"Get down," shouted Gibbs. He launched himself across the seat to bring Tony down and as he did so they saw another bullet hit the windshield. As they lay there Gibbs phoned McGee, "McGee! We're taking fire. Outside my house. Don't ask why! Get help here … now!"

They could hear sirens approach and realised that the neighbours must have raised the alarm. There were no more shots. Tony began to get up but Gibbs pulled him down again, "stay down, DiNozzo! You're not an agent now!"

"Thanks, Gibbs," said Tony.

"Don't thank me," said Gibbs, "thank the inventor of bullet proof windshields."

"I would," said Tony a little shakily, "but you're closer."

A police car drew up in front of Gibbs' NCIS car and its occupants edged their way cautiously towards it.

"You all right in there?" said one of the Metro officers.

"Yeah, we're all right," said Gibbs wearily. "You see anything?"

"No. I think the shooter was long gone," said the other officer.

"Well, this has been another banner day," said Tony, "someone's being real persistent. Guess there's no doubt that someone's after me?"

"Ya think?" said Gibbs.

NCISNCIS

The team gathered again the next morning to consider the next steps.

"We're sure that the scam at Norfolk was small scale," said McGee, "no links to the attack on Tony."

"And we are also sure that Peter Simpson stole the military IDs to satisfy his own fetish," said Ellie, "he was working on his own. And while he was in the Navy Yard at the time of the shooting we can find no motive for him to shoot Tony."

"And he was in custody at the time of the second shooting," added Tim."

"I have been doing a background on Mr DiNozzo," said Ellie, "and Tony was right when he said to you that his father sails close to the wind but never crosses the line."

"Remind me never to go sailing with you," said Gibbs with a touch of humour.

"So I can't see that the attacks on Tony are a way of getting to his father," said Ellie.

"Perhaps it is revenge by someone who Tony put away?" said McGee, "we go back to that?"

"Tony was sure there was no scandal," said Gibbs, "the only people he might have annoyed are politicians and he doesn't think they'd resort to assassination."

"Uh, what about the … you … know …" said Ellie.

"What?" said Gibbs.

"The … panties in Tony's briefcase."

"It wasn't Tony's briefcase," said Gibbs. He stopped, "Hey, how did anyone know that Tony was going to be at NCIS that day? We didn't know."

McGee tapped at his computer. "The Senator's schedule of public meetings is on his website. Someone could have phoned his office to see who would be accompanying him."

"And they would have thought it was the other guy. The one who went sick," said Ellie.

"Mark Solomon," said Gibbs.

"You think he was the target?" asked McGee.

"What do we know about him?" asked Gibbs.

"Finding out," said Ellie and Tim.

A few minutes later details appeared on the plasma.

"Mark Solomon. Been deputy Chief of Staff to the Senator two years. Prior to that he spent a year at the Newark office and before that … he was a Navy lieutenant," said Bishop. "Guess that's why he was coming to the Navy Yard with the Senator."

"Anything in his background to suggest anyone in the Navy might have a grudge against him?" asked Gibbs.

"Checking, Boss," said McGee.

"I've got his service photo," said Ellie, "wow, he looks a bit like Tony."

McGee stopped his tapping for a moment, "I guess, same height and build. Same colour hair. Boss, do you think our shooter mistook Tony for him?"

"Don't know, McGee. You finished that search?"

"Yes, Boss. Um, he reported Petty Officer Andrew Roberts for dereliction of duty and other offences. He was court martialled, sentenced to two years in Leavenworth and then discharged."

"That's a possible motive. Get the details of the former petty officer and get a BOLO out on him. Call the Capitol police and tell them to get Solomon under their protection," ordered Gibbs.

"But if Roberts was after Solomon why did he go after Tony yesterday?" asked Ellie, "does he still not realise he's going after the wrong man?"

"Possibly," said Gibbs, "we need to find him to make sure."

"Uh, Gibbs," said Ellie, "there was one another odd thing when I was doing the background search on the DiNozzos."

"Go on," said Gibbs.

"It's probably nothing."

"I hate it when people say that," said Gibbs, "it usually means they think it does mean something. Spit it out."

"Well, the background was very easy. It was almost as if someone had already been doing the same search and the information was already there."

"What you getting at, Bishop?" asked Gibbs.

"Why would someone else be doing research?" asked Ellie.

"Could be a journalist," said McGee, "a Senator's Chief of Staff could be newsworthy. And Tony's only recently come to DC."

"Or someone could be doing research so they know where DiNozzo's going to be," said Gibbs.

"So which way do we go?" asked Ellie, "Mark Solomon or Tony?"

"We have to go with both," said Gibbs, "can't risk anything else. I'm going to see Abby. I'll get her to run facial recognition on visitors to the Navy Yard the day of the shooting. See if Andrew Roberts was on base."

"Gibbs," said Abby when he arrived in the lab. "I haven't got much for you yet. The shooter yesterday didn't police his brass. From the shell casings I would say that he used an AR-15 rifle."

"Any fingerprints?"

"No," said Abby regretfully, "he was careful. But … and it's a big but, I think I may be able to get DNA of the shell casings. It's running as I speak but it will be a while before I get a result."

"That's good work, Abby."

"No, it's not, Gibbs. It's not good enough. Someone's after Tony and I should be doing something to save him."

"Shooter might not be after DiNozzo, Abs. May be mistaken identity. He might be after someone from Adler's office – Mark Solomon."

"That's great!" said Abby. "I mean, it's not great for Mark Solomon. It sucks for Mark Solomon. But it's great for Tony."

"Let me know when you have a result, Abby," said Gibbs.

"Don't I always?" she said with a pout.

"Yes, you do, Abs. Yes, you do."

Gibbs returned to the squad room and was surprised to see Tony standing there.

"DiNozzo! What you doing here?" he asked.

"I persuaded the Senator he needed some more information," he said.

"And does he?" asked Gibbs.

"You can never have too much information, Gibbs," said Tony. Gibbs stared at him. "But no, he doesn't need anything. I just couldn't settle. There's something niggling at me. So I got my new best friend from the FBI to give me a ride over. Capitol police are stretched a bit thin now they've got to look after Mark as well."

"Come to the conference room," said Gibbs, "Want to ask you something."

"Do you mean the conference room or the elevator?" asked Tony, "because I have to tell you that the elevator sounded a bit creaky when I rode it just now. I think years of your tender ministrations may finally be taking their toll."

"Real conference room," said Gibbs, "come on."

There were no conference rooms free but a glare from Gibbs was enough to cause one to be vacated quickly.

"Glad to see you haven't lost your touch," said Tony.

"DiNozzo," began Gibbs, "Bishop says there was something hinky when she did the background search on you."

"Gibbs, I told you, you're not going to find any scandal about me or my wife," said Tony wearily, "so what do you think you've found?"

"She said that it looked as if someone was already doing searches on you. Don't ask me how she knows but I trust her."

"More than you trust me, I see," said Tony, "I guess nothing changes."

"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Gibbs angrily.

"You never did think much of my abilities, did you? Oh, I know you say now that I was your best agent but you'll have to forgive me for doubting that. I reckon you only bring that out as a stick to beat McGee with, keep him on his toes, keep him off balance. Let's face it, getting praise out of you is like getting blood out of a stone."

"What are you talking about, DiNozzo?"

"I know you think I made a mistake with Jenny," said Tony, "you made that very clear."

"I told you it wasn't your fault," protested Gibbs.

"Yeah, you said the words, Gibbs but your face said something different."

"I thought you said you were over this," said Gibbs.

"I am. I know it wasn't my fault. I did what I was told to do but nobody gave me any credit for that. I've come to terms with that and with disappointing you and giving the Director an excuse to get rid of me and break up the team."

"He didn't break up the team," said Gibbs.

"What?"

"I can't give you the details but McGee and Ziva were re-assigned to other work the Director needed doing. Once that case was over he brought the team back together."

"I'd always assumed that you'd bullied Vance into giving you your team back," said Tony.

"No."

"And did he have an extra special mission in mind for me?" asked Tony.

"I don't know," said Gibbs.

"Come on, Gibbs, at least be honest. The Director didn't have any use for me, did he?"

"He said that it was time you had a change of role," said Gibbs.

Tony stood up, "look, I've had enough of this. I don't want to go back over old ground and revisit old wounds. This is a pointless argument and I've never been able to get you to change your mind, so why try now? Why do you think Bishop's theory about the searches is hinky?"

"Someone's too interested in you," said Gibbs, "they may be looking for weaknesses. You've been active in the DC social calendar and your wife has stayed home. That could look odd."

Tony clenched his fists and took a deep breath to try and calm down. "You're clutching at straws, Gibbs. I know why there have been searches done on Beth and me. And it's our business, not yours and I don't intend to make it yours."

"DiNozzo …"

"I'm done, Gibbs. Done."

Gibbs nodded and led him out of the room. As they went down the stairs in frosty silence, the Director waylaid Gibbs,

"A word, Gibbs."

Tony nodded coolly to the Director and carried on to the squad room. Bishop and McGee were talking to Abby who squealed when she saw Tony.

"Ton-ee, I've missed you!" She ran forward and hugged him.

"Mind the arm," he said, "ouch, too late!"

"I'm sorry," said Abby penitently, "did I hurt you?"

"I'm OK, Abs, don't worry," said Tony, "it's good to see you too."

"Come down to my lab," said Abby, "I want you to see Bert."

"OK. Hey, McGee, could you phone my FBI escort? Tell him I'll go back to the office in half an hour?"

"Sure," said Tim, "has Gibbs finished with you?"

"We're done," said Tony firmly.

"Come on," said Abby excitedly, "if we've only got half an hour. There's so much I want to tell you."

Ten minutes later Tony was wondering if it was a sign that he was getting old that he found Abby exhausting. She had introduced him to every machine in her lab and all her toys and figurines while also giving him a rundown of what the nuns had been up to, the idiosyncrasies of her various dates and the highlights of her forensic work.

"Take a breath, Abby," he said when he could get a word in.

"Have I been talking too much?" she asked.

Tony realised that he could still not disappoint her, "No, never, Abs."

"I have missed you, Tony," she said at a lower volume, "I wish I could have helped when you left."

"You tried, Abby," he replied, "and I appreciate that you tried. But you couldn't help. Leaving NCIS, getting away from the memories was the only thing that helped."

"But you miss NCIS? You miss us, don't you?"

"I did at first, Abby. I missed you all so much it was like a physical pain."

"And now?"

"It's been more than ten years, Abs. I've moved on. My life is different now and I wouldn't change it," said Tony.

"It just seems so odd. You standing here in my lab and not being part of the investigation," she said mournfully.

"I know, Abs. But I am part of the investigation. I am the investigation."

"You know what I mean."

"Yes, I know. Tell you what. Why don't we pretend I'm still Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo?"

"That would be cool," said Abby clapping her hands in excitement.

"What you got, Abby?" asked Tony in what he hoped was his Special Agent voice.

"Well, Special Agent DiNozzo, I'm analysing the DNA I found on the spent shells from the shooting yesterday. I should have the results soon and then I'll start running it against all the databases. See if I can find a name."

"That's very good, Miss Scuito," said Tony, "what about the DNA on the shell from the first shooting?"

"There wasn't any," said Abby, "the shell fell into a puddle and I couldn't get anything off it."

"What else you got?"

"I've been trying to run facial recognition on the footage of the shooting," she said.

"Let me see what you've got," said Tony in an official sounding voice.

"On it, Special Agent DiNozzo," said Abby in a matching tone.

"You do know you never called me Special Agent DiNozzo when I worked here, don't you?" queried Tony.

"I know," said Abby, "but this is fun. I might start calling McGee and Bishop by their titles. So, here goes. Here's what Gibbs called the 'moving pictures."

Tony looked at the pictures. "Abs, run it again, will you."

"Of course, Special Agent DiNozzo," said Abby as she pressed a button on her keyboard. "Tony? Where are you going?"

She got no answer. Tony had run out of the lab and was racing up the stairs. He rushed into the squad room.

"Where's Gibbs?" he demanded of Bishop and McGee.

"What?" asked Ellie.

"He's gone to get coffee," said Tim, "he looked in a bad mood. What did you say to him to get him so riled up?"

"Where's he gone?" shouted Tony.

"There's a coffee wagon in Leutze Park," said Bishop, "that's where he goes."

"With me, Probie," yelled Tony. He ran to the elevator but, when the doors didn't open at once, he sprinted down the stairs instead.

"What's going on?" asked Ellie.

"Don't know," said Tim, "grab your gear!"

Tony ran toward the park and saw Gibbs, coffee in hand, sitting on a bench looking out over the grass.

"Gibbs!" he roared. Not getting an answer he started running again. Gibbs heard the pounding of his feet and stood up to see what was happening.

"Get down," shouted Tony, and then seeing a figure standing by the trees, he launched himself at Gibbs just as the sound of a gunshot filled the air. Gibbs went tumbling to the ground under Tony's weight.

AN: last cliff hanger, I promise ... I think. Probably just one more chapter to come.