Authors Notes - Thanks to all my readers and reviewers jtbwriter, southerncrossgirl, shirik and Malaskor. I hope you all enjoy the latest chapter.

Chapter Eighteen

Fifteen minutes later,there were what should have been, a half an hour drive away from HQ.. 'See, told you I could do it,' Tony grinned as he parked the car,looking at Cait in the mirror and noting she looked a little green. 'Don't spew up in here, I'm not cleaning in,'

'Bite me,' she muttered to him as she climbed out of the car, looking up at the abandoned warehouse. 'Another one?' she asked.

'She knows them all,' Gibbs muttered as they moved inside.

'Obviously,' Cait muttered as they entered the warehouse. There was a concrete pillar near the entrance and the three moved toward it, looking around.

'Don't be so nervous,' Aurora appeared from the shadows. 'At least not of me,' She was wearing black pants and a black tank top that made her blend into the dark warehouse. The clothes clung to her like a second skin and only made Tony want to peel her out of them. Or rip them off.

'So we're here,' Gibbs told her. 'Now spill.'

'What did you get from Fatso?' she asked. 'About Jason I mean?'

'Just that he was hired by this Jason person to find information at the house that would lead to a mystery woman with a funny sounding name,' Cait told her. 'His words not mine.'

'And how did you manage to get even that much out of the belligerent bugger?'

'Tony turned on the charm and then scared the shit out of him. Good to Bad cop in a heartbeat. Reminded me of someone with Multiple Personality Disorder actually.' she smiled

'Oh Cait, you almost sound impressed.' Tony smirked

'You have tickets on yourself DiNozzo,' Cait mumbled.

'So Aurora, what do you know about Jason?' Gibbs asked. 'You obviously didn't want Tony going after this man and I want to know why,'

'Because he's dangerous and while I know you can look after yourself Tony,' she turned to him and gave him a small smile. 'You just don't know what you're up against,'

'Then what are we up against?' Tony asked. 'We won't know unless you tell us,'

'Someone who is very dangerous. Someone who has been responsible for the deaths of too many good people and who has a bounty on my head as big as Texas,'

'Who is this guy?' Gibbs asked. 'You think he killed O'Sullivan? To get to you?'

'Maybe,' she said. 'I wasn't sure if Jason was involved in this or not. This isn't the first time he has tried to get at me,' she said. 'That's why I put my number in your phone under Jason,' she looked at Gibbs. 'I knew if his name came up, you'd contact me about it,'

'I see,' Gibbs nodded his mind ticking over

'I didn't know he was involved Gibbs, it was a possibility,' she told him.

'No I don't disbelieve you,' Gibbs assured her. 'Not for a moment.'

'I didn't think he'd killed O'Sullivan, the death was too quick. He doesn't go for a normal execution style killing, he drags the torture out,' she said.

'That's why you didn't want DiNozzo going after him or trying to find out who he was, isn't it,' Gibbs said softly. 'Because of what he's capable of. Would there be any chace that he would think that you and Tony were,' he paused looking for the right word. 'Together so to speak.'

'I haven't been followed, I've been careful,' Aurora said. 'I can't see how he would but it's not impossible. To say it is would be foolish,'

'Then I understand why you didn't want Tony to go out alone. If that had been the case then he could easily have tried to lure you out using Tony as bait.'

'Hey, I am here!' Tony piped up. 'And for one I wouldn't get caught and two I wouldn't expect Aurora to put herself in danger because of me.'

'I'd trade myself for you in a second if that was the case,' Aurora said.

'They're after me, not you and I wouldn't let you get killed because of me,'

'Sometimes that's the price you have to pay,' Tony looked at her sadly. 'I wouldn't want you to do that you know. Wouldn't expect you too,' he shook his head and then turned to Cait and nailed her with a Shut up look.

'But I would,' she said.

'Well that isn't going to be necessary,' Gibbs told them. 'Now come on Aurora, there must be more to all of this,'

'Isn't there always?' Aurora said dryly.

'Of course,' Gibbs said. 'So what is it?'

'I told you we have a bad apple in our organisation, my boss has sent me out to find out who the leak is. O'Sullivan had information and Jason as found out and no he's not the leak, he's an assassin, one of the best in the world and his name isn't even really Jason I dare say. He just thinks it's funny to take the name of a character from a horror flick as he goes around killing people.'

'Huh?' Gibbs asked not knowing what she was talking about. 'Horror Flick?"

'From a movie Gibbs, called Halloween,' Cait said.

'Oh and he was a hired assassin?'

This comment cracked Tony right up. 'Yeah boss that's a good one,' he chuckled but immediately sobered at the withering look Gibbs gave him.

'No, he's just a psycho who goes around killing people,' Cait said.

'Does this guy take any other inspiration from these movies? Killing habits?'

'No not at all but we all have to have a handle don't we and he chose Jason for his.' Aurora shrugged.

'What else do you know about this Jason?' Gibbs asked. 'Know what he looks like? How long has he been after you? Any specific reason he is after you?'

'I could have a phone book of reasons, nobody has ever seen his face and,..'

'Hang on a minute Fatso said he'd seen Jason's face,' Tony frowned. 'Now why would a top international assassin allow that to happen?'

'Maybe he's getting sloppy,' Cait said.

'Why didn't he just go in and look for himself?' Tony asked. 'Would have a simply enough job for him,'

'Too beneath him,' Aurora commented. 'Wouldn't want to get his hands dirty at that level I dare say or take the risk of being seen.'

'But why would he let Fatso see his face?' Tony asked.

'That's a good question,' Aurora nodded.

'We need to get a description from Fatso,' Gibbs said. 'See if we can pull anything up on his bastard.'

'Right boss,' Tony said. 'Damn how did we let that slip under the radar?'

'We didn't know what we were dealing with,' Gibbs said. 'Has this guy even gotten close to finding you?' he asked Aurora.

'No,' she told him. 'He's been trying for a while I know that. '

'We'll he's close enough now,' Tony muttered.

'And that is why I'm worried about your safety,' she looked at Tony before turning back to Gibbs.'I've been careful but Jason seems to have ways and means.'

'You think he could come after Tony?' Gibbs asked, wondering if he should have Tony put into protective custody.

'I'm hoping not,' Aurora replied. 'Actually I'm fairly certain that you're safe I've been careful.'

'Careful to the point that you put a gun to Tony's head when he came home that first night? Were you maybe expecting that it could have been someone else.' Gibbs asked.

'Hey I didn't tell him anything about that ,' Tony yelped. 'He just knew it.' A frown creased his brow. 'How do you do that boss?' he asked although he knew he'd get no answer

'It pays to be cautious,' Aurora said. 'It's how I've stayed alive and Tony knew I wouldn't hurt him,' she said.

'Probably scared the crap out of him,' Cait smirked.

'Hey I don't scare that easily Cait.'

'Oh really what about the Iguana hmmm?' her smile got wider.

'Ahhh bring that up.' he rolled his eyes. 'If you woke up from a deep sleep to find a lizard in bed with you.' he cracked a smile. 'Oh sorry most of the guys you date are lizards aren't they?'

'Behave children,' Gibbs voice commanded silence. 'What else can you tell us Aurora? Anything else we need to know?'

Aurora smiled at him. 'I don't like Iguana's either,' she told him before turning back to Gibbs. 'Just that he's highly dangerous and wouldn't hesitate to kill in an instant,' she snapped her fingers.

'Great,' Gibbs muttered. 'Alright then, we'll be in touch. Lets go,' he and Cait headed toward the entrance and Tony paused.

'Where are you staying?' Tony asked. 'Is it safe?'

'Don't you worry about me,' she touched his arm gently, her green eyes sad. 'You just take care of you okay?'

'Hey,' Tony touched her hand. 'What about you being safe?' Tony asked with a frown.

'I'll be alright and lets not be so worried about the other that we forget to worry about ourselves ok,' she gave him a quick and gentle kis s onthe cheek. He stopped her from pulling away and kissed her and kissed her deeply, crushing her against him.

'Tony don't,' she pulled away from him after several moments.'Please don't make this hard.'

'Why is it hard?' Tony asked. 'Stay with me, my place is safe and I can protect you,' the words were out his mouth before he realised what he was saying.

'Oh Tony you are a beautiful man inside and out. Why do you put on the act you do? Okay I know why but you shouldn't. You really should let people see the real you. What you're offering,' she sighed. 'It's too dangerous for you and I'm not going to put you in danger.'

'I'm putting myself there,' he said. 'You shouldn't be alone right now,'

'And I appreciate that Tony but I can't let you.'

'How are you going to stop me?'

'By not staying at your place is a start,' Aurora said.

'Aurora,' he sighed just as Gibbs bellowed his name. 'Better go.'

She nodded. 'I'll see you around Tony,' she said softly.

'Here,' he pressed something into her hand. 'Coming Gibbs,' he called as his name was bellowed again.

Tony moved to the entrance and Aurora looked down at what he had pressed into her hand

It was a key, the key to his apartment, as if she really needed it. She smiled at the gesture. She didn'tneed a key if she wanted to get in but the gesture was of acceptance of her and the danger she carried with her.

With a smile, she pocketed the key and left the warehouse.

'What were you doing?' Gibbs gave him a hard look.

'Tying up some loose ends,' Tony told him climbing in behind the wheel.

Gibbs looked at him. 'Like?' he asked.

'It wasn't important boss I was just saying good bye and be careful,'

'Goodbye? She's leaving?' he asked him.

'No not goodbye like that, just as goodbye for now,' he said, not telling Gibbs he had given Aurora a key. He knew she didn't need a key to get into his apartment but it was more of a gesture. He hoped she'd accept the offer.

'Oh okay,' Gibbs nodded. 'Lets roll,'

'Where too boss?' Tony asked as he started the engine and Cait muttered. 'I'm going to be sick.'

'Back to base,' Gibbs said. 'We need to get a description of this Halloween man,'

'Sound good to me,' Tony did a tight and fast U turn that almost threw Cait across the back seat as she hadn't done up her seat belt.

'Tony!' Cait wailed as she grabbed her seat belt.

'Sorry,' he told her as he headed back towards headquarters