Chapter Two
Dirt and blood free, he was dressed in a clean dress shirt and pants. His arms were covered in scratches from where he was hit by debris from the bomb today, but they were superficial compared to Jerry.
As he walked to the meeting room he was joined by the other US liaisons.
There was Sarah Whitehall, Ethan Rodriguez and Eric Davidson from the FBI. Timothy Owen and Derek from the CIA. The only person missing was Jerry and that settled heavily on everyone as they walked into the conference room.
When they walked into the room Eli David, the Director of Mossad was standing at the front of the room with Major General Samuel Abbott who was the boss for all the US liaisons. Neither of them looked very happy.
Tony is used to being in trouble with some of the stunts he pulls, but he doesn't think anything would match up to the feeling in this room. Not even when he pisses Gibbs off.
But in saying that, surely they weren't to blame for all of this?
They all took a seat in the room.
"We are all aware of the events today, and currently Jerry is looking at being sent to Germany for surgery" Abbott began. Tony looked around the room, everyone had the same sombre look on their face.
"At the current time, we believe this attack was on purpose and targeted at our unit" he continued. That's when Director stood taller.
So it wasn't their fault.
"This was not a random attack. That, my people assure me" Director David stated. Tony had only heard him speak on the first day he arrived. There was something about the way he spoke, Tony definitely knew he was a dangerous man. You don't become the Director of Mossad without doing the leg work.
"Eli and I have discussed the arrangement with this unit following the events today. If you would like to reconsider your deployment, you can return to your agencies back home. In saying that, the unit cannot be fully disbanded as we need at least four to stay and continue investigating this issue. I have made the decision to stay, so I need three to stay behind with me" Abbott stated. Abbott was a formal man, like many Major Generals, but something about Abbott made Tony feel like he was no different to anyone else on the team.
There were many looks around the room, everyone seemed very unsure about the next step. Concern and deep thought crossed every face in the room.
What Tony did know, was just like with Jerry, he was one of the few in the room that didn't have a family to go back home to.
He wasn't close with his Dad, he was closer to his boss Gibbs.
"You have the evening to think things over, we have organised a flight out of the country for those returning tomorrow. The ones left behind will be teamed with my best agents who will now be on board with this liaison position" the Director announced.
"Think things over team, discuss between the group. Owen I want a list by 0500 tomorrow of the names for the flight" Abbott stated. Owen had been on the deployment the longest and was due to trade out within the next month with his replacement.
Owen gave the Major a nod and both the bosses were gone from the conference room and left them all to their thoughts.
The room was quiet for a long time.
"I'm happy to stay. I am sure my wife won't be too pleased about the decision but after 10 years in the Navy Seals, this isn't anything new to me" Derek stated. Tony hadn't realised that Derek had served with the Seals. And by looking at the faces in the room, neither did anyone else. He obviously kept that information secret.
"I will discuss things with my sister tonight, but being over here is important for my family with the extra pay benefits, I cannot afford to leave at this time" Sarah was the next one to speak up. She'd been here for about two months. Tony did not know he back story but he's sure she wouldn't put her hand up for this over money unless it was serious.
Everyone was quiet in the room and no one spoke for a bit.
Looking at Ethan, Eric and Tim. Tony knows they all have partners and children back home. They have also been here the longest.
Tony wouldn't put staying as top of his to do list, but he would rather they go home to their families and he be the one to stay. He doesn't have as much on the line.
"I'll stay" he said. His heart began pounding in his chest but he could see some signs of relief on the last faces in the room.
He'd done the right thing as much as it scares him.
Tim nodded.
"Talk to your families, and if your decisions still hold by 0400 let me know" Tim said. Everyone nodded and the all quietly dispersed from the conference room.
On the walk back to his apartment Derek caught up to him.
"Come over for a drink when you've called home" Derek said as he patted him on the shoulder. Tony nodded back. Everyone was very sombre right now and they all carried heavy hearts.
"I will. Text me when you've finished up with Faith" Tony replied. Faith was Derek's wife. As much as he'd become friendly with Derek in the last few days, that and Derek's love for Football was about all Tony had learnt. He's sure he will know a lot more about him by the time this is all over.
"If I survive" Derek joked. That made Tony smile as he disappeared into his apartment.
Tony sat on his bed and unbuttoned his top button, loosing his tie. He's been faced with a lot of things in his time, but never something this serious or dangerous. He wasn't in the military like Derek. It wasn't normal for him to be blown up by IEDs.
He picked up his phone and dialed his emergency contact number one.
"Gibbs" was the grumbly answer on the other end. Tony didn't even think to look at what the time was back home before calling.
"Hey boss, sorry if I woke you" he tread lightly. He's never really had a heart to heart with his boss before. He doesn't really have them with anyone.
"What is it DiNozzo? Better be important at three in the morning" his boss replied. Yes, he'd woke him up.
"So there's a situation over here at the moment…" he began. He didn't know how to go about this.
"Go on" Gibbs replied. His bosses tone had softened, as much as it would for Gibbs.
"There's been an attack on our unit. A purposeful one. Half the unit is going home but they wanted volunteers for the ones that need to stay behind" Tony paused and Gibbs was listening "I put my hand up. The others have partners and kids so I figured it was the right thing to do" he finished.
"That's very honourable of you DiNozzo" Gibbs stated. Tony cannot remember the last time Gibbs complimented him for something he did.
"Well I've got less to lose, I don't exactly have a family back at home" he explained.
"Well that's not true Tony. But, it's a respectful decision" Tony? Gibbs had never, ever called him by his first name. That made him smile. He does have a family back home, the team. He never thought the indication of that would come from Gibbs. He will do his family proud.
"Please don't tell Abby what's going on, I don't want her to panic" Tony asked. Abby would lose her shit if she knew it was getting dangerous over here. She was already concerned when he left, she was making McGee hack firewalls to get information on how dangerous Tel Aviv really is.
"You have my word. You call when you need DiNozzo" Gibbs offered. He'd never heard his boss care so much. Maybe he did actually care about him. That thought was very easing to his mile a minute heart right now.
"Thanks boss"
"Semper Fi DiNozzo" Gibbs stated. Another small smile grew on Tony's face.
"Semper Fi" Tony returned and ended the call. He'd never used that term, he hadn't been in the Marines like Gibbs had. But suddenly, it seemed appropriate.
Tony removed his tie and changed into some jeans and a shirt. Something a bit more relaxed would hopefully help relax his mind. He grabbed a beer out of his mini-fridge. At least they know how to accommodate his American ass in the country and gave him a fridge full of beers.
His phone beeped and he saw a message from Derek.
Wife made me promise to start trying for kids when I get back as a deal-breaker. Guess it could have gone worse.
Tony laughed. He grabbed a handful of beers and walked to the apartment next door.
Derek opened the door at Tony's knock.
"Hey man, come in" he stepped aside and Tony walked in. Derek had been in country for about four months now, and you could tell as his apartment looked a lot more lived in than his.
He had a few things decorating the place which he must have brought in town. There was also an Israeli flag with signatures on it. Derek caught the direction of his gaze.
"All the guys I've worked with here have signed it, will have to get you to sign it now with our impending future together" Derek joked. Tony laughed. Derek liked to crack a good joke, Tony seemed to think that might relate to why they get along so well.
"Nice digs man, seems homely" he stated.
"After my time in the military, I know from experience you have to make your room for deployment homely. Otherwise its feels like a prison and you're trapped" Derek explained. Tony never thought of it that way. But in saying that, this was his first deployment.
"I suppose I should start taking notes from you on all this" Tony replied and they laughed.
"You need anything man, don't be afraid to ask. I got your back" Derek said. That comment made Tony's heavy heart lighter. Maybe with Derek around, things won't be so bad.
Derek pulled out some mugs from his kitchen cupboard. They looked homemade.
"Brought these at the local market. Faith loves unique things so I always have to make sure I buy her this crap" Derek explained. Tony had a feeling that secretly, Derek liked buying these things.
Derek then opened his top cupboard and it was full with liquor bottles.
"Scotch?" Derek asked.
"Go on. Man that's some collection" Tony exclaimed. He knew alcohol in this country wasn't big and is generally more frowned upon.
"There's this old lady in town called Freeda, her and her son's home-brew. It's good stuff. They generally only sell to locals, however one of the Mossad boy's put me onto her. I'm sure I can introduce you" Derek explained. He seemed to have his fingers in all the pies after only a few months.
Tony guessed it probably came natural after his last job with the Seals.
"I look forward to meeting her" Tony smiled as Derek poured them a drink.
They sat down on the couch and were quiet for a moment.
"I'm not going to lie, this kind of shit is new to me" Tony admitted. Derek had a small smile.
"Honestly, you adapt pretty quick. The only difference to being on the street as a cop is on deployment you don't have the freedoms after work you probably do back home. In my opinion, being a cop on the beat is far more dangerous than any military situation I've been in. It's so much more unpredictable" Derek explained.
"How so?" Tony asked.
"Over here, and on deployment you're expecting someone to jump out at you and attack. Back home, in your local Starbucks, that's meant to be a relaxing and safe place. But someone would jump you in a place like that. Being a cop back home, that's probably just as dangerous. But the thing is, you don't expect it as much as you would here" Derek stated. And for some reason Tony had never thought of it that way before.
"That makes a lot of sense"
"If you can survive as a cop on the beat like you used to, you'll be fine out here" Derek reassured him.
There was a knock at the door.
"I hope you don't mind, but I invited Sarah over. I figured we all better start getting to know each other better" Derek stood up and walked to the door.
"Of course, I'm glad you did" Tony replied.
Sarah smiled at the door and walked in with beers in hand, just like Tony had. Derek poured her a scotch.
At least Sarah seemed like she was going to get along swimmingly with them on the drinking front.
"How was your sister?" Derek asked as they sat down on the couches. Tony hadn't spoken to Sarah further than hello, he hadn't really talked much on a personal level with anyone but Derek yet.
"Good, she's not happy I'm staying but Kurt getting support is more important than that at the moment" she replied.
Tony was curious to who Kurt was, but he didn't ask. It would feel rude.
"Here's to the three of us and whatever shit we just signed up to" Derek proclaimed and raised his glass. The three of them clinked their mugs together and downed their drinks.
Tony wasn't much of a religious man, but he prayed that someone would keep an eye out for him until his feet hit the home soil.