Hey guys-thanks so much for sticking with me. Going through some rough times lately, but I should have some more free time now. So I'll try to do better.

Disclaimer- I don't own these people.


The Federal Agent stood in the airport, waiting for Tony to get off of his plane that landed a few minutes ago. McGee sighed and looked down at his watch again. He had a million things to do for the wedding on Sunday and to make matters worse, Gibbs called and threatened him with some unpleasant sounding Marine Corps punishment ideas if he didn't get the report from the last case finished.

He rolled his eyes at the thought. He had tried to explain to the boss that the only reason he was late with his report was because he was getting married in a few days and he didn't have time to finish; there were tuxedos to be picked up, caterer to pay, house to close on,

But Gibbs only fired back at him that he was married four times, and he wasn't ever late with a report. McGee gave up on the argument and promised to return once Tony was on the ground.

Tim sighed and looked down at his watch, he had now been gone from the office for three hours. He pictured smoke pouring out of Gibbs' ears and told himself to bring a fire extinguisher with him.

He finally spotted his best man's tall frame walking towards him and he threw up his hand to make sure Tony saw him. He lifted his chin and pulled his bag further up his shoulder.

"McGroom!" Tony said and gave him a bro hug. When they parted, Tony stepped back and allowed a blonde to step forward, "Tim this is Brooke Thompson, Brooke, Timothy McGee."

Tim took one step forward and shook her hand, "Nice to meet you."

She smiled, "Oh it's very nice to meet you too! Thanks so much for letting me tag along. I love weddings!"

Tim chuckled, "You're very welcome. I hope you have a great time while you're here."

"We've gotta get our luggage. Then we'll go grab some food. You hungry McEat?"

Tim shook his head, "Yes, but I can't do lunch. I've got to get back to the office and finish up some paperwork before I'm off for three days or Gibbs will kill me dead."

Tony and Brooke laughed as they walked to baggage claim to collect their things. The three sat down in a Sedan and Tim spoke again to his passenger, "I'll take you guys to the Navy Yard and let you have my car. I'll drive a Sedan home and we can drop it off sometime over the weekend."

Tony grinned and pat him on the shoulder, "Sounds good." He turned back to the backseat to Brooke, who was staring out of the window, her arms and legs crossed. "Hey, you ready for the best hamburger you'll ever put in your mouth?"

She smiled at him, "I'm a vegetarian."

Tim looked over at Tony and couldn't help but laugh. Tony lost his smile and looked down at the back of the seat, "Oh, well this place has salads too. I've never had one but I've heard good things about them."

Brooke nodded, "That sounds fine Tony."

He smiled again like he'd just won a prize. "Great, I'm starved. I've been craving a Zac's burger since I left."

McGee chuckled, "He asks about you."

"I'm sure he does. I was there at least 4 times a week, every week."

Tim shrugged a shoulder, "One more reason for you to move back here."

Tony cut his eyes at his former partner, "Not now, Probie."

He looked at him for another second and turned his attention back to the road. Brooke leaned up and tapped Tony on the shoulder, "What is probie? Is that his nickname?"

Tony turned so that he could explain it to her, "Probie is short for probationary agent. It means that the agent is in his first year."

She turned her head, "So this is Tim's first year? But I thought you've known him for a while."

Tony shook his head, "No, he's been with NCIS for 11 years, but when he started, he was my probationary agent. So he will always be Probie to me."

She nodded slowly, "I got it, I think."

He turned back to the front as they were pulling into the Navy yard, "They're gonna need your ID, Brooke."

Tony and Tim both showed they're badge and Brooke gave her an ID, and they were waved through the gate. Once parked, they took McGee's keys and loaded his car, heading back out of the Navy yard and took a left towards Tony's favorite place.

Once inside and seated, they placed their order and made small talk while they waited on their food. He was mid-bite when he looked up and saw her walk through the door.

He looked away and quickly took the bite. He looked over at Brooke and she smiled at him, but her look became concern, "Are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Tony nodded and put on a fake smile, "Yeah, I'm fine." He watched her as she placed her order and sat down on the bench by the door. She took out her cell phone and pressed a few buttons on it, but then closed it again and looked around the room.

Ziva felt her mouth fall open, but quickly closed it. She should have known that he would come here. It was his favorite place. She scolded herself and stood, crossing her arms and walking over to his table. It would be considered rude not to speak now. Damn it.

She swallowed the lump in her throat and put on a fake smile before she got to the table, "Hi DiNozzo."

He stared up at her and lost his smile at the sound of his last name, but fired it back at her, "Hey David."

They hadn't lost eye contact since she walked up to the table, "How are you?" She asked quietly.

He nodded, "I'm okay. And yourself?" She nodded as a reply and they both looked down at Brooke when she cleared her throat for attention. "Oh, yeah, Ziva David this is Brooke Thompson." The two women shook hands, "Ziva is a Special Agent like me."

"Oh, it's very nice to meet you! I love to meet Tony's old coworkers." S5

Ziva smiled, "Yes, there are plenty of us around here."

"Order 918 to go!" Ziva looked down at her receipt and put on a smile to Brooke.

"I have a lot of work to do and my order is ready. It was very nice to meet you. I will see you both at the wedding."

She walked to the counter and was handed the bag. Tony watched her for another second, "Hey Brooke, I'll be right back."

"Sure Tony." She said and took another bite of her salad.

"Ziva, wait." He called and took a couple of jogging steps to catch up with her.

She sighed, turned around and looked up at him, "I have someone waiting in the car, DiNozzo."

He scrunched his eyebrows together, "What's your deal? Why are you acting like this?"

Ziva looked up at him and narrowed her eyes, "You should probably get back to your girlfriend."

"She's not my girlfriend, Ziva." He said through his teeth, "And you have no right since your new fuck buddy is outside in the car."

She felt her mouth fall open but closed it again to argue with him, "I cannot believe you just said that. Get away from me."

"I didn't hear you deny it."

"I am denying it now." She moved another step closer to him and looked him right into his eyes, "That is my cousin from Tel Aviv." She stared at him for another few seconds, "You do not know me at all."

Tony watched as she finally walked away from him and out of the door. He sighed, ran a hand through his hair, and then rubbed his face. He started to walk back to his table when he bumped into somebody who was walking the opposite way, "Oh I'm sorry…Jerry? Jerry Richardson?"

The man looked up at him and nodded, "Yeah?"

"Tony DiNozzo! How are you man?"

Jerry looked up at him and chuckled, shaking Tony's hand, "I haven't seen you in a long time."

"I know, it's been a while. What are you doing in DC?"

He looked around and stuck his hands in his pockets, "I live here now."

"Oh really? Wow. I live down in Georgia now, but I lived here for a long time. How long have you been here? We could've played a game sometime." He looked around nervously and it made Tony furrow his brows.

"I've only been here for about a year."

"Ah okay." Jerry put his hood on his head and looked around again, "You alright dude? You seem edgy."

Jerry nodded at him, "Yeah, yeah I'm cool."

Tony nodded, "Okay, well I'm gonna be in town for a few days, do you want to get together and play some ball?"

He shook his head, "Nah man. I don't think I can."

Tony narrowed his eyes at him. "Alright. Well maybe next time."

"That's cool man. Hey listen, I've got something I've gotta take care of. But you have a nice life, okay?" Tony reached out to shake his hand and Jerry shook it quickly, moving around him to the counter of the restaurant.

Tony returned to his seat, but kept his eyes on his former teammate. Brooke smiled at him as he sat down at the table, "You were gone for a while."

He glanced at her, but then looked back up at Jerry. "Yeah, sorry about that." He said softly. He continued to watch as Jerry walked behind the counter to find to manager.

"I'm sure your food is cold by now." Brooke said, trying to gain Tony's eye contact again.

"It's fine." Tony said, and then squint his eyes to Jerry's form again.

"What's wrong with you?" Tony's eyes opened wide as the manager and Jerry began yelling at each other.

Tony finally made eye contact with Brooke again, "Listen to me, okay? I want you to stand up, very casually, and go to the women's restroom. On your way there, stop at as many tables that have women and children as you can and explain to them, very quickly and quietly, that there is a guy with a gun in the restaurant. Once inside the restroom, lock the door and have everybody sit down on the floor and be silent. Silence their cell phones so they don't ring. He won't know everyone is in there." Tony reached in his back pocket for his wallet, "Text this number once everyone is safe. It's my boss." He sighed, "Tell everyone not to panic."

Everyone inside the restaurant stared at the two men behind the counter as their voice levels continued to raise. Brooke looked back at Tony, "You're serious?"

"Go." Tony said sternly.

Brooke picked up her purse and slowly stood from the table. She did exactly what she was told, squatting down at tables with children and their mothers and calmly explaining the situation. Tony heard the restroom door shut and noticed that most of the place was now clear, except the people closest to the counter. He stood and calmly started his walk over to the counter.

Jerry and the manager, Fred, were arguing about Jerry's job that he apparently got fired from two days ago. Tony was almost at the counter when Jerry pulled out a gun and held it to Fred's head, "I want my job back, now!"

Two or three people in the place jumped up from their tables and ran out of the door, "No!" He breathed, walking to it and locking it. He walked around the place and noticed all of the empty tables. He pointed his gun right at Tony and Tony stepped back a couple of steps, "Where did everybody go?"

He let out a breath, "Jerry, dude, you don't want to do this. Talk to me, and I can help you."

Jerry pulled the hammer back on the double action revolver he held in his hand, "Nobody can help me anymore, DiNozzo."

"Jerry, wait, wait. Why don't you let these other people leave and keep me here? I'm a valuable hostage, I can get what you whatever you want."

"You can get my wife to speak to me? You can get my family back? I don't think so!" Jerry yelled.

"I can. I can get you whatever you want."

"Nobody is going anywhere! Shut the hell up!" Jerry put down his gun and got into the federal agent's face, "You say another word to me about somebody leaving and I'll blow your head off."

Tony swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded once, "Okay."

He turned around and walked back over to the several people that were ducking under the tables. "All of you, get over here against the wall." He pointed to two of the men, "You two, move those tables away."

The two guys walked over to the wall and did exactly what they were told. Everyone, including the employees and the customers sat down at the wall.

He turned to Tony again and pointed his gun at him, "What? You think you're special? Go sit."

Tony let out a sigh and moved over to the wall, sitting down at the end of the line.

This was going to be harder than he thought.


Tucked away safely in the locked bathroom, Brooke took a deep breath, pulled out her cell phone and created a text message from the number on the card that Tony had given her.

Agent Gibbs- This is Brooke Thompson. I flew in with Tony for the wedding. We're eating at a restaurant called Zac's Burgers. There is a guy who has a gun and he's holding everyone hostage. Tony had me collect several people and take them to the restroom. I've got the door locked and the people and I are staying quiet so that he doesn't know we're in here. Tony is out there with the crazy man. Please help.

Gibbs was sitting at his desk across from McGee and working on some things to help Balboa with his case. His phone dinged and he rolled his eyes. If it was Abby asking him if McGee could leave yet again he was going to chunk the damn thing.

"Abby again?" Tim asked, a slight smirk on his face. He loved that woman. But his boss didn't answer, he was squinting his eyes at the small screen, reading the text message. At Gibbs' weird look, McGee spoke again, "Boss? You okay?"

Gibbs finally looked up at Tim and closed his phone, "Brooke Thompson just sent me a message."

McGee's forehead creased with confusion, "How do you know her?"

Gibbs shook his head, "I don't."

"She's Tony's date for the wedding. I just picked her and him up from the airport an hour ago." McGee stared at Gibbs as he stared at the closed cell phone in his hand, "Boss, what's wrong?"

Gibbs finally looked over at him, "Tony's in trouble."