Tony walked with Hotch to the conference room where he would meet the others. Hotch finally stopped and looked at him.

'We appreciate you helping us Agent DiNozzo. We feel as if we are missing something. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.'

'Please call me Tony, Agent Hotchner. I hope I can be of some help to you. I'll do what I can anyway.' Tony paused for a moment. 'Thank you for taking the time to look at my assignments and give some constructive feedback. It helped more than you'll ever know.'

'Tony, please call me Hotch. We were all glad to take a look. For someone who hasn't studied profiling you definitely show natural ability. You never know, maybe in the future we can make Fornell happy and get you into the BAU.' Hotch grinned at him. 'Come on the others are waiting and probably interrogating Reid as we speak.'

Tony ducked his head and blushed slightly at the compliment, but followed Hotch to meet the others. As much as he hated it, he could see why Reid had been attracted to this man. He was good-looking, stylish, had a quick mind, and was very quick witted. He wanted to be able to dislike him, but he couldn't. No matter how much it hurt Hotch, he only wanted Reid to be happy; he just wished he could have been him to be the one to do that.

XXXXX

Reid looked up as the door opened and in walked Hotch and Tony. He smiled at his friend, but his gaze kept going to the man that he worked with.

'Tony.' Reid stood up, walked over and hugged him.

Derek turned to look at Penelope. This was not what they expected when they talked about who Tony DiNozzo was and what he looked like. They had made a deal that they couldn't check. All they had to go on was what Reid said, and the assignments they had looked at. They all had imagined someone more like Reid, and not this tall, strong, and athletically built man with classic good looks.

Dave stopped himself from laughing when Tony smiled at them, and everyone automatically smiled back. Penelope looked like she was going to create a puddle of drool. Even he was not immune to that smile. There was just something about it that made everything seem better, and that you would want to do anything to get to know this man better.

Derek shook his head at his baby girl. He'd bet that DiNozzo had got a lot of mileage out of that beaming grin, not only personally, but professionally as well.

'Ok, Tony let me introduce you to everyone. You already know Reid. Here we have Dave Rossi, JJ Jereau, Penelope Garcia, Emily Prentiss and Derek Morgan. Derek was a cop like you before he joined us.'

'Hi, I hope I can be of some help and thank you for all your suggestions on my assignment. It did make me look at some things in a different way.' Tony went around and shook each of their hands.

'Ok, let's get down to work. Here you go Tony, I'm afraid for the next couple of days or you are going to be doing is reading files.'

'Well, that is one thing that is the same in all agencies.' Tony settled down grabbed a pen and paper then he pulled the first file to him and started to read. His hand poised and ready to jot any thoughts or things that stood out. That is one thing being a cop had taught him, note down everything. When they talked about the cases, he would be the only one with a pen and pad in his hand taking notes.

XXXX

Gibbs sat and stared at the folder in front of him. His gaze kept going to that empty desk. It felt like it did when Tony was agent afloat. He felt as if he were losing him all over again, but this time for god. He growled as he looked at the time, there was still hours to go before he could actually leave. He stopped up and stomped off to the lift.

'I'm going for coffee.' He growled, not waiting for any answers.

McGee and Ziva waited for the lift door to close before they turned to each other. Ziva waited for him to join her. '

Why does the BAU want Tony?' McGee asked.

'There are things going on that we are not aware of McGee. We need to find out what they are.'

The two of them smiled. 'Abby.' They said together, and off to see their little forensic genius.

McGee knew that he had a connection with Abby, and she wouldn't want to hurt him. If he played it right, she would tell them what they wanted to know.

XXXXX

Abby's head bopped away to the loud music that echoed around her lab. She stared at the monitor waiting for one of her babies to ping with some info. She jumped as a hand landed on her shoulder. Abby turned off her music and looked at them.

'Timmy doesn't do that.' She sat for a moment and took in some deep breaths to calm her down. That was when she noticed that Tim and Ziva. They just stared watched and waited. 'Is there a case I don't know about? I don't have anything running for you guys?' She hoped that she hadn't missed anything.

'No Abs, no case.' Tim walked towards her, a smile on his face. 'So what's going on with Tony then?'

Abby narrowed her eyes at him. 'What do you mean what's going on with him?' She replied cautiously.

'He hasn't joked, practical jokes, and he never comes out or asks us to go out? You seemed to be spending time with him?'

Abby knew what they were doing, but she had promised Tony not to say anything. She had also talked to Balboa, and found out all the little comments they had made. 'Well, maybe he's finally grown up. That was what you wanted, wasn't it?' She sent them a beaming smile.

Ziva and McGee looked at each other it was obvious Abby wasn't going to say anything, but that also meant they couldn't ask her to help them.

'If you sure there is nothing else going on, we were just worried about him that was all.' Ziva added.

'Nope, he's still the same ole Tony.' Abby's computer binged behind her. She silently prayed a thank you and turned away.

Ziva and McGee waited for a moment longer as they tried to figure out something to make her talk and finally gave up. They walked over to the lift and waited for Abby's music started to blare out once again.

'How about Palmer, he must get sick of all the autopsy gremlin jokes, and how Tony makes those comments about him.' Tim asked.

'Yes, Palmer must think as we do.' Ziva smiled at him, as they waited for the lift.

XXXXX

Reid watched as Tony closed the current file he had been reading and stretched. His eyes roamed over that muscular body.

'So, are you finishing for the night?' Reid asked.

'Yep, there are a few things I've noticed, but I'm going to wait until I've read through them all.'

'So do you fancy going out tonight?'

'I would've loved to, but I'm sorry Spencer, but I've made plans to see Gibbs. Me coming here was out of the blue, and there is a lot that's been going on at work. We're going to talk through it.' Tony looked at him sadly.

'I understand these jobs of ours take up a lot of our lives. Uhhh well will go out another day.' Reid stuttered as he walked away.

'Definitely.' Tony called out after him, he really felt bad about saying now. Him going to Gibbs' place had been pre-arranged, but still, it was Gibbs. Any extra time spent with him was worth it. That made him feel even guiltier.

XXXXX

Hotch watched as Reid walked towards him. 'I'm free tonight, if you want to go out for something to eat?' He offered.

Reid's eyes opened in surprise. 'Sure that would be great.'

XXXXX

Tony watched as Reid and Hotch walked off with each other, both standing very close. Their arms brushed as they walked. He couldn't help smile, and think that maybe Reid would get what he wanted after all. It had been obvious when they spoke about Hotch how much the older man meant to him. It was something they had in common, until now unrequited love.

'So pathetic DiNozzo, any time spent with Gibbs just makes your day.' Tony muttered to himself. He smiled as the others suddenly appeared.

'Are you heading off now Tony?' Penelope asked.

'Yeah, meeting up with Gibbs to explain how the BAU knew who I was.' He chuckled.

'So are you enjoying the course you're doing then?' Penelope walked with him to the lift.

'Yeah, I am. My next course has to be on computers. I barely can use them. I would have asked a colleague, but we don't seem to be getting on like we use to.' Tony replied a little sadly.

'How about me?'

'How about you what?' Tony stared at her as they waited for the lift to arrive.

'Am I, or am I not the computer goddess within these hallowed walls?'

'Why yes, I believe you are.'

'How about tomorrow after you finish here I'll start teaching you.' Penelope offered.

'You'd really help me?' Tony grinned at her.

'I really will.' She put her arm through his, and they walked into the lift as soon as the door opened.

'I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.' Tony quoted.

'I love that film.'

'Me too, what were your favourite bits.'

Derek chuckled as the door closed on the two of them discussing the merits of Casablanca.

XXXXX

'Palmer, glad we managed to catch you before you left.' McGee smiled at him.

'Is there something you need from me?' Palmer asked nervously.

'No, it's about Tony.' Ziva added.

Palmer's eyes narrowed as he looked at them both. 'What about Tony?' He asked.

XXXXX

Gibbs smiled as Tony walked in. 'I'm glad you could make it.'

Tony stared at him for a moment. 'So am I.' He replied and closed the door behind him.

TBC