They were on the plane and in the air within minutes, leaving behind Fornell and Wilkes to do whatever it was they planned to do from here. Normally the clandestine nature of the FBI really pissed him off, but on this occasion Gibbs didn't care about their ulterior motives for letting NCIS take the lead and go to New York, so long as it resulted in him getting Tony back alive and in one piece.
Taking a window seat on the cramped jet, on which they and several boxes of what looked like computer equipment where the only passengers, he did his best to get comfortable. Looking down onto the streets of Washington, seeing the all lights whiz by as they made their averagely speed glide up the East Coast Gibbs couldn't help but wonder about the city he called home and remember it was only a few years ago that he'd considered leaving for good. Taking early retirement and moving to Mexico to build his own little hut on the beach a la Mike Franks.
A bubble built up in his chest and demanded release, he could laugh now, but back then with his third marriage over and a career case closed at great personal expense things weren't so funny. With nothing except NCIS keeping him in Washington it seemed like the right time to let go of that part of his life and finally move on. He didn't of course, got as far as clearing out his basement and hiring a realtor before another big case landed on his desk, pushing Charles Boone to the far edges of his mind and him on an operation overseas. By the time he returned Gibbs had met the forth Mrs Gibbs and so he picked up and started again, making another go at recapturing that happiness he'd been lucky enough to experience once so long ago. Little did he know that it would be this wife's desire for divorce that would push him into the path of the smart young detective from Baltimore that reminded him so much of his younger - less world weary- self. Abby had declared it to be fate, stating unequivocally that had he gone through with his plan to leave none of them would have had Tony in their lives. He'd wanted to dismiss her theory then and there, but couldn't because it went against his rule regarding coincidences.
Gibbs sighed and shifted into a more sleep inducing position, trying to block everything out in favour of a little rest. His mind drifted momentarily, but they hit some turbulence, not something that usually bothered him, and he quickly snapped back to consciousness his thoughts immediately centring on their reason for even being on this flight. When he was in his more contemplative moods - like now –his mind tortured him with what might have become of Tony if he hadn't taken up his offer to visit NCIS. Gibbs had no doubt as soon as he met him that his once upon a time Probie was a survivor, but even survivors needed a helping hand sometimes and the aftermath of discovering his partner was a dirty cop was definitely one of those times for DiNozzo. It had knocked what little real confidence Tony did possess right out of him, to the point he was blaming himself and considering quitting. Sitting up, giving up on sleep altogether he turned away from the airplane's window. Staring through the crates piled in front of him Gibbs could almost see the younger Tony stood before him, framed by overly familiar orange walls and looking desperate for direction. The slap upside the head Gibbs had given when he'd declare himself not cut out for law enforcement had been instinctual. Mike had slapped him upside the head every time he said or did something stupid and that really was one of the stupidest things he'd ever heard.
Gibbs remembered thinking he'd never known anyone so bright and talented to have such low self-esteem and took it on as a personal goal to get Tony to recognise his own potential. He'd seen the potential in him during their shared case, but stood in that corridor with Tony unwittingly looking to him for answers, in that moment he saw something much more important, something that most people could never manage. In Tony he saw the ability to trust - implicitly.
It wasn't long before Gibbs found out where that ability came from. DiNozzo had an almost pathologic need for attention and admiration that bordered on being declared a psychological disorder, implying he'd acquired more than just a new Agent for the MCRT. It in fact forced him to be something he'd never imagined himself being ever again. His trepidation was understandable, having tried and failed three times to recapture the marriage he'd once had, he had no reason to believe he'd be any better at the second part either.
Three years in and he was feeling better about his role, or was, until two days ago. Not that Tony would hold any of his behaviour over the last few days against him. DiNozzo was a kid who needed guidance, a firm hand to rein him in and Gibbs had made it clear to him from the start that so long as he was willing to learn, he was more than willing to teach, but no complaining about the methods. He'd look at this fiasco and the fallouts it created as lessons to be learned from, likely not repeated.
There had been numerous occasions DiNozzo had taught him something however. Mainly about not being a bastard and that it was okay to have feelings now and again. It was amazing though. DiNozzo usually had the biggest impact on people, him in particular, when he didn't open his mouth. That thought had Gibbs fighting another laugh bubbling up and demanding release. He allowed a smile and near silent chuckle, but that was all. He didn't need Kate or McGee thinking he'd lost it completely just before the real action started.
Dragging himself away from memories and back to reality Gibbs emptied his mind, like pulling a blanket over his eyes everything went dark. Getting moody and depressive wasn't going to help anyone and knowing there was nothing more he could do for Tony until they reached Long Island Gibbs closed his eyes, planning on getting some much needed rest for the remainder of the flight. They'd need to be on top form when they finally caught up with Miller.
Just as he felt himself slipping into a light doze Gibbs snapped his eyes open once again, brain clicking into gear upon hearing McGee call out his name.
"Boss!" McGee shouted, unclipping his belt and stumbling down the narrow aisle, dropping himself on the ledge next to his seat.
"What McGee?" Gibbs groused tiredly, the few seconds peace he had gotten only tormenting his weary body.
"Wilkes lied." He said bluntly and quickly. "I mean he lied but I think he lied on purpose."
Gibbs blinked a few times. He was fully awake, but still really needed to concentrate to follow McGee's back pedalling.
"Lied about what?" Kate piped up from a seat behind them.
"About there being no official report covering the time Tony was with the kidnappers, about what really happened." McGee said in a rush, eyes open wide showing his panic.
"What?" Gibbs snapped sitting up straighter.
"Here," McGee handed over the file Wilkes had given him and he'd passed straight to McGee. "Hannigan filed a report. A real one, it's been proofed; a lot is black out but…. Boss he had to know it was there."
Kate, not brave enough to undo her seat belt, was leaning over as far as she dared to get a look at the file.
"Can you all stay in your seats back there?!" The pilot called back to them as the plane dipped slightly, "This isn't a pleasure flight!"
"God damn FBI," Gibbs cursed snatching the file from McGee and sending him back to his seat with a head nod.
The plane shook marginally as it righted itself and when the pilot looked back Gibbs gave him a glare so hard it guaranteed silence for the rest of the trip. Holding the file tightly, his knuckles going white with the grip, he read the first line. The type was small and faded, but still legible. Classified was stamp across it big bold letters.
It was a lot to take in, the answers they'd been searching for now in his hands, all neatly typed and filed away like a processed tax return. He'd have been on his cell cursing Fornell and the rest of them over at the hoover building if he wasn't so terrified of what he might discover between the two sheets of magnolia cardboard. Settling back in his seat Gibbs stared wide eyed at the front page, sensing Kate and McGee holding their breath behind him. A second's indecision was all he had. Snapping himself into what Tony called 'big bad marine mode' he sat up straight again and resolutely turned the first page…
June 30th 1978
"You shouldn't be in here"
Hannigan jumped at hearing the small voice that had caught him rifling through the draws of DiNozzo's oak desk.
"Jesus! Kid, what are you doing here?"
He dropped what he was doing and approached the boy, gaze darting about the room checking to see if he'd missed anyone else hiding in the shadows.
"I live here." The kid, DiNozzo Jr. if he wasn't mistaken, stepped back, keeping a good distance between them. "What are you doing here?"
Damn it. He'd waited until DiNozzo had left for the evening, having assumed the wife had the kid with her. This was going to mess up his plan of a clean escape.
"I-" Hannigan clamped his mouth shut upon seeing lights bounce off the windows which overlooked the driveway.
Running over and looking out he could see a Lincoln continental pulling up outside. As two men climbed out and walked towards the doors, it appeared the kid wasn't going to be the only one to mess with his plans. Though the storm had picked up significantly, even through the rain Hannigan could make out who it was and his stomach dropped. He was too late.
"Go back to bed kid. Now!" Hannigan ordered, moving onto to his plan B.
"I bet that's my dad, he won't be happy you were in here." The kid walked towards the window to look for himself.
Hannigan jumped in front of him, blocking his path. "That's not your dad kid, trust me go back to your room and keep quiet, okay."
Junior didn't budge though and stood staring at him as if daring him to make him leave. Not having time to play games with stubborn six year olds Hannigan gave up and moved back to the desk trying to find what he'd come for before it really was too late.
"What you doing? You shouldn't be doing that. My dad-"
"I'm a friend of your dad's okay." He shouted at him, making the kid jump.
Junior looked scared and edged his way out, Hannigan felt slightly guilty for the yell, but it was about to hit the fan and they were in enough trouble without a kid getting caught up in the cross fire. Hannigan emptied the final draw when a loud bang from downstairs alerted him to their company.
"Bower you bastard where are you?" The shout carried up the stairs.
"Wow, he sounds mad, who is he?" Junior asked as if strangers broke into his house yelling every day.
"A friend of mine," Hannigan sighed trying to quickly put things back as much as possible.
At least Bell had enough brains still functioning to keep using his alias, the guy he was with was no doubt a Bonanno and they were in enough shit with the FBI over the missing money, didn't want to blow their whole case out of the water too, not after all the work they put in.
"What did you do to make him mad?"
"Nothing," Hannigan dismissed, pacing as he thought of what to do.
"No you've done something… Unless, okay yeah, you're like the Odd Couple, have you seen that? Tony Randle plays Felix and he lives with this guy called Oscar and he's always yelling at him. Do you live together? Has he come to get you because you're not home? My mom's always yelling at my dad for not being home-"
"Kid!" Hannigan yelled, flummoxed by the surreal conversation and unable to think straight while he was rambling, "Please, shut up." He hissed more quietly.
Bell was still yelling downstairs and he knew he'd have to go face him eventually.
"I have special super powers you know." Junior said heading for the door, acting completely nonchalant.
"Sure kid whatever you say." Hannigan shrugged, giving up.
"I can tell when someone's lying." Junior made it to the threshold, "You're lying, you're not a friend of my dad."
Before Hannigan could catch him Junior ran out the room and along the corridor.
"Kid!" Hannigan hissed, poking his head around the door frame, "get back here!"
But it was too late. DiNozzo Junior had already sprinted down the corridor and was reaching the top of the stairs. If Bell was still in the entrance hall there was no way he'd fail to spot him.
"Shit," Hannigan muttered to himself, rolling his eyes and running after the kid.
He caught up to him crouched down low at the top of the stairs, using the baluster to hide behind. Hannigan joined him and together they peeked through the gap.
"Stay here," he instructed, threatening him with a finger waggle.
The kid looked at him blankly, as if he didn't quite understand why this was such a big deal. Getting up and schooling his features Hannigan announced his presence to Bell and his Bonanno companion. They didn't look happy to see him, but Hannigan played it anyway. He wasn't a master at undercover like Bell was, but he could certainly do his job.
The big guy produced a gun, shooting him in the arm before he even opened his mouth and Hannigan fell to the ground instantly, trying not to scream. The Bonanno approached him, gun aimed at his head and Hannigan squeezed his eyes shut, preparing for the end. He heard the gun cock, but then an almighty cry filled the air just after something glass smashed on the floor, covering it in glistening shards. Daring to open his eyes and look up Hannigan just caught sight of someone running away at the top of the stairs.
"You little shit you're going to pay for that." The Bonanno shouted and launched himself up the stairs.
Junior, fuck. Hannigan sat up holding his arm trying to stop the bleeding. He looked to Bell, but he was pacing up and down, looking like a junkie that needed a fix with shaking hands and panicked expression. Recovering as quickly as possible with a bullet in his arm Hannigan managed to drag himself up off the floor and chased after him.
Reaching the top of the stairs he became disorientated. The storm was still raging outside, lightening indirectly illuminating parts of the long corridor. Hannigan searched room after room, turning himself around and almost getting lost until he heard a scream followed by wailing and ran off in that direction. His shoulder was bleeding, leaving blood spots on the carpet and smears on the walls, but he pushed himself on. Finding and entering the bedroom he found Bonanno bent over clutching his nuts, his hands had blood on them, but it was impossible to tell whose it was, Junior was nowhere in sight.
Seeing his chance Hannigan pulled his gun and ordered the Bonanno to give up, he identified himself as FBI and showed his badge. It was a stupid rookie move he quickly realised and only got the Bonanno angrier. The significantly bigger guy attacked him, sending him to the floor and his badge flying under the bed. He did manage to keep hold of his weapon though and seeing he had no choice got off two rounds, both direct hits, before it was too late. The Bonanno fell like a rock.
Hannigan lay still for several seconds, taking deep breaths to calm down. He'd have lay there a lot longer if the muffled whimpering hadn't caught his attention. Looking to his left he could see Junior huddled under the bed. Knowing what he had to do Hannigan wasted no more time, rolling over he forced himself up onto his knees, ignoring the blood which had made a rather large stain on the carpet and pulled the kid out.
…
"Fuck. Fuck. Fuckk Fuccckkkk!" Bell kicked at a chair by the front door.
Hannigan carried the kid barely conscious down stairs, laying him on the bottom step he grabbed the phone from the table and sat down nursing his injured shoulder.
"We gotta go." Hannigan told Bell dialling.
"What are you doing, who you calling?" Hannigan didn't answer. "Where's Vincent?"
Hannigan gave him a level look, giving the person on the phone a code for 'dead body clean up' and the address.
"FUCK!" Bell screamed, knowing what the code meant.
"We gotta go." Hannigan repeated more sharply, making his way towards the door.
"Go where?" Bell laughed manically, "You just killed one of Bonanno's son's for fuck's sake."
"Well what the fuck where you doing here in the first place? I told you I'd handle it." Hannigan shouted back, blood loss from his shoulder making him woozy and short tempered.
"Shut up!" Bell screamed.
"I was trying to save your career you dumbass, you conspired with two suspects to steal FBI money what the hell were you thinking?" Hannigan winced, his shoulder pain increasing. "You need to turn yourself in."
"What I need is for my partner not to double cross me!"
"I'm not your partner," Hannigan grit his teeth. "You're not thinking straight, you need your meds."
"I can handle it." Bell dismissed him, still pacing.
"This is not handling it." Hannigan shook his head, "I'm pulling you out."
"What about the kid?" Bell stopped his frantic motions and became deadly still.
"He's a kid, no one will believe him." Hannigan dismissed, encouraging him to accompany him out the door.
Bell stubbornly refused to budge, instead reaching into his jacket pulling out a gun.
"We get rid of him." He walked decisively towards DiNozzo Jr. still lying on the step.
Hannigan jumped in front of him, knocking his gun arm down to point at the floor.
"Are you insane, he's a kid!"
"You just killed a Mafias boss's son, if you think they aren't coming after you your more insane than I am." Bell shook him off.
"Okay we take him with us, but only until we figure out what to do." Hannigan held his hands up and made a show of picking Junior up, cradling him in his arms.
The kid was no longer out cold, but was still rather compliant to being held and removed from his home. The submissive behaviour was most likely shock Hannigan reasoned, since just from looking he could see Vincent had managed to do some damage even in the short time it had taken to find them. By the looks of his knuckles the kid had also done a number on Vincent and fought back.
"You're pretty gutsy six year old." He told him, not getting or expecting an answer.
"Do you at least have the money?" Bell asked impatiently, interrupting.
"No, DiNozzo must still have it." Hannigan said quietly, settling DiNozzo Junior against his uninjured shoulder.
"Looks like we'll be needing the kid after all."
Holding the kid tighter and as far away from Bell as he could, Hannigan lead them out the door.
.
"What the hell?" Miller stormed into the apartment, "I've just seen DiNozzo he thinks you have his kid?"
"Because we do have his kid," Bell said snidely, smoking by the window.
"Why the hell? You were supposed to get the money." Miller paced the room.
"That would be my fault." Hannigan grimaced from his corner, the wound in his shoulder still bleeding.
"What is he doing here?" Miller was surprised, "I thought you were dead?"
"Now why would you think that?" Hannigan grinned.
"DiNozzo found your badge in a pool of blood at his house."
"That would be Vincent's. Blood, not badge," he said with a wink, the pain making him more than a little woozy.
"Vincent Bonanno?" Miller paled. "DiNozzo said nothing about a body,"
"That's because I took care of it, called in a favour." Hannigan smiled, but it was weak, he didn't know how much longer he'd be able to remain conscious.
"Oh this is just perfect." Miller near tore his hair out.
"It'll be fine, blow over." Bell took another drag of his cigarette.
"It will not blow over, you've kidnapped a kid for crying out loud." Hannigan chastised sitting forward to look him in the eye, grimacing when the effort pulled the muscles in his back.
"Hey, we've kidnapped a kid." Bell approached him, "Let's get that straight, you're in this as much as he is." He pointed at Miller.
"Jesus this is a mess." Miller sighed, then after a brief pause asked, "So where's money?"
"The money wasn't there." Hannigan snapped, collapsing back against the wall eyeing them all, "DiNozzo must have moved it."
"What?" Miller snapped, "He told me it was gone. That you took it! That double crossing son of a bitch."
"A lot of that going around." Bell sneered looking to Hannigan.
Hannigan didn't take it personally. Bell had gone native due to being off his meds for too long. He was his handler and friend, not Craig Bower the petty criminal co-hort he believed him to be, so he'd do what he needed to sort this, with both their lives and hopefully futures intact.
"So we have no money, a kid and a dead mafia heir. Great."
"I wanted to kill him." Bell spoke up.
"Then why didn't you?" Miller shouted.
Bell pushed off the window ledge and walked towards Tony. Hannigan used the last of his energy to drag himself off the floor and stood in his way.
"Don't, you don't want to do this!" He went to grab hold of Bell, but Miller jumped him from behind and restrained him, arms behind his back.
"Shut up!" Bell swung low, punching him square in the gut. "You don't know what I want."
"He's just a kid, I didn't get into this to hurt kids." Hannigan spat blood onto the floor.
"No Bower, you got into this for the money," Bell said, bearing his teeth.
""I lied, I know where it is. Hurt him, and you'll never see that money again." Hannigan threatened.
It wasn't his best bluff, but he needed an angle, something that would keep him and the kid alive as long as possible. A dead kid was not something he neither could nor would cover up.
"That's SSA Bell, Special Agent Hannigan." He hit him again. "Now tell me, where's the money?"
"So you can kill us both?" Hannigan laughed, "I don't think so."
Miller let Hannigan sag and fall to the floor when he was near unconscious. "You keep them both here until I figure out what to do."
Hannigan watched Miller's shoes walk out the apartment. He then pulled himself up to lean against the wall.
"You remember who I am?"
Bell shook his head and hit the wall.
"You do, you remember, you know you shouldn't be doing this."
"Shut up." Bell spat.
"Listen to me, this isn't right, you know that." He had to raise his voice to be heard over the crying coming from the adjoining room.
Bell still refused to hear him, so looking to the door Miller had just left through he once again tried another angle.
"He's going to double cross you." He whispered.
"I said Shut up!" Bell all but screamed this time.
Hands covering his ears he stormed out the apartment. Hannigan closed his eyes and sighed, they weren't getting out of this, it was time to call it in for real. Pulling himself across the floor, up to a wardrobe, leaving a trail of blood smearing the dirty wooden floor he opened the door and reached inside, puling out a phone that had been hidden in the back.
Hannigan slowly dialled with shaking blood covered hands and waited, uttering only one word when the connection was made before collapsing completely.
"Sanctuary"
.
Present
Hannigan's report ended there, noting that he passed out after sending the Element 79 team a message and was unclear on what happened from that point up until being discovered, treated and instructed to leave Tony in the Alleyway. What Senior had told them filled in some of the gaps, whatever remained untold would have to wait until Miller and Bell were in interrogation, assuming they lived that long of course.
Shutting the file Gibbs deflated. So that was it. That was what this was all about. Greed. Two selfish bastards' one sick FBI agent and one whose loyalties were in serious need of examination. Adults who should have done the right thing. He tossed the file back to Kate who caught it without flinching and opened it, reading immediately. They were near to landing and he needed rest. He needed to think.
TBC…
A/N: thanks again everyone for feedback and reviews and faves etc… Love them all, they keep me on my toes too! I know it feels like forever for updates, but even though the story is technically written, editing takes time. I don't post until I'm either happy with it or so fed up I won't ever be ;)
Tonight's instalment was funnily enough thanks to me logging on after a very long absence and having to scroll through the endless list of Ziva/Tiva stories (most due to recent news I know, but still… it's a lot).
I have nothing against it, I'm in the 'whatever floats your boat' camp, it's just not my boat, so I desperately want something new to read that doesn't have romance or Ziva as the central theme, so recs anyone? Or even better, if any of you have some team stories without the romance cracking on then please post post post!
End message ;) ttfn! Baileys x