Authors Note - Thanks for the reviews and everyone who has been this story on Alerts. It means alot to me :) Enjoy.

Chapter Fourteen

It was late, very late and Tony let himself into his apartment frowning when he saw that the place was in darkness. He'd been fairly sure that Aurora would be here but he was obviously wrong and with a sigh he headed towards the bedroom. Well it was maybe for the best, he was tired and if Aurora had been here then he knew he wouldn't have been getting very much if any sleep. Not that he would complain under the circumstances.

He wondering what had happened between Aurora and Gibbs that afternoon for when he had come back, he seemed in a better mood. Obviously Aurora had cleared the air about Omega and Gibbs must still be in the dark about the fact that he was also aware about Aurora's involvement with the orgainsation. He didn't know why he was shocked Aurora had moved up to Omega. She had been a top notch FBI Agent and Omega seemed like an obvious choice now. Of course there was so much more danger attached to being involved with that secret squad.

He walked into the bedroom stripping off as he went, leving him clad in only black boxers and a whitesinglet.

He made himself a quick dinner, just a quick sandwich and while he was eating, his thoughts drifted to Aurora. He remember all those years ago, when she had been FBI and came to Philly on a case. She and her partner had more or less taken over the investigation, treating the locals like they were idiots.

However that had done nothing to kerb his attraction to her. She had been a complete babe and while he had never thought he stood a chance, he had tried anyway.

She hadn't given any real indication if she was interested or not. During the case, she had remained completely professional. It was only after the case had been wrapped up, she had asked him out for a drink to celebrate.

The drink had turned into dinner and then they had ended up back at his place and in his bed. He hadn't been expecting anything more then a one night stand, a way to work out some of the tension and stress from the case.

She had flown back home the following day and he thought he would never see her again.

However, several weeks later, she had turned up out of the blue, at his apartment. He had been surprised, at first thinking she had perhaps forgotten something until she told him she was here for two days and she'd wanted to see him.

After that she would show up, without warning, stay a few days, occasionally a week before she'd leave again. He wasn't seeing anyone else, he didn't want to. There had never been any verbal commitment made but before he knew it, he was falling for her hard.

Their relationship wasn't particularly discreet, his partner at the time didn't know how to keep a secret. While his colleagues thought she was a babe, they still though he was sleeping with the enemy.

When he had moved from Philly to Baltimore, Aurora would still visit. She hadn't been surprised when he told her about his new position, although that didn't surprise him. She had contacts everywhere.

He had really thought they could make it, that maybe one day she would tell him she wanted more, wanted to be with him more permanently. But she never had and she had completely stunned him when she had turned up on his doorstep one Friday and told him it was over. He had been amazed and wanted to know why but she had never really given him an answer. They had shared one incredible last night together and when he had awoke in the morning, she was gone, a note on her pillow saying "Goodbye"

He hadn't dated for a long time after that. The wall he had built to protect himself was too hard to knock down.

It was only when he moved to Washington and started out at NCIS, that he had started dating again. He wasn't interested in a permanent relationship, no one could live up to Aurora, so no relationship lasted very long. He knew what people thought of him but he didn't care. They didn't know the truth.

He sighed, finishing dinner before he moved into his bedroom and he crawled into bed, pulling the covers around him. He wondered if Aurora would turn up tonight. It didn't look like she'd been by all day.

He'd offered her this as a place to crash and she'd said that she would but something had obviously made her change her mind. He wondered what it was, where she was but before too long his eyelids drooped and he was sound asleep.

Tony awoke a few minutes past four and reached across to the other side of the bed, finding it empty. He sat up slightly, frowning, wondering where she was. Why hadn't she turned up yet?

Damn it he was worried now. Had something happened to her? He reached across for his phone. He had to call her, make sure she was alright. What if...

Or maybe she'd just moved on but she'd have said goodbye no just simply vanished.

He dialled her number, waiting for her to answer. 'Please Aurora, answer,' he whispered.

'Tony,' he heard a sleepy voice say in his ear.'What's wrong?'

'Aurora. where are you?' he asked as relief flooded through him at the fact that she was alive and okay. 'I mean you were going to stay here and you haven't been home.'

'Home?' she said softly.

'I mean,' he rubbed his hand over his face. 'I didn't mean it that way it came out what I mean was that you were going to use this place as a base and you didn't come back from wherever you were and I was worried something had happened to you.' He realised that he was probably scaring her off not that she would stay around once this assignment was over.

'I got held up and I figured you might like a night alone and to get some sleep,' she told him. 'I didn't think you'd worry,' she told him. She wasn't used to people worrying about her and really she was trying to protect him.

'Well I was worried when I woke up and you hadn't come back but now I know that you are okay. You are okay aren't you?'

'Yeah I'm fine,' she assured him. The temptation to get into her car and go and see him beckoned to her but she ignored it. Once this assignment was over, she was going home, leaving Tony and heading onto her next assignment.

'Well okay,' Tony sat up in bed and rubbed his hand over his face. 'I guess I'll see you around then.'

'Okay,' she said. 'Night,'

'It's morning,' he told her with a slight smile in his voice. 'You really have been up all night haven't you?'

'Hmm just got into bed about 5 minutes ago,' she told him. 'To get an hours sleep or so.' she smiled.

'Yeah well,' he looked at the clock. 'I might get up and have a shower and get myself into work and show Gibbs that he's not the only one who can get in at the crack of dawn,'

'Okay,' she nodded. 'I'll see you around,' she tried to sound a little standoffish but knew she was probably failing.

'Okay,' he wasn't stupid and could tell that she was trying to put him off. 'Take care then.'

She hung up and Tony sighed, dropping his phone onto the bed. What was all that about? Why hadn't she come by?

Because she's preparing you for when she takes off again he told himself as he went to get into the shower deciding that he would cook himself a big hearty country breakfast before heading into work

He liked having her around but he knew that once this assignment was over, she would go back home and might not hear from her for years, if ever.

But hell make hay while the sun shines was an old saying and it wasn't like Aurora hadn't enjoyed it too and they'd both known that there was no chance of long term committment there. They had their work commitments and both were dedicated to their jobs. Neither would give it up, at least not at this point in time.

With a sigh, he showered and dressed before he made himself a big breakfast and then headed into work.

Cait Todd pulled up outside O'Sullivan's home and looked around. It was early but she wanted and needed to check a few things out, follow up a few leads. She knew that Gibbs would have her guts for garters if he found out, she remembered what had happened to Tony that time he'd gone solo and he'd tried to contact Gibbs but she hadn't tried to call anyone because heck she was just checking out the crime scene with no real danger to be had.

With the key they had gotten from O'Sullivans key chain, she let herself into the house and moved into the front hall, closing the door behind her.

It was dark and slowly she moved through the dark house with her gun in one hand and the torch in the other. With a sigh, she found the light switch and flicked it on, putting her torch away. No one was here.

Well that was a reasonable thing wasn't it? Besides she didn't really want any unexpected company but as she moved through the house she started to have the uneasy feeling that maybe she should have called Tony and asked him to come with her.

She moved into the bedroom, taking a look around, seing if she noticed anything unusual.

It was then that she heard a noise and spun around to face the sound, her gun sent flying from her hand.