"Gibbs."

Gibbs suppressed a sigh at being accosted by the Director two days running.

"Director?"

"I've been speaking with the Capitol Police Chief. He's happy for us to do the investigating into yesterday's shooting. His officers will carry on with the protection duty and leave us to find the shooter. Make sure you keep him informed." He turned to go and then said, "And me. Keep me in the loop. This is important."

Gibbs nodded and called across to McGee, "McGee, full background on Adler. See if you can find anything which might have made him into the target."

"On it, Boss."

"Bishop," said Gibbs, "get on to NSA. See if they've got anything on Adler. Any chatter about him being a target. I'm going down to Abby. See if she's got anything from who came through the gates yesterday."

As he entered Abby's lab, Gibbs was struck by particularly loud and martial music being played.

"Jeez, Abs," he protested, "what's going on?" He turned the music down.

"This is serious, Gibbs," she said, "Tony was nearly killed yesterday. The first time he sets foot in the Navy Yard in over ten years and he gets shot!"

"He wasn't the target, Abs."

"That doesn't matter. I really missed Tony but all this time I've been thinking that at least he's been safe. Now I find out that he's in a job where he needs to throw himself in front of bullets."

"He's not a bodyguard, Abs," said Gibbs.

"Then why did he end up being shot yesterday?"

"OK, I guess he was doing his job. Looking out for the Senator."

"Then he needs to find another job," said Abby crossly.

"Think he likes the one he's got," said Gibbs.

"You spoke to him?" asked Abby wistfully.

"Yeah. I saw him last night. Gave him a ride home."

"How was he?"

"His arm was sore."

"No. I mean, how is he? Is he happy?"

Gibbs wasn't sure of the answer to that. "The Senator thinks highly of him," he said, "and the staff at the office are looking out for him. He says he's OK."

"Really?" said Abby, "because he wasn't when he left us. I tried to help him, Gibbs but he made it clear he needed some alone time to cope with what happened to Jenny."

"We all tried, Abby," said Gibbs, "did our best but he needed to do it without us."

"And did he?"

"He says he did. Whatever's on his mind now, I don't think it's what happened to the Director."

"But you think he's got something on his mind?" asked Abby.

Gibbs shrugged. "He's bound to, Abs. He's got a high pressure job. That's got to take a toll."

"I guess," said Abby discontentedly.

"What you got, Abs?" asked Gibbs pointing to her computer screen.

"Not much," she admitted. "It turns out that one of the IDs used to gain entry to the Navy Yard was reported stolen. Lance Corporal Christian Mason noticed it was missing late yesterday."

"Send the details to Bishop," ordered Gibbs, "she can check out the story. Good work, Abs."

He turned to go but Abby called him back, "Gibbs! If Tony comes back, will you tell him I'd like to see him? It's been ten years without any Tonyness."

"I'll tell him, Abs," promised Gibbs giving her a kiss on the cheek.

When Gibbs returned to the squad room he found Bishop and McGee were ready to report.

"Senator Steven Peter Adler," said McGee bringing up his picture on the plasma screen. "Native of New Jersey. Got a BA in philosophy and English at OSU then went to Harvard Law School. Got a job at a DC firm he'd interned at. Went back to New Jersey. Went into his uncle's law firm until he ran for office. Served on some powerful committees. He's got a reputation as strong on civil liberties and proper use of tax dollars. Seems pretty popular even with people who disagree with him. Got elected with a big majority. Tipped for high office, Boss. Married six years ago. No children. No scandal attached to him. Can't see any particular reason why he'd be targeted."

"So he's just a random target?" asked Gibbs.

"Seems so," said Ellie, "NSA and Homeland haven't picked anything up about him. Perhaps someone just wanted to shoot a Senator and he was available."

"But he wasn't," said Gibbs.

"Boss?" asked McGee.

"If our shooter was after a random Senator why go after him when he was on the Navy Yard? Abby says someone got access using a stolen ID. Chances are it was our shooter. That doesn't seem random to me. If I wanted to kill a Senator I'd hang around the Capitol until one came by."

"So Senator Adler was deliberately chosen?" said Ellie.

"Looks like it," said Gibbs, "delve deeper. See if you can find a reason. And go see Christian Mason."

"Who?" asked Tim.

"Abby sent details to Bishop. It was his ID that was stolen. Go see him. Check his story. See if he knows who stole it," said Gibbs.

"On it, Boss," said Tim and Ellie as they gathered their gear together.

Bishop was about to join Tim at the elevator when she changed her mind and approached Gibbs' desk.

"What?" he asked.

"What if … what if it was a set up?"

"Go on."

"An attempted shooting gets a lot of publicity. Publicity is good for politicians."

Gibbs rubbed his chin as he considered this, "difficult to set up," he said, "The bullets were real. Could be dangerous."

"And …" hesitated Bishop.

"Spit it out, Bishop."

"And if it was a set up then Tony would have to have been in on it," she said reluctantly.

"Not necessarily," said Gibbs.

"I guess. But it would have been risky. And the Senator looked to care about Tony," said Ellie.

"The DiNozzo I knew would never be involved with something like that," said Gibbs.

Ellie nodded, "of course. Um, I'd better be going."

Gibbs watched her go and wondered if he had been right to be so confident. As everyone kept commenting, it had been more than ten years since they had seen Tony. A lot could happen in that time and Tony might not be the man he had once known. And he couldn't help but think he'd had something on his mind the previous day.

Tim and Ellie hadn't been gone long when Abby came running in.

"Gibbs, Gibbs, Gibbs!" she said excitedly.

"What you got, Abs?" he asked.

"Check your email," she said.

"Why?"

"You've got a message from Lieutenant Felicity Gomez."

"Why?"

"She was on the Navy Yard yesterday with her son. She was showing him round."

"And?" Gibbs was impatient. Bishop's suggestion that the attempted shooting had been a setup had unsettled him and he wasn't in the mood for one of Abby's excited explanations.

"Her son is eleven years old. She didn't tell him what the fuss was about yesterday 'cos she didn't want to worry him. This morning she looked on her cell phone and remembered that he'd taken some pictures on it."

"Abs," said Gibbs, "what's this about?"

"There are some pictures of the shooting! Not good ones. I don't think Jason – that's her son – is real good at photography and he was trying to take pictures of her. But, in the background, you can see some of what happened."

"Where?"

"Like I said. Check your emails. I sent it to you."

"Abs!" said Gibbs in frustration.

"OK. I'll do it for you," smiled Abby as she leaned over him and brought the pictures up on the plasma.

Gibbs stood up to look. "They're moving pictures!" he exclaimed.

"Oh, Gibbs," sighed Abby, "welcome to the 21st century."

Gibbs peered at the screen as the sequence played over and over again. "Can you enhance this?" he asked, pointing at the blurry figure in the distance.

"I can try," promised Abby, "and I can try running facial recognition against the cameras at the gates."

"Do that," said Gibbs as he continued to look at the footage.

Abby was on her way back to her lab when Gibbs called her back.

"Abby! Look at this."

"I have, Gibbs. And I'll keep on looking at it."

"No," said Gibbs, "is there anything odd about it?"

Abby looked again. "No. Like I said, young Jason is a bit shaky."

"The angle's wrong," said Gibbs.

"That's what I said," said Abby patiently, "and Jason wasn't trying to take a picture of the shooting."

"No, not that," said Gibbs, "if the shooter was aiming at the Senator he wasn't standing in the right place."

"Not all would be assassins are good shots," said Abby reasonably.

"No, look!" said Gibbs, "I don't think he was aiming at Adler."

"Then who?"

"Tony. He was aiming at Tony."

NCISNCIS

"Boss," said McGee as he answered his cell, "we haven't got to Mason yet. And we haven't dug anything else up about the Senator either."

"That can wait," ordered Gibbs, "meet me at DiNozzo's house. Rosewood Ave, Georgetown."

"Boss?"

"Adler wasn't the shooter's target. He was aiming for Tony."

"What? How do you know?"

"We got some pictures. McGee, move it."

"Won't Tony be at work, Boss?" asked McGee.

"I checked. He has an appointment later this morning. He was doing some work from home."

Tony was in the kitchen of his home when he heard a screech of brakes followed by banging on the front door. As soon as he opened it, Gibbs swept in, grabbed him by the arm and pushed him through into the family room. McGee took up position by the door.

"Uh, Gibbs?" said Tony, "do you need coffee or something?"

"The Senator wasn't the target," said Gibbs, "you were."

"Me?" said Tony, "who would want to kill me? Don't say it, McGee!"

"What?" protested McGee, "I wasn't going to say anything."

"It's what you were thinking," said Tony, "stop it!"

McGee rolled his eyes but kept silent.

Gibbs ignored this byplay and continued, "We got some photos of the shooting. The angles are wrong. The shooter wasn't aiming for you."

"What's going on?" asked a woman as she came down the stairs, "I heard the door go."

"Beth," said Tony, "this is Special Agent Jethro Gibbs – you can remember him from the haircut and happy smile. Special Agent Tim McGee is by the door doing an impersonation of a goldfish. And I'm guessing that Special Agent Ellie Bishop is guarding the backdoor. Guys, this is my wife, Elizabeth Talbot."

"And why are you all here?" asked Elizabeth.

Gibbs looked at Tony's wife before replying. He remembered that Tony had seemed to prefer brunettes when he worked for NCIS; if so, he had gone against type as Elizabeth was a blonde with dark blue eyes. She was tall, looked rather too thin and wore a worried look.

"We believe that Tony was the target of yesterday's shooting, Ms Talbot," said Gibbs.

"What?" said Elizabeth. "But who would want to shoot him? I thought they were after Steve."

"That's what we assumed," said Gibbs.

"I think there's a rule against that," muttered Tony. "Although there are Gibbs rules about not involving lawyers and I've broken that one."

"What?" asked Gibbs.

"I'm a lawyer," said Elizabeth frostily. "And this is no time for joking, Tony. Agent Gibbs, what happens next?"

Gibbs was still coming to terms with the idea of Tony being married to a lawyer but approved Elizabeth's practicality. "We'll need to work out the best way to protect you," he replied.

"The girls," said Elizabeth going pale.

"Girls?" asked McGee.

"Esther, Martha and Grace," said Tony.

"You're kidding," said Tim.

"What?" said Elizabeth turning a cool gaze on McGee.

"I'm sorry," said McGee nervously, "I was surprised, that's all."

"About what?" asked Tony.

"T-t-the … that …" stammered Tim.

"That I have three daughters …?" said Tony.

"N-n-no."

"Or their names?" continued Tony.

"No," said Tim unconvincingly, "but you have to admit …"

"What?" asked Elizabeth.

"T-t-t-that they're … unusual names. I mean who would call their daughters … Me, I think they're great names. I like the old-fash … er … traditional names. Boss, I'm going to wait outside."

"Good idea, McGee," said Gibbs.

"Agent Gibbs," said Elizabeth, "what do you propose?"

"How old are your girls?" asked Gibbs.

"Esther is 9, Martha is 7 and Grace is 4," said Tony.

"Where are they now?" asked Gibbs.

"They're in the den. We were about to go out with Martha so Esther and Grace were going to go to one of our neighbours," said Elizabeth, "The girls are on vacation at the moment."

"Ms Talbot, I doubt that you and your daughters are in any danger," said Gibbs, "but …"

"… but you don't want to break one of your rules and assume," Elizabeth broke in with a hint of a smile.

"No," agreed Gibbs, returning the smile, "so I recommend that you all go into a safe house under our protection until we find out who is after Tony."

"That won't be possible, Agent Gibbs," said Elizabeth.

"Esther and Grace can go to Beth's parents in New Jersey," said Tony. "Beth and Martha can join them later. I'll stay here. The Senator has got a bill that he's sponsoring coming up for debate. He'll need me here. I'll be safe enough at the Capitol."

"Martha and I can't leave DC for a day at least, Agent Gibbs," said Elizabeth, "… there are meetings I … we … need to go to."

"That's not good enough," said Gibbs brusquely.

"It'll have to be," said Tony, "no point arguing with my wife," he added with a crooked smile. "I seem to remember NCIS doing protection detail in homes before and that was when there were potential terrorists in the mix. I know there have been budget cuts and it may be expensive …"

"It's not about money," said Gibbs outraged at the thought that he would let 'bean counters' dictate to him.

"I'm sorry, Agent Gibbs," said Elizabeth, "I … we … don't mean to be difficult but leaving DC at the moment is not an option."

"I'm not going to win this argument, am I?" said Gibbs.

Elizabeth and Tony shook their heads.

"If it helps, I could move out," suggested Tony. Elizabeth's head shot up and she stared at Tony. "If I'm the target," he continued, "it might be better if I was out of the way. I could sleep at the office. I've done it before."

"We'll see," said Gibbs noncommittally.

"I have to go out in a few minutes," said Elizabeth. "I'm guessing it is just going to be me, Tony? You're going to say it's best if you don't come?"

"I can't risk making you and Martha a target, can I?" said Tony reasonably. "It's not that I don't want to come. I would if I could."

Elizabeth looked as if she was prepared to argue the point but Gibbs intervened, "be best if DiNozzo came back to the Navy Yard with me. We need to talk to him about who might be targeting him."

Elizabeth huffed with annoyance, "at least say goodbye to the girls," she said.

"Go get them, DiNozzo," said Gibbs, "be good to introduce them to us so they know what's going on."

Tony looked sharply at Gibbs as he considered reminding him that he was no longer his subordinate but he decided to save his breath. McGee came back into the house at that moment,

"Support has come from NCIS, Boss," he said, "Two agents out the front and two at the back. Bishop's coming through."

"DiNozzo's just getting his daughters," said Gibbs. McGee nodded nervously.

"Girls," said Tony, "I want you to meet some friends of mine. They're going to be around the house some for a few days, looking after us. This is Agent Gibbs; that's Agent McGee standing by the door. And Agent Bishop is the lady in the kitchen. Guys, these are our daughters, Esther, Martha and Grace."

The three girls smiled a little shyly and stayed close to their father. To Tim's inexperienced eyes they all looked tall for their age. Esther and Grace looked most like their mother with blonde hair and blue eyes while Martha had darker hair and eyes the same indeterminate colour as Tony's. Tim half expected them to call him Probie or a mcnickname but he realised with an unexpected pang that Tony might never have told his children anything about the people who had once been so important to him.

"Sweeties," said Elizabeth, "I want you to do what Daddy's friends tell you. And don't go out of the house unless one of us is with you. Do you understand?"

"Is something wrong?" asked Esther.

Elizabeth and Tony looked at each other. Tony bent down, "we just need to be careful for a few days. Will you do that for us?"

"Yes, Daddy," said Grace, "is it a game?"

"No, sweetie," said Elizabeth, "it's not a game but it's nothing to be frightened of. OK?"

Grace nodded a little uncertainly.

"Now," continued Elizabeth, "Daddy and I have to go out for a while. Agent Gibbs, what are the arrangements?

"McGee will drive you and your daughter, Ms Talbot. Bishop will stay here with Grace and Esther. I'll go with DiNozzo back to the Navy Yard."

"And then I go to work," said Tony. "And then back here? Or what?"

"We'll run the protection from this house," said Gibbs in a resigned voice, "but if the situation changes you'll all have to move somewhere else. No arguments!"

"And you'll come back tonight, Tony?" asked Elizabeth.

"If we think it's safe," said Tony, "I'll let you know."

Elizabeth nodded. "Esther, Grace, why don't you show Agent Bishop the den? She'll look after you until I get back." She stooped and hugged the children who then took Bishop with them. "Martha, say goodbye to Daddy and then go get your coat."

Martha held out her arms to Tony who gave her a hug.

"I thought you were coming too," she said plaintively.

"Not this time, poppet," he said.

"Is it because you have to go to work?" she asked.

"No, I'd come if I could."

"I guess you want to be with your friends," she said in a resigned tone.

"I'd rather be with you," he whispered.

"Promise?"

"Pinkie promise," he said.

"Get your coat, sweetie," said Elizabeth, "we don't want to be late."

"Call me," said Tony.

His wife nodded and then, seeing that her daughter had come back with her coat, said, "Agent McGee, are you ready?"

"Uh. Yes, Ma'am. I mean Ms Talbot. Yes, ready when you are," Tim replied.

A glimmer of amusement appeared in Elizabeth's eyes and her lips twitched in something like a smile. "I see what you mean," she said to Tony. Tony grinned back in a way familiar to Tim and he realised that perhaps Tony had talked about his former team-mates after all.