anyone to take his place when he quit last year," Vance adds. "Decided he hated the agency, wanted a normal life."
Tony glances up and looks between his two leaders. "Okay, so you're saying we need his help."
"Yep." Gibbs answers.
Tony looks between the men again. "I still don't know what this has to do with me."
"We called him," Vance says. "Told him we needed his help. He'd only agree to do it on two terms. One: he doesn't have to leave Vancouver. And two," he pauses. "A specific agent from NCIS goes out to him with the photos and paper reports."
Tony absorbs the Director's words for a moment before realizing what he means. "Me?" He asks. "He wants me to take them to him?"
"Guess he likes your taste in movies," Gibbs says as he slides him the file.
"I-I can't go out to Vancouver, Director," Tony argues cautiously. "Not now. Ziv-"
"Agent DiNozzo, if you are about to bring up having a pregnant wife as an excuse not to complete an order made specifically for you, I don't want to hear it."
Tony opens his mouth in protest, but a quick look from Gibbs quickly snaps his jaw shut. After a moment, he shakingly asks, "When do I leave?"
"As soon as possible," Vance answers. "There's a flight to Vancouver out of Reagan in 4 hours, and you'll be on it. I suggest going home and packing light fairly quickly. The sooner we get Granger's evaluation, the quicker we can be done with the case, and you can get back." He pauses and looks Tony in the eye. "That is all."
Tony stands awestruck at the demands suddenly laid on him. Gibbs rolls his eyes and grabs the evidence file off the table, hushing a "C'mon, DiNozzo" as he heads to the doors. Tony moves to follow, but his mind is still processing the event that just took place.
As they leave the office and walk towards the staircase, Tony catches up to Gibbs and stands in front of him. "Boss-"
Gibbs sighs. "Tony…"
"I can't go, and you know it." He looks at Gibbs determined. "Ziva is over 8 months pregnant, and our kid could come anytime now. I can't just leave for a day when Granger can get the information sent to him in an email. It's ridiculous."
Gibbs returns his stoic look, but it softens around his eyes. "DiNozzo, she's fine. You've been through this once, and you'll get through it again. And it's not going to happen today."
Gibbs steps around him and continues to the steps, but Tony quickly catches up behind.
"Boss-"
Gibbs stops and turns around, looking exhausted from Tony's defense. "I'll watch her, DiNozzo. She'll be okay. Do your job."
He walks down the steps, and Tony stands, unable to spur his leader's argument. He glances off to the bullpen, where Ziva is at her desk with McGee, laughing at something on his phone, her smile wide and alive, and his face can't help but pull at the edges of his lips, resulting in a ghost of a smile.
He sighs, unwanting to do what he is told, and dreading the conversation he must have with his wife in the next few minutes.