Chapter 2

The phone rang somewhere in Tony's world. Not his cell but his landline. He answered, "DiNozzo…yes I will…" as he heard a female voice ask if he could hold as she had a connection, "…Crispian, how nice to hear you," not, he thought not more trouble, "Sorry to hear that…but yes I'm fine…well not really," as Tony began to tell his tale.

Later that evening, as Tony sat digesting his cousin's words, the intercom buzzed, "Good, pizza," he said, as he rose and pressed the response only to hear Abby's voice.

"Tony, it's me Abby, I have your pizza, you owe me, I paid him, and I brought some beer, so open up."

Tony opened the door, returned to the couch, and waited for Abby to arrive.

"Tony," as she gushed through the door closing it behind her, "You left without saying anything, why? Am I that unapproachable? Am I that distant from you? Am I not a friend?"

"Why, because I couldn't face you, no, no, and yes you are."

"Oh Tony," as she laid the pizza down, and then her bag with the beers, and bear hugged him.

"Hey," was all he could say.

"Sorry, tell me what happened, why did Vance fire you?"

"Abby, Vance didn't fire me…well he did but it was on Gibbs' instructions."

Abby looked shocked, "Gibbs would never do that, would he? He likes you; you saved his life…more than once. You are…"

"Were Abby or was, I was an Agent, a good one, I just don't know what I have done, to incur the wrath of Khan. Did you see him this afternoon?"

"Good film Tony but no, Director Vance called us to a meeting and told us. I'm sorry Tony," as she smiled a very watery smile.

"Me to, but hey, this pizza is getting cold and the beer warm," as he tore open the lid and grabbed a slice while Abby handed him a bottle of beer.

After they had eaten and drunk, Tony wanting to tell Abby what Crispian had offered, but he wanted to keep that to himself for now. He knew there would be a letter on the way, but until he had proof he wasn't going to rock the boat so to speak.

"You want to watch a film? And I'm sure I got some wine unopened somewhere," he asked.

"Would love to but I got wo…" she began to say, before turning away and collecting her things.

"Of course work, never thought I would love to wake up and say, I have to go to work," Tony replied.

"Sorry Tony," Abby answered.

"Stop saying sorry, but how do you fancy coming over for dinner at the weekend?"

"Would love to could mention but we are rot…"

"Rostered, rota'd , on call, working."

"Sorry," as she rose and walked to the door, looking back at Tony who was sitting with her back to her, "Night Tony," as she opened the door and quietly left.

As Tony sat looking at the empty bottles and the greasy pizza box, he thought back to his old partner in Baltimore, Danny Price, had he not turned to drink and drugs; had his apartment not turned into a tip. As he began to reminisce he looked at his hand, it held a glass and it was half full, "I'm getting like Gibbs, maybe I am better off without him," as he rose and poured the contents of the glass back into the bottle, tidied up the apartment and went to bed.

As he lay staring at the ceiling, his mind went over all of what Crispian had said. He fell into an uneasy sleep.