NOTES: Just a quick not to thank everyone who has favourited and followed my story, and a huge thank you for everyone who has left me a review. It is very encouraging to know this story is tickling everyones fancy :). This story was set when Tony was dating Zoe is mentioned here and has a tiny part in upcoming chapters. Enjoy chapter 3.

Chapter 3:

Tim McGee arrived home only to find Tony in his apartment having a coffee with Delilah.

Delilah looks up at Tim, communicating non verbally that no, she doesn't know why he is here, and no, she hasn't told him anything.

Tony turns when he hears Tim come in, "Hey there McTardy."

Tim frowns and asks nervously, "Tony, what are you doing here. It's late."

"I know but I came here as soon as I left work. I expected you to be right behind me, not nearly an hour later. Delilah here was kind enough to entertain me until you turned up."

"You still haven't explained why you are here Tony," Tim asked actually starting to sound angry.

Tony frowned and looked at both Tim and Delilah who both were looking somewhat aprehensive, "Calm down McCranky, I came because I was worried about you. You haven't been yourself today all twitchy and … weird, well weirder than normal. I thought I would drop in and check everything was OK."

"Well everything is fine and it's late so…" Tim turned back towards the door and opened it, indicating that Tony was to leave.

Again Tony looked between the two of them, his mind analysing their actions and reactions to each other. He stood up, "OK then, well Delilah, thank you for the coffee, it was good to see you. Zoe wants to set up a double date with you guys so maybe that is something you might want to discuss with Timmy here when he is in less of a pissy mood."

"Yes, that sounds lovely, I am sure we can arrange something in the not to distant future," Delilah responded in an incredibly polite and formal way. She sounded like she was brushing off an annoying business associate, not someone who was supposed to be a close friend.

Again, Tony's suspicions were heightened. He turned and headed to the door, as he passed, Tim said "Good night Tony and thanks for dropping by," but before the door shut Tony spun around and held the door open with his hand and stepped back in closer to Tim.

In a quiet voice he said, "I don't know what is going on here Tim but it is obvious there is something bothering the two of you, and damned if it doesn't appear to be something to do with me. I've known you for a long time and I thought we trusted each other so if there is something you want to talk to me about you can. You know I don't like it when people do things behind my back, so if you want to know something, or want to say something to me, just do it OK. When you decide that you want to talk to be about whatever it is that has got you and Delilah jumpy as rabbits then you know where to find me. You know where I live, just like I know where you live. Kapeesh?" Tony squeezed Tim's shoulder and turned and walked away.

Tim shut the door behind him and took in what Tony just said to him. Did Tony just threaten him? Did he know Tim was looking into his past? Was Tony willing to hurt him or Delilah to keep his secret?

"Tim, are you ok? What did he say to you?" Delilah asked as she wheeled her chair over to him.

"He just … I don't know … he said he could tell something was bothering me, both of us, and that he knew it was something about him. He said he didn't like people going behind his back and if I wanted to talk to him then I should. Then he said something about 'I know where you live. Kapeesh?' then squeezed my shoulder and walked away."

"What do you mean he 'squeezed your shoulder'? Did he hurt you?"

"No, he didn't hurt but it was …" Tim pinched the bridge of his nose, "I don't know, maybe I am reading too much into it. Did he say anything to you before I came?"

"Not really, we just talked about our holiday and he asked where we went?"

"What did you say? You didn't tell him we were in Long Island did you?"

"Not specifically, I mean he knew we were going up that way because we had already told him before we went. He just kind of asked if we liked it up there and if we saw anything interesting."

"Do you think he was fishing for information?" Tim asked.

"I don't think so it was just small talk … I think," Delilah shook her head in confusion, reanalysing their conversation in her head. One of Tony's best investigative skills was making the other person think he knew nothing, when he actually knew everything. She shook her head again, "Look now we are just getting paranoid. I am sure he was just here to check up on why you were acting so weird today like he said, and I really don't think he would have threatened you. I think you just misread the conversation."

"Maybe," Tim didn't sound convince. To be honest he wasn't sure if Tony did threaten him or he was just being paranoid.

"Did you manage to talk to Gibbs?"

"Yeah, that is why I was late, I finally managed to get a moment with him and tell him what we found out."

"So, what did he say?"

"I think like us he is just hoping it is some big misunderstanding, but he wants me to look into it a bit further."

"Well, what are we waiting for?"