Chapter 16
Letters
0515 hours, 15 February 2001, US Forward Operating Base, 15 miles south of Riviere-du-Loup, Quebec.
"Tony get up" said a voice that roused him from his slumber. Tony quickly grabbed his 45 from under his pillow and in one fluid motion cocked it and pointed it at the person standing by his bedside. "Sleeping with a gun. That could point to some very deep emotional trauma" said the voice.
"God damn it Jordie, I could've shot you" said Tony as he un-cocked the pistol and laid it down on the nightstand next to his bed. "What the hell are you doing here anyway, it must have been killer dragging your shrink's couch all the way up here in the dead of winter" Tony joked.
"EJ asked me to check up on you" she said. Tony grunted as he lifted him self out of bed and walked over to his footlocker. He peeled off his shirt, and Jordan gasped. She knew that Tony had received several Purple Hearts, but she had no idea the kind of abuse that his body had undergone in the past 10 years. They're were bullet hole scares all across his front and back, including 2 over his heart, his back was permanently disfigured with burn scares and even know the electrical burns he received will being tortured were extremely prevalent.
"Aren't you a doctor?" Tony asked, wondering why Jordan was so scared by his wounds.
"Of Psychology, your body, is" she couldn't finish.
"This is what happens in my chosen profession" Tony explained as he pulled out his white camouflage winter fatigues. "Ya know, I've never actually worn these before" he said as he put on a fresh undershirt and slipped on his fatigue top over it.
"EJ's body doesn't look like that" commented Lieutenant Commander Jordan Parker.
"The Good Colonel sits behind a desk, and also, I have a knack for getting shot" he said.
"How many times?" she asked.
"I have 8 Purple Hearts, and enough led has passed through my body to shield New York from a nuke" he said. "Actually, other than Chester, no other current Unit Member has actually been hit" Tony realized.
"When was Master Sergeant Martin hit?" Jordan asked.
"Classified" said Tony as he laced up his boots. "This little chat the only reason you came?" he asked her.
"No" she confessed. "I took an interesting phone call at my office at Bethesda, the night after your rescue" she said.
"Who was it?" he asked curiously.
"Your Daughter" Jordan said, which got Tony's full, undivided attention. "she said that the reason Officer Haswari won't reveal your identity is simple. He wants you to be the one that kills Eli David. He hopes that you'll kill Eli, and be killed yourself trying to escape" Jordan explained.
"Then why the hell did he torture me?" Tony asked.
"Pleasure. He's a psychopath DiNozzo, he loves hurting people, and gets off on their pain" she explained.
"I'm getting to old for this shit" Tony complained as he threw his rifle over his shoulder. "If you have anything else to say doc, throw your coat on, because I'm running short on time" Jordan quickly threw on her winter coat and followed him outside.
"Can I ask you something?" she questioned.
"Sure doc" he said in a tone that showed he was less than thrilled.
"Why do you still do it?" she asked.
"Do what?" he asked, slightly confused.
"This" she said. "Delta. 12 years, more medals than you can count" she said. Tony didn't answer; he just gave her a smile, tipped the brim of his cap and walked away.
"Listen up shit heads" he yelled to his team. The 4 of them quickly gathered around Tony. "Ok, that's to our fearless leader, we're gonna be really short handed for this one" Tony explained. "Freedom and Sky Train are with me in the lead HUMVEE" he ordered. Then he turned to Chester. "Ironman, take Dragnet. You two are in the last HUMVEE" Move out Tony ordered. As Chester made his way to his HUMVEE, a voice called out to him from behind. He turned to see Lieutenant Commander Parker walking through the snow towards him.
"Master Sergeant Martin" she called out.
"What can I do for you Mam?" he asked.
"I was sent here by EJ to check up on Colonel DiNozzo. I need you to answer some questions" she explained.
"Look Mam, I ain't exactly all that thrilled with 'Old Ironpants' right about now. I have more important things to worry about" he said.
"Let's Role" they heard Tony order as he got into the lead HUMVEE.
"That's me, see ya around doc" Chester said. When he went to turn away, Jordan put her hand on his shoulder.
"Just answer me one question. You've served with DiNozzo for 8 years now. Why does he do it? Why does he keep coming back to this hell?" she asked.
Chester's answer was simple. "Some people are more comfortable in hell"
0635 hours, 15 February 2001, Tactical Operations Center, Unit Compound, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
"I don't understand, Tali told me that when she went through all this it look like 30 seconds" complained Izzy to Bridget.
"That's because with her, we faked everything. Tali David was dead, and we just created Tali Colleton. With you, we're doing everything by the books" Bridget explained.
"And because Colonel Barrett is an arse" Izzy added, using the British word for ass.
"That too" Bridget agreed. "Now open wide" she instructed. Izzy complied and Bridget stuck the cotton swab in her mouth. She removed it and placed the DNA sample into one of the machines. "Now, we just add your DNA to the AFIS database and we should be all set" Bridget said. "Now, once you're entered into AFIS, all you'll have to do is pass your citizenship test, and you will officially e an American Citizen" said Bridget with a smile. Suddenly, Bridget's computer started beeping. "What the hell" she said as she started typing. "How is that possible?" she asked aloud.
"How is what possible?" Izzy asked.
"If this is correct, you won't have to take that test" Bridget said with utter shock in her voice.
"Why?" Izzy questioned.
"Because you're already a citizen… by birth"
0815 hours, 15 February 2001, 35 miles south of the St. Lawrence River, Quebec.
"I don't like it" said Tony as he lowered the binoculars from his face. "It's too easy" he observed as he leaned his torso onto the hood of the HUMVEE. Ahead of them was a stretch of open road that ran past a large farmhouse.
"Maybe it is" suggested Tali who was standing up in the open driver's side door. just then, another HUMVEE pulled up behind them. When they had 1st set off, Tony quickly dropped the plan of having Chester and Deeks keep up the rear, and soon, they were following close behind DiNozzo's HUMVEE.
"Oh Colonel" Chester called out.
"Yeah what?" Tony replied as he turned around. "Aw Fuck" Tony muttered as he saw who was approaching.
"Why the hell have you stopped?" the man demanded.
"Good to see you too Al" Tony replied sarcastically. Colonel Alan Alcott was Brigadier General Morrell's Deputy for the time being. He and Tony had never, and I mean ever, gotten along.
"Answer the question Lieutenant Colonel" Alcott demanded.
"Don't pull rank on me you arrogant desk jockey" Tony shot back.
"Just answer the god damn question" Alcott demanded once again.
"No 'please'" Tony joked.
"That's it, I've had it with you DiNozzo" said Alcott as he drew his pistol and pointed it at Tony. Chester quickly pulled back the slide on his M-16, equipped with an under-barrel M-203 grenade launcher, and shoved the barrel into Alcott's back. At the same time, Tali jumped down from the HUMVEE and drew her 45, and in one fluid motion cocked it and aimed it at Alcott.
"I wouldn't try that if I were you" Chester grunted as he shoved the barrel deeper into Alcott's back. Reluctantly, Alcott holstered his weapon. "Now, to answer your question, I stopped because it's too easy" he said.
"So what, you're gonna stop at every farmhouse, every bend in the road" stammered Alcott.
"Yeah I am" Tony shot back.
"Why, the Canucks are pulling back, they don't have time to make a stand at every farmhouse" Alcott yelled. "Just admit it, you don't like riding point" accused Alcott.
"No, I don't like riding point, but I do it because it's my job and I'm damn good at it" Tony shot right back.
"Fine" said Alcott. "I'll ride point, but you keep tight behind me" said Alcott as he put his pointer finger right in Tony's face. Alcott got back into the passenger seat of his HUMVEE and drove off.
"Nobody move" Chester yelled out. Tony looked over at his senior NCO and gave him a nod, which Chester quickly returned. Tony, Chester and Tali watched as Alcott's HUMVEE sped down the road in the direction of the farmhouse. As he got closer the distinctive sound of an RPG round shrieked through the air as it struck the side of the HUMVEE, flipping it over and into a ditch on the side of the road. As the HUMVEE began to burn, the Canadians fired another RPG round at the HUMVEE, causing it to explode.
"Shit" Tony muttered through his teeth. "Deeks!" he yelled. "Bring up that Canuck Land Rover" he ordered. Within a few minutes, Staff Sergeant Martin Deeks had brought up a liberated Canadian Military Police Land Rover. Tony pulled back the slide on his M4 and threw it on top of the dashboard. "Chester!" Tony yelled. Chester came running up as he slung his M-16 over his shoulder.
"What's up Top" Chester asked.
"Take a couple of the 113s, and cut across this field to the back of the house. When you hear these go off" he said holding up a pair of M-33 baseball grenades. "Come in shooting" Tony ordered as he got into the passenger seat of the rover "Ok Deeks, taker nice and easy" he said. Deeks put it into gear and they drove off. "Easy Deeks, easy. Like we're going for a nice Sunday" Tony suggested. As they approached, Tony saw a Canadian soldier pop up in the same window that had fired the 2 RPGs.
"Think they see us?" Deeks asked.
"They have now, punch it Marty" Tony yelled as Deeks slammed his foot down on the accelerator. The Rover sped forward as the soldier fired another RPG. Fortunately, this one missed, landing behind the vehicle. Deeks skidded the SUV to a stop in front of the house. Tony quickly pulled the pins on both grenades and tossed then in through a broken window. The Grenades exploded simultaneously, resulting in the houses, front door blowing out. Tony grabbed his M4 off the dash and he and Deeks quickly rushed the front of the house.
Meanwhile, 2 M-113 APCs, led by Chester, crashed through the back gate. They 2 machine gunners quickly opened up on the Canadian soldiers rushing out of the farmhouse. "Ceasefire, Ceasefire!" Chester yelled, as he waved his hand up and down in front of his face, the universal military sign for "Ceasefire".
With the farmhouse cleared out, Tony walked into its kitchen. By the evidence on the long table, the soldiers had been in the middle of breakfast. Tony walked over to a small bar on the other side of the room and picked up and open bottle of bear. He took a swig and quickly spit it out. "Blaaa, Canadian" he complained as he threw down the bottle. Firing from the hip, he opened fire on the entire bar, expending his full 30-round magazine. After inserting a new clip he looked over at the table. "Ooh, Steak and eggs" Tony said as he sat down at the head of the table, dumping 3 plates worth of the morning meal on to his plate.
"Breakfast of Champions I see" said a voice, making Tony look up from his plate.
"They won't be needing it" Tony replied.
"And what the hell was this for?" the man asked, pointing to the shot up bar.
"Target Practice General gotta keep sharp" Tony joked as he shoved a fork-full of scrambled eggs into his mouth.
"Always a character ah DiNozzo" the man said as he sat down next to Tony.
"So what can I do for you Irv, I mean General Morrell?" Tony asked.
"Just Irv, Tony, we've been friends for far too long" General Morrell replied. Morrell reached across the table and grabbed a plate and took a few bites before speaking once again. "Al is dead" he told him.
"Shame" said Tony, half-heartedly.
"Seriously?" Morrell questioned.
"Cut me some slack Irv, that prick has been a thorn in my side for years" Tony complained.
"Yeah I know. He really was an asshole wasn't he" Morrell confessed. "Doesn't change the fact that I'll still have to write a letter to his mother" Morrell continued. "You're probably well versed in that particular area". Tony set down his fork and swallowed hard. Another very painful memory.
"Yeah" was all Tony could think to reply. Before either man had the chance to speak again, Chester walked in. "What's up Ironman?" Tony asked.
"Top, there's somebody here to see you" Chester said before he noticed Morrell sitting next to Tony. Realizing who he was, Chester quickly snapped to attention and saluted. "Excuse my intrusion General Morrell Sir"
"It's quite alright Master Sergeant" Morrell said as he returned the salute.
"Chester, who's here to see me?" Tony asked.
"Me" said a voice as a man walked.
"Webb" said both DiNozzo and Morrell at the same time.
"Nice to see you too Tony" Webb said as he slide a manila folder across the table to Tony. "Some friends of yours have been spotted in Montreal" he said as Tony opened the folder. Tony shut his eyes quickly and tilted his head back.
"Son of bitch, what the hell is he doing here?" Tony questioned.
"We don't know, that's the problem. It's only the 2 of them, that's it. They are obviously after something. The question is, what?" Webb replied.
"Assholes" Tony commented as he looked through the photos. "Who is this new guy?" Tony asked as he pointed to a man he didn't recognize. He picked up the photo and passed it General Morrell, who in turn, passed it to Clay.
"Teo Gold" he answered. "Simon Ben-Lev's replacement" he added.
"Any relation to the late Director Gold?" Tony inquired.
"Not that we know of" Webb replied. "Does it really matter?" Webb then asked.
"Just wondering" Tony said as he tossed the folder across the table, causing its contents to spill out, revealing photographs of both Mossad Officers/Kidon Operatives Teo Gold and Michael Rivkin.
1105 hours, 15 February 2001, Office of Personnel, USMC, Pentagon, Washington D.C
"Oh, come on Danny, I just need this one favor" Bridget begged of her old friend.
"I'm sorry Brig, I can't help you with this one. This assignment is only a TAD, if I screw this up, they'll never let me back with Force Recon" Danny shot back.
"Don't make me pull rank on you Gunnery Sergeant McCoy" Bridget threatened.
"I welcome you to try, Captain Sullivan" he dared right back.
"Oh come on Danny, it would mean a lot to me, and Izzy" she pleaded.
"I'm sorry Bridget, I really am, but my hands are tied" Danny replied, holding up his hands.
"Come on Danny, you owe us, you owe the Unit" Bridget said firmly.
"For what?" Danny asked.
"Somalia" Bridget replied.
"Fine, but tell me exactly what you want, and I'll look it up. If nothing else, at least I'll spite my old man one last time" he said.
"I need to know where exactly where this man was stationed in November 1980" she said handing him a piece of paper. "His file is in accessible to me. For some reason, it was never computerized" she said. Gunnery Sergeant McCoy looked down at the piece of paper.
"That's because he left the Corps before 1995, when everything was computerized" Danny said. "Wait here" he said as he disappeared into a locked room. Bridget paced back and forth for the next few minutes, waiting anxiously for Danny to return. Finally, after what had seemed like an eternity, Gunnery Sergeant Danny McCoy, walked back out.
"Well?" Bridget asked.
"US Embassy, London" he informed her. "That help you at all?" he asked. Bridget showed off a huge grin.
"You have no idea" she said, still grinning.
1130 hours, 15 February 2001, 35 miles South of The St. Lawrence River, Quebec.
Lieutenant Colonel Anthony DiNozzo Jr was sitting on a horses hitching rail when General Morrell walked over to him. "Any news Irv?" Tony asked.
"Oh yeah" Morrell replied. "I just got off the horn con El Presidente" he said. "He's going to announce that The United States is going to give full Diplomatic Recognition to The Republic of Quebec" he said proudly.
"Awesome, anyone else joining us?" he asked.
"A few. Germany, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Malta, Serbia, Kuwait, Thailand and The Philippines" Morrell added.
"Not bad" Tony said.
"Your boys ready to roll?" Morrell asked.
"Yes Sir" Tony said as he jumped to his feet.
"I want you and your boys inside Montreal by Tonight" Morrell.
"Understood General" Tony said.
"Now" Morrell said solemnly. "I gotta write that letter" he added, sending a shiver down Tony's spine. As Morrell turned and walked away, Tony quickly tried to compose himself.
"Delta! Form up!" he yelled. Tali, Three, Chester and Deeks quickly came running over.
"What's up Top?" Chester asked.
"Morrell wants us in Montreal by tonight" Tony informed them.
"Just us?" Deeks asked.
"Ain't nothing wrong with that. We all have ARC Training" he said, ARC standing for Advanced Recon Commando.
"Let's roll" Tony ordered.
1705 hours, 15 February 2001, Southern Bank of the St. Lawrence River, 8 miles east of Montreal, Quebec.
Despite it being only a 35 mile drive, it had taken The Alpha Team most of the day to reach the river. They had to stop and check out every farmhouse they passed. Couldn't have any Canadian holdouts ambushing the main column. "That Bridge is heavily defended" said Tony as he lowered his night vision scope. "It'll take at least a Battalion to crack it if we try and take it by force" Tony observed. Before anyone could say anything else, Tony's secure sate phone rang. "Go for Movie Buff" he said answering.
"Movie Buff, this is Red Cap" said Bridget.
"What's up Red Cap?" Tony asked. Bridget went on to explain everything she had learn. "Yeah, I know" Tony said with a smile.
"WHAT!?" Bridget exclaimed. "For how long have you know, and HOW?" she yelled.
"Come on Red, I can't give away all of my secrets. Besides, did you really think I would invite a total stranger to join the Unit after just a few hours" Tony joked.
1710 hours, 15 February 2001, Arlington, Virginia.
"I guess so" said Bridget as she pulled over and shut off the car she had borrowed from the pentagon. "Red Cap out" she said hanging up. Bridget placed down the phone and looked over at Izabella, who was sitting in the passenger seat. "You ready?" Bridget asked.
1710 hours, 15 February 2001, Southern Bank of the St. Lawrence River, 8 miles east of Montreal, Quebec.
"Movie Buff out" said Tony as he hung up his sate phone. He placed the sate phone back on the dash of the HUMVEE and looked over at Tali.
"I take it Bridget and Izzy have figured it out" Tali said with a smile.
"That they have" Tony said with a smile. "They're telling him now" Tony informed her.
"Good. Izzy's father is a good man, I'm glad he is going to get a second chance" Tali said.
"Yeah, not too many good men do" said Tony. Good Men Tony thought as he looked up to the Heavens.
Dear Jay and Connie,
As your son's Commanding Officer, this is one task for I have prayed daily that I would never have to perform. By now, you have been notified by the Department of Defense of your son John's untimely demise on 7 September, year of our lord 1994. It may comfort you, though a small comfort it maybe, that his death was quick and painless. And while I cannot give any further details, I feel it important that you know that your brave son died a hero, on the field of battle. Having have served with your son for the past 5 years, he has always carried himself above all others, never, ever failing his fellow comrades in arms. He took the fight to the enemy, and in doing so, saved the lives of his brothers-in-arms, on more than one occasion. I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of these, The United States of America, whom Johnny found valiantly and died, to save. I pray that our heavenly father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid such a costly sacrifice upon the Altar of Freedom.
Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,
Anthony D. DiNozzo Jr, Captain, US Army, 1st Special Operations Detachment-Delta
A/N- PLEASE REVIEW!