Chapter Six
Tony spent the first few days at Jackson's place getting the place in shape. Jackson's Henry rifle was right where Gibbs said it would be, so he cleaned and oiled making sure it was ready to fire. He couldn't afford to have the rifle fail when he needed it most. The old man had a box of bullets in the kitchen drawer by the coffee filters. Like father like son, though Tony; they love their coffee and ammo.
Leyla cleaned the house from the first floor to the attic. She prepared the two bedrooms for her and Amira. Tony insisted on sleeping in the living room on the couch. It was the best advantage point to guard the house. Considering he was still trying to get his life on track after Ziva, Leyla appeared more and more attractive lately. He knew that he needed to keep his mind on the business of surviving and finding Cortez. Plus, the discomfort of the sofa would keep his mind on business.
Tony kept the rifle fully loaded now in the front hall closet. He also kept his sidearm on him at all times, which made him think of Ziva. Though, he was sure that Cortez would never find them here in Stillwater, he didn't want to take any chances with Leyla's and Amira's lives. They were too important to Gibbs, and they had become too important to him, also.
"Tony," Leyla called to him from the dining room, "dinner is served."
Tony walked into the dining room and looked at the food on the plates. Amira and Leyla were already seated and ready to eat.
"What's for dinner?" he asked.
"Rice with chicken in fig sauce," she said.
He made a face, which made Leyla smile.
"It is delicious and good for you. You don't eat healthy. I have notice that. Gibbs is bad, but you are even worse," she said.
He sat down. Picking up a fork, he played with his food then he sampled it. After the first tentative taste, he started to tuck into the meal with gusto. Leyla smiled.
"I know you'd like it," Leyla said.
"I'll have to make Italian food for you since you've been doing all the cooking," said Tony.
"I like spaghetti and meatballs," Amira stated.
"I can make a nice marinara sauce with some nice meatballs for you," he said to Amira.
She smiled and nodded her head yes.
Tony looked at Leyla and said, "Leyla, since Gibbs will be here on Saturday, I'll make spaghetti and meatballs. I'll need you help to make sure the meatballs are halal."
"Since my mother returned to Iraq, I have not been as strict, but I will help you," she said.
Tony looked at Amira and smiled, "And you can roll the meatballs for Jedde."
"I'd like that," said Amira.
"We will need to buy some groceries for this," said Leyla.
"I have plenty of cash. I'll give you some and you and Amira can go shopping in town. This way you'll get to know the town and introduce the Franks. Remember, our last name is Franks," said Tony.
"And we are married," she said then a small smile appeared on her lips.
"Yup," Tony sighed.
Leyla started to eat her meal again, while Tony found himself staring at her. So much had changed in his life, so quickly, that somehow this domestic little tableau had appeal to him now. His father married and remarried his whole, and he had never managed a real commitment. He was regretting that now. Forcing his eyes from Leyla, he returned to eating his meal. Leyla deserved better and he still had an important job to do.
NCISNCIS
The week was progressing slowly for Gibbs. He was glad that Tony got Leyla and Amira to Stillwater, where he was sure they'd be safe, but the idea of them being outside his radius so that he couldn't protect them irritated him. It was his job to protect people, especially family. Right now he had to rely on Tony to protect them.
Of course, he should be protecting DiNozzo, too. Cortez was dangerous, real dangerous. Another cop who had been involved in the case was found dead in Philly. The US Marshalls had moved even uprooted and moved Cortez's former wife and child just in case he had a lead to where they were. Cortez was vindictive.
"Boss, Metro have arrested several members of AK 47 and want to know if we want to question them," said McGee.
"You and Bishop go to the Metro Police and get in on the questioning," said Gibbs. "We need a lead, even if it's cold to where Cortez might be."
McGee stood up and grabbed his coat, as Bishop did the same. They were about to leave when Gibbs stopped them.
"If you get anything, you bring the gang member here for more questioning. If Metro has a problem with it, call me," he ordered.
"Sure, boss, no problem," said McGee.
He lifted his bag up and flung it over his shoulder then stopped. Bishop automatically stopped, too.
"Boss, do you think Tony, Leyla, and Amira are alright?" McGee asked.
"DiNozzo knows what he is doing," said Gibbs.
"I know he usually gets into trouble and lucks his way out of it," said McGee.
"Tim, with the amount of trouble DiNozzo gets himself into, it isn't luck that gets him out of it," said Gibbs. "He's that good."
"Okay, boss," smiled McGee.
As McGee and Bishop headed for the elevator, Bishop cleared her throat.
"How much trouble has Tony gotten into over the years?" she asked.
"Well, we can start with the time he got the plague," smiled McGee.
With Bishop and McGee gone, Gibbs went up to see Vance. He was on his computer reviewing a report when Gibbs entered his office.
"Gibbs," he said.
"Leon," replied Gibbs.
"Anything on DiNozzo?"
"I heard from him and I'm going to meet with him and Leyla and Amira this weekend. He's hiding at my father's place in Stillwater," said Gibbs.
"Who else knows?" asked Vance.
"Just me and now you, Leon, and that's how I want to keep it," said Gibbs. "Less people who know the less the chance that they are found."
"A agree," said Vance.
"I'm going to need to bring him cash. He already has so burner phones. I'll get their numbers in case we want to contact him," said Gibbs. "Might need a couple of days off, so I can stay with them and make sure that they are settled in properly."
"Tell McGee and Bishop that they will be reporting to me until you get back from a short assignment," said Vance.
"I'll let them know," said Gibbs.
"What else will DiNozzo need?" asked Vance.
NCISNCIS
Leyla and Amira spent Friday shopping in town leaving Tony time to be alone. He had a five day growth of beard growing, which he decided to keep. Gibbs would hate it, but Tony wasn't in the mood to shave.
He had hooked up a Blu-ray player to Jackson old color TV and sat down to watch a couple of movies. After the first movie he went upstairs to check on his goldfish. Amira liked having them in her room. Opening the door, he saw the fish bowl beside her bed and the two fish swimming around peacefully. He walked up to the bowl.
"Hello, girls," he said.
The fish kept swimming without a care in the world. Amira wouldn't believe him, but he couldn't tell the difference between Kate and Ziva. Kate was a little bigger and more passive, while Ziva was aggressive during feeding time.
Tony heard the front door open followed by Amira's laugh. He rushed down the steps to help with the bags. Amira grinned at Tony as he got down the stairs. Leyla was carrying two bags. He grabbed the bags and brought them into the kitchen.
"Are there more?" he asked.
"Yes," she said.
"I'll get them," he told her. "Why don't I set Amira up with a movie then I'll come back here and show you how to make a marinara sauce to die for."
"She'll probably fall asleep watching it," Leyla smiled.
"I know I often do," he said then he exited.
First he set Amira up to watch a movie then he ventured outside. Getting to the car he grabbed the three bags that were went back into the house. He carried them into the kitchen and put them down on the table. Without thinking, he turned gave Leyla a kiss on the cheek and then went into the living room to check on Amira.
He was a foot outside of the kitchen when he realized he had kissed her cheek. Rolling his eyes, he started to verbal kick himself. Good job, DiNozzo he thought, keep this up and Gibbs will tell Cortez where to find me
The evening went without any problems. Leyla didn't even mention the kiss on the cheek when they made the sauce and meatballs together. Amira went to bed early then Leyla and Tony settled down on the couch and watched a movie that he picked out. For some reason he chose Roman Holiday. He enjoined Gregory Peck's performance and, of course, Audrey Hepburn was perfect in those first few films she made.
Leyla appeared to enjoy the movie, which was the point of his choosing it. Once the end credits started, Leyla yawned.
"You better go upstairs and get some shuteye. Gibbs will be here in the morning. Knowing him he'll be here before we wake up," said Tony.
"It will be good to see him," she said.
Leyla stood up. Tony's gentlemen's instincts kicked in and he stood up with her. Before he could react, she leaned over and gently kissed him on the lips.
"Thank you for the movie," she said.
She then turned and headed up the stairs leaving Tony with a bemused grin on his face. Instead of putting on another movie, he lay down and tried to get some sleep, though, he knew it was going to be a long night.
NCISNCIS
Tony could smell the coffee being waved under his nose. He opened his eyes to see Gibbs standing there with a mug of coffee in both hands.
"Hey, boss," he said.
"DiNozzo," Gibbs greeted him.
"What time is it?" he asked.
"8. I got her an hour ago. Leyla is making flat bread and omelets," said Gibbs.
Tony sat up and took the coffee being offered him. He took a sip. It was done the way he liked it, which meant that Leyla prepared it for him.
"Anybody try to follow you?" asked Tony.
"Amateurs. Probably someone from AK 47. I called Fornell with their license plate number. He's go to pick the up and put some pressure on them. Cortez still hasn't been seen, though he did leave another dead body in Philly," Gibbs told him.
"Who was it?" asked Tony.
"Detective Sergeant Mike George," said Gibbs.
"I remember him. So he made it to sergeant. I always thought he spoke his mind too much to get a promotion," said Tony.
Gibbs stared at him then shook his head and turned and went back into the dining room. Tony could hear Amira and Gibbs talking, which brought a grin to his face. He took another sip of his coffee, placed it down on the coffee table, and then went upstairs to use the bath for his morning ablutions. One teeth were brushed, face washed, and hair was fussed with, he came downstairs, grabbed his coffee, and joined everyone in the dining room. He sat down beside Leyla, who offered him a shy smile. Gibbs noticed.
"Omelet is delicious," stated Tony.
"Leyla is an excellent cook," said Gibbs.
"You compliment me, Gibbs," said Leyla.
"No, he doesn't. I've been eating you food now for a while and it is delicious. Maybe a little healthy for my taste, but delicious," remarked Tony.
"You need to be healthy in what you eat," said Leyla.
Gibbs grinned, which Leyla noticed.
"As do you, Gibbs," she said.
Gibbs looked at Tony's big smile. He gave him a glare.
"Don't you need to shave, DiNozzo," snapped Gibbs.
"Tony Franks is growing a beard," smirked Tony.
"Really. Anything else I should know about Tony Franks?" asked Gibbs.
"Nope, boss, that's it," Tony smiled.
"I've arranged to be here for a few days. We can work out some contingency plans, as well as emergency plans," said Gibbs.
"Nothing on Cortez yet?" asked Tony.
"He still using Latino gangs to do most of his dirty business while he hides," said Gibbs. "Think about Cortez, DiNozzo, and try to remember something about him that we can use to find him."
"Being close to him for almost a year was one of the worst parts of my life," said Tony. "All these years I've been trying to forget about Cortez."
Leyla reached over and placed her hand gentle on top of Tony's to give him comfort. He looked at her and smiled then he looked back at Gibbs.
"I'll try, boss," said Tony.
"Take your time, DiNozzo; I'm here until Tuesday," grinned Gibbs.
"Oh, joy," replied Tony.