Hey everyone! So once again I am a late updater :( Sorry... I've been really busy, but that isn't really a good excuse is it? Well, if it is any consolation, this is a long chapter! Quick reminder that I don't own NCIS :P


"I've never tried to block out the memories of the past, even though some are painful. I don't understand people who hide from their past. Everything you live through helps to make you the person you are now."-Sophia Loren


Chapter 7- Confessions

Shock wasn't really the right word to describe what exactly was going on. Pain, betrayal, surprise? Maybe if you combined them together you would have the general idea.

Leroy Jethro Gibbs just shook his head, trying to ward off the feelings as he stared at his Senior Agent, who was pacing back in forth in the bullpen, obviously distraught.

Gibbs knew a lot about Tony. He knew most of his secrets, and a lot of things his SFA didn't even know he knew. This, however...Was different. He would have never guessed...Never even imagined that this particular situation would- even could arise. The fact that Tony had a cousin was not news. The fact the he and his cousin had some kind of weird relationship was not news. The fact that his cousin was part of a terrorist group? Uh...That was kind of the killer there- no pun intended.

"DiNozzo." he said, drawing the younger man's attention. Tony froze and glanced up, the pain on his features clearing up within a millisecond.

"Ah, hey boss." he grinned "We going to the interrogation room?" Gibbs nodded, though he did not miss the slightly pained note at the words 'interrogation room' his voice held.

It was oddly silent as they walked down the hall and Gibbs stopped so suddenly, Tony crashed into him.

"Stay in the observation room." he ordered and the moment he saw the other man's mouth open he cut him off "We are already being threatened to be pulled off of the case DiNozzo. Vance doesn't want us working with someone who has a personal connection with an agent but I still managed to weasel into us keeping it. That doesn't mean you can interrogate her though." Tony paused and then slowly nodded, the look almost relieved on his face as he opened the door to join McGee and Ziva on the other side. Gibbs sighed and glanced at the door, wondering how long this was going to take.


Ziva stared at her partner as he stepped into the room, his face completely void of emotion. She considered saying something but thought better of it. Tony had been through enough right now.

"Did you know?" McGee asked, obviously having no restraint in asking the question that was clearly haunting him "Did you know she would...she would..." his voice trailed off and Tony gave a wry grin and turned to see Gibbs entering the room.

"I knew she was with them." he said quietly "That's why I left. She went back to Italy. When she came back though... She promised me she wouldn't hurt anyone. She said she just needed to sort some things out. I was stupid to trust her." Ziva paused and laid a comforting hand on his arm, not really knowing what to say.

"I understand." she quietly murmured. "I felt the same way with my father." Tony's eyes never left the glass but he did give a curt nod of thanks as he watched his boss sit down across from Mia.

"You want to tell me why you did it?" Gibbs asked quietly and Mia glared, brushing a piece of hair from her eyes.

"I didn't do it." she hissed.

"Your records tell us you are in an Italian terrorist group. The Red Brigades? I thought that group was shut down a while ago by your officers."

"We aren't terrorists. And you can't shut down a group, Gibbs. You can shoot at us, tell us what to think, and stop us all you want, but you can't make us stop fighting for what we believe in."

"The reason for this group's formation was to remove Italy from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. That organization is gone now. So should the group."

"There are other reasons why we are still here."

"Like to bring down the United States?"

"I didn't kill that officer." Mia said, clenching her fist as she appeared to focus on breathing slowly.

"The sign of your terrorist group is on the body."

"We aren't terrorists!" Mia growled out and then added "I'm not stupid enough to do that and then go to the scene after. I was framed."

"Who would frame you?"

"Italian officers. I told Tony they were after me when they found out I was involved with the group. I never hurt an American so I came here; they must have followed me and framed me so I could get arrested here since they can't complete an arrest if they aren't in their country."

"Why wouldn't they have just told out officials and negotiate your arrest?"

"I don't know!" Mia exploded and attempted to get up, but quickly fell back in the chair due to the restraints on her upper arms.

"Where were you at the time of the crime?"

"At Tony's house."

"Can anyone verify that?"

"Tony can." Mia growled and Gibbs rolled his eyes.

"You mean the cop that just arrested you?" he asked coldly and Mia gave him a fierce glare.

"I didn't do it." she said and Gibbs said nothing, allowing himself a moment to evaluate her. He could surely see Tony's stubbornness was a family trait now.

"You've never committed a crime in the U.S. before?" he finally asked and Mia shook her head before being cut off.

"Bullshit." Gibbs wheeled around and gave Tony his most lethal look he sat down next to his boss in a vacant chair.

"Go back outside." Gibbs growled dangerously but for once, Tony didn't listen.

"You took part in killing a woman about thirty years ago." Tony said, flipping through a manila folder, but not reading anything that was written. "Did you just lie to a federal officer Miss. Mia?"

"Tony-"

"Agent DiNozzo." Tony correctly coolly and sat back, watching her through narrow eyes.

"You committed one crime against the U.S., why not do it again? You got away with it last time didn't you?" Mia closed her eyes and leaned back before whispering.

"I didn't do it."

"I find that hard to believe. The woman was in same position as your last victim."

"I didn't actually kill my so called last victim!" Mia ground out.

"Oh, of course. You simply let the killers in the house as you made sure her son didn't interfere." Tony said and opened his mouth to ask another question.

"What exactly were the details of this last crime?" Gibbs suddenly asked, his gut wrenching at a theory that had been biting at the back of his mind. Tony didn't answer.

"A family...The mother to be exact was a threat to one of our other missions." Mia said quietly and Tony's eyes snapped up.

"We aren't here for past confessions. We need to know why you killed this naval officer."

"I was only twenty." Mia continued as if she hadn't heard him. "I was new to the group and I wanted to make sure I stayed there. I knew a lot about the family so I gave them all the information they needed. The codes to get in, the weapons that should be used, when the father went out to drink... I stayed over at the house the night of the attack. My job was to keep the son away from the scene, make sure he didn't interfere."

"This isn't about that." Tony growled out but was cut off again.

"My men killed the mom, but she screamed and the boy freaked out. He ran to go find her...I grabbed him, trying to stop him...We were close..."


"Mia! Let me go! Didn't you hear Mom scream?" Tony shrieked as he tried to wriggle out of his cousin's grasp. His green eyes begged her to let go of him as she half dragged him back to his room.

"I didn't hear anything Tony. Come on, let's go back to bed." she said but a scream interrupted her speech.

"Mom!" the little eight year old yelled and managed to yank his arm away from Mia and sprinted down the hallway, his cousin screaming his name. "Mom!" he cried again, looking around for her fragile figure. Flying down the steps he reached the bottom of the mansion, looking around at the marble floor to see a crimson color stand among the white.

"Mom..." Tony whispered and flew to her side, not caring about the blood staining his clothes as his mom's body laid, a knife poking into her chest. Small breaths came from her mouth as her son touched her head, pain and tears in his eyes.

"Mom..." he said quietly and the woman weakly breathed something out unintelligible before allowing her eyes, that mirrored her son's perfectly to close. "No, no, no..." Tony whispered, shaking his mom desperately.

"Mom...Wake up...Wake up Mommy. Come on. Please!" he begged and jumped and the feeling of a hand on his shoulder.

"Come on Tony. Let's get you cleaned up before your Dad gets home." Mia whispered, gesturing the red blood covering the eight year Old's body. "Come on Tony… It's over." The little boy looked, his whole body almost shaking as he held his mother's lifeless corpse in his arms, looking up with lost eyes at his cousin.

"Who...Who hurt her?" Tony asked quietly, his voice breaking as he stared down, his face totally blank as his eyes fell onto his blood covered hands.

"I don't know Tony." Mia whispered, but there was something that crossed her face, something the little boy would later know as guilt. "I don't know."


Gibbs felt sick. He looked over at DiNozzo, expecting some reaction at the grueling story, but found his face totally blank. Gibbs leaned back, not sure how to totally react. He had just heard a story in which his agent's cousin got his mother killed, and the little eight year old boy had held her in his arms as she died. He couldn't imagine a worse fate for a child.

"I'm not going to ask again. Why. Did. You. Kill. Her?" Tony suddenly yelled, slamming his hand on the table and Mia flinched slightly.

"I didn't do it!" she screamed and Gibbs put a hand on the agent's arm, pulling him slightly towards the door and out of the room, slamming the door shut behind him.

"She did it." Tony growled out, "I know she did!"

"Calm down DiNozzo." Gibbs shot out "We don't have the evidence or confession to throw her in jail yet.

"Evidence?" he exploded "You want fucking evidence? The mark of her damn terrorist group was on the body of a naval officer! We don't have time to find fucking evidence! We need to figure out why she killed her and if we are in for a full-fledged terrorist attack!"

"Tony!" Gibbs yelled, gripping his agent's shoulders and giving him a rough shake. "If you don't calm the hell down, I'm pulling you off, you got that?" Tony didn't respond right away, he sat there glaring daggers at the wall mercilessly before nodding, his breathing heavy.

"I'm so stupid." he finally mumbled "I should have seen it." Gibbs inwardly sighed and shook his head, not bothering to respond. It was true, he had screwed up. He should have told someone about the woman, about the ties that held them together and what severed them.

"Is this why you stopped talking?" he asked, though he mentally head slapped himself for such a stupid question.

"Yeah." Tony answered warily "It was my birthday when she told me..."


"Make a wish birthday boy!" Mia smiled as she dragged him towards a huge cake.

"Mia Fiorella! I'm not five!" he complained but still blew out the candles and gave her a hug, spinning her around so he could attempt to smash her face in the frosting.

"È fastidioso idiota poco!" she cried out and attempted to kick him but was a moment to slow and tumbled backwards.

"Careful there Mia Fiorella, you might get hurt." Tony grinned and she needlessly hit him in the chest, glaring.

"What am I supposed to do with you Anthony?" she sighed and laughed when he slipped, falling face first in the cake himself.

"Not funny." he said and fell back into a soft, leather chair, wiping his face clean from frosting.

"I think so." Mia smirked and settled herself next to him, eyeing the badge on his leg "So you got the job at Baltimore huh?" she asked and bit her lip.

"Yep." Tony replied happily "I'm going into the office next week. That's why I have to leave so early, I have a flight to catch." Tony explained, looking out into the Long Island city. He glanced over at his cousin who sat there, looking unnerved.

"Uh...Tony. I want to tell you something." she said, fidgeting.

"Shoot." Tony responded, looking at her with a curious glance, his cousin had never been one to shy away from any conversation.

"You have to stay calm. Promise me that you will listen to everything I have to say and NOT arrest me. Swear?" Tony froze, staring at her.

"Mia, what have you done?"

"Please Tony!" she begged and Tony bit his lip before hesitantly nodding, wondering if he would regret the decision later- something told him he would.

"Ok...So...When I went to Italy after I graduated...I found this...group. I liked them very much and I am still with them."

"A club?" Tony asked confused on why she was bringing something up that happened so far back in the past and Mia shook her head.

"It is more like a political gathering...They have such wonderful ideas on the world Tony but... I had to do something...For the greater good."

"Oh god Mia...You didn't kill anyone right?" he asked warily, wondering what on earth had persuaded her to confess something she did so long ago now.

"No, no..." she murmured "Not exactly." Tony stiffened and sat up.

"I don't know if I want to hear anymore." he said quietly but Mia burst out.

"I gave the information about a person they wanted to kill! Oh god...oh god...how do I say this? Tony...I helped them kill her!"

"Mia, no more. I don't want to hear anymore." Tony snapped, jumping up and moving towards the door.

"It was your mom, Tony." Mia whispered, barely audible. There was silence. Only silence. Not a word was spoken as Tony slowly turned and looked at Mia with grief stricken eyes.

"You're lying." he finally said and Mia gave the smallest shake of her head, tears pooling at her eyes. Tony didn't move. For a moment it looked as though he stopped breathing. The only sound was the hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen.

"Tony...I'm so sor-"

"Don't say it!" he hissed out, taking a step back. "Don't say a damn word, keep away from me!"

"I would never hurt you!" Mia snapped, offended suddenly at his defensive position.

"Never thought you would hurt your own aunt!" Tony growled out, his eyes narrowed and hands visibly shaking. "Why the fuck are you telling me now?" he asked as his voice rose to a shout "What's wrong with you? How could you even consider doing something like that?"

"It was the right thing to-"

"The right thing to do?" Tony cut her off, almost screaming now "She was family! What kind of cold blooded person are you?" he hissed out, stumbling for his cuffs.

"You promised!" Mia shrieked as she saw the silver bracelets coming out.

"What don't you understand about you killing my mother?"

"Tony please! Listen to me! I'm your cousin! You can't do this; you know you can't...Tony who practically raised you? Who helped teach you to play piano when your mom was too drunk to? To ride a bike? Or your Dad when he was so drunk he didn't care about hurting his own son? Who cleaned up those cuts you got from 'falling' or bruises from 'football practice'? Who made sure you got food when your Dad told the servants not to feed you that day? Come on Tony, please don't do this- after everything I did for you?" There was a pause, Tony's eyes softening for a fraction of a second before he slowly put the cuffs away.

"Keep away from me." he said quietly, his eyes full of haunting memories "I'll let you go this once. If you ever take a life away again in this country- I swear I'll make sure that, that mourning family will have some peace in mind that the killer is locked up- for good." he said before he turned and left the house, never once looking back.


"DiNozzo? Tony!" Gibbs said, shaking his SFA out of a clearly haunting memory. Tony jerked away, facing his boss with alarmed eyes for a moment before placing another mask securely into place.

"Zoned out, boss...sorry." he added sheepishly, purposely adding the last word on to most likely bait Gibbs into scolding him in order to get off topic. Instead, Gibbs just studied him intently, not saying a word. His eyes roaming over his Agent's face, probably looking for any sign of emotion that could have slipped through the holes of his disguise.

Tugging at Tony's elbow so that he'd follow, Gibbs walked back into the observation room where Ziva and Tim stood, looking shell shocked.

"We didn't...he just...You just...She said..." Tim stuttered his face portraying a range of emotions- from guilt in letting Tony leave the room to shock at what the woman on the other side of the glass had just said.

"Sit." was the only thing Ziva said to Tony, her eyes narrowed dangerously. Something in her face threw Gibbs off for a moment. He realized that for once, it wasn't perfectly blank as per usual. There was some sort of emotion on it. Ziva paused momentarily to glare at the tech who was working in the room until he left and then turned back to her partner.

"Is there anything else we should know?" she said, her voice harsh and demanding. To Tony's credit, he didn't flinch at the tone and looked steadily into blazing black eyes.

"Define 'should'." was his reply, sounding unnaturally serious and Tim took the moment to cut in.

"Oh, I don't know. Perhaps maybe if you have any other terrorist relatives we should know about? Or, maybe something about your childhood? Like...I don't know… Your father?"

"What about him?" Tony hissed, immediately jumping into a defensive mode. "Why don't you just ask him? He's here and all three of you are best buds anyway!" Gibbs blinked, surprised at the outburst. While Tony's shield would rarely come down in front of him, he had never once expected his Senior Agent to even show a hint of his real personality to his co-workers...If this even counted. He supposed with all the emotional and mental strain Tony had been through the past few days, the outburst could have been expected.

"I highly doubt a man would willing inform us that he hit his own son!" Ziva said sharply.

Silence. Complete and utter silence.

Gibbs knew that Tony had never had a happy childhood. There were too many hints- too little stories about him and his family aside from tidbits of information here and then. Gibbs had always suspected abuse though it wasn't something he would force from DiNozzo's mouth. To hear the words spoken out loud though... It seemed that much more painful.

"I don't know what she told you." Tony breathed out, glaring out the glass at his cousin "but-"

"Mia didn't tell us anything. Well...Kind of... She and your Dad were yelling in Italian...I have a translator on my computer." Tim cut off, shrugging helplessly. "We heard him make the comment 'I should have hit you instead' and well...The rest of the conversation was a bit of a giveaway."

Tony didn't say anything. Not that there was anything he could really think to say in this situation. In Peoria, the reason he left was because one of his co-workers said there was a written letter somewhere, saying that there was evidence of a cop receiving abuse as a child. Tony didn't even know if that was him, and he left. He had never expected to deal with a full out confrontation before. Ever. It made him wonder, if after this case was all said and done, if perhaps it was time to take Fornell up on that offer at the FBI.

"Tony." Ziva said, regaining his attention and Tony, for once, felt his willpower begin to crumble.

"What do you want me to say?" he asked, sounding tired and utterly defeated. "I wasn't..." he added more to himself but Ziva shook her head in denial.

"The truth." was her only answer and they all stood waiting. He looked over at his boss, not really sure what to do. Gibbs himself was trying to figure out the best way to handle the conversation. It was clear Tony wasn't ready to talk about the situation, but he wasn't quite sure how to end it. In usual Gibbs' style though, he decided to go with the bastard approach.

"We'll deal with this later." he announced "I need coffee. And someone needs to escort her somewhere until we have evidence on this murder." Gibbs told them, jerking his head at Mia, ignoring Tony's grateful look and Tim and Ziva's incredulous ones.

Without another word, he left, planning on getting himself a large cup of steaming coffee and some evidence on the death of the officer.

Because lord knows, this case was going to be a long one.


Well people that's it! Thank you all for your wonderful reviews and please don't stop giving them out (: They really do make my day! Oh and that reminds me! I have also put up a quick litle one-shot called Game Show Host as well. Basically a little talk between Tony and Dr. Ryan, because it coudn't help but write an explanation about her 'game show host' comment :P Anyways, review! :P