7.
Gibbs and Tony arrived back at the hotel in record time. Tony pried his fingers off the dashboard before speaking. "Go up and pack. I'll arrange your flight."
"You comin'?"
"No, I'll stay here and fill in for you."
Gibbs stared at his lead agent. "Don't do anything stupid."
"Who, me?" When Gibbs didn't move, Tony frowned. "I won't. Don't worry, Gibbs. I won't lose my head."
As they walked into the hotel, telling the valet to park the car close by as it would be needed shortly, Gibbs reached out and popped Tony on the back of the head.
"What was that for?" Tony reached up and touched the spot.
"Just a reminder that you'll have me to deal with."
They parted at the elevators, Gibbs heading up to their suite while Tony stalked across to the reception desk.
"Yes, Mr. DiNozzo, can I be of assistance?" The sharply dressed clerk smiled at him.
"I need to find Thomas Teasdale."
"I believe that Mr. Teasdale is in the Hancock Room."
"Thanks, Claudia." Tony quickly moved down the hallway to the meeting room. He slipped through the doors, searching for Teasdale. Once he found him, he walked across the room and knelt next to the millionaire. "Tom, I need to speak to you."
Teasdale, seeing the barely controlled anger, quickly got to his feet and followed Tony out into the hall. "What's wrong?"
"You told me once that you owed me, that whatever I wanted, all I had to do was ask."
"I still mean it. What do you need?"
"A plane to fly Gibbs to Long Island. It's really important or I wouldn't ask."
"I know you wouldn't. Where?"
"Somewhere near the Hamptons."
Tom pulled his cell out and spoke to Tony while using the keypad. "My pilot will fly him into the Long Island MacArthur Airport. I'll have a car waiting for him when he arrives."
Tony closed his eyes a moment in relief. "Thank you, Tom. I really appreciate this."
"For what you did to save my daughter, I will owe you the rest of my life."
Gibbs appeared at the end of the hallway, glaring. "Well?"
"Done, boss." Tony quickly explained what he had arranged. "It'll get you there faster and closer than you'd be if you flew commercial into Islip."
"Tom, thank you." Gibbs held his hand out.
Teasdale took it and gave a quick pump. "Whatever I can do to help. C'mon, I'll drive you there if you're ready."
Gibbs lifted a small overnight bag, actually a computer bag. "Got enough for a day or two."
"Boss, tell McGee…just get him out of trouble."
"I will. And you," he pointed at Tony. "Don't do anything stupid."
Tony held his hands up. "I promise."
~NCIS~
Tony stood outside his father's office building, tweaking his Armani suit into place. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he strode into the building. He headed for the reception desk.
"May I help you?" The woman behind the counter was dressed in black, heightening the translucence of her face and neck. Her seductive young body was typical of his father's female employees.
"Anthony DiNozzo to see my father."
"Mr. DiNozzo, this way." Tony turned to see one of his father's goons waiting by the express elevator.
He followed without a word, keeping his eyes on the shiny gold doors. Once they arrived on the top floor, the doors slid open with a soft whoosh.
"In there, Mr. DiNozzo." The goon pointed to a pair of rich mahogany doors.
Tony walked with stiff dignity to the indicated room. He hesitated for a heartbeat before pushing the doors open. The room was dominated by a huge gilt-edged desk, centered between two floor-to-ceiling windows. His father sat behind it, reading glasses perched on his nose.
"Anthony."
"Cute touch, Father."
"What are you referring to?"
"The raised platform. Puts you up above the hoi polloi. Makes them look like supplicants."
"I assume there's a reason for your visit."
"I want you to stop this."
Frank DiNozzo shuffled through his papers impatiently. "I'm busy, Anthony. I'd prefer that you get to the point."
"Call off your dogs." When his father merely stared at him, Tony fought to control his temper. "You have a problem with me, take it out on me. Leave my friends, my coworkers, my bosses alone."
"Are you going to quit your job?"
Tony opened his mouth to agree, to save Tim by sacrificing himself. Unbidden, Gibbs' face appeared in his mind's eye. "Not this time, Father."
"Then your friend will have to take his chances with the court system. Of course, by the time he's cleared, if he is, his career will be over, his reputation destroyed. Are you willing to let him pay for your stubbornness?"
Temper smoldered in his eyes. "No, I'm not. Gibbs will get McGee cleared."
"You seem quite certain of that."
One corner of Tony's mouth twisted upward. "I am. Gibbs takes care of his people, it's a Marine thing. You've made a fatal error, two of them actually."
"Really?"
"Yeah. You came after, not one, but two of Gibbs' team. He makes a bad enemy."
The elder DiNozzo waved his hand dismissively. "As do I. You should know that by now."
"Let me tell you something, Father, if it came down to betting on you or Gibbs winning any pissing match, all my money would be on Gibbs."
"Get out," Frank growled. "Get out of my office."
"You know, I came here ready to give in, to let you drive me out of town. I was prepared to abandon everything I had built, the friendships as well as my career."
"Career," his father said disparagingly.
"Yeah, Father. Career." A muscle clenched along his jaw. "I've found a career with NCIS. I've learned more in the last few years in NCIS, with Gibbs, then I ever would have in Philly or Peoria. I guess I owe you for that. If you hadn't driven me from those towns, I wouldn't have been working in Baltimore. And I never would've butted heads with Gibbs."
"Gibbs, Gibbs! You act as if he were your father rather than me." Frank's dark face set in a vicious expression.
"I wish he was." Tony turned on his heel and walked out of the office.
"Get out! You're nothing to me. Do you hear, nothing!"
Tony ignored the shouts as he stepped into the elevator. He didn't make the mistake of believing his father would wipe his hands of him. Frank DiNozzo would be out for revenge. Hopefully the anger would be directed at him, not his teammates.
