The following Monday, 7:06 a.m.
----------------
Tony stands in front of Director Shepard, he yawns.
"Special Agent DiNozzo...you know why you're here, correct?"
Tony yawns again..."Yeah."
"I need your gun and badge, you're suspended."
"This sucks."
"Excuse me?"
"This sucks, ma'am."
"Better."
Tony takes his badge off his belt and lays it on her desk.
"Your firearm?"
"It's in my desk."
"You're excused."
Tony doesn't move...'For how long, ma'am?"
"A month without pay."
"Are you shitting me?"...Jenny looks at him and takes off her glasses..."Pardon my language, Ma'am."
"You should be glad it's only a month."
"Did I or did I not catch the bad guy, ma'am?"
"You did, Agent DiNozzo."
"For that reason and the backing of Special Agent Gibbs, you still have a job."
"What am I suppose to do, ma'am?"
"I don't care, just don't do it here."
Tony scratches his head and moves to the door and opens it.
He walks past Cynthia, along the railing and down the stairs.
Gibbs looks up from his desk..."How long, DiNozzo?"
"Month without pay, Boss."
"Are you shitting me?"
Tony doesn't answer...he moves to his desk and takes out his Sig and pops the clip out. He then walks over to Gibbs' desk and lays them both down.
"Sorry, Boss."
Tony moves towards the elevator with his head down.
"Tony..." Kate rose from her desk and watched him walk into the elevator...he lifts his hand giving a half attempt at a wave.
The elevator doors close..."A month without pay, Gibbs? Isn't that a little harsh?"
"I don't make the rules, Kate."
Kate sighs..."This is Tony, how is he suppose to live without an income? Have you ever been to his house? He has like ever DVD known to man and lets not forget about his Mustang. I don't think he understands the words, savings account. You don't think he'd move in with me, do ya, Gibbs?"
"I'm not touching that question with a 10 foot pole."
"Which one?"
"All of them."
---------
29 days to go...
Kate sits quietly at her desk drawing a sketch of Tony sitting back, with his feet on the desk talking on the phone, wearing his trademark shades.
"What are you doing, Kate?'...Gibbs shows up right behind Kate.
Kate scrambles to hide her sketchbook..."Nothing, Gibbs."
Gibbs moves to his desk and sits.
"You shouldn't do that to a pregnant woman, Gibbs."
"How far along are you anyway?"
"8 weeks."
"I'm gonna have to pull you from working duty soon."
"She rises from her chair..."You can't!"
"Sit. Not for awhile, Kate...not until Tony is back."
She slowly sits down..."It's so boring without Tony."...she pauses..."Oh, no offense to all of you."
Ziva and McGee both nod..."It's ok and no worries."...they respond.
Gibbs laughs..."Did I ever tell you guys how DiNozzo and I met?"
Kate turns her chair..."Is it that funny?"
Ziva and McGee and push their chairs in front of Gibbs' desk..."I'm all lobes, Gibbs."
"Ears, Ziva."
"Right, that, too."
Several minutes pass.
Ziva laughs..."He was naked, Gibbs?"
"Just like the day he was born, Ziva."
McGee phone rings...McGee moves to his desk and answers it..."We got a dead sailor at a restaurant, Boss."...McGee writes down the address.
"Gear up!"
"What about the story?"
"Ask DiNozzo about it later, Ziva...It'll be filled with more nudity and violence, I'm sure."
Kate walks up to Ziva..."I want to hear more, too...wanna go over to DiNozzo's and surprise him? I'll bring Chinese, you bring...whatever."
"It's a date."
"What?"
"Deal?"
"Right."
"Wrong?"
"Stop it."...she laughs.
-----------------
Kate and Ziva walk up to Tony's door and Kate knocks.
Tony opens the door completely naked.
"Tony!"
"What Kate?"
"You're naked!"
"Yeah, so?"
"A group of girl scouts could've been knocking for all you know!"
"I'm not a pervert, Kate...I looked through the peep hole."
"OOOH MYYYY!"...Ziva looked up and down Tony very carefully.
"Ziva!"...Kate moves her hand in front of her eyes..."What about Ziva, Tony!?"
"She's seen a penis before, Kate."
"Not like that one."...As Ziva stands on her tip-toes looking over the top of Kate's hand.
"Ziva! Stop looking at it!"
"I can't, it's magnificent!"
"Tony!"
"Fine, I'll go put some pants on."...Tony turns and moves down the hall.
"Magnificent?"...Kate turns toward Ziva, her hand is still in front of Ziva's face..."Oh, oh."...Ziva takes out her cell phone, but it's too late..."Damn it!"
"Ziva, behave yourself!"
Ziva turns toward Kate...she grins..."Wow, lucky girl."
Kate sighs..."What am I gonna do with you, DiNozzo?"
"I vote for sex."
"Ziva!"
"What?"...as Ziva walks into the house...Tony comes out wearing a pair of black sweatpants and an Ohio State t-shirt.
"Better?"
"No."
"Ziva!"
"He asked and I was being honest, yes?"
"Heh. She's got you there, Kate."
Tony sits on his leather couch..."I thought you were coming over later, Kate?"
Kate nods..."Well, Gibbs started talking about the first time you met."
"Heh. Why?"
"I dunno, boredom, I guess."
"NCIS missing the big D, huh?"...he chuckled.
"Now I know why they call him the big D."
Kate sighs..."Is sex the only thing on your mind?"
"Yes, pretty much."
"Heh. She's the female version of me, Kate...with crazy ninja-skills, of course."
Ziva nods..."Oh, I brought you pizza!"
"Oooh...me hungry!"...Tony hops off the couch moves over and grabs the box.
"I brought Chinese from Wong-Duck's."
"You're killing me, ladies...two of my favorite foods and you're gonna make me choose!?"
Ziva moves to the couch and sits...Kate sets the bag of Chinese on top of the pizza box Tony is holding.
"How about you eat both as you tell us how you and Gibbs met?" Kate suggested.
"Heh. Sure, let me go grab some plates for us."
"And some wine."
"I can't drink wine, Ziva."
"No, but I can."...she chuckled.
"Remind me again why I invited you?"
Ziva thinks for a second..."I don't remember."
Kate shrugs..."Me either."
Tony returns with a handful of stuff..."1 plate for you, 1 plate for you, 1 plate for me...1 fork for you, 1 fork for you, 1 fork for me...1 glass of wine for you, 1 glass of wine for me, another glass of wine for me and a bottle of diet coke for you, Kate."
Kate sighs..."Begin the damn story already!"
"Patience, mommy in training!"
Tony opens the Chinese food bag..."What, no fortune cookies!? Those bastards!"
"Kate ate them on the way over, Tony."
Kate sighs.
------------------
"Eww, that's gross, Tony."
Tony takes a huge bite of pizza.
"Chinese on top of a pizza?"
"It's all ends up in the same location no matter how you eat it, Zee-vah!"
"Can I have a bite of that, Tony?"...Kate licked her lips.
"Yeah, I guess."...Kate quickly grabs it and gnaws off a huge piece.
She chews..."Oh, so good."...She takes another bite.
Tony takes his pizza back...Kate looks up at him, sauce all over her lips and chin.
Tony smiles...then extends his fingers and wipes off her chin...Kate quickly moves her mouth to his fingers sucking on them.
Ziva laughs..."I did that, too. You remember, yes?"
"Heh. Yeah."
"What?"...Kate looks at Ziva..."When?"
"You were going to start the story, yes?"
"Oh yeah."...Kate gives Ziva an evil look...then looks at Tony
"Yes, you can have the rest of my pizza, Kate."...He hands it to her and she quickly devours it.
"Remind me not to get pregnant."
Tony stands and moves to a shelf in the corner of the room...He opens the drawer and takes something out..."Here."...He walks over and hands it to Ziva.
"Oh my God, when was this photo taken? Gibbs has brownish hair."
"Heh. I guess working with me turned his hair gray...or as Abby would say, silver. It was taken about 5 years ago...when I was a homicide detective in Baltimore."
Ziva shows the picture to Kate...It's a picture of Tony and Gibbs standing by each other, Tony in black jeans, a black button-up shirt and a black leather jacket, his badge around his neck on a large chain. Gibbs is in NCIS gear.
"Why all the black?"
"I was on stakeout with my partner, Maria Santiago."
"Did you sleep with her?"
"Ziva!"
"Heh."...Tony walks over to his black recliner and sits down.
"You did, didn't you?"...Ziva laughed.
"No comment."
Kate and Ziva look at each other..."He did."...both together.
"Anyway, what did you guys do today?"
"No, I want to hear about how you two met."
"Yeah and nothing happened, just a dead sailor, he was in a gang...the gang killed him."
Tony cracks his knuckles..."It's like they say, once you're in, you're in for life...you try to leave, they kill ya."...Tony pauses..."You catch the guy?"
"Not yet...we're tracking him down, though."
Tony sighs.
Kate rises and sits on his lap..."It's only a month, Tony."
"Yeah, I know."
"If it makes you feel any better, even Gibbs is missing you."
"Heh...really?"
"Yeah, the first thing he said when we got to the restaurant was...'DiNozzo, statements!'...then he paused and made me do it."
"Awww, poor, Katie."...he consoles her by patting her on the back.
"If you're gonna do anything, rub it...don't pat it."
He starts rubbing her back..."Oh, that feels SOOOOO good!"
Ziva looks at them..."Should I leave?"
Tony laughs..."Only if you want to miss the story of how I became Gibbs' greatest senior field agent EVER!"
----------------
"A long time ago, in a land far, far away...'
Kate rolls her eyes..."It's 40 miles."
"Heh."
"Come on Tony, tell the story."
"Ok, ok..."
--------------
A man and a woman walk out of a restaurant on a cool September morning..."Unlock the car, Roy."
The man fumbles with his keys..."I'm trying, Dear."...He finally gathers his keys in and presses the unlock button...the woman opens the door and looks down, she screams.
Her husband runs around to her side, a bare leg sticks out from under the car.
He grabs his wife and hugs her...then takes out his phone and dials 911.
45 minutes later...
A large four-door black sedan stops just behind the police line...the door opens. A man stands next to the car, his shoes, black with a black Nike swoosh, his black jeans hemmed perfectly, his leather jacket, looking a bit worn, he quickly takes it off and tosses it in the front seat of his car, his black button-up shirt is completely buttoned except the very top one.
He looks up, raising his hand, blocking the sun from his eyes, then pops on his shades.
"DiNozzo?"
Tony turns to his right...a beautiful Latino woman with long brunette hair stands on the other side of the car...she pulls her hair back and puts it in a ponytail.
"I'll talk to the witnesses."
Tony nods and walks toward a police officer, who nods at him...he lifts the tape as Tony walks under it.
"What we got Simmons?"
A man wearing a dark blue coat with coroner on the back stands from his kneeling position..."Possible rape, murder, dump."
"We know who she is yet?"
"Not yet."
Tony kneels and tilts his head and looks under the car..."Man, she's what 15 or 16?"
Simmons nods.
"She was a baby for Christ sake."
The Latino woman walks over to Tony..."They arrived at the restaurant at 8:30 and left at 9:15."
"Maria, get me the security cam footage from across the street."
Maria turns toward the bank..."Is it me or are criminals getting more and more stupid?"
Tony is silent.
"You ok, partner?"
"I...I just hate people who hurt kids."...he starts to walk away..."I want his balls in a jar on the desk."
------------
Tony sits at his desk looking at security footage...it shows a man tosses the young woman from the car...Maria stands behind him, "I can get the boys to clear that up, get the license plate number."
"No need...I know who it is."...Tony rises grabbing his jacket.
"Where you going?"
"I have a jar to fill."
---------------
"In Israel, we don't keep balls in jars, we just toss them in the garage can."
Tony and Kate both look at Ziva oddly.
"I got you, yes?"...she laughs.
Kate and Tony look at each other as Kate slowly moves her hand to Tony's crotch covering it.
"Continue!"...Ziva cheered.
-------------
Tony and Maria pull up to apartment complex and get out of the car.
"What a shithole."
"And you haven't even seen the inside yet, Detective Santiago."...Tony said with a Spanish flair.
"What's the deal on this guy?"
"He's a real mamabicho."
"I love when you talk Spanish to me."
"Heh. Stick another, you're about to hear more...the pendejo's name is Roberto Gomez, he likes to carve on women...locked him up 18 months ago for assault on a 13 year old."
"Ugh. Why the hell is he out of jail?"
"Who knows, our court system is beyond fucked."
Tony and Maria walk into the building and walk up to the woman at the front desk..."Blades?"...Tony holds up his badge.
"12th floor, Apartment 127. You can't miss the bastard, he's usually passed out on the floor in front of his door. By all means use deadly force."
Tony looks up at her..."I'm serious, I hope you kill the bastard."...Tony and Maria start walking away..
"By the way, the elevator is broke."
Tony sighs..."Of course. Come on, Maria...lets get our exercise for the day."
-------
"12th floor...you alright, Santiago?"...Tony grabs her arm.
She bends over..."I gotta stop eating with you, DiNozzo, your fried food is killing my ass."
Tony and Maria make there way to apartment 127...Tony knocks..."Roberto Gomez, Baltimore PD...we have a warrant for your arrest!"
"Que carajo quieres?"
Tony draws his weapon and kicks in the door..."Don't you fucking swear at me in Spanish you piece of shit!"
Roberto Gomez stands in the middle of his apartment...he looks at the window, then back at Tony.
"Don't even think about it...if you run, you're gonna be in a world of pain."
Gomez runs to the window and jumps onto to the fire escape.
"Fuck me, you better hope I never catch you!"...Tony quickly follows him out the window.
"I'm going down, Tony!"...Maria rushes back down the stairs.
Tony looks up..."Where the hell are you going, Gomez?"
Tony follows him up the fire escapes to the roof.
Tony makes it to the roof, Gomez stands 20 feet away...looking at the building across the way.
Tony laughs..."Go ahead. Do it. You don't have the cajones."
Gomez backs up a few feet and runs at the edge and runs over the other roof...he grabs a hold of the edge and pulls himself up.
Gomez gets to his feet and turns around..."Mámame el bicho, macrón!"
Suddenly a leaping Tony nails him with a forearm to the face, knocking him head over heels.
Gomez sits up, his nose and mouth now bleeding..."Foquin loco!"
Tony walks over to Gomez and drops a pair of cuffs in front of him..."You got two options...cuff yourself or learn to fly in the next 10 seconds."...As Tony holds his gun at his head..."1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.."
Gomez cuffs himself.
----------
Gomez walks out of the building with Tony behind him.
Maria rushes over to Tony..."What the hell were you thinking with that bullshit!?"
Tony walks by without saying anything, he opens the backdoor of his car and tosses him in and slams the door.
"DiNozzo!"
Tony turns to her..."I caught the fuc..."...Out of nowhere, a man smashes into the roof of Tony's car, smashing it down, the windows shatter, Tony turns and falls as glass explodes outwards.
"Tony!"
Maria rushes over, dropping to her knees...she lifts Tony's head..."Don't move, you have glass in you."
Tony rolls over to his back..."What the hell just happened?"
Maria helps Tony up, he moves his hand to his neck, pulling a piece of glass out...he tosses it on the ground and turns to his car...a man lies on top of it.
"Shit, he's still alive."...Tony moves over to him...he's bleeding heavily..."You're gonna be ok, man...hang in there."
"C...co...coc...caine...R...Ra..."...his head falls to the side.
Maria makes her way over..."Ambulance is on its way."
"It's too late, he's gone."...Tony pauses..."Gomez."...Tony kneels...a piece of metal caused by the fall is stuck into the top of his head.
Tony turns and falls against the side of the car...blood covers the right side of his jacket ...Tony puts his hand up to his neck again, he looks down at his jacket..."Aww, shit."
-----------------
Tony sits in the back of an ambulance..."Sir, you really need stitches."
"Then do it."
"We can't here."
"Then bandage me up, I have a crime scene to go over."
"Jim is here, Tony."...Maria stands next to Tony.
A medic starts to tape his neck up..."How many stitches?"
"5-6, tops."
The medic puts the last piece of tape on..."Good to go, Sir."
Tony rises and they walk back towards the car...they duck under the police tape.
"Jim, my favorite CSI."
"Hey, Tony...which one you wanna hear about first?"
"One on top...I already know who the one inside is."
"No ID."
"Figures."
"Possible suicide."
"No way, it was a murder."
"We took samples of his fingerprints and blood, we'll run them against AFIS and CODIS."
"Anything else?'
"We found small traces of a white substance on his right index finger and inside his right ear."
"It's gotta be cocaine...he mentioned cocaine to me before he died."
"I'll let you know more when we get him back and do a few tests...about the guy in the car."
Tony interrupts him..."Good riddance, he was a pathetic excuse for a human being...the world's a better place with him in hell."...Tony pauses...then shakes his hand..."Thanks, Jim."
Blood starts to trickle out of the taped-up area on Tony's neck...Maria lightly grabs Tony's hand..."Come on, I'm taking you the hospital."
-------------
"Yep, you slept with her."
"I did?"
"I agree with Ziva. You definitely slept with her."
"Maybe. Maybe not. Wouldn't you like to know? Heh."
---------------------
"Wait a minute! I have to go pee."...Kate gets off Tony's lap and runs to the bathroom.
"So, didja sleep with her?"
"No, I never slept with her."
"Really? Why not?"
Tony shrugs..."Never found a reason to."
Ziva looks baffled.
"That apparently shocks you?"
"Very much so."
Kate walks back into the room and sits next to Ziva..."Go ahead."
-------------
The next day...
Tony sits at his desk...Maria walks in, she stops right behind him and whispers..."Tony, when I got home, I realized I was missing my panties."
"Look in your top drawer."
Maria moves to her desk and opens her drawer..."Oh thank the lord."
---------
"You lied to me Tony!"
"I did not."
"Yes, you did."
"No, I didn't."
"You told me you never slept with her."
"Which is true, I never slept with her ever."
"What!?"
"Sure, I had sex with her...but I never slept with her.'
"Oh...you suck! You so suck...you really suck!"
"Heh. Where was I? Oh yes, her panties."
------------------
Maria sits at her desk..."They're my lucky panties."
"Yes, I know...every time you wear them, you get lucky."
She laughs..."Lucky for you, too, it seems."
"Heh."
"DiNozzo!"
Tony turns around..."You got a visitor."
"I'm busy, Lieutenant."...Tony's pen falls off his desk and rolls under it.
Tony pushes his chair back and leans down under his desk and grabs it.
A man walks up behind Tony..."You Detective DiNozzo?"
Tony lifts his head, banging the back of his head on the underside of the desk..."Eeeeeeek, damn it!"
Tony turns around rubbing the back of his head..."Who in the hell are you?"
"Special Agent Gibbs, NCIS."...he shows his badge..."I believe you have one of mine."
--------------
Ziva laughs..."Do you always get sexually involved with your partners?"
"It certainly looks like it, Ziva."
Tony sighs..."I'll let you two on a secret, I'm not very good with women."
"Oh, please...give me a break, Tony."
"That's not what I'm talking about Kate."...Tony lowers his head.
"Umm, the mood in the room totally changed, yes? Oh is it just me?"
"Talk to me, Tony."...Kate moves over to Tony and sits back on his lap.
Ziva scoots up on the couch..."I'm here for you, too."
"I'm telling you right now, Kate...commitment is my kryptonite."
Kate moves her hand to his face, caressing his stubbled cheek..."Are you trying to tell me you're Superman?"...He looks up at her and she smiles.
"He certainly has the penis for it."
"Ziva!"
Tony lets out a chuckle..."I'm more like Bizarro."
"I'd like either version."...Ziva whispered to herself.
"What was that, Ziva?"
"Nothing."
"Please continue, Tony."...Ziva stands, placing her right foot to the left of her left foot and bending down. She holds this stretch for a few seconds as Tony leered at her.
"You cramping up or something?"
She stands and places her left foot to the right of her right foot and bends down..."Not at all...I'm just keeping loose, I'm gonna go running later."
"This late?"
"Yup, I do it all the time."
Kate looks at Ziva..."I wish I had your energy, Ziva."
"No, you don't."
"Where was I?"
"Gibbs comes up behind you...you hit your head."...Ziva stands up, she moves her head around in a circle cracking her neck.
"Ironic, don't you think?"
"Heh. I guess it is."
Tony starts again with the story but just then there's a knock at the door...Tony rises and walks over and opens it.
"Boss?"
Gibbs walks inside..."Oh, I didn't know you had company."
Ziva looks at her watch..."I really need to be going anyway."
"Wait, Ziva...I'll give you a lift home."...Kate said as she got up from Tony's lap.
"No worries, it's only 3.12 miles...I'll just run."
Ziva moves to the door, opens it, steps out, then closes it.
Tony moved to the door..."She left rather quickly, didn't see?"
"Kate, I need to talk to Tony about something privately."
"Not a problem, Gibbs...I should be heading home myself."
"I though you were staying?"
"Nope, too tired...maybe tomorrow."...she moves over to Tony and kisses him, she then leaves via the front door.
Kate walks to her car, gets in and drives off...Ziva comes out from behind the bushes and moves to the side of Tony's place...she moves to the window and watches Gibbs and Tony talking. Gibbs reaches into his left-side jacket pocket and pulls out a manila envelope and hands it to Tony.
Gibbs then leaves.
Ziva remains, staring at Tony.
--------------------
25 days to go...
Ziva stood outside Tony's window, almost exactly 4 days to the minute when she saw Gibbs give Tony a manila envelope.
Her hand pressed against the window, not knowing what or where Tony was, the only sign of life was a call to Abby, not Kate, not Gibbs, Abby. And Abby wouldn't talk about it. She takes out her phone..."Shalom."...everything fades to black.
-------
Kate lies on her side, her knees to her stomach, clutching them with her arms. Her cell phone, just inches away from her head on a pillow.
4 days earlier...
Kate steps into her place when her cell phone rings...she looks at her phone...and sees that it's from Tony...she answers it..."Hey, baby."
Tony's muffled voice comes through the phone..."What do you mean I won't see you for awhile? Where are you going?"
Kate listens as Tony is short and to the point..."Wait, Tony?"
click
------------
24 days to go...
The next day...
Ziva sits at her desk, a coffee cup sits in front of her, she runs her hands through her hair, then smacks the coffee cup, the coffee explodes from it's container as it hits the cubicle wall.
Coffee covers Ziva as she quickly rises and walks through the bullpen towards the elevator.
"Gibbs, may I have a word with you?"
"Speak Ziva."
"In your office please."
She runs her hand through her hair again as coffee drops from her long dark hair.
Gibbs walks over and enters the elevator. The doors close.
Minutes later, the doors open again and Ziva walks out, coffee still drips from her hair. The look on her face could kill. She moves up the stairs and into the Director's office.
Gibbs follows her out and heads back to his desk..."What was that about, Gibbs?"
"Private matter, Kate."
"Do you know where Tony is Gibbs?"
Gibbs looks at Kate...then back at the paperwork on his desk..."Why?"
"Because I haven't heard from him in 4 days."
"I know."
"What do you mean, you know?"
"Simply that, Kate...I know."
Kate stands..."If he's in danger, I should know...think of our baby, Gibbs."
Gibbs looks at Kate..."He's fine, Kate. Leave it at that."
Ziva comes walking down the stairs...she walks through the bullpen to her desk.
"Jethro, a word with you, please."...Jen stood on the balcony, her hands on the rail.
Gibbs looked at Ziva...who sat there staring at him.
"Now, Jethro."
----------------
Gibbs steps into the Director's office.
"Close the door, Jethro."
Gibbs closes the door.
"I know where Agent DiNozzo is Jethro."
"Ziva knew this?"
"No...I am the director of the NCIS, Jethro...remember?"
"Why am I here then?"
"Why is he there?"
"Why do you care?"
"Has one of your teammates gone rogue on us, Jethro."
Gibbs chuckles..."DiNozzo, traitor? Ha!"
"Then why is he THERE!?"
"Because I sent him THERE."...Gibbs pauses..."He also needed to be away."
"Why's that?"
"Oh, I dunno...some power crazy woman suspended his ass."
"That's enough, Jethro!"
"Is it...you suspended him for doing his job."
"He made an unofficial comment that could've backfired on me, you, NCIS entirely."
Gibbs moves to the door..."Did it, Jen? Did it? Or did he do his job? When you have the balls to actually answer that question, then I'll tell you why he's there."
Gibbs opens the door and exits, slamming it as he goes.
Gibbs heads down the stairs and walks through the bullpen, he stops in front of his desk, then continues on to Ziva...he puts his hand on the back of her head..."If you have a problem with me, you come to me, do you get me, Officer David!?"...he quickly slaps the back of her head.
Gibbs walks to the middle of the bullpen..."I'm gonna say this once and only once...if you have a problem with me, come to me...if you got a problem with that, then get the fuck out!"
Ziva stands..."I didn't tell her anything...I'm just worried about Tony!"
"Don't!"
Gibbs moves to his desk and sits..."Gibbs?"...Kate said softly.
"What is it, Kate?"
"Is he...ok?"
------------------
Ziva sits at her desk...watching Gibbs and Kate talk.
Gibbs puts his hand on Kate's shoulder..."Kate...don't worry, he's fine."
McGee rises from his chair and moves to Ziva's desk..."Here are those papers you needed."
"Move, Tim!"...She pushes him out the way.
"What?"...as Ziva focuses back on Gibbs and Kate.
"You like Tony, don't you?"
"Huh? What!?"...She looks up at McGee...she laughs..."Not at all."
"I thought you Mossad officers were suppose to be good at lying."...McGee returned to his desk.
Ziva rises and moves to McGee desk..."Why would I like Tony!? He knocked up Kate."
"Isn't that a little harsh?"
"The truth usually is, yes?"
"It's ok to like Tony, ya know."
"What? I already told you I don't like Tony."
"Do you like me?"
"Yes."
"Want to go out on a date with me?"
"God no."
"Gibbs?"
"No, he's too old."
"Tony?"
Ziva quietly moves back towards her desk..."No."...as if she had to force it out.
"You like him, Ziva."
"You like who, Ziva? He got a name?" Kate wondered.
Ziva laughs...she moves back in front of McGee desk..."Nope, haven't found Mr. Right yet."
McGee starts to say something...Ziva quickly turns around..."Do you want me to shoot you? Then keep talking."
McGee makes a zipper gesture on his lips...Ziva nods, then moves quickly to her desk, she sits and lies her head on her coffee stained work area, gripping at her hair.
Gibbs phone rings..."I'll be right there, Abby."
Gibbs stands and walks past Ziva..."I'm not that old, Officer David."
Ziva raises her head then drives her forehead into the desktop three times, each time a little harder.
---------------
Gibbs walks into Abby's lab carrying a caf-pow.
He holds it out to Abby, but she doesn't take it.
"What's wrong, Abs?"
"I got a blood sample and glass from Tony today in the mail."
"Yeah, so? Run them."
"Can I do that?"
"Yes, of course...give me the paperwork, I'll sign for it."
"Tony didn't sound to good the last time I talked to him, Gibbs."
"When was that?"
"Yesterday, he said something about trying to find someone...what is going on?"
Gibbs sits the caf-pow next to Abby's keyboard..."DiNozzo is a big boy, he can take care of himself."...Gibbs turns and starts to leave.
"Gibbs..."
Gibbs stops..."Yeah, Abs?"
"The Director told me if I helped Tony...she'd fire me."
Gibbs turns around..."Abby.."
Abby moves to Gibbs and hugs him..."They're next on my list, Gibbs."
Gibbs presses his lips against the top of Abby's head.
--------
Later that night...
A person sits in a darkened room, they flip open their cell. Tony's name appears after they click a button...it goes straight to voicemail. It's flipped closed.
The phone rings..."DiNozzo, Anthony DiNozzo, I'm not here, I'm out fighting crime...you know what to do. peeeeeep."
"I guess you're still not home, huh? Well...I just called because I want to hear your voice...anyway, I love you, Tony."...Kate hangs up.
The sound of glass breaking is heard, then the slamming of a door.
--------
23 days to go...
McGee stepped off the elevator and walked into the squad room, he walks into the bullpen and sets his coffee on his desk then sits down.
"Harah"
"Hello?"
"Red li me'avrid."
"Ziva?"
No answer.
McGee stands and walks over to Ziva's desk..."You ok?"
Coffee still covers most of her work area..."You really need to clean this up."
"Zdayen li me ha-einaym!"
"I don't understand Hebrew, Ziva."
"Leave me alone."
"Sorry, just trying to help."
McGee makes his way back to his desk.
"How much did you drink last night, Ziva?"
Ziva is silent.
"I think you would feel better about yourself if you just admitted that you liked Tony."
Ziva raises her head and pounds her head into her desk again.
"What the hell are you doing, Ziva."
"It's an old Israeli trick...for hangovers."
"Ziva.." McGee sighs.
Ziva stands and wobbles her way over to McGee..."Gibbs better not catch you like that, Ziva."
Ziva braces herself against the front of McGee desk..."Let's say what you say is true."
"About Tony?"
"Yeah."...Her head moves forward
"Are you gonna be sick!?"
She laughs..."I never get sick."...She stands straight up and pauses, she quickly runs to the bathroom holding her hand over her mouth.
Gibbs steps off elevator..."You the only one here, McGee?"
"No, Ziva's here...but she's in the bathroom throwing up."
"Oh god, she's not pregnant too, is she?"
"Knowing Tony...probably."
---------------------
Ziva stands at the sink wearing a black bra. Her shirt lays on the counter, she lightly scrubs on it with a piece of paper towel.
She looks up, seeing her reflection in the mirror for the first time..."What in the hell are you doing?"
She sighs..."Is it that hard to say I like someone?"...she turns the faucet back on, she cups some water in her hand taking it into her mouth...she moves it around, then spits it out.
She splashes some water on her face...she moves her entire head under the faucet wetting her hair, she gathers it in a ponytail and starts wringing it out.
She stands back up and runs her fingers through her hair...she stops as she sees herself again in the mirror..."You like him, Ziva. You really like him. Hell, you might love him. Say it, damn it! It's only 4 letters!"
A toilet flushes and Ziva sees Kate step out a restroom stall..."Who do you like, Ziva? Maybe I can help?"...as she starts to wash her hands.
"Tony! I want him."...She screamed in her mind.
"Anyone will do, I haven't gotten laid since I've been in America."
"I really can't help with you that."
"Can I borrow Tony when he gets back?"...There's a long pause...then Ziva laughs..."I'm kidding."
Kate lets out a chuckle..."For a minute there, I thought you were serious."...She dries her hands and leaves the restroom.
Ziva grabs her shirt and puts it back on...she looks at herself in the mirror one last time..."No, killing her in not an option."
--------------
Ziva sighs and opened the restroom door and walks back to her desk..."God, I need to get laid."...As she sits down.
Gibbs, McGee and Kate all look at her..."Harah, I said that out loud didn't I?"
"Don't worry, Ziva...none of us are getting laid."...Kate looks at Gibbs..."Especially with these 14 hours days we've been working!"
"Hey, I do ok for myself."
The place goes silent...a few moments pass..."What?"
"Oh sorry, McGee...I was waiting for Tony to laugh."
"Wow, even Kate is making fun of me now."
"Tony's jackassness is rubbing off on you, Kate?"
"I guess so, Gibbs."
"Well, stop before you start naming random movies for no freakin' reason."
Kate nods.
"Speaking of sex...why do you care, Kate...unless you're cheating on Tony?"...Ziva questioned.
"What?"...They all look at Kate..."Never!"
"Then why give Gibbs the evil eye when Tony isn't even here to do you."
"I dunno, I'm pregnant, my hormones are all out of whack...I'm horny!"
"So am I!"
"Stop! We definitely don't need to hear about Tony doing anyone."...Gibbs shudders.
"Whoa, I've never seen you flinch at anything, Boss."
"Every man has his limitations, McGee...even a marines."
-----------
Ziva picks up her notebook and moves over to Tony's desk and sits in his chair.
"Umm, what are you doing, Ziva?"
"Janitorial still needs to clean my desk area."
Ziva brings her knees to her chest and grabs the desk and starts spinning herself in Tony's chair.
"Having fun, Ziva?"
"I'm just bored, Gibbs."
"You know what we do when we get down time."
Ziva sighs..."I know, paperwork."...Ziva pauses..."Hey, Gibbs...Tony never finished the story about how Tony and you met for the first time."
Kate looks at Gibbs..."Yeah, he didn't...I really want to know more about Maria, she seems like a really good cop."
"She's dead."
"Damn. Really?"
"I take it he didn't get that far?"
"Nope, he left off right as he met you, Gibbs."
"Well, I don't think it's right of me to talk about her, since I didn't know her very well."
"Come on, Gibbs."
"Yeah, I want to know, too, Boss...who was your senior field agent at the time?"
"None, just me and probies, none of which worked out...as you probably know, I'm not the easiest guy to work under...you guys are actually pretty lucky, Tony took a lot punishment, I was a real bastard before you joined up, Kate."
"You're saying Tony calmed you, Boss?"
"Yeah, I guess I am."
"Come on, why did you hire him, Gibbs!?"
"I hired him because he needed a job, Ziva."
"What does that mean?"
"It means his career was over being a Baltimore police detective."
"Uh oh, what happened?"
"Well..."
------------
"We went down to autopsy, I wanted the body, Tony said no. I said yes, he again said no. He finally agreed to hand him over if he could be involved in the investigation, something happened, something else happened, someone died, Tony did something stupid, he did something stupider."
"Wait, Gibbs...you suck at this...we didn't ask for the cliff notes version."
"I do? I wonder why, Kate?"
Ziva stood from Tony's chair and moved to the front of his desk and leaned against it..."Then what happened?"
"Well...you got your asses back to work, that's what happened."
"I agree with Kate, you do suck."
"Come on, Gibbs...we could do paperwork anytime."
"Am I not speaking English? No. N freakin' O."
"Hey, I bet Ducky knows the story."...Ziva blurted out..."Ooh, maybe Abby, too!"
"Ziva, sits your ass down, you're not talking to anyone."
"Gibbs, you're being a HUGE buzzsaw."
"Buzzkill, Ziva."
"Yes, yes. Thank you, Tim."
"McGee tell Ziva what the second B in Gibbs stands for again."
"Bastard."
Ziva shrugs..."What's the other b stands for?"
"Boot."
"Boot?"
"As in, if you don't get back to work right now you're all going to be richer one boot in the ass. Is that clear!?"
"Crystal!"
-----------------
Gibbs phone rings...he answers it...
McGee stands..."Boss, we got a case?"
"Sit. I'm wanted in MTAC."
McGee sits as Gibbs jogs up the stairs. He positions his head near the retinal scanner, it scans his eye and the door pops open.
"What we got Sandra?" Gibbs said to the woman wearing headphones off to the side.
"Secure transmission from Special Agent DiNozzo from NCIS San Diego, Special Agent Gibbs."
"Patch him through."...As Gibbs puts his headset on.
A battered and bruised DiNozzo pops up on screen..."You look like shit, DiNozzo."
"Love you, too, Boss."
---------------
Gibbs walks out of MTAC..."McGee, I need you to do something for To..."He looks down at an empty bullpen. "Damn you, DiNozzo."
---------------
"I'm not really sure I can tell you much about the first time Jethro and Anthony met."...Ducky stood next to a dead body, his chest opened..."Aww, I do remember Tony referring to me as a dingbat." He chuckled.
"A dingbat, Doctor?"
"Yes, indeed, Mr. Palmer...I think it had to do with me talking to bodies."
"That is a little ding-batty, Ducky."
"I suppose so, Caitlin, especially seeing it for the first time."
"You know, he saved Gibbs life that day...he also made quite the impression on a certain forensic specialist."
"Please tell me Tony didn't have sex with Abby."
Ducky laughs..."No, no, no, not at all, Caitlin. Well, I don't think so anyway. Hmm, now that I think about it, it's quite possible."...Ducky pauses..."My, DiNozzo sure did get around."...He smirks..."Aww, I see the lad had quite the..."
Ziva interrupts him..."Large penis?"
They all look at Ziva..."What!?"...as she looks around the room at all of them.
Ducky shakes his head..."I was going to say stamina."
"Yes, that's good, too!"
The elevator beeps and Gibbs walks off...he moves up behind Ziva and McGee grabbing them by the ears.
"Ow!" McGee and Ziva yelled out in pain.
Kate turns around...watching Ziva and McGee struggle..."You should be glad I don't have another hand, Agent Todd!"
"Gibbs, we just wanted."
"Zip it, upstairs now!"
Gibbs turns around and escorts Ziva and McGee into the elevator.
"Thank you, Ducky."
Ducky grabs her hands and pats them softly..."Good luck, my dear."
"Move your ass, Kate!"...Kate quickly moves to the elevator, Gibbs still holds McGee and Ziva by the ears as the elevator doors close.
The elevator doors open and they all come out rubbing the back of their heads.
"Wow, that's the first time I've ever been Gibbs-slapped."...Kate continues to rub the back of her head..."That hurt, Gibbs! No wonder Tony forgets things, he probably has amnesia from all the concussions!"
-------------
2 weeks later...
9 days to go...
10:14 P.M.
Tony steps out of Dulles International Airport holding a duffel bag, he whistles..."Taxi!"
A taxi stops and he gets inside...after telling the driver where he lived, he dozes off.
"Hey, buddy! We're here...that'll be 37.50."
Tony wakes..."Wha?"
"37.50."
Tony steps out of the cab and hands the man two twenty-dollar bills..."Keep it."
Tony makes his way up the path to his front door...he fumbles with his keys finally unlocking his door.
Tony yawns as he flips the lightswitch...clothes lay all over the place, empty food containers litter his front room.
Tony looks to his right and sees his plasma TV..."Wasn't robbed."...He rubs the top of his head..."I'm gone for 2 weeks and Kate's moved in!?"
Tony drops his duffel bag and reaches down to pick up some of the trash, but he stops..."The hell with it, I'm too tired."
Tony moves to his bedroom...it's been slept in..."Kate! Are you here?"
Silence.
"Guess not."
Tony holds his hands out..."I've missed you bed, come to daddy!"...Tony falls face first onto it, then bounces off to the side landing on the floor. Tony pushes up with his arms..."You trying to tell me something? Look, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cheat on you, if you makes you feel any better, I didn't get a single good night's sleep when I was gone."
Tony turns the light off and the sound of clothes hitting the floor and him sliding into bed is heard..."Oh so smooth, gotta love the silk sheets...or are they satin? I can never remember. Me so tired."
A woman walks into the room and slides into the bed from the foot of the bed.
Tony half awake..."Heh. I must be dreaming, because Kate's never done that."
A head pops out of the top of sheets kissing Tony..."I didn't think you were here."...His hand moves up along her back, but they're grabbed and push above his head, she holds them by the wrist as she kisses him.
"Yeah, I'm definitely dreaming."
The next day...
8 days to go...
The light shining through the window wakes Tony...he holds his hand up blocking the sunlight...he sits up and rubs his eyes with the palms of his hands.
He rises and makes his way to the bathroom...he turns the faucet on and splashes water in his face...he looks at his reflection then shakes his head...there are bruises on his neck and chest...Tony focuses and rubs the mirror, then touches the bruises..."What the hell?"
Tony walks into his living room...it's spotless...none of the clothes or trash remain.
"Ok, I'm going insane."
-------------
The elevator dings, a smiling Ziva walks out into the squad room..."How are you doing this lovely day, Tim?"
McGee does a double take...not believing what he saw...he stands and walks over to her..."Wait, are you happy?"
"Very."
---------------
Ziva walks towards the squad room, coming from the break room, a cup of coffee in hand.
The elevator dings...Kate walks out..."Good morning, all."...Ziva quickly turns around and starts walking back towards the break room.
"Where you going, Ziva?"...Kate wondered.
"Need a refill, didn't sleep much last night."...She nervously chuckled.
"Wait, I'll go with you."...She puts her coat and bag down on her desk and walked towards Ziva. Ziva takes a drink of her coffee.
"Didn't sleep, huh? Did ya get lucky?"...She laughed.
Ziva coughs, a small amount of coffee escaped from her lips...her hand moved to her face too late.
Kate pats her on the back..."Are you ok?"
Ziva continues to cough..."At this exact moment? Yes."
-----------
Tony moved to his answering machine, he clicks the button..."You have 97 new messages."
Tony shakes his head..."Good lord, Kate."
Tony clicked the button once again to start playing them...beep..."Tony, it's Kate...where are you? Call me!"
Beep..."Tony, it's Kate again...I can't believe you're doing this to me. I hate you."
Beep..."Tony, I'm sorry, I don't hate you, I love you! Call me!"
Beep..."Tony, I take it back...I do hate you! Call me, you ass!"
Beep..."Tony, I bought some new lingerie...wouldn't you like to come over and see me in it?"
Beep..."I hate you!"
Beep..."I love you!"
Beep..."How could you leave and not tell me where you're going. You could be lying in some gutter somewhere or worse. If you die on me, I swear to god, I will come to where you're buried, dig you up and shoot you and furthermore.."..Beep.
Beep..."Hey, I wasn't done...how dare you cut me off, machine! I will shoot you, too! God, I'm horny!"...She sighs then hangs up.
5 minutes later...
Beep..."I'm marrying Gibbs and adopting McGee. Call me, damn it!"
Tony pokes his head out from the kitchen..."What the hell?"
Beep..."I guess you're still not home, huh? Well...I just called because I wanted to hear your voice...anyway, I love you, Tony."
Tony leans his head against the wall..."Aww, Kate."...Tony moves to the bedroom and picks up his cell from the dresser..."Naw, I think I'll surprise her in person."
------------------
Tony stood in the lobby of the NCIS building, waiting for the elevator to arrive.
The elevator doors opened and Ducky steps out..."Anthony, so good to see you!"
"Hey, Duck...what's up, you going out on a case?"
"No, gonna go grab a bite to eat...care to join me?"
"I'd loved to, but I can't."
Ducky pats Tony's left arm..."Understand completely, my boy."
Ducky starts to walk away..."Hey, Duck...can I ask you a medical question? I think it's a medical question."
Ducky stops..."Of course, what seems to be the problem, Anthony?"
"Umm, is it possible to."...Tony pulls down the turtleneck showing a bruise on his neck.
"My, my, my...I remember those days...Kate welcomed you back already, huh?"...he smiled.
"Uh, I guess.."
"Don't worry, it'll be gone in a few days."
Ducky turns and walks out the door.
"Yeah, but I'm not sure how I got them...Ducky."...Tony stood there for a few seconds, then slid through the doors as they started to close.
The elevator dinged and doors opened and Tony took a step out into the squad room..."Who missed me?"
"Tony!"...Kate yelled from the top of the stairs...McGee stood next to her...she quickly moved down the stairs.
"Kate, be careful!"...She ran into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck kissing him...she pulls away and slaps him extremely hard across the face...she then kisses him again.
Tony rubs his face..."Nice to see you, too."
"I should slap you again!"...she kisses him again...she pushes him back into the elevator..."I need it, Tony."
"Need what?"
Tony's zipper is quickly unzipped.
"Heh."...the elevator door opens and Kate is pulled back as Gibbs steps onto the elevator.
"Gibbs!" ...as the doors close, Gibbs quickly flips the emergency stop switch.
"Hey, Boss."
Gibbs takes a drink of his coffee..."Well?"
"Safe and sound, Boss."
"Good."...he takes another drink..."DiNozzo?"
"Yeah, Gibbs?"
"Your barn door is open."
Tony zips up his pants..."Uh, thanks, Boss."
Gibbs nods...he flips the switch and turns around.
"Oh, DiNozzo...finish the rest of the story on how we met before I have to kill them."
"Heh. That bad, Boss?"
Gibbs turns around..."That. Bad. DiNozzo."...he pauses..."One last thing."
"What's that, Boss?"
The door opens and Gibbs turns his body as Kate leaps back on Tony kissing him..."Good luck."...Gibbs walks off the elevator.
--------------------
Ziva stands off to the side of the staircase, her arms folded across her chest...she stared at what Kate had and hungered for it.
Ziva closes her eyes.
Ziva walked forward, moving behind Kate. She put her left hand on Kate's shoulder. Kate turned around and smiled. Ziva raised her right hand, she held her Sig tightly, she fired, shooting Kate between the eyes.
(Ziva)
"I'm sorry, Kate."
(Ziva, can you hear me?)
Ziva opened her eyes; McGee appeared in front of her.
"Are you ok?"
Ziva rubbed her eyes..."Yeah, I'm fine."
"Tony's back."
Ziva turns..."I know."...She walks down the hallway.
-------------
The next day...
7 days to go...
5:16 A.M.
Ziva runs on a trail along the Potomac River, she picks up speed, running as fast as she can until she can't run anymore.
She bends over, her hand on a railing; she's breathing rapidly, tears in her eyes. She unzips her neon green windbreaker revealing Tony's Ohio State T-shirt. She grabs it by the front of the collar and brings it up to her nose; she closes her eyes and breathes in deeply.
She runs her fingers through her hair, removing the hair clip, her hair falls in front of her face, she leans her back against the railing and leans her head back, she pushes her hair behind her ears and out of her face.
"You're a Mossad assassin. What is wrong with you!?"
She runs her fingers through her hair again...she brings her hand in front of her face and looks at the wetness on her hand, droplets of tears add to it.
She sighs...she flashbacks to making love to Tony...all her aggression and frustrations leaving her...for the first time in ages, she was happy...a smile comes to her face followed by tears of joy.
It's begins to rain...Ziva looks up as rain falls on her face.
Ziva wiped her face off with the sleeve of her jacket...she zips her jacket up and starts running again.
"What am I going to do?"
--------------
Later that afternoon...
Ziva stepped off the elevator.
"You're late, David!"
Ziva walked through the bullpen and stopped in front of Gibbs' desk. She takes her badge off her belt and places it on Gibbs' desk.
Gibbs looks up at her..."Thank you for the opportunity, but it's best I go back to Israel now."
Ziva quickly moves to the elevator before Gibbs can get a word out.
"Did she just quit, Gibbs?"
Gibbs puts his hand over her badge and squeezes it.
-------------
Ziva steps out of the elevator and walks to her mini cooper and lays her head on the roof.
"Ziva?"
Ziva turns her head and sees Tony walking towards her...she raises her head and wipes away her tears with the sleeves of her sweater.
"Heh. I thought it was you. Did you have a doctor's appointment or something?"
"No."
"You've gotten a new haircut since I've been gone, haven't you?"...Tony slides the back of his fingers against her cheek brushing her hair behind her ear..."It looks great, but it can't be finding that beautiful face now, can it?"...Tony smiles at her.
Ziva turns away..."Something wrong?"...Tony drops his duffel bag on the ground.
Tony caresses her face with his left hand moving her face back towards him...he then puts his right hand on her face, caressing both of her cheeks...he wipes her tears away with his thumbs..."What is it Ziva?"
"Who wants a DiNozzo hug?"
Ziva snickers and hugs him and starts crying uncontrollable.
Tony wraps his arms around her and holds her tightly.
Tony moves his mouth close to her ear and whispers something in her ear. She leans her head back and once again Tony wipes away her tears..."Come on."
"I...I can't."
Tony looks at her..."Why not?"
"I just quit."
Tony picks her up and places her on his shoulder..."Not on my watch, sweet cheeks."
Tony picks up his duffel bag..."Sweet cheeks?"
"Heh. You have the best ass in NCIS, Zee-vah!"
Ziva laughs as Tony carries her.
-------------
The elevator doors open and Tony walks out still carrying Ziva.
Tony walks to Gibbs desk..."Look what I caught trying to escape, Boss."
"She quit DiNozzo."
"You quit Officer David?"
"Yes."
"What?"
"Yes."
"Where are you?"...As Tony turns around.
"Behind you."
Tony turns around again..."She's almost as quick as you, Boss."
Ziva laughs..."Put me down."
"Oh! Heh."...Tony puts her down..."Sorry about that."
Gibbs stands..."Officer David, the next time you hand me your badge, I'm keeping it, do you get me!?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Don't sir me...I work for a living!"
Tony stands in the middle of bullpen..."Guess who brought gifts for everyone!?"
"I hope its ice cream!"
"Heh. Sorry, I left that in my other refrigerated duffel bag, Kate!"
Kate frowns.
Tony kneels and unzips his bag...he grabs something out of his badge..."Here you go, Ziva."
"What is it?"
"Open it."
Ziva quickly opens it..."It's...it's a flashlight?"
"Yep, see how light it is? Now your pants won't fall down!"
"Oh! I get it!."...she laughs..."Toda!"
Tony nods.
"Here Kate"...Tony hands Kate a hardbound sketch book with Kate's name on cover.
"I love it, Tony."
"Probie, heads up."
McGee catches it..."Doom III? Awesome! Thanks, Tony!"
"Boss..." Tony grabs something from the bag and tosses it to Gibbs.
Gibbs catches it...he turns it around..."Just For Men hair color?"...Gibbs looks up as the elevator doors ding and Tony is nowhere in sight.
---------------
Tony walks into Abby's lab.
"Tony!"
"Abbycakes!"
She hugs him..."I've missed you so much, what are you doing here?"
"Heh. Being Santa."
Tony places his bag on Abby's table and unzips it..."I hope you like it, Abs."...Tony pulls a box out of his bag and places it on the table.
"For me?"
Tony nods.
Abby starts to open it..."It's too small for a human head."
"Sorry, Abs...it's not a head."
"Aww."...she opens the box and pulls out a single black rose.
"It reminded me of you, Abs...beautiful, serene, mysterious, but at the same time...just a tad creepy."...he chuckled.
She hugs him again..."Thank you, Tony!"
"Come on, I'm taking everyone to DiNardo's for lunch!"
"Pizza!"
"Heh. Eeeeeeeeek!"...Gibbs slaps Tony on the back of the head.
"Still the MASTER, Boss...didn't even hear the elevator."
Tony grabs a bottle out of his bag..."Your Wild Turkey, Boss."
"What was that about pizza?"
"Heh."
-------------
The entire team sat around a large round table.
"Who invited Palmer?"
Palmer looks at Tony and starts to get up.
"He's joking Mr. Palmer."
"Oh."
"Mario!" Tony yelled
"Antony!"
"The usual times 4!"
"Comin' right up!"
"Grazie!"
"Antony?"
Tony shrugs.
A waitress comes up to them..."Whatja drinkin'?"
"2 pitchers of beer."
"Tony, we're on duty!"
"I'm not, Probie...and believe me, the more I drink the better story will get."
"Diet coke for me." Kate answered.
"Do you have tea, my dear?"
She nods to Ducky..."Thank you, dear."
"Coke for me, please."...She nods at Jimmy.
"For you Miss?"
"Ice water with a twist of lemon."
They all look at Ziva..."What? I like lemon!"
"Heh. What you want Abby?"
"Caf-pow!"
"Heh. Of course."
"McGeek?"
"Coke."
"Boss?"
"An empty glass."...He places the bottle of Wild Turkey on the table..."I lived through this story the first time, I'm gonna need alcohol to get through it a second time."
Tony pats Gibbs on the back..."Heh. It wasn't that bad, was it, Boss?"
"No, I enjoy being shot at DiNozzo!"
--------------
The waitress places all their drinks in front of them.
"Start the damn story already, DiNozzo!"
"On it, Boss!"...Tony picks up one of the pitchers and gulps half of it.
--------------
Tony looked down at his messy desk..."Your man?"
Gibbs moves to the side of Tony's desk.
"You're gonna have to do your paperwork sooner or later, Tony."
"Don't remind me, Maria."...Tony sighs..."I hate paperwork."
Maria's phone rings, she answers it..."It's Jim, he has news for us about HIS supposive man."...Maria points at Gibbs.
Tony looks at Gibbs..."Maria, remind me to kick Jim's ass."
"Follow me, Special Agent Ribbs."
"It's Gibbs."
"Whatever."...Tony walks along the rows of desk through swinging doors and into an elevator.
"You guys got any coffee?"...Gibbs shakes his cup coffee..."Runnin' low."
"Yeah, I wouldn't drink it, though...unless you like puking."
"Thanks for the warning."
Tony nods.
Tony looks back as the elevator doors open..."Come on, morgue's just around the corner."...Gibbs is already out of the elevator walking down the corridor.
Tony quickly catches up to him..."How did you know which way to go?"
Gibbs points to the signs on the wall..."Reading, it's required to get into NCIS."
"Oh yeah? How about them NCIS jackets? Got an extra one?"
"I dunno, do you want to join NCIS?"
"I dunno, do I get a jacket?"
Gibbs chuckles..."Maybe."
They walk into the morgue.
"Jim...Simmons...what's up?"
"Who's this?
"Special Agent Gibbs, he's from NCIS...speaking of which, how is possible that he knows who he is, drives 40 miles, before you two lazy bastard can pick up a phone and let me know who the hell my victim is?"
Tony looks at Gibbs..."Who is he anyway?"
"He's Lieutenant Francisco Ojeda, he's a Navy SEAL."
------------
"Did you say Ojeda?"
"Yes, why?"
"He might be related to the Julio Ojeda, the leader of the Latin Kings. You're pretty good with him, aren't you Maria."
"No, Tony...not a fucking chance!"
"Come on, he's forgotten about that, Maria."
"If I nearly cut your balls off, would you forget me?"
"Long time ago, Maria...but no."
Gibbs shakes his coffee cup..."Old boyfriend?"
"I was in gang task force before homicide, I was undercover...he tried to poke into my affairs, so I cut the pendejo. When he was in jail, he picked up the nickname: cojone."
"Heh. Although, you did blow 5 months of undercover work at the same time."
"He has to hold a grudge against me."
"Ya think, Detective Santiago?"
"No worries, Maria...I say we go in there, kick 'em in the ass and stir up a hornet's nest, someone will snitch."
"Oh, Tony...that was a super cocaine on Ojeda's finger and ear."
"Super cocaine?"
"Well, it was 99 pure cocaine."
Tony turns to Gibbs..."Where was Lieutenant Ojeda stationed at?"
"San Diego."
"What the hell is he doing in my city?"
"I'd like my M.E. to examine the body, take him back to NCIS."...Gibbs turns to Simmons and Jim..."No offense, of course...I just trust my guy more."
"No."...Gibbs turns towards Tony..."He's staying right here. This is my case, not yours."
"I WILL go over your head. I WANT my soldier."
Tony gets in Gibbs' face..."Yeah and people in hell WANT ice water!"
"In my hell, I drink coffee, hot coffee!"
Tony hits Gibbs' coffee cup from the bottom popping it into the air.
"Rule #23, Never mess with a marine's coffee if you want to live."
"Rules? You know what you can do with your rules!?"
"What?"
"Shove them up your fucking ass, that's what!"
Maria steps in between them..."Enough!"
Tony turns and walks out.
Gibbs picks up his coffee cup.
"Sorry about my partner, Special Agent Gibbs."
Gibbs shakes his cup..."I like him, reminds me of myself."
-----------------
Gibbs slaps Tony on the back of the head.
"Eeeeek! Boss? For the things I did in the past?"
Tony sighs...
--------------
Maria and Gibbs walk back into the detective's room, there are papers all over the floor, the top of Tony's desk is completely bare. Tony sits in his chair, his feet up on his desk.
"What the hell happened, Tony?"
"Finally did my paperwork."
"By throwing it on the ground with the rest of your stuff?"
"Yup."
Tony stands, kicking his phone..."Gibbs, you can have the body, but I want in on the investigation, I want the collar."
Gibbs takes a drink of his coffee..."You were right, this is shitty coffee."...Gibbs pauses..."Got the call from your Captain, huh?"
Tony turns..."Maybe."
"Nice try, kid."...Gibbs turns and starts to leave..."So, where exactly are these Latin Kings, DiNozzo?"
Tony grabs his coat and walks towards Gibbs..."Lets roll."
-----------
They step into the parking garage..."Probie...I want you to..."...Gibbs is ignored...Gibbs moves to the younger man standing in the NCIS jacket and slaps him on the back of the head..."Are you listening, Probie!?"
He quickly turns around..."Go tell Ducky he can get the body now."
"On it, Boss!"
"Interesting means of motivation, Gibbs...does it work on everyone?"
"I've always gotten good results."
"Oh really? Hmm..."...Tony barely slaps the back of Maria's head, she immediately grabs him by the crotch.
"Aww, stop, stop, stop damn it!"
Gibbs chuckles..."Only seems to work on those under or scared of you, DiNozzo."
"Heh. She's under me sometimes."
She squeezes harder.
"Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Off the nuts, lady!"
"Are you going to behave?"
"Honestly? No."
She laughs..."At least you're honest."
They walk up to the NCIS truck..."This is Dr. Mallard, NCIS's resident medical examiner."
Tony shakes his hand..."Detective DiNozzo, nice to meet you."
"Likewise, my boy."
"Maria Santiago."
Ducky takes her hand and kisses it.
"Such a gentlemen."
"Your M.E. is making me look bad."
"No my problem, DiNozzo."...Gibbs pauses..."Where the hell is that Probie!?"
"Do you mean, Thomas?"
"Hell, I can't remember all their names...did he tell you that you can get the body now?"
"Yes indeed, Jethro...Gerald, if you would."
"Coming right up, doctor."...Gerald rolls the stretcher off the truck.
"Be back in a jiffy, Jethro!"
"Your car or mine, Gibbs?"
"We'll follow you."...Gibbs starts to look around.
"Lose something?"
"Yeah, a probie."
-----------------
Tony and Gibbs stand behind a large van..."It's the 3rd house on the left, former crack house...now it's used for gang initiations and shit like that."
Maria walks up to them..."It's his brother, Tony...how you want to play it?"
"Boot or bash, Maria?"
"I'll bash, Tony."
Gibbs looks at Tony..."What?"
"Come on."...Tony walks into the street and heads for the front door of the house, Gibbs follows him.
"Gibbs, when I kick in this door, they're gonna spread like cockroaches."
Tony holds down his radio button..."5, Maria."...Tony draws his weapon..."Baltimore PD!" Tony kicks in the door and moves inside. Freeze!"
Members start to go for the backdoor just as Maria kicks in the backdoor, knocking a couple of them down.
"Abajo! Ahora!"...Maria holds her gun on them as Gibbs enters the house after Tony.
Julio sits on the couch, he's playing a video game.
"Hola, Julio."
"What the fuck do you want, puta!?"
"The Baltimore PD would like to send you our deepest condolences about your brother Francisco."
"Chingate, puto!"
Tony stomps on his game system..."Oops!"
Julio stands up.
Tony pushes him back down onto the couch.
He quickly stands up...Julio says something under his breath.
"Cómo?"
Julio starts to say something when Tony punches him in the stomach.
Julio bends over trying to catch his breath.
"You were saying?'
Maria walks into the living room.
"Not this puta, get her the hell away from me...she's pinche loco!"
Tony starts to talk in Spanish...Gibbs interrupts him..."English please."
"Who the hell are you!?"...Julio looks at Gibbs.
Maria slaps him across the face...he takes a step back, falling back onto the couch."...He holds his hands up to his face.
"Where's the cocaine, Julio?"
He's silent.
"Where's the fucking cocaine, Julio!?"...Tony grabs Maria around the waist and pulls her back.
"I just need 10 minutes and some vise grips!"
"I have a better idea, Maria."...Tony gestures to a policeman who moves over and cuffs him.
-----------------
Julio sits cuffed in an interrogation room.
Tony sits across from him, Maria and Gibbs watch through a 2-way mirror.
Maria pounds on the mirror.
"Your last chance, Julio."
Julio is silent.
"You forced my hand."...Tony stands and looks down at him..."It's a shame."...Tony walks out, closing the door behind him.
Maria walks out and gets in Tony's face..."What the fuck was that!? I thought you had a better idea!"
Tony moves into observation and stands next to Gibbs...Maria follows him in..."What are you doing?"
"Letting him sweat."
"For what!?"
"Heh."
"What!?"
"Patience."
------------
20 minutes later...
Tony's radio beeps..."DiNozzo, She's here."
"Who's here, Tony!?"...Maria demanded.
"Send her in."
An older Mexican woman walks into the interrogation area with a police escort, the policeman opens the interrogation room door and she walks in...Julio sees her..."Madre!?"
The woman moves over to him and starts smacking the holy hell out of him.
"Mama! Lo siento!"
She continues to hit him.
"I'll talk, just get her off me!"
Tony pushes his radio..."Wait a couple minutes then go and get her."
Gibbs walks over to Tony..."Nice choice with the mother...he should be thankful he doesn't have ex-wives."
Tony looks at Gibbs..."Let me guess, three of them?"
"Two, working on the third, though."
-------------
"He should be glad it wasn't Dr. Mallard's mother!" Jimmy laughs.
Ducky sighs…"Mr. Palmer."
"Sorry, doctor."
----------
Tony and Gibbs walk into interrogation, Julio still sits cuffed.
"My madre, puta?"
Tony sits as Gibbs leans against the 2-way mirror.
"Have you learned nothing from today, Julio? Are you that big of a idiot?"
Julio struggles to get free.
Tony stands and moves to the door and opens it…"Bring her back in."
"No! No!"
Gibbs smirks…"Why was your brother in Baltimore?"
"He was trying to get me to go straight, he's a stupid pendejo!"
"Sounds like your jealous, he got out of the shithole and you didn't. So, you killed him?"
"I am the Latin Kings, fuck him and fuck you, puto!"
Tony grabs Julio by the ears and pulls his head into the table.
Julio raises his head…his nose is severely bleeding…"You broke my fucking nose!"
Tony reaches across and grabs his nose squeezes it between his thumb and index fingers…it cracks.
Julio screams in pain.
"Yeah, it's definitely broke."
"I hope you aren't afraid of needles, Julio."
Julio looks at Gibbs…"I didn't kill him, perro!"
"Then who did?"
"I don't know!"
Tony stands…"Are you not getting it through that thick ass skull of yours…you're going to fucking die, Julio!"
"The guy's Colombian, that's all I fucking know!"
Tony walks to the door, opens it and steps out…"Send his mother back in, then let him go."
Maria looks at him odd…"We're gonna let him go!?"
"What are we gonna hold him on, being an Asshole?"
Gibbs walks out the door…"I've done it."
------------------
Gibbs' cell rings…"Gibbs."…He walks away
"Maria, I want you to follow Julio's ass."
"Where you going?"
"Where do I also go for info?"…Tony walks towards to Gibbs.
"I'm gonna go meet an informant, want to tag along?"
Gibbs nods as they walk out.
---------------
Tony and Gibbs are inside Tony's Corvette…Gibbs takes a drink of his coffee…"Your coffee is growing on me."
"You're a crazy bastard."
"Naw."…As he finishes his latest cup.
"How many is that today?"
"I dunno, 12 or 13."
"Damn and I haven't seen you take a piss break yet."
"I'm a marine, I'm taught to hold it."
"Marine sniper, even."
Gibbs looks at Tony…"Aww, I see you've been doing your homework."
"I do rather like to know who I'm going into battle with."
"Smart, man."
Tony pulls up to a Starbucks…"You read my mind, DiNozzo."
"Heh. I'll be across the street at the Chinese restaurant, come over when you're done. I'll introduce you to Wang."
Gibbs grabs a couple cups of coffee and makes his way over to the restaurant.
Tony stands next to scruffy looking white guy.
"This is Wang."
"Here, got you a coffee."
"Thanks."…Tony grabs it.
"Tell him what you told me, Wang."
"Big time drug cartel trying to push their way into Baltimore, Colombians."
Gibbs takes a drink of his coffee…"Got a name?"
"Heard the guys name was Ramirez."
"Ramirez?"
"Mean something to you, DiNozzo?"
"Your SEAL started saying something that started with a R right before he died."
"It's worse than you think."
Tony looks back at Wang…"Why's that?"
"I heard his father was the Colombian Ambassador to the U.S."
Gibbs scoffs…"Diplomatic immunity."
Wang nods.
Gibbs cell rings…"Gibbs."…He listens…he flips his phone closed…"I gotta get back to NCIS."
"I'll take ya."…Tony nods to Wang.
--------------
Tony and Gibbs back in the car.
Tony takes a drink of the coffee…and then spits it out the window…"What is this shit?"
"Coffee. Black coffee."
"Christ, how do you drink that shit?"…Tony hands it back to Gibbs.
Gibbs grabs it and takes a drink of coffee…"Out of curiosity."
"Yeah?"
"Why did you call that guy Wang? He was the whitest guy I've ever seen."
"Heh. Picked him up for prostitution years ago when I was in vice, he made some gay porn back in the day, they called him the gay John Holmes."
Gibbs shakes his head…"You're something, DiNozzo."
"What's that?"
"I'll let you know when I figure it out."
Gibbs finishes his cup of coffee and starts in on Tony's…"Why?"
Tony looks over at Gibbs..."Why what?"
"Silver-spooned kid becoming a cop."
"Long story."
"We got 40 miles."
"Hurt my knee senior year…had a couple scouts tell me I could've played in the league, got depressed and I do what I always do when I get depressed."
Gibbs takes another drink…"That would be?"
"Sex."
Gibbs nods…"How did that turn into a life of law enforcement?"
"Well, there was this girl…Emily Warner, you should've seen her Gibbs…she was a goddess, an absolute goddess…she was 5'8, 123 pounds. Oh man, she had legs that seemed to go on forever and ever…"…Tony shakes…"She worked at the sperm clinic."
Gibbs chuckles.
"Never mind that…forget I mentioned that…well, anyway, she was also taking classes in criminal justice, I followed her one day and that was it."
--------
"Why doesn't that shock me?"
"Zip it, Probie!"
"Sperm clinic, Tony?"…Kate asked…"Are there other little DiNozzo's running around?"
Gibbs chuckles.
Tony sighs…"I knew I shouldn't have said that."…Tony pauses…"I wonder whatever came of Emily Warner? Heh."
Kate backhands Tony in the shoulder…"Hey!"
"Heh. Sorry."
----------
"Nice digs, Gibbs."...As Tony looks around in the squad room..."Makes our place look like a piece of shit."
"Here put this on."...Gibbs hands Tony a NCIS visitor's pass.
"Aww, man...I'll look like a douche bag with this on, like I'm on a field trip or some shit."...Tony reluctantly hangs it on the end of his Badge, which hangs around his neck by a chain.
They step into the elevator and Gibbs clicks a button, Gibbs quickly gets off..."Stay there, I forgot something."...The doors close and the elevator heads downward.
The elevator dings and Tony steps off...music is blaring..."Hello?"
Tony stands in the middle of the hall, he takes a step forward and sliding doors open...he walks in and sees a woman on her hands and knees under her computer table.
"Heh. Nice view."
The elevator dings and Gibbs steps into the lab..."Abby, we got company."
---------
Kate slaps Tony on the back of the head..."Ow, what the hell Kate!?"
"That's for Abby!"
"Thank you, Kate...you're getting a hug later!"...Abby laughs..."I knew there was a reason I liked you from the moment I saw you Tony."
Kate sighs..."Don't encourage him, Abby!"
"Heh."
--------
"DiNozzo, Anthony DiNozzo."...Tony extends his hand.
She shakes his hand...Tony slide his other hand along Abby's arm up to her elbow..."Nightmare Before Christmas wrist bands?"
"You know it? It's like my favorite movie ever!"
"Heh."
Gibbs hands Abby a caf-pow and she smiles..."Hey, Gibbs!"
"What you got for me, Abs?"
"The cocaine that was collected off of Lieutenant Ojeda matched cocaine that was confiscated in a drug bust by Metropolitan police yesterday."
Abby clicks her keyboard..."And the drug dealer is...Hector Ramirez. Huh, that's weird...it says they released him. Is my computer on the fritz?"
"Diplomatic immunity."...Tony and Gibbs respond together.
Gibbs turns and starts to walk out
"Oh Gibbs, Ducky wanted to see you, too."
"Lets go, DiNozzo."...Tony backs out of the door.
Abby sucks on the straw from her caf-pow and waves at Tony.
Tony throws up a quick wave..."I like her. Heh."
--------
They arrive in autopsy, Ducky stands next to Francisco Ojeda..."Aww, Francisco, I wonder if you were named after San Francisco...or perhaps, your parents conceived you there?"...Ducky lets out a laugh.
Tony stops..."What is he, a dingbat?"
"Naw, he's just Ducky."
"What the hell is a ducky?"
"Me, my boy...I'm Ducky."
"Huh?"
"Nickname...it's good to see you again, what brings you to Washington, D.C.?"
"Dirtbags, Ducky."
"Jethro?"
"Why am I here?"
"Oh, right...well, when I was going over his body...I found a small bruise that hadn't yet shown up on his chest."...Ducky hands Gibbs the photo..."There's a very unique mark on his chest."
Gibbs squints his eyes..."Do you see it Jethro?"
"What the hell am I looking at?"
"May I?"...Gibbs hands the photo to Tony..."How were you a sniper again?"
Gibbs gives Tony an evil look..."Looks like a back wards R to me."
"Precisely!"
"Ramirez."...Tony and Gibbs together.
"We really need to stop doing that, Gibbs."
Gibbs walks towards the elevator.
Tony follows him closely behind..."Hector Ramirez...welcome to the top of my shit list."
--------------
Tony and Gibbs drive up to the outside of Ramirez's residence, a gated fence blocks the way.
"What the hell…that's Maria car."…A black convertible Mustang sits just inside the gate.
"How you know that's her car?"
Tony glances over at Gibbs…"License plate"…Gibbs opens the door and gets out.
Tony shuts off the engine and steps out of the car.
"Where are you going, Gibbs?"
Gibbs walks up to the gate…he grabs a hold of it and shakes it.
Gibbs runs back as the gate starts to open.
Maria steps out of the house and moves to her car.
Tony starts walking towards her…"DiNozzo, not now!"
Tony doesn't stop…he walks through the gate as she starts to back up.
She puts the car into drive and looks up and slams on the breaks…Tony stands right in front of her car…"What in the hell are you doing, Maria?"
She looks up at Tony, then lowers her head and throws her car in reverse and slams on the gas, moving back about 20 feet, she puts the car back in drive.
"What…are you gonna run over me!?"
Maria revs the engine…"Get out of my way, Tony!"
Gibbs moves next to Tony…"She's dirty, DiNozzo!"
"No way….she can't be dirty…you can't be dirty, Maria!"
Tony walks towards the car…"Tony, move god damn it!"
"You're gonna have to kill me, Maria…because I'm not fucking moving."
"Please move, Tony…I'm begging you."
"Get out of that fucking car!"
Maria puts the car into park and steps out…"You're gonna have to shoot me, Tony."
"Maria!?"…She draws her weapon and points it at Tony.
Gibbs draws his weapon and points it at Maria…"Gibbs, put your gun down."
"I can't do that, DiNozzo."
"Maria, put the gun down."
"I…I can't."
A gunshot goes off and Maria falls…Tony looks back at Gibbs…"Noooooo!"
"I didn't shoot her, DiNozzo!"
Hector Ramirez stands behind her, both of his hands in the air, a gun slides across the pavement…"Self-defense, she was going to shoot you."
Tony raises his weapon and moves towards Hector Ramirez…Gibbs moves in right behind him…Gibbs cuffs him as Tony moves to Maria.
"She threatened you!"
Tony kneels by her body…"I…I...I'm s...s…sor…sor...sor..."…Maria spits up some blood, her heads drops to the pavement, making a sickening thud. She's dead.
Tony rises and punches Hector Ramirez in the face knocking him cold.
A man with a shotgun steps into the doorway from inside the house and points his gun at Gibbs, Tony tackles Gibbs as he fires. Gibbs rolls to his knees and fires twice, hitting the man twice in the chest.
Gibbs move to him, he kicks the shotgun away from him, he kneels, checking for a pulse. He's gone.
Gibbs moves to Tony…"Did you get hit? You're bleeding."
Tony lies on his back on the pavement…he closes his eyes.
-----------
A paramedic puts some smelling salts under Tony's nose and he comes to.
Tony sits up..."Don't move, you might have a concussion."…he uses a small light to look into Tony's eyes.
"Where's Special Agent Gibbs?"
"I'm here, DiNozzo."
"Where's Ramirez?"
"Gone."
"Your guys already came and got him?"
"No, he cried diplomatic immunity, he made a call and Metro cut him lose."
Tony looks at Gibbs…then looks over at Maria's dead body and lowers his head and shakes it. He starts to get up..
"Sir, please."
Tony pushes them away…"Where the hell are you going, DiNozzo?"
Tony moves to his car and gets inside…Gibbs opens the passenger side door.
"What are you doing?"
"You're my ride, DiNozzo…I'm with you until you take me home."
"We're taking a detour."
----------
Tony slammed on the breaks and gripped the steering wheel as hard as he could.
He opened his car door and stood next to his car.
"FFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKK!!!"...He screamed at the top of his lungs.
----------
Tony sat motionless at the table..."I'm not...feeling well all of the sudden."
"That could have something to do with the 13 pieces of pizza and nearly 2 pitchers of beer, Tony."...McGee laughed.
"Excuse me."...Tony silently rose from the table and walked away.
"Tony, the bathrooms are the other way."...McGee pointed.
"McGee, he's not sick."
"Boss?"
"No wonder the lad has commitment issues."
Kate stands and goes after Tony.
Ziva starts to get up.
"Ziva, sit."
"Gibbs?"
"Sit."
----------
Tony lies on the hood of his Mustang. Kate walks up towards him.
"You ok, Tony?"
"I've been better."
"Scoot over, give a girl a place to sit."...Tony scoots over as Kate sits on the hood..."What's in that mind of yours? Let me inside, Tony."
Tony is silent.
"And take off those sunglasses."...Kate leans back and lies next to Tony on the hood, she grabs his shades and takes them off.
"I can't Kate...I just can't."
"You can't what?"
"Every woman in my life has failed me, Kate."
"Tony..."
"My mom, Maria, you...you failed me, Kate."
"Tony..."
"Don't do that, Kate...don't."
"Tell me how I can help you?"
"You can't."...Tony stands..."Can't you see...I'm damaged."
"That isn't true, Tony."
Tony laughs.
"Stop it, Tony."
"That's what I do, Kate...shit hits the fan...I laugh...isn't that how you said I dealt with things? Laughed them off?"
"What's inside me changes everything, Tony."
"Does it? Really, does it?"
"Yes, Tony. Yes!"
Tony turns around..."This is coming from the same person who told me they had an abortion and kill that child."
"I was scared, Tony!"...Kate starts to cry.
Tony turns around..."Maybe, I'm scared, too, Kate."...Tony walks away.
--------------
"What happened anyway, Gibbs?"
"Remember the police scandal of Baltimore about 5 years ago?"
Ziva shakes her head no.
"I saw that on the news, 10 of so high ranking officials resigned."
Gibbs nods.
"All because of Tony?"
"Hector Ramirez had a bad habit of keeping lists...that and he thought he was untouchable."
"What happened to him, Boss?"
"Dead."
"Tony?"...Ziva wondered.
Gibbs is silent...then lets out a laugh.
"What is it, Jethro?"
"Oh nothing...just Tony being Tony."
"Come on, tell us."
-------------
Tony and Gibbs stood outside a restaurant...Tony holds up his gun..."Hold this for me, would ya?"
Tony walks through the front door...in the back area, Hector Ramirez sat eating.
Tony walks up to him..."Everything good, sir?"
Ramirez looks up at Tony..."More champagne."
"One second, sir."...Tony moves to the bar..."Bottle of your most expensive champagne, please and put it on Hector Ramirez's bill."
"Krug, Clos du Mesnil 1995."...He holds the bottle up.
"That'll be fine...hell, give me two."
"Right away, sir."
He places them on the bar..."Anything else?"
"Call an ambulance."
"Sir?"
Tony walks back over to Ramirez's table..."Sir, your champagne."
He looks up..."That'll be fine."
Tony grabs the bottle around the neck and hits Ramirez over the head with it, breaking it.
"Damn, I would've thought I would've gotten at least two hits out of it."
Ramirez looks up at Tony, blood flows into his eyes..."Sir, would you like another?"
Tony smashes the other bottle over his head.
-------------
"Sir, would you like another?"...Gibbs laughs.
Gibbs closes his eyes...
---------
September 11th, 2001, 8:03a.m.
Tony steps off the elevator.
Gibbs sits at his desk..."Back from FLETC already, DiNozzo?"
"Yes, sir."
"Don't sir me, I work for a living!"
Gibbs stands and walks towards Tony, he quickly slaps him on the back of the head..."Welcome to NCIS, DiNozzo."
"Good to be here...Boss?"
"Better!"
------
Gibbs sighs..."What a helluva day to start a new job, DiNozzo."...Gibbs lowers his head.
---------------
Later that night...Ziva sat against the headboard of her bed clutching something in her hand. She brings in to her mouth and kisses it. She closes her eyes.
-----
Tony wraps his arms around Ziva and moves his mouth close to her ear and whispered..."I know it was you."...Tony then places something in Ziva's hand.
He wipes away her tears..."Come on."
-----
Ziva opens her eyes and opens her hand...her Star of David necklace rests inside. She kisses it as tears roll down her cheeks.
Her cell rings...she wipes away her tears and composers herself...she answers it..."Yeah, I'll be right there."
---------
Ziva wearing all black, her NCIS hat is pulled down far on her forehead...she walks inside a house, Ducky and Gibbs stand over the body.
"Ziva, take pictures."...Gibbs hands her a camera while pointing to the wall.
Ziva looks up and focuses on the wall..."I'm back."...Written in blood.
Ziva moves quickly and looks at the body...its Lt. Colonel Penelope Mendoza.
"What's that white thing in her mouth Ducky?"
Ducky takes some tweezers out of his bag and pulls out the white substance, it seems to be folded up paper.
"Here Jethro."...Ducky hands it to Gibbs.
Gibbs unfolds it...
"Riddle me this...Riddle me that...The bitch is finally dead and that's that...But can save the other bleeder in time, before I run out of rhymes?
HAHAHAHAHA!
For the next clue, the book is still due.
Laughs and giggles, El Acertijo '?'."