Part 3

Tony sighed. He truly did understand the fear she had, as he had explained with his undercover ops. The good, really good, false highlife was a big draw. But, as they both knew, trying to maintain that life, what you had to do to sustain that level of living was what landed people in trouble and in prison.

"Neal understands that, believe it or not. But, I don't think he gets that our good reputations means as much to us as his bad reputation means to him." Tony replied.

Sara chuckled. "I do think that you're right about that." She dabbed her mouth with her napkin. She then put it back into her lap and reached for her wine glass.

"Neal will get the job opportunity thing, Sara." Tony told her. "He's jumped from place to place most of his life to pull off the jobs he's done."

"He's grown up so much since the first time I met him." Sara shook her head. "He's just…."

"Wait! What…the first time?" Tony asked.

Sara just looked at the agent for a moment. She had assumed he knew. "I was the one who testified against him in court about the Rembrandt."

"Neal told me that the Rembrandt had tripped him up." Tony stated. "But, he never really gave me any details."

"It was not a pleasant experience." Sara recalled. "I said some pretty rough things to him and about him on the stand."

Tony nodded. "He said the insurance lady was rough on him."

"The insurance lady." Sara said, laughing.

"Why is that funny?"

Sara cleared her throat. "Neal had found out my home address, phone number, middle name and the name of my parents by the time he went to trial. He called it, 'know your enemy.'"

Tony grinned again. "He may have gotten that from me. I used to tell him some of the things I learned in the police academy. And, I figured with the kind of people he was involved with…."

Sara nodded.

"He's gonna be okay. He will miss you." Tony said. "And he may even show up on your doorstep in a few years, after this C.I. thing is over."

Sara put down her fork and dabbed her mouth one last time. The meal had been delicious, and Tony had ordered them a desert he was positive she would love.

The chocolate and raspberry creations that arrived at their table was amazing. Neither spoke again until both their deserts had been eaten.

"So," Sara inquired, putting her napkin on the table. "What is going on with the case?"

"No shop talk, here." Tony said as he stood and paid the bill.

Sara stood and followed Tony as he exited. But, she was confused. "What?"

"I am going to take you to a place few people are invited into." Tony said, only adding to the mystery.

Sara was amused. She loved surprises. And she would bet Tony could pull off some doozies.

About 20 minutes later Tony had pulled up to an ordinary house in a suburban neighborhood. Tony had parked in the driveway and gotten out. She followed. Sara knew that this was not Tony's house. She had checked him out the first time Neal had ever mentioned his name. And she knew that this was not his home address.

"You don't live here." Sara stated, just for clarity.

Tony didn't say anything. He just proceeded into the house, through the unlocked door.

Sara didn't know what to think of that. It was an action that might well get you shot and killed in some areas of our great nation. And, she was sure, suburban D.C. would be one of those places.

Tony didn't stop. He proceeded through the living room and opened a door in what could have been a den or a dinning room. He left the door open and started down the stairs.

Sara had no choice but to follow. She stopped cold on the landing. Below her was a silver-haired man in an old Marine Corp sweatshirt sanding the ribs of a huge boat. She looked around the cellar. There seemed to be no opening large enough to bring such a thing in or to take such a thing out.

Gibbs never looked up when he heard his company. He recognized Tony's steps immediately. And from the sound of he second set of steps, they were wearing heels. He put down his sandpaper, and emptied two jars. He refilled his jar and pour bourbon for his guests.

"Agent Gibbs!" Sara said as she slowly made her way down the stairs. "Tony never told me we would be paying you a visit."

"Tony has a habit of dropping in on me." Gibbs said as he offered her the bourbon.

Sara looked at the jar with a bit of disdain. "I'm not used to drinking bourbon from a jar."

"…tastes better that way." Gibbs said after he took a sip, then got back to sanding.

Gibbs looked at Sara and grinned, shaking his head.

"What?" Sara asked. She noticed the grin on Tony's face also. She was very irritated that she was not in on the joke.

"You're way overdressed for my basement." Gibbs stated, looking at her tailored, fitted dress.

Sara glared at Tony. "Well, had I known the agenda for the night, I would have dressed more appropriately."

Tony just shook his head and grinned.

"Boss, Ms. Ellis wanted to know what is happening with her case." Tony replied.

TBS