Gibbs watched Tony leave.

"Ziva, McGee; DiNozzo and I are going to LA. There was a murder of a Marine and they need to borrow Tony. While we are gone you two will be assigned to Hansen's team temporarily." Gibbs informed them.

"Why do they need Tony?" McGee asked a little jealous that Tony gets to go to LA and he doesn't. He loves all the cool toys they have there.

"Tony knows Italian and their team does not. For their case they need someone with undercover skills who can fluently speak Italian. Tony fills both criteria. Go home for the night and we will be back in a few days hopefully. I hope their case doesn't last more than a few days." Gibbs answered and headed towards the elevator.

He still needs to pack and head to the airport. They have 3 hours before their flight. Since they are government agents who are licensed to carry weapons on the plane they have to check in 90 minutes before takeoff.

Vance joins Gibbs in the elevator still trying to understand why Gibbs has to go to LA with DiNozzo.

"I heard what you said, but why you?" Vance asked stopping the elevator

Gibbs sighed trying to figure out how to make him understand Tony. "After I brought DiNozzo to my team from Baltimore PD. I notice a few quirks that were dangerous for him out in the field. He would watch everyone's back and his as well. He didn't trust the team or me to watch his six. After about 6 months of trying to get him to trust me in the field, he finally did and has ever since. Except for about 2 months when he first came back from being Agent Afloat. After being Agent Afloat for over 4 months, he went back to not trusting anybody to watch his six. That is why I have to go; if I am not there he won't trust the team and try to solve the case himself."

"Why did you let him stay on the team if he has trust issues?" Vance asked.

"Because this kid had potential and is one of the best Agents I have ever worked with. He sees cases in a different way and can usually see the missing piece of the puzzle. So I put up with his lack of trust issues in hope that one day he would trust me. But when left to his own defenses, his lack of trust issues comes back." Gibbs explained hoping that Vance would finally get it because he really needs to get going.


Gibbs walked into the airport and saw Tony waiting for him ready to jump out of his skin.

"Have you checked in yet?" Gibbs asked.

"No Boss, I was waiting for you."

"Well let's go check in. Try to relax; you need to be at the top of your game."

"I can't relax; I have a bad feeling about this. What if my Italian isn't good enough? What if I get made? What if another agent gets hurt because of me?"

"Tony, calm down. You will be fine. I have your six and Callen will also have your six. You need to calm down. We have a long flight ahead of us which will feel a lot longer for both of us if you don't calm down."

"Yes boss." Tony answered taking a few deep breaths. Tony just summoned up his nervousness to the situation, being undercover in a town he doesn't really know, means more things can go wrong.

"Tony, why don't you try to think up a reason as to why you have a partner who doesn't understand Italian? Callen is picking us up at the airport."

"Callen? What is his name?"

"G. I knew him years ago in Russia. Between you and me, he doesn't know his past or even his first name.

"Okay G it is."

"Let's check in and board the plane. Try and get some sleep on the plane" Gibbs ordered.


After a long flight that really didn't seem so long since both parties slept most of the way, Tony and Gibbs arrived in LA. Gibbs spotted Callen right away.

"G Callen, Tony DiNozzo." Gibbs introduced.

Tony observed Callen carefully. He had come up with a cover, but now that he sees him, he is not so sure his idea will work.

"Well you know what they say about looks." Tony muttered.

"Yeah looks can be deceiving. What about it?" Callen asked.

"I was thinking that your cover could be my personal bodyguard." Tony informed.

"Bodyguard, that's interesting. But shouldn't a bodyguard to someone trying to infiltrate Italian mob, know Italian." Callen asked.

"Not if I don't want you to know what I am doing. Let's say, for conversation sake, that I was a mob boss and you were my lawyer. I could order a hit in front of my lawyer and he wouldn't have a clue. He's in the room when the hit was ordered, but because he doesn't understand Italian, he has no idea what is really going on." Tony explained.

"Well I could see how that would work. You can conduct business; I am not a part of. It could work. Now this was found on the body." Callen handed Tony a note.

Tony looked the note and started laughing. Callen and Gibbs looked at him confused. The note is in Italian, but why he is laughing.

"What do you think this says?" Tony asked Callen.

"I don't know something about weapons or drugs."

"That was probably the idea. Cops and we would normally assume the worst, unless you know what it says."

"So Tony, what does it say?" Gibbs asked.

"It is a recipe for Spaghetti Bolognese."

Callen and Gibbs started laughing.