A/N: the song is Khe Sanh, by Cold Chisel. Don't own it, or cold chisel. If I did i would have Jimmy Barnes under my command. Who knows what evil and diabolical things I could do to the world with his voice?

Chapter 7: Back to Baltimore

I left my heart to the sappers round Khe Sanh
And my soul was sold with my cigarettes to the black-market man
I've had the Vietnam cold turkey
From the ocean to the Silver City
And it's only other vets could understand

About the long forgotten dockside guarantees
How there were no V-day heroes in 1973
How we sailed into Sydney Harbour
Saw an old friend but couldn't kiss her
She was lined, and I was home to the lucky land

And she was like so many more from that time on
Their lives were all so empty, till they found their chosen one
And their legs were often open
But their minds were always closed
And their hearts were held in fast suburban chains
And the legal pads were yellow, hours long, pay packet lean
And the telex writers clattered where the gun ships once had been
But the car parks made me jumpy
And I never stopped the dreams
Or the growing need for speed and novacaine

So I worked across the country end to end
Tried to find a place to settle down, where my mixed up life could mend
Held a job on an oil-rig
Flying choppers when I could
But the nightlife nearly drove me round the bend

And I've travelled round the world from year to year
And each one found me aimless, one more year the more for wear
And I've been back to South East Asia
But the answer sure ain't there
But I'm drifting north, to check things out again

You know the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone
Only seven flying hours, and I'll be landing in Hong Kong
There ain't nothing like the kisses
From a jaded Chinese princess
I'm gonna hit some Hong Kong mattress all night long

Well the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone
Yeah the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone
And it's really got me worried
I'm goin' nowhere and I'm in a hurry
And the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone

I decided to ignore last night. I'll tell Tony he can do whatever he wants with his life, as long as it doesn't go taking our little sister to nightclubs before she turns 21. I shoved on clothes and managed to scrape my hair into a ponytail. I arrived at work and sat down, tapping my pen on the desk until Gibbs glared at me and I felt part of my soul melt away.

"Something you'd like to share with us, Sergeant?" he asked harshly and I shrunk a little in my seat, "no sir"

He turned back to his computer as the lift opened and Tony stepped out with a pair on sunglasses on. I went to say something but Ziva beat me to the punch. "Big night, Tony?" she asked and I snorted, "You could say that" he shot a look at me. "You tell anyone; you die, Esther DiNozzo"

I stood up, "bring it on, Mr Macho!" I stepped forward and Gibbs shot out of his seat. "Sergeant DiNozzo, you will sit yourself down in that chair. DiNozzo, as my senior field agent you should know never to threaten another team member on my watch! Conference room, now!" they moved towards the elevator and I sat down.

Ziva looked at me in amazement, "I've never seen Gibbs so angry with Tony! What happened last night?" she asked and I sighed. "I got a call last night from Tony saying he was at a bar, which you know, is fine. But then he told me my 18 year old sister was with him. The legal drinking age here is 21 and I was absolutely furious. I went to get her, yelled at Tony repeatedly and then I collapsed in the gutter outside. Then I woke up this morning and I can't remember what happened after. I don't know how I got home"

Ziva nodded understandingly. I rambled on, "I mean; he's a member of the government! Don't government employees know better than to take their underage sisters out for drinks?" both of our heads snapped back to gaze on the elevator, which had made a small dinging noise. Gibbs stepped out and Tony followed him, looking like a puppy with its tail between its legs.

Tony sat down and placed his hands in his lap. I got up and collected my bag, "May I be excused, sir?" I said to Gibbs and he looked up and grunted at me. "Thank you" making my way to the elevator, I jabbed the button repeatedly. It made a small pinging sound and the doors creaked open. I was going back to Baltimore, to see my younger brother.

Giovanni was the tallest person I knew. Standing at 6"8, he got through college on a basketball scholarship. Now he played center position for the Washington Wizards. Today was his day off. He'd be at home, practising new moves. He's dedicated, I'll give you that. Baltimore was only an hour away. I could be back quickly if a case came up. I'd have to get started now if I wanted to get there soon.

I knew no one would notice I was missing, especially my brother.