Title: Facing Forward
Author: CSIGeekFan
Rating: T (mild language)
Disclaimer: I can't think of a creative disclaimer. How sad is that? So how about this – I don't own NCIS, except in my own mind. And in my own mind, boy oh boy, is it smokin' hot.
Author's Note: Reviews are appreciated. I hope you enjoy.
X X X
Night had begun its descent on his little town when Tony pulled up in front of the old Victorian home. The spring evening had cooled the salt air, and he stood for a moment next to his open SUV door to appreciate the crispness. If he knew the girls, they'd be getting ready to eat dinner. He'd learned early on that a consistent routine kept chaos at bay.
"This is a big house," Ziva said as she approached from behind.
"Big enough," Tony said with a shrug. Looking around, he noted Ducky and Gibbs walking around to join him, so he slammed the vehicle door and started for the porch.
If he knew his girls, they'd be in the kitchen, eating dinner or studying. From there, they could look out the wall of windows and admire the waves crashing on the rocky outcropping along the shore. Emily loved the little nook with the bay window to read after the sky darkened, because about this time of night, stars began to sparkle. His youngest had a story for each.
"You can drop your stuff on the bench in the hall," Tony told Ducky as he opened the front door and walked inside. Leading them to the living room just off the foyer, he murmured, "I'll be right back."
He could hear voices just beyond the swinging door that led to the kitchen, and he was elated to see them, yet… he didn't have the news they'd want to hear. Quietly, he opened the door and watched his girls as they sat with their backs to him.
Frowning, he took in the third person in the room and sighed. Esther Cambridge sat at the end of the table, mournfully looking out to sea. This wouldn't be the first time he'd taken in someone because they'd fallen on hard luck. Considering her family had just kicked her out upon finding out she was pregnant, it really shouldn't have surprised him to find her at his table. Heck, last year, the mayor had moved in because his wife had found the mayor in bed with a tourist who'd wandered into their hamlet. For four months, Tony'd had to avoid the man under his own damn roof.
Clearing his throat, he waited for the girls to turn. Emily squealed. Both girls darted over to him and hugged him tight. It was a kick in the gut when they began to look around, expecting to see Curt.
"I haven't found him yet," Tony quietly said, hugging both girls close. "But I will find him. And soon."
Glancing at Esther, he softly asked, "Can I have a few minutes?"
Ducking her head shyly, the young woman rose from the table and headed up the back stairs, out of the kitchen to the second floor hallway. Once she'd left earshot, Tony walked the girls back over to the table and sat, putting him closer to eye level with Emily, and looking up to Mary.
"He's been hurt," he said without preamble. "Don't know how bad it is. And right now, I think he's heading home."
"Here?" Mary asked, perplexed.
"Yeah," he replied. Grasping a hand of each, he squeezed lightly, steeled his gaze, and firmly said, "He's heading home, and I'm gonna find him, because I brought help."
Rising, he smiled and added, "In fact, I'd like you to meet them."
While Emily held onto his hand with a terrified death-grip, Tony felt an immense amount of pride in Mary. The teenager pulled her shoulders back and strode into the living room beside him with a level of grace and maturity one rarely saw in a fifteen year old.
X X X
The girls had finished eating, and Tony had pulled maps onto the kitchen table where they all gathered. Esther, for her part, had made herself scarce, until Tony talked to her. He'd initially thought to just leave her in her room, but the angel and devil on his shoulders had done battle and the angel had won. Then, he'd sighed heavily and loudly in the empty hall, knocked on her bedroom door, and told her she didn't need to hide in her room. That she was more than welcome to join them.
After all, the girls had already informed the young woman that she was now a member of the family, since she was living there.
Since then, Esther had been pouring coffee for the agents, chief, and deputy.
"Sit down," Tony ordered, before softening his tone and adding, "You look exhausted."
The chagrined look on her typically stoic face surprised him, as did the way his wayward deputy stumbled out of his own chair and offered it to her.
Rolling his eyes, Tony stood, looked at Ian, and said, "If you're done trying to woo the fair maiden here, do you think you can grab the map of the islands south of here?"
He nearly laughed when the young man's face turned red and he headed off to the study.
"What are you thinking?" Ziva asked as Tony focused in on a small set of craggy islands.
Glancing around the table, he made a point to look them each in the eye, while Ian returned and laid out a large map. Laying it out flat, he studied the chart for just a moment before answering.
"I think there's more to the story," Tony said. "Something must've gone wrong for three boats to respond to a distress call. On top of that, if any of them felt safe, at least one of 'em would've called in by now. Especially Captain Chamberlain."
"Why?" Gibbs asked before taking a gulp of hot coffee.
"Because Mike wouldn't want the girls and me to worry," Tony replied, rubbing his eyes.
"No, she wouldn't," Emily said from the bottom step leading into the kitchen from the second floor. Stepping into the room, dressed in an old football jersey and a pair of sweats, the child said, "Mike doesn't like to worry Pops. She always checks in."
"She?" Ziva asked, amused.
Feeling his ears warm up, Tony tried to tamp down the flush of embarrassment creeping its way up his cheeks. He cleared his throat, and tried to be nonchalant, when he said, "Uh, yeah. She. Michaela. Mike for short. She, uh, sorta lives here."
"How does one 'sorta' live here?" Gibbs asked, amusement etched in his features.
"Mike lives here most the time, except when she and Pops get on each others nerves. Then she goes to her own place for a month or two. Especially in the winter, 'cause Mike can't take the way Pops constantly quotes movies or the History channel at her," Emily explained, settling onto the little reading bench under the bay window.
While everyone looked at the little girl in amusement, she shrugged her shoulders and said, "Hey, it's better than when he quotes the weather channel. Last time he did that, she took Mary to Portland for two weeks over Christmas break."
Wincing at the picture his child was drawing in everyone's minds, Tony defended himself and said, "Hey. All I did was tell her what the seas looked like."
"You shoulda known she wouldn't take it well when you forbade her from going out in the lobster boats, though," Emily said with a smile. "But Mary got a prom dress out of the trip."
"I take it this… Mike is your love interest?" Ziva asked lightly, making Tony frown.
This time, Ian looked on with a grin and said, "Yeah. During the winter, they keep the town fed with gossip."
After slapping his deputy up the back of the head, Tony turned his attention to Emily and asked, "What are you doing down here? You have a book report due tomorrow."
Everything else in the world faded around him, though, when his little hellion walked over, hugged him tight and said, "I forgot to say welcome home and I love you."
Then she was gone – taking the stairs two at a time.
"I've said it before," Ducky quietly said from where he watched all the action. "You have a beautiful family."
"Yeah, Duck. I do," Tony concurred.
For a moment, he simply stared at the empty stairwell, smiling. He'd never say it aloud, but even he recognized when he'd been firmly wrapped around a little finger. Until someone could find a way to present undeniable proof, he'd deny it til his dying day, though.
It was Gibbs who pulled him back to the present, when he asked, "Got a plan?"
Turning back to focus on the maps, Tony thought of the girls upstairs, smiled ferociously as every protective instinct kicked in, and said, "Yeah. And we need to leave within the hour."