Chapter Three
After spending several hours watching a movie on his smart phone, Tony finally fell asleep. He had to admit that it was strange sleeping in a big, strange bed, especially one that had been shared by Gibbs and his wife. When the sun rose, so did Gibbs. After he took a shower, he walked in to the master bedroom to wake Tony.
"DiNozzo, wake up. Breakfast is on me at the diner," Gibbs barked.
Tony sat straight up with his eyes wide open. He looked at his wristwatch and saw that it was five-thirty.
"Um, boss, it's still night out," said Tony.
"Get up, shower, get dressed, and we are going to breakfast," said Gibbs.
"Okay, okay," Tony yawned.
Twenty minutes later Tony dressed in jeans, a chambray shirt, and black blazer was sitting beside Gibbs as he drove to the diner. Gibbs pulled his pickup into the diner parking lot and they got out. Entering the diner, the waitress waved at Gibbs.
"Morning, Doris," he said. "We'll be at a booth. Bring us two of the same breakfast and two coffees."
"You got it, handsome," said Doris.
Gibbs and Tony sat down in a booth. As Gibbs stood up and grabbed a used newspaper off a table, Tony put his head on the table and closed his eyes. The diner was filling up. Doris brought over two mugs of coffee and put them down. She looked at Tony then at Gibbs.
"He doesn't do mornings," Gibbs smiled.
She laughed and walked away. Tony sat up, put four sugars and half and half cream. Gibbs sipped his black coffee and shook his head.
"I can't believe you drink it like that," said Gibbs. "It's no longer coffee."
Tony grinned then sipped his coffee. Doris brought over two eggs over easy, hash browns, and bacon with toast for each of them. She put them down, smiled, and walked away.
"We'll go from here to Baltimore," said Gibbs. "I want us to pick up this Carmen Hernandez."
"Pigtown," yawned Tony as he tucked into his breakfast. "he'll probably be found in Pigtown."
"You know anyone we can get help from to find Carmen Hernandez," he said.
"The new Major in charge of homicide detectives is an old buddy. His name is Cedric Blake. He was shooting guard for Maryland. I used to take him to school, though," said Tony then smiled the DiNozzo smile that said yeah, I'm confident but I have a reason to be.
"Okay, you can call him on the way to Baltimore," said Gibbs.
"Yes, boss," he said with a mouth full of food.
"Don't talk with your mouthful," ordered Gibbs.
"Yes, boss," replied Tony.
Gibbs shook his head and eat his breakfast. If all went well they'd have a lead on Cortez by the late afternoon.
NCISNCIS
Tony had called Major Blake on the way to Baltimore. Blake agreed to help him. When they arrived at his old station house he was flooded with memories of Danny. In some ways he had failed his friend, but he at least got justice for him in the end. They walked into the detective squad room.
The last time he was here it was to arrest the major in charge, a man Tony once trusted. He was considered one of the best homicide detectives back then and since then he become a legend to them. Cedric Blake, who was two inches taller then Tony at six foot four, came out of his office and ran his right hand over his bald brown head when he saw Tony. Tony knew something was wrong.
"Carmen is in our morgue. He was gutted by a big knife," he said. "Let's get a coffee and talk."
They ended up a small bakery sitting at a table. Tony was afraid this would happen. This was a zero sum game for Cortez. He had no intention of getting caught and going back to prison.
"I'd like the body for our medical examiner and forensic scientist to take a look at. They can devote more time to him," said Gibbs.
"I'll have the body sent to DC. It'll be there late this afternoon," said Blake.
Blake looked at Tony with inquiring brown eyes. A quiet DiNozzo was a DiNozzo with a problem.
"This Cortez is the guy from Philly, right?" he asked.
Tony nodded his head.
"He wants you dead," stated Blake.
There was no reason to respond. Tony took a sip of his coffee.
"What can I do for you?" he asked.
"Put pressure on the Carmen Hernandez' gang Pantera. Cortez must be using them. More than likely, he is holding a shipment of drugs from his cousin in Mexico against them to help," said Tony. "I need to find Cortez before he kills anyone else."
"And before he gets a shot at you," said Blake.
"That, too," grinned Tony.
"I'll talk to Keith in the gang unit. I'll tell him the legend himself Tony DiNozzo needs him to put the screws to Pantera to find this Cortez. He'll do it," said Blake.
"Good," smiled Tony.
Gibbs handed him his card.
"When you get information call me. The legend is going to be at my side until this over," said Gibbs.
"An overly protective boss?" Blake asked Tony.
"He leads and I follow," smirked Tony.
"I'll get things rolling," said Blake.
"Good," sighed Tony.
NCISNCIS
The car trip back to NCIS and DC was even more silent than the one to Baltimore. Tony contemplated going to ground in order to hunt for Cortez. If he went rogue he'd at least get the target off his team's back. They pulled into the NCIS parking lot and headed into the building. When they got to the bullpen four Marine CID were waiting for them. Gibbs took charge.
"Two shifts, twelve hours a piece. You stay with me and Agent DiNozzo. If I go out alone, you stay with DiNozzo. Someone wants him dead. You'll park outside my house when we go home," explained Gibbs.
"We decide the teams of two, Gunny?" asked one of the marines.
Gibbs smiled. He liked that they did their research and knew he was a gunny.
"Your choice. You decide teams and shift," said Gibbs.
The four marines convened by the window to decide teams and shifts. Tony sat down. He could feel Bishop's eyes on him, so he looked up to acknowledge her.
"Yes, probie?" he said.
"Did it go badly?" she asked.
"Carmen Hernandez is deceased," answered Tony.
"What are we going to do?' asked McGee.
"Body is being sent here for Ducky and Abby," answered Tony.
"We take this step by step and find Cortez," stated Gibbs. "Get to work."
By two the body arrived. Three hours later Ducky called Gibbs to come down to autopsy to here from him and Abby. He stood up and looked at Tony.
"Ducky's," he said.
Tony stood up and followed him.
When the arrived Jimmy was telling them a story about the difficulties of adoption. Gibbs ended the conversation with one glare.
"What have you got, Duck?" he asked.
"Abigail and I have been comparing and contrasting knife wounds and we agree that the same knife killed all the victims and that knife is a World War II Ranger knife…," Ducky was saying.
"With a brass knuckle attached to the grip," finished Tony.
"Tony, we'll get this guy," said Abby.
"I know, Abs," he placated her.
His confidence wasn't as high as he wanted it to be.
"It's Friday. Let's call this a night," growled Gibbs. "No need to spin out wheels until we have a lead."
"Especially since he'll be coming for me," added Tony.
Gibbs gave him a quick slap to the back of the head. For some reason it brought a smile to Tony's lips.
NCISNCIS
After ordering and eating a pizza, Gibbs went down to the basement to do so woodworking, while Tony plugged his smart phone into an outlet and watched a movie. Every now and then Tony checked to make sure the marines were outside the house. Tomorrow was Saturday and he had nothing to except hang out with Gibbs and Mike Frank's daughter-in-law and grandchild. Maybe he'd convince Gibbs to let him go to his apartment and grab his Blu-ray and some movies.
Feeling dead tired and with nothing to watch and no music to listen to other than his smart phone, he headed up the stairs to bed. After he put a Ohio State tee shirt on and a pair of sweat pants, he got into bed and waited for sleep. Of course, the thought occurred to him that he hadn't been to bed this early since he was at the military academy.
The giggles of a five year old girl woke Tony. Reluctantly getting out of bed, Tony checked his watch. It was 8:08 in the morning. Leyla and Amira must be there. Washing up and brushing his teeth, he headed downstairs.
"Blueberry pancakes or banana pancakes?" he heard Gibbs ask Amira.
As he came down the stairs, he saw Leyla standing in the kitchen doorway. She was wearing jeans and a pink oxford shirt with her long black hair down. It was amazing how much she had changed in the five years she'd been out of Iraq. She looked like a very attractive young western mother now.
"Blueberry pancakes, Jedde," Amira answered.
He had forgotten that Amira called Gibbs granddad. Tony was finally noticed by Leyla. She smiled at him.
"Good morning, Tony. I hope Amira didn't wake you," she said pleasantly.
"No, no, I've slept too much."
"Blueberry or banana pancakes, DiNozzo?" Gibbs yelled from the kitchen.
"Banana pancakes, boss," he replied.
Tony walked into the dining room and sat down. Plates were already set, four settings. He knew Gibbs sat at the head of the table, Amira's spot was marked by a big glass of orange juice, so Tony assumed Leyla sat beside her. Leyla went into the kitchen and came out with a mug of coffee, which she handed to Tony.
"Thank you," he smiled uncomfortable.
She sat down across from Tony, as he added half and half and lots of sugar to his coffee. He took a sip.
"You don't drink coffee?" he asked.
"No, I drink tea," she answered in her slightly accented voice. "Gibbs has told me that you have a man who wants to kill you. You must be upset by this."
"Nay, I'm used to it. I seem to have people either wanting to frame me or kill me more than your average agent," he smiled.
"Doesn't this worry you?" she asked.
"Not as much as it should," he answered.
Gibbs came in with two platters or pancakes. One had banana pancakes and one had blueberry. After putting the plates down, Gibbs sat down.
"You slept late, DiNozzo," Gibbs stated.
"Actually, this is early for me on a Saturday," he admitted.
"We are going to the zoo today," said Leyla.
"Yeah, we are going to see pandas," Gibbs said to Amira, who smiled.
Amira looked at Tony and said, "I like pandas."
"You coming?" asked Gibbs.
"No. I think I'll take the marines to my place and get my Blu-ray and some movies," said Tony then he looked at Amira. "Would you like to watch the Little Mermaid?"
Amira gave him a big smile.
"Why do you own the Little Mermaid?" asked Gibbs.
"Ziva. She liked it," he answered softy.
Leyla noticed an awkwardness between Gibbs and Tony, so she spoke up.
"I will make us Lamb kabobs, pilaf, and roasted vegetables," said Leyla. "You both could use a healthy meal."
"I guess we are going shopping after the zoo," said Gibbs. "Eat up."
NCISNCIS
After grabbing what he needed at his apartment, Tony took the two marines to lunch for a burger and fries. Once they were back at Gibbs' house, he set up the Blu-ray on Gibbs old color TV and watched Lady from Shanghai. As he watched the Orson Welles film, he thought about offering the marines a cold drink. Getting up from the couch, he looked out the window. The marine in the passenger seat had his head against the shoulder of the other marine. They were dead.
Immediately, Tony went into overdrive. His Sig Sauer was on the table beside the Blu-ray remote. He ran over and grabbed it. Whoever killed the marines they weren't coming in the front door and they were probably there to kidnap Tony and take him to Cortez. He cocked his gun and got ready.
He heard the back kitchen door open slowly and quietly. Coming around the corner of the doorway he identified the target, a young man with a Tec-9. Tony didn't hesitate but opened fire putting two in his chest. Behind him was another young man. He had a Heckler and Koch MP 7. Opening fire, he tore up the door jam. Tony felt a burning in his side, but he ignored it.
Someone came bursting through the front door. That someone turned out to be two men. They were armed with a MP 7 and a shotgun. Tony opened fire on them killing one and hitting the other in the shoulder. The one in the kitchen opened fire again spraying some rounds through the wall.
Tony hit the floor just in time, although he felt a burning in his left shoulder. Focusing himself, he waited for the injured one to move in order to shoot. When he did, he fired three rounds hitting him with two. Three down and one to go, he thought. Unfortunately, he was getting low on ammo and his spare clip was in the bedroom upstairs.
Moving into the living room, he took up position behind the armchair and waited for the one in the kitchen to stick his head. He also prayed to hear police sirens soon, but he estimated two minutes had passed and at best the cops would be here in ten to fifteen minutes.
Feeling slightly light headed, lightheaded he saw the gun muzzle in the kitchen doorway. He readied to fire when he heard two clear shots and saw the shooter fall through he doorway to the floor.
"Boss," he called out.
"DiNozzo, is it clear?" Gibbs called.
"All dead in here," Tony called back.
Gibbs stepped over the dead man and came into the dining room. He saw Tony in the living room. He was bleeding from the left shoulder and in his right side.
"Sorry about the place, boss," Tony said as he saw Gibbs coming towards him.
"It's okay, Tony," said Gibbs.
Gibbs reached Tony and grabbed onto right before he collapsed. Leyla entered the room. She had left Amira in the car.
"Gibbs, is he dead?" she asked.
"No, just shot up. Call 911," he ordered.
Gibbs placed his agent on the floor and started to apply pressure to his wounds.
"Next time you are coming to the zoo with us," sighed Gibbs.