Sincere apologies for the delay in posting this. I decided it was about time I finished writing 'The Package' (which I'd been neglecting to write this). Then I got caught up in a NCIS-Stargate Atlantis crossover (coming soon!) fic I'm co-writing with a friend. Anyways, super-hugz to everyone who's been reviewing and thanks for reading :) I hope you enjoy!
Chapter Twenty-Eight
"You sure you want to do this?" Gibbs asked, his hands on the steering wheel.
"I'm sure boss. At least I think I'm sure," Tony said, fidgeting with his hands in his lap as the car screeched around the corner. By Gibbs' standard, he was driving relatively slowly but even then, compared to the other drivers on the road, he was driving like a maniac. Gibbs switched lanes without indicating, causing a station-wagon to slam on the brakes and press on the horn. Gibbs ignored it, or perhaps he didn't notice. His head was turned toward Tony in the passenger seat, placing one hand on Tony's shoulder.
"You don't have to do this if you don't want to, DiNozzo."
"Uh boss, the road." Tony said, wincing as they barely avoided a collision with a semi-trailer. "I'm fine, really. I need to do this."
Gibbs nodded and Tony sighed inaudibly with relief when he removed his hand from Tony's shoulder, returning it to the steering wheel. They pulled up shortly after in front of a small one-storey house. It was painted white with a lilac trim, flower beds bordering the front of the house.
"You sure this is it?"
"She's good, DiNozzo."
With only a short pause, Tony swung open the door, pulling himself out. "Okay then. Thanks for the lift, boss."
Gibbs tilted his head and Tony turned, walking slowly toward the front door of the house.
62 minutes later, the front door opened and Tony emerged from the house, blinking as the bright daylight assaulted his eyes. He put his sunglasses on, only just noticing Gibbs' car waiting on the road in front of him. He wandered up to the car, opening the passenger door and climbing in.
"Boss." Tony said, sounding slightly surprised. He wondered if Gibbs had been waiting for him the whole time or if he'd just come back. His question was answered when he saw the fresh cup of coffee resting in Gibbs hand. A paper bag lay on the middle console. "Don't you have to be at work?"
"Someone's gotta pick you up DiNozzo," Gibbs replied, dropping the paper bag on Tony's lap. Tony looked inside. A jelly donut. "How'd it go?"
"It was… good. Good I think." Tony said, biting into the donut. "She wants me to come back next week."
"Okay," Gibbs said, starting the engine. He was driving significantly slower than before, probably because he still had the cup of coffee in his hand. Tony guessed it was more about not wasting any coffee than it was fear of spilling the scalding liquid on himself.
They were almost two hours late when they walked into the bullpen, each taking their place at their desk. Ziva put down her telephone, looking at Tony in amazement.
"Where were you? I tried your home and your cell went straight to message."
Tony reached into his pocket, pulling out his cell phone. "Oh yeah. I forgot to turn it back on. "What are you guys so worried about anyway?"
"We didn't know where you guys were. I mean, it's only Ziva and I in the office and then the two of you come in two hours late," McGee said, sounding frustrated.
"You didn't try my cell," Gibbs said, pointing to the phone sitting on his desk.
"Yes but…" McGee flushed, trying to look busy.
"We… ah…" Ziva shuffled through some paperwork before giving up on replying altogether.
Tony smirked. His colleagues were afraid of calling the boss to ask why he was late. Although, he thought, that wasn't a call he would willingly make in their situation.
"So, you two have been here for two hours. Tell me what you've got." Gibbs said, reaching for his coffee.
"Ah…. "
"…We got nothing boss." McGee said, quickly glancing back down at his computer.
"We were waiting for you to tell us what to do." Ziva said with a small smile.
"Jesus… this is some dry spell. What, does nobody in the Navy commit crime anymore?" Tony pitched in.
Gibbs gave him an evil glare of death. "Are you implying that it's a bad thing we have no case right now, DiNozzo? Does it disappoint you that a Marine failed to get himself murdered this morning?"
"No boss… that's not what I was saying…." Tony joined in with Ziva and McGee's attempts of looking busy.
Gibbs smirked, lifting up a huge stack of files from the floor beside his desk. He deposited a third of the files on McGee's desk, a third on Tony's desk and the remainder in the middle of Ziva's desk.
"You want work? Cold cases."
He grabbing his empty coffee mug for a refill and stepped into the waiting elevator as the chorus of groans reached his ears.
TBC
Yeah, uneventful I know but it's an update nonetheless :P Hey, did you notice THHK turns 2 months old tomorrow! How about a review to celebrate? Heh. I'll update again soon!
