A/N: See the first chapter for the disclaimer. Thanks for all the alerts and favorites, but can you please drop a short review? I like to know what everyone thinks, since that's what keeps me motivated to keep going. Please. Anyway, there's more of the NCIS crew in this chapter (because I realize the first two chapters were very CSI:NY heavy), so I hope you guys enjoy this one, and please please please review. :)


Chapter 2: "Who Framed You?"

New York City

Mac and Flack eyed Tony warily as the agent leaned against the doorframe. "How'd you get up here?" Flack asked.

"Showed my badge," Tony replied, shrugging. "Which one of you is Detective Flack?"

"Me."

Tony nodded. "I tried you at your desk, but Detective… uh… Angell, I think she said her name was, real pretty girl, anyway, she said you were up here with Detective Taylor."

Flack glanced at Mac before staring at Tony.

"So, do you want to arrest me or interrogate me? What's the game plan?"

"We have a few questions for you," Mac said. "Come on in, have a seat."

Tony nodded again, stepping into the office. "Glass walls, huh?" he commented as he pushed the door closed. "Kinda like being sent to the principal's office when you get in trouble."

"You get in trouble a lot?" Flack asked.

Tony smirked. "Nice, Detective. I try not to, but it always seems to find me." Tony scratched his chin, which had about a week's worth of stubble on it.

"Your office said you're on vacation."

Tony paled slightly, something the other two noticed. "You called my boss?" he asked.

"You didn't answer your phone," Flack replied.

Tony shrugged. "It was turned off. I've been keeping it turned off because I'm on vacation. I only turned it on to check my messages about three hours ago."

"And you just… conveniently happen to be nearby where your car is found?"

Tony sighed. "I was visiting with a few friends in Philadelphia. I used to work there."

Flack turned to Mac skeptically. "That sound convenient to you, Mac?"

"Go ahead and check, Detective. Or, maybe I should be asking you what it is that you found in my car that's making you two ask all these questions."

"Apparently, George Stewart," Gibbs said as he appeared in the doorway. The three men in the office turned to find Gibbs, Ziva, McGee, Craig, and Abby standing there.

"Gibbs… you… brought the whole team," Tony commented softly, looking at his hands.

"Did you think we were going to let someone else try to frame you for murder?" Abby asked, rushing past the others and throwing her arms around Tony. "Why haven't you called me lately?"

"Dead phone," Tony replied, patting her arm.

Abby punched him gently. "How many times do I have to tell you this? Never lie to a woman, Anthony DiNozzo."

Mac and Flack looked at one another.

"Agent Gibbs," Flack said, stepping forward and offering his hand. "Detective Flack."

Gibbs shook the proffered hand. "Agent McGee," he said, gesturing at McGee. "Agent James. Officer David. Abby Sciuto, our lab tech. Doctor Mallard is downstairs with your Doctor Hammerback."

"Detective Mac Taylor," Mac said, stepping forward and shaking Gibbs' hand. "Welcome to New York."'

Gibbs nodded. "What can you tell us?"

"Apparently, whoever stole my car dropped it into the Hudson," Tony commented casually from the couch.

Adam rushed in. "Mac, I got something, and it's huge," he said excitedly. "Like, really huge."

"You got the DNA?" Flack asked.

"Not yet. But it's just as huge." Adam rushed out, causing the others to look at Mac.

"Let's go," Mac said, gesturing for the gang to follow Adam.

"Okay, so I've been working on clarifying the security tapes that St. Louis sent us, and I got a face," Adam said as everyone entered the lab. "So, I ran it against mug shots, specifically people that Agent DiNozzo arrested, and I got a hit. Charles Starling, arrested by NCIS three years ago."

Gibbs, Ziva, McGee, Tony, and Abby shared a look.

"I take it that's another familiar name?" Flack asked.

"He was the one who really screwed up the blood test," Abby said. "He got George fired. Three years ago, he tried to frame George for framing Tony for murder. When that didn't work, he…"

"Okay, enough with the history lesson there, Abs," Tony said. "It's easier to just say that Chip hates my guts."

"What did he do?" Mac asked, his voice somewhat harsh.

"I'm guessing he broke out of prison," Tony replied, purposefully ignoring the direction Mac was trying to go with the questioning.

"Is that all?"

Gibbs moved to stand between Mac and Tony.

Adam noticed Abby over the tension. "Hey, uh, you're Abby Scuito, right?" he asked. "Forensic specialist?" At her nod, Adam continued. "Think you might be able to help out with some of the evidence?"

"Uh, sure," she said, making her way out of the A/V lab with him.

Ziva moved to stand beside Gibbs while McGee and Craig stayed where they were, watching Mac and Flack.

"Before we actually get into this pissing contest," Tony said, moving from behind Gibbs and Ziva. "You got questions, Detective Taylor? Ask them. Otherwise, I might be inclined to go find Abby."

"Okay," Mac said, holding his ground but facing Tony. "What is it that you're hiding?"

Tony inhaled deeply. "Chip hired a guy, Richard Waters, who, in turn, got a crew to kidnap and torture me. Said crew failed in their duty to kill me. I'm sure Chipper just wants some revenge… again."

"Sounds like you made quite an impression on him," Flack remarked.

"Well, yeah," Tony retorted. "I only got him fired, you know? Crack police work there."

"All I'm sayin' is, I've never pissed off someone bad enough that they try to frame me for murder twice and come after me."

"At least, none that have ever managed to get out of prison."

Flack shifted his weight, but said nothing.

"Isn't that it, Detective?" Tony continued. "All your enemies are still behind bars. Actually, I'm surprised at that, really. Because I would think the Wilder family would have a bit of a beef with you."

Flack narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Yes, I do actually read New York Times," Tony said, smirking. "And, I'm being mostly serious here when I say, 'good job.' I know how hard it can be to bring down a crime family. Which, I'm glad this wasn't them coming back after me. Chip's easy to handle, easy to figure out. Where's Ducky when you need him?"

"Autopsy," Craig said.

Tony turned around to look at Craig. "You know, I'm not surprised Ziva and McGee came. Abby was a little surprising, but I don't know if the bigger shocker is that you or Ducky came."

He smiled. "What can I say? I liked working with you."

Tony turned back to Flack with a big grin plastered on his face. "See? I'm not all bad."

Ziva and Gibbs smirked as McGee chuckled lightly.

"I never said you were, Agent DiNozzo," Flack said, rolling his eyes.

"You know, for someone who does not believe Tony did this, you are certainly acting like you think he did," Ziva said, looking at Flack.

"I'm guessing smart ass is just the way you handle interrogations?" Tony suggested.

"Something like that," Flack replied.

Tony shrugged. "Hey, so long as it works. So, Detective Angell's your partner, huh?"

Flack looked at Mac.

"Ahh, avoidance," Tony commented. "That's a big yes. And also a hint at something else."

Flack looked back to Tony.

"I'm making you want to kill me, aren't I?"

"No, not really," Flack said, shrugging. "I'm gonna go see what I can dig up about Charles Starling." Flack walked away, and Tony turned to Mac.

"Was it something I said?" he joked.

"You are playing with bees," Ziva said, glaring at him.

Tony sighed. "Fire, Ziva."

"Bees sting, yes?"

"Yes, but…"

"Then isn't playing with bees just as bad?"

"She has a point," McGee said.

"Whose side are you on, Probie?" Tony asked.

Ziva smiled.

Mac looked at Gibbs, who nodded. The two men walked out of the room, leaving the other agents alone.


"What is it?" Gibbs asked, following Mac into his office.

"I'm getting the feeling there's more to this story than we're being told," Mac said.

Gibbs gave a slight shake of his head. "Not my story. DiNozzo's."

Mac nodded. "Fair enough."

Gibbs nodded, noting Mac's service picture on the wall. "Marine?"

"Yeah. 1/8."

"Desert Storm?"

"Beirut."

Gibbs nodded. "1/1. Sniper division."

"Beirut?"

"Desert Storm."

Mac nodded. "Explains why your whole team shares your sense of loyalty, and why all of them came up here."

Gibbs shrugged indifferently.

"Why hasn't Agent DiNozzo been taking any calls lately?" Mac asked, getting back on topic.

"You'd have to ask him," Gibbs replied.

"Would he give me a straight answer?"

Gibbs chuckled. "He's not one for straight answers."

Mac nodded. "I sensed that. Seems like a good man, though, and perhaps an even better agent."

Gibbs didn't react.

"Why would Charles Starling go to such great lengths to get back at Tony?"

Gibbs shook his head. "Gonna have to ask him that question."


"He's irritating."

Detective Jessica Angell smiled. "Because he's turning your interrogation against you?" she asked.

Flack glared at her.

"Lighten up, Don," she said playfully before turning serious. "If this… Starling guy really is after Agent DiNozzo, we have to help him."

Flack grumbled. "That's what NCIS is for."

"And we have to work with them to get this guy. Especially if he killed George Petrie."

"He's irritating," he repeated.

"Hmm. Reminds me of you."

Flack glared again, and Angell smiled sweetly. "I'm searching this Starling guy through everything- nothing's hitting yet. If he is here in New York, I don't know where."

"Maybe he's not in New York," she said.

"That doesn't make sense," he countered. "He dropped Agent DiNozzo's car into the Hudson. He knew that we would end up bringing DiNozzo here."

"So, he's hiding out and waiting for DiNozzo?"

Flack nodded, indicating that's what he was thinking. "But where?"

Angell tilted her head before smiling slightly. "Have City Surveillance patch tapes to Adam. Maybe he can get something for us."

Flack smiled, nodding. "Good idea."

"What would you do without me?" Angell said casually, walking away.