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''A Ghost from The Past''

Chapter 10

Westbrooke Place Apartments .
After a sleepless night full of fears and cries, Melanie and Michael were so tired they fell asleep on a sofa. So Alice and Anthony Sr. took them into one of the bedrooms and then they went back to the luxury living room.

"Why don't you sleep a little too?" asked Anthony Sr.
"No, thanks. I couldn't sleep," sighed his daughter-in-law.
"At least, lay down on the sofa," he smiled.
"Why are you so nice?" she asked, curling up on the sofa.
"Tony told me that you're pregnant and he asked me to take care of you," he smiled.
"Yeah," she sighed.
"Alice... uhm... May I ask you a question?" he asked, sitting near her. She nodded, "How is your financial situation?"
"What?" she asked, widening her green eyes.
"I mean, are you having financial difficulties?"
"I don't understand what you're getting at," she said, surprised.
"I'm asking you, how much does your family have left of Anthony's mother inheritance and his trust fund?"
"I still do not understand why are you asking me this, but... We've used just a very little part of Anthony's inheritance for our house and nothing else."
"So you still have all your estate?" he said, thoughtfully.
"Yes. We live very well just with our earnings, but you...'' Alice studied the older man face and then added, ''You don't seem so happy for us."
"No, I'm happy for you and I admire you too, it's that... Alice... I know what my son has done for me, when I was broke. I know that he payed my hotel bill and he bought the airplane ticket to Monte Carlo."
"Oh..." she sighed.
"I found out everything when I arrived there and I talked to Prince Omar. You know that now I'm richer than I've ever been in all my life and I'd like to re-pay Anthony. I'd like to thank him and I thought if you needed some money I could..."
"Do you really want to do something for Tony?" she interruped him.
"Yes," he answered sincerely.
"Start behaving as a father. Give him your love, finally. This is all your son wants from you. Do not give him things. Give him your love and your respect," said Sandy softly, but firmly.
"And will it be enough?" he asked, surprised and worried.
"This is the most important thing for him."
"But... I don't know how to do it," he sighed, sadly.
"It's easy: follow your heart. Think with your heart. Have you seen Tony with Michael?"
"Yes, he's a perfect dad," he smiled, softly.
"Yes, he is," she softly smiled. "Because he's just following his heart."
"I'll try," sighed Anthony Sr., smiling softly.

Someone knocked at the door and Agent Martini opened. He talked to Agent Harper, who was outside the door, then he called Alice.
"Yes?" she said as she stood up and went to him.
"Your husband sent a woman to stay with all of you."
"Good, let her in," Alice said, looking at a charming red hair woman. "I'm Alice, and you are..."
"Stephanie," she smiled, shaking Alice's hand and following her into the apartment. "I'm sorry to trouble you..."
"Trouble? Oh, no... not at all."
"Actually, it is Jethro who has sent me here."
"Jethro?" asked Alice, with a sly smile.
"I mean... Agent Gibbs," the other woman said, a little uncomfortable.
"Yeah, I know," said Alice, waiting for an explanation.
"I'm his ex-wife... One of his ex-wives, actually," smiled.
"Oh..." Alice grinned.
"I'm ex number 3," Stephanie explained.
"The last one, right?"
"Yes. I came in DC to give Jethro a pair of Kelly's earrings that I found into a drawer some months ago and..."
"And when you saw him injured into a hospital bed, you decided to stay to help him," Alice concluded for her.
"Exactly," sighed her, smiling.
"Well... welcome into this very unusual family," smiled Alice.
"Oh, no. I'm not with Jethro... I mean, we are not together again," she explained.
"Are you sure?" Alice winked.

NCIS Squadroom .
"Boss... uhm, I mean Tony," said McGee uncomfortable. "Wait, who's the Boss now?" he asked.
"Him!" answered Tony and Gibbs, pointing to one another.
"You're in charge, DiNozzo," sighed Gibbs.
"Ok," smiled Tony, but he shot Gibbs another look and asked, "Are you ok, Gibbs?"
"Yes, I... " sighed Gibbs, grabbing Tony's shoulder to maintain his balance. He was so pale.
"No, you're not at all," said Tony, helping him to sit down in his chair. "Ziva, can you go get some water?... Gibbs, you've got to go home."
"No," he whispered.
"Here, take it," said Ziva, softly, giving him a glass of water. "Tony's right. I'll take you home," she said, concerned.
"No... just give me a moment.''
"Gibbs," she sighed, rolling her eyes.
"I'm fine, Ziva... Well, I'll be fine in few minutes," he grinned.
"Tony, tell him!" said McGee, standing up and going to them.

Gibbs and Tony exchanged a significant look and finally Tony caved. "Ok. You can stay here, but if you don't feel well again, you have to tell us and we'll take you home immediately. Deal?" said Tony with a stern look. He was really concerned for his Boss, but he knew him so well, and he knew that even if he sent Gibbs home, he would come back to NCIS.
"Deal," grinned Gibbs. "Let's start working again, now."
"What do you got, Tim?" asked Tony.
"I have all of last months' transactions on Ari's credit card. Up until we arrested his 'friend," he said, putting the data on the plasma.
"That is to say, about 1 month ago, right?" said Ziva.
"Actually, 1 months and 10 days ago," smiled Tim.
"What have you found out, McGee?" asked Tony.
"Checking his payments, he's lived in Baltimore's Port area for at least 7-10 days. Then he rented a car and he moved to Virginia,"
"Where in Virginia?" asked Tony.
"He rented a house at 3427 Mainsfield Rd., Lake Barcroft. It's about 10 minutes from Annandale and 20 minutes from DC. Then he moved to DC and he stayed with his 'friends' at their house, where..."
"We found the card," finished Ziva, looking Gibbs, still concerned. He smiled at her.
"Exactly," said Tim.

The phone on Tony's desk rang. "DiNozzo," he answered. "Yes... Tell me... Yeah?... Good... What?... And?... How much time before we have a sure result?... Do you need some help?... Ok, good job Pat, thanks," and he hung up.
"So?" asked Gibbs.
"Pat has comfirmation that the hairs on the wigs are Ari's and he is analysing the other evidence. He found traces of a white powder in a little box."
"White powder?" asked Ziva.
"Yes and he found the same traces in a little box taken from terrorists' house," said Tony, seriously.
"What is that?" asked Tim.
"He is still trying to find out," said Tony, worried.
"Cocaine?" asked Ziva, surprised.
"No, he'd have already identified it," asked Tony, thoughtfully.
"Right. I think that that powder is something worst than just drug," asked Gibbs, looking at Tony, seriously.
"Yep," said Tony. Both of them were thinking about the first time they'd met Ari.

"Gibbs! What are you doing here?" asked Vance, coming downstairs.
"I'm working, Director," winked the agent.
"You should be at home," said Vance, when he arrived at Gibbs' desk, "DiNozzo, didn't you tell him?"
"I did, Director, but you know him," smiled Tony.
"Yes, unfortunately I know him very well," he sighed, hiding a smile. "Ok, update me on your case."

Tony and McGee told him everything they had found. Tony also told him that he'd asked Ducky to conduct a second autopsy on terrorist's body.
"Maybe we could find something more," he supposed.

Gibbs asked Vance about his own investigation on terror attack. Vance said that Yussef (FBI's inside man) told him that the terrorists wanted to attack an important target on American soil.
"How important?" asked Gibbs.
"His exact words were: 'They want to attack the heart of USA'" answered Vance, reading his notes. "I've talked to FBI and CIA's directors..."
"And?" asked Tony.
"FBI thinks that the target could be the President, so they've contacted the Secret Service to increase the surveillance on him and on his family. CIA has sent an agent to Yemen to find any good leads," smiled Vance.
"Why are you smiling, Leon?" asked Gibbs.
"The CIA's agent is Trent Kort," grinned at him, looking at Tony, who rolled his eyes.
"Kort? Again? He's our... How do you say it?... Our... bete noir," said Ziva.
"Nightmare?" answered Tony.
"Yes! That's the word!" she exclaimed.
"Do you think that Ari and the terrorists could have had something in common, Director?" asked McGee.
"I think that Ari knew why terrorists are here and what is their target, but FBI and CIA didn't agree with me."
"So?" asked Gibbs. "Will you let them have the investigation on terror attack?"
"Never!" replied Vance. "Have we ever let them an investigation?" grinned Vance.
"No!" they all answered simultaneously.
"Let's start working, gentlemen... and lady," smiled Vance, going upstairs. He was so excited about being a field agent again.

After some hours Ducky called Tony and asked him to go downstairs to the Autopsy.
"Hi, Ducky! What do you got?" asked Tony, going into the Autopsy, with Gibbs.
"Jethro! What are you..." started Ducky.
"Doing here?" finished Gibbs, grinning, "I'm working, Duck."
"And did you approve this?" the Doc asked Tony, seriously.
"No, but you know him, even better than me," he grinned.
"Yes,'' the ME nodded. ''I talked to Abby's doctor. He told me that she's recovering very well and he'd like to discharge her today, if she had a place where she could go."
"Really?" asked Tony. "She could be discharged today? That's very good news!"
"Yes, but she's alone and her house is in pieces, so..." said Ducky.
"We'll take her to my father's apartment. The others are already there and Alice will certainly take care of her. I'll call them later. Now, do you have something for us?"
"Yes," he answered, looking at Gibbs. They were really impressed and proud of Tony.
"Mr. Palmer, give me the Autopsy report, please."
"Here Doctor," answered Jimmy, giving him some papers.
"Thank you. Our guest was in good physical condition and for this reason we had some difficulties finding out something important for you."
"But?" asked Tony, impatiently. Gibbs grinned.
"But, Anthony... a few hours ago, while we were sewing him up, Mr. Palmer noticed something strange on his skin. Mr. Palmer, show us, please."
"Yes... uhm... if you look here, between the neck and the shoulder, you'll see that the skin is dry," explained Jimmy.
"Death's effects?" asked Tony.
"No, it can't be, because he was into our fridge," he smiled.
"So?" asked Gibbs.
"We did a hydration test and we found out that our patient suffered for a severe dehydration, caused by severe dysentery," said Ducky.
"Disgusting!" said Tony.
"I've sent our temporary forensic analyst some samples," smiled the doc.
"Nothing else?" asked Gibbs.
"Unfortunately not," answered Ducky.
"Thanks, Ducky," said Tony, going to the door with Gibbs. In the doorway Tony stopped and turning he said, "Good job, Jimmy."
Palmer smiled, proudly.

Gibbs called Abby's doctor to talk about her discharge and Tony called Alice to tell her that they would have another guest. Luckily, Tony's father's apartment had 4 large bedrooms, all with double beds, and 3 sofa-double-beds too.

It was about midnight and the whole team was really tired. They were waiting for some results from Pat.
"Gibbs, why don't you go home for at least a few hours?" asked Ziva.
"I'm fine Ziva," he answered.
"At least, go downstairs and get some rest, Boss," said McGee.

Gibbs just stared him and changed the subject, "Tony, are you sure that they will be comfortable at your father's place?"
"Yes. It's a really big apartment," said Tony, yawming and stretching.
"Uh-huh..." replied Gibbs, looking him.
"What?" asked Tony.
"I have a question for you, but... maybe this's not the right time," started Gibbs.
"Why?" asked Tony, surprised. Tim and Ziva were surprised as well.
"The last time I heard something about your father, he was broke," smiled Gibbs.
"That's right! I remember now!" exclaimed Tim.
"Right," said Gibbs. His Senior Field Agent grinned, guessing what he was going to say. Gibbs continued. "How can he afford a big and luxury penthouse, at Westbrooke Place?"
"Yeah. I thought the same thing, but with all this mess, I forgot to talk to you about it!" said McGee.
"What happened, Tony?" asked Ziva, curious.
"It's simple, actually," sighed Tony. "Do you remember that I payed his hotel bill and I bought him an airplane ticket to Monte Carlo, because he had to meet his friend, Prince Omar?" asked Tony.
"Yes? " said Gibbs.
"Well, he made the most of his last chance," grinned Tony. "He asked Prince Omar for a loan and... uhm... He used it at the black jack table, at one of Monte Carlo's casinos," explained Tony.
"No! I can't believe it!" exclaimed Ziva.
"Did he win?" asked Tim, smiling.
"Win? Oh, yeah!" smiled Tony.
"Cheating?" she asked.
"Probably," sighed Tony.
"How much?" asked Gibbs.
"Don't know, but it was enough to make a big investmentin Prince's Trust, as well as ultra luxury hotels and resorts, in the most expensive places around the world. Now he's richer than he's ever been in his life!" sighed Tony.
"Does he know what you've done for him?" asked Gibbs.
"I don't know," sighed Tony.
"I guess he found out everything when he met the Prince," said Ziva. Tony judt shrugged.
"Maybe he'll write up a new will and you'll be his only heir," said McGee.
"Well, it would be his typical way to say 'thank you'... giving money," said Tony, sadly.
"Or maybe... he learned a new way to do that..." said Gibbs.
"Ya' think, Boss? Such as?" asked Tony.
"Protecting your family," smiled Gibbs.
"Yeah," Tony whispered as a soft smile appeared on his face. "Maybe..."

McGee's computer dinged and he said, "I got something!"
Tony stood up and went to him, "What's that?"
"You remember that we have put all our places under surveillance?"
"Yeah? So?" asked Tony.
"Someone is trying to get into your apartment, Ziva," said Tim, looking at her.
"Let's go!" said Tony, grabbing his gear, then looking Gibbs he said, "Stay here, Boss."
"I don't think so," he grinned.
"Gibbs, this could get ugly and I can't worry about you too. You're compromised."
"You don't have to worry about me," he protested.
"Gibbs... please," sighed Tony.

They stared each other and Gibbs sighed, "Ok... you're right." He was really angry, but he knew what was best for the team.

Tony, Ziva, and McGee went out.

TBC

I hope you liked this chapter :)