Chapter Five
In the dark Gibbs waited in the hospital room. He sat in a corner of the room on the blindside of the door with his Sig Sauer in his hand and his eyes adjusted to the dark. In the bed slept a body. His body was nearing exhaustion, but all those days as a marine and NCIS agent had taught him to ignore tiredness and keep pushing through.
A sliver of light entered the room, as the door parted. Gibbs stilled his breathing. The sliver of light grew until some slipped into the room. The door then closed and this person stood in front of the bed and raised a gun.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," said Gibbs.
The person turned quickly to shoot, but Gibbs fired two rounds into his chest and sent him down to the floor. The body in the bed threw the blanket off and turned on the light. It was Morse.
"That was close," he said.
"I wasn't going to let him shoot you."
"I guess you ME and forensic scientist will tell us who he is," said Morse with some disappointment.
"They will," replied Gibbs.
"Now, we know there is a mole and it is one of three people," said Morse.
He slipped out of the bed. His night clothes of cargo pants and bush shirt were rumbled.
"Should I collect the three people?" asked Morse.
"Yeah, we should, Marine," said Gibbs.
Morse smiled at Gibbs. It wasn't lost on Gibbs that a Recon Force Marine became Tony's partner protecting his six. DiNozzo came to trust Marine's because of Gibbs. Now if I can get him to trust me again.
NCISNCIS
Tony started to wake with a groan. His body became rigid as he realized he was lying in the autopsy, though on a bed and not on one of Ducky's slabs. After the realization of where he was kicked in then the pain followed. It was dark, except for a light in the corner by Ducky's small desk. Tony could that he wasn't alone.
"Anthony, you are awake," said Ducky.
Ducky got up from his chair and collected a few items.
"Yeah, Ducky, I'm awake," said Tony. "How long have I been out?"
"Thirty-six hours," said Ducky, as he approached.
"Damn," sighed Tony. "Was I in a minor coma or something?"
"Actually, I kept you sedated, Anthony," said Ducky.
Ducky started to take Tony's vitals. Tony glared at the ME.
"You have bruised ribs, bruised kidney, contusions on your back and spine, and a mild concussion," said Ducky. "Gibbs and Vance thought it best that you get some rest. Everyone remembers how you hate to admit it when you are hurt."
"So you drugged me," growled Tony. "How are Mal and Liat?"
"Bruised but well," said Ducky. "They are somewhere in this building."
"And Heney is dead," stated Tony.
"I am afraid so," said Ducky. "He died when he started up the car and it exploded. There was no saving him."
"I want to talk to Gibbs."
"He is busy," said Ducky.
"Then I want Fornell," said Tony.
"I'll get him, Anthony."
Ducky walked out of the autopsy leaving Tony alone. Ignoring the pain and the fact he was in a hospital nightgown, he tossed his legs over the side of the bed and sat up. His body ached and had throbbed, but he was determined to get back to work.
The doors to autopsy opened and Fornell walked in. He turned on the lights nearly blinding Tony. Once his eyes were adjusted Tony noticed that Fornell had his suit jacket off, his sleeves rolled up, and his tie undone. He looked tired and overworked.
"Tobias, tell me what has happened since I've been out," said Tony.
"Okay," said Fornell. "First off, we decided to hide you here since it appears Saleem Ulman wants you dead. Next, we sent a message through certain people that you were alive and in the hospital. It was a barium test to find the mole. Someone tried to kill you just five hours ago. We collected the three people who could be the mole and Gibbs and Vance have been working on them. I think we now have it narrowed to one – HSI Special Agent William Nassir."
"You checking him out?" asked Tony.
"Jardine and McGee are electronically checking his ever orifice," said Fornell. "He was Ulman roommate at Yale."
"We should start checking all his friends and associates at Yale," said Tony.
"Already started," said Fornell. "I have an FBI team on it."
"I need clothes and some food, Tobias," said Tony.
"I'll talk to Dr. Mallard first," said Fornell.
"You do that, Tobias. I'll just sit here and wait," smiled Tony.
NCISNCIS
In Interview Room One Gibbs sat across from Nassir and glared at him. Nassir was in his thirty-five, just like Ulman. According to everything they could find he was religious or even political, yet he ruined his life for Ulman. Gibbs looked down at his file for a moment. Nassir seemed to be relieved that Gibbs' grey blue eyes had stopped boring into him.
"So, Agent Nassir, do you make it a habit to commit treason against your country for a classmate?" Gibbs asked him.
Treason against country, Nassir knew what that meant. He was either looking at life in prison or the death penalty.
"I don't know what you are talking about, Agent Gibbs," he responded.
Gibbs looked up at him. There was no mistaken the disdain he had for Nassir.
"We have too much on you for you to play dumb. Playing it smart might do you some good," said Gibbs.
Ziva watched from the Observation Room. Vance was needed to brief the DOD, SecNav, and White house, and everyone else was either busy or getting some down time. She knew that Gibbs didn't need it but she wanted to make sure that someone had his six.
The door to the Observation Room opened and Tony walked stiffly into the room. There was a purple bruise on his cheek. She had an odd impulse to touch it.
"Agent David," he said.
"Tony," she said softly. "Are you feeling better?"
"I'm peachy."
"No, you are not," she said. "We were all worried about you."
He looked over at her and slight smile played on his lips.
"You were worried about me?" he asked.
"You are our leader and you were my partner. I care," she admitted.
Before Tony could respond Fornell entered the room with a cup of coffee and a sandwich for Tony. He handed them to Tony.
"Eat and get some energy. You'll need it," said Fornell.
"Thanks, Tobias," said Tony.
"How is Gibbs coming with Nassir?" asked Fornell to Ziva.
"He will break him," she said.
The three of them turned their attention back to Gibbs.
"You don't know what it was like, Agent Gibbs. Yale accepted us as students but not as human beings. We were Arabs, outsiders. Saleem was my friend," said Nassir.
"A friend who kills children," said Gibbs.
He took photos of the scenes from San Diego featuring dead children and showed them to Nassir, who flinched when he saw them.
"I don't agree with this," he said.
"Yet, you are an accessory," said Gibbs.
"No, no, I would never want innocent children dead," Nassir mumbled.
"How did Saleem contact you?" Gibbs asked.
Nassir took a minute as he continued to look at the photos.
"Through an intermediary at first," said Nassir. "His name from Abdul Kalif. He supplied a burner for me to use in order to speak to Saleem."
In the Observation Room Tony swallowed his bite of the sandwich.
"Tobias, get everything you can about this Abdul Kalif then send Callen and Hanna to pick him up. If he has left DC, send them wherever they have to go," ordered Tony.
"Back in charge, DiNutso," said Fornell with smile.
"Sorry, Tobias," said Tony.
"Don't be. I'm glad to have you back," said Fornell.
He exited the room leaving Ziva and Tony. Tony took another bite of his sandwich then a sip of his coffee.
"Why do you hate this Saleem so much?" she asked.
"The first investigation I did once I was assigned to Bahrain involved him. He tortured and murdered five Marines. I guess Gibbs taught me how to become obsessed sometimes just like he can be," said Tony.
"So you have been after him ever since," said Ziva.
"Yup. I've come close a few times, took out a lot of his top lieutenants but he has always eluded me," said Tony, who then took another sip of his coffee. "Chad and I used to talk about getting the bastard. Chad's dead now, so it's up to me."
"You have changed," Ziva stated.
"More handsome? Sexier?" he smiled.
"Harder," she answered.
"Well, the dessert is a good place to toughen you up," he said.
"I know," Ziva said softly.
Tony looked over at her. His eyes and face softened.
"Do you ever think about that last night we had together?" he asked her.
Ziva surprised he asked about this. She didn't want to admit that she thought about that night far too often.
"I am seeing someone, Tony," she said.
The hardness came back into his face like he was putting on a mask. His smile went from inviting and friendly to insincere.
"Good for you, Agent David," he said then he tossed his unfinished sandwich and coffee into a garbage pail. "Well, Gibbs will get everything he came from Nassir. I should check on other things."
He straightened himself up and walked out of the room. Ziva felt a sting in her eyes. She didn't want to hurt him, but she didn't want to take the chance to loose what she had for an unknown.
NCISNCIS
Ten hours later and Tony found himself in his place along with Morse, Malachi and Liat. They entered carrying some late night Chinese food and all of them bone tired. Morse was talking.
"Kalif is in Boston, so Callen and Hanna are off to Beantown," said Morse.
Malachi placed the food on a maple dining table. Liat went into the kitchen to see what was in to drink. She came back with four crystal long stem glasses and two bottles of white wine. Tony took one of the bottles from her and looked at it.
"Not a bad pinot gris," he said.
"You are a wine expert," said Malachi.
"Mal, I've been drinking expensive wines since I was a boy," he said. "I can thank my father for my taste in wine and scotch."
"You have money?" asked Liat.
"Not as much as I should," said Tony. "My father ruined my grandfather's business, spent all the money, and has lived the life of a high end con man ever since."
"But you have money?" she asked again.
"Some," he smiled.
"If I had money I would quit Mossad and move to somewhere where I could avoid trouble," said Malachi.
"Someone toss me an egg roll because I don't care about money," said Morse.
Malachi tossed him an egg roll. Morse sat down in a leather armchair and noshed.
"Eat, drink, and be merry," said Tony, who took off his leather jacket and headed for the piano.
He sat down at the piano and started to play. At first he tuned up with some Chopin but soon he was playing more of a jazz piano. Morse started to chuckle.
"I've got an idea, Tony. After this mission, we open a bar with a piano in it. You can play the piano and I can be the bartender," said Morse.
"Not a bad idea, Jimmy," smiled Tony.
Tony started to play Sinatra's Drinking Again. Liat served them food and drink, as they listened to him play. She placed a plate of food and drink near the piano for him then she joined Malachi on the sofa to eat and relax.
"You want to take requests?" asked Morse.
"Sure," said Tony.
"How about the Beatles Revolution Nine?" smirked Morse.
Without missing a beat Tony started playing some music then said singing, "Number Nine, number nine, number nine."
Morse broke into laughter as did Liat and Malachi. Tony stopped playing.
"I think I'm getting loopy," he smiled.
"Eat," said Malachi, "you will feel better."
"Yeah, I know. I just feel like I should bring some change of clothes to NCIS and stay there until further notice. I feel like I'm missing something," he said.
"Oh, shut up and eat your food," said Morse.
NCISNCIS
Callen and Hanna landed at Logan Airport in the Gulfstream. According to the most up to date information they had on Abdul Kalif he was staying outside of Boston in Cambridge. To be exact the neighborhood was Kendall Square. The Boston Police met Callen and Hanna at the airport.
"I'm Captain Houlihan," the lead cop introduced himself.
"We need SWAT teams for this, Captain," said Hanna.
"Cambridge Police will have a SWAT team for us there and you have Boston's best," said Houlihan.
"They follow our lead. We are going to try to take Kalif alive if possible," said Callen.
"If not him then one of those with him," added Hanna.
"You lead and we follow," said Houlihan.
NCISNCIS
Tony's smartphone rang, rang, and rang. He reached blindly for it, as he slept on the sofa. Grabbing it off the coffee table, he answered it.
"DiNozzo," he said with a hoarse voice.
"SAC DiNozzo, this is Meyers in MTAC. I received a message from Agent Callen. In forty minutes he wants to talk to you over a secure line in MTAC," said Meyers.
"I'll be there," said Tony.
He hung up his smartphone and then he slowly sat up. His body was sore and ached in places he didn't want it to ache. Time and rest would make him feel better, but he had no time for rest. He tossed at pillow at Morse, who slept in the armchair.
"I'm taking a hot shower then we have to get going," he said.
"Yes, boss," said Morse without opening his eyes trying to catch a few more minutes of sleep.
Tony decided against one of his suits. After rousing Malachi and Liat out of bed, he changed into cargo pants, a black bush shirt, his Glock 23, a retractable Ka-Bar, and his leather bomber's jacket. They all headed off to NCIS.
When Tony entered MTAC at four in the morning, Gibbs was waiting for him. Meyers brought Callen up via a laptop and Skype.
"Callen, what happened in Boston?" Tony asked.
"We merged on the apartment in Kendall Square. They were waiting for us. Six terrorists, including Kalif, none survived," said Callen.
"Shit, we get anything useful?" asked Tony.
"Laptop, maps, and diagrams to make car bombs. It appears that we broke up a terrorist attack on Boston. They were going to blow up car bombs on New Year's Eve during the First Night celebration at Government Center and on the Boston Common," said Callen.
"New Year's Eve," sighed Tony. "We have less than a month to find out where else Saleem plans to hold New Year's Eve parties and stop them."
"Sam and I are bringing the laptop and everything else back with us," said Callen. "Expect us in five or six hours, we have to deal with some stuff here first."
"Tell the politicians and police not to give too much up to the press. Tell them if they do they'll hear from the President of the United States," said Tony.
Callen smiled, "Gladly."
The Skype went off and Tony looked at Gibbs.
"New Year's Eve," said Gibbs.
"At least that is what he intended for most of his attacks, but I have no doubt he intended something else, also," said Tony.
"Let's stop them one at a time, DiNozzo," said Gibbs. "Boston stopped. Where's next?"
"The million dollar question," sighed Tony.
"I'll get Abby and Moss into work and ready to receive the evidence from Callen and Hanna. Maybe they can get more information from it," said Gibbs.
"When is everyone due in?" Tony asked.
"By seven," answered Gibbs.
"I'm going to catch a little more sleep down in autopsy," said Tony.
"If you're needed I'll know where to get you," said Gibbs.
Tony headed up the aisle and out of MTAC. Gibbs followed him with his eyes. He was worried about his former SFA. DiNozzo could handle the pressure and was more than up for the job, but he was becoming a bit too much like him. The job was everything to him. Ari was his obsession and now Saleem was Tony's. He wanted more for DiNozzo than becoming another Gibbs.
NCISNCIS
Ziva entered the bullpen. She saw Gibbs at his desk looking annoyed.
"Good morning, Gibbs," she said, as she took off her overcoat and dropped her backpack behind her desk.
"Morning, Ziver," he said. "You rested?"
"Yes," she said. "Something is wrong?"
"Boston cell was taken down. Callen and Hanna found evidence of an attack on New Year's Eve. We now have a starting point," said Gibbs.
"This is good news, yes?"
"Yes."
"Then why does it not see, good news?" she asked.
"I'm worried about DiNozzo," he answered.
Ziva looked at him with concern.
"Something is wrong with Tony?" she asked.
"He's fine, or as fine as he can be with a bruised body. He's down in autopsy sleeping right now. I'm worried about him. He's becoming more and more like me," said Gibbs.
"Gibbs, you are a good man. Is it bad that he should be like you?" she asked.
"Yeah, it is," said Gibbs. "He can do better."
Gibbs stood up then he said, "I need more coffee. I'll be back. When McGee and Jardine get in tell them to get to work in MTAC."
"I will, Gibbs," said Ziva.
Gibbs grabbed his overcoat and strode out of the bullpen. Maybe I should talk to Tony.