Chapter One

Tony awoke with Ziva's naked body wrapped around his naked body. When he first took the undercover assignment going after Rene Benoit from Director Shepard, he thought all he had to do with Jeanne Benoit was string her along. It seemed easy, a little charm and a few lies. He had Ziva, so he didn't want anything more from her. But once Ziva asked Gibbs for help and then she stopped seeing him, he started to treat Jeanne as a real relationship instead of an assignment. That ended up not going well for either one of them.

Now he lay in bed with Ziva in his arms once again and life starting to make sense again. He thought about last night. They had spent hours making love, or having sex, or just plain screwing. Sometimes he wasn't sure what to call it with him and Ziva. There were moments when he knew that she was the one, his great love of his life, and then there were moments when she was the hottest fuck he'd ever had and nothing more. It seemed to be her willingness to admit what she felt for him that set the barometer for their relationship.

As he shifted in bed he remembered that Jenny gave him the day off today to recover from his heroics. Considering he still felt a little heaviness in his chest, he felt relieved he didn't have to go into work. He could spend the day with his inhaler and meds and getting a start on a long weekend where he could get rid of the slight rattle in his chest.

"You need to use your inhaler," Ziva said with her head resting on his chest.

"How do you know?" he asked.

"I've been listening to your breathing," she said then turned her head and sucked on his nipple.

"Oh, Jeeze, losing train of thought here," he said.

She stopped with a un-Ziva like giggle, which meant she was highly amused by herself.

"I need to get up and go to my apartment to change. I know Jenny gave you the day off," she said.

She sat up then gracefully slid out of bed. He looked at her naked form. In his opinion her body was sensual, lithe, and possessed the perfect ass. He stared at her as she collected her clothes then turned and faced him.

"I will remind Gibbs that you are not coming in," she said.

"Yeah, sure," he said once again losing his focus as he stared at her. "You are one of the few women I've met that can make me turn to jelly just standing there nude and doing nothing. God, I am crazy about you."

"Ditty," she said.

"You mean ditto. A ditty is a song," he corrected her.

"If you want to see me naked again, you better take care of yourself today," she said.

"I will," he smiled.

Ziva hustled off to the bathroom to change.

NCIS

Supervisory Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs sat at his desk reviewing his senior field agent incident report. He had avoided Tony yesterday because part of him didn't want to be saved, he wanted to join his deceased daughter and wife, and then there was another part of him that was pissed that DiNozzo played cowboy, just like he had. Yes, he saved Maddie's and his life but his actions could have cost him his own life. He thought he had taught him better than that. Rule 15, always work as a team.

The report read like an episode of Magnum PI, Tony's all-time favorite TV show. His running through the warehouse and killing the two mercs while taking fire was bad enough then he dove into the Potomac and rescuing Maddie then him and having to give them both CPR, even though his own lungs probably were burning from overuse. Yeah, he was pissed with DiNozzo for risking his life like that. And he was proud of him.

After discovering him as a homicide detective in Baltimore he had worked with DiNozzo for the last seven years now. There was no one he trusted more covering his six than DiNozzo no matter how big a pain in the ass he could be. Yes, some of his masks he wore in order to deflect and misguide people got under Gibbs' skin, especially his clown mask with his jokes and constant sarcasm, but he knew the man underneath the clown mask was a lonely, strong, and damned near unbreakable son-of-a-bitch who refused to his fate in life and chose his own path, even though it meant a lot of pain and detractors. He admired Tony Dinozzo and even thought of him as the son he never had, though he would never admit to it.

McGee and Ziva got of elevator at the same time. They entered the bullpen area of the Gibbs' led Major Crime Response Team, MCRT. As McGee headed for his desk, Ziva tossed her backpack behind her desk and then spoke to Gibbs.

"Do not forget that Tony will not be in today, Gibbs. Director Shepard gave him the day off," she said.

"You saw him after work last night, Ziver," Gibbs said. It wasn't a question but a statement that required more information.

"I wanted to check on him. His chest sounded wheezy," she said.

Gibbs ran his right hand through his silver and grey hair and stared down at his desk for a moment. He was afraid that DiNozzo would get some kind of chest cold from his swim. If he didn't take care of chest colds, they could morph to pneumonia and with his scarred lungs that could kill him. Sometimes worrying about DiNozzo was like worrying about a toddler.

"He was going to use his inhaler and take his medications today," Ziva told him.

Gibbs didn't answer but exhaled a pent up breath then wondered if he should head over to DiNozzo's apartment and check on him. Before he could make up his mind to go the telltale ding that the elevator made to announce more arrivals or departures could be heard and the frog faced FBI Special Agent Tobias Fornell and his African American partner Special Agent Sacks in their trench coats and cheap suits came strolling into the bullpen. Gibbs' famous gut let him know that something not good was about to happen.

"Tobias, why are you here?" asked Gibbs.

"LCN business," he said.

Gibbs went to stone.

"LCN business?" Ziva spoke up.

"FBI for La Cosa Nostra," Sacks smugly said to her.

"And that would be?" she asked.

"The Italian Mafia, Ziver," Gibbs spoke up sounding frustrated.

"More precisely, the Sicilian Mafia," said Fornell.

"I am sorry, Gibbs, that I didn't know that. Mossad trained me in terrorists not criminals," she said.

"No one is blaming you for anything, Ziver. Listen and learn," he growled, as his mood turned even more sour.

"We're here to talk to an expert on the La Cosa Nostra," said Fornell.

"He's not in today, Tobias," said Gibbs. "Come back some other day."

Ziva perked up. The only person not in today was Tony. She wasn't aware that he was an expert on the Mafia other than owning all Three Godfather movies and making her watch them one weekend.

"A hit was attempted on his father and his uncle," said Fornell.

"Tony's father is the CEO of DiNozzo Enterprises, right?" asked Ziva.

Fornell smiled at Gibbs: "Your people don't know about your boy, do they?"

"Fornell, you know he has nothing to do with his family," said Gibbs

"Anthony DiNusto Senior is the consigliere of the Genovese Crime Family and his Uncle Vincent is the Don," said Sacks.

"Wait a minute," McGee spoke up finally looking away from his computer. "Tony said his uncle was a butcher."

"Not a butcher, Special Agent McGee, but the Butcher. He's Vincent 'The Butcher' DiNutso," said Fornell with a chuckle. "He got the name because he used to like to hang his victims up by their feet and gut them."

"I didn't know that," said McGee as he blanched at the thought of being hung upside down and gutted.

"We need to talk about the Genovese Family and other matters," said Fornell.

Ziva and McGee exchanged confused expressions. From what they knew Tony had grown up a rich kid on Long Island in the Hamptons to be exact and not much else, except he didn't get along with his father. She had to admit that she go into depth on Tony's profile all those years ago. It was Gibbs who got the most attention.

"Both Vincent and Anthony DiNutso survived though two of their bodyguards are dead and another one is expected to die," said Fornell. "I really need to speak to DiNozzo. It's important Jethro. I think we might have a mob war on our hands. He knows the players better than most and not only because he was born into it."

"McGee, call up DiNozzo and tell him he needs to come in. The FBI wants to speak to him," growled Gibbs, who then glared at Fornell with his grey blue eyes. "Don't try and get my agent involved in this beyond information."

"Trust me, Jethro, I just want to talk to DiNozzo," he said.

NCIS

Vincent DiNozzo sat at the table with his brother Anthony in The Italian American Club at Coleman Square in Howard Beach, Queens, New York. It was a drab, badly decorated little club with an Italian flag hanging on one wall and Sinatra and every other Italian singer on the jukebox. Vincent sipped the espresso that Jimmy made him since he was the only one with the knack to use the brass espresso machine they had. Anthony had called in the underboss Mario and several of their caporegime, as well as Vincent's sons Paulo, Vinnie and Johnny. They were now waiting on Mario.

"What have you found out so far, Antony?" asked Vincent.

"Someone in the Gambino's hired an African American street gang to take you and me out," Anthony said.

"Was it Franco?" Vincent asked.

"I'm not sure," he answered.

"Find out. If it was Franco, we're at war. Che peccato. If it wasn't him, then there is still a chance to avoid a war. War is bad for business," said Vincent.

"I'll send out feelers. I'll get you an answer by tomorrow," said Anthony.

The door to the club open letting some sunshine into the dark club confines. Mario Cuomo and six of his soldiers came walking in. Mario was six foot tall and two hundred and seventy pounds. When he was younger it was all muscle, but not so much anymore.

"Vinnie, Antony, thank God, you are alive," he said then blessed himself, "this family would be fucked without the two of you."

He walked over and sat at the table with Vincent and Anthony.

"What have you done about the shooting so far?" asked Vincent.

"I sent some cugines to find the Mulignan gang that tried to kill you and with a message job," he said. "They'll find them and they'll kill them and it won't fucking be pretty."

"Good. That's a start," Vincent said.

"Trust me, someone started this but we are going to fucking finish it," said Mario.

"Contact the boys in Jersey and get them ready," advised Anthony.

Mario nodded his head in the affirmative.

"Get me Sal Alito. If Franco isn't involved in this then he can act as our messaggero to the Gambino's," said Vincent.

"I'll give him a call later," said Anthony.

"Mario, just in case this is a war make sure family, including comares, are safe," said Vincent.

"Even our comares, our mistresses. Really, why?" said Anthony.

"They are part of the family and a way to get to us. Anyway, you've got more gabagool on the side to eat than most of us," Vincent teased his brother, which shut him up.

"Including Allegra and Father Francis, Carlo's kids?" asked Mario.

Vincent nodded yes.

"How about Anthony, junior?" asked Mario.

"He's a fucking fed. Let him dance alone. He likes it that way," said Anthony.

"I'll handle him," said Vincent.

NCIS

Dressed in jeans, a tee shirt, and an OSU hoodie with a leather jacket over it, Tony walked into the bullpen. As he walked by Ziva's desk she looked up from her work and smiled at him. He returned the smile with one of his own. Gibbs looked him up and down. He looked healthy enough, but he wanted Ducky to check his lungs before he left today.

"Gibbs, you called me in," Tony said.

"I got Fornell and Sacks in the conference room upstairs waiting to talk to you. Somebody attempted a hit on your father and your uncle," Gibbs stated.

"I didn't do it," smiled Tony putting a mask on.

Gibbs shook his head knowing this wasn't going to be easy for his SFA: "They know that, DiNozzo."

Gibbs stood up and put his right hand in Tony's left shoulder and got on close to his face. Tony relaxed his mask and his real face appeared. He was a conflicted man and the residual anger from his father's treatment of him showed in his eyes and the turn of his mouth.

"I'm here for you and will support you on whatever you decide. Fornell said he wants information because he fears a war is going to break out," said Gibbs. "You know those wars can get bloody and they don't care about collateral damage. Innocent people could die."

"Vincent understands the collateral damage. That's why he is the Don," said Tony.

"I won't let you deal with any of this alone," Gibbs said.

If you listened closely enough you could almost hear the word son at the end of the sentence. Ziva and McGee watched the two men. It was seldom that Gibbs showed his affection for Tony in front of anyone. He knew how uncomfortable it made him when someone showed him real affection in public. Ziva had even seen him become uncomfortable in bed. It had taken him a long time to accept her caring about him and she almost ruined it by choosing to follow Gibbs rules.

"Okay, I'll talk to them," said Tony then he paused.

He looked at McGee and Ziva. Both of them seemed eager to hear what Tony had to say.

"The team comes along. I don't want to be repeating myself too often and you can see that they won't stop until they know the truth," Tony said.

Gibbs stepped away and looked at McGee and Ziva: "Keep your mouths shut up there and be prepared to be stunned."

The four of team members headed up the mezzanine's stairs. As they reached the landing Jenny Shepard came out of her office in order to hand Cynthia something and she noticed that one of her MCRT seemed to be headed towards the conference room.

"Jethro," she said.

SLL eyes turned to the fiery red head who was the current Director of NCIS.

"I'll explain later, Jen," he said. "The FBI is waiting for us in the conference room."

"I'll expect an explanation," she said then returned to her office.

They entered the conference room. Tony felt his heart starting to thump in his chest. He knew it was best to handle it this way. Whenever he had dealing with his family and he kept secrets they ended up hurting someone he care for.

Fornell smiled when the whole entered the conference room. Sacks snarled.

"DiNutso," Fornell said.

"DiNozzo. I'm not one of them, Fornell. I pronounce it DiNozzo," Tony corrected him.

"As if that doesn't make you a member of the family," Sacks derisively laughed.

"And you wonder why I don't trust the FBI," Tony said as he sat down.

Gibbs sat down beside him and McGee and Ziva remained standing with Ziva taking a position right behind Tony, as if she was protecting his back.

"It appears that someone hired an African American gang to try and kill your father and Uncle Vincent," said Sacks.

"Mulignans or Mooleys," said Tony.

"What?" replied Sacks.

"They call African Americans Mulignans or Mooleys in the Family. It means eggplant," explained Tony.

"Isn't that nice and racists? I don't usually work LCN," said Sacks.

"Stugots," Tony hissed.

Fornell smiled. Until Ellis Island his family name was Fornello. He knew and understood the mob, though he was without the in depth knowledge that Tony had.

"Some believe it is Franco Moretti, the current Capo of the Gambino Family responsible," said Fornell. "What's your opinion?"

Tony inhaled then slowly exhaled. Ziva watched his body language change from bent over to sitting straighter and more relaxed.

"Franco is a mortadella, a loser. He's temporary at best and he'd never make a move against Vincent," said Tony. "If my father is worth his salt as consigliere he'll know this is the work of young Turks being led by some cugine, some ambitious bastard looking to be made and looking to lead."

"How are you so sure about this, DiNozzo?" asked Sacks.

"Did he read my file completely, including the redacted shit?" asked Tony.

"No," smiled Fornell. "Tell him."

"After over two years in Peoria as a cop I was recruited for a joint FBI and Philly PD op. They died my hair black and gave me a background history and sent me off to Philly to infiltrate the Macaluso Family knowing I wouldn't run into any of the New York or Chicago Families. After two years I was being groomed to be the next Don and had enough evidence to put Mike Macaluso, his underboss, and several of his caporegime put away from life," he explained. "They embraced me as family and I stabbed them in the chest."

Ziva stared at the back of the head of the man she loved. She had to admit she kept underestimating him and he kept surprising her.

"Et tu, Tony," said Fornell.

"Very funny, Fornell," said Tony.

"I wanted you for the FBI after that but you chose Baltimore as a homicide detective," said Fornell.

"I didn't want to be involved in Family business for the rest of career. I want nothing to do with the Five Families," said Tony.

"How will your uncle react to this attempted hit?" asked Fornell.

"He'll find out if Franco was behind it. If he is, then it's war. If it isn't Franco, he'll want the head of the bastard who is behind it. Either way blood will flow," explained Tony.

"If it is young Turks?" asked Fornell.

"From what I know the young Turks in several they are upset at the current condition of Families. They believe new young blood is needed to bring the Families back to their former glory. They've grown up on watching The Godfather and The Sopranos," he said.

"How do you know this if you are not involved with your Family?" asked Sacks.

"Listen, Slacks, I didn't grow up part of the Family but I do have one or two childhood friends who I remain friendly with. One is a simple soldier and the other is a caporegime. They keep me abreast of things," said Tony.

"Why?" asked Sacks.

"For my safety. I don't want to be Anthony Domenic DiNozzo, Junior, but I am. A vendetta on my father is a vendetta on me. A vendetta on the Family is a vendetta on me, even though I have nothing to do with them and I'm a Navy cop," he said. "Plus, I've got a lot of Family members who hate me for what I did to the Macaluso family and for never becoming a made man, a man of honor. My father is one of them."

McGee's eyes opened wide. It didn't matter what Tony wanted he was part of the Family, even though it was a Family that hated him.

"But Vincent likes you, doesn't he?" asked Fornell.

"I was twelve when my father finally turned his back on me and sent me to camps in summer and military school the rest of the time. Whenever I was with family, it was with Vincent's family. He thought my father failed me. Vincent is big on the children being the future of the Family and he thought I was a great loss," Tony told them.

"Help us, DiNozzo," said Fornell. "No undercover work this time, but work with me and the task force I'm heading to gain control of this before it falls apart and New York has blood running in the streets like Cleveland in the seventies."

"Fornell, I warned you," Gibbs growled.

"I need him, Jethro," said Fornell. "He's a fucking goldmine for this kind of work."

"I don't do anything without my team, Fornell. I'm NCIS and part of Gibbs' team. I trust them," Tony said.

"What if I can somehow get you and your team on the task force, will you help me then?" asked Fornell.

"Yes," Tony answered.

"Fornell, we don't need him," said Sacks.

"Yes, we do," smiled Fornell.

"Today is my day off," said Tony, "so if no one else wants me, I'm going home."

"You are seeing Ducky first. I want your chest checked out," ordered Gibbs.

"Yes, boss," Tony sighed.

NCIS

The sexagenarian Scott medical examiner had Tony take his hoodie off and his tee shirt off and now held a stethoscope to his chest and listened to his breathing. Tony stared at Ducky's red bow tie as Ducky played doctor on him. Gibbs watched with his arms folded in front of his chest and not saying a word.

"Deep breath," he said, "now release."

"I'm fine, Ducky," said Tony.

"You have a slight rattle in the chest. Are you using the inhaler?" he asked him.

"Started this morning," Tony answered.

"And the medicine that Dr. Pitt subscribed for these moments. Are you taking it?" he asked.

"Started this morning," said Tony.

"By Monday you should be cleared up then," said Ducky. "I'd get plenty of rest this weekend and no alcohol."

"Not even MaCallan Fine Oak 17?" Tony grinned.

"Ah, well a small thimble full now and again won't hurt you," said Ducky.

"Good because I'm going to need a thimble full after today," he sighed.

"Keep the inhaler and medicine up and you'll be fine," said Ducky.

It was then that Ziva unexpectedly came into the autopsy. She smiled subtly when she saw the shirtless Tony.

"Gibbs, Fornell wishes to speak to you before he leaves," said Ziva. "He is in with Director Shepard."

"Stay here, Ziver, and make sure DiNozzo doesn't go anyplace until I return," said Gibbs then he turned and bolted out of the autopsy.

"You may put your shirt and hoodie back on, Anthony," said Ducky with a smile then he looked at Ziva over his glasses. "Officer David, has Anthony told you about his father?"

Tony looked at Ducky not bothering to hide his annoyance.

"No, he has not, Ducky," she said.

"You should have him do so some day. It is an excellent way to come to a better understanding of Anthony," said Ducky. "I believe that would benefit you."

"And who is to say that I'd tell her, Ducky?" asked Tony.

"Yes, when would I get him to tell me?" asked Ziva.

"I recommend pillow talk," smiled Ducky.

"Ducky, you don't think Ziva and I are…," Tony started to attempt a cover up of their relationship.

"Anthony, you do not have to make up excuses or lies with me. I do not labor under Jethro's rules. The heart will do as the heart wants," he said then he packed up his medical kit. "I believe you are a lovely couple."

Ducky noticed that Ziva blushed slightly at his comment. He knew that the lass had fallen in love with Tony, but he was surprised that Tony broke Jethro's sacred rules. Anthony must have fallen for Ziva as hard as she did for him.

"Now I must see Abby. She was running tests on another case that we are working on for Balboa's MCRT," he said and trundled off to Abby's lab.

"Well, that was unexpected," sighed Tony.

"Ducky is a very bright man," Ziva said.

"Perceptive bastard more like it," said Tony. "I'll have to ask him what gave it away."

"So we can continue to hide it from Gibbs," Ziva said.

"You mean you want to continue the relationship this time, Officer David?" asked Tony. "You want to have a relationship with me again."

"Very much," she smiled. "I thought I could bring my go bag with me tonight and stay with you while you get better."

"Are you going to take care of me?" he asked her.

"If you find it preferable, I can torture you," Ziva smiled.

"I wouldn't mind the company," he said.

"I shall have to ask Ducky later what I should make you for dinner," said Ziva.

Ziva's smart phone rang. She answered it.

"Yes, Gibbs," she said.

"Send DiNozzo home. I'm going to be in a conference with Director Shepard and Fornell for God knows how long. Tell him I'll call him this weekend to check up on him," Gibbs hung up.

"Gibbs says you can go home. He will go you to check up on you this weekend," she smiled.

Tony got off the metal autopsy table and walked over to Ziva, took her in his arms and then devoured her mouth with his own. Once she moaned with pleasure, he stepped back.

"I'll see you later," he said.

She smiled.