[sometime in the future. Episode TBT]
3rd Person POV:
Tony opened the door of his apartment and threw his bag by the door. As he walked over to the couch he saw there was a new message on his home phone. He sat down and turned it on; listening to the message.
"Hey Tony its Claire. Just wanted to check in and see how everything is going over there." Tony just looked at the machine with worry. Ever since he could remember Claire had always used the term 'checking-in' whenever she called because something was bothering her. It was like her own code word, whether she was aware of it or not. What could be bothering her that she would call him all the way from Europe? After the message ended tony immediately dialed her cell number to call her back. He waited a couple rings before she picked up.
...
Claire looked at her caller ID and immediately smiled seeing who it was.
"Hey Tony"
"Hey Claire, I got your message…you doing ok?" Tony asked hoping he could pry the reason for calling out of her. Claire sighed and stood up looking out her window at the view of London.
"Yeah everything is ….great." Tony immediately picked up on her slip up.
"You hesitated" She just shook her head at how attentive he was being.
"Yea I did." she laughed.
"How is everything Tony? McGee and Ziva doing ok?"
"Yea she's still kinda scary, and hasn't picked up the English language but…. "Claire just laughed, leave it up to Tony to make a joke.
"Don't worry Tony I think you'll be just fine. Just make it long enough for me to see you when I come back." He laughed
"Now that I can promise. So, what's bothering you?" she took a deep breath trying to decide whether or not to tell him.
"I miss it. I miss the work. I miss the team. It's just not working out over here like we hoped." Tony could hear the sadness in her voice. He understood it was hard to keep distance between the people you care about, especially undercover for this long. He was having just as hard a time as she was. Being so far away from her and unable to be there to protect her was killing him inside.
"Yea I know. When are you coming home?" even though Tony wouldn't admit it out loud he really missed her.
"Not sure. But if everything goes as planned it should be soon."
"Good hope to see ya soon then"
"Hopefully, clear a space at my desk for me will ya?" she joked.
"Of course" Tony replied smiling fondly.
"I've got to go. Bye Tony."
"Bye. Stay safe." As he hung up the phone he looked over at the shelves on his wall. His gaze lingered on a photo of him and Claire back at Ohio State. They were at a football game and were decked out in Ohio State apparel. They didn't know they were being photographed while Claire laid across Tony's lap in the back of the pickup truck. He had found it shortly after Claire had joined the team and decided to put it up. He smiled fondly at the picture, shook his head and walked into his room for the night. That night he would fall asleep thinking of Claire and waiting for when she would come home.