Gibbs gave Dick a knowing smile and led the younger man back into the building. Once they were in the elevator, Gibbs reached over and flipped the switch, stalling the elevator. "How did you know?" he asked referring to how Dick noticed his presence.
Dick shrugged. "Time on the job. You get a lot of strange people in Bludhaven."
"You telling us everything, Grayson?"
"I've told you what you needed to know," Dick evasively replied. Gibbs narrowed his eyes.
"I'm not going to play the politics game—any information that can help, you better give us."
"I can't," Dick glanced at Gibbs apologetically. "It's not that I don't want to share, but if I do, Damian could be in bigger danger than he is now. I will tell you that Deathstroke and I used to know each other—his name's Slade Wilson."
Gibbs grunted. "Anything else?" Dick shook his head in the negative. "Does Rider know more?"
Dick flashed a cheeky grin at the older man. "Depends on what Damian's told him." Gibbs rolled his eyes and flicked the switch again. The rest of the ride was spent in silence; once the two exited the elevator, McGee called Gibbs and Grayson over.
"Boss, we got a hit on the bank account number," he quickly relayed, projecting the information up on screen. "It just transferred half-a-billion dollars to an unknown and private account. I can't get the account information or a name of the recipient, but I'll continue to work on it."
"Don't bother Tim," Dick cut in before Gibbs could say anything. "You won't be able to get any information. We were meant to find this—the name is her calling card. Deamonis Caput. It's Latin for Demon's Head."
"I have heard of this Demon's Head in rumors," Ziva interrupted. "My people believe that it is merely myth."
"Who is this 'Demon's Head'? Tony inquired.
"They are said to be in charge of the League of Assassins," Ziva replied. Alex snorted.
"So, this League, are they like unions? Do they get benefits and tax break?" he asked sardonically. "It's bad enough when there's just one assassin, but now they have an exclusive club as well." He shook his head in disgust. "Fantastic."
"But it doesn't exist, right?" Tim asked.
"I believe it is merely legend and she is using the name to scare you," Ziva told Dick, who made a noncommittal noise as he stared at the screen.
"Does it exist, Grayson?" Gibbs questioned. Dick met his eye and raised an eyebrow.
"You catch on fast Gibbs," the cop said with a grin. Alex groaned and threw up his hands in despair.
"Great, knowing my luck they'll be after me next," he grumbled. "Bloody brilliant."
"They don't exist Alex," Ziva said firmly to reassure the boy; Alex simply looked at Dick for confirmation and rolled his eyes when he saw the officer hesitate.
"Officer Grayson," Ziva protested when she noticed he had said nothing, "you cannot possibly think that such a League exists."
"I think it does," Alex told her. "Damian hasn't been taken by a ghost organization; they're real and they are deadly."
"And it's personal," Tony commented. Dick nodded his head in acknowledgement, while Alex rolled his eyes at the Special Agent stating the obvious.
"But not towards Damian," Gibbs stated and his team looked at him surprised, "it was to get back at you, wasn't it Officer Grayson?"
"What!" Tony exclaimed as Tim and Ziva made noises of disbelief. "Why would Deathstroke be after you?"
"You are just a cop, after all," Alex commented dryly, and cheeky grin on his face. Dick shot him a look, but Alex ignored it.
"I…I used to know him," Dick admitted.
"He isn't your long-lost twin brother or something like that is he?" Tony questioned, attempting to make a joke. Dick shook his head in the negative.
"How did you used to know him?" Ziva inquired.
"It was a life time ago," Dick replied, gazing out the window at the darkening sky. "It shouldn't be this much of a problem."
"Trust me," Alex deadpanned from his spot on the floor, "nothing stays hidden forever. And when everything comes out, it usually causes a massive explosion and blows up right in your face."
"Personal experience?" Gibbs swiftly asked.
Alex huffed in annoyance, "You have no idea. Trust me Dick—things explode. Best you can do is salvage what you can and try not to go insane."
"Believe me," Dick sighed, throwing himself into the nearest chair, "I know."
Gibbs took a long look at his team; Tim sat at his desk, glaring at his computer with frustration trying to location the trail from the bank account. Tony was leaning against his desk glancing anxiously between Gibbs and Alex, who sat on the floor with his back against the wall. Alex, who had his eyes closed and a rather large purple bruise forming on his face, looked almost peaceful and like a regular tired-out fifteen year old. Dick was switching his gaze between the teenager and the ceiling, unable to keep still, while Ziva unobtrusively studied the two visitors: the Buldhaven officer and the teenager on the floor.
"Let's call it a night," Gibbs found himself announcing, and five heads snapped up to meet his.
"Wait, you're telling us to go home?" Tony asked, dumbfounded. "Really?"
"Yes, DiNozzo," Gibbs reiterated, "go home. We're all tired and been working for awhile. Not to mention that Alex is a teenager with jet lag, and he was in a scuffled with Deathstroke today. We all need a good night's sleep."
"As much as I hate to admit it," Dick said, "Agent Gibbs is right. We'll work better when our minds are fresher and well rested."
"What's a good hotel that won't have a problem accepting an underage teenager?" Alex questioned, standing and walking over to Tony's computer and ignoring the agent already there.
"You're going to stay with me kid," Gibbs announced, the words flying out of his mouth before he fully registered their meaning.
"Huh?" was Alex's intelligent response; the rest of the team fared no better—the stood frozen in shock, mouths agape.
"It's too expensive and too much trouble for you to stay in a hotel," Gibbs explained. "DiNozzo is hosting Grayson, so you can stay with me."
"Yes, but they actually like each other and get along," Alex pointed out. "I've been under the impression that you neither like me nor trust me. Forgive me for my surprise."
"I haven't yet made a judgment on you, kid," Gibbs irritably replied. "Don't make me regret my offer." He turned to the others. "Meet back here at 0900. Rider, with me."
Everyone packed their gear and went out to their cars, Dick shooting Alex a warning look as he slide into the passenger side of Gibbs car and sped off.
"That was a big-brother look, wasn't it?" Tony inquired as he and Dick began to drive back to DiNozzo's place.
"Yeah, it was," Dick responded. "I swear, Alex reminds me so much of my brothers it's scary. He's got Jason's stubbornness and rashness, Tim's smarts and skills, and Damian's attitude and instinct."
"He's a special kid," Tony commented and he made a left-hand turn.
Dick huffed to himself and muttered so Tony couldn't hear, "Special isn't the word I'd use. Dangerous or unique? Absolutely."
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