This chapter is a little angsty but we never get to see their emotional side so I thought I would give it a shot. Let me know what you think. Thanks.
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CHAPTER THREE: THEY PUT THEIR OWN BOLO OUT ON TONY
A friend is someone who can see the truth and pain in you even when you are fooling everyone else. --unknown
When Tony staggered out of the bar … he had no destination … just away. He didn't want his friends and that's what they were, to see his vulnerable side … that ship had sailed. He left them stunned … not all of them … Gibbs knew. He followed him … he'd been down a similar road a time or two before but never allowed himself to fall so deeply in love with his mark. Gibbs knew love and love stinks on a good day, it was a bad day when getting your mark to fall in love with you and it backfires on you.
Gibbs found Tony sitting on a bench … slouching like a common drunk, just outside of Eddie's … he couldn't walk any further than that. Gibbs sat beside him. Tony gave him a sideward's glance and they sat in silence for several minutes.
"Why did you say no? Why didn't you just tell her the truth?"
"I don't know Boss, I chickened out. She was so angry and she accused me of killing her father. Too much water under that bridge." His head was spinning, he could barely stay sitting, Gibbs smirked and propped him back up.
"What about Jenny? You could have said no to her … you could have come to me."
"Not according to Madam Director." He takes on a very cynical tone.
"You're happy that she's dead. I'm not asking."
Tony sobers up a bit, he straightens up on the bench.
"She told us to take the day off! That wasn't my fault!"
"I'm not saying that DiNozzo. What I'm saying is … she caused you a lot of pain and now she's gone … it's a Karma thing."
"Look Gibbs … there were many times that I didn't agree with her but I never wished her dead, in fact, I wish she were here right now so I could tell her exactly how I feel about her."
"Yeah me too Tony."
"How's that Boss?"
"That she was wrong about you. She thought that you were an unfeeling womanizer, that she infuriated me … she should have come to me with this and that I loved her."
"You don't think I'm an unfeeling womanizer, Boss?"
"Take it from the real deal … I can see through the lies you tell yourself Tony … keep it up and you'll be a lonely old man just like me."
Tony slumped down again, Gibbs knew for now, their talk was over. Tony needed to think and he was … about Jeanne. Gibbs went back inside and told Tony to come back in … Tony nodded but stayed on the bench. Gibbs had some thinking of his own to do … three wives … many notches on his belt … he was an unfeeling womanizer. He didn't want Tony to become the man that he had become … he turned around and went back outside but he was gone … and so wasn't his car.
Damn it DiNozzo!
The only thing left to do was put a BOLO out on Tony. If he was stopped for a DUI, it could mean the end to his career at NCIS, Vance wouldn't tolerate it and once he found out Gibbs was behind this little outing, he wouldn't have been able to help Tony out either. He went back inside and paid the bill.
"McGee, Abbs … I want you two to head to Tony's apartment and see if he's there. Ziva, hit the streets and try to find him … call his cell, he's not answering for me. Ducky … you're with me."
"Gibbs … what's going on?"
"He drove off … I don't want him picked up on a DUI … let's find him … Fast!"
"Got it Boss!"
They all scatter to find their friend … he was hurting … so were they. When one of the team goes down … they all go … that's how they stand as a team. You know the old saying … "There's no I in team" … they really mean it!
McGee and Abby make it to Tony's place and breath a sigh of relief when they see his car parked outside his apartment building. Abby calls Gibbs and tells him that they're going up. Ziva's , hearing the news … heads that way.
"He's not answering, McGee … what should we do?"
"He's probably passed out on his bed … we should go."
"No, no way … I want to check on him … make sure he's alright."
Tim sighs and reaches into his pocket. Tony's gonna kill me for this. He pulls out a lock pick set that Kate had given him. Abby was intrigued. He went to work on the lock and the door sprang open.
"Wow … I did it!"
"I'm impressed McGee!"
Proudly … "Kate gave me this. He held up the lock pick set. She taught me how to use it." Abby rubbed his shoulder … understanding the underlying current of emotions for both of them. He smiled and nodded his head as they entered Tony's apartment.
Abby's cell phone rang … it was Gibbs.
"Yeah Gibbs."
"How's Tony?"
"Haven't seen him yet … McGee had to pick the lock we just got in."
"Did you say … McGee picked the lock?"
She couldn't see him of course but she knew his eyebrow was raised.
"Yup! Kate taught him … first time he ever used it!"
Kate.
They started searching his apartment … his gun and badge were laid out on his coffee table. His car keys close buy. The door to his bed room was slightly ajar … McGee was hesitant but he pushed the door open knowing that Tony would be pissed has hell and tell him … no … yell at him to get out. There was no Tony.
"Abbs … he's not here!"
Abby had been looking around not wanting to enter his bedroom with McGee … a man's privacy and all … when she started hacking his computer … that privacy she was used to invading. She thought all she would find was porn.
"Tim … come look at this."
He sat down next to her and couldn't believe his eyes. Tony had been stalking Jeanne Benoit … for a very long time. He had photos … private photos, public photos … he had hired someone to follow her every move. They looked at each other and both sighed a heavy sigh of concern.
"He was in love with her Abbs."
"No Tim … he's in love with her. Where could he be?"
Tim draped his arm around Abby, she rested her head on his shoulder … just then, Ziva, Gibbs and Ducky arrived … Abby and Tim didn't move.
"Where is he?"
Abby shrugs but doesn't move … she's scared and doesn't want to leave the comfort of Tim's embrace.
"McGee?"
"It's bad Boss … take a look." He moves only slightly to turn the laptop towards Gibbs.
The three of them look at what Tim and Abby have found. Ziva sits heavily on a chair and crosses her arms in a protective manner over her chest. Gibbs scratches his head in thought and Ducky heads for the door.
"What are we waiting for Jethro … let's go find him."
"Where Ducky … where should we look!" Jethro yells at Ducky … he doesn't mean too … but even he gets scared … sometimes.
He yells back. "I don't know Jethro but I don't want to find him on my table!"
McGee, Ziva and Abby all look up at the two men … McGee stands nervously, ready to confront Gibbs because he does consider Tony to be a friend.
"He's right Boss … I'm going back to the office and run a trace on his cell … Ziva … hit the streets and Abbs … you're with me. Gibbs, you and Ducky work it out."
Gibbs looked at McGee with fire in his eyes … he walks over to him as McGee stands his ground … McGee puts his head up high … waiting for the aftermath of what he had just done … nose to nose now …
"McGEE!"
"Yeah Boss." Shakily
He did that head tic thing with the grin. "I'm proud of you." Then he smacked him in the back of the head. As he turned to walk out of the door with a smiling Ducky, he turned back and said … "but don't think that you can get away with giving me an order like that ever again, McGee."
"Understood Boss."
McGee and Abby did their thing at the lab … tracing the GPS coordinates of Tony's cell phone. He never turned it off which made their job that much easier. Ziva went to every bar within walking distance of Tony's apartment complex and Jethro and Ducky drove around in the Morgan talking and looking.
"I'm sorry Ducky."
"What did you just say Jethro?"
"I won't say it again Duck."
"I never knew you to be a weak man Jethro."
"You're the only one that I would apologize too … feel privileged."
"Ah … but I do my Dear Jethro … I feel very privileged to have you as a friend. Only friends can get away with speaking to each other in such a manner."
"I'm scared Duck … Tony's not weak, he's not scared … he's not me God damn it!"
"I think you're confusing you with somebody else as well my Dear friend. I would never describe you as weak or scared … you're one of the bravest men that I have ever known and if you haven't noticed Jethro … I've been around the block a few times."
"No Ducky … I don't mean physically … and as far as being afraid of things … like a bullet or death … things like that … they don't scare me … women … they scare me!"
"After three wives … any man would be."
"No story for me Duck?"
Ducky glances to his left … he is driving his Morgan. He's thinking about an appropriate account of his youth … or someone else's.
"In the late 1600's, young Janet, the eldest daughter of Sir James. Was betrothed to David, son Sir David of Baldoon , however, she was in love with Archibald … he was penniless … her parents had no use for a penniless son-in-law."
"Duck … what does this have to do with anything?"
"My point being My Dear Jethro is … we do not live in archaic times. You can choose who to love … you can choose to say no and that's okay … when we find Tony … he needs to hear you say that!"
"It won't make the hurt go away Duck."
"No but the next time and there will be a next time … for both of you … maybe just maybe you'll find the courage to love again. Shannon would want you to be happy."
Gibbs had been staring at his hands but at the mention of his wife's name … his head shot up … Ducky was ready and waiting for that … he gave him a knowing look. This whole night was a trickle down effect … now they had to find Tony.
Gibbs' cell phone rang, it was McGee …
"Yeah McGee."
"We think we found him Boss!"
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Thanks for reading ... reviews are appreciated :) Judy.