Charity still lay on the couch, the ice pack still on her face. After Tony had called, Abby called her. Abby had wanted to come over, but Charity insisted that she stay at work. She had a feeling that Abby would come over anyway. Just then she heard a knock on her front door.
Abby must have learned from the last time. Charity thought with a smile, which she regretted. Moving her face muscles, made her nose hurt. "Come in." She called.
Charity heard the door open and two sets of foot steps waling in. Abby probably brought Burley or McGee. She thought.
"What the hell happened?" came the familiar voice, that normally made her swoon, but at the moment, made her feel instantly guilty.
Charity opened her eyes and looked up at Tony. There was a man standing behind him. He was the same height as Tony with dark hair and green eyes. "Would you believe me if I said nothing?" Charity replied.
"If it's nothing then why do you have an ice pack on your face and perscription painkillers?" Tony countered.
Charity sighed and slowly sat up. She removed the ice pack from her nose. "That bastard that tried to frame your dad, broke my nose." She answered. "And who are you?" She asked, turning to the other man.
"Charity, this is my cousin, Bernie." Tony answered.
"It's nice to meet you." Bernie said, extending his hand.
Charity reached her hand out and shook his hand. "Nice to meet you, Bernie." She replied.
Tony sat down beside Charity on the couch. "Why didn't you call me and tell me you got hurt?" He asked.
"Because." Charity answered.
"I'll go back out to the car and leave you two alone for a moment." Bernie said, heading outside.
Tony turned to Charity. "You should have called me." He told her. "I would have come to the hospital. I would have stayed with you."
"I know." Charity replied. "I just didn't want to interrupt you and your dad."
"That's the biggest load of BS I've ever heard." Tony replied. "Charity, what's really going on?"
Charity looked up at him. "Just call it a little exercise in vanity."
"Seriously?" Tony asked. "You let vanity get in the way of calling me and telling me you were hurt. Charity, I love you and I want to know when something happens to you. I want to know about when you get hurt. I want to take care of you."
"I know." Charity replied. "It's just all I could think about was that it looks so bad and how I've been getting hurt quite a bit lately...and I hate being that needy helpless woman."
"I can use hundreds of words to describe you." Tony told her. "Needy and helpless have never been any of those words."
"Just what words would you use?" Charity asked.
Tony grinned. "Beautiful, smart, talented, strong, sexy...I could go on all day."
Charity playfully narrowed her eyes at him. "You always know just what to say. I still feel like I'm being needy, though."
"I don't mind being needed." Tony told her. "Charity, I love you. It's okay to be a little needy sometimes. I want to take care of you. I am here for you no matter what." He then kissed her forehead. "And even with this broken nose, you are still the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. And if you'd like I can get rid of Bernie and spend the next couple of hours showing you just how beautifil and sexy you are."
Charity giggled. "Where is the zipper or the pod?" Charity asked. "No man can be this wonderful."
Tony chuckled as he pulled Charity to him. "I am not a pod person. I promise. You know this reminds me, I booked us a cabin for a weekend. Just the two of us."
"When?" Charity asked.
"Three weeks." Tony answered.
"That sounds wonderful."
Tony kissed the top of her head. "So, should I get rid of Bernie?" He asked.
"No, actually, I'm kinda hungry."
"Alright, let's go have some lunch. I can call Dad and have him come, too."
"Out with three DiNozzo men, why do I feel like that's just asking for trouble?" Charity teased.
Tony grinned. "If you feel like it's too much, you can always have your dad come, too."
"He's heading to Stillwater to spend some time with Pappy." Charity replied.
"I see." Tony replied. "That just sounds like a tiny little town."
"Because it is." Charity replied. "Come on, let's grab lunch."