Deanna was worried sick. Today was the day that would make or break the rest of her life. Hours before the trial she sat and cried her eyes out. She thought of everything that had happened in the past few months. She lost the love of her life, she was accused of murder, and she almost lost the person that was trying to get her off of her conviction. As she sat there in her silence she thought of Jason Bull. How could someone look so much like her dead husband. She wanted to go on a date with Bull but still felt committed to Tony. Would he really want her to move on? She was starting to have feelings for Bull and his heart attack really opened her eyes to how many feelings she had. If she was found innocent she would give him one date and just one. She didn't want to get too attached to another guy again. She walked into the courtroom with Benny and Bull by her side. She looked around and seen that the courtroom was full. There were several reporters, Team Gibbs was there showing their support, Abby and Ziva was on one side of the courtroom, then there was a someone sitting there that looked familiar but Deanna couldn't place how or why she knew them. It seemed like a lifetime for the jury to reach their decision. Finally, they walked out with their verdict in hand.

"Jury what is your verdict?" The judge asked.

"We the jury find Deanna DiNozzo….not guilty." The juror announced.

Deanna couldn't believe it. Not guilty! Her whole life had come back together in one moment. Several of Team Gibbs clapped for her. They knew deep in their hearts there was no way she could have killed Tony. Deanna turned and gave Benny a hug and thanked him. But it was when she turned to hug Dr. Jason Bull that everything erupted in the courtroom. A young man with curly brown hair down to his shoulders rushed to where Bull was, tackled him to the ground and began to strangle him.

"You son of a bitch! I thought I killed you! Tony DiNozzo your supposed to be dead! That's my woman not yours!" The man yelled while he had his hands around Bulls neck. As the bailiff and deputy tried to get the young man off of Bull, Deanna looked into his eyes. She knew those eyes too well.

"Tanner?" She asked.

He stopped strangling Bull and looked up at Deanna. It was the first time she had seen him since the night he beat her.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"I came to get you back. Every time I think I have the path clear, you go for someone else. You belong to me." Tanner exclaimed.

"No Tanner I don't. I moved on. I married Tony DiNozzo. He loved me and cared for me. He never laid a finger on me like you did."

Gibbs made his way to the front of the courtroom.

"Is it true that you killed Agent Tony DiNozzo?" Gibbs spat.

"Yes I did and I'm proud of it. I would do anything to get my woman back." Tanner spat back.

"I am not your woman. I never want to see you again. You took away the one thing that meant the most to me." Deanna said trying to hold back the tears.

"McGee cuff him and read him his rights. This scum of the earth will pay for hurting my agent." Gibbs said. He then looked at the man that was trying to get up off the floor. Bull was rubbing his neck and trying to catch his breathe.

"I'm fine. Don't worry about me." Bull said.

Abby and Ziva was also being taken out in handcuffs for falsifying evidence in front of a court.

Gibbs looked at Bull probably longer than he should have. Kate walked up beside him and nearly fainted. It was like they were seeing Tony in the flesh.

"Ducky, Palmer you have got to see this." Gibbs yelled at his autopsy team.

"Dear God, he looks just like our Anthony." Ducky said in amazement.

"Let me introduce myself. "I'm Doctor Jason Bull. I do trial science. I work to get client's a not guilty verdict."

"You did one hell of a job with this one. Great work!" Gibbs said shaking Bulls hand.

Bull flashed a smirk grin and the whole team felt like even for a second they had Tony back with them.

"Deanna, you can start back to work with us whenever you're ready." Gibbs explained. Deanna fell into Gibbs embrace.

"Thank you so much Gibbs. It means a lot!"

"Let's go celebrate" Bull told Deanna.

"Are you sure you're up for it?"

"Of course, never felt better." Bull said putting an arm around her and leading her out to his car.

The TAC Team had a party set up at a bar not too far from the courthouse.

"Great job today Benny! And to the rest of TAC you got this pretty lady off and saved my life." Bull said with a raised glass. As Deanna sipped on her drink, she couldn't help but wonder if Jason Bull was anything like Tony was, on a personal level. He had to leave for New York tomorrow with his team so chances of figuring that one out was probably slim to none. Bull didn't come across to her as a guy that would have a one-night stand. As the team went to the DiNozzo's old apartment to pack up, Bull took her home. He walked her right up to the front door of her house. She was scared to go back in. Scared that something could happen to her.

"It has been a pleasure working with you." Bull said.

"Likewise Dr. Bull."

"Please, call me Jason." With that he pulled her into him and gave her a passionate kiss. He ran his hands through her hair. She wanted desperately to invite him inside and see where this would go, but she couldn't, it was like something was stopping her.

"Here's my number if you ever need anything I will be down here in no time flat. And I do mean anything." Bull said flashing that heart breaking smile once more. How could she not think of those eyes and his embrace all night long.


Deanna's first day back to NCIS was almost as hard on her as the day she lost Tony. It was like she was in a fog. Gibbs brought her coffee to try and get her day going. But by time she sat down at her desk the whole atmosphere was different. She looked over at Tony's empty desk and began to cry. It took her breath away to see the desk that used to have such a lively agent sitting behind it, now be so empty. As she stared at his desk she remembered different thinks that made her smile. She remembered the first time they made love in a hotel room in Oklahoma City. She remembered their first date and how handsome he looked. The twinkle in his green eyes when he would talk to you. Than from the good memories it went to the bad. She remembered hearing the gun shots and watching Tony fall to the ground. She remembered being in the hospital waiting room in a night gown covered in his blood. She remembered that last thing he told her was I Love You. She wanted so badly to be in his arms again and for him to touch her face once more. She was plagued by so much grief that she could barely work. Gibbs put her on desk duty for her first day back. She was regretting that he did because it was torture to sit across from Tony's desk and have all the memories flood back to her. She kept replaying the shooting in her mind, how she tried to get the bleeding to stop. Seeing him in his casket for the first time. Watching as her boss the strongest man she knew broke down at Tony's funeral. She had Tony's flag from the funeral still tucked away in her bag. She had planned to put it above the fireplace, but then thought it would be a reminder if she put it in the office. She couldn't take it anymore she finally needed someone to talk to.

She met with Jason Bull at a coffee shop not far from headquarters.

"It has been really weighing me down, Jason. Everywhere I turn something reminds me of him. I went over to his desk and seen the picture of him holding the twins. he was so proud of them. When I found out I was pregnant he was so excited. They had their daddy wrapped around their little fingers. I honestly don't know how I am going to move on from this. Every time I look at his desk, every time I close my eyes I feel like I made a mistake, like I made the wrong decision." Deanna said crying.

"You did the right thing. You did all you could." Bull comforted her. "I don't think you should be alone. Allow me to spend some time with you until you get to feeling more like yourself."

That really comforted her. Bull spent the night with her and it was magical. It was like having Tony back in the house all over again. She couldn't believe just how much the two were alike. As she laid in his arms she rubbed his scruffy face. It was the first time she had felt someone's embrace since she lost Tony. She hoped that Bull didn't look at her as a charity case. When she almost lost Bull opened her eyes to her real feelings for him. She couldn't lose him too.

That night she had a dream. Tony was standing in this bright light. He reached for her hand and pulled her into an embrace.

"Everything will be ok…you will see me soon enough. Make sure the twins will be taken care. Don't let them forget about me. I love you guys." Tony whispered into her ear. Then he let go over her and she woke up. It startled her to see Bull lying beside her. In the dim light she thought it was Tony, but as her eyes adjusted she seen the clear difference.

What could her dream mean? She thought. The next morning, she sat down with Bull and wanted to talk some things over with him.

"If for some reason something ever happens to me, I want you to have full custody of my twins." Deanna explained.

"Excuse me?" Bull questioned. He didn't know much about kids at all.

"You are the closest thing they have to a father. Please promise me that you would raise them if something ever was to happen." Deanna begged.

"Yes I would be happy to raise them for you. I would also like to help raise them with you even without something happening to you."

This could really be the start of something she could get used to.

Deanna's phone vibrated and she looked to see it was Gibbs calling.

"Agent Carter DiNozzo."

"Deanna get in here now we need to get to Quantico." Gibbs spat.

"Ok what's going on?"

"Tanner just broke out of prison."

"On it boss."

"What is it?" Bull questioned.

"Tanner just broke out of prison. I pray he won't come for you next." Deanna worried.

Tanner is back on the run. How did he break out of prison? Will they be able to catch him before he strikes again? New chapter up soon! Please Review!