Authors Note - Hope you all enjoy this latest chapter. Thanks to all my reviewers and readers. I think there is just one profanity in this chapter but if anyone needs a safe chapter, drop me a mail and I'll send it off to you :) Review replies at the end.

Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-Three

What seemed like an eternity later as Gibbs dodge and weaved and ensured that they were not followed they were pulling into a garage in a nondescript neighbour in an equally nondescript house.

'Nice place,' Aurora commented.

'Its suppose to look nice and normal,' Gibbs told her as the garage door closed behind them. 'Come on we can get into the house this way.' she nodded, following him into the house.

'Who else is here?' she asked. 'They shouldn't know who I'am,'

'Don't worry about that, Gibbs said. 'Let me do the worrying.'

'It's my job to worry,' she muttered.

'All right but don't. Not today at least

'Not for the next 5 minutes,' she smiled at him.

'Good. Now come on,' he led her into the house and came face to face with Tony who looked liked he'd just seen a ghost as the glass of lemonade he was holding slipped from his grasp, the glass smashing onto the floor

Aurora didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Was his reaction good, or bad?

'Hi,' she finally said softly.

'Oh God,' he sobbed and went to her ignoring the sticky mess on the floor as he wrapped his arms around her and he heard Gibbs call out McGees name and vaguely requested, no told him to clean up the mess before he was relieved.

'Tony,' she whispered his name softly, feeling his arms go around her and he hugged him back just as tightly.

'You've come to say goodbye haven't you' he said softly.

She nodded. 'Once Jason is no longer a threat to you, I'll...' she didn't finish her sentence. She didn't want to and he'd know what she meant.

'I know,' he pulled her close and rested his chin on the top of her head so she wouldn't see how misty eyed he was. 'I know that,' he ran his hand through her hair.

There was a silence, a comfortable one seemed to descend upon them. Gibbs felt like he was intruding and left, grabbing McGee on the way out.

'You know you'll have to thank Jethro when this is over,' she told him. 'He convinced me to come here.'

'He did huh?' Tony asked. 'Then I definitely will have to thank him,' he looked into her eyes. 'I'm glad you came by,'

'It's wrong Tony,' she told him. 'I could be putting you in danger!'

'I don't care,' he told her seriously. 'As long as I could see you again,'

'Yes but I don't want you to be hurt or worse because of me.'

'I'd die a happy man at least,' he told her then put a finger to her lips to silence her.

She looked up at him, knowing if he said what he was about to, there would be no turning back. Their feelings hadn't really been verbalised, only implied but she knew what he was going to say and waited.

'Now don't look so worried,' he smiled at her. 'I'm not going to say it but you know its true'

'I know,' she whispered. 'It's true for me too,' she looked up at him.

'Yet there is nothing left to do but go our separate ways , and pick up all the pieces left behind us, and maybe someday somewhere along the way another love will find us,' he said softly in an average impersonation of Elvis who had recorded the song.

She smiled slightly. 'No,' she whispered. 'At least not for me. But I know you'll find someone.' she stroked his cheek.

'I don't think so,' he looked around. 'I'm pretty much married to the job and besides who is going to take on a smartass womaniser who brags about his dates in great detail and can't stay in an exclusive relationship,' he shook his head. 'I'm not really a very nice guy you know.'

'Yes you are,' she told him. 'You just hide it far too much,' she told him, wondering if that was her fault.

'Maybe,' he shrugged.

'I know you Tony, you can't hide it from me,' she looked at him.

He didn't reply, just looked into her eyes and he looked like a lost little boy, his hair was tousled and his hazel eyes were sad.

'Oh Tony,' Aurora whispered. Damn it, why was it so hard to walk away from him?

Tony bit his lip and then shook his head. 'Goodbye Aurora,' he bent his head and gave her a kiss. 'Stay safe whatever you do, wherever you go. Stay safe.'

She looked up at him and nodded. 'You too,' she said. 'I know you'll find someone special. She's just out there waiting for you somewhere,' she said before she kissed him, the kiss lasting far longer then she intended,

Tony closed his eyes fighting back the tears. He couldn't let Gibbs or McGee see this he just couldn't. 'I guess you have to go,' he said knowing that Gibbs had probably already arranged for McGee to take her back with him when he left.

She nodded slightly. 'Bye Tony,' she whispered softly, squeezing his hand before she moved out of his embrace and moved toward the garage.

'Bye Aurora,' he whispered before turning away from McGee who had returned.

'Don't worry about the mess Tim. I made it I'll clean it up,' he told the younger man

He nodded before he moved out to where the car was. Gibbs had instructed him to drop this woman off wherever she wanted to go.

'So,' he climbed into the car. 'Where to?'

She told him to drop her off at the local Starbucks, she'd get her own transportation to where she needed to go from there.

'Are you sure,' he asked her. 'I mean the boss said to make sure you were safe.'

'I'll be fine,' she assured him, watching him closely behind her sunglasses. Gibbs said McGee was fine but she didn't know him which meant he was a threat.

'Alright,' he pulled up at the Starbucks. 'Gibbs asked me to give you this,' he passed her a small envelope. 'He also said to take care.'

She frowned slightly, taking the envelope from him. 'Thanks,' she said. 'Tell him and I will and him too. If he takes care of himself, we might get to go to his fourth wedding,' she smiled slightly.

'I don't think the boss is going to try for number four somehow.' McGee told her with a tiny smile.

'Hopefully not, wedding presents are too expensive now,' Aurora said with a smile.'Thanks for the lift,' she said.

'Hey, that's fine,' he told her then added 'Hey you really care about Tones don't you?'

She looked at him for a moment, regarding him carefully. 'Yes,' she said finally when McGee had thought she wouldn't answer. 'Yes I do,'

'I could tell,' he said simply as she got out of the car. 'Hell the boss and the others might think I'm just some computer geek trying to be a something he's not but I could tell the moment you walked in. I know you can't stay but he'll be okay, we'll all look after him.'

Aurora nodded, smiling slightly, forcing her tears away. 'Thank you Agent McGee, that's good to know someone will,' she closed the door, the window open.

McGee simply nodded before he drove off leaving Aurora standing there all alone.

Aurora moved inside the shop, grabbing a drink. She went over to a table that was backed onto a wall and sat down before she ripped open the envelope, looking inside. She smiled as she looked at the photo inside and then read the note nodding slightly at what Gibbs had written. Then quickly she folded the note and slipped it into her pocket.

"Thought you'd like this. Take care of yourself, Gibbs" was all the note said and it had been wrapped around a photo of Tony.

Aurora felt tears well as she looked at the picture, she loved him so much and yet they couldn't be together they just couldn't' be.

He looked happy in the photo, he had a big grin. Perhaps it had been taken at a party or benefit night, he looked to be wearing a tux.

She sighed as a teardrop fell onto the photo. Maybe she should leave her job, take something in local law enforcement right in DC so she could be close to him, maybe they could make it work but her little voice of reason kept telling her it could never work at all. She would always have enemies, they wouldn't go away and she wouldn't let him get hurt because of her or her job. And as they say your past will always catch up with you, especially if you had such a colourful past as she did.

With a sigh, she took a sip of her ice coffee and pushed the photo into her deep jacket pocket. She knew she couldn't have the real thing but maybe on long and lonely nights she could pull out the photo and imagine, there would be no harm in that.

She knew he'd move on eventually; find someone to settle down with. He deserved someone special and she knew a woman out there was just looking for the Anthony DiNozzo he insisted on hiding.

She couldn't understand why he was doing that, why he insisted hiding behind an image that so wasn't him, not at all, not the Tony DiNozzo she'd known in Philly andBaltimoreand not the Tony DiNozzo she saw behind the act even now.

Maybe Gibbs was right, it was his way of protecting himself after she had hurt him so badly by ending their relationship all those years ago.

But she had to leave, she couldn't have stayed, why couldn't he see that? She knew he'd been hurt but really had he been hurt that badly.

She knew she would never have another man in her life, her job permitted such and even if it hadn't, no one would ever live up to Tony. But maybe he felt the same way about her?

Sighing deeply she stared into her iced coffee. Why did life have to be so damn complicated?

She sighed softly, she knew she'd better head off. She threw out the empty drink container and left.

Once Aurora had gone, Tony cleaned up the mess in the kitchen, noting Gibbs in the doorway. 'Don't,' he mumbled to his boss.

'I wasn't going to say anything Tony. I know what it's like to be in love and in love so badly it hurts,'

'Yeah well, at least you got a chance to marry the woman you loved,' Tony said.

'Women Tony, three times, three strikes and out,' he said with a small smile.

I've never loved anyone like I've loved her and I never will.' Tony sighed

'You really love her that much?' Gibbs asked, already knowing the answer.

'More then words can describe, as corny as that might sound,' he said softly. 'You can't equate that with the Tony you know can you.' he finished, getting off his knees and toss the broken glass and wet paper towel in the bin.

'No one is immune to love,' Gibbs said.

'Yeah so I've heard.' he said softly, leaning against the bench. 'When she left that night, all those years ago, I didn't think I'd ever see her again.' He looked out the small window that overlooked the small backyard.'So eventually I tried to move, get over her but it never really happened, I just pushed her to the back of my mind but she was always there. And then the night she turned up...' he sighed.

'And all the old memories and pain came back,' Gibbs put a hand on Tony's shoulder. 'I can understand that. You were thrilled to have her back but you knew there was nothing permanent about it,'

'No, although I guessed in the back if my mind, I hoped maybe...' he shook his head. 'Pretty dumb huh?'

'No Tony not at all. You know maybe you should drop this womaniser act and let some girl see the real you, the you that Aurora knows, the you that has been buried for so long.'

"What boss that is the real me,' he flashed one of his trade mark lady killer smiles.

'Rubbish,' Gibbs said. 'I've seen glimpses of the real person and from the way Aurora spoke earlier, that isn't the real you either,' Gibbs told him.

'Oh well,' Tony shrugged. 'Whatever.'

'Yeah well maybe it is whatever Tony, its your life I suppose and you can throw it away on a love that can never be if you choose but life is way too short.'

'Yeah it is my life Boss and who says I want to be with anyone else?' he growled.

'Okay Tony that's fine. At least I won't be around to see the bitter old man that you become.'

'It's better that I'm alone then end up with some poor woman who I won't love as much as she deserves and constantly compare her to Aurora,' Tony growled at him.

'Is that why you go from one conquest to another DiNozzo?' Gibbs was getting angry. 'Is that why you live with an undeserved reputation?'

'What does that mean?' Tony snapped, wondering if it was too early for a beer.

'It means what it sounds like Tony, when it comes to women you're a braggart and at times a complete asshole. You sat there and wondered why Michelle filled your closet with dog crap because you weren't being exclusive to her. I heard you and Cait talking and that was when I brought up rule number 12 as you would remember because Cait said she would have shot you.'

'What? We never said we were exclusive!' Tony shook his head. 'We'd just started seeing each other,'

'Well she must have thought it Tony. Most women do.'

'Well I didn't,' Tony said. 'Jesus Gibbs, have you always been in exclusive relationships?'

'Pretty much,' Gibbs told him.

'Of course,' Tony muttered.

'Were you and Aurora exclusive?' Gibbs asked

'We were on again off again boss, nothing constant about what we had.'

'That's not what I asked,' Gibbs said. 'Were you exclusive? Did you date or sleep with other women in the three years you were seeing Aurora?'

'No,' the answer was so soft Gibbs almost missed it.

'No,' Gibbs said. 'And did she?'

'I wouldn't know. I never asked her.'

'I'd say probably not,' Gibbs said. 'And neither of you said you weren't going to, did you?'

'No.'

'Exactly. To meit just seem you're trying to forget about Aurora, and coming across as an asshole while you're doing it,' he said before his phone rung and he answered.

'Gibbs it's me,' Abby said.

'Abby, what do you have for me? Something good I hope,' he said.

Oh a cliffhanger! Sorry guys, please dont throw rotton fruit. I do accept chocolate bars though (not rotton ones though!)

jtbwriter - Yep, Aurora has feelings and Gibbs is shocked to see just a fraction of the real Aurora. And yep, Tony and Aurora have seen each other again. I love writing McGee and Tonys banter :P It's fun. Thanks for reading

M/L Only - thanks for reviewing, glad you're enjoying

skirik - Poor Tony, I do enjoy being mean to him. Sometimes lol. Thanks for reading!

Thats all for me this time :) Hope you enjoyed. Thanks for reading and would love anyone reading to drop in a review, even if it's just to say hi! Thanks all.