Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply, NCIS is owned by other people, no copyright infringement is intended, no money is being made.

A/N: Many thanks go to my beta Rinne, for her patience; ZivaFan and ResearchGeek for their suggestions..

Chapter Eight

For the next two days, none of the surveillance teams the FBI and NCIS had on the ATMs spotted Crawford. Gibbs was getting extremely short-tempered and Tony was getting anxious. Crawford hadn't tried to contact him again since the night in Tony's apartment. They were starting to think that Crawford had left town.

Gibbs and Tony were sitting in an ice cream truck in front of a small branch of Crawford's bank. Neither one said anything, frustration building within the two men.

"Stop fidgeting."

"I can't help it, my butt's sore."

"If you don't stop squirming around something else is going to be sore."

Tony tried his best not to move around, reminding Gibbs of a pre-schooler who had to go to the bathroom.

"Want to play 'Twenty Questions'?"

"No."

There was silence for all of two minutes.

"Did you notice that top Ziva was wearing today?"

"Don't you have something to eat, DiNozzo?" Gibbs said irritably "Something to keep your mouth busy?"

"I ate everything" Tony said in a small voice.

"Well shut up and sit still."

"Yes, Boss."

More silence.

"Boss."

"WHAT?"

"I see him."

Gibbs leaned forward, pressing his comlink. "Target has been spotted. Repeat. Target has been spotted. All units, proceed to my location immediately."

He and Tony pulled out their weapons and cautiously approached the man at the ATM. Tony quietly pulled a young mother and her baby out of the way and sent them scurrying across the street. The area was clear.

"William Crawford," Gibbs said loudly, "you're under arrest. Put your hands behind your head and turn around slowly."

Crawford stiffened and stood still.

"I said," repeated Gibbs, "put your hands behind your head and turn around slowly."

Crawford slowly raised his hands and clasped them behind his head. Turning around, his face lit up when he spotted Tony.

"Tony," he said delightedly, "you caught me. Well done!"

Tony smiled humorlessly. "Game's over, Billy. You lose."

Crawford laughed. "How'd you find me?"

"Technology has really advanced since you were in the force, Billy," Tony said. "And we have some of the best tech people in the world."

"Well done." Crawford started to lower his hands.

"Keep your hands behind your head, Billy, you don't want to make my boss mad."

Crawford bowed slightly toward Gibbs. "Ahhh, a pleasure to meet you Special Agent Gibbs."

"The feeling is not mutual."

Crawford laughed.

"Get down on your knees, Crawford," ordered Gibbs, "and cross your ankles."

"No, I don't think so Special Agent Gibbs."

"I'd do what he says, Billy," Tony said.

Crawford turned toward Tony. "Have you thought about what I said, Tony?"

"I have."

"And you've come to the realization that I was right?"

"Tony's not like you, Crawford," Gibbs said

Crawford cocked his head and looked at Gibbs thoughtfully. "It looks like you found a mentor, Tony. Someone who believes in you."

"Yes," Tony said softly.

"You're lucky," Crawford said wistfully. "There's hope for you after all."

In a split second the killer pulled a knife from a sheath in the back of his shirt and hurled it at Tony, catching him in the right shoulder. Gibbs fired three shots, striking Crawford in the chest. The man was dead before he hit the ground.

"Send an ambulance," Gibbs yelled into his comlink. "Officer down." He ran over to where Tony had fallen. The younger agent was sitting up, holding his arm against his chest.

"Lie back, Tony," Gibbs said. "The ambulance is coming." The sound of sirens in the distance confirmed his words.

"Is he dead?" Tony gasped.

"He's dead."

"He was right, Boss."

Gibbs glared at Tony and started to say something.

"I am lucky."

Smiling, Gibbs clasped Tony's good shoulder and said, "Yes. You are."

The End

A/N: I know this is short, it's just the way the story broke up into chapters, and that's just the way the story ended for me. Thanks go out to all who have posted such wonderful reviews. I have more story ideas, and not all of them are damaging to Tony! I'm also close to launching a website with my stories. I plan on additing to some of them, they could use some more detail.