Authors Notes - Thanks to all my readers and reviewers as usual. I love reading your reactions to the latest chapter and it gives me inspiration to continue. Review responses are at the end.

A brief warning, a few profanities in this chapter. If anyone needs a safe chapter, drop me an e.mail and I'll send it to you.

Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty

Arriving at work, he parked quickly and headed up in the elevator. 'Gibbs,' he said when he saw his boss waiting for him in the deserted office floor

'He's this way,' Gibbs told him.

'Where's Cait?' he asked, noting Gibbs was alone.

'I didn't call her,' he said simply. 'One of us needs some sleep,' It was already shaping up to be a long day and it was still dark outside.

Tony nodded. That made sense. 'So, where did they pick him up?'Tony asked, just getting enough time to toss his bag down before he followed Gibbs.

'Near your place,' Gibbs told him as they walked together down the hallway and toward the interrogation room.

'What?' Tony looked up at hi surprised. 'Where? What time?' he asked.

'About an hour ago. He didn't realise that there is a watch on your home. This is why I really don't think this merchant is Jason.'

'Huh? Who is watching my place?' Tony frowned at his piece of news. 'Since when?'

'Since I arranged it DiNozzo. Your life is in danger even if you are not willing to admit it or open your eyes and see the truth'

'Why didn't you tell me?' DiNozzo asked, angry. 'I am at least owed that much.'

'Because you'd have just gone off the deep end like you're doing right now.'

'I had a right to know Gibbs,' Tony growled.

'All right, you had a right to know. Now you do know. Happy?'

'Ecstatic,' Tony muttered. 'Aurora would freak if..' Tony stopped himself from continuing, realising he'd probably said too much as it was.

'What does Aurora have to do with this?' Gibbs nailed him with a hard look.

'Nothing,' he muttered.

'Don't lie to me Tony.' Gibbs replied but instead of being furious it was clear that he was concerned.

'Look, it's nothing Gibbs alright?' Tony said. 'Lets interview this SOB,'

'Alright,' Gibbs nodded. 'Lets do it.'

Entering the interview room, their suspect looked him, his eyes betraying nothing as Gibbs and DiNozzo moved to the chairs in front of him.

'All right Jason is it?' Gibbs sat down opposite him. 'I fancy it isn't but as we have a witness who says that is who you are.'

'My name isn't Jason, it's Nick, I told those pigs that who picked me up,' he growled.

'Alright do you know a Jason?'

'No I don't know anyone called Jason,' he said.

'Not the right answer asshole,' Tony slammed his hand down onto the table hard causing Nick to jump slightly.

'I swear I don't,' he muttered.

'Then why were you lurking around Special Agent DiNozzo's home this evening? And don't say you weren't lurking because you were.' Gibbs nailed him with a look

'I was lost,' Nick said. 'I'm not a local, I've never been here before and I got lost,'

'Hmm from what this report says you were looking for a way to gain access into the premises and you had a weapon and B & E tools in your possession so don't lie to me!'

'I carry a gun, you have to these days, don't you?' he said. 'Terrorists and all running around, gotta protect myself.'

'Boss,' Tony rolled his shoulders and then his neck. 'This is getting us nowhere. '

'Good, can I go then?' Nick stood up.

'Did I say you could go.' Gibbs asked. 'Did I give you permission to leave Nick?'

'He said we weren't getting anywhere,' Nick pointed at Tony.

'And he's not in charge and he doesn't take to kindly to people trying to break into his house with the obvious intent of killing him. Now would you really like me to kick you loose so that he can have a go at you. '

'I wasn't gonna kill him,' he said.

'Ahh so you admit you were trying to break into Agent DiNozzo's home. If it wasn't to kill him then why ?"

'No I didn't admit nothing, I'm just saying I wasn't gonna kill nobody,' Nick said, shifting slightly in his seat.

'Then your wording leaves much to be desired Nick.' Gibbs shook his head.

'I'm stressed, I'm not really thinking about my wording,' Nick growled.

'Like I said boss,' Tony sighed, interlacing his fingers and cracking his knuckles loudly. 'This is not getting us anywhere. Kick him loose and then he'll have to think about who is the greater danger to him. 'Jason or me.'

Nicks eyes widened slightly but he remained silent.

'Well that got a reaction,' Gibbs noted. 'An interesting one too.'

'Huh?' Nick frowned.

'You look scared,' Gibbs said.

'I'm not scared.'

'Could have fooled me,' Gibbs asked. 'If it's any consolation, I'd be scared of Jason too,'

Nick's eyes slid across to look at Tony, DiNozzo at 6 foot 2 was much larger then Nicks mere 5 foot 10 and at the moment Tony was glaring at the man at his most threatening best.

'I'd be scared of Tony too, although compared to Jason, Tony is probably a pussycat,' Gibbs said seriously.

'Probably,' Tony nodded.

'I.. I don't know who this Jason is,' Nick stuttered.

'Wrong answer.' Gibbs shook his head. 'I've got to go to the head Tony. You be okay with our guest for five minutes?'

'Sure boss.' Tony nodded, barely taking his eyes off Nick

'Wh.. what are you doing?' Nick asked, watching Gibbs leave.

'I'm going to the head, the john, the toilet whatever you want to call it. Nature is calling.' Gibbs said simply, opening the interview room door.

'No, don't leave me here,' Nick said, shifting uncomfortably.

Gibbs turned to look at him. 'You don't want me to go?'

'Not with him,' he pointed at Tony.

'Me. You're afraid of little old me.' Tony seemed to put menace into the simple words.

'When you look at me like you wanna kill me, then yeah!' Nick muttered

'Well you were going to kill me at some ungodly hour of the morning while I slept so yeah I'm kinda pissed about the fact that the odds, had you actually gotten in would not have been stacked in my favour.'

'I wasn't gonna...' he shook his head.

'Yeah yeah so you keep saying. Then what were you planning on doing? Cooking me breakfast and then doing my laundry?'.

He looked at him for a moment. 'How about a deal?' he asked. 'I get some slack cut to me and I tell you what I know?' he said. He knew was in deep and it was better to cut his losses and see what he could do.

'That sounds fair doesn't it boss?' Tony looked at Gibbs.

'Well it's your call. It was you he was planning on killing DiNozzo.'

'Lets see what he has to say,' Tony looked at Nick.

'I'll tell you everything,' Nick said taking a deep breath.

'Sounds fair,' Tony nodded. 'Go on we're listening.'

Gibbs moved back to his seat and listened as Nick started to tell them what he knew.

'So you were planning on breaking into Agent DiNozzo's apartment. You freely admit that now.'

'Yes,' he nodded.

'Why were you breaking in?' Tony asked with a frown.

'You really have to ask.'

'Well it would be nice to know for certain.'

'And since you said you would cooperate, you have to tell us,' Gibbs said.

'Well I wasn't there to kill you,' Nick sighed. 'I was there to collect you.'

'Collect me?' Tony asked. 'As in kidnap me?'

'Basically,' Nick nodded.

'And why would you want to do that?' Gibbs asked.

'I was under orders to do so. I just didn't realise that I was going up against such a big bloody brute.'

And I'm a light sleeper and I have a gun under my pillow,' Tony gave him a smile.

'Fuck,' he growled.

'Who ordered you to kidnap Tony?' Gibbs asked.

'I never met the person. It was arranged by phone, I was to deliver the package to a designated point where there would a suitcase waiting and I would take my payment and leave. I've done it before but never met the person making the orders.'

'Have you done work for this person before?' Tony asked.

'I just said that didn't I,' Nick crossed his arm.

'Did this person give you a reason as to why they want DiNozzo?' Gibbs asked.,

'No but then again for 100 G I wasn't going to ask. To be honest for that sort of money I expected that I'd have to kill him and deliver the body but nope it was just deliver the package very much alive and collect the cash.'

'$100,000?' Gibbs asked. 'You usually get that sort of money for a job like this?'

'No. Not at all that was why I was pretty confident that it was a hit.'

'What else were you told about the job?' Gibbs asked.

'Just that it was an important snatch and grab and that the package was to be delivered alive and with as little damage as possible. I swear that was all.'

'If you know more..' Tony growled.

'I swear that is all I know when I found out who and what you were I was puzzled as to why these people would find you of interest and put such a high price on your head. Well you know what I mean'

Tony didn't verbally reply.

'How often have you dealt with this person?' Gibbs asked.

'I've dealt with them for maybe the last 4 or 5 years. We have a very successful arrangement. I don't ask too many questions. I do what is asked of me and I reap the rewards I swear that is all I know. When I found out who and what you were I was puzzled as to why these people would find you of interest and put such a high price on your head. Well you know what I mean'

'Why did you arrange to have John O'Sullivan's house broken into?' he asked

'Who says that was me,' Nick frowned. 'I'm not the only on this payroll you know?'

'Well then who did?' Tony asked. 'And did you kill O'Sullivan?'

'I have no idea what you are talking about.' Nick shook his head. 'Honestly if I did I'd tell you. I mean I'm already in deep shit but the only think I know is what my assignment was and yes I met with Tiny and told him what to do at O'Sullivan's home but I was simply relaying a message that I got on my cell phone.'

'Tiny?' Tony muttered. 'What was the message you relayed?'

'Yeah well that's what we call him but he's not exactly tiny. The message I relayed to him was that he was to break into the place and find any information pertaining to a woman name Aurora. That was all it was. I told him that he was to take the evidence to a certain drop off point. End of story. As for him thinking that I'm Jason.' He shook his head. 'It's just the name I gave him, wasn't exactly going to give him my drivers license you know?' he shrugged. 'I wasn't expecting the fat bastard to get caught and blab his guts,'

'So what do you know about the real Jason?' Gibbs asked.

'Nothing. All I know is that he's a dangerous man and that he would have been looking forward to whatever he was going to do to you,' he gave Tony a glance. 'I mean 100 G is a lot a bread and he'd want to get his monies worth.'

'Why didn't he just kidnap Tony himself?' Gibbs asked. 'Why get someone else to do it?'

'I have no idea,' he shook his head. 'Perhaps he didn't want to run the risk of getting caught. Leaves that up the us expendable ones'

'Where were you to take DiNozzo?' Gibbs asked.

Nick sighed and gave them an address 'I want protection because I'm a dead man if you cut me loose.'

'You'll get protection,' Gibbs nodded. They needed to check out the address.

'I will? Really !' Nick was surprised.

'If you're information provides us with a lead then yes,' Gibbs said.

'Well he's probably long gone by now I was due there no later then 3am and as it's now almost 5. He'll know that something has gone belly up'.

'Well we'll see what we can get,' Gibbs told him, standing.

'What about me? Are you going to hold me for something until you check out what I've told you.'

'Yes, until we can verify some information,' Gibbs said. 'Were you watching the apartment before you tried to break in?'

'Of course I wanted to make sure that He,' another look at Tony. 'Was home and wasn't going anywhere. The lights were on in his apartment and then when they went off around midnight I gave it an hour to make sure he was asleep and was about to make my move when the bloody marines grabbed me,'

'Did you notice anyone else near the apartment?' Gibbs asked.

'I saw a hot looking sort leave, a lush red head. I thought she might have been in your apartment DiNozzo but hell she left shortly after you arrived so unless you scare hot ladies off then I must have been very wrong.'

'Wasn't in my apartment,' Tony lied, silently thanking god this bastard across from him didn't know who the red head actually was.

'Unlucky guy,' he smirked. 'Not one of your neighbours hey?'

'Nope nobody like that lives in my block. Must have been visiting someone.'

'Lucky them,' Nick muttered as Tony and Gibbs left the interview room.

'I have to call Aurora, tell her,' Tony said once they were out.

'Righto and then you're going into protective custody.'

'Boss no I... '

'Yes DiNozzo, it wasn't a request,' Gibbs said. 'They tried to get you today! That man was going to kidnap you and take you to Jason,'

'But he didn't . Oh come on boss you can't do this!'

'DiNozzo!' Gibbs said. 'Aurora thinks Jason is a dangerous guy ,what does that tell you?'

'That he is.'

'Exactly and not just you average crim out there. If Aurora says he's dangerous, then it's deadly serious' Gibbs said 'There is a 100,000 dollar bounty on your head. Don't be stupid.'

'I'm not but I can't help anyone if I'm stuck in some safe house,' Tony said.

'At least you won't end up dead Tony. And you'll helping yourself which is the most important thing at the moment

'Yeah right,' he muttered.

'Yes DiNozzo, end of discussion,' Gibbs said. 'Just what was Aurora doing at your place tonight?' Gibbs asked.

'Patching herself up. She didn't stay boss. She was gone about 15 minutes after I got home.'

'Patching herself up?' Gibbs frowned. 'What happened?'

'She wouldn't tell me.' Tony sighed as he half slumped against the wall and rubbed his hand over his face. 'I asked and she wasn't giving anything,'

'Great,' Gibbs muttered. 'Call her, tell her what we have,'

'Yeah good idea,' he dialed her number with a shaking hand as the events of the last few hours really hit home to him. Everything Aurora had said, those bastard was going to kidnap him and take him to this psycho and...

'Tony,' Auroras voice greeted him. 'What's wrong?' she asked him.

'Hmmm,' Tony frowned slightly the past 24 hours catching up to him. Cait getting hurt, Aurora turning up again, learning to his kidnap attempt. 'I,' he watched as Gibbs took the phone from his hand.

'Aurora it's Gibbs.'

'What's wrong?' she demanded. 'What happened to Tony?

'He's okay,' Gibbs cast a look at the younger man. 'They tired to kidnap him tonight. It was foiled they didn't get near him thanks to the marines I had watching his apartment. But there is a bounty of 100 G was his head and we both know why.'

'WHAT?' she yelled. 'Oh my god,' she muttered, feeling fear grip her.

'I know but he's safe and I'm going to put him somewhere nobody will get near him.'

'I want the best with him Gibbs,' Aurora said seriously. 'I want him safe,'

'So do I Aurora,' he watched as Tony had wandered away. 'He's one of my best agents, even if he sometimes doesn't act that way,' he shook his head. 'I don't want to lose him.'

'Neither do I,' she whispered, not really directed at Gibbs.

'He'll be safe I promise but I need to meet we have to talk. Please Aurora I'm asking as nicely as possible,'

'When?' Aurora asked simply.

'As soon as you can. You can name the place.'

'6am,' she told him. 'The first warehouse,' she said. 'Tell Tony... to be careful,' she said before hanging up.,

'Aurora said to be careful,' he handed Tony back his phone. 'Now we're moving you to the safe house right away. Okay I know you don't have anything to wear but we'll get you something okay.

'Fuck,' Tony muttered.

'I beg your pardon DiNozzo?' Gibbs shook his head

'I don't want to go into protective custody,' he muttered.

'I didn't ask if you wanted to,' Gibbs said.

'I know I have to but I don't want to.'

'Come on,' Gibbs said. 'I have to go and see Aurora,'

'Have you ever been scared boss, really scared?' He bit his lip and there was a little boy lost look in his eyes.

'Yes,' Gibbs nodded seriously. 'Many times,'

Tony just nodded. "I'm not so much scared for me but for Aurora and for you and Cait all being put out there on the line while I sit on my butt watching bad daytime television.'

'We'll be much happier and less worried, knowing you're safe,' Gibbs said. 'That will keep us all safe,'

'Yeah okay,' he sighed again 'I understand that.'

'I'll make the final arrangements and then have someone come and collect you,' he said. 'I need to go and speak to Aurora,'

'Okay boss,' Tony slumped behind his desk then looked up as two marines moved to flank him. 'Under house arrest hey.' he tried to crack a joke that fell very flat.

Till we catch this bastard, yes,' Gibbs nodded.

Tony nodded, then looked up at Gibbs. 'Be careful.' was all he said before the uniformed marines led him toward the elevator doors.

'Will do,' Gibbs nodded as Tony left, Gibbs leaving several moments later for his meeting with Aurora.

Thanks for reading. That was a bit of a longer chapter, I hope you all enjoyed.

Review responses -

shirik - Not a problem, thank you for reading and reviewing. Glad you're enjoying this fic.

jtbwriter - Poor Tony, I know I'm mean to him. Thank you for commenting to Auroras character. I really wanted to create a character that was complex and not just a 2D character. I think I have achieved that but it's great to hear someone comment on it. Thanks for reading.

Southerncrossgirl - Thanks for reading, more has been sent. Thank you for reviewing.

M/L Only - Thanks for reviweing. I'm trying to update once a week and sm so far managing that quite well :) Thanks for reading, glad you're enjoying.

Thats all from me for now. Thanks everything.