Year Four
"Tony! Get over here! Tony!"
Anthony DiNozzo rolled over in bed, groaning. His phone was lying on his bedside table, screeching at him. He clicked on the phone. "What?" he asked, checking the time. Ten… in the morning. Oops.
"Tony." Oh, great. It was Diane. "You know how Gibbs is at that conference?"
"What about it?"
"Well, I have to go to this dinner tonight, so… would you mind babysitting?"
"Yeah…babysitting….not my thing."
"Please, Tony!"
"Don't you already have a sitter?"
"She's booked for the night."
Tony considered his options. He could decline, possibly making Diane miss her dinner and have Gibbs ticked at him. On the other hand, if the kid ended up hurt (which seemed to happen a lot when he and Ria were together) the boss would kill him. And, knowing all how capable Gibbs was of that feat, Tony fought down a sense of perpetual dread.
"Fine. I guess I can move some things around…"
"You have nothing to do tonight, do you?"
"Nothing whatsoever, Diane."
She chuckled quietly. "Alright, see you at six." And the line went dead.
Great. What have I gotten myself into?
XXXXXXX
At exactly six oh five, Tony rang the doorbell. Ria opened the door, her face lighting up. "Hi, Mr. Dee-nozzie!" she squealed.
"Kid, just call me Tony."
"Alwight, Mr. Dee-nozzie!" she said, smiling. Tony sighed. This would be a long night. Diane appeared in the hall, frantically pulling on a high-heeled shoe.
"Tony! Thank you so much…" she said, smiling at him.
"Hey Diane. Yeah, no problem!" Tony said, faking enthusiasm. "I'm sure we'll have a great time."
"Yeah, I bet! She's been crazy excited ever since I said you were coming over. Her bedtimes at eight, so you won't have too long."
"Alright. Go on, Diane, get to your meeting. We'll be just fine."
Diane pecked Ria on the cheek and fled to her car. As the cars lights pulled out of the drive, Ria smiled at Tony. "You wanna play a game?"
"Sure, whatever. But remember, kid, you're bedtimes in two hours."
"Alwight!"
"So..what's the game called?"
"Daddy taught it to me! It's cawed… No Pain, No Gain!"
Ah, crap.
XXXXXXXX
Monday morning, a very cheerful McGee walked into the NCIS main room, whistling. He stopped to check a note on the main board, and then continued to his desk. Past everyone…and everyone looked normal, except Tony.
"Tony? Are you okay, buddy?" he said, smirking.
Tony looked to be in serious pain, rubbing his arms in a circular motion. He glared at McGee. "Be quiet, Proby. I will hurt you."
"DiNozzo! What happened?" Gibbs barked, coming out of the elevator, coffee in hand.
"That…is a very good story. I was lifting weights Saturday, and it seemed my partner was distracted…" Tony went on, shooting Gibbs a look that said please-don't-say-it…
"Saturday?" Gibbs asked, his lip twitching.
"Yes! Remember, I told you about it…" Tony said, instantly breathing a sigh of relief.
"You mean when you were babysitting Ria?"
McGee let out a chuckle. "Oh, I get it now!" he said, laughing.
Tony shot him a death glare. "Can it, Proby, or I'll…"
"Sic Maria on me?" McGee said, completely losing his composure.
Gibbs chuckled. The last thing he heard was "Tony…Tony, stop it. Tony…!!" Before the elevator door closed.