So much for tinkering with the next chapter. It was entirely my fault that I didn't specify which case Penelope was in court for, this should fix that as well as bring in a little Ziva and Abby. So if I didn't get back to you to thank you for the great reviews you'll understand. In fact I think you would rather have this chapter than a personal thank you. But I do want to thank everyone who sent me a review, they are much appreciated and thank you for all of the alerts and favorites.

Abby clapped her hands and bounced in her seat as she continue to talk with Ziva on the computer. They had lost touch but recently reconnected and were once again able to talk with each other a few times a week.

"It was horrible Ziva, Tim said that Tony just smirk at them before he entered the courtroom, He didn't even offer to share his gun locker with them."

"Did they get in trouble with the judge?"

"No, Tim call Dorney and he went there and held on the weapons. He got there just in time. By the time Gibbs came back to the office he was very angry he even yelled and me and he never yells at me. He didn't even bring me a cafepow when he came down for the evidence report."

"I wouldn't worry about it Abby Tony will mess up there, no one want to work with a playboy braggart. He is nothing more than a buffoon the FBI agents will so come to understand that they made a serious mistake. He is nothing more that a lion in goats clothing. In his case I should say a tomcat not a lion at all, all he is good for is making a lot of noise and whining."

"I don't know Ziva he has been there for almost five months and from what Fornell says they love him there. It's like he is a different person completely.

"He always was a good actor, give it time Abby I' sure he will come back."

"I have to go Massspec just beeped. Be careful, talk to you soon." Abby said then closed the connection.

Ducky looked up from his desk when he heard his name being called. "Dr. Mallard."

"Yes, young man, George isn't it, you work in security if I'm not mistaken."

"Yes Sir, I do. This package came for you, it was just delivered. It has been scanned and it appears to be just fine."

"Please put in on the first table for me, if you would."

"Of course Dr. Mallard." After placing the package on the empty table George left with a smile, Ducky always treated everyone with respect whether the person was the director of the janitor it didn't matter to him in the least.

Just as Ducky started to take the cover off of the medium sized box Gibbs broke the seal on the air locked doors.

"I heard you got a package, I just wanted to be here in case anything happens."

"That young man from security told me it had been scanned, really Jethro not everyone is a bad person."

"Can't take any chances Ducky, there are some people out there that don't like you either."

After placing the cover on the autopsy table Ducky looks inside the box and smiles.

"Oh my." he says cheerfully.

"What is it?"

Instead of answering Ducky starts to take things out of the box and place them on the table. Two large boxes of Scottish tea, three boxes of shortbread cookies, some canned good only available in Scotland and an excellent bottle of Port.

Next to the bottle of Port he sees a pink envelope with very feminine writing on it.

Opening the envelope he takes out a single pink piece of paper just from the feel of it he can tell it is handmade. Anyone who would go to the trouble of making paper in today's world had to be a unique person.

Dr. Mallard, Tony says I should call you Ducky, so Ducky it is.

My dear Ducky,

I want to thank you ever so much for cutting through all of the hospital bureaucracy

when I got hurt. But mostly I want to thank you for taking care of Tony. And telling me what to look for, you should know that he is eating better now. Because I'm a vegetarian I nudge him to share his lunch with me. I make extra so he willingly eats it when I hand it to him.

Please let me know if you would like more of the tea, cookies or even the Port. I have a friend working in England. I send her the money and she sends me the goods. Don't worry please I pay all the taxes and duty on the goods when then arrive, I would be a horrible agent if I broke the law, now wouldn't I?

With kindest regards, Penelope.

"Very kind, very kind indeed."

"He's not coming back is he Duck?"

"I don't think he will Jethro, you treated him like a three year old, he responded like one. But his temper tantrum has a lasting effect. You lost your second in command and a very good friend. The BAU gained a very capable and talented agent. He is healthy and for the first time in many years I think he is truly happy, His soul is finding some peace."

SCSCSC

Tony walks into the round table carrying a take out box and a smaller flatter box under his arm.

"Hello, sorry I'm late for lunch I was on the phone."

It was something that they had started to do as a way to get caught up on things and to share ideas, by eating lunch on the round table room on Fridays.

"We just got here ourselves." Reid tells him as he opens his container.

He place the box behind him on his chair before he opens his opens container of take out.

"You're eating sushi, why?" Reid asks before he take a big bite out of his burger.

"It's Friday, habit I guess I always eat fish on Friday." then he pops a piece of salmon nigiri in his mouth.

"You had a burger last week." JJ says.

"It was a salmon burger. I had one too." Rossi tells her.

"What's in the box? Hotch asks.

"Stockings for Penelope, from my father. Ten pairs."

"Is he going to leave you alone now?" Penelope asks.

"Yes he won't be back at least for the agreed amount of time."

"Why stockings?" Derek asks as he reaches and takes the offered s fries from JJ.

When he doesn't answer right away, Hotch clears his throat. "Now is as good a time as any to clear the air around here. You have been keeping secret from us not that I mind but it would be nice to know just what is going on within my team. Just in case I have to defend you."

Tony looks at him and smiles then eats more of his sushi.

"How about you start with Penelope's case. Why did a man that asked for a jury trial for ramming his car through a crowd of people all of a sudden change his mind and take the plea deal." Hotch asks.

Tony wipes his fingers then sips some tea, with a calm expression he looks at his boss. "It could be that someone asked to talk with a LEO friend in front of the perp, while he was in the holding cell. The two men could have talked about how no one knows how badly one of the victims was hurt. Or how her life was changed forever. It might have been suggested that if the perp changed his mind and took the plea then no one would know, that includes the inmates in the prison. Because no one, not even the hardest of the inmates likes it when an innocent child dies because of a jealous rage. There would be no way of telling what would happen to a new inmate if that kind of information got out into the general population of the prison. Now a man that went after his cheating, stealing wife that cleaned out his bank account and was screwing his best friend well that is a different matter all together."

"I see. So what do you think might have happened after the two men talked?"

"I think that the perp might have tossed his breakfast, after realizing just what the implications were. From what I have come to understand no one wanted one of the victims to have to testify, to much pain to have to live through again, the law enforcement community is rather small in the district after all."

"Well that explains that, couldn't have done better myself." Rossi says with a laugh.

"The stockings?" JJ asks.

"They are a bonus." Tony answers.

"I heard Tony talking to his father on the phone his father was pleading within to get the charges dropped. I made a deal with his father and the D.A. he leaves Tony alone and doesn't call or ask for any money for one year, and I would drop the charges." Penelope explains.

"He took it?" Morgan asks.

"Yes, she gave him an offer he couldn't say no too. In the end it cost him a bundle I told him he should replace her stockings. I told him what kind and the right size. That he had better not get the cheap ones or I would have Penelope change her mind."

"Right size?" Penelope asks as her whole face turns red.

"Sure, that was the fun part, you're what five, seven and curvy it was easy."

"DiNozzo?" Hotch says as he stands and glares.

Tony stands not really knowing what to expect from Hotch. "You're helping Morgan in the hostage rescue training today. Bring your inhaler because if Dr. Mallard finds out your not taking care of yourself. I'll invite him over and stand guard while he gives you one of his famous tonnage lashings."

"I'd rather have Morgan hit me."

"I like Dr. Mallard, he has some of the most interesting stories. And his profiles of the dead are fastening."

"Morgan be a pal hit me now."

"No I don't think so baby girl gets mad when I hit people especially people she calls her friends."

"Back to work remember you promised to take me to see that play tonight, Tony." Penelope reminds him as she reaches for her new stockings.