Angel of Death:[part 2]

...

3rd Person POV:

Thousands of feet up in the air on a private jet, Mr. Benoit pulls out a stack of photos from the file that Trent Kort had handed him. He frowns curiously at the photos of his daughter sharing affections with a man.

"Who do I have to thank for this?" he questions, still perusing through the photos.

"Former FBI agents." Kort answers. The Frenchman smirked.

"You are very resourceful, Kort." He compliments.

"I try."

"So you've recorded their conversations?"

"No." Mr. Benoit pauses, glancing at the man in confusion.

"No? Why? You didn't want to intrude on their privacy?" he chuckled.

"I didn't think it was necessary." Kort easily explained.

"Now, why is that?" his boss inquires, lifting up a glass of scotch to his lips.

"I only needed photos for leverage." Benoit nods.

"Ah, this DiNozzo is married?"

"No." Kort shook his head vehemently.

"Then how do you intend to gain leverage?" Kort gives his boss a pointed look. The man's eyes clear with understanding.

"Oh…..you intend to harm her?" Mr. Benoit asked, with a hint of warning behind his eyes. He wasn't so keen on knowingly letting his daughter be hurt.

"Only threaten." Kort assured. The older man pursed his lips as he stared down at the photos in his lap.

"He loves her."

"DiNozzo?...He's a player. Never with a skirt more than a few weeks." Kort dismissed with a scoff.

"Oh so there have been others?"

"Not at the moment. The only other woman he spends this much time with is his partner. But their relationship seems to be platonic. There's no indication of romantic interest there. Nothing to really use." Kort explained. Mr. Benoit hummed thoughtfully.

"That's too bad. A man in love could be persuaded to do almost anything."

"DiNozzo is a white hat. He won't want to see her harmed." Kort dismissed. Benoit chuckled and grinned over at the other man.

"Have you not noticed Kort?...I like white hats." Benoit explained, picking up his own white hat and placing it on his head.

...

...

Claire came walking back down the hall, coffee in hand as she made her way back towards the nurses station.

"Well I've got to go, I'll see you in the morning." She heard Tony speak, looking down at Jeanne warmly.

"I get off at 7." She informed him before they met for a kiss. Claire flinched and swiftly turned her head away from the scene. She waited for a second before glancing over to make sure they were done. Tony caught her eye and blinked in surprise.

"Oh Claire….hi. Um, I'm heading out now. Are you staying or can I see you to your car?" he inquired, ducking his head slightly. Claire took another swig of her coffee, allowing herself a moment to recompose.

"Ah, I think I'll stay an extra few minutes. You go ahead." She dismissed, glancing over at Jeanne. The doctor smiled at her.

"Thank you." she mouthed, feeling more comfortable with an officer hanging around until they knew the duo had left. Tony nodded silently, trying not to display his disappointment. He turned to leave, passing an orderly who headed straight for Jeanne.

"Dr. Benoit. That addict and her pimp were down in the basement asking about the morgue." He explained. Claire perked up at the news. Her brain ticked at the last name but currently it wasn't the time to dwell on it.

"You didn't let them stay there?" Jeanne asked tensely.

"Of course not. I made them return with me to the ground floor."

"They leave the hospital?" Claire inquired, stepping in closer. The orderly glanced at Jeanne for permission to discuss it in front of the newcomer. Jeanne nodded.

"They went into the pharmacy. I had to return the gurney to the ER but I got a feeling they're going to try again." Claire shook her head irritably.

"Thanks, Bill. Annie, call security. Ask them to meet me in the morgue." Jeanne rattled off orders before running to the elevator, Claire on her heels. Jeanne slid her hand between the closing doors of the elevator, startling Tony who was staring down at his phone. His eyes widened curiously at the presence of the two women.

"Miss me already?" he inquired.

"Our grieving couple may be in the morgue." Jeanne hissed, pressing the button for the basement. Claire and Tony shared a look. It was time to work.

...

...

As soon as the elevator doors opened Jeanne sprinted out, Tony and Claire chasing her.

"Hey!" Claire shouted as they twisted through the corridors.

"Jeanne slow down." Tony called as well. The doctor burst through one set of doors and tugged hard on the locked morgue doors. Claire quickly yanked her away.

"Jeanne, hey. You trying to get yourself killed?" she asked harshly, her eyes flicking to the doors. If anyone was inside they surely knew they were here now.

"He's at least got a knife in there." Tony hissed, holding onto her arm.

"I will not let him butcher her brother in front of her." Jeanne insisted heatedly. Tony winced at the volume.

"Keep your voice down." He whispered.

"Those drugs are in 25 feet of intestines. He doesn't know where to cut. He'll make a gory mess she'll never get out of her head." Jeanne continued.

"Get behind me." Tony told her seriously.

"Why?"

"Because I tell you to." He growled. Jeanne paused at his tone but complied. Tony whipped around and reached for his gun…that wasn't there. Jeanne eyed the action curiously.

"Haven't got a weapon on you by any chance, have you?" Claire asked sarcastically. Tony winced, knowing he was blowing his cover.

"No, do you?" he hissed, taking a step back. Claire narrowed her eyes in annoyance.

"Security had me leave it with them." She admitted.

"Great." Tony growled. Claire said nothing but gently nudged the two further away from the door.

"What are you doing?" he hissed, his eyes widening in alarm.

"Well seeing as I'm the one qualified to handle this situation, I'm in front." Claire explained, shooting him a pointed stare. Tony bit his tongue.

"No, you're not." He ground out seriously. Claire held his gaze.

"Yes I am." While they were distracted Nick burst through the doors holding a gun at their heads, grinning.

"Found a gun." Claire muttered dryly.

"Get inside." Nick ordered lowly. The three complied, holding their hands up and walking into the morgue. Nick locked the door behind them.

"Alright you two cops, hands against the wall. Doctor if you please." Nick indicated where they should go. Jeanne looked over at her companions curiously, making her way to stand back against the wall next to them.

"He's not a cop."

"I'm not a cop." Tony and Claire explained at the same time. Nick scoffed as they shared a glance.

"I'm not buying it. Now move!" he barked out, shaking his gun at them. The two agents complied, putting their hands against the wall and spreading their legs out a bit. Tony looked over at Claire worriedly. She couldn't hide behind a cover like he could. She would be the first one to go for sure.

"Bernie search them." Nick ordered, glaring at the shaking girl beside him. Bernie whimpered but made her way over and gently ran her hands up and down both captives.

"I didn't find nothing." She told him with a whine, biting her nails anxiously. Claire frowned at her. She was coming down off a fix.

"The way you're shaking, you couldn't find a shotgun." Nick scoffed. He marched over towards Tony.

"Let's see…." He murmured before shoving the gun up underneath Tony who grunted in pain and alarm. Nick held his gun firm up against him while he felt around with his other hand. He found nothing.

"Huh." The man muttered in confusion, stepping back.

"I told you he wasn't a cop." Claire muttered. Tony shot her a look to shut up as Nick's attention turned her way.

"Oh, so that means it's just you then?" He snarled. Claire glared at the wall between her hands.

"You tell me, you're the one in charge here." She snarked. Tony grimaced. Nick glared at the woman and roughly slammed her up against the wall, pinning her there. Claire grunted at the assault on her body, already feeling some bruises forming.

"So where are you packing?" he whispered in her ear. Claire forced herself to remain still.

"They took my gun when I walked in." she snapped. Nick hummed and reached forward to search her. Claire grit her teeth tightly as his hands roamed, shooting her eyes over to Tony to make sure he didn't move. As Nick moved down her legs he frowned, feeling something in her boot. Lifting up her pant leg he pulled out a small hunting knife.

"Looks like you weren't totally compliant with hospital rules." He huffed, tossing the weapon aside. After stepping back, Nick roughly shoved her forward again. Claire was more braced for this one but still took a hit to her face. All three captives eased up slightly when Nick backed away from Claire, still holding the gun.

"You called security, doc?" he inquired, looking over at the doctor. Jeanne didn't answer.

"Of course you did. Call 'em off." he ordered, aiming the gun at the other two. She still didn't respond.

"I said call 'em off."

"You haven't done anything that can't be forgotten." Jeanne quietly assured.

"Do what he says, Jeanne." Tony told her, cutting a glance over at the woman. Jeanne furrowed her brows.

"Why? They can leave now, and we'll forget this ever happened." She questioned.

"Would you do that?" Nick questioned in surprise.

"Yes." He nodded thoughtfully, just before he pistol whipped Tony. The man grunted in pain as he fell to the floor, Claire and Jeanne quickly falling to his side.

"Tony…."

"Will you forget now?" Nick questioned, leveling the gun at the prone man. Jeanne answered with a venomous glare.

"That's what I thought." He smirked.

"Call off security." Jeanne glanced down at Tony who was half conscious on the floor.

"Go ahead. I got him." Claire assured the woman, understanding her reluctance to leave. Jeanne slowly got up, watching as the other woman began looking over Tony and making sure he stayed conscious. Nick stood up with her and kept the gun trained on the other two as he followed Jeanne to the phone around the corner.

"Put it on speaker." He instructed as she picked up the receiver. Jeanne glared at him but did as requested.

"Security. Jackson." A man answered on the other line.

"This is Dr. Benoit in the morgue."

"Oh, sorry Doctor. I'll have a man there in a minute. We're just stretched thin looking for that little girl."

"You can recall him. It was a false alarm." Jeanne corrected, staring at Nick icily.

"Okay. Can I have your hospital I.D. number please?" Nick shot her a pointed stare.

"766."

"Thank you, Dr. Benoit." The security officer hung up.

"Is a little girl lost?" Bernie piped up tearfully. Jeanne's icy demeanor softened as she stared at the girl.

"More than one." She whispered, making her back to Claire and Tony. Nick quickly stood in her way.

"Surgery first, Doc." He countered.

"No."

"No?" Nick rose his brows in surprise.

"I help him first." Jeanne insisted.

"You're a slow learner, Doc." Nick snarled, aiming his gun blindly behind him. Claire stiffened up and slowly placed herself in front of Tony who was still groggy.

"I called off Security. I help him, then I help you." Jeanne insisted once more.

"If that's not good enough shoot me." She added. Nick narrowed his eyes at her.

"Don't hurt her, Nick." Bernie whimpered, fidgeting anxiously as she watched the scene.

"Don't worry…..I won't hurt her." Nick assured unconvincingly. A gunshot rang out, causing everyone in the room to flinch.

"Ah Geezus!" Claire shrieked, clutching her right shoulder where the bullet had clipped her. Tony jolted and looked over, seeing only red blood trickling out from behind her hand.

"Claire…" he mumbled urgently, trying to get his body to cooperate so he could reach her. Claire grunted in pain, trying not to give Nick the satisfaction of seeing her that way.

"Shooting them is not going to get me to help you." Jeanne snarled angrily.

"Fine, but watch your time." Nick eventually relented, stepping aside. Jeanne hovered between the two, deciding who needed help first.

"It just clipped me, get Tony first." Claire whispered to the woman, making her choice easy. While Jeanne pulled out her penlight, Claire shuffled over to the wall still clutching her shoulder.

"Tony? Tony?" Jeanne asked, shining the light in his eyes.

"Can you sit up?"

"No, I'm up." Tony grunted, looking around.

"Where's Claire? She's bleeding. Claire…" he whimpered in confusion, wondering why the woman was no longer there. Claire watched his distress in mild confusion. Jeanne frowned as well but didn't think much of it. She gently tilted his head towards his friend.

"She's right there, she's ok. I'll get her patched up." Jeanne assured. Slowly the two managed to get Tony to sit up against the wall alongside Claire. Jeanne moved her finger back and forth for his eyes to follow while Tony rubbed his sore neck.

"I don't see any signs of concussion." She mused.

"I've been hit harder by my sister." Tony quipped groggily. Claire snickered, the adrenaline starting to get to her.

"You don't have a sister." She pointed out. Tony lolled his head to grin at her.

"I don't?" he asked in mock confusion. Claire grinned back. Jeanne watched the two of them, raising a curious brow.

"Nick…." Bernie whimpered, her shaking getting worse by the minute. Nick took his que.

"Enough playing, Doctor." He ordered. Jeanne jolted in surprise.

"But I haven't even seen to her yet. She's bleeding." The doctor pointed out sternly. Tony shook his head.

"I've got her. This wouldn't be the first time we've patched each other up." He countered, assuring his girlfriend they would be ok. Jeanne paused.

"Do it. I don't want you to get hurt." He told her honestly. Jeanne nodded, standing up to head to the dead body on the cart.

"Let's go." Nick barked.

"Don't do anything stupid either. I don't want you getting hurt." Claire piped up quietly, turning to look over at Tony. Knowing him he would jump into a situation they weren't ready for. Tony smiled at her softly.

"Well it looks like it's too late to give you the same sentiment." He muttered, eyeing her bleeding shoulder. Claire let out a breathy laugh, her arm tiring from putting pressure on the wound. Tony frowned, scooting closer to her and slipping off his tie.

"Here, let's get something on that." He gently wrapped the fabric around her arm before tying it tightly to hold pressure on it. Claire grunted as it squeezed her sore shoulder.

"You alright?" he questioned quietly. Claire nodded.

"The guy is a horrible shot. Just skimmed me. Stings like hell though." She admitted. Tony stared up at her apologetically, his thumb rubbing up and down her arm mindlessly. Claire locked eyes with the man, frowning at how lost his eyes looked. She didn't understand what was going through his head. Metal clattering brought their attention back to the situation at hand. Jeanne was putting on gloves and a mask.

"Half K of pure horse in here, Doc." Nick informed her.

"I'm no surgeon." She pointed out, making her way over.

"I'm not asking you to save a life, Doc." He turned his gun onto the duo.

"Oh…..Maybe I am."

"Come on, come on, come on!" Bernie huffed, nearly jumping where she stood.

"Quit stalling. He doesn't have AIDS." Nick barked, watching her prep to open the man. Jeanne stared at him.

"That's not what the mask's for." Nick frowned.

"What's it for?" Instead of answering Jeanne turned to the younger woman.

"Turn around, Bernie."

"Please hurry." Bernie requested, shaking her hands hard. Tony and Claire stared at the girl with a mix of disgust and sadness. She was so desperate for a fix that slicing up her own brother didn't seem to be a concern anymore.

"Why the mask?" Nick snarled impatiently. Jeanne met his gaze evenly.

"Tell her to turn around." She reiterated slowly.

"Do it, Bernie." The woman nodded and turned around, still shaking.

"The mask is to protect me from disease spread by airborne particles released when I open him up." Jeanne explained pointedly. She grinned slightly behind her mask as the man flinched away and moved to grab his own mask, never dropping the gun.

"No more stalling." He gestured to the body pointedly. Calmly and carefully Jeanne cut into the corpse with a scalpel and dug around for the packages in the boy's intestines. She slowly pulled his innards out, looking over at Nick who looked a bit sick at the sight.

"Devon died bringing this to you. Want it?" she taunted slightly.

"What the hell do you think?" Nick snapped. Jeanne nodded and sliced into the swollen section, unleashing a white powder all over the place.

"Bitch!" Nick snarled, lunging for her. Jeanne lashed out and stabbed the man in the shoulder with her scalpel. Nick screamed in pain, dropping the gun. Tony quickly lifted himself up and slid across the floor for the gun. Just as Nick ripped out the weapon and headed back towards the doctor, Tony shot at his shoulder.

"Next one's in your ear." He snarled from the ground. Taking satisfaction in the matching wound he had just inflicted. Purposefully if he was honest. Claire smirked, seeing what he did. Tony slowly stood, now being the one in power.

"Drop it." He barked. Nick did as he was asked and stumbled back against the counter, clutching his wounds. Tony turned to Jeanne who was slowly sucking in breaths.

"You okay?" he inquired.

"Not really." Jeanne answered, pulling down her mask. Claire stood to join them, staring in horror over their shoulders.

"Oh, God." She muttered. They all turned to spot Bernie sniffing at the white powder mixed in with the blood all over her brother. Claire turned away in disgust before slowly relieving Tony of the gun. He looked at her in surprise.

"I've got it. You call security." She instructed, looking over at Jeanne. The woman nodded, rushing over to the phone to do just that.

"Why?" Tony asked, once Jeanne had walked out of earshot. Claire looked up at him, getting a better idea on what he was asking. Why did she defend him? Why was she keeping his cover? Why did she still care? Claire sucked in a hard breath, unsure herself.

"Despite the fact that I hate you and this is officially the worst day of my life…..I can't seem to disregard the fact that you're still my friend. And my partner." She admitted hesitantly. Tony stared down at her in awe, unable to fathom how she could still think that. Claire hardened her gaze.

"I may be civil now, but don't take advantage of it. This is the last thing I do for you." she pointed out harshly. Tony nodded, taking it. There wasn't much else he could have hoped for.

...

...

The next morning, Tony and Jeanne walked out of the hospital hand in hand. Claire had remained to get stiches before signing herself out and heading home. She insisted that she would be fine, not wanting Tony to be anywhere with her. Tony walked with the doctor silently, staring straight ahead. Jeanne watched him in concern, thinking it was probably the head injury that had him so subdued.

"You should be under observation for 24 hours." She pointed out with an impish grin. Tony looked down at her, picking up on her meaning.

"Whatever doctor orders." He grinned tightly, trying to keep up his role. The duo paused as a black limo pulled up in front of them.

"What's this?" Tony asked curiously. Jeanne grinned up at him.

"My secret." She explained before sliding into the opened door. Tony paused, hearing the French greetings coming from inside. He knew who it was. Taking a breath, he slid into the limo, sitting next to Jeanne.

"Do this must be Anthony DiNardo." The older man questioned. Tony nodded tensely and jolted in surprise as Mr. Benoit pulled him in for a French air kiss as a greeting.

"Welcome to the family, Professor." The man hummed with a small knowing grin.