Chapter Thirteen: Revelations

Tony sat on the edge of the twin size bed in the room tactfully done in a soft purple color scheme. It was clearly the room of a teenage girl and if the color scheme didn't give it away, the swimming and softball trophies, stuffed animals and artwork left no doubt. He looked around the room, taking in the cheerful atmosphere as he got a feel for who their victim was and what her life had been like only a few short years prior.

He imagined her in her room, looking out her window, sitting at her desk doing homework, looking through the clothes in her closet or the jewelry in her jewelry box. Did she have friends over often? There were an endless number of pictures of her with her friends tucked in the corner of her mirror and tacked to her walls. What did they talk about? Judging by the photographs, they liked to hang out at the pool in skimpy bathing suits and one of them had a fire pit and a little land where they held frequent bonfires. There were pictures of them bowling and skating, shopping, eating and partying.

"I made you some coffee, Agent DiNozzo," Patty, Jordyn's mother said softly.

"Thank you," Tony replied graciously. "You didn't have to go to the trouble."

"It was no trouble at all," Patty said kindly. "I needed a refill anyways."

The two sat in silence for an extended amount of time as if they were soaking in Jordyn's spirit.

"I can still smell her in here," Patty admitted quietly. "Maybe it's just my imagination but I don't care. I used to sit in here all the time when Jordyn was deployed. I felt close to her and it took away some of the anxiety of her being in such a dangerous situation. Now that she's gone, I spend just about all my time in here."

Tony hesitated before responding cautiously. "Are you afraid if you don't, you'll somehow lose that connection with her?"

Patty looked over at Tony and their eyes met. "How'd you know?" she whispered.

"I lost my mom when I was little," Tony whispered. "I refused to leave the library in our house for the longest time because that's where Mom and I would spend a lot of our time, escaping reality into the land of whatever book she was reading to me."

Patty nodded in understanding. "How long did it take before you could bring yourself to leave the room?"

"I was only eight when she died. I couldn't read as well as she could and it just wasn't the same so I got frustrated. It didn't help that my dad got frustrated with me. He didn't approve of me living with my head in the clouds when my mom was alive and when she wasn't there to shield me from his feelings, I found out just how much he didn't approve but I figured out I could kinda get the same effect by watching movies. I could lose myself in the story without the frustration of not being able to read as well as my mother. I traded in the library for the TV room and it was somehow okay. I still felt close to my mom. It probably sounds cliché, but I figured out she's in my heart more than the library; she's close to me no matter where I am or what I'm doing."

"You seem like you've really come to peace with it. I'm sure time helped but I hope I can get there some day."

"You will," Tony assured her. "Time does help. Just when you feel like you can't take it anymore, like you're never going to be able to move on, something will click and you'll feel this unmistakable presence. It'll come. I promise."

Patty nodded as the tears welled up again and Tony reached out and rested his hand on her arm, hoping to comfort her.

As the tears faded, Patty got out one of many photo albums to share with Tony, who took full advantage of the opportunity to get to know his victim better. He listened to the stories behind many of the pictures, asking a few questions of his own and soaking up all the details. He also took another one of Jordyn's journals after her mother had revealed her daughter's hiding spot. By the time he said goodbye, he didn't feel any closer to a big breakthrough but he hoped something in the details would stick out and lead him down the right path.

"As soon as I figured out what happened, I entered the license plate from Baltimore PD's car into the traffic cam system and thanks to an incredibly smart computer and a little luck, I got a hit fairly quickly," Abby told Balboa and Fornell. "I was able to figure out when and where the plates on the two cars were switched. Luckily for us it happened in DC."

"Did you get video of it happening?" Fornell asked hopefully.

"Not from the traffic camera system," Abby answered. "That pretty much only monitors traffic and it'd be silly to attempt to switch plates in the middle of the road at a red light."

"Abs," Balboa said, refocusing her.

"Right!" Abby said. "I requested surveillance footage from the business that owned the parking lot where I believe the switch took place and thanks to timestamps and a little more luck I found this." She pulled up the footage and let the two agents watch for a moment. "Is it just me or is that some of the reddest hair you've ever seen?"

The foot wiggling restlessly back and forth on Tony's desk froze as he read the journal Peggy had given him. It started when Jordyn was in high school and continued on through boot camp and AIT before she'd finally run out of pages and moved on to a different notebook. He read the single sentence again and this time it caused him to sit straight up in his chair and take notice. He read the sentence one last time then popped up out of his chair and hurried towards the elevator.

After an impatient trip on the elevator, he got out on the floor below and headed into Abby's lab where she was talking to Ducky.

"I'm glad you're both here!" he said excitedly. "I think I found her online handle, Abs. Listen to this." He opened the journal to the spot his finger was keeping and read the sentence that had captured his attention in the bullpen. "I was brave today. Or, more accurately, DevilDawg was." He looked up at the two scientists and smiled proudly. Will you help me find the websites she's been posting on, Abs?"

"Absolutely!"

"Ducky, do you think she might have a split personality?"

Ducky took the journal and read the section again. "That's smart thinking but I don't think that's what's going on, Anthony. You see, the internet is quickly turning into a place where people can be someone they're not. Bullies are using it to carry out their harassment while hiding behind the safety and security anonymity offers but it would appear our victim is using it to find her courage."

"But she's a Marine," Tony replied, confused.

"That doesn't mean she doesn't struggle with her self-image, my dear boy."

"Alright," Tony agreed before moving on. "There's something else. How old were you when you had your first boyfriend, Abs?"

"I was in preschool!" Abby announced proudly.

Tony rolled his eyes and chuckled but got right back on track. "There's no mention of any boyfriend in her journal. There's no pictures of her with guys that appear to be more than just friends anywhere. Not in her room, not in the photo albums her mom shared with me, not at her apartment in Quantico. Something hinky's going on here."

"Maybe she has a secret boyfriend!" Abby says excitedly. "Maybe she talks about him online somewhere. If she does, I'll find it. You can't hide anything from Abagail Sciuto!"

"But that wouldn't explain why there's never been any mention of a boyfriend," Tony said. "These journals go all the way back to the ninth grade. I mean, I haven't had a chance to read them in depth but it's usually pretty obvious when a girl has a boyfriend or even a crush on someone."

"You're right," Abby admitted. "That is hinky. I'll dig into her online life and see what I can find. Maybe she has a secret journal somewhere that explains what's going on."

"Thanks, Abs!"

Tony took the journal and headed back towards the bullpen, whistling as he went. Hopefully Jordyn's online life revealed something that would point them in the right direction. Now that things were heating up, he was starting to have fun. Or as much fun as one could have while investigating a murder case. By the time he slipped into his chair in the squad room, Jethro had returned from wherever he'd been and was waiting to be briefed.

"Alright, talk to me. What do you know so far?"

"There's something hinky going on with this pregnancy," Tony said.

"Hinky?" Jethro questioned. "You've been hanging out with Abby too long."

"It's a fun word," Tony said with a shrug.

Jethro simply grinned at him. He was just glad they were getting along. Abby didn't always take too kindly to new people. "What're you thinking?"

"I can't find any sign of her ever having a boyfriend. I've looked through her journals, talked to her friends, talked to her parents and yet there's no mention of a guy but all of a sudden, she's pregnant. I mean, her focus on her career is one thing but it doesn't explain an altogether absence of boyfriends going all the way back to high school."

"Or her being so secretive, even around her closest friends and family," Jethro added.

"Exactly," Tony said. "I don't know what to make of it but I feel like there's something there."

"Extramarital affairs are a big deal in the military," Jethro informed Tony. "It's not like the civilian world where your spouse gets pissed at you, takes all your worldly possessions and kicks you out of the house. You can be court martialed and end up doing hard time along with a dishonorable discharge. If she had a secret lover that was married, it could've cost both parties everything."

"That could certainly spell motive," Tony said, "especially if a pregnancy was going to out them."

Jethro nodded, taking a moment to mull over the new development before looking at his watch, standing and grabbing his gear. "That's enough for today," he said. "Let's sleep on it and see where we're at tomorrow."

The moonlight created a blue hue in the otherwise dark bedroom on East Laurel street in Alexandria. It was nearing midnight and proving to be another night where sleep refused to welcome them into its embrace.

"Can't sleep?" Jethro asked quietly.

Tony was lying on his side, watching Jethro in the dark. "Still thinking about that interrogation," he said, failing at his attempt to keep the troubled tone out of his voice.

Jethro reached out into the darkness and brushed his fingertips across Tony's cheek, waiting patiently for him to continue.

"I get why victims of crimes are sometimes reluctant to come forward," Tony said quietly.

"What do you mean?" Jethro asked curiously.

"All those questions Balboa was asking me? I kinda feel like I'm the one under the microscope," Tony explained.

"You kinda are, but not because you did anything wrong."

"I know that but I don't exactly want all my secrets out in the open. Nobody does so why subject yourself to that if you're the victim of a crime? It's not fair. It woulda been better if I coulda just handled this whole thing myself."

"Until I had to start visiting you in jail," Jethro teased in an attempt to keep the mood light. "You know it's more complicated than that, Tony."

Tony nodded and an awkward silence settled between them.

"You seemed to be enjoying Balboa's questions when they were directed at Mitchell," Jethro said, segueing into a happier topic.

"Only because I was imagining what it'd be like to watch you in interrogation," Tony said around a laugh.

"That what turned you on?"

"Well it certainly wasn't Balboa," Tony answered.

"Good answer," Jethro growled as he leaned in to kiss Tony.

Tony kissed back eagerly and nipped at Jethro's lower lip when he tried to pull back, initiating another kiss. Passion overtook the somberness of the moment, causing Jethro to reach between Tony's legs and brush against his half interested dick to confirm what he wanted.

"You're insatiable," he growled.

"It's all your fault," Tony accused good naturedly. He followed Jethro's hand down, rested his hand on top of his lover's and started rubbing himself with Jethro.

"What do you want?" Jethro whispered, his lips brushing against Tony's as he rubbed noses with the man.

Tony kissed Jethro, briefly but passionately before answering in a voice just as quiet as Jethro's had been. "I wanna suck your cock," he answered, kissing Jethro again before lowering his voice even more, "get you all lubed up so you can fuck me."

Jethro felt his heart flutter inside his chest as a surge of excitement spread through him. "You sure?"

"I took a pain pill before bed. I'll be fine," Tony assured his lover.

Jethro hesitated for only a moment before reaching down and pushing his underwear down his long legs and kicking them onto the floor. He sat up above Tony and looked down at the man, smiling as he trailed a finger across his lover's cheek, his desire to reach out and touch overwhelming.

"Lift your hips up," he instructed.

When Tony did, Jethro pushed his underwear down and off and tossed them onto the floor with his own. His cock pulsed in excitement at the thought of soon being in Tony's mouth and when Tony reached out and brushed his fingers over his lover's length, Jethro couldn't wait any longer.

He grabbed the flavored lube they sometimes used on out of the drawer as he swung around and straddled Tony's face before bending over so that his face was in Tony's crotch. He squeezed some lubed on his hand and rubbed it over himself for Tony then added more and rubbed it over Tony's protruding cock.

"Not too much too fast," Jethro requested before licking from the tip of Tony's cock down to the base and nuzzling into his ball sack. "I wanna play."

Tony opened his mouth and guided Jethro's cock into it, slowly but surely taking him all the way down, breathing through his nose as he swallowed around him and pulling a sharp curse from his lover's mouth.

Jethro pinched Tony's ass in warning but the move only caused a hum of approval as a bead of precum oozed out. He lapped up the precum then kissed all along Tony's shaft and his cockhead before opening his mouth and taking it inside. He used the lube that was remaining on his fingers to begin to open Tony up, his movements confident and steady until he was easing two fingers in and out of Tony in an easy, lazy rhythm.

Tony couldn't stop himself from rocking in rhythm with Jethro's movements, thrusting into Jethro's mouth in the process. He yelped when Jethro's fingers found his prostate and a stream of precum spurted out.

"Don't," Tony panted frantically after releasing Jethro from his mouth. "I don't wanna cum till you're inside me."

Jethro couldn't resist and bumped it again, earning another spurt of precum which he happily swallowed down. The added suction had Tony's head dropping helplessly against the pillow as a sharp curse came out of his mouth.

Tony reached down and squeezed the base of his cock, fighting hard against Jethro's ongoing advances but the man simply started nipping at his fingers before carefully prying one away using only his teeth and sucking it into his mouth.

"Jethro," Tony whimpered helplessly.

When it became clear that Jethro wasn't going to let up, Tony decided his only countermeasure was an equal attack. He nuzzled and sucked on the man's balls, inadvertently moving them out of the way so he could first lick and then suck against the incredibly sensitive area behind them. He felt his lover falter immediately but refused to relent.

Jethro face planted between Tony's legs and reminded himself to simply breathe. His cock hardened even more and leaked out onto Tony's chest. Jethro was tempted to reach down and stroke himself but he knew if he did that it would all be over. The temptation might've won out had Tony not begged to be fucked; begged for that connection that took their relationship to a whole new level.

Tony reached for Jethro's cock and licked along the underside from the tip all the way down, over his balls before nuzzling the sensitive area behind with his nose again. Before he completely lost it, Jethro grabbed for his cock as he lifted his body up and moved off of Tony.

Tony watched, a satisfied grin on his face as he lightly stroked himself while Jethro got himself turned around, lubed up and positioned between Tony's legs.

Tony spread his legs, opening himself up wide. He unintentionally held his breath, waiting in anxious anticipation for what was coming next as Jethro pushed gently against his legs, moving him into the position he wanted him in before running his fingers across the strong muscles in the back of Tony's thighs.

"Breathe," he reminded Tony in a soft whisper.

Jethro lined up, his grip on himself slippery, and pushed in, sinking all the way inside with no hesitation. He watched as Tony's eyes rolled back in his head and his arms went limp on the bed at the overwhelming pleasure.

"Stay with me," Jethro urged. "Stroke your cock, Tony. I wanna watch you stroke yourself."

"Feels so good," Tony muttered, lazily reaching for himself. "You feel so fucking good inside me."

Jethro wrapped his hand around Tony's and started stroking with the man before releasing him and watching Tony stroke himself. He continued moving their bodies together slowly enough to let some of the urgency fade and when he couldn't resist any longer, he reached out and touched.

Jethro tweaked Tony's nipples before carefully leaning over and tasting. He explored the man's chest and abdomen, avoiding bruises and sore spots before his fingers finally their way down to Tony's cock, lying proudly against Tony's belly, reaching up past his belly button.

Tony's breath caught at the thorough investigation of his most sensitive parts and he waited and watched to see what his lover was going to do next. Jethro pushed deep into the man and rubbed hard against his body, forcing more precum out of the tip of Tony's cock. He drew back and repeated the move, getting the same result then collected his prize and used it to lubricate Tony's cock as he began stroking him.

"I'm so close, Jethro," Tony warned helplessly as he writhed beneath the man's touch.

"I know," Jethro replied confidently. He pushed in deep again and set a steady rhythm of long, deep strokes while he played with Tony's dick perfectly.

"Jethro," Tony begged.

"We're gettin' there," Jethro promised, his breathing turning to panting. He continued pushing deep and rubbing hard while running his hand over Tony's length. His lover was so excited that there wasn't much give left but Jethro had plenty of lube on his hand to create a delicious friction that had Tony losing all control.

"Jethro," Tony said again, this time as more of a warning.

"Let go," Jethro urged.

Tony's breathing faltered at the command and his body went stiff before flinching hard as steady streams of white splattered across his belly, chest and the bed.

The site combined with Tony clenching around him stole the last of Jethro's control too and his cries joined Tony's, breaking through the silence of the night.

"You're gonna wake the neighbors," Tony teased approvingly as their bodies calmed.

"Shit, Tony," Jethro growled. He pushed in deep one last time and stilled his body, wanting nothing more than to collapse on Tony but resisting, knowing it would hurt him.

Sweat from Jethro's forehead dripped onto Tony, making Tony smile even wider. He loved that he could make Jethro lose control.

"I think I'm ready to sleep now," Jethro said.

Tony reached out and brushed his fingers across Jethro's cheek. Jethro took Tony's hand in his and pressed a kiss to it before releasing it and separating their bodies. He got them both cleaned up, flopped into bed, tugged Tony closer and settled in for a few hours of sleep.