Tony and Callie had spent most of the day sightseeing around the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo. They had used the time to develop their friendship and discuss their approach with Calderone. By the time they were preparing to enter the bar for the second night, their plan of action was firmly set. Once again, Gibbs broke the quiet of their room with the com link.

"You guys ready for round two?"

Callie walked around to the camera and sat down to make better visual with Gibbs. "We are, Mother Hubbard."

That got a nasty look from Gibbs and a snicker from Tony who was finishing dressing in the bathroom.

"Make it to the bathroom or did Tony have to get maid service?" Gibbs twisted the barb tighter. Tony snickered again, this time joining his partner.

"No, she made it to the bathroom."

She elbowed him, "Damn it, DiNozzo."

She got up from the chair and let Tony sit, "We're fine, Gibbs, but if it'll make you feel better, we'll contact you as soon as we get back from the bar. That way you won't have to wait all night." Tony's smile was evil.

"You both realize you have to come back here, right?" Gibbs tone warned of reprisal.

"Got it, Boss!" Tony replied brightly. "We'll contact you after awhile." And he dropped the contact. Turning to Callie, Tony offered his arm. "Shall we, my beautiful wife?"

Callie raised an eyebrow, "But of course, my love." And they left the room for the bar.


They noticed Calderone immediately when they entered. He knew it wasn't something that she could control but Callie blushed all the way to her roots and then ducked her head. It was the perfect show of contrition and just what Calderone would expect to see. As she took a seat at the bar, Callie's whole demeanor was subdued and introverted compared to the drunken extrovert she had been the night before.

Calderone tipped his head slightly to Tony as he took a seat next to his wife. In Spanish, Tony ordered a Cuba Libre for himself and a Seven & Seven for Callie. The bartender nodded and quickly filled the orders. The two continued to whisper, their motions more intimate and less aggressive than the night before.

The bartender interrupted the two lovers, "Pardon me, Senor, but the man at the other table, the one to whom you sent the bottle last night?"

"Yes," Tony replied dryly.

"He wishes a moment of your time."

"Very well." Turning back to Callie, he kissed her cheek and excused himself, following the bartender to the stranger.

"You wanted to see me?" Tony asked

"Please, have a seat," came the reply in heavily accented English. Tony pulled out the chair, placing his back to both the door and Callie. The gentleman continued, "I wondered why you would send a complete stranger an expensive bottle of bourbon?"

Tony replied, in flawless Spanish, "Because, sir, I allowed my wife's behavior to get out of hand. It was an embarrassment to me and, I believed, to you as well. I thought only to correct a wrong."

The gentleman thought on Tony's response. From her seat, Callie watched the interaction of the men through the large mirror behind the bar. She didn't like her placement but to move would call unnecessary attention and she couldn't afford that either.

Finally, the large gentleman spoke. Offering his hand, he stated, "I am Abel Calderone. I thank you for your gift and," he paused meaningfully, "for correcting the wrong."

Tony returned the handshake, "Anthony DiGuardino. My pleasure."

"So, Anthony DiGuardino, what brings you to the Dominican Republic?"

"My wife," Tony glanced meaningfully over his shoulder as if checking on an unruly child, "and I are on vacation."

"Vacation from what?"

"My job requires much travel away from home. When I can, I prefer to spend a week or two with my wife to make up for my absence."

"If I may, Senor DiGuardino…"

"Tony, please?"

"Very well, Tony," Calderone continued, "What type of work requires you to leave one so beautiful alone for so long?"

Tony smiled and laughed quietly, "I am a contractor for the Department of Defense in the United States." The die was cast.

Calderone cocked his head to one side and toyed with his drink as he replied, "Department of Defense, eh? Working with Navy and Marine bases?" The tone was accusatory.

Tony let it slide as he responded innocently, "Of course, along with Army and Air Force bases. My company supplies all of the dry goods in all of the messes in each of the bases."

"I don't understand?" Calderone replied.

"Beans, rice, mixes to cook with, like brownies or cake mixes, they all are distributed by my company directly to the kitchens at all of the bases across the U.S."

Calderone nodded. "And are you looking to expand your business, Tony?"

Tony smiled slyly, "A good businessman is always looking for ways to expand, Senor Calderone."

"And you are a good businessman?"

Tony had him, "No, Senor. I am a very good businessman."

Calderone laughed.

Callie turned to the table, the noise drawing her attention. Tony turned back, making eye contact, and smiling. His wife returned his affection.

"She is, indeed, most beautiful, Tony, and I have kept you too long."

Tony stood, knowing he was being dismissed. He nodded and replied, "Thank you, Senor Calderone, for your indulgence. Have a good evening."

Calderone nodded and watched the younger man return to his wife. Whispering something in her ear, Callie ducked her head again in embarrassment. When she made visual contact with Tony, her eyes sparkled. She leaned into him and wrapped her arms around his and slid smoothly from the barstool. They left the bar, together, intimately entwined.


As before, they waited until they were in the safety of the hotel room before speaking. Callie started to ask a question but was stopped when Tony pulled her into an embrace and a deep, passionate kiss. Callie's response was immediate. Sliding her arms around Tony's neck, she ran her hands through his hair and captured his face. Tony pulled her closer, allowing his hands to roam down Callie's sides and hips. Tony broke first, "We can't do this."

Callie noted the slightly breathless sound of the comment. She looked squarely into Tony's face as she replied, "You're right. We can't." And then continued where they left off. After a few more minutes of kissing and exploration, it was Callie who became the voice of reason.

Putting a little distance between their two bodies but not breaking his hold, Callie responded, "I can think of a hundred reasons why I want to do this but two really big ones keep me from following through."

"I'm listening."

"First, we're on a mission and if we screw it up, it means life or death."

Tony thought for a few minutes and then said, "And the second?"

"We're on a mission and if we screw it up and live to tell about it, we still have to answer to Gibbs when we get back."

Tony smiled broadly and released his hold on his partner, "Wow, talk about killing a mood, Callie. Gibbs?"

She smiled at his playful tone. "Alright, Agent Harris, you win. Let's get cleaned up and call it a night, shall we?"

"You can have the bathroom fir…"

"Come on, Callie. We're consenting adults, as we just discovered. I think we can share a bathroom." Tony challenged.

She shook her head but grabbed her things and followed Tony into the spacious bathroom. They took turns getting showered, Callie finishing first. She was back in the bedroom, sitting in a chair, her feet propped on the end of the bed. Dressed in a tank top and sleep pants, she was completely lost in thought and didn't hear Tony open the bathroom door. Leaning on the door frame, he observed her for a few minutes before speaking quietly, "I was out of line, Callie. It won't happen again."

Callie looked up into Tony's very serious face. She smiled, "You weren't out of line, Tony. Believe me, I was prepared to go where you were leading and I wasn't putting up much of a fight."

Tony walked to the bed and sat down, "When we get back stateside, we're going to explore this further," he warned.

"The fact that I'm five years your senior doesn't bother you?"

"Is that what's wrong?"

Callie snorted, "One of the things, yeah. Do you realize I was already in the Navy when you were just a freshman in high school?"

"Callie, age is just a number. I like you. I like being with you. Right now, it's wrong place, wrong time. I know that. Back in D.C., when our lives are as normal as normal can be in our line of work, we are going to see where this relationship goes. Understand?"

She leaned across the bed and caressed his face. Tony turned into her hand. Capturing hers with his, he pressed a kiss into the palm. "Now, let's get some rest."

"You go ahead," Callie reluctantly pulled her hand back, "There are a few more things I want to look at in Calderone's file."

Tony nodded. He knew the incident was over and they were back in job mode. "Alright. Just don't stay up too long." He warned, pulling back the covers and sliding into the coldness of the sheets and comforter.

Callie smiled and pulled out her folder and notebooks and began reading. Within a few minutes, she heard Tony's light snores and even breathing. She spared one last longing glance at the younger detective and went back to reading the case file.


She sensed rather than saw the file falling. Grabbing for it quickly, Callie realized she had dozed off in the chair, the folder in her lap. Looking at her watch, it was 3 am. She had been asleep a couple of hours. Knowing that Gibbs was probably waiting, she quietly established the com link, glancing over her shoulder to make sure Tony was still sleeping.

Sure enough, there sat Gibbs, coffee cup in hand.

"Waiting long?" Callie asked sleepily.

"Naw. About twenty or thirty minutes. You look like shit."

"Thanks. I'm exhausted. This is harder than I remember."

Gibbs smiled, glancing over her shoulder at the sleeping DiNozzo. "How'd he do?"

"Geez, Gibbs. Where did you find him? He's got ice water in his veins. The only other person I ever saw run undercover that smoothly is you."

Jethro ducked his head at Callie's unexpected compliment. He replied, "Yeah, get him to tell you how he came to work for me sometime." Changing his tone, he asked, "Calderone take the bait?"

"Don't know yet, but Tony sure set the hook. I'd warn Abby and Tim to expect some background checks on Mr. and Mrs. DiGuardino and their company, though."

"Understood. What else have you got to do?"

"I'm done with my part. I get to sit back and be window dressing and back up. From here on out, Tony's got the heavy lifting."

"Well, get some rest. You still have to be sharp."

"Yeah, I think we're in here for most of today."

"Sounds like a plan, Callie." Gibbs confirmed, "So, before I go, there's probably one more thing you should know."

Callie's look turned serious, "Yeah?"

Gibbs smiled, "DiNozzo's awake."

From behind her, she heard Tony shift in the bed. He mumbled, "Morning to you too, boss."

Gibbs nodded and disconnected the set, turning off the computer as he did. Callie turned to look back at her partner. Tony smiled unrepentantly and then moved the covers, inviting her to join him in the bed. Shaking her head ruefully, Callie did so, snuggling in closer to the agent.

"And just how much did you hear?" She accused.

Tony smiled, "Enough. But, I gotta ask a question."

"Uh huh?"

"How'd you know Gibbs would be there at the ungodly hour of three in the morning? Exactly what is the relationship between you two?"

Callie looked directly into Tony's face, understanding the real question being asked. "Our relationship, at one time, was intimate. Since I've been back with NCIS, it's changed. Gibbs and me, well, it's like a comfortable pair of sweats. He knows I'm up at odd hours, kind of like him. I know where he keeps the sodas in his refrigerator for me and he knows where I keep the coffee in the cabinet for him. He can bounce ideas and theories off me without fear of long stories like he gets from Ducky. It's just an easy camaraderie."

Tony listened, knowing that Callie was giving him very specific, intimate information about her and Gibbs. He also understood what she was revealing about their boss and appreciated the trust it implied. As she spoke, she had been tracing circles on Tony's chest absentmindedly. Tony stilled her hand and brought the fingers to his lips. Kissing them lightly, he pulled her close and snuggled in against her.

"Get some rest, Agent Harris. We're not done here yet."

Callie smiled and closed her eyes, "Yes, sir, Agent DiNozzo."