Disclaimer - The show NCIS and it's characters do not belong to me.They are the property of Donald Bellisario, CBS and Paramount. Original characters belong to me and may not be used without my permission.
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Chapter Six
It was much later that night and the pair were curled up side by side in Tony's bed. They had finally made it to the bedroom, although they had made several stops on the way.
'Tony,' Aurora said softly.
'Hmm,' he answered, looking into her eyes. His fingers were busy tracing the small green dragon tattoo she had on her shoulder. They hadn't slept yet and he was sure they wouldn't.
'You know the case you're working on?' she asked. 'The dead ex-marine,'
'How do you know about that?' he asked before shaking his head. He knew exactly how but wanted him to tell her. 'Stupid question, scratch that. What about it?'
'I know who the mystery caller was,' she told him.
'Who?' Tony looked at her with raised eyebrows.
'It was me,' she answered.
'Ahhh come again,' Tony raised himself on his elbow and frowned at her. 'I'm not exactly sure I heard that properly. You maDE THAT CALL,' his voice slowly rose to an incredulous shout. 'MY GOD WHAT IS GOING ON?'
'Yes I made the call,' she sat up, pulling the sheet around herself.
'Aurora,' he ran a hand over his face. 'We have to tell Gibbs. Tell him everything.'
'Uh Uh,' she shook her head. 'No way. I'll tell you and you can tell him but I'm not coming in,' she said seriously. 'You know I can't,'
'So you say but you're in deep and we can help you. You are the red head seen with O'Sullivan. Come back to NCIS with me, talk to Gibbs, tell him what's going on because I can assure you that even if I tell him what you tell me he'll dig deeper and won't stop until he gets the answers he wants,'
She looked at him for a moment. 'You think I killed O'Sullivan?' she asked Tony, looking at him, trying to gauge his reaction.
'No,' he gazed into her eyes and answered her honestly. 'But you're sure as hell not telling me something.'
'I can't talk to Jethro,' she shook her head. 'The less people who know I'm around, the better,'
'Jethro,' he frowned. 'You know Gibbs.'
Aurora simply nodded. 'He'll still be pissed about the last time we caught up,' she shook her head with a grin.
Tony had a look of genuine surprise on his face. 'Well okay do you want to share?' he ran his top teeth across his bottom lip. 'I think if I'm going to stick my neck out here I deserve to know the whole story.'
Aurora sighed softly, resting the back of her head against the headboard of the bed, 'It's a long story,' she finally sighed.
'I have all night,' he told her seriously.
'O'Sullivan was an informant of mine,' she said. 'He often came through with some good information that we'd use,' she paused. 'He tried to contact me last week but I was ... away,' she said. 'I caught up with him yesterday and he said he had some information but couldn't tell me what it was over the phone and that he wanted to see me. That the information was urgent and extremely serious but he didn't want me to go through work channels. That this was for me only for the moment and he wanted me to come alone and not tell anyone.'
'Flying solo sounds like a good way of getting yourself hurt or worse Aurora. I thought you'd no better then that.'
'Wouldn't be the first time,' she muttered with a trace of bitterness in her voice.
'Meaning,' Tony put his arm around her shoulder, his green eyes gazing into hers.
'Nothing,' she shook her head and Tony knew better then to ask.
'O'Sullivan had always had good info before so I took the risk,' she said. 'But when I got there, the front door was already open and he was dead,'
'Okay. I believe that. Now can how did you know where to find me?
How did you know that I worked with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service?
She looked across at him. 'I always knew where you were,' she told him. 'I found you about 2 months after you transferred but I never called,'
Tony nodded. 'That doesn't surprise me,' he brushed a strand of hair off her face and tucked it behind her ear.
'What that I didn't call?' she asked with a grin.
'That too,' he gave her his best smile. 'No the fact that you knew exactly where I was and what I was up to. You were always the thorough one.'
'It's what I get paid for,' she told him.
'What we all get paid for,' he lifted his gaze to the ceiling. 'Damn it you've put me in a hell of a situation here. Gibbs will have my balls if I don't level with him.'
'I can't come into the office, it could compromise me and I'm not prepared to do that Tony,' Aurora told him seriously.
'I realise that and,' he closed his eyes. 'I won't reveal what you've told me to Gibbs or anyone else but I swear that the boss is psychic, he just seems to know things that you reckon he couldn't possibly know.'
'Don't I know it,' Aurora sighed. 'Pretend I'm an informant,' she suggested.
'Oh you know what Gibbs is like,' he rolled his eyes. 'He'll want to know the ins and outs and won't stop twisting the thumb screws until he gets what he wants
'If he pulls out the thumb screws, give me a call,' she told Tony.
'I'll give you the number.'
He chuckled and then started to laugh, oh God how she'd missed that laugh, that smile. 'I promise I won't crack under pressure but I'll have to think of something to tell him.'
'Tell him an informant gave you some information.' she said. 'You don't have to give up your sources,'
'You said you knew Gibbs Aurora,' he shook his head. 'Then you know what he's like.'
'Yes I do,' she nodded. 'But I don't want to come forward unless I'm forced,'
'Alright I respect that,' Tony told her. 'So what else can you tell me about O'Sullivan, I need something more then what you've given me. Who was he connected with, do you have any idea who might have killed him. Could it have been a trap for you?'
'I don't know,' she said seriously. 'If it was, I don't think Sullivan was involved in it,' she slid out of the bed and Tony noticed a bag near the doorway of the bedroom and she pulled out a file from it. 'This is all just between you and me,' she handed it to him.
A deep frown creased his brow as he took the file and started to read it.
'This is all the old information he's given us,' Aurora said. 'It will give you guys some names to go on,' she said. 'Tell Gibbs anything you think is relevant but don't show him that,' she indicated the file.
Tony gave a heavy sigh. 'Okay I'll see what I can do.'
She smiled 'Hmm now what saw we forget all about Gibbs, O'Sullivan..work,' she pressed against him. 'At least for the next few hours till you have to go to work,'
'Now that sounds like a wonderful idea,' he kissed her deeply.
She kissed him back, moaning softly as the pair forgot about everything else for awhile.
Tony awoke a few minutes after seven and wasn't surprised to find he was all alone. Aurora didn't sleep much and had a tendency to disappear into the night. But he was sure she would be back.
He hadn't meant to fall asleep but he was sure sheer exhaustion had set in about 6am. It had been an incredible night.
He climbed out of bed and moved toward the bathroom. Aurora had obviously had a shower earlier, things had been moved around.
Once under the steaming water, he thought about what he was going to tell Gibbs. He already knew his boss would not be impressed if he thought.. no if Gibbs knew he wasn't telling him the complete truth.
He didn't want to break Auroras trust but he didn't fancy getting a rap over the knuckles for it either.
He still wasn't sure Aurora had told him everything. She kept things to herself, didn't tell you something unless she thought you needed to know.
He sighed. He couldn't help but wonder how she knew Gibbs. Especially after she said he'd still be mad about the last time they caught up.
What had she done? Gotten him banned from a Starbucks?
He smiled slightly as he turned off the water and moved back into the bedroom to change and grab something to eat for breakfast before he headed into work
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