I ATEN'T DED

thanks for your patience and support guys, rest assured I've not given up on this story, though it may still be a while to get it finished...

shoutout to Ladyaloysius whose slew of enormously kind and encouraging reviews this last day or so was just what I needed

life is still attempting to kick my butt, but I'm kicking back

without further ado...


TONY

They had called in all the favours they could. Quite what was going on at the house wasn't clear, but Tony had heard several voices over the comms that he'd recognised.

Gibbs had been doing a convincing job of acting the distraught boyfriend - a little too good, actually. Tony had been suspicious before, but now he was absolutely sure there must be something going on between Gibbs and Kate. Right now, though, they all had other things to worry about.

He hated being stuck out here in the van, feeling useless. He'd loathed being a waiter anyway, but it was worse now that it meant he couldn't be inside, helping, questioning...

"Doing my damn job!"

It wasn't that he thought those inside couldn't do it without him, but he badly wanted, needed, to be involved, to be doing something, to be helping. If he wasn't under orders to stay and continue surveillance, he'd be back in DC by now where he could at least be helping Abby or chasing down leads, basically anything at all besides sitting here listening helplessly.

Mindful of the fact they were investigating dangerous people, the Feds had gone in under the guise of local LEOs, and they had conveniently failed to mention that there was a team covertly scouring the grounds while Fornell kept the host and guests occupied.

Tony's cell rang. Abby.

"Tony, what's happening? What's going on? How are you? How's Gibbs?"

"Take a breath, Abs."

He could actually hear her obeying. "Sorry. I'm going nuts back here."

"Ditto." He laughed without humour. "Can't tell you much, I'm stuck listening in. This sucks."

She sighed. "It does. We have to find her, Tony."

"We will, Abs." It hadn't escaped his attention that they'd all been saying that to each other whenever they got the chance, as if repeating it time and again would make it more likely to come true. He'd think it was dumb, but at this point he'd wish on a star given the chance. Keeping hope alive might help them keep Kate alive, and anything that helped...

"I'm scared, Tony."

He didn't know how to reply to that. He was, too. "I will let you know the second there's news, Abs, and I think some of us will be heading back to the Navy Yard soon. It's gonna be OK."

There was a long, long pause. "Thanks, Tony." Her voice broke a little, and then she cut the connection.

He sighed, shut his eyes for a moment, then made himself get back to the surveillance. This was boring, frustrating work, but he'd do it, for Kate.

"Hang on in there, Katie."

He grinned a little to himself. He'd never get away with saying that to her face, but when (not if) they found her, he'd risk it, for the simple pleasure of riling her up. He didn't think he'd take that for granted ever again.