Paula looked at Tony, trying to decide whether to laugh, cry or strangle Tony, She eventually started to smile and shake her head, "If I didn't know better, I would have thought you really were joking."

"Paula I didn't wing almost 2700 miles just for an argument or a holiday. I came because I…."

"You were nosey?" Paula enquired, "Because you didn't believe or because….?"

"Hell Paula," as he stood and now looked down at her, "I came because…yes I care, yes I'm nosey….and yes Agent Cassidy I love you."

"Thing is, I'm no longer Agent Cassidy am I?" as she heard Tony's cell ring.

"McGee, what is so important?" Tony shouted down the phone, as he listened, "Thank you McGee but if it is any consolation, I know and I am here, but thank you….what well put him on…Boss, nice to hear you…..yes I am fine….OK," as he handed Paula his cell, "Boss man wants a word."

"Gibbs…really nothing to say….if I could…we'll see…..yes he did," as she passed the phone back.

"Well Boss, nice to talk to you, hope your weather is good…now if you don't mind I'm on vacation and I got to go." as Tony shut the cell down, "What he say then?"

"Who?"

"God damn it Paula…..Gibbs." as Tony turned and clasped his hands behind his head, "And you never did tell me about your parents, you said your mom never got over your brother's death what about your father?"

"He died of a heart attack 3weeks after I did. Mom is in a care home in Toronto, I send money every month. I visit when I can, I look at her through the glass, she just holds a family picture…oh Tony." as she put her head in her hands and began to sob.

Tony looked shocked but he knelt down and gingerly placed his arms round her, she looked up and slid to the floor, placed her arms round Tony's waist and began to cry, the years of pain and loneliness over.

-oOo-

The morning sun began to shine through the window, Tony couldn't feel his arm, but he daren't move, Paula's body dead against his. They hadn't…..well, he had let her cry, he'd stuck a frozen pizza in the oven, opened a bottle of red wine, he had found in the kitchen, laid the table out the best he could. It reminded him of what he had done for Jeanne that evening outside the hospital. She was quiet but he had joked, told one-liners, told her of how the team were doing, of the Jimmy's upcoming wedding, anything to make her smile. She tried but it was watery.

Tony tried his 007 voice chat, "I had heard that you were dead." He said in a high pitched voice and then answered in his Sean Connery drawl, "This is my second life," before adding, "You only live twice, Cassidy."

Paula cringed but smiled.

"You want me to go?" he asked.

"No…..I…I want you beside me, to let me touch a human being again, someone I can trust." Paula replied.

Tony thought for a moment, "Anymore wine?" as he got up and headed for the kitchen, "Looks like you have," as he returned and unscrewed the cap and poured, "About tomorrow, you going in to work?"

"I think I just got a migraine." Paula answered smiling.

"Good girl," as Tony poured.

Tony sighed, he was getting cramp, he tried to move his arm again, only this time Paula sat bolt upright, and looked at Tony.

"We didn't did we?" now realising she was still in her underwear and had Tony's shirt on.

"No, I put my shirt on you as I wanted you to be decent; I don't personally make a habit of going through female's drawers to find nightdresses unless I am investigating."

"Remember you did in Gitmo, you found a bottle of Escada on my dresser."

"That was your dresser, but your underwear was far too provocative for a field agent." Tony laughed as Paula now took a pillow and pretended to suffocate Tony. Tony played dead. Paula carefully lifted the pillow only for Tony to pounce. He turned her on her back and looked into her eyes.

"Tony, I remember Gitmo, remember when you said "Do you need anything from your sleeping quarters?", and I replied, ""What you're thinking, that's against regs."

"And I said Great. You can handcuff me." Tony laughed holding Paula down.

As Paula looked at Tony she smiled, and looked toward the bedside cabinet, "It's not going to happen, DiNozzo."

"Why not?" Tony laughed.

"We're both game players." Paula laughed.

"Too much alike, huh?" as Tony held her tight.

"We would drive each other crazy."

"Crazy's good."

"Yeah." as she watched Tony, take the cuffs from the bedside cabinet and slip them on her wrists, Tony's cell rang, "What McGee?"