"I don't care, just don't take me to the hospital" Alex started to get angry.
Gibbs frowned. "Will you let Ducky take a look at them?"
"Fine, whatever!" she spat.
"Hop up onto this bench my dear" Back at NCIS Gibbs had marched Alex and Maximus down to autopsy to have Alex's wounds looked at. Ducky patted the steel autopsy table.
"Nope, not happening. Some dead guy has been here" Alex shook her head vehemently. Gibbs stabbed his finger at the table.
"You, up here, now!"
Rolling her eyes Alex placed both hands behind her and levered herself up. Pulling of her hoodie and t-shirt she shivered in the cold temperature as she sat in her sports bra and jeans. Maximus settled beneath her feet, quite warm with his thick coat of fur.
"Now, what have you got yourself into?" Ducky shook his head when he saw the mass of bruises and scratches.
"Matthew used to knock me round pretty good. It's no big deal"
Ducky drew up his desk chair and started pressing on some of the more mottled spots. When he reached a particularly dark spot above her appendix she drew in a deep breath and bought her forearm down, knocking Ducky's hand away.
"Do you mind?" she growled.
Ducky stood up. "It seems that there is some major bruising. You haven't broken anything but I'm going to need to clean those scratches and bind your chest to give your ribs a rest"
He searched his medical bag just as the autopsy doors opened and Tony walked in.
"Hey boss, did you get...oh, right, yes, should I come back later?" Tony slapped his hand over his eyes when he realised Alex was only in her sports bra.
"Relax. It's not like I'm naked"
Tony removed his hand slowly. "I seriously hope I didn't cause any of those" he said, casting his eyes over her torso.
"You think you could cause this much damage?" Alex snorted.
"I don't know. I could be the next Jackie Chan" DiNozzo assumed a karate stance before karate chopping the air a couple of times.
"Hooy Ya. Kuung Fu"
"Knock it off DiNozzo. You're a federal agent, not The Karate Kid"
"Nice movie reference there boss. I'm surprised you actually…"
Gibbs hand came round the back of Tony's head and a crack echoed through the room.
"Knocking it off boss"
Tony wouldn't admit it but those bruises got him angry. After being used as a punching bag when he was younger he hated to see anyone else go through the same. In his father's case it was the drink that caused it. But in Alex's it seemed that her father was just a bastard. He suddenly had a flashback.
Tony winced as he heard the front door slam.
"Anthony!" his dad yelled.
"Coming father" A small Anthony DiNozzo walked down the stairs to greet his father.
"Have you been slacking you little bastard? You think things just happen do you? Well we'll see about that"
Tony's father swung his fist at him. He caught him in the ribs and sent Tony crashing to the floor. Leaning over him Tony's father bought his face so close to Tony's that Tony could smell the booze. Tears leaked from the corners of his eyes.
"Remember Anthony. DiNozzo's don't cry" his father roared, bring down a punch with every word.
"This may sting" Ducky warned as he dabbed antiseptic on a cotton ball. "Did I tell you about the time I was in New York City and there was a marvellous round of boxing at Madison Square Garden…"
Ducky began to tell his tale as he applied antiseptic to Alex's scratches. She hissed slightly when he got to the deeper ones but continued listening to Ducky's story. Maximus growled slightly but at a small hand signal from Alex he settled back down. Ducky had wisely chosen a subject that would interest Alex. After binding her chest in a cream coloured bandage Ducky helped Alex off the table and helped her put her shirt and hoodie back on.
"Now, no more fighting, running or anything strenuous" he warned.
"Sure thing doc"
"Thanks Duck" Gibbs called as he guided Tony and Alex towards the elevator. Maximus jumped up and followed them, his claws clicking on the hard floor.
"Where're we going boss?"
"Alex is going to sit in the squad room and you are going to keep an eye on her"
"I don't need a babysitter" Alex shoved her hands into her pockets and glared at Tony.
"Boss, can't you get McGee to do it?" Tony whined.
They exited the elevator and rounded the corner to see both Ziva and McGee sitting at their desks alone. The room was darkened, with most agents gone for the night.
"McGee, Ziva. Any leads?"
"Other than Alex. No." McGee said tiredly.
Gibbs glanced at his watch. 8:00pm. "I'm going for takeout. Alex, you want anything in particular?"
"Turkish?"
Ziva punched the air in victory as Tony and McGee both groaned.
"Turkish it is" Gibbs strode towards the main elevator.
"Watch her" he called over his shoulder at the agents.
Alex collapsed into Gibbs chair and spun around a few times.
"So, you guys have like, anything to do here?" she asked.
Tony pointed at McGee. "Probie, put on a movie. Me and Alex are going to see who knows the most about The Bourne Identity"
"Tony, you're supposed to be working. Not watching movies with a teenager" McGee said pointedly.
"I'm working by watchingher McKillJoy. Now put it on" Tony scooted his chair over to Gibbs desk as McGee put up the movie onto the plasma in between his and Tony's desk.
The first half hour as a tie so they called it quits. As the movie progressed Tony was still watching with enthusiasm but when he glanced over at Alex he found her with her head on her arms asleep at Gibbs desk. Max sat against her legs and looked up when Tony moved. No one would harm his girl while he was near.
"Ziva. How long's she been asleep?" Tony whispered.
"About 15 minutes. I think she is bought" Ziva replied.
"Spent Ziva. Spent" Tony corrected her, rolling back to his desk to begin working.