Authors Note - Here is another chapter :) Thanks to all my readers and reviewers! No real warning, a few profanities, let me know if you need a safe chapter :)

Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-Six

Barry had found the perfect place to meet. in the warehouse district, there was an old warehouse, ready for demolition and hadn't been used for years.

He could meet with Aurora there and have one of his people hide up in the rafters. It was a perfect plan, Aurora would be dead and he himself would be injured but not badly enough to be life threatening. Just enough to make it look good.

He'd have other people around as a backup, to grab in her in case something went wrong. She was feisty and a top notch fighter but 6 big guys would bring her down.

No nothing could go wrong.

Absolutely nothing.

Aurora was waiting for her phone to ring but jumped slightly when it did.

'Hi Barry,' she answered on the fourth ring.

'Hi just wanted to let you know that I'm boarding the plane now and will be there in,' he gave her an approximate time of arrival.

She glanced at her watch. 'Okay, what time do you want to meet up and where?' she asked .

'I'll call you when I land,' he told her. 'Not sure where yet, will let you know,' he said, he isnt going to tell her where, for fear she told someone else. 'I have to go, see you shortly,'

'Okay,' she nodded before she hung up. She knew he was waiting until the last minute to tell her when and where and knew exactly why.

She let her boss know before she contacted Gibbs, knowing he'd be waiting.

'Gibbs,' he answered.

'It's me,' she said.

'Aurora thank God you called. He's gone.'

'WHAT?' she yelled. 'What do you mean gone?' her heart started to pound.

'I mean gone, done a runner, over the wall. '

'Jesus Christ!' Aurora growled, not angry at Gibbs, but just angry.

'What does he think he is doing? I'll kill him myself, damn Barry,'

'Get in line. I have first crack at him,'

'That idiot,' she growled. 'What is he trying to do, commit suicide out there?'

'He's trying to protect you, I think his own safety is the furthest thing from his mind.

'Idiot! I can protect myself but not when he's out there,' she shook her head, kicking the couch beside her.

'Look Aurora we have marines, NCIS agents the works after him. We'll have him back in custody before you know it and don't be too hard on him okay. Leave that to me.'

'Kick his ass when you find him,' Aurora growled. 'I'm serious Gibbs, this guy is dangerous,'

'I know that Aurora and I'm sure Tony knows it too.'

'Then why did he run?' she shook her head. 'How did he get away anyway?'

'You heard when he did the dummy spit and went to the shower, well he turned on the shower and somehow got out the bathroom window.'

'That's an old trick,' she shook her head. 'You're slipping Gibbs, I used the shower trick when I was 12,'

'Yeah well I expected more from him then that.'

'Fatal mistake,' he shook her head. 'I gotta go Gibbs, keep me informed when you have him,'

'Will do,' he told her.

One she hung up, she tried Tony's phone and wondered if he'd pick up. It went to voice mail and she cursed.

She hated leaving messages but this time, she relented. 'Tony, I'm going to kill you. Call me NOW! I mean it,' she said before hanging up.

Within moments her phone rung and she answered it with a growled. 'Tony!"

'Couldn't think of a nicer way to die,' he told her cheerfully. 'Now don't go all Gibbs on me okay.'

'Where are you?' she asked, ignoring his cheerfulness.

'Free,' he told her

'Ha Ha?' she asked him. 'Where are you?' she asked again. 'I mean it Tony, tell me,'

'My place,' he told her

'Tell me you're joking,' she closed her eyes, car keys in hand.

'No. Come on, last place they'd look for me. Besides I'm not staying here just grabbing some gear. The stuff McGee bought in wasn't exactly my style.'

'Fuck,' she growled. 'You sit there and wait for me... no don't.' she said. 'There's a cafe near your place, go there, and wait for me. Sit up the back, there is a booth mostly covered by a plant, sit there. Watch the door, wear a hat and order something quick,'

'Righto,' he told her.

'If Barry doesn't kill you, I will,' she growled at him before hanging up, thundering downstairs to her car and sped all the way to the cafe.

Twenty minutes later she was at the cafe looking around until she spied someone sitting in the booth she'd indicated.

'Do you have a desire to die?' she approached and growled at him.

'Not really but I have no desire to see you dead either,'

'Grab your gear, we're moving,' she scanned the cafe carefully.

'You're not taking me back to the house,' he shook his head.

'No, I'm going to let you run around out here with a bulls eye on your head,' she grabbed his arm and pushed him ahead of her.

'Oh come on I'm a big boy I can look after myself. Shit I got past the best and the brightest to get out didn't I?'

'Using the shower trick, I know,' she said. 'I'd have made you shower with the door open,' she said, scanning the car-park before she moved toward the car.

'Hmm I would have been showering with you.' he told her hiking his eyebrows.

'Then you definitely wouldn't have tried to escape,' she sent him a smile.

'Absolutely not.'

She unlocked the black CR-V 'Get in,' she told him.

He cast her a glance. 'You're taking me in aren't you.'

'I told you I was,' she looked at him.

'Then I'm not getting in,' he slammed the passenger door shut and started to walk away. 'You can shoot me if you like but I'm not going back there.'

'Tony,' Aurora growled. 'Get in the car or I will shoot you!'

Tony didn't answer he just kept walking.

'Fuck,' she growled. She'd have happily shot him but it would draw attention. Instead, she ran after him and grabbed him. 'Tony, get in the car now,' she said. The area was too open, she didn't like it.

'Why do you all treat me like this? Like I can't take care of myself,' he asked her.

'Because I care about you,' she said. 'Not because I think you can't look after yourself, but because these guys are dangerous and I don't fancy opening a body bag and seeing you inside,'

'You don't think I feel the same way about you?'

'This is my job Tony,' she said. 'I dragged you into this by mistake and I wont let you make the ultimate sacrifice for me,'

'It would be worth it,' he said simply.

'Tony, don't,' she shook her head.

'Can't help how I feel,' he said simply. 'Okay take me back..'

'Thank god,' she said, pushing him toward the car. 'Why would you go back to your apartment?' she asked.

'I needed clothes,' he said. 'McGee got uncomfortable and ugly stuff,'

'Well now I can see you needed to go back to your place,' Aurora said.

'You can?' Tony asked, pleased.

'Of course. I want to look good too when they put me on the slab,' she opened the car door for him.

He pulled a face. 'You know Duckys clients are the only poor sod who willingly lie there and listen to him and they only do so because they can't go anywhere else.'

'Poor bastards,' she muttered, locking the car and climbed into the passenger seat, clicking on the child proof lock. She had never met Ducky but knew him by reputation.

'Oh they're not complaining it's the rest of us in autopsy who are,'

She smiled slightly, starting the car up. 'Don't try anything Tony. I'd hate to have to hurt you,' she said, pulling out of the parking spot.

'I'm just trying to protect you Aurora.' he slumped into the passenger seat. Why couldn't anyone understand that? He just wanted to protect her, make sure she didn't get hurt!

'And you have no idea how much I appreciate that Tony but I can't let you,' she said.

'Yeah okay,' he nodded, staring out the window.

She pulled up at some lights and looked across at him. He looked like a little boy and she wanted to hug him but didn't. It was getting harder and harder to walk away.

He looked across at her. 'I can't help it but I worry you know.'

'I know,' she said. 'I'm worried too,'

'Yeah well we agree on something don't we then?'

'We agree on alot,' she told him just as her phone rung and she grabbed it and looked at the number. 'It's Barry,' she said and indicated for Tony to be quite before she answered. 'Barry,' she said.

'Aurora where are you?' he asked

'Just got lunch,' she lied. 'You?'

'Oh I thought you might have gone to catch up with an old Baltimore friend.'

Aurora froze for a moment. 'Why would you think that?' she asked him, looking around. No one had followed them but still...

'Oh I heard he'd left the coppers, was working for Gibbs now. '

'Yes he is,' Aurora said.

'Ah so you have caught up! How is old Tones?'

'He's alright,' she said. 'It was good catching up about old times,' she said, looking around at the cars around her carefully.

Tony had caught the fact that she was talking about him and pulling the baseball cap low and dropping his shades he became tense and alert himself

'I'd imagine so,' he said. 'Did you two... properly catch up?' he asked. 'I mean I know you still like him,'

'Barry that is none of your business,' she told him, frowning further.

'Hey, I was just asking Aurora,' he said. 'Nothing meant by it. I just know how strongly you felt about him and I'd hate to see you end up alone. We were partners for a long time and friends,'

'Yeah well, you know Barry people change.' she said, scanning the surrounding area.

'Isn't that the truth,' he said. 'Anyway, I just arrived here, plane landed 5 minutes ago,'

'Okay well I have package to deliver so where are we to meet?'

'Warehouse on the corner of Lexinton and Third,' he said 'Let's meet in an hour,' he told her.

'Okay I should have finished the delivery by then,'

'Okay, I'll see you then,' he said before hanging up,

'What did he say?' Tony asked once he was sure she had hung up.

'Wanted to know if I had caught up with you,' she muttered.

'I gathered that much.' he said seriously. He wanted to know more but he knew that was as much as she was going to share.

'I have to go and meet him but I'm dropping you off first,' she told him.

'Yes Mom.' he muttered

'I'm taking you back to your Dad,' she said with a small smile, speeding up a little to get him back.

'Oh great,' he groaned. slumping in the seat slightly.

Pulling up outside, she climbed out and walked with Tony along the path, Gibbs opening the door before they got to the door.

'He's all yours Gibbs,' Aurora announced. 'No wounds but I'll leave you to inflict those, I have a date with Barry,'

'Is your back up here yet?' Gibbs asked

'Just about to call my Boss,' she said. 'Got 50 minutes till I'm due there,'

'Boss,' Tony looked but a Gibbs a frown creasing his brow. 'Aurora needs people she can trust one hundred percent.'

'And that's you, isn't it?' Gibbs already knew where this was going.

'No that's us, you me, Cait and McGee,'

'No DiNozzo,' he shook his head. 'I'll go in, Cait and even McGee but not you,'

'That is not fair,' Tony told him.

'Fair?' Gibbs asked. 'Because I don't want to bury a good Agent?'

Tony was stunned for just a minute. Had Gibbs just given him a compliment.? Yeah he had. Still he had to say what was on his mind. 'No boss it isn't fair I can handle myself in bad situations. You know that.'

'I have to go,' Aurora interrupted him. 'If you turn up Tony, I'll shoot you myself,' she said.

'Well you might have to,' Tony told her a look of grim determination on his face.

'I'm not kidding Tony, I'll shoot you to get you out of there,' she said, scribbling down the address and handed it to Gibbs. 'Just in case I need you guys,' he said. 'Don't let him see,'

'Too late, I already did,' Tony told her. 'Helps being six two and towering over everyone else,' he smirked.

'Fuck,' she muttered. 'Don't turn up Tony, I'm asking you. If I mean anything to you, you'll do as I'm asking,'

'If I mean anything to you you'll know why I can't stay away.' he said simply.

'Lock him up if you need too Gibbs, I have to go,' she shook her head.

Gibbs nodded. 'Let me know and don't be a hero!'

'Never,' she said before she went back down the path and climbed into her car and drove off.

'Boss we can't let her go out there on her own. We just can't.'

'She'll have back up but not you,' Gibbs said.

'Yes I will! Youand Cait and McGee and I willbe her back up. That is what a team does.'

'No,' Gibbs said seriously. He had lost one good friend and agent because he had wanted to protect Aurora, he wouldn't lose another.

'Damn you Leroy Jethro Gibbs,' Tony knew he was skating on thin ice. 'Damn you,' he barged past his boss

Gibbs sighed. He was going to keep DiNozzo alive and if that meant the younger man would be angry at him, then so be it.

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