Thanks again to everyone whose read/reviewed, I really do hope you are enjoying the story so far, we are only just beginning there is a lot more to come!

Thanks again, and happy Sunday! :)

Chapter 3

Tony had spent the week perfecting his balancing act; trying to manage his team and case load, doing surveillance on La Grenouille for the Director, and trying to have a personal life, which he was failing at greatly. He was exhausted, he needed a break, and if he had to listen to Ziva complain one more time about paperwork and procedures he was not going to be responsible for his actions.

Deciding to take a break, Tony quietly left the squad room and made his way down to Abby's lab. Seeing the Goth hard at work, he smiled, at least he could always count on Abs to do her job.

"What's the word bird?" he asked, making his way over to her.

"Unfortunately the word is nada. I have gone through your evidence three times and I can't find a fingerprint, ounce of DNA or even substance I could run. Whoever stole those weapons left no trace." She said defeated.

Tony put his hand on her shoulder, "Hey now, I don't like seeing a frown on my usual bouncy Abby. Have faith, something will turn up."

Abby smiled, "Aren't I usually the one that says that?"

He laughed, "Everyone needs reminding every now and then."

"How are things going upstairs?

Tony shook his head, "Not much better. We have checked all the alibis of the staff and everyone who had contact with the armory, and zilch. I have asked McGee to look deeper and go through all the video recordings of the facility and surrounding areas, maybe we will get lucky."

Abby nodded, she paused before replying as she took in Tony's appearance. "You aren't looking so hot Tony" she said concerned.

"I'm fine Abs, just a little tired, we have had back to back cases, haven't had much down time," he replied hoping she wouldn't push further.

"How is your new girlfriend taking you working so many hours?" she asked with a big smile on her face.

Tony's head shot up surprised, he hadn't told anyone at work about Kyle. "New girlfriend?" he tried to play it off.

"Don't try and lie to me Anthony DiNozzo!" she said shaking a finger at him while the other rested on her hip. "I know you far too well for you to try and deny it."

He nodded, knowing he had been caught, "Alright, I confess. I have been seeing someone."

"I knew it!" she exclaimed, "I want all the dirty details."

He laughed, "Well I won't be giving you all the dirty details, but I can tell you we have been dating for over five months, she is nurse, only child and grew up in a small town near Boston. Oh, and I really dig this one Abs," he said shyly.

Abby rushed to give him a hug, "I am so happy for you Tony! It was about time you settled down."

"Thanks Abs."

Tony spent a few more minutes talking to Abby before he decided to take an early lunch and go surprise Kyle with a visit.

Kyle was making her rounds around the oncology ward and walked into a young girl named Sarah's room.

"How is Princess Sarah doing today?" she asked walking up to the young girl with a smile on her face.

The young girl shrugged.

Kyle could tell she was upset about something. "What's wrong?"

Sarah shook her head, Kyle could tell she was trying to put on a brave face. "Sarah, if there is something wrong I can't help you if you don't tell me. Is the pain medication not working?" she asked while gently wiping the tears off her face.

"The pain is ok today" she said softly. "They are going to bring me for some blood work soon and Mom and Dad can't come today," she added, still not making eye contact with Kyle.

"Oh sweetie, do you want me to sit with you while you have the tests done?" Kyle knew how hard blood tests were for Sarah. She suffered from a rare condition, elevated factor VII, which meant she had large blood clots throughout her body that caused her a great deal of pain and caused her to bleed like crazy. During her development stage as a fetus she developed blood clots on her organs, which caused her veins to develop differently than everyone else's; it also made drawing blood painful and almost impossible at times. Earlier in the week she had heard that they had to stick her with a needle twelve times on order to get enough blood for one vile.

They young girl raised her head to look at Kyle, tears filled her as, as she looked at Kyle with hope, "You wouldn't mind?"

Kyle smiled, "Absolutely not, I will be right there holding your hand."

Sarah smiled and launched herself at Kyle, "Thank you" she said softly.

"Don't be afraid to ask in the future Sarah."

Sarah nodded, "I didn't want to complain or seem weak." she mumbled, "I need to be strong and brave for mom and dad, and I know there are kids here who are way more sick than I am."

Kyle looked at the young girl before her amazed by her strength.

"Oh sweetie, it's ok to ask for help and to let out a good cry, we all do every now and then."

Sarah smiled, "Ok"

Just then one of the technicians came in, "I have a chariot here that is awaiting a Princess."

Sarah put on her brave face; "I am ready" as Kyle and the technician helped her into the wheel chair.

Tony walked into the oncology wing and made his way up to the front desk.

"Good morning Nurse Jessica, you are looking particularly beautiful this morning," he said to the elderly nurse behind the desk, giving her his most charming smile.

"You are trouble Mr. DiNozzo," the nurse smiled while shaking her head.

"It's Tony, and trouble is my middle name" he said winking at her.

"I don't know how she puts up with you, such a nice young girl."

Tony laughed, "She tries her best to keep me in line"

The nurse nodded, "She is down in the blood clinic, module L," she said showing Tony on the map how to get there.

"Thanks Nurse Jessica, lovely as always to see you."

The nurse just looked at Tony, over top her glasses, "MmmHmm" she replied.

Tony made his way through the hospital to module L, he had only visited Kyle a handful of times since they began dating, the first time he visited he wasn't sure what to expect, but it most certainly wasn't the number of children he saw with bald heads or hooked up to a number of machines as they walked the hallways. The thing that struck him most about that visit was the smiles and laughter on the children's faces as they played and went on about their day as if there wasn't a care in the world.

When Tony has asked Kyle about it, she had said "Kids are amazing creatures, they are so much stronger than anyone gives them credit for, I have literally seen a dying child comforting her parents and telling them they will be alright. Through all the pain and suffering they go through, they are still able to find joy in their life. They are truly inspirations."

All he could do was nod in response, he had seen that joy on their faces, "How do you do it?" he then asked. She just smiled, "There are days you can barely get through, seeing a child in pain, a family going home not so whole, but then you see their strength and determination, and if I can bring some measure of peace and comfort to their lives, then it is a good day. It is not an easy job, but I wouldn't change it for the world." She looked with a knowing look on her face, "I assume it is a similar reason as to why you put your life on the line everyday. At the base of it, you want to help people. We just do it in different ways."

It was after that conversation he knew he had found someone special, she was turning his world upside down, and for the first time in a long time he was fine with it.

Tony arrived at the blood clinic and walked him, he nodded at the technician, "Just waiting for Nurse Kyle" he said, taking a seat.

Tony looked around the clinic and he could see Kyle sitting on chair holding the hand of a young girl who was lying on her stomach with her eyes shut tight. He watched her as she comforted the young girl.

Kyle stood up and helped the young girl into her chair, just then a frantic women rushed through the door, "Is Sarah here?" she asked hurriedly, "I tried to get off work earlier, but it we had an emergency, and I tried to finish off my work as soon as I could." she said, Tony thought she could give Abby a run for her money on speed talking.

Kyle wheeled the young girl towards them, "Mom!" she exclaimed as they women rushed to her.

"Oh my baby, how are you, are you ok? I tried to get her to be with you," she said taking her daughters face in her hands, as if inspecting her for injuries.

"I'm ok mom, Nurse Kyle was with me."

"Oh you are such a brave girl, I am so proud"

"She was a very brave girl today" Kyle said as she looked at the mother, "Rodney s going to escort you guys back to your room, and I will be by later this afternoon to check on you."

The mother smiled, and moved out of the way so Rodney to push Kyle back to her room, before following, she turned to look at Kyle, "How many today?"

Kyle sighed, "Fourteen."

The mothers face fell and nodded as she followed her daughter out of the clinic.

"Looks like someone could use a cup of coffee" Tony said.

Kyle's head shot over to her right, "Tony?"

He smiled and nodded, "Surprise!"

Kyle smiled and quickly made her way over to him and hugged him. Tony wrapped his arms around her, knowing she needed some comfort at the moment. "Can you take a break?" he asked.

She nodded, "Ya, how about a cup of bad coffee?" she asked.

Taking her hand he said, "Lead the way."

Tony made his way into the squad room to see Abby bouncing excitedly in front of McGee. She turned to look at him, "Tony, Tony, I think we caught a break on our case, I found a match to the prints Ziva gave me earlier, they match to an Admiral's daughter!"

Tony looked at Abby completely confused, "Prints, what prints Abby?"

"Ziva came down after you left asking me to run some prints?" she asked confused.

"A Mikayla Evans, 26, nurse, daughter of Admiral Luke Evans. Her prints were on file, appears there is sealed record, I have been trying to get in for the last twenty minutes." McGee added.

Just then Ziva walked into the squad room, Tony turned to glare at her, "What the hell Ziva, where did you get her prints?"

Ziva looked confused for a moment before she saw Abby, "It appears there has been a miscommunication, between myself and Abby, those prints were not in connection to the case."

"No shit, where did you get them?" he asked again.

"You had coffee the other day, I picked it out of the trash.," she answered as if she had done nothing wrong.

"And you felt the need to have her prints run because? My personal life is none of your business Ziva."

"You have been different, distracted, I was concerned. McGee told me about a Swedish girl you were distracted with and your partner got kidnapped as you chased after her, I wanted to make sure I didn't suffer the same fate."

Tony looked at Ziva with so much rage; he was surprised she didn't spontaneously combust. "That was a low blow Ziva. In case you didn't know, the person who kidnapped Kate, was your brother Ari."

Ziva looked at Tony surprised, "Ya Ziva, Gibbs told me." That was all he had to say for her to understand the extent of what he meant.

"Wait I am confused?" Abby said turning to look at Tony, "Those prints were for the case?"

Tony shook his head, "No, those would be my girlfriend Kyle's prints you ran."

"Not cool Ziva, not cool" Abby admonished.

"Don't worry about it Abs, you didn't know, I can see how you would assume, her being an Admiral's daughter."

Abby smiled at Tony, "If I had know, I wouldn't have run the prints."

"I know Abs."

"Go figure you dating an Admiral's daughter." McGee paused putting her profile up on the screen, "Admiral Luke Evans, where have I heard that name before?"

Before Tony could answer, a soft voice drifted through the squad room, "My father is the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs."

All four turned to look at the petite woman standing there in front of them, still in her scrubs as she looked at Tony with pure confusion on her face as she saw her picture and basic details plastered on the screen.