Drowning

Hi, shorter chapter this time. I'm still very preoccupied with other events. The smoky air is a constant reminder. Thank you for your messages of concern. I'm fine but many are not. Over a thousand houses gone. Nearly 200 souls gone. Zan

Chapter 20

Gibbs munched away as Tony gave him a detailed update on the case. While he listened, Gibbs scanned his agent for any lingering signs of illness. Miraculously, Tony seemed to be fine – maybe a little TOO fine. Gibbs was well aware of Tony's propensity for not only downplaying any serious malaise but putting on a dazzling display of apparent wellness to fool others. He decided, however, not to make any comment. For now.

'So how did Vay react when you mentioned Brogan's name?' asked Gibbs as Tony paused.

'She seemed a little pissed off,' Tony told him. 'Definitely lost some of her composure.'

'Well, no-one likes to be reminded of unsavoury relatives with criminal records,' said Gibbs.

'No, you can't choose your relatives, that's for sure,' agreed Tony, wistfully, in a way that made Gibbs wonder. 'But it's all too much of a co-incidence. She's definitely got some hinky, witchy ways, but I don't totally trust her.'

'Well, we need to get a watch on Vay's business and her house,' said Gibbs.

'Done,' said Tony. 'She lives at the back of her shop. If there's any visit from Brogan, or anything else suspicious, I'll get a call.'

'What about Brogan?' asked Gibbs.

'Ziva thinks he's left the dump where he was living for good,' said Tony, 'but there's a watch on his place as well. I've also put a watch on the Partington house.'

Gibbs nodded his head in approval before narrowing his eyes at Tony.

'I thought you said that McGee went to Brogan's place while you went to see Vay,' he said.

'Ziva went with him,' said Tony. 'I know the Probie isn't really a probie in the strictest sense anymore, but I really wanted Ziva to check it out, especially since there was a chance that Brogan was going to be there. McGee needed someone to watch his back.'

'So, who went with you?' demanded Gibbs.

'No-one,' said Tony, shrugging his shoulders and wondering why Gibbs had gone from looking like he was going to pat him on the head to slitting his throat in less than thirty seconds.

'Dinozzo, you're just out of the hospital! You shouldn't be out in the field on your own under any circumstances, but especially when you're not fit!'

'Relax, Boss,' said Tony. 'I'm fit enough to go and chat to a spooky woman who reads tarot cards. Hell, I've spent a whole evening with her at Abby's. She's hardly Charles Manson. She's a psychic.'

'How do you know that?' persisted Gibbs, feeling his blood pressure rise. 'She says she's psychic, but she could well be psycho!'

'Boss, a movie reference! I'm impressed,' said Tony, trying to lighten the mood.

'Don't change the subject!' snapped Gibbs. 'You shouldn't be out without anyone watching your six!'

'Oh, come on,' said Tony, not liking the way Gibbs was becoming agitated. 'The Director gave Vay clearance to come to NCIS. She isn't even a suspect.'

'I don't care if she's had a private audience with the President!' exploded Gibbs. 'You're not 100% fit, we were both shot at yesterday, and you put yourself at risk by going to see that woman on your own. Why send Ziva to protect McGee and take no-one to watch out for you?'

Gibbs' eyes bored into Tony's until the younger man grew uncomfortable and looked away. Gibbs knew the answer was a combination of recklessness and the idea that he was somehow dispensable. If anything terrible happened to McGee, Tony knew that every member of the extended McGee family would be devastated. Ziva's death would send ripples through the already tenuous relationship between Israel and the States. Who would really give a damn if anything happened to Tony? The unpalatable facts were that the times Tony's life had been on the line, no relative had ever bothered to turn up at his bedside. Worse still, Tony had been unsurprised by this. He had obviously lived this way for a long time. It made Gibbs angry and concerned.

'I just wanted to get this case solved,' Tony finally said quietly, looking back at his boss. 'There was no-one to take with me. I didn't expect trouble and I didn't get any.'

'Are you taking your antibiotics?' asked Gibbs. Tony was so thrown by the sudden change in topic and the gruff concern in Gibbs' voice that he could only manage a nod. Whenever Tony suspected that Gibbs might be showing concern for him, he felt a peculiar tightness in his chest and a lump in his throat.

'You'd better be,' continued Gibbs. 'Cause dealing with the team, Abby especially, when you're at death's door, is no picnic.'

'What about you?' asked Tony, finding his voice. 'You look better.'

'Director came to visit today,' said Gibbs, happy for the time being to change the topic. 'As soon as she saw I was okay, she started complaining that you were becoming almost as pig-headed as me.'

'Sorry about that, Boss,' said Tony, quickly. 'I gave her a bit of a serve about sending Vay home and closing the Partington case.'

'Don't apologise,' said Gibbs sternly. 'I would have done the same thing.'

'Okay, I'll take it as a compliment,' said Tony, his face breaking into a broad grin.

At that moment, their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Gibbs' doctor and the nurse. Tony excused himself and went to wait outside the room, still smiling.

………………………………….

Just as it had several times a day during her captivity, the tape was removed from Officer Partington's mouth. A plate of food was placed on her lap. As usual, she was able to access the food with her hands as they were not manacled. There was no need to secure her hands as she was restrained by a cuff and chain that was attached to her ankle. She ate hungrily. Apart from having her liberty taken from her, she had not been mistreated and she could see no point in refusing the food. After all, when the opportunity came to escape, she wanted to be fit and ready rather than weak and emaciated from refusing to eat food provided by her captor.

Watching from the far side of the comfortable room, in the shadows, Matthew Brogan watched the woman eat. Soon the final phase of his plan would be executed. And this time it would be smooth.