A/N: Thank you all for your wonderful reviews I hope you all like this next chapter. It's kinda short but it's really just a bridge chapter to get you all ready for the big interrogation scene =D. I also want to say a big thank you to my beta CALLEN37, all of your hard work is truly appreciated =D. As always please let me know what you think I really appreciate it.

Chapter 12

Uncertainty

Tony sat in the dark of MTAC pondering just why exactly the takedown of his old enemy, the possible murderer of his family, had left a bad taste in his mouth. He was finally alone. Since they now had Franklynns in custody Director Vance called off his protection detail leaving him free to roam at will. He was even considering going back to his apartment, but he doubted that he would. Gibbs and the crew were due back in a few hours and knowing Gibbs, he would most likely want to perform the interrogation sooner rather than later.

He sighed heavily. The sting had been perfect, everything going as planned, everyone pulling their weight. They had been in and out causing little fuss.

It had been simple.

Too simple maybe? Tony couldn't get over the fact that it felt like it had just been too easy; that Franklynns had been too easy to get their hands on.

He remembered when he had worked with Franklynns before. The man had been a paranoid SOB and had, had a mole in every possible agency, well paid, ready and willing to pass him information on the least amount of suspicion. He remembered right in the middle of his undercover op Franklynns had moved his entire operation twice, simply because one of his moles in the mail room at one of the local police precincts had overheard a conversation in which Franklynns name had been mentioned.

Now; Tony didn't believe for a nanosecond, that the man had become less paranoid during retirement. It just didn't fit. If anything; in Tony's mind, Franklynns should have become even more paranoid trying to stay one step ahead of an international man hunt. Not letting his guard down so far to the point that he was unaware of a team of federal agent crossing borders into another country and joining forces with the local LEO's.

No from the beginning something hadn't sat right about this whole operation.

Tony had been suspicious of his former Director, his true motives for seeking him out and his intentions for bringing in his old team. Tony was not ashamed that he was Gibbs second; he looked up to the man like a father and was never prouder to serve with his team. They had become his family and although they had, had their rocky places; and what family doesn't, they had all proven time and again that they meant more than that to each other.

He wasn't blind; he knew that McGee and Ziva had still felt themselves above him intellectually until recently. He could also tell that they were having a hard time accepting these new revelations about him. He knew that it would take them time to accustom themselves to these changes. In all though he was happy in this place, it was the closest thing to a family that he had, had since he had lost his girls. He couldn't imagine being any other place than where he was and he couldn't fathom what exactly it was that his former director would be up to.

He was interrupted from his thoughts by a body lowering itself into a chair next to him.

He kept his head down while looking out of the corner of his eye at the newcomer. He relaxed marginally as Rock settled himself into the chair next to him and kept his mouth shut. He realized that he was in no mood to be lectured or cajoled into doing anything. The two friends sat in silence for a while before Rock finally said in his slow southern drawl, "Somethin' about this is bothering yah and I wanna know what it is."

Tony shook his head, but kept quiet. For some reason or other, he wasn't ready to go into detail about his concerns.

Taking his silence as leeway to keep talking, Rock sighed, "Yah know I'm not sure why we were even brought in. I mean you had made it very clear when you left that you didn't want to be contacted by any of us, much less all of this. To me the fact that you hadn't contacted any of us since then either was also a pretty big clue to the fact that you still weren't ready to face us again. So my question is why did he do this? Why did he pull us all away from our jobs and bring us in on an operation that could have been handled just fine with your team here? It definitely didn't need the extra hands; so what's the point here?"

Tony remained silent. Those were the very questions that he had been asking himself. Why? What was the reason behind all of this? It was unsettling him and he knew that the only person who had the answers was the director and he couldn't confront him. Sitting back in his chair he decided that he needed to talk to Gibbs and the rest of the teams. He needed their perspectives on the whole situation. He had a feeling in the pit of his stomach that it wasn't going to be good.

~~NCIS~~

Three Hours Later:

Tony stood in the hallway, leaning against the wall between the observation and interrogation rooms, glowering at the floor. Looking for all the world like a rebellious teenager. He was pissed. Just as he was about to enter the interrogation room, the director and Vance stopped him and began insisting that someone go in with him. Just in case.

Tony had instantly started arguing with them. Stating his opinion on the subject, and of course their loud voices caused Gibbs to come out of observation. He had told the directors that he felt Tony could handle it. But the director played dirty saying; "If someone didn't go in there with him he couldn't go in at all. It was a conflict of interest and would be thrown out of court in a heartbeat. Even the worst lawyer would see to it. "Surely agent Gibbs," He supplied slyly, "you wouldn't want to jeopardize this whole operation would you?"

Gibbs looked at Tony and sighed. It was true, it was a conflict of interest, but Tony deserved this chance and Gibbs was going to make sure that he got it. Tony had seen the look in his boss's eyes when he finally gave in. Throwing his hands up in the air he had taken his stance against the wall. Now they stood out in the hall, both being silent. Gibbs knew that Tony's feelings were hurt but it was the only way. After a few minutes of silent brooding he finally said, "It's your show Tony. I'll just be there as back up, just so they can't try and twist their way out of anything."

Tony nodded silently then pushed off the wall and headed into interrogation saying, "Whatever."

TBC . . .