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Gibbs and Tony stood in the dark and observed the young boy from the other side of a two way mirror. The boy had placed his muddy boots on the table then slouched further into the uncomfortable chair. How he found it comfy Tony would never know. The red eyes and bags under his eyes reminded Tony that the police had found the kid drunk, Tony wondered if it was a one time thing or if he had a drinking problem. The other thing Tony noticed was the glare that was permanently fixed on the boy's face,
"That is one angry kid," Tony commented as he dug his hands into his trouser pockets. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Gibbs nod in agreement, "When are you going to talk to him?" Tony asked, turning to face his boss. Tony loved watching Gibbs in the interrogation room, he supposed it was the same kick as an artist watching Picasso painting or a sportsman watching Ali box. Gibbs could get confessions out of the most hardened criminals without even breaking a sweat. Watching an interrogation was better than watching all his favourite films put together.
"I'm not," Gibbs answered, not giving away anymore.
"Why not?" Tony asked with a frown.
"You're going to talk to him," Gibbs replied, shrugging slightly as he spoke.
"Oh no," Tony shook his head vehemently, "No, no no no no, I don't do kids Boss, you know that! They hate me!"
"He isn't a kid DiNozzo, he's fifteen,"
"Hmm," A voice snorted. Gibbs and Tony's heads turned to see Ziva standing at the door with a hand on her hip. She smiled as she closed the door behind her and walked up to stand by Tony's side, "Same age as you mentally," She spoke "I'm sure you two will have lots to talk about,"
"Yeah," Tony agreed, "I'll tell him all about my time living in a mansion on Long Island with the tennis courts, swimming pool and helicopter pad and then he can describe what the doorway he lives under looks like, I'll regale stories of my life as a cop and he can respond with his adventures as a teenage thief! Yeah, me and him have loads to talk about!" Tony finished sarcastically.
"You had a helipad?" Ziva questioned, momentarily distracted. Tony gave her a looks which told her he wasn't about to discuss his childhood home with her.
"DiNozzo," Gibbs began as he turned to his senior field agent, "If I didn't think you could get through to him do you think I would be sending you in there?" He asked as he kept eye contact.
Tony sighed, "No," He answered.
"Then what the hell are you still doing in here?" Tony opened his mouth to speak but decided against it quickly. His shoulders sagged in defeat and he left the room silently. Only a second later, Gibbs and Ziva watched him enter the adjacent room. The boy didn't look up as Tony entered and Tony took a moment to study the boy before closing the door and sitting down opposite. Still the boy made no reaction to Tony's presence, his eyes focused on a distant point. Tony realised the only way to reach the boy was play at his level. He pushed the chair back with a high pitched screech, slouched back in the chair and dropped his feet on the table. The boy's eyes followed Tony's movements and Tony knew he was getting somewhere.
"Life's a bitch isn't it?" Tony asked the boy.
"What would you know?" Jake spat. Tony raised an eyebrow, glad he'd got at least a few words out of the boy already. Even though there was only mirror behind him, he could feel Gibb's eyes on the back of his neck and he didn't want to fail. He shrugged apathetically. He decided to go down a different road.
"Do you know why you're here?" He asked.
"Because you have nothing better to do," Jake retorted.
"Nope," Tony shook his head, keeping his eyes firmly on Jake's. Jake stayed silent so Tony continued. "You knocked over my boss when you hightailed it out of Rick Yates' house earlier this morning."
"So?"
"Yeah, you're right" Tony replied "He probably deserved it" Tony knew he was going to get head-slapped for that one.
Jake frowned, "What kind of cop are you?"
"I'm a federal agent, NCIS."
"What the hell is that?"
"Naval Criminal Investigative Service," Tony answered, "We were there to find out who killed Rick Yates."
"So?" Jake asked again.
"Was it you?" Tony asked.
"Why the hell would I tell you if I did!"
"Why the hell wouldn't you if you didn't?" Tony countered.
Jake's eyes narrowed, "You can't be a very good cop if you're only lead is me."
Tony tilted to one side and answered, "Who said you were my only lead?"
"You obviously haven't otherwise you wouldn't be asking me if I killed Rick," Jake commented.
"Were you and Rick friends?" Tony asked, noting the familiarity Jake possessed calling Marine sergeant Yates by his first name. Jake shrugged, "I know he took in runaways like you, how often did you stay the night?" Jake shrugged again, "Once? Twice? Every week?" Tony tried, receiving only more shrugs in return, "Were you and Rick more than friends?" Tony asked, knowing he was treading on unstable ground.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"He gave you a place to stay; did he want anything in return?"
"What the hell?"
"I have to ask," Tony reasoned, "You're underage and I need to know if Rick Yates forced you to do anything."
Jake slid his feet off the table and slammed his hands down on the metal table, "You don't know what you're talking about cop!"
"Then tell me," Tony replied calmly, ignoring Jake's temper.
"He gave me a sofa to sleep on and some food to eat that's all!"
"How often?" Jake shrugged, "What were you doing in his house last night?"
"That's none of your business," Jake hissed, glaring daggers at Tony. Tony said nothing and for the next five minutes neither spoke. They stared at each other like an unprompted staring contest, both too stubborn to concede defeat. Eventually Tony spoke.
"Is the headache getting to you?" He asked, "You're eyes burning, your throat feeling dry and coarse, you're stomach churning," Jake said nothing, "Hangovers are a bitch aren't they?….Do you drink to forget the pain or do you drink to cause pain? You're so numb to the world that only pain makes you feel alive," Tony spoke, the words coming from somewhere he normally kept locked up tight. He just knew Gibbs would bring it back up later, question him about it and he began to regret each word even though he was unable to stop his mouth from spurting them out, "What is it?" He asked quietly, "Did you kill Rick Yates? Did you lash out, expel all the anger you have bottled up inside you onto a man who did nothing but help you?" Again no answer, "Or did you see who killed Rick Yates? Did you watch them as they killed the only person in the world you meant anything to you?" A flash of something past across Jake's eyes and Tony knew he'd hit the nail on the head, "What happened last night?" Tony asked.
"I'm not telling you anything!"
"That's okay; I already know you slept over at his house more than once, that he was your friend. I know you didn't kill him… and I know you know who did," Jake's eyes widened as Tony spoke, "You told me everything I needed to know," He stood up and walked to the door. He opened the door but stopped himself and turned back to the boy, "Life's a bitch isn't it?" He said before closing the door behind him with a smart click.
In the adjoining room Gibbs and Ziva stared at the boy. The silence broke when Ziva spoke, "He's good," She observed.
"Yes," Gibbs agreed, "Yes he is," He said before turning and leaving the room.