The response to this has been pretty awesome, the best I've had so far. I guess I should let my rockin editor LouC plug my stories on other websites more often in future. Keep it up people, I'm a sucker for a good review.
Someone asked about a Rule 51 reference, I refer you to the season 7 finale, entitled Rule 51.
Tony hung up on Ziva and glanced over at Franks, things had gone to hell in a hand basket over the last forty minutes, and having Franks along for the ride was not reassuring Tony. In fact, he probably wouldn't be in this situation if it weren't for Franks.
'What's your assignment here?' Franks asked him, Tony eyed the former NIS agent, noticing the gun, and the very pissed look in his eye.
'Director's orders. Observe and Report.' Tony replied.
'I'll take it from here, probie.' Tony glanced at the bloody stump, Franks followed his gaze. 'I can pull the trigger with my thumb.' Franks added. Tony watched as he moved in towards Rivera, thinking fast. It was too crowded, this was not the place to pull it off. Did Franks have a death wish or something? What about his family? Tony chased after Franks, but it was too late, Rivera turned and spotted them, the blood drained out of the Mexican's face as Tony placed a hand on Franks shoulder.
'Shit.' Tony swore and set off after Rivera, who ran down the crowded street, ducking and weaving people, Franks was not far behind them both, shouting death threats at Tony for messing up his plan. Rivera came undone when he tried to cut across the street to get away from Tony but was instead hit by a car. Tony pulled him to his feet, he had a few scratches and would develop some real nasty bruises in the coming days, but he'd live.
'You are an idiot, DiNozzo, the people here know me, they're going to report this to La Policia, you're going to go to prison.' Rivera told him.
'I'm not going to kill you.' Tony replied. Rivera's phone rang, Tony grinned and pulled it out of Rivera's jacket pocket. 'I wonder what your sister has to say?' Tony flipped the phone open and put it to his ear.
'Hermano, I need a favour from you. Call Gibbs and tell him to be on the next flight down, he is going to play my game, or I am going to shoot his father.' Paloma said in Spanish.
'You have Jackson Gibbs?' Tony replied in Spanish.
'Who are you?' Paloma asked, switching to English. 'How do you have this phone?
'Well, you harm a hair on Jackson Gibbs's head, and you'll find out.' Tony replied. Paloma swore at him in Spanish and hung up.
'I'm guessing this means I can't kill him?' Franks asked, Tony shook his head as he switched off Rivera's phone.
'Not yet, anyway.' Tony replied. They all heard the sirens at the same time, still a few streets off. Tony looked around, the crowds had disappeared, the people of this town knew when trouble was coming. 'We need to get out of here.' Franks nodded and moved over to a parked car, he smashed in the driver's window and let himself in. Moments later the trunk popped open.
'Put Rivera in the back.' Franks ordered as he began to hotwire the car. Tony obeyed, cuffing Rivera and taking his gun before he forced the man into the boot. Rivera shouted at him in Spanish but Tony ignored him as he jumped in the passenger side. The car roared to life just before La Policia rounded the corner.
'Oh shit.' Tony muttered as Franks slammed his foot on the gas, they raced off around the next corner.
'You shouldn't have made that call, they'll probably trace your phone now.' Franks told him.
'They? Who's they Franks? Oh yeah, the fucking Mexican police! What kind of genius tries to kill a Mexican Justice Department man in broad fucking daylight?' Tony asked, Rivera chose that moment to kick at the boot and shout some more muffled Spanish.
'My eyesight ain't so good these days, might have missed him in the dark.' Franks replied. 'Get rid of the phone already.'
'You're not my boss.' Tony muttered as he threw the phone out the window, it shattered underneath the tires of another car.
'Speaking of your boss, where the hell is he in all this?
'If you're talking about Gibbs, I don't have a fucking clue.' Tony replied. 'I'm not even entirely sure what I'm doing here. All Vance told me was to tail that guy.'
'I guess you already know he's dirty?'
'Well I wasn't born yesterday. I mean, I don't think the world of Vance, but I know that he wouldn't have me tailing one of the good guys.' Tony retorted. 'I know he's Paloma Reynosa's brother.'
'Did you know this bastard called the cartel down to my joint after La Policia left? I watched him order his boys to chop up Colonel Bell.' Tony stared at Franks. 'He shot me too. I owe him.'
'Question is, can you prove it?' Tony asked.
'I saw it with my own two eyes, what more do you want?'
'It's not what I want, it's what they want.' Tony replied. 'They, as in the Mexicans. They're going to want proof before they convict one of their own.' Franks laughed.
'Rivera is never gonna get a trial, ain't gonna live long enough for that.'
Tony gritted his teeth. 'Yeah, well we're not going to live much longer if we don't switch cars, it's only a matter of time before La Policia get a description on the car you stole.' Tony replied.
Franks nodded and veered off into an empty side street. 'Get us a new car.' Franks ordered. 'I'm gonna shut that asshole up.'
'No! You can't kill him. Do that, and we lose our leverage on Paloma, she'll kill Jackson Gibbs.' Franks scowled.
'I know that. Now scram.' Franks growled. Tony mumbled a quick prayer under his breath as he left the car and moved to the street.
Franks had chosen this spot for a reason, across the road was a parking lot for a train station. Tony picked a pretty average looking sedan and used his old training from his days in Baltimore to force the lock. It took him longer than Franks had needed to hotwire the car, so by the time he backed into the alley behind the old car, Franks was getting antsy. 'Damn, what the hell were you doing out there? Calling the girlfriend again?' Franks asked.
'Girlfriend? Ziva is not my girlfriend. Gibbs has rules about that.' Tony replied, Franks shook his head, he opened the boot and pulled out Rivera, who was gagged. His eyes stared at Tony as they dragged him to the new car and again forced him into the trunk.
'That's the best you got?' Franks asked.
'Best I got what?' Tony asked as he pulled out of the alley.
'You're buying her gifts, apologising for not showing up to stuff, tell her to "take care".' Franks shook his head disbelievingly. 'You're whipped DiNozzo, tell me you're at least getting laid in return.'
'I am not talking about this with you.' Tony replied coldly. 'I'm mad at you, remember? I'm a wanted fugitive because of you.'
'Hey, I wanted to put a bullet in his head in the first place. This is your party son, not mine.'
'No, this is Vance's party.' Tony corrected. 'Do you have a phone?'
'No.'
'Course not.'
'Why?'
'Vance sent me down here, maybe he might wanna help me out of this.' Explained Tony, the subsequent chuckle from Franks told Tony what he thought of that plan.
'Makes more sense than driving round in circles all day.'
'You have a better idea?' snapped Tony.
'Since we're not gonna kill him, yes.'
'About time.'
'Take the next right.' Franks ordered.
Franks led him out to a bar, which Tony was surprised to find was closed. It was also just down the road from Franks burnt down shack. 'Why this place?' Tony asked Franks as he parked around the back.
'The lady who owned the joint was killed in the same fight as Bell.' Franks replied. 'Camilla is another reason why I'm going to be putting a bullet in his head.' Franks told Tony, who grimaced. He was going to have a hell of a time keeping Rivera alive. Franks broke down the back door, they moved into the bar and closed the blinds. Tony secured Rivera to a chair in the middle of the room as Franks helped himself to a Corona.
'I need to make phone call, but not from here. Don't kill him okay?' Tony told Franks.
'Fine, I'll keep the bastard alive.'
'And in one piece.' Tony added, glancing at Franks bloody stump, Franks scowled.
'You got no faith in me, do you boy?'
'Not really, no.'