Authors Note: I know it's been a while for this update. So sorry bout that. My sister and got the chapter written a little bit ago, it was just getting it typed up. Cause work got supper crazy and busy like all at once. Then I was busy on the weekend ends and stuff, then I had to get a new computer. Yeah on the computer part. But here it is, the next chapter to the story. Hope everyone likes it, and as always let me know what you think and don't forget to check out the companion peace Dark Foreigner.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, darn.

Chapter 10

DiNozzo's Apartment

"Man, I thought we were never going to get to leave," Tony said as he pulled his Classic 1970 Mustang into a spot at his apartment building.

"Well, if you hadn't been so intent on showing me those videos, we probably could have left sooner," Daniel replied as they climbed out of the car and headed for the door.

"Hey, those videos were funny. You can't deny that they weren't," Tony told his friend laughing as they got in the elevator. He hit the button on the wall that would take the pair to the correct floor.

"I'm not saying they weren't. It's just…," Daniel began, and then stopped with a shrug of the shoulders.

"It's just what," Tony asked unlocking his door so they could walk in.

"Is Gibbs psychic or something? I mean, he never even looked up and he knew we weren't working. It was rather…unsettling."

"That's Gibbs for you. Anyway, not sure about the psychic part, but what can I say, he knows me only too well. Although, we did get out of there early today," Tony replied picking up his phone, "What you want on your pizza?"

"Chicken and pineapple."

"Yeah, I need one with chicken and pineapple," Tony said talking into the phone, "and of course my usual. Okay, thanks Marty."

"So, NCIS," Daniel started the questions after Tony hung up.

"So consultant for the Air Force?"

"It's a job."

"So is mine."

"Yes, I imagine it is. But it is kind of ironic that you catch killers now, instead of…yah know."

"Not by choice," Tony answered just as the doorbell rang, "Hold that thought."

Tony went and answered the door to see the pizza delivery boy standing there.

Hey Luigi. How's school going," Tony asked the boy as he handed him the money and received his order.

"Schools good. Dad keeps me pretty busy too."

"Nothin' wrong with that. Keeps you out of trouble."

"See you next time Tony," Luigi answered leaving.

Tony took the boxes back in and set them on the counter. Then opened the refrigerator and grabbed a couple of beers, setting them next to the pizzas.

"You were saying," Tony asked with a mouthful of pizza.

"Actually, you were saying," Daniel told him as he grabbed a piece of pizza for himself.

"Not much more to it than not by choice."

'Yeah, I know. I really didn't like being sent off like that."

"Neither did I. So how's life with the ex-black ops guy as your kind of boss? Because we both know you and authority have never gotten along well," Tony asked taking a swig of beer followed by more pizza.

"Well, it took a while for Jack to get used to me, but we get along…for the most part."

"That's good. Too bad you can't tell me what you really do."

"Yeah, well," Daniel shrugged before saying, "Like I said, it's a job."

"At least you get to work with languages," Tony responded looking at his friend.

"Yes, I do. But you can't tell me you don't like your job, because I know you do."

"I do now at least. Not at first though," Tony answered seriously.

"Not at first? What didn't you like?"

"Let's see, besides being told to go into hiding, taking a job I didn't want when Iwas perfectly happy with the job I had. Oh, let's not forget being away from friends and family and not being able to contact anyone," Tony ranted, "And my absolute favorite thing of all, having to pretend to be someone I'm not. You know what the funny part is? When you pretend long enough, it starts to become real."

"I, uh, I don't know what to say," Daniel replied looking surprised at his friends outburst.

"Well, after seven years, I guess you just get used to it. It's not that bad anymore, I accepted the fact that this is who I am years ago," he said motioning around the apartment that represents who he is now.

"Yeah, it was rather hard at the beginning," Daniel commiserated as he thought back over the past seven years of his life.

"Well, the past is the past, and other than that what have you been up to," Tony asked as he started to clean up their dinner, "Well, that you can tell me."

"As unbelievable as it may sound, the past seven years haven't been all peaches and crème for me either. For one, I actually got married."

"What! You're just now telling me this. What's her name? What does she look like? Can I meet her?"

"Uh, yes I'm just now telling you, her name was Share, I have a picture, not with me though, and that would be a little difficult," Daniel answered all of Tony's questions in order.

"Why would it be difficult to meet her, wait you said was. Does that mean what I think it means," Tony questioned with a hint of sadness in his voice.

"Yeah, she died a few years ago," was his reply, a tinge of sadness in his voice as well.

"I'm sorry about that. We lost a team member a few years back. That hit us all pretty hard."

"Losing someone you care about can do that to you. Anyway, enough sad stuff. So, what else do you want to know?"

"I guess whatever you're allowed to tell me."

"Well, there's got to be something specific that you want to know," Daniel prodded.

"Okay. What exactly do you do for the Air Force?"

"Translations."

"Translations? That's it. No hour long explanation about it," Tony looked skeptically at him.

"Oh, I could give you the hour long explanation, but then I'd either have to kill you or be arrested for treason," Daniel rattled off in his normal rapid manner.

"Okay then, moving on I suppose. Anything you want to know about me?"

"Have you ever thought of telling your team?"

"You would pick the tough question first. Yes and no," Tony replied.

"Oooookay," Daniel drawled on giving Tony the get on with it gesture.

"I don't know. I think I'd like to tell them or at least tell Gibbs, but then I know I can't. What about you? Ever thought of telling your team?"

"I want to tell them because I can't stand lying to them, but…," Daniel started trailing off with a shrug.

"Yeah, I know what you mean," Tony commiserated, "This is depressing. What else can we talk about?"

"I have no idea, especially considering the only stuff I can tell you about is depressing."

"Surely not everything that's happened the past…," Tony began but was interrupted by some crazy sounding guy saying:

Daniel! Answer the phone. I know you're there

Stop ignoring me and answer the dang phone.

That's an order! Oh, wait, you don't follow those.

A woman's voice could be heard in the background, "Sir."

Then the man again, Right. Daniel answer the phone. NOW!

Then it started over.

Daniel pulled his phone out, looking at it strangely before flipping it open it to hear a bellowing voice came out. He started to put it up to his ear, but pulled it back again as the voice on the other end bellowed out once more.

Tony watched amused by Daniel's reactions as he finally responded back to the caller.

"Alright, I'm coming," Daniel ended the call with, and then looked at Tony, "Well, obviously it's passed my bedtime."

"Come on, I'll drop you off. I need to talk to Gibbs tonight anyway," Tony answered getting up to collect his keys.

"Well, you should probably drive fast. I figure I have about twenty minutes before Jack sends out a search party."

"Driving fast I can do, and he sounds as bad as Gibbs," Tony replied stepping on the gas.

After dropping Daniel off, Tony made his way over to his boss's home. Even though it was late, he knew Gibbs would still be up, or rather down in the basement working on his boat. Tony was so not looking forward to this conversation, but he knew it had to happen. It would be better for him and everyone else if Gibbs heard this from him first. Well, at least what part of it Tony could tell him. There were some things Tony knew he couldn't tell Gibbs. Although a part of him figures he's already breaking the rules by telling him anything, so why not tell him all of it. He knew why. It's because the training he had is still there and he knows some things are better left unsaid. Besides, if he did tell Gibbs, he would be risking more than just his life and as much as he trusted Gibbs, there were just some lines he couldn't cross.

Tony had so much on his mind; he didn't realize that he was already at his destination till he was walking to the front door. He didn't bother knocking; he just opened the door that he knew would be unlocked and walked in. His feet led him to the basement stairs and down to where he could see the back of Gibbs' head.

"DiNozzo," Gibbs said before Tony made it all the way down the stairs.

"Gibbs," he replied back.

"To what do I owe this pleasure," Gibbs asked his agent, as he set the sander down, turning to look at Tony.

"Well, I have something I need to tell you."

Gibbs merely stood patiently waiting for Tony to continue with whatever it was he needed to say.

"You see this case has brought up a lot of things from my past. Memories, I knew where still there, but that I haven't really thought of for a while. Then seeing Daniel today…" Tony trailed off.

"I take it you two were close?"

"Like brothers," Tony said quietly, "This is the first time in seven years we've seen each other or talked to each other. He got transferred to a new job about the same time I started here. I guess we just lost contact. It's good to see him again."

"Somehow, I don't think that's what you wanted to tell me," Gibbs said casually.

"No. Yes. I don't know. its part of it I guess."

"Tony, whatever it is you can trust me."

"I know. It's just what I need to say is related to the case, but I can't back any of it up. I need you to trust me about this," Tony practically pleaded.

Gibbs walked over to where Tony stood and laid a comforting hand on the young man's shoulder, "I do trust you."

Tony took a moment to compose his thoughts, his mind still raging an internal battle over whether he should say anything at all. It's almost like he's two people now. He feels in some way that he's about to betray his old boss, the man who was like a father to him. But on the other hand, there's Gibbs, who he feels he owes a lot to. Well, when all else fails, go with instinct. Tony's instinct told him he could trust Gibbs and give him some information, if not all of it.

"Okay. The thing is, I have seen that symbol before."

"The Dark Angel symbol," Gibbs questioned.

"Yes. I can't really say where or how, but I know more about Dark Angel than what Ziva could tell us," Tony said looking directly at Gibbs.

"Such as?"

"Ziva is correct in saying that Dark Angel is male. And that it's only a code name. But what's really important to our case is that he isn't the one who murdered the marine."

"I'm listening," Gibbs encouraged.

"Dark Angel doesn't leave his mark on the ankle. He always leaves it on the underside of the left wrist."

"How do you know this?"

"This is where the trust part comes in. I can't really say how I know this right now. I wish I could, but,"

"It's alright. I trust you Tony," Gibbs said noticing the relief on his agents face, "But you will have to explain this one day."

"I hope I can. It's late, I better go," Tony said heading for the stairs, "See you tomorrow Boss."

"Tomorrow," Gibbs said as he watched Tony head out, then heard his front door close.