CHAPTER NINE

It took Gibbs, Fornell, McGee and Jess just over a half-hour to put together a tactical plan to rush the bank. And once everyone else had been briefed, the dénouement came fairly quickly.

Gibbs sent Ziva and McGee to check out the back of the bank to locate the "back door" that Tony had left open. There were four doors in the back of the building, but it only took a quick look to see the hallway door that was just slightly ajar. It was probably clearer from the outside than the inside, particularly with the early evening shadows being cast by the security lights.

Once they'd located the entry point, Fornell called Tony to tell him that the press conference location was ready and that if the guys looked out the front of the bank, they'd see a black SUV with tinted windows that would be used as the 'get-away car' once this was over. Cal assumed that the vehicle would have some sort of tracking system on it, but he didn't much care. Mick was a hot-shot mechanic and could disable any tracking device in less time than it took for the FBI to say "lo-jack."

The money, according to Fornell, would be there in fifteen minutes. "Fifteen minutes," Fornell said twice, just to be sure that Tony 'got it'. Tony rolled his eyes when Fornell said it the second time, and he repeated it back to him, as if he was talking to a third-grader.

"Was that 'fifteen minutes' Fornell?" Tony said with a smirk. Fornell hung up on him.

Cal, of course, wasn't that stupid, and so at the fifteen minute mark, he put a gun to Tony's head and stood him and a couple of other hostages in the front window of the bank in clear view of the FBI, the reporters, and everyone else who had gathered to watch the unfolding drama. The hostages were terrified, but Tony wasn't worried. He knew there was more to the plan than that.

At exactly fifteen minutes, an armored truck pulled up to the front of the bank next to the black SUV. As Cal concentrated on the armored truck, expecting a trap, Tony saw Gibbs' right hand, slowly doing a '5-4-3-2-1' countdown. At "1", Tony surprised Cal by grabbing his gun and forcing him to the ground at the exact moment that six FBI agents, Ziva, and McGee came storming in the back door, easily disarming a very surprised Mick. Tyler instantly dropped his gun and threw his hands up in the air, immensely relieved that it was all over.

The hostages froze in shock as the FBI agents cuffed the three men who had been holding them since early that morning. It had been such a surprise after such a quiet day that no one really knew how to react.

Tony grinned at Ziva and McGee as they gathered up the cell phones and other electronics to return to the hostages, all of whom were eager to make contact with their families. "Thanks guys," he said. McGee smiled back at him. Ziva tried to come up with a remark about how Tony could find trouble anywhere, but she failed miserably. In truth, she was glad that he was alright and that the day had led to a peaceful conclusion.

One of the FBI agents began to escort Cal outside when Tony stopped him. He looked at Cal with a mixture of relief and regret.

"Sorry you didn't get your message out," Tony said. He actually meant that. He really did, fundamentally, like the guy. As much as you can like someone who's been tacitly threatening to kill you since breakfast.

"No worries," Cal said, maintaining the calm demeanor he'd had most of the day. "I'll still be on the evening news, and there are a dozen people out there whose first question is going to be 'why'd you do it'. I'll get to say my piece."

Tony shook his head in disbelief as the FBI agent led Cal away to join his other two partners in crime outside.

And then, finally, the paramedics were sent in to bring out the injured parties. There were only two – Eric with his broken arm and a woman with a badly sprained ankle who had slipped and fallen when Tyler had told her to get out of his way when the take-over first happened. The woman's shoes were not exactly conducive to running and actually didn't even work with her body type or the outfit she had on. Tony, being a connoisseur of what really looked good on a woman, had thought about mentioning that to her earlier when they were all sitting around waiting for Fornell to do something, but he had visions of being hit in the head with a stiletto, and had opted against it. The older woman who Mick had yelled at so violently had calmed down considerably, and was even pluck enough to walk up to Mick and give him a stern "Shame on you!" once he'd been cuffed and put in the police car.

Tony was, to his own surprise, miraculously unscathed. In fact, he couldn't remember a case – ever – where he'd been on the receiving end of so many threats and so close to so many guys with guns only to have none of it materialize into physical confrontation or injury. It was disconcerting somehow.

Outside, Jess stood at the SWAT van – pacing, bouncing on the balls of her feet, hands going in and out of her pockets, trying to find some way to use up her nervous energy. Gibbs took her by the shoulders and looked into her eyes, commanding attention.

"He's fine, Jess," he said. "He's fine."

"Then where IS he?" she said, impatiently.

Inside the bank, Fornell walked into the room that had, until about 20 minutes ago, held 15 worried hostages and three anxious gunmen.

"Hey," Tony said, as he watched Fornell stop and look around the room.

"Nice work, DiNozzo," Fornell said. It was not lost on Tony that Fornell had actually pronounced his last name correctly.

"I didn't think I should leave the guns or the money unattended," Tony said, waving a hand to indicate the small pile of weapons and the banker's box of cash.

"Good call," Fornell said.

Tony took a deep breath and blew it out slowly.

"You did good work here, Tony," Fornell repeated. "You know, if you ever feel like switching agencies, there's a hostage negotiation program I know of that would be happy to have you."

"Thanks," Tony said with a half-smile, "but I think I'll stick to NCIS. I couldn't do this all the time."

Fornell nodded. "Well … if you ever change your mind."

Tony smiled and nodded. Then he looked to the front of the bank.

"SWAT, police, press, bystanders, tourists – we got everything, don't we?" he said, with fatigue evident in his voice.

"Yup," Fornell said. "But you need to get out there. Your team is worried, and your friend Jess is a little … anxious."

"I'll bet," Tony chuckled. "I half expected her to come in with the paramedics."

"She tried. Gibbs wouldn't let her."

Tony sighed, rubbing his eyes and running his hands through his hair. "God, I'm tired," he said, the adrenaline that had been pushing him all day finally gone.

"Then get out there, before you fall over and I have to carry you," Fornell said.

Tony turned to go, waving back at Fornell, who was starting an inventory of guns and cash with two other agents who had come in. "Fornell?" Tony said, as he walked through the lobby.

"Yeah?"

"Don't ever call me again."

Fornell chuckled and went back to work.

Tony walked out of the bank and stood at the top of the stairs, looking out into the night and feeling the cool breeze across his face. Then he looked down and saw Gibbs standing there, his hands on Jess' shoulders. She had her back to the bank and was obviously arguing with him. Gibbs looked up and saw Tony. He smiled, and then turned Jess around to face the bank. Jess looked back over her shoulder at Gibbs, who nodded. She crossed the police tape and walked straight to Tony. Her pace was relaxed, as if she were casually strolling through the park to meet a friend, but when she reached Tony at the base of the stairs, she hugged him so hard that he stumbled backwards a step.

"Hi," he said with a chuckle, as he returned the hug.

"Hi," she replied. "Are you okay?"

He released the hug, took a half-step back and took her hands in his. "We need to switch banks," he said, very seriously. Then he smiled. "And I could use a nap," he said.

She smiled and wrapped her arm around his waist as they turned and headed for the waiting collection of agents and reporters. They took a couple of steps in silence; then Tony looked at her. "You remembered 'letting the dog out'," he said, with a smile.

"Of course," she replied. "That was one of the ones we used the most."

"I was taking a chance with that," he said, shaking his head. "I wasn't sure that Gibbs would even let you in the door, much less think to ask you what the dog thing meant."

"He's smarter than he looks," Jess said with a grin.

"Speaking of that," Tony said, looking at her curiously. "How'd the date go?"

"I'll give you all the gory details later," she said with a mysterious smile. "Right now, let's find you a bed."

That was easier said than done. As soon as Tony got within shouting distance of the reporters, he was hit with a barrage of questions about the robbery, the stand-off, and how he'd managed to get everyone out without any guns being fired. Reporters asked him about his hostage negotiation experience, his police training, his time at NCIS, and one astute reporter even managed to work in a question about his father. A couple of reporters pounced on Jess, wondering how she fit into the equation, but she stayed quiet and retreated into the shadows. Ziva was actually impressed with Jess' restraint – how she'd handled herself earlier in the day, her refusal to talk to the press, and her patience as Tony answered questions and gave interviews for the evening news. At one point, Ziva found herself standing next to Jess, offering her a jacket and a cup of tea. Both of them were surprised.

Tony stood and answered questions for just over an hour before Gibbs finally told the reporters to "go file your stories and leave the man alone." After the press, Tony had to be debriefed by the FBI, a debriefing that Fornell kept mercifully short. At Gibbs' insistence, Tony would be allowed to complete his report after he'd had a good night's sleep and a day off.

It was after midnight when Jess and Tony finally got back to his place. Jess ordered pizza while Tony took a shower, and then he sunk into the couch with a sigh to watch himself on the news. He was asleep by the time the pizza arrived.

Jess put the pizza box in the fridge, turned off the TV and sat down on the couch next to her dozing friend. Tony immediately shifted, his legs stretching out to fill the couch, and his head dropping onto a pillow in Jess' lap. She fell asleep with her legs up on the coffee table and her hand on his chest, feeling his heart beat. They slept like that for about four hours. Just before sun-up, Tony woke up to go to the bathroom, after which he stumbled into his room and climbed into bed. Jess joined him a few minutes later, and they slept until almost noon.