LIGHTER THAN LIFE CHAPTER THREE

By Sue and Craig

DISCLAIMER: We don't own NCIS or CBS. This is just a fan fiction from our warped minds.

A/N Craig (Fictionaire) and I want to thank you for your all your reviews/ story alerts/ and favorites. Hope you keep enjoying.

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Tony picked up a couple of beers as he made his way through the busy Mandalorian Bar. The music bounced off the walls, people chattered and laughed loudly above the noise. He could barely hear his hard soled shoes hitting the wooden floorboards, no less hear any conversation that wasn't yelled, even with his good hearing. He sat down at a table in the corner, it was a habit he had from years of being a cop and now an agent. From his view point he could see anyone from any part of the room. And tonight he wanted to find a pretty and willing lady to keep him company. He finally had a night off after the long few days of a hard case. The case was just closed, the reports they printed out only had to be signed off by Gibbs.

He also wanted a warm body in his cold bed which he knew would make him feel so much better. He felt like a tiger on the prowl, and smiled at the thought. Maybe he could grab a girl, but he had made plans with Abby, so it was up in the air. Once in a while, if either of them found someone, they'd let the other know. This was something they had agreed on a while back, when they were out together.

"Hey," he yelled to the unmistakable shape of a particular Goth girl, he knew she hadn't heard him. It wasn't unusual for Abby to want to come to the Mandalorian ever since he had introduced it to her. They had always spent time together going clubbing or watching movies at her place or his. He'd worked for the agency a total of a little over four years, the first six months Abby wasn't sure how to take him. After that, they'd become fast friends. And now that the Mandalorian had opened a small dance club they'd either bump into one another, or planned to go and meet up together, like tonight. They had decided to just meet instead of Tony picking Abby up. She got tired of waiting for him and went home get ready. Tony grabbed his two beers and followed her to the dance club area.

Tony held the two bottles in one hand and grabbed Abby's arm to get her attention. She jumped defensively; not knowing until she turned around whose hand had grabbed her.

"Tonyyyyy!" She yelled over the music in excitement.

"Hey Abs. Get you a drink? " He held up his two beers and pointed to the bar in order to make sure she understood what he had said.

Abby gave him a huge hug, "Sure. Why didn't you call me if you got out earlier? I would have been here."

"Don't know, figured you wouldn't be too far behind." He shrugged and gave her one of his many DiNozzo smiles.

Abby smiled brightly back at him. She loved his smiles and was happy to be here with him. They always had so much fun together.

"Sure, thanks. I need to dance some of this tension off. Let me catch a few songs and I'll be back for that drink. Unless, you wanna dance?" She smiled in anticipation.

Tony finished his one beer with a long swig before he answered. "Maybe later, I wanna check out the merchandise first, juuuusssttt in case." He gave a hardy laugh knowing she wouldn't be offended. She gave him a knowing look and nodded.

"Ok mister, I get it, but I'm dancing, the music is so great how can you not…..well in your case I understand, I mean not that you don't like dancing cause I've seen you and danced with you to know. You dance real good so join me when you're ready if I'm not back here first. And, by the way, you look totally hot. Not that you don't always look hot unless you're injured or sick……" She went on shouting into his ear.

Tony gave a slight bow and then shook his head. He couldn't take the noise along with her rambled yell into his ear, "Abs! I understand, it's all good." He yelled back, a smile still etched on his face.

"Oh well, o.k. I'll be back shortly. You'll watch me dance at least." She flirted innocently like they always did.

"Of course I will, how could I not watch that body of yours dance. I love to watch." He leered and wiggled his brow at her. She gave him a good natured punch that made them both laugh.

"Tony DiNozzo, you are such a flirt." She told him with a coy smile.

"But you love me anyway."

"Yes I do. Now I'm dancing and will be back for that drink I'll need it…..A Red Bull if they have it if not…….."

Tony cut her off, "I know your preferences. I'll get you something right up your alley." He winked and then watched her walk away swaying her hips just for him.

Tony watched Abby enjoy herself. Her body moved around until she found a partner who could keep up with her. Abby's body bounced to the heavy metal music blaring through the speakers. She was only one of a handful of people who could just jump on the dance floor right away before a drink or anything else. Tony knew she needed it to blow off excess energy that was always surging through her body. He smiled as he finished his second beer and caught her eye. He smiled as he walked around the club and enjoyed the other beautiful bodies of the females that were dancing.

The man that Abby had been dancing with began dancing again with her once the music restarted. Tony shrugged his shoulders and walked back and sat at the bar. Abby seemed happy enough and he figured she'd come get her drink and then they'd dance together or go upstairs to the quieter bar. Unless she found someone or he did. The understanding they had came in handy once in a while, though they usually stayed with each other when going out. Tonight was one of those nights where neither were sure, but if the opportunity came around they'd give the signal.

Some time later, Abby came jogging over to the bar with the same guy following her.

"Come on," the man said as he walked behind her. Tony heard only parts of the conversation over the loud music and kept an ear out to make sure everything was alright. The whole team at NCIS wanted to protect Abby. After all, if something happened to her, Gibbs would go psycho. Plus Tony and she were so close he made sure he always looked out for her and she did the same for him.

"No," Abby said flatly, obviously trying to get rid of the guy.

"I know you want some. Why else would you dance with me? Especially in the way you were" The man asked. "You're such a little tease," he told her before he grabbed her arm to swing her around.

"All I did was dance," Tony noted that her voice was a little uneven. She was scared, he could hear it.

Tony stood from his stool and slung his arm around Abby's shoulder and offered her the drink he had promised.

"Well, hello there pretty lady," Tony said in a John Wayne voice. "Hey, I hope you're not thinking of harassing my girl here," his voice was back to normal.

"Your girl?" The man asked. "You know your girl was all." The man was cut off.

Tony straightened his stance and made his body come to full height. "I wouldn't finish that sentence if I was you," Tony warned with a glare that would make Gibbs proud.

The bartender on duty knew Tony and came up to their side of the bar.

"Tony! I don't need a problem here." The bartender winked knowing with that said Tony wouldn't fight the man but would use a different approach.

"Al, would I do that to you?" Tony grinned.

"Better not." Al laughed and then walked to fill orders.

Tony didn't want to use his connection from the agency but now with Al's warning he'd have to. What he was really itching for was a good fight out in the parking lot to relieve some stress. Maybe then see if a lady interested him for the night. That thought quickly went to the back of his mind when he looked at Abby and the jerk bothering her. Damn, he would love to beat this guy to pulp. He sighed and flipped out his badge so that only the guy and Abby could see it.

"This girl's an employee of a federal agency and I'm a federal agent if you can read." Tony said. "You wouldn't want to be taken in for harassment, would you?"

"Tell her not to act all slutty," The man groused.

Tony resisted the urge to punch him were he stood and boy he was still itching to. He only had to see out from the corner of his eye that Al was watching in order to reel in that need. "People like you make me sick," he stated. "Get out of here, before I take you downtown."

The man muttered some curses that made Tony again want to follow him out and get that good work out. He shook his head to clear it and then turned back to Abby once the man left the bar.

"Thanks Tony," Abby said. "I was just having a fun time," she explained him.

"I know. I was watching you." He smiled before he decided to cut the tension they both felt from the altercation.

Tony continued. "No problems, little lady," he playfully knocked her jaw as he continued impersonating John Wayne. "You want that drink I offered you?" He nodded to where she had put it down, "I ordered you one when I saw you walk up and another for my self," he said in a normal voice. He handed Abby her drink and took his.

Tony's empty arm wrapped around the pretty Goth. She was still a bit shaky from the event that just happened. He remembered Michael, the stalker boyfriend, which had only happened a little over a week ago. He then led Abby to his favorite part of the place, the upstairs Jazz and Blues bar. The upstairs was sound proof so the heavy music wouldn't be heard.

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Tony was glad that he was here to make sure Abby was safe, he mused as he held her hand and led his friend up the stairs. There was a stage at the end with dark blue curtains. A beautiful woman that wore a T length dress with a low cut front sang into an old fashion microphone, adding to the ambience of the music.

Tony led Abby to a booth and gestured her to slide in first. He then sat down next to her an allowed his arm to drape arm her shoulder when he felt her cuddle into him. He smiled, it wasn't anything new. When they stayed at either of their places to watch movies, he had often laid his head on her lap, enjoying her stroking his hair. And then there were times she laid on his lap as he did the same for her. And on other occasions both would lean into one another, Abby's head resting on his shoulder. He always enjoyed that and knew she did too.

"Thanks, I feel nice and safe." Abby smiled up at him. She then decided to break the tension and get out of her mood "I love it up here. And the least I can do is have a drink with my knight in shining armor," Abby joked

They clinked their glasses together. "If I'm your knight, you're my damsel in distress, just like in the movies," Tony laughed.

"I like that," Abby said as she took a long sip. "Tony, I love it up here. But what I'd really like……well, could you take me dancing? I mean the type of dancing we did when you took me out for my birthday. You know we can dance great together and, your lead is so smooth. No one would believe how well you dance. But what I love is how you can direct me with a gentle movement of one of your hands to let me know which way we're going or what you'll be doing to me….I just loved dressing up and dancing at that classy place and with you I feel like a…… well it's like I said, you are a knight and I'm your damsel, or maybe it would be more like a prince and a princess, did I get that right? But I just loved it so much, please Tony?" She whined insistently.

Abby looked up at him with such an adorable pleading look, how could he say no to her. He loved to dress up and dance to an orchestra. Abby was the only one at NCIS that knew how well he could dance. Dancing was a must in his family's circle of the rich social scene. He had to take lessons at an early age and never regretted it, he enjoyed that type of dancing. It was so much like the old black and white films he loved to watch.

"Sure Abs, only if you wear the outfit I got you for that evening." Tony loved the outfit which made Abby look so stunning. He remembered the teasing she did about him telling her how to wear her hair and what jewelry to would look right. He had really enjoyed himself and was glad she had too.

"Oh I love that outfit, you have such great taste. Yes of course I'll wear it, now when are you taking me?" She asked with glee.

"Saturday night, I'll make reservations for dinner and then we'll dance the night away." He laughed at her excitement and the idea that he also looked forward to their newly made plans.

"Great!" She exclaimed happily as they listened to the Jazz and Blues floating across the room. She and Tony both loved this type of music. He had realized it at Kate's funeral. They then had looked all around for a good Jazz and Blues bar.

Tony still needed to get out some energy so he led Abby out onto the dance floor, knowing she'd keep up with him. He knew he wouldn't be taking anyone home tonight but that was alright, he was in good company.

Eventually they returned down stairs where he could really get the pent up energy out with the floor shaking heavy metal music. They bounced around the floor for longer than either knew, only the sweat and their aching bodies let them know it was time to go home.