Tony was woken a few hours later by Dr Murray's arrival.

"Millie said you'd been in the wars – again," he said with a mixture of disapproval and resignation.

"It was work," protested Tony as if he thought the doctor was accusing him of a night on the town.

"Doesn't make the damage heal any faster," said the doctor a little obscurely, "Let's have a look."

Tony was fond of the elderly doctor so submitted docilely to the examination. He waited until it was over before saying, "It's just a periorbital hematoma and a strained anterior cruciate ligament, isn't it?"

Dr Murray gave him a severe look over his glasses, "I'd have said a black eye and twisted knee but I'm guessing Donald has rubbed off on you over the years."

Tony grinned back. "Am I right?"

"Yes, you're right. Use some cold compresses on the eye … and on the knee. Arnica may help with the bruising. Pain killers as needed. Stay off that leg as much as possible. And come see me again if you get headaches or dizziness; but you know the drill."

"Thanks, Doc. Sorry to drag you out here. I'd have come to the clinic," said Tony.

"No problem," said the doctor breezily. "Makes a change to do a house call."

"You sure?" asked Tony.

"And Millie gave me a butterscotch cake. My favourite," said the doctor happily.

"I've got to go pick up Tali," said Tony, "Can I give you a ride?"

"No," said Dr Murray, "As I'm out this way I thought I'd go fishing for a spell."

Tony nodded. He wasn't surprised that the town's doctor was bunking off. His patients knew that if they couldn't find him at the clinic he'd be at one of his favourite fishing haunts. "OK, add this to the bill, will you?"

Dr Murray nodded absentmindedly but he was clearly already assessing the weather conditions and debating what fish might be biting well.

Tony braced himself slightly as he entered Millie's café a few minutes later. He hoped to go a day without having to load the washing machine but knew that Tali attracted dirt like a magnet and he wasn't optimistic about how she would look after a morning of baking. When he saw his daughter, however, he realised that he should have trusted Millie.

Tali was pink-faced, smiley and almost completely clean apart from floury hands.

"Dada!" she squealed happily as she waved the floury hands in the air.

"Hi, sweetheart," said Tony wondering what triggered Tali sometimes to call him Abba and other times to call him Dada.

"I didn't expect you this soon," said Millie with a hint of disapproval.

"I slept for a few hours," said Tony, "I'm mostly caught up. How did you do it?"

"Do what?" asked Millie.

Tony pointed at Tali, "She's clean. How did you do it?"

"We took it slow," said Millie placidly.

"Really?"

"And she liked the ingredients," added Millie, "What she spilled, she ate!"

"No wonder she's happy," said Tony.

"And she made you something," said Millie, "I was about to take it out of the oven."

Tony pasted the pleased smile on his face that he was used to wearing when his daughter made him something. Tali bounced with excitement as a slightly grey apple pie was produced.

"That looks … yummy," said Tony. He fleetingly wondered if he could suggest taking it home to eat later but knew that Tali would insist on it being sampled immediately. Millie's eyes twinkled as she discerned his thought processes. She took pity on him,

"I've got a bowl of whipped cream," she said. "Would you like some with your pie?"

Tony nodded fervently, sure that cream would help a lot. Millie was serving the pie when a voice came from the café,

"Anyone here?"

"Mac!" shouted Tali excitedly.

"Indoor voice," said Tony plaintively. He worried that his hearing wouldn't survive Tali's childhood. "In here!" he bellowed in turn reflecting that perhaps he knew where Tali got her volume from. He grinned when Frazer MacKenzie walked in. Frazer was Tali's nanny and been on holiday for a few days.

Mac swept Tali up into a hug and she started chattering away to him about what she had been doing in his absence. "Looks like I came back just in time," he observed as he noted Tony's slightly battered appearance.

"Always glad to see you, Mac," said Tony warmly. "And you can have some of Tali's pie."

Mac's game face was more convincing than Tony's and he looked delighted. Tony thought it was probably something he'd learned at nanny school and, for a moment or two, was lost in thought as he imagined those classes.

"You're early," commented Tony as they tucked into Tali's pie with varying degrees of enthusiasm. "Didn't expect you back till tomorrow."

"Thought you might need me," said Mac, "Lot to get ready for the weekend."

"And?" prompted Tony.

"And?" asked Mac innocently.

"Let me guess. The fair Helena didn't show up for triathlon training so you lost interest a little?"

"Yeah," Mac caved. "Didn't seem any point sticking around."

Tony punched the air in silent delight at having seen through Mac. "Guess you didn't know that Gibbs is here," he said.

"Already?" asked Mac.

"Came early," said Tony.

"Great," said Mac unconvincingly. He and Gibbs had got off to a shaky start and, while things had improved greatly, Mac was always slightly wary around him.

"And talking of the Great White," said Tony as he recalled the early morning conversation, "Where is he?"

Millie tried to look disapproving of Tony's description but failed as she knew some of the history between the two men. She settled for saying, "Haven't seen him since he took you home."

"Hmm," said Tony. He realised that he needed to talk with Gibbs about the suspension but decided he didn't have the time to organise a manhunt. "OK. Well, in this case I'm going to have let the mountain come to Muhammad 'cos Mel … Chaplain Burke is due here any minute. Mac, I know you're still on vacation but can you take Tali for an hour or so?"

"Sure, Mr D," said Mac easily, "Perhaps we can do some more baking?"

"Really?" said Tony gloomily.

"I want to walk," said Tali.

"Great," said Tony with more enthusiasm, "Fresh air is just what you need. And it will get you ready for your nap," he added more quietly.

NCISNCIS

Tony was deep in thought as he went to meet Chaplain Burke who was staying with the Rector. He was trying to work out how best to help Gibbs and what, if anything, to do about Abby. He was walking up the path to the church when a voice sounded behind him,

"Hey! Thought you said you had good observational skills!"

Tony whirled around in shock, "Bishop! What are you doing here?"

"We closed up the case we were working on. The Director said we could take an extra couple days as Tim and I were off for the weekend. I didn't have anything else to do so I figured I'd come down early. I was just sitting here admiring the church when you marched past me," said Bishop.

"Sorry," said Tony, "Lot on my mind. Good to see you, Bishop." He smiled as he gave her a hug.

"Good to see you as well," said Bishop. "Did Tali do that?" she asked as she pointed to the blossoming black eye.

"Ha ha," said Tony. "Actually, it probably won't be long before she does do real damage. She's got a strong left arm, you know."

"It wasn't Gibbs, was it?" asked Bishop in sudden alarm.

"You know he's down here?" asked Tony.

"Yeah, McGee let it slip after you phoned him. It wasn't him, was it?"

"No, we're good. Although it is his fault," said Tony thoughtfully.

"How so?"

"I caught a case. I thought it was Gibbs's case but it wasn't," said Tony vaguely.

"We heard about that," said Ellie.

"You did?" said Tony in surprise. "It's nothing to do with the Navy."

"Oh," said Bishop sheepishly, "McGee and I have got this alert program running. If anything goes down in Milsom Bay or Raleigh we know about it. You know, just in case you're involved."

"You do know that you two are seriously scary, don't you?" said Tony.

Ellie shrugged modestly. "And I think the Director … the Acting Director … knows too," she said.

"Ah," said Tony, "Director Bobby."

"I think she prefers Roberta," said Ellie solemnly.

"I'll bear that in mind," said Tony, "Although I don't expect ever to meet her. And why does Director Roberta know about it?"

"I think she's trying to keep track of Gibbs while he's on vacation."Ellie looked out to sea when she said this.

"Right," said Tony. "His vacation." His cell vibrated at that moment and he saw he had a text message. He read it and saw that it was from Chaplain Burke explaining she'd been delayed. "Hey," he said, "Let me buy you a coffee. Take you to the café, you're staying there, aren't you?"

"I'm booked in from tomorrow. I wasn't sure if there'd be room tonight," said Ellie.

"Let's go and find out," said Tony.

A few minutes later Tony and Bishop were sitting outside the café waiting for Millie to decide what they needed to eat and drink.

"Don't we need to order?" asked Bishop as Millie left them.

"No. Millie has this sort of telepathy. She always knows what people need," said Tony, "You watch."

"That's amazing," said Bishop a little later as she gazed at her mug of hot chocolate and cinnamon muffins. "How did she know?"

Tony shrugged. "I think it's just a gift. So, Bishop … Ellie, I wanted to ask you something …" He trailed off as he realised that Bishop was in something of a muffin reverie and hadn't heard what he said. "Hey!" he said sharply, "Bishop!"

"Oh. Oh, I'm sorry," said Bishop, "it's just that these muffins are to die for. And what does she put in that chocolate? Is there cinnamon in that too? Or there's something almost fudgy … or caramelly or …"

"Bishop!" said Tony again.

"Sorry … I think I need to find something to food associate with this. This is just too good to waste. Do you think she'd do some to go?"

"I guess so," said Tony, "She's doing the tea after the service and there will probably be leftovers."

"And she cooks the breakfasts here?" asked Ellie hopefully.

"Yes."

Ellie breathed a sigh of satisfaction, "I'm so glad she's going to let me stay tonight." She stared at her plate happily and then realised that Tony was still staring at her. "Sorry," she said, "I just really, really like muffins … and cupcakes …"

"I know," said Tony tolerantly. "Now, can we talk?"

Ellie picked up the last crumb from her plate, "Yes, I'm ready. Er, what sort of cake is that you've got?" she said a little covetously.

"Ginger and lemon loaf cake," said Tony. "Which I will share with you – if you let me talk to you."

Ellie sat up straighter. "Fire away."

Tony hesitated, "Well, actually, it's awkward."

"You haven't killed Gibbs, have you?" asked Bishop.

"No!" said Tony. "No. I admit that, in the past, I've come close to inflicting bodily harm … well, thinking about inflicting bodily harm – I doubt if I'd have ever actually been able to do it, but … you know."

"I know. So, you haven't killed Gibbs. Which would have been really awkward. So, what is it?"

"Well, you know that Tali is being baptised this weekend?"

"Uh, yeah. That's why I'm here," said Bishop as she licked the spoon to get the last trace of hot chocolate.

"I was wondering … well, I was wondering … how you'd feel … whether … and I'll understand if you want to say no …" rambled Tony.

"Say no to what?"

"Being Tali's godmother," said Tony.

"Tali's godmother? Me?"

"Hey, don't worry. I understand if you don't want to …" began Tony.

Ellie leaned across the table and hugged Tony, "I would love to be Tali's godmother. And now I can food associate that with hot chocolate and muffins!"

Tony wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing but decided not to ask.

"Wait," said Ellie after a few moments of rapt silence, "Why is it awkward?"

Tony shifted uneasily and Bishop put her analytical powers to work. "Abby!" she said. "You were going to ask her!"

"Well …" began Tony.

"I understand," said Ellie, "I expected you to ask her. You've known her longest. She's the obvious candidate – or she would be if she hadn't gone off the deep end about it all."

"I was going to ask her," admitted Tony.

"I don't mind," said Bishop bravely, "And if Abby changes her mind, I'll understand."

"What will you understand, Bishop?" asked Tony.

"If you want her to be godmother. I'll step aside if you need me to on the day."

"I was going to ask Abby," said Tony, "But I don't think I really wanted to. I was asking her because, like you said, she was the obvious person to ask – especially because I asked Tim to be godfather. I knew she'd be hurt if I didn't ask her. And I love Abby, I really do but I think you'd be a better godparent to Tali."

"You do?"

"Yep. Abby would be a fun, slightly irresponsible godmother. But I don't want my daughter turning into a Goth … or wild … or …"

"So, I'm the boring choice?" said Ellie.

"Believe me," said Tony fervently, "I'm coming to see that boring isn't the worst thing. But no, I don't think you're boring. You're kind, gentle, brilliant, easy to talk to and … well, I think you'd be great. You'd be a good friend to Tali."

"You sure?" asked Ellie.

"I'm sure," said Tony. "Will you do it?"

"Will I do it?" said Ellie, "I would love to do it! I'm going to start the research right away."

"Research?" asked Tony.

"Of course. It's a very responsible thing. I need to check up on what I need to do, what it involves, what …"

"Here," said Tony pushing the ginger and lemon loaf cake towards her, "I think you'll need this."

Ellie looked up distractedly and stood up, "I'm going up to my room, I need my laptop. There's lots to do." She picked up the cake and left.

"See you later," said Tony. He sat for a moment or two as he tried to decide what to do next when he heard an unfamiliar voice,

"Lieutenant DiNozzo?"

Tony looked up but didn't recognize the speaker, "Yes?" he replied.

"May I join you?"

"Er …"

"I wasn't sure I would recognize you. I was at Ohio State at the same time as you. Well, I was a year ahead of you. I was a cheerleader, I was at a lot of the games you played in," said the new arrival.

"Oh," said Tony, "Sure, why not?" he gestured to the seat just vacated by Ellie.

"My name is Roberta Button," said the woman as she took the chair. She held out her hand, "I'm pleased to meet you again."

Tony shook the offered hand and realised that somehow he had pictured a Bobby Button as being rounder, darker and older than the slender blonde in front of him. "Ah," he said, "You're …" He trailed off as he wondered if he should admit to knowing that she was the Acting NCIS Director.

"I was Roberta Carrington," she said. "You might remember me as Bobbie Carrington. But when I married and became a Button well, somehow Bobbie Button didn't have quite the right ring."

"Really?" said Tony mendaciously as if the combination of names had never occurred to him. He thought he vaguely remembered a Bobbie Carrington but he had known a lot of young women at college and they sometimes merged in his memory.

"And I'm Acting NCIS Director at the moment," Roberta continued. "Oh, thank you," she said in surprise as Millie arrived with drinks and cake. "I didn't order anything yet …"

Tony looked at Millie's offering with interest. He couldn't yet get a handle on his guest although as an OSU alumnus she couldn't be all bad; he wondered what Millie's intuition had led her to provide. He saw a black coffee which would be strong enough to satisfy Gibbs and a plain looking cake. Both Tony and Roberta looked at Millie questioningly.

"It's a seed cake," she explained. "I found it in an old recipe book of my grandmother's that she brought over from Scotland. She used to work as a cook in a country house in England and I think the recipe comes from that time. The unusual ingredient is caraway seeds: it won't appeal to everyone but I think you might like it," she said. "Tony, I don't think you'll like it. Here's another slice of ginger and lemon loaf."

Millie walked away leaving Tony and Roberta gazing at their plates.

"I'd trust Millie's instinct," said Tony encouragingly.

"Well, she got the coffee right," said Roberta. She sniffed the cake distrustfully and then took a bite. "Goodness," she said, "I don't usually like cake but this is wonderful," she took another bite.

Tony exchanged an imaginary high five with Millie but kept a straight face as he took a sip of his sweet cappuccino. The acting Director didn't get lost in a reverie as Bishop had and soon spoke again,

"Congratulations on the raid last night," she said.

"Thank you …" said Tony cautiously.

"Don't worry, I know it's not a Navy matter. I just happened to see the report."

"Yes?" said Tony with continued caution.

"You know that Special Agent Leroy Gibbs is down here at the moment," she said, "I had half suspected that he might have been involved."

"No," said Tony, glad that he could truthfully deny any Gibbs involvement. "And I think he prefers Jethro to Leroy."

"I know," said Roberta with a twinkle in her eye.

Tony stared at her, wondering if she was insane or suicidal or both. "I see," he said eventually. "No," he added, "No, I don't see."

Roberta waved a hand dismissively. "I hear good things about you, Lt DiNozzo."

"You do?"

"Indeed. I've been to conferences with your Chief of Police in Raleigh. Laura Martin is full of praise for what you'd done there. And Agents Fornell and Borin have good things to say about you."

"I bet Agent Slacks doesn't," Tony chipped in.

"Slacks?" said Roberta, "The name doesn't sound familiar."

"You might know him as Agent Sacks," admitted Tony.

"Indeed," said Roberta, "No, I don't remember the name. But, as I said, there are many good reports about you out there."

"How do you know?" asked Tony.

"It wasn't difficult to find out."

"Then perhaps I should ask, why do you know?"

"Ah, I see," said Roberta, "You mean why have I gathered all this information about you?"

"Yes."

"May I be frank, Lt DiNozzo?"

"Of course. So long as you don't mind me being frank in return."

"I'm tougher than I look," smiled Roberta.

Tony felt like telling her that she already looked pretty tough to him but decided this might not be tactful so he simply took another sip of coffee.

"Leroy Gibbs, sorry Leroy Jethro Gibbs," said Roberta. "I understand that you worked for him for some years?"

"About thirteen," agreed Tony.

"So you must have a great insight into his character."

Tony choked. "Not so much," he managed to reply.

"I am puzzled," said Roberta, "On the face of it he should not have achieved such a high position in NCIS. His working practices are antiquated and, in my opinion, sometimes brutal."

"I used to think the head slaps were a sign of affection," offered Tony.

The Acting Director rolled her eyes at this, "And yet he seems to be greatly respected in NCIS and undoubtedly gets excellent results."

"Yes," said Tony.

"I am trying to get him to re-evaluate the way he works," confided Roberta, "He is an asset I don't want to lose and yet he is out of step with current thinking. What would you suggest?"

"Me?"

"Yes, you have known the man for years. Worked as his second in command. Surely he listened to you?"

Tony laughed. "Gibbs doesn't listen to anyone, least of all me."

"But …"

"He's great at his job – and he knows it. He respects himself but I don't think he respects anyone else – at least not in the workplace," explained Tony.

"And yet you count him as your friend?" asked Roberta.

"He's a good friend," agreed Tony, "It's hard to explain."

"I see," said Roberta. "Or rather, I don't see but it seems that's the norm as far as Agent Gibbs goes."

Tony shrugged sympathetically. "I guess you just have to ride the tiger and not expect to tame the beast."

Roberta smiled, "I used to be the flier on the Buckeye pyramid, Lt DiNozzo! I'm not afraid!"

"Good to know," said Tony neutrally. He looked at his watch to check whether Chaplain Burke would have arrived yet.

"So, I'm going to go ahead with my plan," said Roberta.

"Yes?"

"Yes. I think the agency needs you. I want you to consider coming back to NCIS."

"You want what?" spluttered Tony.