Kit and Andy went back to Raleigh taking a reluctant Joe with them: whenever he saw Tony he wanted to ride on his shoulders and he would have been happy to shoot hoops all day. Only the promise that he would see Tony again got Joe into the car. Tony wondered what would happen when he went back to Washington but decided that he would do his best to keep Kit and Andy's promise. He remembered all too well what it was like to be fobbed off with a parent's easy promise and he didn't want Joe to experience that because of him.

John and Tony's routine continued once the visitors had left. Tony would go for a run in the morning; he and John would then go to Millie's for breakfast and then resume work on the portrait. After lunch, Tony would go for a walk along the coast. He had borrowed a book on birds from John and was doing his best to pick out the species he saw: he didn't think he was being very successful but it gave him an excuse to sit still and gaze out across the ocean. As he watched the waves lap the shore, he tried to imagine them washing away anger and hurt. Evenings were usually spent with Millie and John although sometimes Tony left them alone. He wasn't sure exactly what their relationship was but he didn't want to play gooseberry.

A couple of days after Millie's visitors left, John had one of his own. John was laughing at some remark of Tony's when there was a quick knock at the door and a youngish man walked in. He was a bit younger than Tony, fair haired and with brown eyes so familiar that Tony had little doubt that this was Douglas Sutherland. The way that John's face lit up confirmed his guess.

"Hey, Dad," said the new arrival, "oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt. I didn't know you were working."

John put down his brushes and hugged his son,

"No worries. I was about to make us some coffee. How long are you staying?"

"Just passing through. I've got some business in Raleigh so I thought I'd drop in."

"Sit down," said John, "I'll just make the drinks."

Left alone, Doug gave Tony a charming smile,

"Hi, I'm Douglas Sutherland, I'm very pleased to meet you."

Tony smiled back and shook the offered hand,

"Nice to meet you. I'm Tony DiNozzo."

Doug frowned in concentration, "I'm sure I know that name from somewhere. Hey, are you related to Anthony DiNozzo of New York? I hear he's putting together a plan for a new marina near where I live."

"He's my father," said Tony, "but I don't get involved with his business deals, I'm afraid, so I don't know anything about a marina."

"So, Dad's painting your portrait, is he? I'm very pleased."

"He's a good painter," said Tony, a little surprised at Doug's enthusiasm.

John came back with the drinks and then realised he'd left the cream in the kitchen. Tony jumped up to go and get it. As he went, he heard Doug say in a low voice.

"Dad, I'm glad to see you're getting back into the business."

"What?" said John.

"Painting Tony's portrait. That's a good move. His father is big in New York society, you know. If he likes the picture it could lead to lots more commissions."

"Tony's not paying for the picture, Doug. I'm painting it because I want to."

Doug's voice rose, "Don't be stupid, Dad, you know how much you could charge. Look, let me talk to Mr DiNozzo Senior, I could negotiate a good price."

Tony came back into the room,

"Doug, I'm sorry to disappoint you but it's unlikely my Dad would want a painting of me hanging on his wall. And even less likely that he'd have any money to pay for one."

"Doug," said John soothingly, "I'm just painting a picture of a friend. There was never any question of payment."

"Friend?", demanded Doug, "and how long have you known this friend?"

"A couple of weeks," said his father.

"He's done well, hasn't he?" said Doug bitterly, "managing to persuade you to paint him already. He probably worked out just the right way to get round you."

Tony swallowed his anger at this injustice,

"I didn't know anything about your father before I came here."

"And it was me who asked Tony to sit for me. He didn't ask to be painted," insisted John.

"No, I'm sure he'd be far too clever to do that," said Doug.

"Douglas," said John firmly, "I just happened to bump into Tony when he took a room at Millie's. It was just coincidence."

Doug seemed to accept this,

"I'm sorry, Tony," he said, "I just worry about people taking advantage of my father. He was a fine portrait artist you know, until he had his breakdown."

"I didn't have a breakdown," said John wearily.

"Well, what else do you call it when you just throw in a high paid job and abandon your family," asked Doug hotly. John stared at him and Doug tried once again for politeness,

"Sorry again, Tony. You'll see this is an old argument. So, are you still staying at Millie's?"

Tony hesitated but said, "No, your father was kind enough to let me stay in the hut."

"Oohhh," said Doug, "you've really managed to worm yourself in, haven't you. All very cosy, I'm sure."

"Douglas," said John in a warning voice but Doug swept on,

"It all makes sense now. Of course my father would like to paint your picture. Just gave him an excuse to look at you for hours. I'm guessing you don't spend all that much time in the hut – it's much nicer up here."

Tony was aghast and part of him was tempted to punch Doug in the mouth which was spewing out such vile nonsense. The other part of him, however, saw the sadness and resignation in John's face and he knew that he was used to this sort of behaviour and that it wouldn't help for Tony to deck his son.

John stood up,

"Douglas, you know you are always welcome here but not if you're going to be rude to my guests. I think you should go now. Come back when you've calmed down a bit. Go on."

Doug hesitated but then spun round and went out, slamming the door behind him. John sat down again wearily,

"I'm sorry about that, Tony. He's a good boy really but he still can't understand what happened. Sometimes he thinks I must have had a breakdown to have given everything up. Sometimes he thinks I must be gay otherwise I would never have left his mom. And today, he went for both. I'm sorry. I'm embarrassed for him."

"No need," said Tony, "sons and fathers – not always easy. Believe me, I know."

John buried his face in his hands for a moment. Tony went on, hesitantly, "You do know that I didn't know anything about you before I came, don't you?"

John managed a shaky laugh at that, "Tony, you looked so shocked when I suggested painting you, I can't believe you came here with that as a cunning plan. And you're not exactly the most relaxed sitter I've ever had either."

Tony nodded in relief. It had been a surprise to him that he wasn't comfortable sitting for John. He knew he had a touch of vanity: his taste for fine clothes and the amount he spent on his grooming proved that. And he knew that he was good looking but somehow, having John's perceptive gaze directed at him for hours at a time was unnerving. He suspected it was a cliché but it did seem sometimes that the artist could see under his skin and into his soul and that was unsettling for someone who hid so much of his true self.

They broke for lunch soon after that and then Tony went for one of his long walks. He was glad that he would not be sitting for John the next day: John had announced that he needed to go into the nearest town to visit his bank and go to the dentist and Tony had volunteered to drive him. Tony knew that Doug had been completely wrong but, for a little while at least, he would be happier not to be painted.

NCISNCIS

McGee and Abby worked on the Yalland trap for some days. It had been agreed that they would suggest that Tony was holed up in a safe house to the north of Washington and would be moved to another soon. They hoped this would push Yalland into making a move and NCIS and the FBI would be ready to capture him.

It was a very difficult task: they knew that Yalland had some IT skills but they didn't know exactly how clever he was. McGee had examined his prison laptop and thought he was quite sophisticated so tried to work out how to create a hole in the parallel NCIS site which Yalland would be able to get through without it being too easy for him. McGee and Abby had fierce arguments about how best to lay Gibbs' breadcrumbs but finally came up with a solution they both agreed on.

Once he had started work on the alternative site, McGee soon suspected that someone had been trying to hack in for days. It might not be Yalland, of course, as NCIS was often the target of hackers but there was a pattern to the activity and McGee began to be more hopeful that he would be able to entice the fugitive in.

The Director had been dubious about Gibbs' plan at first. He was not enamoured of the idea of giving access to even a make believe NCIS but he had confidence in McGee and Abby and, in truth, could not see another way forward. Unable to help with the trap, Gibbs had been limited to supplying endless CafPows and nutter butters in between the 'old fashioned police methods' of poring over traffic cameras in the hope of spotting a beige sedan leaving Washington or, better still, returning. He also checked the BOLOs and for activity on Tony's bank accounts but both were stubbornly silent.

Gibbs felt a bit better for believing they had a plan but he knew it was a long shot. He tried to comfort himself with the knowledge that if they couldn't find Tony, Yalland wouldn't be able to either but he couldn't quite rid himself of the knowledge that Yalland might have a head start. He kept on thinking of the catalog of facts Yalland had gathered about Tony's routines and tastes, of the meticulous and coldblooded planning that had gone into the attack on the museum and he couldn't help but fear for Tony. He wished he had not let Tony turn him out of his apartment on that last night and part of him hoped desperately that his last memory of Tony would not be of the angry disappointment in his eyes as he ducked away from his touch. He took another gulp of his bitter, cold coffee and felt it churn in his stomach.

NCISNCIS

The day came when it was hoped to spring the trap. Gibbs had resolutely sent everyone home at 5pm the night before with strict orders to eat properly and go to bed early. He wanted everyone at their best and sharpest for the next day.

Ducky had insisted on taking him out for dinner and plying him with simple food which would sit easily in his suffering stomach. Ducky was beginning to fear that Gibbs was heading for a stomach ulcer but hadn't yet quite summoned the courage to ban coffee. As they finished their meal, Ducky ordered Gibbs a brandy,

"Now, Jethro, I know it's not your usual drink of choice, but drink this at your doctor's request. It will help you sleep and our boy needs you in top form tomorrow."

Gibbs smiled and took an obedient sip.

"You know what frightens me, Duck?"

"I would have thought very little, my friend."

"What happens if our plan works tomorrow and we catch Yalland?"

"Then that will be a very good thing. What is your concern?"

"That we still don't know where Tony is. What if he's not coming back?"

"Surely your gut would have told you if he were dead?"

"The way my gut is churning at the moment, I can't tell. But, no, most of the time I don't think he's dead, but what if he wants to stay hidden? What if he doesn't want to come back?"

"He'll come back, Jethro. He'll come back. That young man thinks the world of you. He's angry at the moment, but he'll come back, just you see."

"I'm not so sure, Ducky. I'm not so sure."

Ducky wasn't often lost for words but he didn't know what more to say that could reassure Gibbs so he settled for patting him on the arm and driving him home with strict instructions to do as he had ordered his team.

"Go to bed, Jethro ... and eat a proper breakfast tomorrow."

Mid morning the next day, the team were assembled in the squad room going over final plans. The FBI and other NCIS agents were already staking out the 'safe house'. Gibbs and McGee would drive there around noon and collect 'Tony' to move to another house, the location of which had not been leaked.

"I'm pretty sure someone's hacked into the schedule, Boss," said McGee.

"Yalland?" asked Gibbs.

"Don't know," admitted McGee.

"But we think it's the same person who's been snooping round for a while," said Abby earnestly, "and the timing fits with when Yalland escaped from prison."

"And yesterday," added McGee, "we finally traced some attempted hacking activity back to the IP address of the laptop that Yalland had in prison, so we're sure he's been trying something."

"Good," said Gibbs, thinking this sounded positive, "Good work, both of you. You've done well."

"Right," he continued, "Abby, you watch the dummy site. See if you can spot any more activity. Let us know if anything happens."

"I will," said Abby seriously, "Gibbs, we gotta catch Yalland. Tony's not going to be safe until we do."

"We will," said Gibbs calmly.

"And you take care, both of you," she said tremulously, "it's bad enough Tony isn't here. I can't lose you as well," and she ran forward and pulled both Tim and Gibbs into an Abby hug.

"We'll be careful," promised Tim as he extracted himself. He patted his pockets to make sure he had everything and then turned back to his desk for a final check.

"Coming, McGee?" said Gibbs impatiently as he strode towards the elevator.

"Coming, Boss." McGee was about to step away from his computer when there was a series of loud beeps. "What?!", he exclaimed, and then shouted, "Boss, wait up!"

"What is it, McGee?" demanded Gibbs coming back.

"There's just been some activity on Tony's bank account. He paid for some gas on his card in Belbrough in North Carolina."

There was another beep from McGee's computer, he tapped on some keys,

"And the BOLOs have come up with something. Three sightings on the road into Belbrough and one on the way out. Boss, he's on the move."

"Do we know where he is now?" asked Gibbs, "North Carolina's a big place."

The computer beeped again. "What is it this time?" asked Gibbs.

McGee looked, "I set the system to do searches in case Tony's name appeared on the internet anywhere. It was a bit of a long shot but ..."

"But?" said Gibbs impatiently.

"But it just found something, Look," and he brought up a photo of Tony with Joe on his shoulders. The caption beneath read, 'Tony DiNozzo, former basket ball captain, passing on his skills to a new generation. Posted by Kit Lacey of Raleigh, North Carolina, picture taken by his wife while visiting his mother's house in Milsom Bay, North Carolina'.

"Boss, that's the OSU Alumni site."

"Yay," squealed Abby happily, "we've found him!"

"Boss," said McGee anxiously, "if we ..."

"I know," said Gibbs grimly, "if we found him then Yalland can too. I'm guessing he could have set up the same search you did?"

"Easily," admitted McGee, "even you could do it, Boss. No need for anything sophisticated."

"Damn," said Gibbs.

"What do we do, Boss?" asked Tim.

"Go and find him," said Abby.

"It's not that simple, Abs," said Gibbs, "what if Yalland is at the safe house and not going after Tony in Milsom Bay? It's in completely the opposite direction!"

"Oh, I forgot about that," said Abby.

Gibbs thought quickly, "OK. We stick to the plan. McGee, you go to the safe house, tell Fornell. Yalland might have taken the bait and make his move there."

"And what are you going to do, Boss?" asked Tim.

"I'll go to Milsom Bay, find Tony first and warn him. You come as soon as you know what's happening at the safe house. Abby, you keep an eye on Tim's computer and let me know if there are any other sightings of Tony."

"Yes, yes, yes," said Abby. She sat down at McGee's desk as the others left, "Oh, Tony," she thought, "why couldn't you have waited another day before popping up?" She smiled at the photo and stroked his face with her finger.

NCISNCIS

John had met up with friends in Belbrough so Tony came back to John's place alone. He went into the hut and froze when he saw someone waiting for him.