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You're to Blame

You are to blame for anything that is good in my heart. You are to blame for this change that has taken me by storm. - Mercy Me

Chapter Thirty-seven – July 2004

Thursday July 1, 2004

Tony didn't show any outward reaction to the woman sitting in his kitchen. He also didn't lower his gun either. She seemed to expect that and just took another sip of her drink.

"Hello, Agent Kader. May I ask why you are in my apartment.... at midnight?"

Mariana Kader paled at that. "Yeah, about that, can you not tell my director that I was here?"

"That depends on what you tell me." Tony was surprised by how cold he sounded.

"I simply came to warn you that I don't think that NSA is done with you yet. After the last time you were... recruited I was severely demoted for what I did to you. So I really don't know what's going on. I do know that it somehow involves you."

Tony suspected something like the moment he saw Kader. Though he had wished that she knew more. But he believed her.

"I refuse to help." He folded his arms across his chest, finally taking his gun off from her.

Kader sighed. "You may not have have a choice. My director has been talking to your director. They are still negotiating but I believe that you'll have your orders early next week."

"My boss is not going to be happy about that. Morrow know how possessive Jethro Gibbs can be when it comes to me."

That caused a laugh. It was one of things that drew him to her in the first place. Everyone knows that, Tony." She kissed his cheek. "I have to go. I left my number under the juice." She laughed again. "You really need to something stronger."

As it turned out Jethro had no idea that Morrow had been talking to the NSA's director, Edward Mortimer. He had no clue what Mortimer could possibly want from Tony. The kid didn't owe them anything. If anything, they owed him a huge favor for taking out that militia.

That was when the truth hit home. The only reason why NSA would want Tony again would because of that militia. He couldn't think of why the militia would still require Tony's attention. It had been months since the incident (kidnapping) happened.

Sunday July 4, 2004

It was a family tradition to see the fireworks in Washington whenever they could. Unfortunately that wasn't possible this year. Too many eyes were looking at them. Namely the NSA. Jethro knew only bad things could happen if the NSA found out about the family.

However there was one little problem, Kristy refused to miss the show. Ever since moving to DC permanently, she hadn't missed the fireworks once. And since half of the kids in the Hayes family had stomach aches from eating too many hot dogs, this included Alex, there was no way that Kristy would be allowed to go. It was too dangerous to let a fifteen-year-old to stay out that late, especially at Anacostia park.

Kristy came up with the perfect solution... in her mind at least. She would have Jimmy Palmer as her escort for the evening. Jeremy, on the other hand, wasn't too fond of that idea. He didn't think that it was appropriate for his fifteen-year-old daughter to go gallivanting with a man seven years her senior. The claims that Jimmy was her friend went unheeded because the two of them had only met on one occasion. It didn't matter to Jeremy that they had spent hours with each other during that one meeting.

However, Tony was a pushover when it came to his eldest godchild, well, he was a pushover for all of his godchildren but that wasn't the point, and he was loathe to allow Kristy to be unhappy over something as silly as the fireworks. He may not have liked that she was hanging out with an older boy but he also knew that Jimmy Palmer was a good kid and wouldn't do anything to the girl.

Though when Jimmy came over to pick her up, both men threatened severe bodily harm if even one hair on Kristy's head was missing. If Jimmy hadn't been afraid of the agent and psychologist before he certainly was now.

Kristy avoided doing everything that would have made Jimmy believe that she thought that they were on a date. She even kept a respectable distance between them and paid her for everything that she planned to keep for herself... including the incredibly expensive glow-sticks that only worked for a few hours at most.

She had to admit that she was having fun. But since he was given the instruction (multiple times to Kristy's annoyance) not to mention any of the work he did for NCIS, he told her about his time in college. She applied to only colleges in the DC area, going no further that Baltimore, and wanted his impressions of the schools that she was considering. He told her that her choice of college largely depended on her major.

That scared Kristy because she had no idea what she wanted to major in. She understood why Tony chose George Washington all those years ago. GW did have a great criminology department. But she didn't know if she wanted to go into law enforcement like the rest of her family. Though she knew without a shadow of a doubt that she wasn't going to be a lawyer. Grandpa Jethro had more rules involving lawyers than anything else. The reason behind those rules were still undisclosed to her.

When she was younger all she wanted was to go to college just so that one day she could one day join FLETC. Now, she wasn't so sure about that. She knew that she had an amazing brain that shouldn't be put to waste. But it was just impossible for her to decide what she wanted to use that brain for.

Jimmy had told her to focus on her strengths that she enjoyed using and use that to help her decide what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. He also told her not to rush it... she was still only fifteen after all.

Tuesday May 6, 2004

When Mariana told Tony early the next they thought, or rather hoped, that she meant Monday. The reason for the delay was understandable, Director Mortimer wanted to spend time with his family on the holiday. They just so happened to be in New Mexico and he didn't get a flight back until late evening on the fifth.

So it wasn't really a surprise when Director Morrow called Jethro to MTAC. Jethro nodded at Tony to follow him. Jeremy and Kate went to get up as well.

"You two stay down here. None of this concerns you." Kate let out an irritated huff about being left out of something obviously important. Jeremy, however, knew that he was going to get the info later. They just didn't want Morrow to know that he was going to know what was going on. It was better that way.

Up in MTAC, Director Mortimer was already on the screen waiting for them. Behind them was a rather chastised looking Agent Mariana Kader. Obviously he found about her little side trip to Tony's apartment. Tony couldn't help but feel sorry for her. She was only doing what she thought was right.

After the unnecessary introductions, Mortimer went straight to the point.

"I'm guessing that after last week's late night visit by Agent Kader here that you know why I wish to speak to you Agent DiNozzo."

"Actually, no, sir, I don't. Agent Kader only told me that you were interested in seeing me for some kind of assignment. She didn't tell me what it was about. I don't even think that she even fully knew at the time why you're still so interested in my talents."

"Very well then. Late last month a man claiming to be leader of the militia that you and Agent Gibbs helped disband came forward. He told us that he would turn himself in if you, Agent DiNozzo, were the one to, as he put it, 'book him'."

"Why now? I haven't had anything to do with taking down that militia since last year."

"Apparently he's running out of money and people with money to fund the arms trade that he was dealing with. The group that you took out was small potatoes compared to some of the dealers he bought from."

"But that doesn't explain why me." Tony crossed his arms in a similar fashion as that horrible Thursday that Kader told him that NSA wanted him again... well Tony could technically say morning. It was much easier now that he wasn't holding his gun.

"He said that he was impressed with you. You're the only agent that caused any real damage to his cause. You're the reason that he no longer has financial support."

"Do we have a name?" asked Gibbs.

"I'm afraid not. He was reluctant to give it to anyone other that Agent DiNozzo."

Tony winced internally. He really hoped that this wasn't going to turn into another incident like they had with Ari.

"When and where?" Tony reluctantly asked. He knew that there was no way he was going to get out of this this one.... no matter how much his gut was yelling at him that this was a really bad idea.

Thursday July 8, 2004

Waiting for the leader of a now nonexistent militia was the last thing Tony wanted to do on his thirty-third birthday. Well, he actually would have been doing anything else than waiting for the leader of the nonexistent militia.

He and Agent Kader, who they somehow managed to convince the leader of the nonexistent militia to be allowed to join Tony, were both hooked up with the NSA's best surveillance equipment. None of it was noticeable unless someone knew exactly what they were looking for. It wasn't likely that the leader would tell them to take off all of their clothes so the tiny camera in his USMC tiepin would be removed. Tony was going for ironic when he picked out the design of the pin.

For some unknown reason, the only NCIS agent involved, other that Jethro of course, was Tim McGee. He was told that under any circumstances was he to leave the surveillance van. It could compromise the entire operation. When McGee asked whether to 'circumstances included someone being shot, he was shook to his core when he was given an affirmative in response.

The leader told NSA to send the two of them to an abandoned warehouse. Tony couldn't help but roll his eyes at the cliché. It was always an abandoned something, warehouse just seemed to be the most common avenue.

It didn't take long for either of them to become bored. Conversation was their only distraction since it would have been stupid to become distracted for even a moment.

"You know Tony, if it counts for anything, I really did like you." Tony looked at Kader skeptically. "It's true. If it weren't for the job I wouldn't have minded getting to know you."

"Why didn't you just tell me that you wanted me for a case? It was NCIS jurisdiction."

"Your boss's reputation for one thing. Even the lowliest agent at NSA knows about the papa bear protectiveness Agent Gibbs has for his agents, especially you in particular."

"No one wanted to risk that my boss would refuse to let me go on that mission."

"Exactly. I know that I was wrong doing what I did to you. However, I think the endgame was worth it."

It was quiet for a moment. "I really liked you too. I still won't date you but I can like you."

Only a minute later a dark sedan, a Ford Taurus, pulled up in front of them. Keeping his hand on his gun, Tony exited the car. Mariana walked to the other side of the car so that she stood next to Tony.

What happened next was too fast. Tony heard the gunshots. He saw that the gun was pointed at him. But he didn't feel the pain that was usually associated with being shot. It only took him a second to register Mariana on the ground. Her Kevlar vest had failed. They can usually withstand being shot maybe twice without giving. But there was at least four bullets in the vest.

Tony shot a round into the man's head. He didn't look like he was a leader to a powerful band of former sailors and Marines. He didn't look like he could have lasted a day in basic. But now he was dead and it was up to Ducky and Abby to figure out who he was.

It was a bit of a surprise to find McGee running towards them as fast as he could. Though it wasn't a surprise to see him shaking his head while checking the other agent for a pulse.

Saturday July 10, 2004

Tony stayed at the office during Mariana's funeral. Jeremy sat at his desk, hoping that Tony would tell him what exactly happened on that mission. He guessed but he wanted Tony to tell him his version of events.

Jeremy didn't like how quiet Tony had gotten the past few days. It was unnatural.

"C'mon, let's hit a few bars. Celebrate your birthday a few days late."

"I don't feel up to going out."

"You sure. You can always just poke up at my lack of social skills despite my occupation."

That elicited a small smile. "Alright, but you're paying."

"Fine, but you're telling me what happened on Thursday."

Tony chuckled darkly. "Just don't shrink me... not about this."

A/N I'm actually surprised by how many people thought it was either Tony's biological father or one of the Davids. I thought that would have been a little too obvious of a guess and as many of you loyal readers know, I hate being too obvious. Though since I left the thing with the militia without an conclusion, I thought someone would have thought of Mariana.

And congrats to those who guessed right as to why I chose Chasing Liberty last chapter.