I know this is really short. But with the new job this is all I had. I am already working on the next couple of chapters. Please be patient with me.
A huge shout out to my Beta Kara. She keeps me honest and finds all the flaws.
Sunday afternoons at NCIS could go either way as Tony had found out through the years. Today he was just going in for his monthly SFA meeting. Several years ago the SFA's decided that a meeting every month was a good way to stay connected. Tony wasn't even sure that the SACs knew that they met every month; the SACs expected the SFAs to keep in contact, but Tony didn't think they understood what these meeting had become to the current four.
Tony walked into the break room where the meeting was going to take place and was surprised to find Alex there. He hadn't seen her this weekend, she had been TDA to Norfolk all week and had been out of the office. When they had talked last night she didn't think she was going to be back for another couple of days and she was very unhappy about it.
Alex had spread all of her paperwork around the table and Tony noticed around a couple of the tables, he also noticed that she was muttering to herself - in Spanish this time. He had to grin. She looked so cute sitting there with her mussed hair, curled upper lip and getting steadily louder. Tony cleared his throat trying to keep Alex from jumping but it didn't work. Tony laughed as she jumped.
"Hello beautiful, what are you doing here? I thought you were TDA for another couple of days?" Tony pulled out a chair and sat beside her. He brushed his hand against her cheek and leaned in to kiss her.
She was not in a good mood. She looked at Tony and cursed at him in Spanish. Tony answered her back in Spanish and Alex's eyes got big. Alex didn't realize he spoke Spanish as well.
She had been working on this case for the better part of the last five days and wasn't any closer to making sure she won it. There were so many holes in the case that she was afraid she was going to lose. She told him in Spanish, "Tony, I like you, don't get near me today. I don't want to hurt you, and I am in the mood to tear this whole break room apart."
Tony looked at Alex in surprise. She usually was a very even tempered person; she never seemed to lose her composure. He asked tentatively, "Is there anything that I can do to help you? Is it one of our cases? I would be willing to do anything to help you."
Alex took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She looked into Tony's green eyes and smiled at him. "No, not your case and nothing you can do." Alex got to her feet and walked over to counter to pour another cup of coffee. Tony joined her pulled the coffee cup from her hands, wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her soundly.
"Oh my God, do you two have to do that here?" was the next question they heard. Tony and Alex broke apart to see three SFA's walked into the room. "Please stop. It is just so sad to see you two do that."
"Yeah, Michael isn't getting any at all so he is very sad," said Sam.
"Ha ha," said Michael. "It's time for the meeting Tony, let her go."
Tony laughed, leaned in to kiss Alex very quickly and explained. "We meet every month to discuss," he paused and looked at the other SFA's, "well everything. It keeps us out of trouble."
Alex nodded, "that's cool. May I join you or do you all want me to leave?"
"Actually, I have some questions for an attorney and you fit that bill, please stay," asked Adam. Adam Montgomery was the SFA for the other MCRT.
Tony called the meeting to order. "Ok, what has been going on any problems lately or we good?"
All four of the SFA's looked around the table and none had any problems. No one had staff turnover lately and everything was stable there. Tony informed them that Ziva should be back by the end of the week. She had been gone the eight weeks for the course.
"How is she doing over there?" Adam asked Tony.
"The reports I am getting from the instructors say she is doing what she is supposed to be doing, but I am not sure her attitude has changed. We probably won't know that until she comes back. It's going to be interesting to see what Gibbs does when she is back."
The other three SFAs looked at each other and then at Tony. Michael and Adam looked at Sam who rolled her eyes at them both and asked the question. "Tony, are you going to be able to trust her? I mean, if she balks out in the field, you or someone else could get seriously hurt."
Alex was just sitting there listening to the SFAs. She wasn't going to say a word until they asked her a question. She felt privileged to be there in the first place. These four had a bond she had only seen with men in combat. Been there, done that, type of thing. She realized it was the cop in all of them.
Tony shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know what I, we are going to do yet. I will talk to Gibbs this week and see. I don't want her putting anyone's life in danger because she can't follow orders." The SFAs all sat back in their chairs thinking about what could happen. Tony changed the subject by asking, "What's next?"
Sam was the first to comment.
"Actually I need a warrant. Nothing urgent, but it would help if I could have the warrant by mid-week." Sam looked at Alex and Alex put out her hand for the file.
"As long as I have everything I can get you one Monday morning. I will be in court, but I will have my PA get it for me. What else?" she asked the group.
The SFA's looked around the table and no one needed anything else at this time. Sam looked at the group and said "ok, it is time, put them on the table."
All four took out letters. Alex didn't know what was going on until Adam gathered up the letters and handed them to Alex to read. "Go ahead; take a look, whoever wins this month gets the pool." Alex had no idea what was going on, so she looked at the letters. They were offer letters to all four SFAs.
"Does anyone know about these?" As Alex went through them she realized they were excellent offers to all four of them. They were offers for Chief of Detectives in four different cities.
Tony looked at Alex as she looked at him, surprise in her eyes. Tony just smiled and said, "I am not taking the offer, it's just nice to receive them."
Sam was looking at Tony and Alex when he said that and she cleared her throat. "Actually, I am thinking of taking the San Diego Chief of Detectives job. My husband is being transferred back to San Diego for a change of command and we don't want to split up and unless he is at sea, he will be stationed there. I looked at the postings available in San Diego and there aren't any. I put out feelers about a month ago and I just got this offer." The SFAs looked at Sammie in surprise.
"Wow," said Tony and the rest of the SFAs agreed. "Sam," he said, "when would you be going?"
"Well, Andrew's orders would be effective June 1st and he has to be in San Diego by them. The admiral promised that Andrew would end his career out there, and if I took this job, I wouldn't be leaving it. If I take it I wouldn't feel right about leaving in two years."
They sat around discussing Sam's life changing decision for a few minutes. Adam, who was working that Sunday, needed to get back to his desk. "Hey, is there anything else we need to discuss? I need to get back."
They all nodded and stood. Alex stayed seated. "All right, same time next month? Sam, keep us up to date please," said Adam.
Sam agreed. Adam, Sam and Michael walked out of the break room saying goodbye to Alex. Tony was standing when he looked down at Alex. "Can you leave now or do you have to stay?"
Alex looked at her watch and said, "no I can go. I have enough to get into trouble in court tomorrow." Alex threw her hands up in frustration. "I have to call Admiral Rabb and let him know what is going on, he is not going to be happy."
Tony pulled Alex up from the chair by her hands. "It will be ok. You are a smart girl, you'll figure it out." Tony smiled his famous DiNozzo smile which caused Alex to laugh.
"Go use that charm on someone else. Leave me alone." Alex laughed as she cleaned up her mess. "You are paying for dinner tonight or cooking and cleaning, whatever you want to do, just don't make me decide please. I am not in the mood to make up my mind."
Tony and Alex walked out of the break room and went to dinner at Marco's. They sat, had a lovely dinner and Tony took her home and walked her to her door. Tony opened her door, put down her stuff and took Alex into his arms and kissed her very slowly. After several minutes they broke apart and Tony put his forehead against hers. "Alex, what are we doing next? Where do we go from here?"
Alex looked up at Tony. "I am not sure, but I think I am ready when you are, but I want our first time to be . . . not rushed, not on a night were we need to be somewhere early morning."
Tony kissed Alex again. "Ok, we can wait. Barely, but we can wait. I don't want to rush either." He gently pushed Alex in her door. "Go, get in, or I won't be able to stop myself. I will," he paused, "talk, see you tomorrow." Alex laughed as Tony practically ran out of her building. "Call me when you get home!" she shouted as he left.
Unfortunately, the next time Alex saw Tony, he was in a hospital bed.
Tony the Elephant was not happy with either of them.