Outside Tony rang the number.

"Hello…..Tony DiNozzo…..I'm not sure…..I'll find yes…see you tomorrow." As Tony now got in the hire car and headed for San Diego.

San Diego… a Navy Port. The USS Medway,…. now a visitor attraction, up and coming hotels, and restaurants. A city, trying to improve its' image. Tony made his way to the chic Bohemian area. He ordered sarsaparilla, watched and waited. He did his undercover agent, but then knew she would be doing the same….the voice just as he imagined it to be. But he knew better, she would be the same, watching wondering….why did she disappear.

"Tony….hello," he felt the hand on the shoulder, the warm breath in his ear. Bad move he should have sat with his back to the wall, but the seats had been taken and he wouldn't have been able to see the sidewalk.

"Paula?" as he placed his hand, on hers and clasped, pulling her round, "Why?" as she smiled and sat down.

"Why? Long story, but not here," as she looked about, and stood. "I got a place Otay Mesa…"

"Thought you were going to say "Down Mexico Way" sorry…."

"Not changed any then Tony, but you got transport? I'll navigate." Paula replied.

Tony took her hand and guided her to the parking lot; he wasn't going to lose her this time. They approached the car, Tony held the door open, Paula looked about and got in, Tony now looked around and got into the driver's seat, started the ignition and said, "Gonna tell me while we drive?"

Paula nodded.

-oOo-

"So," Tony asked as he drove, "Where you going to begin, before or after the explosion?"

"It started before…. I didn't know it was going to be that weekend, it just happened." Paula began to say, "It was when I was at Guantánamo Bay, and then I did a stint in Miami, I was helping out the Coast Guard at one time, and I had a couple of run-ins with a drug cartel. Director Morrow suggested I went as an Agent Afloat, and it just so happened the position on the USS Kennedy came up. That was good until Kate died and you got a new Director. I joined you, remember? It was at that time my brother and cousin were killed in a car accident, visiting my parents in Toronto… their car hit a deer, so we were told, the car went off the road, my cousin who was driving…the tree branch penetrated the windshield and his chest. My brother was in a coma for six months. I eventually had to turn his support machine off. It broke my mother's heart, she was never the same."

"So what has this got to do with you dying?" Tony continued to ask.

"Coming to that Tony," Paula laughed, "Always the impatient one. It was when I was going through his belongings I found a letter…and a journal…he had been followed. There had been threats to my family and to me, but because I was Afloat they couldn't touch me, so they targeted my family."

"Why didn't you turn it over to us? Did you turn it over to the FBI? Paula….we would have helped." Tony shouted hitting the steering wheel.

"Tony, I saw what Paloma did to Gibbs, I saw…well heard what happened to Macy, I couldn't let that happen to you or the team…..I asked Director Shepard if…turn right and the about half a mile down here turn left, got an apartment in a block of four," Paula directed as they reached Otay Mesa," I also have a room down at San Ysidro, I work along the border. Just park behind that row of garages." She pointed, as Tony drove up and stopped the car.

"Now where, Paula?"

"Not far, just round here," as they turned the corner and Tony saw an old house which had been made into four," I'm bottom left." as Paula searched in her purse for her key.

-oOo-

"Sorry, it is, only one bed, you OK with the sofa bed?" Paula laughed.

"Have to be, get used to it in our line of work." Tony laughed.

"Coffee?" Paula asked picking up mug, "I thought I'd make you con carne, make a good one being so close to the border." She continued, now turning away to the kitchenette.

"Paula?" as Tony followed her there, "What happened next? You got as far as asking Jen…"

"Yes, I asked Director Shepard if I could play dead. I had got in touch with Tom Morrow, being Deputy Director of Homeland Security, asked if there were any vacancies. He invited me for an interview, said he'd get me something far away from Washington…..and well San Diego is about as far from DC at the time. Thing was, I had to be careful of Vance."

"Vance?" Tony asked, taking the coffee from Paula.

"Well not just Vance, anyone in San Diego or LA for that matter. I had to make sure I kept my nose clean."

"Paula, how you do it? I mean fake dead?"

"I got Dr Mallard to help me. We took some fingerprints, and some very convincing skin, in fact," as she showed Tony her fingers, "Some have no prints…..battery acid…sore but effective."

"Paula," was all Tony could say, wanting to hold her.

"Hey Tone, remember that day, when I technically died, how did the conversation go, again?" she now asked smiling, as she walked to Tony and touched his cheek, before sitting.

"Don't remember."

"I do, it went something like this….I said, when did you start to be so caring? And you replied…."

"I have always been caring; I come from a very caring family. Us DiNozzos are celebrated for our kindness," Tony replied, now sitting beside her, "Maybe I wasn't always so caring…..and you said?" Tony now prompted.

"What's her name?….I honestly thought it was Ziva, I couldn't bear that, but you said Jeanne. I asked if you loved her and you replied…"

"Yes…I did, I did, but then things changed…"

"Did you tell her…..did you say those three little words?" Paula continued.

"Yes…I did….I said…I love you….Paula." as Tony now looked into her face for reaction.

-oOo-