Title: Facing Forward
Author: CSIGeekFan
Rating: T (mild language)
Beta: Seattlecsifan
Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS. But a woman can dream, can't she?
Author's Note: Reviews are appreciated. I hope you enjoy.

X X X

As Ziva headed back up to the bullpen, Tony aimed his feet toward the music blaring on the other side of the door. Of everyone at NCIS, Abby was the one that could really hurt him. Yeah, in some ways Gibbs had been a pseudo-father to him, but Abby had always been his rock.

When he'd needed the most basic human contact, she'd been ready with a hug. Hell, on many occasions, she'd launched herself at him, expecting him to catch her. He'd been chief of police up for just a few days before he'd come to realize just how much he'd taken that unwavering trust for granted. In a new place, starting fresh had left him lonely; more than anything, it left him standing alone, where the trust of the people had to be earned. Not an easy task for those often wary of outsiders.

Yet leaving NCIS hadn't been a mistake. A lot worse things than loneliness existed in the vast universe. He'd experience it before leaving Washington, D.C.

One day he'd walked into the NCIS building, with his head buzzing with too much emotion, and a letter of resignation. The two weeks notice had turned into two hours, ending when Abby (having spastically flipped from upset and crying to unmitigated anger) had socked him. Some days, it still felt like his face sported the bruises.

Right now, his cheek ached in anticipation, because he was back at NCIS for the first time in years. Years. Not days. Not months.

Part of him wanted to run; but after a moment, he steeled his nerves, chastised himself and pushed open the door to the forensic specialist's domain.

With her back to the door, Abby yelled, "Gibbs! I was just about to call you! I've gone through the phone records."

Not even the blare of the radio could drown out her husky voice, as she shifted from foot to foot on platform black shoes. Heck, she still looked like a sinful Catholic girl sporting tats, he mused. And then she whirled around like a hyperactive ballet dancer on too much caffeine, and came to a sudden, stumbling halt. Looking more than a little surprised. Not that the surprise lasted long, as her lips turned up in a nasty smile.

"Well, well, well," she purred, advancing on him like a panther. A chill slid down his spine, and he realized what a coward he'd become. For a moment, he debated whether or not to run.

This was worse than facing Gibbs.

About the time he reached for the door handle, Abby did the only thing the woman knew how to do – she launched herself at Tony and wrapped her legs around his waist, never doubting he'd catch her mid-air.

"Hey, Abs," he murmured into her hair as she sniffled into his neck.

For a few moments they just stood there, stuck in a familiar position. Funny how Tony had ended up holding her more than once – usually after a close call involving radiation or a bomb.

"I've missed you," he sighed, and felt her stiffen.

In a flash, she dropped back to her feet, and then punched him in the stomach. He never saw it coming, and ended up doubled over, sucking in his breath… and warily watching her rant.

"You left!" she yelled, crossing her arms and looking the part of a General. "You left and you never called and you never said how you were and if it weren't for Jimmy and Ducky…"

"But you've got all of me now," he replied, giving her that familiar smirk that always charmed. As if on cue, she brushed the back of her hand across her eyes, smiled wide, and wildly hugged him again.

That was the other thing he'd forgotten about Abby. She forgave so damn easily.

Then it occurred to Tony what she'd said, and he warmly asked, "Ducky and Jimmy have kept you up to date?"

It wasn't that it was a state secret. Actually, after he'd left, it had been Jimmy and Ducky that had tracked him down. Dr. Donald Mallard, the medical examiner, had remembered Tony mentioning a colleague – a small town police chief up in Maine. It had all been pretty easy, according to Jimmy, the "Autopsy Gremlin".

"I still don't know why you left," she soberly said. He could see the restraint in her eyes, and it impressed him that instead of asking if he was coming back, she instead said, "I want a few answers before you just disappear again, mister."

"We'll talk. Get a pizza and talk," he assured her. "But I need to see what you've got."

Coming down off her euphoric high, she turned to her computer, with Tony standing in his familiar spot behind her shoulder. Just a few clicks later, she pulled up a list of numbers Curt had called on his private cell phone over the course of a month. Nearly all of them went directly to the main residence or the police station. A couple had been placed to friends back home.

Looking through the dates, Tony tried to remember the conversations that had ensued over the last few weeks. He hadn't realized just how often they'd talked. Some conversations stuck in his brain clearly. Like the call from three weeks ago, when Tony mentioned wanting to visit during summer break. The young man had been thrilled at the prospect of seeing them, and excited at the notion of showing his sisters around the base.

"Earth to Tony!" Abby said, waving a hand in front of his face and making him blink rapidly. "You still with us?"

"Yeah," he replied and then sighed.

"Come on, Tony," Abby gently said, when he just stared at the numbers. Grabbing his arm she steered him out of the lab when she added, "Let's take this back up to Gibbs."

"Yeah," he agreed in a tight voice. It was mid-afternoon and they'd gotten nowhere; and his patience was coming to an end. He'd so hoped they'd find some other contact. Some other person who might've known something.

X X X

"Gas up the truck, McGee," Gibbs said from his desk, just as Abby and Tony arrived in the bullpen.

The senior field agent leapt to his feet, grabbed his bag, and headed out, with a more sedate Gibbs following. The team leader had just rounded the corner towards the elevator when he impatiently asked, "You coming, DiNozzo?"

"Damn straight," Tony replied with a grin. He didn't think about his words, and some habits that had been ingrained by years of training kicked in when he asked, "Where are we headed, boss?"

As the police chief stepped into the elevator behind the NCIS agents, he didn't wait for Gibbs to say anything, and instead reached back and slapped himself in the back of the head. A few hours back, and he'd already fallen into old habits. Kind of pathetic.

Tony cringed just a little when Gibbs leaned in and said, "Not your boss, Tony." The elevator doors closed, though, when the team leader added, "But it's nice to know I can still make you jump."

X X X

"He's a good Marine," Major Emery Ross said as he led them down the hall of the administrative building to his office. After settling behind his desk, the middle-aged Marine propped his elbows up, steepled his hands together, and frowned before adding, "When he didn't show for duty, I had the barracks searched and started asking questions."

"And?" Gibbs asked.

"Nothing, Agent Gibbs," Ross responded. "Absolutely no one has seen him. And there's nothing amiss in his barracks. He just disappeared by all accounts."

The officer glanced at Tony, turned his lips up in a faint smile, and said, "You've got a couple of tenacious people working for you, Chief DiNozzo. That girl of yours had me responding 'Yes, Ma'am' by the time I got off the phone with her."

"Most people are fooled by her Brunette Barbie looks," Tony replied with a grin. "But she's as tough as they come."

"Well, between her and that deputy of yours, I think they talked to damn near everyone on base," the major replied with a heavy sigh.

"Has there been any trouble between Curt and any here on base?" Tony asked. His kids might be pretty open with him, but the young man always tried to solve his own issues first, and ask for help second. Then again, growing up in a fishing community taught independence. In abundance.

"No," Ross replied. "In fact, they all love him. Real leadership material there. I've been trying to talk him into making the Corp. his career."

After a momentary pause, he frowned and looked directly at Tony when he said, "I was going to give NCIS a call today. It's so unlike Private Matthews to be so much as a minute late, let alone just vanish. But part of me wondered if maybe he hadn't gone out with others in his unit – maybe tied one on."

Spreading his hands in a helpless gesture, he continued, "You know how kids are at this age. Underage drinking isn't tolerated, but it happens." Ross's expression turned serious when he said, "Then your people called and I started looking into it a little more. Asking my own questions."

"Is there anything he's currently working on that could put him at risk?" McGee asked, drawing the captain's attention.

"Not at the moment," Ross replied, and continued to say, "but I was looking at his schedule. I'm promoting him to Lance Corporal. Turned in the paperwork for processing a couple days ago. And next week, I'm letting him try his wings. I want him to oversee the weapons inventory."

Hearing this, Tony stiffened and glanced at Gibbs, who'd just sat up a little straighter. If he knew his kid – and he did – then Curt would've followed his Boy Scouts motto. Be prepared. And to do that, he would've spent some time in advance, preparing for the next big step in his career…

"Major…"

Tony was cut off when Ross's hand went up to stop him, and he said, "I've ordered the inventory immediately. I have the crews over there right now."

"Good," Gibbs gruffly said, standing. "Agent McGee will assist."

"And his help will be appreciated," Ross replied.

X X X

Twilight settled on Gibbs and Tony by the time they pulled into the Navy Yard. The entire drive back had been accomplished in awkward silence. At first, Tony had been mulling over the facts, a little ticked that he hadn't been able to stay behind. As a local LEO, he had no actual authority, though, and found himself resenting being on the outside.

That Gibbs hadn't said a word didn't surprise Tony at all. It surprised both occupants, though, when Tony squirmed just a little, settled in, and simply kept his mouth shut. Then again, he hadn't a clue what to say.

They found Ziva, Abby, and Ducky in the bullpen when they emerged from the elevator. Smiling wide, Tony rushed ahead of Gibbs, pulling the elderly ME into an embrace and saying, "Hey, Duck. Good to see you again."

"Anthony, my boy," Ducky replied, patting the man on the arm when they separated. "Now let me have a look."

Preening and posing under the ME's perusal, he couldn't help but feel something well inside. This man had been a part of his life longer than anyone else. Even after leaving, Ducky had made himself available when Tony developed walking pneumonia a few years back. Through video consults, the local doctor had multiple sessions with Ducky trying to manage the horrendous coughing spasms.

"You are looking much better than our last encounter," Ducky said with his tell-tale grin.

"Well, I'm not hacking up a lung and scaring the crap out of my family right now," Tony replied, referencing the doctor's visit to Maine.

Ducky's face sobered a little when he said, "You really do look well. Healthy. The salt air obviously agrees with you."

Sobering, he added, "You have a lovely family. I have high hopes that my services will not be necessary."

The kind understanding in the older man's eyes had the tension in Tony's neck easing, and he replied, "Me, too, Ducky."

Turning to Gibbs, the medical examiner said, "I am off on a date. I just came up here to say hello to Anthony and tell him that Jimmy regrets not being able to see him today, but he's at a seminar."

Turning to Tony, he added, "And thus you have been told."

Then in the dapper manner in which he often bid adieu, he departed with a smile on his face. While he moved a little slower, and sported a few more wrinkles, Dr. Donald Mallard certainly still showed a level of grace most men only prayed they would have at his age.

Shaking his head in amusement, Tony sighed and settled into the chair behind his old desk. The time of day hadn't slipped him and he flipped open his cell phone. The girls would be waiting his call.

Glancing up to Ziva and Abby watching intently, he simply stared, holding the cell phone plainly visible in his hand. Meanwhile, Gibbs headed over to his desk – most likely review reports. And maybe snicker over Tony's dilemma.

Eventually, Abby and Ziva rolled their eyes. While Ziva simply slid behind her desk, Abby followed. Not that it helped much, because they continued to covertly watch Tony. Of course, their idea of "covert" meant blatant staring. Obviously, there would be no privacy to be had, so he thought, Screw it, and punched in his home number.

Tony sighed when it was his youngest that answered with, "Pops?"

"Hey Emily," he quietly said, feeling some of the tension in his neck seep away at the sound his eleven-year-old's voice. "Put me on speaker, will ya?"

When he heard a click on the line, he said, "Hey, girls."

"Hey, Pops," they replied in unison. Then Mary somberly asked, "Have you found Curt yet?"

Tony still hadn't come up with a good response for this question, but he'd known they would ask it. Blowing out a long, silent breath, he rubbed his eyes and said, "He's missing, but I've got people helping me find him. And we've got a lead, so… I'm hoping I'll know more tomorrow."

"Oh," Emily quietly replied. It killed him a little to hear that little word filled with so much disappointment.

He could only provide comfort in promising, "As soon as I know anything, I'll call, okay? In the meanwhile, try to get some sleep."

"You workin' with your old team?" Em asked, and Tony's eyes darted over to find Gibbs studiously reviewing a file on his desk.

"Yeah, sweetheart. They're helping me look," he replied.

It was Mary, who demanded, "Let me speak to your old boss, then."

Surprised, and maybe more than a little trained by his own kids, Tony cleared his throat, obediently held out his phone and said, "Uh. Gibbs. They wanna talk to you."

Bemused, the man in question sauntered over, grabbed the cell phone from his former senior agent, and walked over toward the windows. From McGee's chair, Tony watched like a hawk, wishing he could hear the conversation. But Gibbs kept his voice purposely low when he spoke. Tony didn't know what the girls wanted to know, but their questions must've been sufficiently answered, because they both chirped happily when the team leader handed the phone back to him. Whatever the man had said had calmed them, and he felt a sense of gratitude to Gibbs for doing that much.

With a round of 'I love yous', Tony ended the call, slowly slid his phone back into his pocket, and sat up straight.

Raising a brow, he tilted his head and studied the two women who had so obviously been listening intently. Giving them a wicked grin, he asked, "Need me to tuck you in, too?"

He never anticipated the slap up the back of the head, as Gibbs' hand connected with the back of his head.

"C'mon, DiNozzo. You can tuck me in," the team leader said as he tugged on his jacket and headed resolutely toward the elevator.

"Hey, Gibbs… if we're having a slumber party, I'd rather go with the girls," Tony called out, hoofing it after his former boss. His motor skills must be getting very rusty, he mused, because he hadn't anticipated the second head slap, either.

As the doors of the elevator closed, Tony's gut suddenly clenched and he felt a nerve-induced nausea settle in. He'd just agreed to stay with Gibbs, without ever actually agreeing. Oh yeah, Tony DiNozzo, police chief extraordinaire, had fallen right back into the "Roll Over" and "Sit" routine once again.

It was going to be a very long night.