Babysitting

Chapter 5

Mick O'Connor woke to find himself bound and gagged on a single bed in a small, semi-dark room. The back of his head still throbbed where he had been struck and knocked unconscious. He had started his walk home from work when he had been attacked from behind. He wondered how much time had passed since then. He had no idea whether it was the same evening or the next day. Any concern he might have felt for his own safety was over-ridden by the worry he felt for his son. Josh always walked home from school, let himself in and completed work for school until Mick got home. If it indeed was the next day, Mick hoped Josh had followed their contingency plan. He could always count on Leroy Jethro Gibbs, a fellow marine, to know what to do.

Mick's wonderings were halted by the sudden opening of the door and the arrival of two men, presumably his assailants. One was tall and thin with bad acne and lank, greasy hair. The other was short and nuggety with a 'don't mess with me' expression on his face. It occurred to Mick that they were like opposites in physique and manner. They approached the bed, Slim staying behind Shorty. Slim looked vaguely familiar. Shorty reached forward and roughly ripped off the gag.

'Where are they?' he demanded.

'Where's what?' returned Mick. 'Who are you?'

'I'm asking the questions and you're answering them,' snapped Shorty as he rubbed the knuckles of one hand with the other. 'Where are the pictures you took coupla mornings ago?'

Mick knew what Shorty was referring to. He had taken his son's digital camera to work and used it to snap photographs of the mystery car and exchange of goods. But he hadn't got around to developing them yet. Josh was going to show him how to on the coming weekend. Not that he was about to reveal all of that to Shorty and Slim.

'Quit stalling!' yelled Shorty. 'You don't have 'em on you – we already searched your backpack. But we do know where you live and who you are, so tell us where the pictures are or we'll just have to do a number on your house to find 'em.'

'I don't have them anymore,' said Mick, making it up as he went along. 'I lost the camera, on my way home. Must have dropped it and someone's picked it up.'

'That's crap and you know it,' said Shorty. 'Fine. We'll do this the hard way, but it means you get to be our guest a little longer. It's 1600 now. We'll wait until tonight to trash your house. Once we have the pictures, your stay is over. If we don't find them, I'll have to get a bit more……..creative.'

Mick watched the pair go before feverishly trying to loosen his bonds. He wasn't worried about the house. Material things could be replaced, and Josh would surely be with Jethro by now. But once Skinny and Shorty returned without what they wanted, Mick was going to be put through the ringer. And if they had found the pictures, then he would surely be of no use alive to them anymore.

……………………….

Gibbs drove out of the NCIS car park at slightly less than his usual speed in deference to his young passenger. Once he was on the road, he took out his cell and pressed the speed dial for McGee.

'No I don't have a hands free thingy,' he told Joshua, just in case the kid was a stickler for road rules.

'Dad doesn't either,' said Joshua. 'He probably doesn't even know what that is.'

Gibbs nodded approvingly.

'Special Agent McGee,' came McGee's greeting.

'Status report,' demanded Gibbs. He wanted to know what to expect when he brought the boy through his front door.

'Well,' began McGee, 'Tony wanted pizza for lunch so I got that in minus the extra cheese, and then he wanted a decent DVD which apparently you do not have, and Tony wanted me to go get one from his apartment, but you left specific instructions not to leave him, Boss, so I didn't and then-'

'McGee!' barked Gibbs into the phone, making his young charge jump slightly. 'I want a status report, not his life history! You're starting to sound like Abby.'

'S-sorry Boss,' stammered McGee. 'He settled for Oprah, the nurse came and changed the bandaging, she made him take his med's and then he fell asleep. He's just woken up. He wants to get up but I don't think it's a good idea.'

'What's wrong with you, McGee?' demanded Gibbs. 'He probably needs the head.'

'Okay, I'll try but-'

'No!' snapped Gibbs. 'I'll be there soon. And I'm bringing a guest.' With that, satisfied that the nurse had been and gone and Tony had actually taken the drugs, Gibbs cancelled the connection and put his foot on the accelerator.

'It's kind of a good thing that you're staying at my place,' said Gibbs as he drove. 'One of my agents is staying over as well.'

'Why?' asked Josh, happy to be distracted a little from worrying about his dad.

'Well,' said Gibbs, 'he's just got out of the hospital and he doesn't have anyone at his own place to keep an eye on him. Maybe you can watch him for me.'

'Like babysitting?' ventured Josh.

'Kind of,' laughed Gibbs, imagining how vehemently Tony would object to that description.

'Is he a good agent?' asked Josh.

'He's my best one,' Gibbs told Josh without hesitation. 'He's even saved my life a coupla times. At the moment he's got another agent watching him.'

'The one you just chewed out?' asked Josh.

'That's the one,' said Gibbs, the corners of his mouth turning up in amusement.

Josh turned wide eyes towards Gibbs and nodded solemnly.

'I'll take good care of him, Gibbs,' he promised. 'And that way you can concentrate on finding my dad.'

'We've got a deal,' said Gibbs as he reached across to tousle Josh' hair.

………………………….

Tony looked expectantly towards the door as it opened. His hope that the promised guest would be Abby was dashed when he spied a young boy follow Gibbs inside. McGee hastily stood up from his kitchen chair and stepped towards the pair.

'Special Agent McGee, Special Agent Dinozzo, meet Joshua O'Connor. Joshua's Dad and I go back a long way,' announced Gibbs.

'Nice to meet you Joshua,' said McGee. Tony waved a hello. He noticed the pinched look in the boy's face and Gibbs' hand placed protectively on Joshua's shoulder. This wasn't just a social call.

'You go on up and take a shower,' Gibbs told Joshua. 'You'll find some clothes from last time you and your dad stayed in the bedroom.' Nodding to McGee and Tony, Joshua made his way up the stairs.

'What's the story with the kid?' asked Tony as soon as Josh was out of earshot.

'His Dad's missing,' said Gibbs. 'McGee, get back to the bullpen. Ziva will fill you in. Dinozzo, let's get you to the head and then we'll talk.'

'It's okay. I don't need any help,' protested Tony as McGee hurriedly packed up his equipment.

'Here,' said Gibbs, as though Tony had said nothing. 'Grab hold and I'll pull you up.'

'It's okay Boss. I've got it,' protested Tony.

'Damn it Dinozzo! Just shut the hell up and let me help you. You pop those stitches and you'll bleed all over my couch!' said Gibbs as McGee looked on.

'Shutting up, Boss,' muttered Tony as Gibbs gripped him under the arms and firmly brought him into a sitting position. Next, Gibbs extended his hand for Tony to grasp.

'Slowly,' Gibbs reminded him and Tony tentatively stood up. The sensation was weird after lying down for so young, and he swayed just a little.

'Easy,' said Gibbs as he placed an arm across Tony's shoulders to steady him.

'Ah, I'll be going,' stammered McGee from the doorway. 'Bye Tony.'

'Goodbye McNightingale,' Tony called out as Gibbs led him carefully across the room. 'I'll give you a reading on the Grouch meter in the morning.'

McGee avoided eye-contact with Gibbs and left hurriedly.

After the much appreciated visit to the bathroom, Gibbs helped Tony back to the living room.

'Let me give the chair a try,' Tony begged. 'No offence Boss, but you've got a really boring ceiling.'

Gibbs snorted but led Tony to the kitchen and gently lowered him into a chair.

'You okay?' asked Gibbs, gruffly. Tony had looked pale when he had arrived with Josh, and any colour that he did have had drained from his face as they made the short trip to the bathroom.

'Peachy,' said Tony. 'Boss, what's the story with the kid?'

Gibbs sat down opposite his agent and leaned towards him, just in case Josh was listening.

'His father always arrives home at 1700 hours every week night, without fail,' he explained. 'Last night he didn't come home. He's still not back. Totally out of character.'

'Wife?' asked Tony.

'Died coupla years ago,' Gibbs explained.

Tony ran his fingers through his hair and sighed.

'That's tough,' he commented. 'No siblings?'

Gibbs shook his head.

'His father works at a gym in the Somerton area,' explained Gibbs. 'It's the same area we've had reports of possible drug dealing by an AWOL petty officer.'

'That's a pretty big coincidence, Boss,' said Dinozzo. 'And I know how you feel about coincidences. Do you think Josh's father is somehow involved?'

'I don't know what to think,' said Gibbs. 'All I know is that Mick O'Connor would never willingly leave Josh. The boy's all he's got. I'm gonna leave Josh here with you until we find Mick. You can watch him for me.'

'Boss, I don't exactly have a great track record with kids,' said Tony. 'Wouldn't he be better off with Abby?'

I don't want him at NCIS during the investigation,' Gibbs told him. 'And I want someone looking after him that I can trust.'

Tony knew he'd been played. He knew that he was in no position to look after anyone, least of all a kid he didn't even know, but he was touched by Gibbs' attempt to put a different spin on the situation. Besides, Gibbs didn't seem half as angry with him as he had been lately, and he didn't want to risk the return of the anger if he protested too much about being babysat by a ten year old.

'Okay,' agreed Tony. 'But I'm not playing twister and I have full control over the TV remote.'