Chpt 2

"Is he shying away from all females with the possible exception of you?"

Abby nods as she Signs "Ever since he came back from the damn mission he's been like this. He'd gone deep undercover for almost a year and part of the assignment was seducing the daughter of an arms dealer. The daughter had been a young doctor and Tony had fallen in love with her. Not even a year later, he and another agent were on protection detail."

Laurie can almost see the scenario as Abby describes it. Tony and Ziva were supposed to be protecting the female director of NCIS. The director then countermands that order and tells the two agents to take the day off. The director died that same day.

"Damn he's got guilt riding him three ways from Sunday."

Abby nods and starts turning on her computers and other forensic equipment. Laurie watches in silence as she mulls over what she's learned so far. As she hasn't read the files yet, she's not sure exactly what her purpose is here. She finally asks Abby what else is wrong.

"I don't know. All I do know is that the Tony I've known for almost ten years is missing and in his place is this stranger. He seldom comes down here for a hug and almost never smiles anymore."

"Is it possible for me to talk to any of his co-workers without them being suspicious?"

Abby shakes her head in reply. "Tony himself is a former cop from Baltimore and Ziva is Mossad. Even Timmy would get suspicious after a while."

Laurie smiles at the affectionate tone that she can sense even with Sign language. "What about Agent Gibbs?"

"What about him?" Gibbs is standing there with Abby's fresh Caf-Pow and Laurie's water. Even though he'd answered out loud it is evident that he'd understood the Signing. Abby hugs the man and his steel blue gaze softens as he hugs her back. The steel is back in his eyes as he looks at Laurie.

"At ease, Gunny. I'm here to help if it's within my power to do so." At the reference of his former rank it dawns on him who she is.

"You're sure about that Commander?"

She meets his steel blue gaze with a resolute one in her purple eyes. "I am and I believe that you and Abby both want to help Tony straighten out his mind. I am a licensed psychiatrist, and can help if he will let me."

"Figures that she'd call you before I could figure out who we needed." He favors the young goth with an affectionate smile. Laurie waits a minute then asks if they can talk somewhere without interruption. Gibbs nods and tells her that he'll meet her back down in the lab in ten minutes. He needs to give the team their assignments for the day. As he heads for the elevator Abby turns to Laurie in surprise.

"Commander?" Laurie smiles at her.

"When the situation warrants it. I am known in the navy as Commander Laurie Fields. At your service Miss Sciuto." She bows with a flourish and Abby giggles.

"A naval commander? Wow can I use you in my next book?" The voice belongs to the computer tech known as Timothy McGee.

"No Timmy! She's my friend who's spending some time looking for possible restaurant locations. I think I finally convinced her she needs to open one here."

Seeing McGee's downcast expression, Laurie takes pity on the young man and tells him that she'll see what happens during the next few weeks. "I may need your input later and if so we can discuss the possibility of my being in your book."

"That sounds great, umm what restaurant if you don't mind my asking?"

"I own four others that I call the Knotted C. If everything goes okay I might open one around this area."

"Wow! You have an awesome restaurant in Aspen. I took my parents there for their anniversary four years ago. You're to be commended for the meals we had were something my father remembered from a trip to Japan and he commented that no where else has he been offered the right beverage with his meal. Most places ask if you want a coke or something right away and your staff suggested the tea if we wanted certain meals. So I really hope you do open a restaurant here. Let me know if I can help with locations."

"Thank you Tim. Agent Gibbs, I take it you're ready to give me the penny tour." She's spotted Gibbs standing nearby, listening to his youngest agent rave about the restaurant.

"Let's go. McGee, check in with Tony for your assignment."

"Yes Boss. Nice to meet you Commander."

Laurie smiles as she comments to his retreating back, "Nice to meet you too Tim."

Gibbs escorts her back up to the garage level and motions her to a dark blue dodge stratus. Once they are inside he turns to face her. "Are you really thinking of opening a restaurant here?"

She leans back against the seat and turns her face to him. "It's a good possibility and a good cover. I've actually been thinking about expanding for a few years but hadn't really thought about where to open. This is one of those rare opportunities that give me a chance to do some real research on it. Do you think it would be acceptable here?"

"Asking the choir here. I've had several meals and been impressed every time. Do you think you can really help Tony?"

Laurie nods thoughtfully as she replies, "Yes and now I have a reason to stay in the area. A very plausible reason for staying and doing some research. I take it from my conversation with Abby that the Tony you hired ten years ago is a different man than the one I encountered in her lab earlier today."

"He's almost as timid as Tim was when I first brought him over from Norfolk. I need my senior field agent back. I just don't know if even you can help considering several of the females he's been around lately have died, been killed, or betrayed him."

Laurie nods, and Gibbs can tell that she's turned her thoughts inwards as she remembers something from her own past. "It can be a difficult obstacle to overcome, but it's not insurmountable. Where does the other lady doctor come in to his story?"

Gibbs grunts as he steers the car around a slower driver. He tells her what Jenny Shepherd had finally told him about Tony's involvement with the beautiful Jeanne Bennoit.

"You're still upset about that."

Gibbs pulls to a halt in front of his house and turns to her. Anger outlines his entire form and she can tell it's partially directed at himself, for not seeing what was going on under his very nose.

"Yes I am upset about that. My agent was nearly killed because my director put him undercover without telling me. None of us knew what was going on and then the little bitch of a doctor has the balls to tell Tony that he had to choose between her or his job."

"Obviously, he made his choice." Her quiet comment only stirs his anger.

"I still don't know why."

"I'd say it was obvious. He chose to put his family first. That's what you all are to him, the little family he has left."

"Jenny died because she told him and Ziva not to follow her. They were supposed to be her protection detail!" The anger he's feeling is directed at Jenny this time due mostly because she'd chosen death over life.

"What else don't I know about?"

"Rule number twelve. He and Ziva either broke it or came damn close to it. They were really tight for a while. Now they're almost strangers again. They work okay as a team but it's obvious that whatever was between them is gone. Did Tony quote a movie or television show the entire time you talked to him?"

"Admittedly it was a brief introduction but no, there was no reference to movies or television."

"That is why we want you here. Movies and television are part and parcel of Anthony DiNozzo. Or they used to be and for some reason, ever since he and Ziva parted ways he's been a completely different man. I want my agent back. I need my senior agent back!"