This is a little longer thankfully, and I'm sorry if the whole climax of this chapter seems a little cheesy it was too late to think of anything cool, original, and interesting :P LOL
Oh well, I hope you guys like it, and thanx sooooo much to those of you who reviewed, I'd really like to hear more comments on this piece as it makes me feel looooooooooved...ahem...hehe!
Well, I said this last chappie, I dont own it yaddi yaddi yadda! I know this kinda story line has been tried and tested before, but I'd like to do it in a different way, trying to get the characters to re-act in the way I think they'd re-act as opposed to how I'd like them to re-act. There is a massive difference, and Ive seen so many authors write shippers and slashy things, which, hats off to creative license, doesn't really work for me, though I realize tons of you guys love that stuff, I love NCIS the way it is, I wanna do it justice (weeps!) hahah!
Anyway, I hope you like it, and please...for the love of GOD! R/R! hehe, I don't really like unneccessary flames, constructive advice is always welcome though pallos!
Sophie xox
It was not often that Tony was asked to investigate a crime scene alone with his boss, maybe this was one of Gibbs' tests, or his growing confidence in the senior field agent, or maybe he was just screwing with him, either way, processing, was definitely not a job made for two. This would, Tony thought as he pushed open the door of the war-torn Sedan, definitely take the best part of the day. Tony stood on a small, empty street lined by tall, shaded paper trees. Each house looked almost identical to the other, small, whitewashed clapperboard, with robustly decorated yards, the occasional difference being the select basketball hoop attached to a garage or above a back door. It was eerily quiet, not even a dog yapped, it was a blisteringly hot day, with not the smallest hint of a breeze to chill down the heat-hazed street. The young agent tugged off his thick NCIS jacket, silently cursing how un climate friendly their customary uniform was. He looked to his left, quickly spotting the one house he was meant to be investigating, no different from any of its numerous neighbours, gold, newly polished numbers of '5' and '2' gleamed from the front porch. 'yup.' DiNozzo thought, 'this is it.' He made his way towards it, making short mental notes to himself regarding his surroundings, the houses on the streets, the cars parked outside, number plates, all basic preliminary procedure in this line of investigative work. Only one thing now leapt out at Tony, the only thing that screamed 'odd' in as high a pitch as possible. Where the hell was the security tape, the cop cars, the fat gumshoe leaning against his gumshoe-mobile waiting to inform the NCIS agent of the details for this particular crime scene. There was no one, no evidence that a crime had been committed here, no evidence of even a disturbance. With a wary caution, DiNozzo approached the waist height wall that surrounded the house, like everything else, it had been painted shock white, this colour now was starting to really impress the whole '1940's-style-retirees-village' genre upon Tony, but like many areas in this war vet. Part of Washington state, it was hardly unusual. Before he even realized what he was doing, Tony reached out a curious hand to push open the adjoining gate, separating the two sides of the wall, which was also, surprise; surprise, white. He moved forward, through the neatly trimmed lawn, feeling oddly uneasy at walking straight through someone's obvious pride and joy, 'damn!' he thought 'How the hell am I gonna do this?'
There was no one about, not outside at least, he had now reached the porch, no doubt contaminating heaps of trace evidence, DiNozzo pulled on a clean pair of latex gloves, wanting to at least look like he was on top of everything, andas he hit the doorbell, an image of how idiotic he must look, ringing on the door of a dead man, crossed his mind. There was no answer, which funnily enough, didn't hold Tony in surprise, something was off, very much so. Absently, he reached for his cell, bringing Gibbs up on the memory before he paused mid-motion. No, he would sort through this himself, he would not make himself look like a clumsy fool in front of his boss at least when he could consciously avoid it, no, he would check everything else first, maybecall Kate to check whether he'd been given the wrong address, anyway, it may have been a certain death wish to try andcontact Gibbs, he may have been clearing the scene, could have given away his boss'position. Tony visibly winced, if that was the case, he would pay dearly for it later. His frantic train of thought was derailed with a rude abruptness as a sharp click sounded from behind him. Any cop, marine, soldier, or agent knew that kind of sound. Instinctively, and very slowly, DiNozzo began to reach for his gun, drawing it and spinning to meet his would-be aggressor in lightening fast speed. He heard a cry, his own, the familiarity of the words 'NCIS drop your weapon!' echoing down the road. He waved his weapon frantically, nothing, what the? Left, right, then up, then he suddenly pointed his weapon downward, forefinger ready on the trigger, ready to fire immediately when the situation arose. It didn't, he lowered the pistol, shaking his head and gaping in incredulity and frustration. Before him, sat a large, well-fed, tabby cat, shifting uncomfortably and pawing deftly at a snapped twig beside it, it causally glanced up at the gawping NCIS agent, no doubt agreeing with DiNozzo's unvoiced opinion of his own cow-boyish stupidity. The agent now couldn't help but laugh, the sudden sound startling the animal. Tony made a hissing sound, and flicked in the cat's direction with his gun.
"Tsst Tsst get outta here!" He watched it scram. "Man I hate felines, they're just like women." The parallel incited more bouts of laughter, before he turned back to strike the door bell repeatedly, for several minutes.
Distracted, unaware, the young field agent did not sense the hooded figure behind him.
NCIS NCIS NCIS NCIS
"Boss?"
"Kate."
Former gunnery sergeant and NCIS team leader Jethro Gibbs, accepted the shellshocked question as if a casual greeting. Stammering, Kate stood and hovered over her boss' desk, he was calmly sipping his typically strong smelling Starbucks brew, while fingering through the mountain of unheeded paper work that was piling up fast upon his overused, over cluttered desk, Kate realized, that if she had felt overworked by her much smaller paper made mountain, Gibbs's must have been a tenth fold worse. Kate was reminded instantly of his presence when he objected to her apparent 'insensitive' intrusion of his quality coffee time.
"Something bothering you Agent Todd." By the tone of his voice, he was certainly not sharing a tender moment.
"Um….not really, just.." she broke off into incomprehensive mumbles.
"Today! Kate."
"Yeah sorry boss, it's just.." She couldn't help but let a smile creep onto her soft features, imagining a presumably lost Tony milling through some street corner.
"Where's Tony?"
Gibbs blinked.
"I don't know."
Kate was taken aback slightly, it wasn't unlike Gibbs to play some sort of evil yet cunningly subtle practical joke on his agents, but this seemed a little strange.
"You don't know?" Gibbs slammed down his coffee meeting Kate's eyes not bothering to shield his increasing annoyance.
"Yeah, Kate I don't know, how the hell should I know I've only just got in." Kate said nothing. "You saw me." Gibbs added a little more gently, as if this would somehow clear everything.
"But, the email..."
Gibbs, stopped pretending to be interested in the files. He looked down at the steaming coffee momentarily, squinting in confusion.
"What email?"
"The email Tony received,informing him to meet you at a crime scene." Gibbs shook his head, Kate knew that this was now well beyond a joke of Gibbs' calibre.
"Kate, I ever sent Tony any email." Kate's eyes widened, well where the hell was Tony then? What had he run off to? She barely even heard as her boss quickly added that he could barely turn his computer on let alone send an email.
"That's what I said." She muttered.
"Whuh?"
"Oh. Nothing." Gibbs posture indicated worry, an emotion seldom if ever associated with the collected yet quietly friendly man.
"Show me the email."
Kate nodded and hurried towards Tony's desk, quickly re-opening the email and forwarding it to Gibbs's address.
"Got it?" A moment of concentrated silence followed.
"Got it."
Kate returned to Gibbs's desk, stopping herself abruptly before committing the severe felony of stepping behind her boss' desk. She watched intently as Gibbs scanned the screen with keen eyes.
"That's my address."
"I know."
"This is all wrong, something's screwed up and DiNozzo's in the middle." Gibbs virtually leapt from his seat.
"What do you mean boss?" Kate was pause for words as Gibbs scrambled for his cell, gun, and casing.
"I mean Kate..." The agent breathed, as he desperately shoved the gun into his belt and tucked it discreetly behind his jacket. "ThatI've got to get to that address, now, and find out what the hell this is."
"What do I do."
"You stay here, and keep trying Tony's cell, if you hear anything, call me." He reached the elevator, much the same as Tony had done only an hour or so before.
"Yes boss." Kate replied, already picking up the reciever, Gibbs stepped inside the machine, suddenly lunging his arm between the doors topreventthem fromclosing as he remembered something.
"Oh and Kate!"
"Yes Boss."
"Send that email to Abby, get her to check it out."
"Should I send for Mcgee?"
"We don't know if there's any reason to yet, if my gut feeling is right, andwe're in trouble, I'll let you know, and you'll call probie."
"Yes boss. Good luck."
Gibbs removed his arm and watched the doors closed.
"Luck has nothing to do with it Kate."
But for once, he hoped he was mistaken.