Life's unexpected journey.
Chapter 2.
The next morning, after them having slept better together, Tony gives her a treat with giving her breakfast in bed. Not only that after the night before's revelations he's decided that he's going to show her how much he is in love with her, through helping her & doing other things. So after waking her, he helps her with breakfast, as well as getting washed & dressed.
When they go into the Navy Yard he takes her to meet McGee & Bishop, then Gibbs takes her upstairs for her meeting with Vance. While that's going on he comes back down again, then takes Tony to one side,
"So how was she last night?"
He replies "She was ok, a bit restless with being in pain, so we were awake talking until the early hours, so I have a feeling she could end up crashing out later."
Gibbs says "I want you to really look after her, but also work on things together, as I have a feeling she may try to throw herself into everything, as I know that things have come close to what happened last year, & I don't want her to make herself ill."
He replies "I didn't want to push it, but she did admit that she could possibly leave the job as it's the third time she's been shot, & she doesn't think she can take another time. She didn't say much more, as she said that things were too close to home."
Gibbs tells him "Don't let on that you've seen it, but I will give you the file to look at so you know what's gone on. I only did it myself after talking to her parents last night & got a slight idea of what went on, but even they admitted that they thought she was hiding things, even from her sister Claire as well, who can usually get everything out of her. So I got them as well, just in case she decides to also hide things from us. Later on I'll take her back to mine & see if I can get her to not only rest, but to also have a good godfather catch up & see if I can also get her to open up a bit. I've also promised them that I will keep them updated with everything as well. I've also got a feeling that once we know why she's being targeted & it's possibly a bit safer that Claire may be over to see her."
"In a way I hope she does, because we had some food after she'd spoken to her on the phone, & that's when she opened up & told me what she did. I promise that I will look after her, & I won't let on that I also know various things as well." Just as they're about to head for their desks again Vance comes down the stairs, he sees them & says
"Gibbs can I have a word please?"
He replies "ok I'll be right there." They then head to the desks & he hands Tony the file & adds "Make sure she doesn't find out you've got that either."
Tony replies "I will do, thanks boss." Gibbs then goes off to join Vance.
While Gibbs is upstairs with Vance & Debra he starts to look through the file & can see that she's had a really great career, but has also worked some really difficult cases, which she has also won some medals for, just as he's about to start on the year before's case when he hears voices coming down the stairs, so he puts it away again quickly. When the three of them get there Vance says
"This case is now officially to be run by both teams, I'll leave Gibbs to explain things & would also like to welcome Debra to the team." He leaves them & Gibbs says
"Bishop go through the files & bring yourself up to date with the case, then start to go through what aspects match ours. McGee get yourself updated as we go along, we've got Debra's team on standby in MTAC, go & talk to them then get ready to join them, as we need someone to work both ends. Tony & Debra go through the most recent case, & also the one that you helped to make the arrest in as you may find find the reason why they're after you Debra in there. For now you can share a desk & go through it all together." With that Tony gives up his seat to Debra & then goes to find himself another one.
The rest of the morning goes well with a few hits & misses, Tony also makes sure that she takes regular breaks from things by going to the break room. By the time lunch comes up she starts to rub her head & neck, as she's starting to get a headache & her neck is also hurting. Tony starts trying to get her to go out & have some lunch to get completely away from things, but she doesn't really want to, so in the end he says
"You're bloody stubborn you know!" She replies
"I know I can be when I want to get the job done." So he then gets up & starts to massage her neck & shoulders, with of course being careful of her injured one.
By the time Gibbs comes in Tony has managed to persuade her to take some of her painkillers & put her head down on the desk, as he sees Gibbs he goes over to him & says
"I've been trying to persuade her to have a rest, but she's being very stubborn. She's just finally taken something, & has got her head down." Gibbs replies
"Don't worry she's always been like it, even as a child, so how have you got on?" Tony says
"I kept quiet, but I read some of the file while you were with Vance, & only managed a quick look at the last bit, but I have a feeling that we're going to need the case files from the case she's not talking about at the moment. I think she might've seen the connection as well, but I'm not sure, as I didn't want to push it or end up giving away that I'd seen it."
"Ok, let's see if we can get her to the car without disturbing her too much & I'll get her home to have a rest properly & hopefully get her to eat something as well. I'll then see if I can also get her to talk as well, so unless it's a real emergency I don't want us to be disturbed. Although get the case files ordered & do call if the connection pans out. Then that way if I can get her to talk, I can then see if she's made it herself or if I have to break it too her." Tony then says
"If I order the files now, I'll try to carry her without disturbing her too much, then I'll follow you so we can do the same at yours. Then hopefully by the time I get back here again, the files should've arrived." He then goes to Gibbs desk to use the phone to order the files, then goes back to his & picks Debra up, as he does so she wakes slightly & says sleepily
"What's happening?" He replies quietly
"We're taking you home so that you'll have a more comfortable rest." She replies
"Oh ok." She then puts her head back down on his shoulder & goes back to sleep again.
A couple of hours later she wakes up in bed at Gibbs, when she comes too a bit more she gets up & goes in search of him & eventually she finds him in the basement, as she goes down she says
"Hi, this brings back some memories." He smiles at her as he replies
"I thought it might, how do you feel?" She replies
"I'm ok thanks, sorry for crashing out. That's why I don't like taking painkillers as I always end up doing it." He says
"Don't worry about it, you needed the rest. You're not on you're own, we can get this solved together, so please look after yourself & rest. Just let me or Tony know when you need to crash & we will bring you home."
"I promise I will do." He then says
"So do you want something to eat?" She replies
"Yes please, as I'm starving." He then joins her on the stairs & they head towards the kitchen together.
After she's eaten he gets her a coffee & they then sit together on the sofa, he then says
"Remember if there's anything you want to talk about, I am here for you." She replies
"I know, dad told you about the last case didn't he?" He tells her
"He did, but not much. I do know that they're worried about you." She says
"They always do, but in this case I'm not surprised. Seeing as to them I haven't really taken a proper break, & I suppose in a way I have to admit that I probably haven't."
"So only tell me if you want too, but why?" She says
"It's because I'd fallen in love with a fellow agent. It happened a couple of years before that, then about a year before we got engaged, & we were due to get married the summer of the case. In the end things got changed though,because just after Christmas we found out that he'd got cancer & the prognosis wasn't that great, so we bought things slightly more forward. I think that because of everything that was going on I just threw myself into the case, as well as being there to support Matt through his treatment & things. Despite going through his treatment & things he stayed strong & kept working. On the day we caught our suspect; he went against my orders & joined us. Anyway there was a big shoot out & Matt got shot during it, I stayed with him while the others captured our suspect. I tried to save him, but he died in my arms." She then breaks down, & as she does Gibbs hugs her; then as she settles down he says
"& other than short breaks; you've just thrown yourself into you're work?" She replies
"That's right, I had just a couple of weeks off for his funeral & that was it. To make things worse though his funeral was on the day that we were supposed to be getting married on, with us having changed the date. I hate to ask you to keep a secret, but please don't tell mum, dad or Claire. Me & Matt had planned on having kids, so did things to give us the chance to do so; before his treatment began. So we began the IVF treatment a couple of months before everything happened, as we thought he might get the chance of seeing him or her. I didn't know until it was too late; because a couple of weeks after getting back to work again, I lost the baby I was expecting." Once again she breaks down; & as he hugs her again he says
"I will always be here for you, & I won't say a word to any of them, but please promise me you will tell them when you're ready too; & please promise me that you'll start to learn to look after yourself & letting us in to help you." She replies
"I will do, I promise. It's just after what's happened I'm scared to let them in, in case the same thing happens to them or me. Only Claire knows this & please don't go mad at me, but I think that I might be in love with Tony. I'm too scared to tell him; in case he doesn't feel the same way. Not only that I'm scared of something happening to him, so that I get hurt all over again. Plus when I lost the baby it led to some complications; so I'm not sure if I'll be able to have kids or not. Then even though Claire keeps on telling me that Matt would want to see me happy, I worry that somehow being in a new relationship would somehow be disrespecting his memory. Look I do know all about Tony's reputation, but when we met in Spain the attraction was instant, & even though I did feel there was a strong chance of us just having a one night stand; I knew we could have something more & we could do it." He replies
"Look I may not be the best one to give advice; after all my failed marriages, but in a way I do understand; & I would tell you to follow your heart, because there's only been one other woman I've loved probably as much as I did Shannon; & she was killed trying to protect me, so I do regret not having tried harder. If anything does happen I promise that I will always be here for you, & if you do transfer here to be with Tony; you will always have a home here. Please promise me you'll try & talk to him, I know it's difficult with you two being constantly together, but if you want some space to think things through you can always use needing a rest as an excuse; so that then you can come here or something."
"Thank you, I promise that I will try to talk to him. I think what I need to do is just get my head straight; as I know I've got some big decisions to make over the job, do I want to stay in it; & if I don't what can I do instead? I've only got enough stuff here with me for a couple of weeks, & I would like to at least have my head reasonably straight enough to know I can perhaps go back for more stuff, but to also perhaps also do a bit of packing up of my place & doing some ground work into getting the place sold." He says
"I'll do you a deal, you get some rest & have a serious think about things & wether you can manage to tell Tony anything or not; or to at least make a decision about things. Hopefully things might've got settled a bit with the case, & I'll try to make sure that Tony comes with; then you can also have a break together." She replies
"I agree to it, as I think a break might do us some good. Even if I can't tell him tonight, I would at least like to tell him about Matt; so do you think you could find me somewhere I can go & be quiet, so I can make a choice about whether I tell him anything else or not, as I'm sure that if I can come to a decision on that; it might make the other decisions that bit easier."
"I'll see what I can do, if you do want to talk when you've reached a decision, or even if you want to talk to Tony, just give me a call."
"I will do. Anyway I suppose I ought to go & freshen up before we head back."
"Ok, well you know where the bathroom is."
Just after she goes off, Tony walks into the house he says
"Is everything ok?" Gibbs answers
"It is & she's opened up a bit, & she's just freshening up. What is it; I thought you were going to call?" He replies
"I was going too, but thought I'd better come round, I won't give away what I know, but a name kept cropping up, when I ran it's; this David Sullivan is wanted for murder, as I dug further his brother in law is Lee Richards one of the gang's leaders. I was about to call you when Phil from Baltimore called me back & I have a feeling from what was said; that David is the gang's hired killer; so I think that the gang might be out to get her & were trying to get her before she got to us. The only thing I've not found out is if they're still after her or not."
"That's good work DiNozzo; we were just on our way back again. While we've got the chance too, how do you feel about her? & you can be honest with me."
"I think that I might be in love with her, why?" Gibbs tells him
"Because she's in love with you, with the events of the last case & losing her fiance during it; she's scared of the same thing happening again, which is why she's scared of telling you how she feels. She also knows that she's got some big choices to come if she's going to be leaving Spain to be with you." Tony says
"Nothing happened last night between us, but we did in the end; end up sleeping together, & I do have a feeling that she's admitted how she feels to her sister Claire; as she did say she loved me, when she thought U was asleep. So I have sort of been doing things to show that I love & care for her very much." Gibbs says
"It will probably be the best thing you can do, just promise me that if anything happens you will look after her & won't let her down."
"I promise I won't ever hurt her, because I do really love her; & if she ends up changing her life & coming here to be with me; I don't want to let her down in any way." They then stop talking as they hear her coming down the stairs as she walks in & sees Tony she smiles, then Gibbs says to her
"Are you feeling better?" She replies
"Much better thanks." Gibbs phone then goes & he answers it
"Ok McGee we're just on our way back." He ends the call & adds
"McGee has a lead on where David might be; let's go."
When they get back to the Navy Yard once again, before joining Tony & McGee; Gibbs takes Debra the conference room & tells her she can stay there as long as wants; then he explains to her what Tony has found out & that they're off to try & catch David, so she tells them to stay safe.
In the end she sits & thinks for ages, & in the end she decides that she wants to tell Tony the whole truth; including how much she loves him. As she hasn't heard anything either about what's happened with David & that he could possibly observing an interrogation, she goes to look for Tony there. As she goes in he is there & he's also on his own, when he turns to see her, he smiles & says
"Hey." She smiles back at him & replies
"Hi, is that him?" As she joins him at the window he answers
"It is & we've got him, the only thing is he hasn't told us yet if there's still someone out there trying to get you or not, you ok?" She replies
"I'm fine, but do you think we could talk?" He answers
"Sure, what about?" She takes his hand, then as she kisses him on the lips; he responds & they kiss properly for the first time, then she answers him
"About a couple of things, & possibly about us." He then strokes the side of her face & says
"You mean you want to give us a chance at a relationship?" She replies
"Possibly, but only if you're ok with what I want to say too you."
"I'm sure that whatever it is, I won't change my mind about how I feel about you; because I love you."
"I love you too Tony, but I need too do it; & it needs to be in private." He replies
"Ok let's go, I'm sure that Gibbs will get back to us; if there's anything he wants us to know." He takes her hand; & they leave.
When they get back to the apartment they sit on the sofa together, he says
"Are you sure you want to do this? As you were a bit quiet in the car." She replies
"I'm sure I do, as if we do get together; it could effect our future; & after what happened to the man I loved before, I'm still scared about the chance of it happening again. Even if I know what danger we put ourselves into everyday as agents."
"He was an agent?" She replies
"His name was Matt & he was an agent. We were also engaged, but we found out we were going to lose him anyway, because he had cancer. We bought the wedding forward. In some ways I also blame myself for what happened; because he kept working as he wanted too, so he came out with us when we were capturing a suspect, but it was against my orders. He got shot during the shoot out. I tried to save him, but he died in my arms." She bursts into tears & he hugs her; before saying
"You shouldn't blame yourself, it was his decision to go against your orders; but we do put ourselves in danger nearly everyday during our careers, & it is very difficult when we lose the people we love; like I could've done with you the other night."
"I know, as even if I do still blame myself; I don't feel as guilty as I did. The thing that made it more difficult, was on the day we'd bought the wedding forward too; ended up being the day we had his funeral. I also do feel slightly guilty about having a new relationship, because I feel like I'm disrespecting his memory in some way. Even if I do know in a way, that he would be really happy for me."
"I promise you wouldn't be doing that; but I also promise you that if any anniversary that comes up & you want to honor it, I will support you in doing it. So what would effect our future if things did happen between us?" She replies
"Because of the cancer we decided on doing things so we could still have a family, we had an attempt at IVF to coincide with the wedding. With the stress of his death & the funeral, I didn't realize I was pregnant; until it was too late & I was losing the baby. With the loss there were complications, which has left things with the chance that I might not be able to have kids. I know that it's something in the future to think about; but I do think that you should know; in case it's something you want."
"I've never really thought about it. Sometimes I suppose it could be something I may want; but I honestly don't know. Let's just say if we decide later on that we do want kids, & it doesn't happen naturally we could look into other things, or if it doesn't work out that way either; we could perhaps look into adoption or something like that." She says
"I was the same & hadn't really thought about having kids until it came down to the choice we had to make about it. & I have to admit that as the IVF treatment began, I did feel slightly scared & the doubts did start to creep in; but after losing the baby it made me wish I'd realized I was pregnant. So that I would've looked after myself better & it would've happened. & now I sort of feel that if there's a chance of having a family, that I would like it." He replies
"Well when we know the time is right, we can always try. So does that mean there is a chance for us?"
"I would like to hope so, but I do still have to think about what too do. As do I stay in the job? & of course get the move here sorted out; as I have a feeling that we couldn't cope with a long distance relationship." He says
"You mean you want to relocate to be with me?" She replies
"Of course, because if we are going to make ago of this; I do want to be here with you. Plus when all of this is over case wise, I might consider taking some time off to make a decision about the job; as I know in myself that I need to have a rest. Because following everything with Matt & the baby, all I've done is work. Jethro did say that when it was safe I could go back to Spain; so I can sort out the sale of the apartment, get packed up & have a rest. Because he also got out of me how I feel about you, so he said that perhaps we could have time together & a rest. That's of course if you do want to come with me, that is?"
"Of course I would want to come with you, I love you & want to make a real go at this; which is why I was thinking because we're here & together anyway, why don't we make it permanent & you move in here; once we get back?" She asks
"Do you mean it?" He replies
"Of course I do, I want to be with you; & we've sort of been thrown together anyway, so you can't really say it's too soon for us to do it. A couple of years ago I was in love with someone, but she chose to stay in Israel; rather than come back with me. I didn't fight enough for her, & I regretted it for a very long time. I don't want the same thing happening again; I don't & can't lose another woman that I love very much." As she sees how emotional he gets, she moves up the sofa & strokes the side of his face, then says
"Yes I will; I love you, & I want to be with you." He then strokes the side of her face & taps her head up from under her chin & as he kisses her, she responds. He then pushes her gently back so they're lying together & still kissing. As his hands then start to wander, he manages to catch her injured shoulder wrong, so she says
"Ow!" He replies
"I'm sorry."
"It's ok, I think some of that was me as well, trying to move it out of the way too quick." He then kisses her again, & as he does so he undoes her sling; then as he helps her out of it he says
"I'm trusting you not to do anything to not hurt yourself, or if I do you should shout." She replies mischievously
"I will do, but does that mean you're trying to take advantage of me Mr DiNozzo?" He then starts to nibble her neck as he says
"I could be, if you want me too?" As his hands start to wander again, she replies
"Well I suppose we do have something special to celebrate, & I can't think of a better way too do it." As they kiss & hands keep wandering, she groans; so he gets up & lifts her in his arms. He then carries her into the bedroom; & they make love for the first time. Afterwards they both fall asleep in each other's arms, very happy & contented.
A/N: Sorry it's taken me ages to update things, but with work & other things going on, plus problems with the computer, it's been a bit difficult! I've also been getting ideas for some new stories which I've been working on & may put up! Anyway I hope you really enjoy this new chapter! I decided not to drag out the Tony & Debra not admitting how they feel about each other & get them together. There will be a few tests for the new relationship to come though, & hopefully I'll get the next chapter up as soon as possible, so please keep on enjoying the story! Thank you also to those that have favourited the story & also to those that also sent in reviews, it was good to read them! Xxx. :-)