Disclaimer is in Chapter 1.
We're getting to the plot...trust me...gotta have some fun along the way, though, right?
Chapter 8
"Okay…first exercise, Mr. DiNozzo." Rebecca stated out of the blue.
"Huh?"
"Exercise. I won't let Gibbs beat us."
"Gibbs always wins."
"Always?"
"Always."
"First time for everything."
"Not for Gibbs."
"Does that mean you won't even try?" Rebecca asked, amazed at how the man beside her treated Gibbs like a god.
"Can't we just enjoy the drive? The scenery will be great…fresh air…"
"Wouldn't you enjoy it more if the smell of victory permeated through the air instead?" Rebecca taunted.
Tony hesitated. It would be nice. They'd beat Gibbs…and Tim…and Zee-vah. He'd be the victor. He could gloat. He could do his little victory dance.
Rebecca noticed the spark in Tony's eyes, when she glanced his way.
"So what's the exercise?" Tony asked finally.
"Find me a faster route to White Wolf. If it means off the main road, so be it."
"How far are you willing to go?" Tony asked.
Rebecca grinned. "Are you asking about distance from the road or something else? Either way, we'll be traveling a less populated route."
Tony flushed a bit. Okay, so he asked a rather loaded question. Rebecca was just a woman. He was an agent, darn it! A highly skilled, competent agent!
"Road." He replied weakly.
"Whatever is necessary." Rebecca said, not commenting on Tony's colour. "It's a rental car. The brats are buckled in back there. Gravel. Country. Rough terrain. Just remember that this isn't a Hummer."
Tony had forgotten about the dogs.
"Hey, umm, do they need to go out or something?"
"They're car-trained, Tony. They'll hold it for as long as I want them to…which means a few more hours. Now found us a new route."
Tony grabbed the map from the glove compartment and began looking for some alternates.
A few stood out, but one in particular. Off the main road, few towns to drive through. That meant no help in case of a problem, but fewer zones with slower limits.
Tony glanced over at the speedometer. Rebecca drove like Gibbs, so maybe speed limits were guidelines only to her. Fewer towns, fewer speed traps, fewer police…he made a decision.
"Take the next exit. I've got our route planned." He said firmly.
"Atta boy!" Rebecca patted his thigh.
Tingles shot through him.
"I'm a good agent. I'm a good agent. I'm a good agent." Tony repeated over and over to himself as Rebecca signaled her departure from the main road.
Tim looked back and in the distance saw a dark grey car pull off the highway.
"Uh…Gibbs?"
"Yeah, McGee?" Gibbs focused on the road.
"Tony and Rebecca have exited the highway."
"Maybe they need gas?" Ziva suggested.
Gibbs considered breaking. He hoped like hell Tony wasn't charming Rebecca. Ducky would never forgive him.
"More than likely it's food. Tony's always eating." Tim replied.
"They're taking a different route." Gibbs realized. "They're racing us."
"Oh no." McGee searched frantically for the holy-crap bar. He found it…stuffed in thepocket behind the driver's seat. Exactly where he had left it last time.
"Gibbs, there are speed limits, yes?" Ziva asked calmly. Although her pale complexion indicated her concern.
"Guidelines, Ziva. They're guidelines." Gibbs replied, stepping down on the accelerator.