After yelling at Wendy, Charity walked away and Tony followed after her. Wendy looked up at the others in the room when Charity left. "Is she always that bitchy?" she asked.
"Special Agent Mike Franks was Charity's mentor." Burley said.
"What was it she meant though, about the living with him thing?" McGee asked.
"I have no idea." Burley replied. "I just hope Tony can calm her down."
Ziva looked over at Wendy. "And you might want to just not say anything else to piss her off."
"Do you guys just tip-toe around her all day then?" Wendy asked. "I just don't see what Tony sees in her. She's a real bitch."
Burley got up and walked over to Wendy. He looked her in the eye. "Maybe she has a reason to be that way. You don't know anything about her, so you really need to back off." He told her and then walked away.
Tony and Charity...
Tony caught up to Charity in the hall and gently grabbed her by the arm, just above the elbow. "Charity, talk to me. What was all that about back there?" He asked.
"Would you buy it if I said hormone?" She replied.
"No." Tony answered simply. "Don't tell me you're jealous?"
"That's ridiculous." Charity replied.
"Then what's going on? Talk to me."
Charity sighed and looked up at him. "Mike was there for me when no one else was. He raised me as his own daughter. He taught me everything I know about being an NCIS investigator. He's family and nobody insults my family."
Tony reached his hand up to stroke her cheek. Then he pulled her into his arms for a hug and kissed the top of her head. "When will Mike get here?" He asked.
"In a few hours." Charity answered. "He'll come to the house."
"Uh...boss?" came McGee's voice from behind Tony.
Charity pulled herself away from Tony. "What is it McGee?"
"Miss Miller doesn't want to stay here. She wants to go home, but with those guys having tried to kill her..." McGee said.
"Take her to the east safe house. You and Ziva." Charity replied.
McGee nodded. "Got it."
"Tell Burley and Dan to see whatever they can dig up on the old case." Charity added to McGee. "And call Ducky and Abby and have them get anything they can find from the old autopsy report and the evidence."
"Got it." McGee replied and then went to carry out his orders.
Tony looked at his wife. "And just what are we doing?" He asked.
"We are going to work on the boat." Charity answered, taking Tony's hand and leading him away.
A while later, Charity was dressed in an old tshirt and jeans and so was Tony. They were down in the basement of the Gibbs' family home, working on the boat. "So, when will Mike get here?" Tony asked. "Will he know to come here?"
Charity looked at Tony. "He should be here any minute actually." She answered. "And he'll know."
Tony went to open his mouth to say something, then he heard the back door open. He heard movement upstairs. "Should we go check that out?" He asked.
Charity shook her head. "It's Mike."
"Probie! You down there?" called the familiar gruff voice from the doorway.
"Car's done, where else would I be?" Charity called back.
Tony watched as an older man with salt and pepper hair and a mustache walked down the stairs. He was carrying two beers. He looked at the two other people in the room. "I didn't know we were gonna have company. I woulda grabbed another beer." Mike said.
"I don't need a beer anyways." Charity replied. "Mike this is my husband, Tony. Tony this is Mike."
Tony reached his right hand out to shake Mike's hand. Mike just looked him up and down for a moment. Then he handed him a beer and looked back to Charity. "Darlin, when did you get married?" Mike asked.
"A few days ago." Charity answered. "And I'm pregnant, too."
Mike's eyes widened. "Well, all I have to say is it's about time."
"We'll catch up later." Charity told Mike. "We really need to discuss what's going on with that old case? Why don't you want me to reopen it?"
"It's for your safety, Probie." Mike answered. "And your sanity."
"What the hell do you mean by that?" Charity asked. "The Major's son was killed and dumped the same way and I have a bitchy reporter on my ass to figure out both cases. So, what is it you're not telling me, Mike?"
Mike sat his beer down and walked over to stand in front of Charity. He put his hands on either of her shoulders. "Darlin, you have got to listen to me. You have to let this go."
"You're the one who taught me everything about working for NCIS. You know I can't do that." Charity replied. "So, either you tell me what's going on or I'm going to find out either way."
Mike let out a sigh. "You were supposed to rebel and not listen to me when you were a teenager." He told her. "I can't help you, Darlin. Not on this one." He then pulled her close and kissed her forehead in a fatherly way and turned towards the stairs.
When he stepped up on the bottom step, Mike turned towards Tony. "You take care of her. Keep her out of trouble." Then he left.
A/N: I hope you're enjoying this. Please read and review.