Chapter Two - "Old Friends"
"Sorry for the wait Gibbs" Gibbs stood in the middle of the room of MTAC looking at the screen, with Callen on the screen.
"And why am I seeing your face Callen?" Gibbs asked him.
"He is out of the building. He should be back soon" Callen said to him.
"How are things out there?" Gibbs asked him.
"They've been good. And to answer your question he's fit right in." Callen told him.
"Hasn't drove you crazy yet" Gibbs said to him.
"Really Gibbs, I drove you crazy?" Tony's voice said, a few moments later, he made his way on screen.
"It's good to see you DiNozzo" Gibbs said to him.
"You too, Agent Gibbs" Tony said. "But I take this isn't a social call"
"What can you tell me about Corporal Eric Richardson?" Gibbs asked him.
"He was supposed to be transferred to Quantico, but he was reported missing yesterday by his wife. We launched an investigation, but till we get anything he is being reported as a deserter. His wife is making a big deal about this, saying he'd never just take off. He's a member of his community and damn good Marine, yet no one has a clue why'd he take off" Tony explained to him.
"Anything to back up he deserted?" Gibbs asked him.
"From what I know, only thing that really says he deserted was that his wife said he always kept a go bag and that was missing, as was his truck, but his bank accounts aren't touched and the rest of his stuff is still in his house" Tony said to him. "Why do you ask?"
"We just found you're missing Corporal" Gibbs said.
"In DC?" Tony questioned.
"How fast can you get to DC?" Gibbs asked him.
"I'll be on the next flight out" Tony said.
"Make sure you have all the information on and about Corporal Eric Richardson's life and case" Gibbs said.
"On it Special Agent Gibbs" Tony said. Gibbs then gave the cut it sign before heading out of MTAC. He wasn't sure if it was really going to solve the case, but he knew there was more not being said and he trusted Tony more than anyone else in LA right now, other thing Callen.
"It is that thing" Ziva said trying to explain to McGee and failing at it. "Mack help me out here"
"I would love to Ziva, but I have no idea what you are talking about" Mackenzie said with a laugh.
"Ziva you are clearly not making any sense right now" McGee chimed in. "You went from our Corporal to some random rant. Somehow I think you started talking about a movie.
"You two both know it and just will not tell me" Ziva said, giving them evil looks.
"We would tell you if we knew what you were talking about" Mack said.
"Oh Forget it." Ziva said. She stood up from her desk and walked over to the big screen between McGee and Mack's desk. "So the case, we have a Corporal that is not supposed to be in town yet dead and that same Corporal went MIA two days ago."
"Didn't go MIA Ziva, his wife reported him missing" Gibbs said as he walked into the Bullpen.
"Do you know something we don't boss?" McGee asked him.
"I talked to the Team in Los Angles. Corporal Eric Richardson's wife reported him missing yesterday; they launched an investigation, but have come up with nothing. Right now it's an open case, but they are trying to close it, saying he's a deserted." Gibbs said to them. "I have the lead investigator coming to DC. We are going to work as a team and work with the LA team"
"We are still trying to access his records, but haven't had much luck" McGee said to him. They all knew when Gibbs said it, it had to be done. Even though the last time they had worked with the NCIS Team in LA was when Rivkin was in town and before Tony had killed him. Abby worked with them from time to time, but them, not since that fall out.
"The lead in Corporal Eric Richardson's case is coming with everything we need." Gibbs said to him. "Go home, all of you. Tomorrow is going to be a long day"
"We'll see you tomorrow" McGee said. The three of them, all gathered their stuff and headed to the elevator. Once the door was closed McGee turned to Ziva. "Who do you think coming?"
"I do not know" Ziva said to him. "But it is someone Gibbs does not seem too happy about"
Gibbs walked off the elevator and turned to the autopsy doors, they opened once Gibbs stepped near them. He walked in and over to Ducky and Palmer.
"A Jethro, I was just telling Palmer here about…" Ducky started to say, before being cut off.
"What do you got Duck?" Gibbs said cutting Ducky off, from what he knew was going to be one of his stories.
"Our Corporal was shot" Ducky said as he stopped what he was doing, and walked over to the x-rays. "But that isn't what killed him."
"Then what did?" Gibbs asked him.
"I'm not quite sure. He was shot in his right shoulder, but didn't do enough damage to be the cause of death. I sent blood and samples to Abby for testing. But Jethro I have no clear cause of death" Ducky said to him. Gibbs could tell Ducky was completely stumped. "I did send Abby the bullet to find out who shot our Corporal"
"Thanks Duck" Gibbs said, he then head out of autopsy and Up to Abby's lab.
Later That Night
Tony walked into the bullpen, nothing had changed, he could see Ziva was still had her desk, Gibbs still had his, though McGee moved over to his desk and someone new took over McGee's, things were still the same. He knew that Vance was still in charge, since he still worked for NCIS and Vance was still the Director. He walked more into the bullpen and looked around some more. He didn't realize how much he had truly missed this place till right now. It had been two years since he had stepped foot on the Navy Base let alone in this office. Though it seemed like only yesterday that he lost everything that mattered to him in the matter of minutes, first he lost Ziva, though only his partner he still cared dearly about and now she could barely stand to be in the same room as him, then Vance hands him new orders and a new team the next day, but feels more like a punishment, and then Gibbs lets him leave, doesn't try and stop him. All those times he thought Gibbs cared, he realized it was all lie. He had looked up to Gibbs, he was like a father figure in Tony's eyes, but now he was just the person who let him walk out. He wasn't sure how he could forgive that, or how Gibbs could even begin to explain it.
Sure it was one thing when Vance broke apart the team and sent him on USS Ronald Reagan and later to the USS Seahawk, but this was different. There was no rhyme or reason for this. At least Vance had a reason and he was home months later. Though he liked where he was now, Los Angles had it perks, he still missed D.C. and those he used to call co-workers. Tony sighed and headed on through the bullpen and to the back elevator. He hit the button and the doors opened, he walked on and hit the button for the floor where Abby's Lab was. He was hoping though everyone else seemed to have gone home, that she was still around. Once the elevator stopped and the doors opened, Abby's music blasted for all to hear. Tony smiled and shook his head; he stepped off the elevator and towards the lab. When he walked in there was Abby dancing a little as her focus was set on her computer.
"You know staring at that computer can hurt those pretty little eyes or yours" Tony said, Abby act first didn't know who was speaking, being so focused on her work, she then turned to see Tony.
"Tony" Abby said, before running over to him and wrapping her arms around him, nearly knocking him over in the process.
"It's good to see you to Abby" Tony said, a little out of breath. "But you're crushing me"
"Sorry" Abby said and quickly released him. "I knew Gibbs would bring you back. They all doubted me but I knew he'd bring you back, because this team is nothing without you."
"I'm not staying Abby." Tony said to her, he hated that he made her go from so excited to sad all in the matter of seconds. "I'm here to help on a case and then I'm heading back to LA."
"No you can't" Abby said to him. "Tony this team needs you. I don't care who says what, this team isn't the same without you. And sure Mack works great with Ziva and McGee, but it's not the McTiva"
"McTiva?" Tony said o her very confused about what she was even talking about.
"McTiva. It's the nickname I gave you all. Sure it's missing Gibbs, but nothing worked with Gibbs, it's be like McTivibbs, just didn't sound right." Abby said.
"So you gave, Ziva, McGee and I all a couples nickname?" Tony asked him.
"No" Abby said looking down at the floor. "Okay maybe, but the McTiva works, the McGivack doesn't work. So we need you back"
"So you're saying a need to come back because the nickname doesn't work without my name?" Tony said.
"No Tony, the team doesn't work without you. We are a team, You, Ziva, McGee, Gibbs, Ducky, Palmer and I we're a whole team. Nothing can change that. I don't care what anyone says, you belong with us." Abby said to him.
"It's nice to know someone thinks so" Tony said to her.
"They all think it; they just don't know how to say it." Abby said to him.
"Gibbs said it loud and clear when he let me go" Tony said to her. "He could have stopped Vance, but he just told me keep in touch and that was it. I thought we were a team, but I guess that doesn't really mean much anymore."
"Tony" Abby said to him. "I could stand here and tell you Gibbs had some rhyme or reason, because you know he did. I just don't know what it is. Maybe he was telling you, you were ready for a team of your own and wanted to give that chance to prove how great you really are"
"I had a shot once, to have a team of my own" Tony said, as he slowly watched over to the evidence table. "When Gibbs came back from retirement. Jenny gave me the chance to have my own team, but I chose to stay with Gibbs, Ziva and McGee, because I believe we were a team and I didn't want to break that up." Abby walked over to the table as well, and stood on the opposite side cross from Tony. "But I guess I was wrong there too"
"You weren't Tony" Abby said to him.
"I should go, I need to get some sleep, it's been a long flight and I have to face everyone tomorrow" Tony said, slightly unsure of how things will go. "You should sleep too Abby, running on Caf-pow is no good for you"
"I never sleep Tony, you know that" Abby said to him. Tony just shook his head with a small laugh. He then walked around the table and gave Abby another Hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"I'm glad I still have you Abby" Tony said to her with a smile.
"You're kind of stuck with me" Abby said to him.
"And I wouldn't want it any other way." He said to her and nudged her a little. "See you tomorrow Abby"
"See you tomorrow" Abby said to him. Tony then turned and walked out of the lab.
