Title: NCIS: Searching For Home, Chapter One Searching For Answers
Summary: Tony reaches out to a young woman. Will she let him help her? Could they both bring healing into one another's lives?
Disclaimers: The show is property of Donald P. Bellisario, CBS and others. Not owned by me. Just own the DVDs. :D I just want to practice my writing.
A/N: Here is Chapter One enjoy. This story is set in season 11. :D I made some changes, SD Card is Now a Flash Drive.
Chapter One
Searching For Answers
Back in New York Lexia's father is in a rage to find that Lexia isn't at home. He searches her room and finds it empty of her things, with what little she had to begin with. His wife stands still in the mist of his rage. She feels a cold fierce anger toward her step-daughter. She could ruin everything by letting the wrong person know what is happening in the area were she lived and close by.
That innocent young girls and women were going missing. They had a good thing going. A lot of money was being made selling the young girls to the highest bidder. Selling them into a dark world of torture. No hope of being found or getting out.
They should have sold Lexia when they had the chance but Lydia would find out what they were doing and stop it. Also her father wanted full control of what happened to his daughter. They now have to call the others to warn them and let them know that they all have to find, Lexia.
Darrell saw two recent photos of Lexia and grabbed them and handed one to his wife. "You go check the train station and I'll check the bus station. We have to find her! Once we find her I'll make sure she disappears forever." Darrell said in a cold voice. Audrey took the picture and they both grabbed coats and headed out the door to Darrell's large truck. They would find Lexia if it was the last thing they did.
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The twilight before dawn is slowly fading as, Lexia wakes up to find a blanket on herself. The hoodie that Tony gave her is very large on her but she likes to wrap it around herself. It has kept her toasty warm along with the mystery blanket that someone has covered her with.
Lexia tries to move but she feels so sore and stiff from her healing injuries. She stays where she is at for the moment. Lexia is glad that Tony showed up when he did. She was scared that those young street punks were going to force ownership on her and sell her out on the street. She just got away from a horrible life, she doesn't want to enter into another round with other players. Lexia wanted control of her life and now that she has it she doesn't want to give that up.
Slowly she starts to stand up. Pain radiates from where her injuries are. Lexia looks around. She needs to find a bathroom somewhere. She carries her backpack with her after she folds up her new blanket puts it inside. She slowly starts walking a few blocks and sees a fast food joint and enters. Lexia goes into the restroom and takes care of what she needs to. She steps out of the stall after she flushes the toilet and goes to the sink to wash her hands.
Lexia, steps out of the restroom and into the restaurant. She looks around and feels like someone is watching her. To her surprise she sees Tony sitting at a table waving at her. Slowly she makes her way over to the table and sits down.
She shyly smiles at Tony. "Good morning." Lexia whispers as Tony pushes some food toward her. Tony smiles back at her. "Good morning Pretty lady." Tony takes a sip of hot coffee with hazelnut creamer and a lot of sugar.
Lexia unwraps her food and takes a bit. She finds that she has hot chocolate with whip cream in her hot cup. She smiles and looks over at Tony. Tony smiles back at her. She sets the cup down and looks over at him. "I love hot chocolate with whip cream. Thank you." Lexia whispers.
As she resumes eating, she sneaks a peek at the man whom sits across from her. She sees he is wearing a fancy suit which makes him look handsome. He has kind green eyes. She senses a sadness that he keeps deeply hidden.
"I've noticed that you may need to see a doctor. I have a friend whom can help. May I take you to see him?" Tony looks across the table at, Lexia. She looks over at him as she finishes her food. Slowly she nods her head, yes.
Lexia, stands up slowly and grabs her backpack and follows Tony outside to a car parked along the curb. Tony pops the trunk and Lexia places her backpack beside his and heads toward the front of the car.
Tony starts the car as Lexia buckles in and sits back quietly. About twenty minutes later Tony is pulling into his parking space at NCIS. Lexia gets out as Tony heads over to the elevator and leans down so his eye could be scanned so the elevator opens. Lexia slowly follows as Tony holds the elevator door for her.
Tony, takes a hold of Lexia's hand as she reaches for his. He leads her into a room near autopsy and takes a seat beside the young girl. "Hey Tony. Is this the person you wanted me to see?" Jimmy Palmer enters the room and sees his friend.
"Hey Autopsy Gremlin. Yes this is the Pretty lady I was telling you about. I just want to make sure she is okay." Tony smiles down at Lexia. "Hey there. You can call me Jimmy or Mr. Palmer. I'm going to make sure you're doing okay. Hopefully there is nothing serious that I can't help with." Jimmy kneels known in front of Lexia.
"Okay." Lexia nods her head and slowly smiles at Jimmy. "Here. Change into these." Jimmy hands some scrubs to the small young lady. Lexia, slowly stands up along with Tony whom shows her a restroom where she can change.
Lexia steps out of the restroom moments later changed into light blue scrubs. "Okay hop up onto the table and I'll check you out." Jimmy smiles at the young lady. Lexia takes a seat on the table and waits as Jimmy washes his hands and puts on rubber gloves.
She takes a closer look at Jimmy. He seems like a nice man but looks could be deceiving. He is tall and wears glasses like her and he seems like he could be a big goof ball. Tony seemed to trust him so she would too.
Slowly Jimmy started to check out her bruises along her face and neck. Lexia leans back as Jimmy gently checks out the bruise. "Lexia, I need evidence of your injuries just in case I need to have them in the future. Do you trust me?" Tony looks at Lexia in the eyes as he leans down.
"I trust you." Lexia smiles at Tony. Tony opens his backpack and gets his camera. Lexia closes her eyes as the flash goes off. This happens until the exam is complete.
Little by little the memories that Lexia tries to hold back come to the surface. Tears start to slide down her cheeks. Tony sets his camera down and sits beside her on the exam table. Lexia leans onto Tony and he gives her a hug as the tears flow down her cheeks.
He knows what she is going through. Dark moments that you try to bury but sometimes they come to the surface no matter how much a person tries to forget the horror and the pain of the moment.
Tony just holds her. He doesn't tell her it is going to be okay. He just shares in her sadness and she knows he is there for her. Lexia finally sits up as she sniffles. Tony stands up and spots the tissues on, Dr. Donald Mallard's desk and takes a few from the box and hands them to the young girl.
Lexia wipes the tears off of her face and blows her nose. She quickly heads into the restroom to change back into her clothes.
As he waits Tony puts his camera into his backpack. Lexia steps out of the restroom dressed in her clothes. Tony smiles at her. "Hey. Nice meeting you, Pretty lady." Jimmy calls out to the young lady if front of him.
"Thank you. Nice meeting you too." Lexia smiles at Jimmy. She gives him a wave as she takes Tony hand in hers. Tony slings the backpack over his shoulder and squeezes Lexia's hand in his.
Lexia hears loud music coming from upstairs as Tony pushes the button for the elevator. The ding of the doors opening is heard as they both take a step to enter as one is taking a step out. Tony collided into one Abigail Sciuto. Both take a moment and stop to gain their balance and to check if the other is okay.
Lexia takes a giant step behind Tony and hides behind him, hoping that the Goth lady wouldn't notice her. "Oh Tony! Are you okay?" Abby looks at Tony. "Yeah Abby. I'm fine. No harm done." Tony gives her a mega-watt smile to show that he is okay.
Abby than sees someone standing behind Tony and gasps in shock as her hands cover her mouth in surprise at seeing one so young and as of that morning covered her in one of her many blankets she keeps in her car, for the purpose of giving warmth to those in need.
"Easy." Tony whispers to, Abby. Lexia just stares at the lady with the pony-tailed hair at the sides of her head, with a deer in the head-lights look. Not knowing what to do in that moment. If she should run and hide or stay and face this new person head on.
"I covered you up this morning." Abby tells the young lady that seems to have a hard edge of life already. She doesn't know what to make of Lexia. Abby wants to help if she can.
Lexia hears what Abby tells her and smiles. "Thank you. I folded the blanket up and put it in my backpack." Abby gives a look to Tony seeing if he has answers to what she needed to know. Tony glances at Lexia once and looks back at Abby and mouths, "She is like me." Abby nods in understanding, having been clued in by Tony. Trust issues with people and childhood full of horrors, hence her being on the street for one so young.
"I'm glad I could help. I'm Abigail Sciuto. You can call me Abby. What may I call you?" Abby smiles at the young lady whom is still standing behind, Tony. Lexia just stares at Abby. Afraid to take a step in trusting someone she doesn't know with something as important as her name. She stays silent and doesn't move from behind Tony.
Tony takes Lexia's hand in his and squeezes. "Well Abby. We both need to be going. I'll talk to you later." Tony pushes the button for the elevator and the doors slide open as he and Lexia step on, giving Abby a pointed look with his meaning of "Talking to her later." Abby just stands still and watches as the doors close and the two disappear from sight.
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"Thank you." Lexia whispers as she gets out of the car later from where Tony picked her up at. "You're welcome Pretty Lady." Tony gets out of the car to grab her backpack for her. The two smile at one another.
Ever so slowly Lexia takes a step forward and gives a quick hug to Tony. Before the two separate, Lexia whispers her name in his ear and the two step away from one another. Tony gets in the car and waves good-bye. He now has her name so he can begin his search on her in order to give her a helping hand. For now he is going to be the only one to know about her on the team. He just has to talk to Abby and tell her to be quiet and not give anything away. He'd watch out for her along with, Abby and Jimmy but it would stay between the three, until the time that the whole team had to step in and know what is going on. Lexia would stay safe under Tony DiNozzo's watchful eye. Worthy is the trust between the two.
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Darrell Walsh finally had some luck at the bus station. The ticket agents didn't tell him anything. One of them seemed to know but she wasn't opening her mouth to tell him. He sees someone whose been at the station awhile and shows him the picture.
"Yeah I seen her, getting on a bus going to Washington DC." the man is tired looking and needing to go home but there are delays to be had of the bus breaking down on route. Darrell gives a small smile and looks at the man and tells him, "Thanks."
Darrell quickly rushes home so he could pack, along with his wife. The business also has connections in Washington DC not just New York. It is so easy to snatch a young lady off of the street and sell her to the highest bidder in another country. Just have to be careful not to get caught.
He got into his truck and went to pick up his wife whom is at the train station looking for Lexia. Time to go get their wayward daughter, and bring her back. He is livid that she dare run away from him. He gave her a roof over her head. What more could she ask for?!
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Lexia sitting against her spot along the wall. Grams is pushing her cart and stops near where the young child is sitting. To Grams with her age, Lexia is still a child. "Here Honey. Someone gave me some apples to eat. I'm sharing some with you." Grams hands two apples to Lexia. "Thank you. How did end up out here? What happened to your family?" Lexia looks up at the older woman with tightly curled white hair and her mocha colored skin.
"Well lets see now. Life just happened and no one seemed to care what happened to me. So I learned to survive out here and to help others when I can and teach them the ways of the street. I would like to help you, child." Grams tells Lexia. "Thank you." Lexia stands up and gives the old woman a hug. She puts her apples in her backpack for later. The two women, one young and one old hang out together. To teach and to learn about one another. To reach out and give a helping hand.
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At the Navy yard the next morning, Timothy "Tim" McGee steps off of the elevator, ready for a new day. He is quite handsome. Brown short hair, green eyes and the same height as his partner Tony. He notices a grim look on his partners face as he is working. Not a good sign. It looks like Tony has spent the night again.
"Good morning Tony. Welcome back." Tim tells his partner as he approaches his desk, his arms full, with a large coffee for Tony which he sets on his partner's desk and a large fast food bag with food. "Awe Tim you are the man!" Tony smiles as Tim hands him some food from the bag.
As soon as Tim stepped off of the elevator Tony hit a few buttons on his computer and is viewing something else so Tim wouldn't know what he is secretly working on. His work to help, Lexia. Tony downloaded his pictures off of his camera that he took of Lexia's bruises and put them in a file on his computer along with what he found on the Flash Drive that Lexia entrusted him with. The situation just got a whole lot bigger than he first thought. He may have to go undercover. Human trafficking isn't a good thing.
He also found out that Lexia has a sister named Lydia Walsh in the Marines. So NCIS could get involved in helping Lexia and give the young lady a helping hand. He just had to contact Lexia's sister and let her know what is up. He's have to do it soon.
Tony looks for a Flash Drive in his desk and finds one and plugs it in his computer and downloads everything onto it and than unplugs it. He looks over at Timothy. "Yeah Tony? What do you need?" Tim feels his partners eyes on him.
Tony hands Tim the new Flash Drive with a cryptic warning, "Tim, I'm trusting you won't look at this but I need you to have it when the time comes that you do need it. If something should happen to me."
"You know you can trust me Tony." Tim looks over at his partner as he puts the Flash Drive in his desk as Tony writes something on a piece of paper and hands it to Tim to put with the Flash Drive. Timothy locks the desk drawer with the Flash Drive and the paper in it.
"When will I know to look at it?" Tim asks his partner. "When I tell you to or if something should happen to me." Tony gives Tim a look. Tim nods his head toward Tony. "Thank you Probie." Tony smiles as he takes a sip of his coffee Tim brought him. Just the way he likes it. He starts to eat not knowing when he may eat again being on Gibb's team.
Both Tony and Tim look over at the empty desk yet to be filled by someone new. The team is in transition from old to new. They just have to stay one step ahead to know what the day would bring.
Tony talked to Abby and they both are giving a helping hand to Lexia along with Jimmy Palmer. To check where Lexia usually stays at and keep their eyes on her. To care for the young lady whom now is part of their hearts. To keep her safe until the time comes where the whole team is needed to do the job.