"What else should we do boss?" McGee asked, Charity.
"Since Ducky says that a beating and the blow to the chest is what killed the Petty Officer," Charity began, "and he put up a fight, DiNozzo senior would have wounds of his own."
"We'll go check him out." Burley said. "Come on McGee grab your camera and gloves."
"Be respectful about it." Charity ordered.
"Boss." Burley spoke up before leaving.
"What, Burley?"
"You really should call Tony." He advised.
"Just go." Charity ordered.
Burley nodded and then he and McGee headed up to the conference room. "What would you like me to do, Charity?" Ziva asked.
"Go down to the evidence garage and see what Abby has found and if she needs any help."
Ziva nodded and then headed down. Charity was alone in the squadroom. She picked up her cell phone and scrolled through her contacts. She came to Tony's name and held her finger over the send button a few moments. She decided she had to do it. She hit the send button.
"Hello beautiful." came Tony's voice after three rings.
Charity couldn't help the smile that came to her face at the sound of his voice. "Hello handsome. Are you busy?"
"Just filling out some paper work." Tony answered. "Nothing I can't pick back up later."
"Could you come to NCIS? It's important."
"Sure, I'll be there in ten." Tony answered. "I love you."
Charity smiled again. "I love you, too." She then hung up the phone.
True to his word, ten minutes later, Tony was walking in off the elevator. Charity stood up and met him in the aisle way. "What's up?" He asked.
Charity took a deep breath and looked up into his eyes. "I'm not really sure how else to say this, so I'm just going to come right out and say it." She answered. "We have your father in custody. He was found this morning passed out in a car he rented, with a dead sailor in the trunk."
Tony looked at Charity utterly surprised. "Are you sure the man you have is really my dad?" Tony asked.
"How many Anthony DiNozzo Seniors are there?" Charity asked.
"Someone could have stolen his identity." Tony replied. "I mean, he may not have been the greatest father in the world, but he's no murderer."
Just then, Burley entered the room. "Boss, DiNozzo Senior isn't cooperating. He says that if he has to take off his clothes and be examined that it will be done by and I quote, Either that fiesty redhead or that mysterious brunnett."
"Oh my...my father's a murderer." Tony said, knowing that only his father would say something like that.
Charity reached up and gave Burley a slap to the back of the head. Then she did the same to Tony. "We don't believe he did it." Charity said. "The sailor was killed after being beat and having a blow to the chest. He fought his attacker back. He's highly trained and considerably younger than your father."
Tony looked at Charity. "Okay." Tony replied. "Why didn't you call me sooner?"
"Because I have to save face." Charity answered. "If the director thinks I'm anything but objective, she'll pull me from the case."
Tony nodded his understanding. Just then the phone at Charity's desk rang. Burley answered it for her. "Agent Gibbs' desk...I'll tell her. She'll be down." He then hung up the phone and looked at Charity. "Abby found a few things. She wants you down in the garage."
Charity nodded and started for the elevator, Tony following her. "Boss." Burley called.
Charity turned. "What?"
"What do you want me to do about DiNozzo Senior?"
"Ziva's with Abby. I'll send her up." Charity answered. Then she and Tony hopped on the elevator.
"Ziva?" Tony asked. "The woman from Mossad?"
"Yeah, the director has created a new position on my team. Mossad Liason Officer." Charity answered.
Tony nodded. "Wait, you're going to have the trained assassin in a room alone with my father?"
"Don't worry they won't be alone. Burley will be there, too." Charity answered.
The elevator came to a stop and soon the couple was walking into the garage. "What do ya got, Abs?" Charity asked.
"Well," Abby began, "first the tox screen on Senior came back and he was drugged. There was absolutely no way he could have killed our Petty Officer. I'm honestly surprised he's awake right now."
"What else did you find?" Charity asked.
"Well, the rented Rolls has a built in gps." Abby answered. She then pulled up a map on the screen of her laptop in the garage. "I was able to trace every place this car went last night."
"I'll have McGee get all the security tapes from the places he went." Charity said. Then she turned to Ziva. "Tell McGee about that when you get up to the conference room."
"Why am I going up there?" Ziva asked.
"Because my father is an incredibly difficult man." Tony answered.
A while later, McGee was sitting working on those tapes and Ziva was walking back from the conference room. "No signs of a fight." She said. "Abby has all the pictures."
Charity nodded and then picked up the phone at her desk. She dialed Burley's number and he soon answered. "Yeah boss?"
"Bring him down." Charity answered.
"Alright." Burley replied.
Charity hung up the phone and then looked over at Tony. "You ready to see your dad?" She asked.
"Well, since I know he's innocent." Tony replied.
A few moments later, Burley was leading Senior to the squadroom. Just as Senior was about to say something, he noticed his son. "Junior? What are you doing here?"
"I got a phone call that you were here." Tony answered.
"Good to see you." He said. Then he turned to Charity. "Am I free to go, Agent Gibbs?"
"Yup." Charity answered. "We've proved that there's no way you could have done it."
Senior took Charity's hand and brought it to his lips. "It has been a pleasure. I hope we meet again." He said, giving her a wink.
Charity smiled at him, having to press her lips together to hold back the laughter. "I'm sure we will." was all she said.
Tony grabbed his dad by the arm, gently. "Come on Dad. I think it's time to go." Tony said.
"Junior, this is no way to treat me in front of your future step mother." Senior replied.
Everyone was now having a hard time containing their laughter at this. Everyone except Tony, that is. "Dad..." Tony began to protest.
"I've always loved redheads." Senior said. "Firecrackers." He added the last part, turning to Charity and giving her a wink.
"This isn't how I ever pictured this going." Tony muttered. "Dad, Charity isn't going to be my next step mother."
"I think we should let her speak for herself." Senior replied.
"He's right, Mr. DiNozzo." Charity said. "It would actually be incredibly weird if I were."
"Dad, I'm dating Charity." Tony told his father.