Drowning

Chapter 11

The young forensic scientist watched, fascinated, as Vay placed the cards shuffled by Abby down onto the cloth. As grounded as she was in science and all things logical, Abby had plenty of room in her mind for things that could not be explained scientifically. Why else, for example, could Gibbs magically appear in the lab just as Abby had news to give him? Why else would Abby's feelings of doom always coincide with some terrible incident befalling one of them? Why else would she feel Kate's presence in the lab, long after her friend had been taken from them? Abby had always kept an open mind about such things.

'This is a basic Celtic Cross reading,' Vay was telling them. 'It tells the reader something about what's central to your life at this moment, and about your immediate and short term future.'

'The cards are so beautiful!' exclaimed Abby. 'Don't you think they're beautiful Tony?'

'Yep,' Tony agreed. 'Great lasagna, Abs. Okay if I pour myself some wine?'

'Sure,' said Abby, not taking her eyes from the cards. 'That's what it's there for.'

Vay smiled at their interchange as she studied the spread.

'You are about to embark on some form of learning,' said Vay. 'A course, perhaps.'

'Oh my God!' exclaimed Abby. 'I'm starting an online course next week!'

'You're always doing courses,' said Tony. Abby chose to ignore his cynical remark.

'You love your job and get great satisfaction from it,' continues Vay.

She could easily have worked that out already thought Tony as he took another sip of wine. He could feel himself becoming more and more relaxed. This reading business wasn't so bad after all.

'There is an older man in your life,' said Vay as she pointed to the King of Wands. 'He is very much like a guide. You love to please him and to make him proud.'

'Gee, wonder who that is, Ab's', said Tony, cheekily.

'It might not be Gibbs,' Abby retorted as she swatted his arm.

'He's over fifty with silver or grey hair. You trust him with your life,' said Vay.

'Okay, so it is Gibbs,' laughed Abby. 'What else? What else?'

'Well, you would love to have children, but now is not quite the right time for you. You will be an excellent parent and your children will adore you.'

Again thought Tony I could have told her that. What kid wouldn't like Abby as a mom?

'Any advice?' asked Abby, clearly pleased with what she'd been told so far.

'Be open to any relationship scenario you haven't previously considered seriously,' said Vay. 'That may sound a bit vague, but that's all I can say.'

'Mmmmmm,' said Abby. 'Keep an open mind regarding all possible suitors. I guess I can do that.'

Vay collected up the cards and began to reshuffle them.

'Come on Tony. Let's see what yours say,' urged Abby. Tony drained the remaining contents of his glass and shrugged. On the one hand, he didn't believe in this kind of…stuff. On the other hand, Vay already seemed to be able to read him accurately enough without the tarot cards – something he definitely wasn't comfortable with. But he didn't want to disappoint Abby who was looking at him with expectation all over her lovely face.

'Okay,' he agreed.

'Yay!' exclaimed Abby.' Just wait for me for a sec. I have to pee.'

'She's all class,' said Tony as he took the cards that Vay held out to him to shuffle.

'I will not reveal anything I sense you may be uncomfortable with,' she told him, her eyes sincere and empathic. She could see the trepidation in Tony's green eyes. This was a man who chose to only reveal so much of himself to others. She wanted him to know that she respected that.

Tony nodded his thanks and turned his attention to shuffling the cards.

'What did I miss?' asked Abby as she hurriedly returned to her seat.

'Only my superior shuffling skills,' Tony said teasingly.

Vay took back the cards and placed them into their correct positions. She gazed at them thoughtfully. Her face gave nothing away.

'I see two women,' Vay began.

'Only two?' exclaimed Abby. 'Tony, you're slipping!'

'Quiet,' said Tony, his eyes laughing. 'This is important!'

'One is dark – skin, hair and eyes. The other is pale-skinned with eyes like rare jewels. You admire them both but you feel as though you don't stand a chance with either. With one of them, you would like very much to take your relationship to the next level. You are afraid, however, of what you might lose if you do – and of hurting someone else.'

It has to be Ziva! Thought Abby excitedly. He couldn't do all that undercover work with her without falling for her!

'Someone from your past is going to return,' continued Vay. 'You must be very careful and vigilant.'

'Tony has to be careful and vigilant,' said Abby, 'or else Gibbs will kill him.'

'True,' agreed Tony as his eyes scanned the cards. 'What about this card at the end, Miranda. It looks kinda scary.'

'That is the Death Card,' Miranda told him. 'Don't be concerned. In that position it simply means that you will soon begin a new chapter in your life.'

'That's a relief,' said Tony, leaning back in his seat. 'I thought you were gonna tell me that my days were numbered. Not that I believe in this stuff. No offence.'

Vay collected up the cards and wrapped them carefully in the cloth. She thought about the other things she had seen in the young man's cards and chose her words carefully before she spoke again.

'Tony, whether you believe in this …stuff or not, please be particularly careful when you are with Agent Gibbs. The person from your past is not happy with either of you.'

Tony locked eyes with Vay for a few moments until the ringing of his cell phone made him jump a little. He fished it out of his pocket and gave a wry smile when he saw who was ringing him.

'Speak of the devil,' he said. 'Hey, Boss. Just give me a minute will you?'

Rising from his seat, he excused himself before heading out onto the small balcony.

'Yeah, Boss.'

'Dinozzo, don't bother coming into work tomorrow morning.'

'Oh come on!' said Tony, frustration rising. 'I'm fine!'

'Dinozzo!' said Gibbs, sharply. 'Be ready at 9.00am sharp. I'm picking you up on my way to see Partington's parents. They got some kind of communication from her and they want to discuss it in person.'

'Oh, okay Boss,' said Tony, remembering in time not to apologise. 'I'll be ready.'

'Yes you will,' said Gibbs before terminating the call.

Tony smiled and pocketed his cell. Gibbs was apparently back to being his abrupt self again. Things seemed to be back to normal.

While Tony was taking the call from Gibbs, Abby lowered her voice to speak to Vay.

'I so knew that Tony was interested in Ziva – Agent David. I wish he'd just go for it and ask her out. It would be so great to see him in a serious relationship.'

Vay smiled at Abby. She privately agreed that a loving relationship was something Tony was ready to celebrate, but she knew it was not Agent David that he was interested in.