The brick faced apartment stood at three stories high. Down a street lined with trees that gave it the feeling of an avenue the apartment complex blended into the quiet feel the area had. A small patch of grass ran along the front inside a black wrought iron fence. Beams of sun stretched themselves through the saps in the leaves, dappling the ground around which they stood.
"It's nice" she said simply.
Tony inserted the key into the lock of his front door. Alex peered through the doorway as Tony entered the small two bedroom apartment.
"Come in" Tony smiled at Alex's curiosity. He placed his weapon and badge on the hall table before beckoning.
"This is where you'll be staying" He opened the door to a small bedroom next to the bathroom. It was a modest guest room with a blue duvet and charcoal walls. A small dresser sat in one corner.
"No offence" Alex started as she walked through the door with Max close on her heels, "But, why exactly are you doing this for me? I'm like just some kid that you happened upon. We don't even know each other".
"I know your name is Alexandra Opal Templeton, and that you like movies, boxing and ice tea" Tony grinned.
Alex looked at him scathingly. Tony sighed.
"Okay, the real reason. I didn't want you to go back on the streets. With my old job I saw enough kids that didn't make it. I know what you're going through, and I wanted to help" he smiled slightly as she gave him a disbelieving look.
"I thought about it before, you know. When I met you the first time, but everything happened so fast and before I could think about it properly you were taken away"
Alex looked awkwardly around. "Well, I'm not much with words, but I…" she swallowed. "I really appreciate what you're doing. It won't be for long, just until I can find a job and get my own place at a trailer park or something"
Tony held up his hand. "Look, I get you want to be independent and all but you can't just leave. You're still a minor and I have to apply to be your legal foster parent"
Alex sighed. "Okay then, so when is that happening?"
"Well, I was thinking we could go get something to eat and you could get settled then I could make the call? There's a great café just down a couple of blocks"
"Yeah, okay"
"Right, well let me get changed and we'll be outta here. Feel free to look around and whatever. It's your place too now" Tony disappeared into a second bedroom on the other side of the bathroom while Alex wandered back into the living room to take a better look. It was pretty nice. Dark blue carpet ran to meet the edges of white walls. A pretty choice entertainment centre took up the majority of the room with a couple of leather couches and some other bits of furniture. Max took one look at the couches before landing with a flying leap in the middle of the closest one.
"Max!" Alex hissed.
"It's okay, that couch is pretty shot anyway" Tony emerged from the bedroom with a dark red shirt and black jeans replacing the torn, blood stained clothes he had on earlier. He had re slicked his hair back into the cheeky old DiNozzo style.
"Right, two things before we go. You have to meet the rest of my family and I need your help"
Alex froze. Family?
"Hey, earth to Alex?" Tony grinned as he pointed to a dresser hidden by the door. Sitting on the top was a goldfish bowl with a fish swimming round.
"Can you feed her for me?" Tony asked. Before she could answer he handed her a bottle of fish flakes. "I would but I'm kinda tied up here"
She grinned a little at his pun. Tied up literally in a sling.
Sprinkling some flakes on top Alex watched the fish dart back and forth, vacuuming up the food.
"What's her name?"
"Kate" Tony looked thoughtful for a minute, not missed by Alex. He then handed her another packet.
"One more job, remember? I want you to pop two of those tablets into my palm"
He downed the painkillers with a little water and the two of them set off down the road accompanied by Max.
"One Chicken Panini with iced tea and one Open Steak Sandwich and a coffee"
Tony groaned as the food was set down. "Finally"
Alex smiled slightly as he dug into his steak with gusto.
"So Alex" Tony looked at her with a mouthful of food. "Like you said before, I don't know much about you. Tell me about yourself"
Alex looked a little worried. "What sort of stuff?"
Tony gave her his easy grin as he saw her tense up. "Anything. Boxing, friends, school?"
"I graduated school six months ago" She smiled when his jaw dropped.
"You're like a prodigy!"
"If that's what you wanna call it" she chuckled. "I never had friends, except Pops. But he's probably gone now. I used to feel he was only sticking round for me. I started boxing when I was eight. Mum said it would help release some anger" she chewed on the inside of her cheek for a little.
"She sounds like a great mum" Tony tried to connect with Alex. "Mine died when I was a little kid. She used to dress me up in little sailor suits"
"Yeah, mum was awesome. Just her mistake was marrying that son-of-a-bitch! So I soon got to the top in boxing. Qualified for nationals a year and a bit ago but couldn't afford it. Now I box with whatever I can get. Sometimes I sneak in after hours at the old gym"
They finished their sandwiches in quietness, the only sounds that of the traffic as they sat outside the café, and the occasional chomping sound as Alex dropped bits of food to Max.
"Can I ask you something?" Alex asked hesitantly.
"Sure" Tony looked surprised.
"Last night, in hospital…" she paused.
"Yeah?"
"What were you dreaming about?" she questioned.
Tony looked startled. "You were there?"
"Um, yeah"
He sighed. "Alex, we both have history. Yours is painful, as is mine. What about we get to know each other a bit better. I will tell you when you feel like you can trust me enough to tell me yours"
She nodded, looking nervous.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want. I'm just saying, if you ever want to…"
"Thanks Tony" she said finally.
"Good. Now, are you gonna tell me how you met this handsome fella at your feet here?"
She grinned. A topic that was easy to talk about.
"I found him as a pup under a bridge. Took him home and hid him. Looked after him till he was old enough to eat regular food then left him with Pops. I spent most of my time out anyway. He's called Max, after Maximus Decimus Meridius, you know. Gladiator?"
"Ah ha, yes indeed. Commander of the North, general of the Felix Legions and Loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius"
"You know it!"
"Who doesn't?"
They smiled at each other before Tony thought of something.
"You don't have any clothes, do you?"
"I have some at home"
"Can't go back there, crime scene remember? So I just had the genius idea that we should go shopping"
"Seriously? Shopping?"
"You need clothes and necessities. I need groceries and I don't know what you like"
"You don't have to"
"But I want to, so no arguing!" Tony looked like a child, excited at the prospect of going shopping for food. "We'll call Abby, and she can drive us since I busted my shoulder. And then you can pick out clothes with her. But I have to warn you, her clothing style is pretty…" he paused, trying to think of how to put it. "Unique?"
"That's fine. I can hold my own" Alex smirked at the idea of Tony trying to shop with a girl. "Besides, I don't think you know much about fashion"
"Hey, I'll have you know. I am a regular Tim Gunn when it comes to clothes"
"You watch Project Runway?"
"What, pfft no?" Tony played down, wishing he'd never made the reference.
"You so are! I knew it!" Alex slapped her hand on the table. "Bet you watch it for Heidi Klum!"
"Hey!" Tony suddenly realised something. "How come you know so much about it?"
Alex looked sheepish. "I won't tell if you don't?"
"Deal!"