Chapter Seven

Much to his chagrin Tony had a partially torn PCL, which called for arthroscopic surgery and a knee brace for two weeks. The only good thing about it was the surgery was in and out and he had it that day with Ziva helping him home. He called Wendy and begged off dinner then sat on the sofa watching movies and sulking. Later that day TK showed up with his car. Naylon drove him to Baltimore and he broke into it and drove it home for Tony.

"Hey, boss," he said as he saw Tony in sweat pants with his right knee in a brace.

Ziva was in the kitchen cooking up something for dinner since Gibbs, Abby, McGee, Ducky, and Palmer were coming over for dinner.

"Thanks, TK. Did you destroy anything?" he asked.

"Not a scratch. Delta Force taught me a diversity of skills," he said.

"I filled in Naylon what I found out. I want this Captain James Manning researched inside and out," Tony said. "I'll be into work tomorrow."

"Desk duty?" said TK.

"No, Supervisor, leader, so I'll just lead from the back for two weeks instead of the front," he said.

"I'll let everyone know you be in tomorrow," he said then he looked over at Ziva who he could see through the kitchen nook. "Have a good dinner."

TK smirked then he walked over and opened the door to see Abby standing there ready to buzz. A smile lit up his face.

"You have great timing," she said.

"I'd say so," he said.

"You just going to stand there?" asked Abby.

"Sorry," he smiled.

He stood aside allowing Abby to enter. Tony watched as his agent looked appreciatively at Abby's backside. A grin broke out on Tony's face when Gibbs appeared in the door and stood there glaring at TK, who turned to see him and almost jumped out of his skin.

"Tony," Abby cried then ran over and sat beside and gave him a hug.

"Excuse, sir," TK said to Gibbs.

"Don't call me sir, I work for a living," barked Gibbs.

TK smiled: "Marine?"

"And you?"

"Ranger then Delta," he said.

"The Unit, huh?" said Gibbs. "You belong to DiNozzo."

"He's my boss now," smiled TK.

Gibbs leaned in and said in a soft voice that had steel in it: "Protect his six."

"With pleasure," replied TK, who then left.

Gibbs shut the door and walked over to DiNozzo: "I like your agent."

"TK, I trust him," he said.

"Good," said Gibbs

Everyone else arrived soon thereafter. Sitting down at Tony's dining room table, Ziva served them kafta, a sort of Middle Eastern meatball, with pilaf rice and grilled vegetables.

"Jeez, this is delicious, Ziva" Tony said.

"Thank you, Tony," Ziva smiled.

There was a knock on the door. Being a gentleman Ducky got up and answered the door. It was Wendy.

"Won't you come in, my dear? We have an impromptu dinner party for Tony since he is inured," he said.

"Thank you," she smiled.

Wendy and Ducky walked over to the dining room table. Gibbs watched the look on Ziva's face, a mask of indifference, and he could see it took effort for her to put the mask on. Next, he looked at Tony, who looked like a man in search of a hole to hide in.

"When you told me you were injured had to break our date I had to see you," Wendy said.

"PCL tear and some bruises. In two weeks I'll be walking without a brace on my knee," he assured her.

"Please sit down. I made plenty of food. I'll get you a dish," Ziva said pleasantly.

She got up and went into the kitchen. Jimmy retrieved an extra chair. She sat between Ducky and Jimmy.

"Good thing I got my mother's dining room table. It can easily seat twelve," remarked Tony feeling more and more uncomfortable.

"Here," Gibbs whispered and passed him his bourbon. "You're going to need this more than me."

"Thanks, boss," Tony said then took a sip of the bourbon. "I wonder how bourbon goes with painkillers."

"I think you should find out," Gibbs smirked.

Ziva returned with a plate of food for Wendy then she sat down seeming clam and placid.

"Mark misses you, Tony," Wendy said.

"Who is Mark?" asked Abby.

"My son," she smiled.

"How old is he?" asked Abby.

"Seven and Tony is great with him. They were playing video games together the last time he visited," said Wendy.

Ziva looked over at Tony, who took a long swig of Gibbs' bourbon.

"I'll freshen your glass," Gibbs whispered to Tony.

"Thanks, boss," said Tony, as Gibbs got up, retrieved the bottle of bourbon, and freshened the glass.

"Tony, I've been meaning to ask you, where's your piano?" asked Wendy.

"In storage. This place is too small for it," he answered.

Wendy looked over at Ziva: "Has he ever played the piano for you?"

"No," she answered with a fake smile.

"I'd love to play for you, Zi, if you ever want to hear me play," said Tony.

"Jimmy has tuned my piano recently. You should come and play on that one for me," Ziva said.

"I would love to," said Tony.

"I was Tony's piano teacher for a while. He didn't really need lessons from me. I always guessed the real reason he took lessons from me in Baltimore was so we would start dating, since I first taught him when he was a senior at the Military Academy and a freshman at Roger Williams," Wendy said.

Gibbs noticed that Tony started to get uncomfortable.

"Didn't you tell me you seduced your piano teacher in high school?" asked McGee.

"Shut up, McChatter Box," said Tony.

"I got in trouble for that," smiled Wendy.

Ziva looked over at a squirming Tony and she noticed his discomfort, which made her smile. He is uncomfortable because he has feelings for me. I can accept that.

"Um, is there enough for seconds?" he asked.

"Yes, Tony, I will give you more if that's what you want," Ziva said.

"You mean get him more," said Wendy.

"No, I said what I meant," Ziva smiled then stood up and took Tony's plate to get him more.

"Good luck, DiNozzo. I hope you have your service weapon with you for later," Gibbs whispered to him.

NCIS

It was a long uncomfortable evening for Tony, which ended with him gratefully taking two painkillers with some bourbon in order to pass out. His guests left knowing he was passed out and impossible to wake. He woke in the morning on his couch fully dressed and feeling like shit. Taking off his clothes and brace, he took a nice long hot shower then dressed put the brace back along with a pair of black jeans, a Calvin Klein half zip Merino wool sweater with a black tee underneath, and Romano leather jacket. He added his badge and gun and he was ready to limp off to work.

When he limped into the squad room his team stared at him but didn't say anything, except for TK.

"How was dinner, boss?" he asked.

"Fine."

"Abby enjoy it?" asked TK.

"The marine you met is Gibbs. If I give you Abby's number and she agrees to a date and you hurt her, he'll hunt you down and kill you," said Tony. "He was a marine sniper."

"I just might die happy," TK smiled.

"Where do we stand with Captain James Manning?" Tony asked.

"Nothing fishy about his finances," said Katdare.

"Let's put him under surveillance," said Tony. "Munro, you, Naylon and Markum set up a surveillance of him."

"What are we looking for?" Munro asked.

"Strange behavior. Nervous behavior. Anything that is hinky," he said.

"You think the message of Morse's death was to him to keep information buried," said Naylon.

"I love have a cop on the job," smiled Tony. "Does he have family?"

"Forty-two years old, twenty years married, two kids, boy fifteen and girl eleven," Katdare said.

"Markum, I think we need a profile of the man," said Tony.

"Gotcha, boss," she said.

"We are becoming a well oiled machine," he said then he stood up. "And now I have to go to the bathroom."

He limped out of the squad room leaving Munro staring at his back.

"Buffoon," said Munro.

"That buffoon is a better leader then you. We worked as individuals yesterday under you. Today we are working as a team," Naylon said quietly.

"Lay off, DiNozzo. I like him," said TK, who then offered Munro a deadly smile.

NCIS

It was Saturday morning. Tony reluctantly got out of bed and limped into the living room. There were six calls from Wendy on his smart phone. He had forgotten how persistent she could be. No wonder she's a good investigative reporter. She doesn't know when to give up. He chuckled to himself.

They had made some headway in the case in that Manning was nervous enough a man that Tony had them bring him in for questioning. It appeared Diaz had killed Morse, who turned out to be completely innocent in this, to show Manning he meant business. He threatened his wife and two kids if he didn't bury the intel he had, which was the name of the some people in Afghanistan who knew who was producing heroine for the Taliban.

Tony called Gibbs in. Gibbs had Stane, Andrews and Charles under surveillance. Manning's family was immediately put into protective custody and Manning agreed to testify against Stane, who was the man who threatened him. The next step was to bring in Stane, Andrews and Charles. Gibbs agreed to a joint op with his RRT just as long as Tony wasn't involved. In his opinion he shouldn't be near the field until his knee was sound.

Tony offered him the name of Lincoln Forest as a Baltimore contact for the op then put Munro in charge with TK as his number two. His last words were to TK was in anything went wrong call him. He wasn't about to stay on the sidelines if his team was in trouble.

He called Wendy, more out of guilt than wanting to drive out to Baltimore and spend the day. His mind was with his team, which would be working with Gibbs tonight.

"Hello," she answered.

"Hey," he said.

"Finally, return my call," she said in a voice that could freeze an open flame.

"It has been a hellacious week. How about I come for a late lunch to your place today?"

"I'll expect you at three," her voice warmed up.

"I'll be there," he said.

NCIS

He wore a grey oxford shirt, a grey Emporio Armani wool sweater jacket, black jeans and his Donegal tweed overcoat, as well as a pair of Italian loafers. With his team in the field he brought his Beretta and badge then he got in his car and drove to Wendy's.

"Welcome back stranger," she said to him when she opened the door.

"So, can I come in?" he asked.

"Of course. The food is ready and we are waiting for you," she said.

She had lasagna waiting for him and Mark was looking forward to playing some games with him. Tony spent the next five hours with Wendy and her son. It was relaxing, even enjoyable. Plus, around six he got a chance to have more lasagna. He had to admit that there were only a few things from making it a perfect night and one of them was Ziva. His smart phone rang.

"DiNozzo," he answered.

"Boss, we have a problem," it was TK.

"What happened?" he asked as his gut churned.

"There was a fuck up. Naylon was shot and… you better get here to the Port of Baltimore. We have a bit of standoff," he said.

"I'm about ten minutes away. I'll be right there," he said then he hung up.

"What's wrong?" Wendy asked.

"An op went bad," he said. "I have to go."

"Tony, you're injured. You shouldn't be going anywhere where there is danger," she said.

"My people are in trouble," he said.

Less then ten minutes later he was screeching to a halt near the police cars and yellow taped off area. He pulled his HSI badge out and clipped it by his belt buckle.

He saw a swat team had deplored by which meant hostage crisis. A cop tried to stop him but her glared.

"Homeland Security. Try and stop me and I'll declare this scene a matter of national security and take control of it," he growled.

TK heard his voice and came running around a cargo container. He was in a HSI jacket with a bullet vest on. Tony noticed there was blood on his hands.

"Sitrep," he demanded.

"Stane, his two boys some of Diaz men were here to collect a couple of suitcases full of heroine and pay for them. We were getting into position to make a move on Gibbs orders, when Munro jump the gun. He got Naylon shot and put Markum and Katdare in danger. Stane, Andrews and Charles had them until Agent David went into action. She killed Charles then knocked the shit out of Andrews, but Stane got her. All of Diaz's men are dead thanks to Gibbs, McGee and Forest and his men."

"Where's Stane and Andrews?" he asked.

"They are hold up behind a cargo container demanding shit, but we SWAT wanting control, Gibbs demanding control, and…," TK stopped as he saw the expression on his boss' face.

"I have two jobs or you. One, find Munro and tell him to get to the hospital and check on Naylon. He is not to leave his side until we know he is safe. If he doesn't listen to you then give him a reason to go to the hospital," barked Tony.

"Yes, sir," smiled TK. He liked this man more and more every day.

"Two, you familiar with the SWAT team's sniper rifle?" he asked.

"Yeah, it's a M24 Sniper Weapon System. They even have heat vision scope," he said.

"You commandeer one and once I get Ziva free from them you put a nice hole in Stane and you shoot through me if you have to," said Tony.

"What about Andrews?" he asked.

"Kneecap if you have to. We need one of them alive," he said. "Now point me in the right direction."

"Wait, boss," he said then he turned to two of the SWAT guys. "I need an ear piece for him."

One of them pulled an extra ear piece out and tossed it to Tony, who put it in his ear.

"I'll get the frequency, so you can hear me. I'll let you know when I'm ready to shoot," TK said.

"I'm counting you," he said then out the piece in his right ear and strode in the direction TK pointed him in.

He saw Gibbs and Forest along with McGee huddled and talking. Gibbs looked over at him. The moment he saw the expression on his face he knew it was another Somalia. Tony was focused on Ziva at all cost.

"DiNozzo," he called to him and waved him over.

Tony ignored him and walked trying to hide his limp into the opening and stopped.

"Who are you?" he heard Stane call to him.

"Special Agent in Charge Anthony DiNozzo, Homeland Security," he called back.

From the safety spot Forest looked at Gibbs with an expression asking what the fuck was going on.

"Can you explain what he's doing?" asked Forest.

"Agent David and Agent DiNozzo are very close," he growled.

"I like this having Homeland Security here to negotiate," yelled Stane.

"Not here for negotiating. I'm here for an exchange. A special agent in charge from Homeland Security for a special agent from NCIS. Consider me an upgrade in the hostage department," he called to him.

"Tony, don't you dare," he heard Ziva started to at him but she was cut off.

"You sure you are Homeland Security?" called Stane.

Tony took his badge and threw it towards the cargo container they were hiding behind.

"Tony, I'm climbing up on some containers and trying to get an angle on them," TK let him know.

Andrews came out from behind the container and grabbed the badge then went back to his hiding spot.

"Here's the deal. I send her out and she walks towards you and you walk towards us. If anything happens I don't like we shoot you both," Stane told him. "Now toss you're gun aside."

"Fine," Tony called then he tossed his gun aside.

Stane sent Ziva out. He noticed that she had a cut forehead and the behind of a lump. They probably pistol whipped her.

Tony started walking towards Ziva. He tried no to look at her but he couldn't help it. She was staring at him. Her eyes were filled with emotions he couldn't read, which worried him. As they passed Tony reached out and touched the back of her hand. She stopped as did he. Tony saw that she was shivering, so he took off his overcoat and draped it around his shoulder then he continued towards Stane and Andrews, while she continued to Gibbs.

Once he was within reach they grabbed him and pulled him behind the cargo container.

"Welcome to our party, Mr. Homeland Security," Stane said.

Ziva walked into Gibbs open arms. He wrapped his arms around her then kissed the top of her head.

"Why did he do that, Gibbs?" she said with a tear in her voice.

"To make sure that you're safe," he said.

Behind the cargo container, Stane grabbed Tony by the collar and forced him out from behind the container. He had his gun right behind his right ear and he yelled: "He dies unless we get a car and clear passage."

"I'm taking the shot. It's going through left shoulder clean and into his chest. Sorry, boss," TK said.

Tony nodded. A shot rang out. He felt a burning pain through his shoulder then he saw the ground approaching as he fell face first landing on the concrete.