Chapter 10
Tony woke up on the sofa feeling better than he had in days. His fever was gone and the pain in his side was down to a dull ache. For a few moments he lay there and listened to the morning sounds. Leyla was in the kitchen washing dishes, children were outside calling to each other as the bus picked them up from school, and the occasional car drove by. What he didn't hear was Amira, Gibbs, or Fornell.
Fornell had arrived yesterday with an overnight bag, a shotgun, and the Italian pronunciation of his last name. Just as Gibbs thought Fornell came to Stillwater willing to do what needed to be done.
Tony slowly sat up. He was wearing a black tee shirt and light grey sweat pants. This was his first chance to be alone with Leyla since they had be honest with each other. He got up and shuffled his way to the kitchen. When he got to the kitchen doorway, he stopped and looked at her, as she finished washing the morning dishes. She didn't notice he was there because she was singing to herself. With deep rich brown skin, full lips, expressive dark eyes, she was beautiful.
"What are you singing?" he asked.
She was startled to see him. Looking at him, Tony swore that she was blushing.
"Just a song," she said. "You are awake."
"Yup," he smiled, "wide awake. Everybody eat breakfast and you are doing the dishes?"
"No, Tobias and Gibbs took Amira to get donuts and coffee. These are last night's dishes," she said.
"Oh," his smile widened.
He walked into the kitchen and towards Leyla. So far he had been cautious with her. It was more than she was Gibbs pseudo relative, she had an aura of fragility about her. But, this morning he felt bold.
Getting close to her, he stopped with their bodies almost touching. He noticed that her breathing increased, which made him feel like he made the right choice.
"Leyla, I'm going to kiss you," he said. "Is that alright?"
"Yes, Tony, that is alright," she said.
He took his hands and one snaked around the small of her back and the other behind her neck and he kissed her deeply, passionately, and hard. Much to his surprise she reacted by picking up the intensity. Both her hands went up to his head and her tongue found his tongue. They continued kissing in the kitchen until both of them needed air then Tony stepped back.
"Now that is a good morning kiss," he said.
She smiled then said, "Yes, it is. I enjoyed it and hope we can have more of these morning kisses."
He reached in and kissed her again.
"I think that can be arranged," Tony said softly.
The sounds of the front door opened and Amira's voice could be heard loud and clear.
"Momma, we have donuts," she yelled. "Jedde bought donuts."
Tony stepped away from Leyla, who straightened herself up. Gibbs with a tray of coffees in his hands and Amira appeared in the kitchen doorway. Gibbs immediately noticed Leyla's swollen lips and grinned then he looked at Tony and glared at him. Tony straightened up.
"Baba, we have donuts and coffee. I have chocolate milk," she said.
"We even got you a coffee, DiNutso," said Fornell over Gibbs shoulder.
"I'm starved," said Tony.
"Go sit down," said Gibbs then he looked at Leyla and smiled, "and you, too."
He loved being tough on the man he referred to as his agent. Tony needed the tough love because a lack of affection after his mother's death had left him feeling unloved. Tough love made him feel loved.
Tony sat across from Leyla and Amira. Fornell placed a box with a dozen and half donuts on the table, while Gibbs had the coffee. He handed them out. Tony tasted his extra coffee. It was extra sweet and light just the way he liked it. Leyla handed Amira a chocolate dipped donut with sprinkles to have with her chocolate milk. Tony grabbed a jelly filled donut.
"Fornell is going to come with me to the store this morning," said Gibbs. "I thought we take Amira. Between taking care of Amira and DiNozzo, I thought you might like the morning off."
"Thank you, Gibbs," said Leyla.
"I get to fix up the store with Gibbs. You owe me, DiNutso," said Fornell.
"I owe you, Fornell," said Tony.
"When we get back, we'll talk about Cortez," said Gibbs.
"Sounds like a plan," Tony said with his mouth full of donut.
"Don't talk with your mouth full, DiNozzo," growled Gibbs.
"Yes, boss," said Tony.
Amira giggled, while her mother sat with a smile on her face that was easy to interpret. Gibbs could that she was falling in love with his senior agent. From the smile on his face, he could see DiNozzo was smitten, also. They needed to end this mess, so they could get their lives back.
"Have some ideas tonight, DiNozzo. I can see that you are feeling better," said Gibbs.
"Yes, boss. I'll be filled with ideas," grinned Tony, as he grabbed another donut.
NCISNCIS
With Gibbs and Fornell gone with Amira, Tony and Leyla spent some time alone. Tony didn't expect anything wild, especially since his side wouldn't allow it. They spent time on the sofa talking, as well as making out like a couple of teenagers. Tony's felt himself getting too excited going to that point of no return, so he pulled back and kissed Leyla on the forehead.
"Let's slow down. This old man is still hurting," he said.
"You are not old," she said.
"There is a lot of mileage on this body, Leyla," he told her.
"Then we will have o take care of it better," she replied.
"We?" he said.
"Yes, we. It is now my body, too," she smiled.
He chuckled, "I think I like that."
She leaned into him and kissed him then said, "I like that, too."
Meanwhile, Fornell and Gibbs built new shelves for the store, while Amira handed them tools. It was going on noon when Emily wheeled Ethan into the store. Fornell and Gibbs stopped working.
"Corporal, you are looking better than the last time I saw you," said Gibbs.
"Thank you, Gunny," said Ethan.
"I never got to thank you properly, Mr. Gibbs," said Emily.
She walked over to him and gave him a kiss on his cheek.
"How's Chris?" Gibbs asked.
"He is at my father's visiting. I allow him to visit his grandparents once a wee for a couple of hours, but that is all," she said.
Gibbs noticed Fornell and Amira standing there quietly. He turned to introduce them.
"That is Tobias Fornell, a friend, and Amira, my god daughter," Gibbs introduced them.
Tobias nodded. Amira acted shy. Emily went over to her and dropped to her knees so that they were eye to eye.
"You are a pretty one," she said. "And you have a pretty name. What is it again?"
"Amira," smiled Amira.
Gibbs walked over to Ethan.
"How's PT coming?" he asked.
"I'm doing better than they ever thought I'd be doing," he said. "I hope to be out of this chair some day."
"Keep up the hard work and you will be," said Gibbs.
"Ooorah, Gunny," smiled Ethan.
"Ooorah," replied Gibbs.
The door to the store opened again and Sheriff Gantry came the store. He saw Emily and Ethan there and his facial expression couldn't hide his disappointment.
"I saw your van outside," said Ed. "I thought I'd see if you needed help."
"We don't need help," replied Ethan.
"I was asking Emily," retorted Ed.
"They don't need help," said Fornell.
"Who are you?" Ed asked Fornell.
With a big smile on his face, Fornell answered, "I'm Special Agent Fornell of the FBI. I'm a friend of Special Agent Gibbs."
"FBI?" Ed repeated.
"Yeah, FBI. Do you have a problem with the FBI?" smiled Fornell.
"No," said Ed.
"Can I help you, sheriff?" asked Gibbs.
"I was just checking out the van," he said.
"Consider it checked," said Gibbs.
"I will," he replied then he turned and left.
"Lot of tension about here," smiled Fornell.
"I don't have a good relationship with my father and he is the richest man in town. Ed is his high school friend. They used to pick on a Leroy Jethro Gibbs," said Emily.
"We had our problems but they are in the past," said Gibbs.
"I wish I could say the same," sighed Emily.
Gibbs looked at her and smiled gently. He walked over to her and gave her a hug. Emily sighed and returned the hug.
"He still can't accept me fully as his son, which is fine with me because I can't fully accept him as a father," said Ethan.
"You're doing fine, marine," said Gibbs, which drew a smile Ethan.
"Thank you, Gunny," said Ethan.
"Lunch time," said Fornell, "how about you two join us?"
Emily looked at Ethan.
"I'd like that," he said.
"Why don't I get us sandwiches and drinks and we can eat at the park?" said Gibbs.
"Park, park," Amira spoke up.
"I think we have a winner," laughed Ethan.
NCISNCIS
"Bishop and McGee found two bank accounts each with fifty grand in them," explained Fornell. "On top of that I pulled the safe deposit box of the cop DiNutso killed and found twenty-five grand in cash in it. We traced the serial numbers and the cash was part of a bank robbery done by the El Gato. I think we have enough evidence to prove the cop was dirty."
"Thanks, Tobias," said Tony. "There one shooting that I might get cleared of."
"I talked to his captain. They knew he was dirty. IAD was working up a case against him," said Fornell.
"Next up is Cortez," said Gibbs.
The three men were in the living drinking coffee after dinner. Leyla was upstairs giving Amira a bath.
"Do you have any ideas where we find him?" asked Fornell.
"I have some ideas. You know he is only going to come out of hiding to either kill me or kill his ex-wife. Since I doubt that his ex is willing to be bait then I act as bait to draw him out," offered Tony.
"The cheese in a mouse trap," said Fornell.
"I don't like it," stated Gibbs.
"Maybe so, but it is the best way to draw him out, Boss," said Tony. "I can't stay in hiding forever and Leyla and Amira have to get back to their lives, too. I'm actually starting to miss McGee and the new Probie."
"It's too dangerous," stated Gibbs.
"Part of the job profile, Boss. I mean it's not my favorite part of the job but its right there in the fine print," said Tony. "It's the best way, Boss, I'm the bait and Cortez comes out of hiding to get me."
Just then Leyla was walking down the stairs. She heard the idea of Tony being the bait to draw Cortez out.
"He shows his head then I'll taking it off with the first shot," said Gibbs.
Leyla came down. Tony looked at her.
"Where is Amira?" he asked.
"In her room playing," she said.
"You heard?" asked Gibbs.
"Yes," she said.
"What do you about the idea?" asked Gibbs.
Tony looked at him with daggers in his eyes. It was an unfair question to ask somewhere in her position. Leyla looked at Tony. She forced a smile. He returned the favor.
"I want this to be over. I want Tony to be safe, but I know that these things come at a price. If Tony is the bait then I expect him to be protected. And I expect this Cortez to be dead when this is done," she said. "Now I have to go check on Amira."
She turned around and headed back up the stairs. There was silence for a few moments.
"Now that is a hell of a woman," said Fornell.
"Yes, that is," said Tony.
Gibbs kept quiet.