"That reminds me of a time when I was a young lad-"
"Duck, so nice of you to bring her back." Gibbs butted in.
"Perhaps, another time?" Alex nodded.
"You feel better?" Tony asked.
"A little," Alex shrugged. "You deserved that kick in the face, by the way."
Gibbs looked at Tony. "She kicked you in the face?"
"Ty did, not me." Alex clarified. "I am going to get a Gatorade."
"Ziver, go with her."
"I do not need a babystander."
"Sitter." Gibbs corrected.
"Fine." Alex and Ziva walked out, heading to the break area.
Gibbs looked at Tony and McGee. "Did Ty really kick you in the face?"
Tony nodded. "She was doing the cup thingy with my Batman coffee mug. I tried to take it back."
"Ty did a roundhouse kick. Never missed a beat," McGee added.
Gibbs smiled wryly. "That's my girl."
"She seems to have a thing for harming Tony, does she not? Very stubborn, too," Ducky shook his head.
"DiNozzo, isn't a genius, and doesn't listen to warnings. He gets what he deserves."
Alex and Ziva walked back into the bullpen. "I remember that! Then Aya and Tali ran around the orchard, because they lost the bet." Alex laughed.
"I know, right. I cannot believe, you a six year old, beat Tali, an eleven year old, at climbing the tallest olive tree."
"Well, you did boost me up there. I could not reach on my own." I cannot believe that they are both gone.
"Traveling down memory lane, ladies?" Tony smirked.
As Alex and Ziva walked by him they both hit him in the shoulder. "None of your business!"
Alex looked around. "Where's Ty?"
Gibbs tilted his head. "Elevator or roof. Take your pick."
"Hmm, take the elevator to the roof, and find her there." Alex nodded. "And no babysitter this time."
Alex walked to the roof door, seeing that it had been picked some time ago, she opened the door, cautiously as always. Looking first left then right she spotted Ty on the south side of the roof, looking at the Washington monument. "Hey,"
Ty didn't look up. "Hey."
"What are you thinking about?" Alex sat down a few feet to the right of Ty, not looking in her direction, yet.
"A lot of things." Ty closed her eyes. "You?"
"I noticed you were missing and went to find you." Alex avoided, the real question.
Ty snorted. "Guess I'd better find a new hiding place, then, huh?"
"That or do not have a reason to hide." Alex shifted, getting more comfortable.
"You know I think best when I'm on my own or with Aláinn," Ty replied.
"Yes, so I can go if you want. Or stay, it does not matter." Alex shrugged.
"Stay. Sorry I screwed up...you know, earlier."
"Earlier today, or days ago?" Alex leaned back on her hands.
"In the conference room. Today."
"You did nothing wrong. You chose to believe my lie, because you knew, no matter what, I would not have told you about what happened. It is just the type of person I am." Alex explained.
"Still." Ty shook her head. "I've been screwing up a lot the past couple days."
"How so?"
"I lost it when I saw Tony pull out his gun, I almost didn't snap out of it. I never said anything when you got your migraine, I almost lost it when I told Zack...something's wrong with me."
Alex sighed. "There is something is wrong with all of us. Some are better at hiding it than others. Me? I get migraines, flashbacks, and..." Alex looked away an embarrassed look upon her face. "Nightmares, but I do my all to try to not let them bother me."
"You never show it in ways that other people can see, though." Ty shook her head. "One more thing happens today, I'm going to be totally thrown."
"People see it, they just do not realize it. You noticed I was angry but did not know the cause."
Ty shrugged. "Yeah. Wonder what happens next," she said, meaning the case.
"They get a lead, that may or may not go somewhere."
"Guess so. How long you think they'll have us stick around?"
"Until they know we will be 'safe' without them."
"Technically, we're safe now," Ty pointed out wryly.
"I meant safe." Alex stressed the word.
"Oh. So until they solve the case, because they really need us to help and don't want to admit it?" Ty laughed.
"Along those lines." Alex shrugged.
Ty tilted her head. "Do you think they'll let me go see Sam and Hawk? Probably not..."
"Hawk is your horse's brother, yes?" Alex asked.
Ty nodded. "Mmhmm. The one I learned to ride on."
"I just want a piano, my fingers need the workout." Alex mimicked playing a piano.
"Sam's sister Lilia has a Baby Grand," Ty reminded her.
"How long to get there?"
"Uh, eighteen minutes? Give or take two for the traffic," Ty added.
"I can run a five minute mile without pushing, about a four with pushing..." Alex went silent doing the math.
"I can do the same...about twenty-seven minutes?" Ty figured.
"Twenty-six and thirty five, no, six seconds, but yes close enough."
"If we go, we should go now. Fire escape?" Ty gestured.
"You two are going nowhere." Gibbs stated from behind them.
"Grande, juste au moment où j'allais obtenir un piano." Great, just when I was going to get a piano. Alex sighed in French.
"Venir sur le dos de l'enclos des releveurs." Come on back to the bullpen, Gibbs commanded in French.
"Fine." Alex sighed, standing up and walking towards the door leaving Gibbs and Ty alone.
Neither Gibbs nor Tyler said anything for a moment. "Were you really going to run to that guy's house?" Gibbs asked.
Ty looked at him. "Yes."
"It's a good thing I found you, then."
"You didn't find me; you knew where I've been all along," Ty argued. "At least I found a new hiding place." Damn, I wish I could've seen Hawk again. And Sam. I haven't seen her in forever. "Alright, let's go back to the bullpen before Tony gets hurt again."
Gibbs snorted. "About that; please try and not permanently damage him? Alright?"
Ty tilted her head. "I'll think about it. If you keep my cousin Sam in mind."
Gibbs shook his head and started toward the stairs. "Deal," he called over his shoulder.
After Alex had left Ty and Gibbs on the roof, she walked back to the bullpen to retrieve her laptop. Grabbing her headphones, she sat down behind Ziva's desk and opened up her email. A new one from Jesse, wonder what he has to say. Jesse was Alex's best friend from home, they both attended NCA. He also liked music; they took lessons together.
A,
How are you? Cannot wait until you get back from D.C. I found a picture I want you to see. Cannot wait to see you again. :) Layla Tov!
-J
The picture was of six year old Alex and Jesse, with their arms around each other's shoulders, at the beach. In the background she could make out, Aya, Ari, Aleph, Ziva and Tali in the water, in the midst of what seemed to be a splashing war. I wonder if Ziva remembers him?
Ty walked back in the bullpen, closely followed by Gibbs. "Hey Al-" Ty began, then shut up as she saw Alex staring off into space on her laptop. Okay, we'll ask about Sam's place later. Ty tiptoed around her and snuck up behind Tony, who was intently typing on his computer and totally oblivious. Grabbing an ice cube from the water sitting on the desk, Ty hooked one finger on the back of Tony's collar and whispered, "Bombs away!"
"YEEAGGHHH!"
Alex's head snapped up at the sudden noise. "What the?!"
"I was going do that," Ziva frowned. "Well, later."
"What was that for?" Tony demanded, clawing at his back.
Ty grinned. "For trying to take away the cup."
Tony arched his back as the ice slid farther down his shirt. "You kicked me in the face for that!"
"That was for trying to mess up my rhythm. Besides, I was bored," Ty shrugged.
"Ziva, do you remember Jesse?" Alex asked, showing Ziva the beach picture.
"Oh, yes. Only child right?"
"Yeah, he just sent me this. Look who is in the background." Alex passed her laptop.
"The splash war was boys on girls. They thought they had a chance." Ziva smiled.
"Care to share who this, Jesse is?" Tony asked making his way over to the pair.
"No one you know," Ty replied, 'Gibbs-slapping' him.
"Ty, come on. I just want to see," Tony protested.
"It is not your business, so let us keep it that way." Alex shut the program down.
"So Gibbs, can we talk about my cousin's place?" Ty asked hopefully.
Gibbs looked at her. "You just put an ice cube down my agent' shirt."
"It's relevant to the investigation," Ty offered.
Gibbs quirked an eyebrow. "How so?"
Ty reached for her laptop. "Because Sam's twin sister, Lilia, was going out with Jack. See?" She opened a picture with Jack, Sam, Lilia, Zack, and Ty.
Tony stared at the picture. "Which one's Sam?"
Ty raised an eyebrow. "The blond. She's like, twenty-five or something."
Tony turned to Gibbs. "I think we should go, boss."
"I am in." Alex said from her spot on the floor.
"I do not see the harm." Ziva shrugged.
Gibbs rolled his eyes. "Go fire up the Chargers." He tossed one set of keys to Ziva keeping one for himself. "Grab your stuff." He directed that at Alex and Ty.
"On it." Alex put all her stuff back in her bag. "Done."
Ty shoved her laptop in her backpack. "Let's roll."
Gibbs stopped Tony as he started for the elevator. "DiNozzo, you got a girlfriend right now?"
Tony avoided Gibbs's gaze. "No..."
Gibbs nodded and walked away. "I thought so."