So the last line of this chapter, if someone can get it, I will truly love you.
I'm going out of town on Friday and I'll be gone till Tuesday so the next update probably won't be till next week. Sorry about the delay!
So this was supposed to be published last night, but apparently the world was going end. Honestly. There were aliens and robots and chicken nuggets. I had to do some impress backflips and recite Robert Creeley poems until the aliens retreated and the robots self destructed. I'm surprised you all didn't see it on the news.
In no way, shape or form did I fall asleep and forget.
No. It was aliens. And robots. And poetry.
I promise.
"There it is! That's my house!"
Tony smiled as she ran forward, pulling his hand along with her. He jogged next to her, keeping up easily as they stepped up to the clean and comfortable front porch. She swung open the screen door and yelled into the house.
"Daddy! I'm home!"
It was silent.
Tony frowned and glanced into the front door. The lights were still on and there was a telephone dropped on the hall floor. It looked like the person had just disappeared. He tried to stamp down the worry, the father was probably looking for his daughter, and frantic out of his mind.
"Emily. Does your dad know you were playing outside?"
She smiled and nodded.
"Biscuit and I always play outside. Dad usually plays with us but he got a 'portant phone call so he went to the kitchen. He watches out the back window and waves at us so I can still see him. He gets phone calls a lot but he doesn't always answer when I'm here, he says I'm more special."
Tony smiled down at her. From the uneven pigtails to the half done nails, it was easy to see that whoever the father was, he wasn't experienced at it, but also obvious was the love that was given to the child. Emily was happy and taken care of she clearly thought the world of her father.
"Your dad's a smart guy, you're a lot more special than any phone call." Tony turned out of the house so he could look back down the street but he didn't see anyone. "Did you tell him you were chasing after..."
He knew she was going after something, but for the life of him, he couldn't remember. He looked down at the girl questioningly and she frowned at him, disappointment obvious.
"Biscuit. Tony didn't you listen?"
He grinned sheepishly.
"Sorry Emily. I'm pretty forgetful."
She shook her head at him and flopped on the steps.
"I shouted at him but he might not have heard me."
Tony blew out a rush of air and narrowed his eyes before joining her on the steps.
"You're going to have one worried dad kiddo."
She nodded mournfully.
"He promised me ice-cream too. Since I have to go home tomorrow, we always go ice-cream on our last night. We might not now if he's mad."
"Go home?"
The stirring of worry shifted under his skin again.
"Yeah. I can only stay with my dad a couple weekends." She kicked her feet against the sidewalk and chewed on her lip. "I stay with my mom the rest of the time. They don't love each other."
Oh. Tony felt a rush of relief followed by remorse. He was reassured once again, she wasn't a victim. But divorce was terrible on children.
And he was a little concerned about himself. Had he become so jaded that he would never see anything but the possibility of the horror? The terrible and fear?
What was he becoming?
He shuddered slightly and turned his attention back to the forlorn little girl.
That was something to think about later.
More than likely in the middle of the night, when he couldn't sleep and all he could do is wonder what his life was turning into and where all the joy had gone.
Emily. Focus.
" Just because they don't leave each other doesn't mean they don't love you."
Emily leaned into his shoulder, surprising him. Tony tensed up, unsure of what to do. Should he hug her? Pat on her the head? He had never been in this situation before.
Emily didn't seem to notice her hesitation, she stared out into the yard.
"That's what dad says. Think he loves me enough to still get ice-cream? He's going to be awful mad. Last time I made him mad, I didn't get dessert the whole weekend."
"I bet he'll be so excited to see you that he takes you straight to the shop to get some." And if he had to drop some rather strong hints to make that happen, then so be it. Tony paused, tilting his head to the side. "What did you do?"
"I tried to paint the dog blue."
Tony chocked back a snort and shook his head. Emily looked up at him, her eyes wide and imploring.
"If we go get ice-cream will you come too?"
He laughed quietly and shook his head.
"Thanks Emily, but once your dad gets back I have to get back to work, I'm going to be in big trouble with my…friends."
She puzzled over that for a minute before looking up at him.
"But why, you shouldn't get in trouble for-"
"Emily?!"
She looked up and squealed, running down the stairs and across the lawn. A man came sprinting up the grass, intent on the child coming at him. She flung herself into the arms of a middle aged man with grey spread profusely through his hair. Tony stood and smiled at the reunion and started after the girl, ready to introduce himself, reassure the father and be on his way.
He made it half way across the lawn before he realized.
"Fornell?"
Tobias tensed up, his hand moving to his hip. Someone was here with Emily. Was this a threat, something to show how easy it was to get to his daughter. How easy it would be to get to her again?
He searched for a gun that he never wanted to use when his daughter was around when the voice reached him.
"Whoa Tobias, don't get trigger happy on me. Unless of course you're mad that I brought her home."
Tobias stared at the younger man in shock.
That was DiNozzo. Tony DiNozzo. Hid in a body-bag, makes his life living hell whenever he steps in the navy yard, follows Gibbs like a puppy DiNozzo.
Except Gibbs wasn't here anymore.
He had heard there was some power shifting in NCIS, Tony had been given the reigns rather abruptly.
Must be why he looked so damn tired.
But it didn't explain why the hell was he on his lawn.
"DiNutso? What are you doing here?"
Emily tugged on his shoulder, pointing to Tony excitedly.
"That's Tony daddy! He saved me! He found me and brought me home."
Tony smiled widely and fought off laughter. Tobias was a dad. Tobias was a man who bought ice cream and said it was okay to cry and had a dog named Biscuit and probably painted her nails that terrible color of purple and was loved by his daughter and… and that was wonderful.
Tony's face softened and he stepped forward. He offered a hand and shook a hesitant Tobias'.
"I'm glad I was able to help Emily." He ruffled her ponytails. "It was nice to meet you, next time I see you let's let your dad in on the visit."
She flung her arms out, almost making Tobias lose his balance and drew Tony into a hug, pulling the three of them into a strange conjoined knot and bringing the two agents closer than they ever desired to be. Tony ignored the fact that Tobias' face was squishing into his shoulder and gently hugged the girl back.
"Thank you Tony."
"Anytime Emily." He nodded to the still shocked and silent Fornell. "Nice to see you Tobias."
He pulled away and started back down the street. Boy were McGee and Ziva going to be pissed.
"Hey DiNutso!"
Tony turned and glanced back at the little family, curious. Fornell had apparently finally shook his shock.
"Thank you."
Tony smiled and bowed at the waist before disappearing toward his crime scene. Tobias cradled Emily close to his chest took a shaky breath. Without letting go of her he whispered into her hair.
"Are you alright? Did anyone bother you? Are you hurt?"
She shook her head.
"I'm fine daddy. I found Tony really quick, but I can't find Biscuit. He's lost."
Tears started gathering in the corners of her eyes. The fear of being lost and joy of meeting Tony were starting to wear off and now she was suddenly faced with the realization that her dog was missing.
Tobias laughed, ignoring the edge of hysteria.
"Biscuit is in the back room. He showed back up two minutes after you left." He pulled Emily away from himself and looked at her sternly. Well… as sternly as he could manage.
"Emily Grace Fornell. Don't you ever run off like that again, do you hear me young lady?"
She smiled and cuddled back into his collar.
"Yes daddy."
Xxx
Tony jogged back to the crime scene and slid under the crime scene tape, smiling as McGee came up the hill with a definite spring to his step.
"Where've you been."
"I-"
Ziva popped her head from behind a van and sneered.
"Ducky said he was 'helping a charming young lady return home.' So he's been out meeting bimbos while we've been doing all the work."
Tony frowned and was about to correct her when Jimmy came running up.
"Agent DiNozzo."
"Jimmy, if I have to ask you to call me Tony one more time I'm having it tattooed on your wrist and people ask why it's there I'm going to tell them you have a undying man love for me and what will agent Lee think of that."
Jimmy gapped and paled.
"A-Agent Lee? Why-Why would I care what she thinks?"
Tony rolled his eyes and waved his hand toward the assistant.
"What do you want Palmer?"
"Oh, um, the bee...stuff is here."
"Bee stuff? We found a solution?"
MeGee stepped up and pinned him with a glare.
"Yes Tony, while you were out making new 'friends', we've been taking care of our little problem here. We're putting the bees to sleep and transferring them and the hive to a secure place until we figure out if they're relevant."
Tony brushed off the insult and nodded, moving on to the case.
"Fantastic. Where's Ducky?"
McGee pointed to autopsy truck and sauntered over to Ziva. Tony shook his head and started to the truck, Palmer quick on his heels.
"Agent-Tony?"
"Agent Tony? I suppose that's a start. What's up Jimmy?"
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. How are you?"
He paused, obviously surprised in having the question turned back on him.
"I'm fine. Thank you. I'm just… I'm worried about you."
Tony stopped and looked at the gremlin, one eyebrow raising in curiosity.
"You're worried? Why?"
Jimmy looked at the ground and stuttered a couple times before mustering his courage and looking Tony in the eye, speaking in a rush.
"You look terrible. You're tired and worn out and you're always at work and you seem to be doing more than even Agent G-Gibbs did… and no one seems concerned."
Jimmy's voice grew progressively quieter until Tony could barely hear it and he felt something inside of him shift when he realized that even Palmer could tell that he was wearing down and no one seemed bothered or offered to help.
"That's not true."
Jimmy looked at him doubtfully and Tony clasped his shoulder.
"You're concerned. That's more than I had before."
Tony smiled and hurried on forward, waving down Ducky.
"Hey Duck! We're getting somewhere!"
Xxx
Tony smiled as the body was finally packed into the back of Ducky's truck.
Now the bees.
He turned to them and started chewing on the inside of his cheek. They were all sleep (hopefully) and put into a special box that wouldn't allow them out (supposedly) and would be good for transport to a place that would hold them until they were sure they weren't part of the case (thankfully).
And then… they would donate them to a bee farm?
He shook his head.
They would cross that bridge when they came to it.
His uncle Harold always liked bugs, maybe he knew a place they could go, didn't he sponsor a butterfly sanctuary?
He had a vague memory of being chased down by giant winged bugs and shuddered.
Once again. Bridge to cross later.
"Okay team!" He clapped his hands and drew the reluctant attention of his agents. "Here's the plan. Tim, I'm e-mailing you directions to… Papa Jay's organic Honey and Jam Farm… wow. Run our buzzing buddies down there for me...and pick up some strawberry jam. Zi- I need you to finish with the photos, while I-"
"Have you not already shot the scene?"
Ziva looked at him disdainfully. He pointed his pen at her, keeping his face cheerful and voice light.
High expectations were good. It meant they trusted him.
It was good.
It was.
"I had started, but between securing the scene and discovering the hive I didn't finish."
"And meeting your new company for Friday night?"
His eye twitched.
"Ziva I-"
She huffed and turned away, pulling out her camera and stalking down the hill.
Tony sucked in his cheeks and swallowed hard.
It was fine. Everything was fine.
"Tony?"
"What McGee?"
"You weren't really getting a date were you? You were just trying to help a girl?"
Tony closed his eyes and nodded. He wondered if, just once in his life, there had ever existed a time where he hadn't had to explain himself.
Or when he had to explain himself, he was at least given the chance to do it fully.
McGee looked puzzled for a moment and then walked to the car without arguing. At least that was a nice change of pace. Tony began to pick his way down the incline, ready to finish getting everything they needed and just go home.
He crouched in the dirt and carefully began to sketch, trying to ignore the frustrated huffs coming from his teammate. He could have let her sketch the scene, but this was always something was good at. Something that centered him. And it reminded him of Kate. He didn't want to give that up. Didn't want to hand it over unless he had to. And he didn't want to explain that.
Ziva shoved past him to get another shot and almost knocked him over as he crouched over the imprint of the body. He couldn't figure out what her deal was with him anymore. It's not like he made her do anymore work than she did before, if anything now she did less. He didn't go nuts with the power he'd been given. He didn't even tease her as much.
He was trying to be a good team lead.
Gibbs thought he could do it.
Or, he supposed, what was left of Gibbs thought he could do it.
Tony leaned forward and paused when he saw a bootprint pressed firmly into the dirt. Someone had seen their John Doe.
Someone had left something behind.
Xxx
"See you later Agent DiNozzo."
Tony waved goodbye and Agent Treckson, absentmindedly reminding himself to ask about the other man's upcoming birthday. Forty-five was in a few days and as far as he could remember, the man would be spending it alone. The agent had gotten divorced last year and lost custody of his only son only months before after a very messy court battle.
Tony glanced up at the closing doors of the elevator and frowned. He should invite the man out for drinks sometime. Remind him what he still has. Or at least give him someone to commiserate with.
Yeah. Tomorrow, he'd invite the man for a beer.
Tony turned back to the pictures and studied them closer. Jeanne had called to cancel their plans that afternoon after a complicated trauma came in, prompting her to expand her shift, so there was nothing pulling him away from his desk.
As she explained it, the only way it could get more messy was if a goat was involved. He wasn't sure what that meant, but he assumed that was bad.
Tony tapped his finger against his lip, trying to pinpoint what was bothering him.
Sometime was wrong with this photo.
He gathered his mouth to side and leaned in closer.
Just on the edge of the photo. Was something…
Tony glanced at the window.
There was still some daylight.
He could head back to the crime scene. Look around. See what was missed.
He looked at the clock, it was approaching seven, McGee and Ziva had gone home hours ago. He could call them in, have them go with him…
Like that would go over well.
Gibbs wouldn't want him to go alone…
Tony chewed his lip briefly.
He was team lead.
He had to make the judgement calls.
He called McGee. Tapping his finger on the desk he waited patiently for him to pick up but it just went to voicemail.
"McGee, I'm heading back to the crime scene, I think we missed something. Call me back."
He snapped it shut and looked back out the window. Storm clouds were gathering. A storm would wash away any evidence that happened to remain.
Tony shook his head and grabbed his stuff.
If McGee called him back- wonderful. If he didn't- oh well.
He would check it out regardless and call it an early night.
Shower in his own bathroom tonight.
Xxx
Thunder rumbled ominously and fat rain drops hit him in the face as he stared up at the sky.
Tony sighed and shivered in the brisk breeze. It was unusually cold for September, and the rain wasn't helping. He rubbed his arms quickly, trying to warm up as he started towards the scene.
Tony slid down the embankment and looked at the photo in his hand. Hitting the ground hard, he landed in a large puddle of water. Tony glared down at it, trying not to curse nature, even if it hadn't been his friend that day.
First bees now the storm of the century.
He stood and tilted the photo, trying to see in the dim light.
The bush, far right side of the crime scene, just to the right of the tape. Technically wasn't even in the boundaries they had placed.
He dropped to his knees and looked under it curiously, the shadows making it difficult to see.
The rain was coming down hard now and he fully soaked.
With a gloved hand he grasped something and he lifted his penlight to see.
A wrench.
Blood on the end.
Smiling, he tried to block it from the rain best he could while sliding it into an evidence bag.
Ignoring the rain, he straightening and started back to the car.
He grinned to himself and smiled up to the pouring sky.
"One plus two plus one."