Disclaimer is in Chapter 1.
Chapter 9
"Tony, my butt's numb." Rebecca said softly, her hands flexing on the steering wheel. "Please tell me we're almost there."
"Reading lamps, hah!" Tony commented, as he angled the folded paper in an attempt to capture more light. "I can barely read this map!"
"Judging by the forest around us, we might meet some bears, if you don't get us to the resort soon."
"I think we're here." Tony jabbed a quadrant on the map.
"You think?"
"I know?"
"I don't like the questioning tone of that so-called statement, DiNozzo."
"The main road should be coming up soon. When you reach it, turn left."
"Should?"
"Is?"
"Tony, do you do anything with definitive actions?"
"Sex." Tony replied without thinking. He grimaced.
Even with the dull light generated by the reading lamp, he caught Rebecca's grin.
"We get to the resort in one piece, I'll consider it as your reward." She countered.
"What about them?" Tony thumbed towards the back seat.
"You want them instead!" Rebecca asked, amazed.
"No!" Tonyprotested, grabbing the handle of the door as the Mustang shot off of gravel onto a paved surface.
"Hang on!" Rebecca ordered, lurching the car to the left.
Tony breathed quickly.
"This the road you were talking about?" She asked.
"God, I hope so." Tony replied. "A few more miles and we should be there."
Rebecca glanced in her rearview mirror. A set of headlights was approaching rapidly from behind.
"You know…you just might get that reward, DiNozzo." Rebecca pressed the accelerator to the floor. "You've got a few minutes to decide if you want me or the dogs."
Tony leaned down and glanced in the side mirror. The oncoming headlights looked like they belonged to a Charger, the current car of the NCIS staff.
"Sign! White Wolf! One mile, turn right!" He shouted. They were going to win! Was that Gibbs passing?
"No!" He shouted again for the second time in under a minute.
"All is not yet lost, my friend." Rebecca said through clenched teeth.
"Huh? They passed us!"
Rebecca tail-gated for a few yardsand suddenly slammed on the brakes. Yanking the steering wheel to the right, the tires squealed their protest at the abusive treatment. The car pivoted and she stomped on the gas.
Tony stared in amazement as they pulled into the poorly advertised "driveway" for the spa. It appeared as if White Wolf didn't want just anyone as their clientele and felt that auspicious advertising was beneath them.
He glanced back to see Gibbs' car pulling in to the driveway from the other direction. They had done a one-eighty turn to return to the entrance..
"How did you?..."
"He passed us just as we passed the one-mile notice sign. I was hoping that they had missed it."
"And by keeping up with him, he thought there was still a little ways to go!" Tony wasn't sure if he was more shocked or in awe.
"You can pay homage to me later." Rebecca offered, as she pulled into a parking spot.
Gibbs pulled in beside them.
Exiting the car, the senior agent waited for Tony vacate the Mustang. As the younger man did, Gibbs slapped the back of Tony's head.
"You let her drive like a maniac!"
"But, Boss!" Tony protested.
"The brats had to pee." Rebecca said plainly. "We had to hurry. Didn't want them to pee in a rental car. Do you know what they'd charge me for a clean up fee?"
Gibbs stared at the woman as she batted her eyes at him across the roof of her car.
"The brats?" He asked slowly.
"Yeah, boss. The brats." Tony flipped his seat forward.
Gibbs peered in. Two sets of dark chocolate eyes stared back at him.
"They're dogs!"
"Well, you're certainly faster than Tony!" Rebecca remarked.
"Hey!" Tony scowled.
"Why do you have dogs here?" Gibbs asked.
"Because I didn't have time to make alternate arrangements. No time to verify a good local kennel…and they can't stay with Ducky. They'd eat his mother's Corgis for appetizers and that's after using them for squeak toys to pass the time."
"How are you going to sneak them in?" Tim asked.
"No need to. The resort allows pets." Rebecca replied.
"Pets can be very relaxing and therapeutic, Probie." Tony said knowingly, sharing a glance with Rebecca. She nodded back.
"Come on, let's get checked in." Gibbs said, shaking his head. "I need a drink."