It was hours later. Charity was in the basement once again, working on the boat. She heard someone coming down the steps. She knew it was either Tony or Mike. "Darlin, you should go home." came Mike's gruff voice.
Charity didn't look up from the boat. "I needed to think." she told him.
"About what?" Mike asked her. "Turning in your badge?"
Charity put the hand tools down and turned to look at him. "So, what if I am?"
"Charity Faith." Mike told her sounding more like a father figure than ever. "Don't you dare quit."
"Why not?" She asked. "It's obvious that what I do doesn't matter!"
"How can you say that?"
"Because when dealing with these classified government and military organizations, nothing that I do matters! I have to deal with lies and tell the victims' families a big fat lie! How you could live with that I don't know, but I sure as hell can't!"
"I did what I did to protect you and keep you safe!" Mike yelled back at her. "You are the one person in this world that I care about! You are the closest I will ever come to being a father!"
"But you're not my father!" Charity shouted back at him, her temper getting the better of her.
"I may not be, but I love you like a daughter. You're my family and you do whatever you have to for family." Mike told her. "Besides, there's another drug dealer off the streets. And think about all the other people you've helped. Think about all of those families you gave closure. Think about the many more you can help, but you have to stay at NCIS."
Charity just stared at Mike for a long moment. She knew he was telling the truth. She knew that he was right. She was just feeling hurt and sick and so many other emotions. Sometimes you have to bend the rules to keep people safe. The words Mike had spoken to her all those years ago came through her mind.
"A drug dealer is off the streets." Charity said. "Sometimes you have to bend the rules."
"That's my girl." Mike replied, walking closer to her and pulling her in for a hug. "Now, listen you go home to your husband. You hug him tight and think about baby names or something like that. Think about anything but the job."
Charity nodded. She pulled back and looked up at him. "Thanks Mike." She replied and then stretched up to kiss his cheek. "Thanks for everything."
"It's been my pleasure, Probie." He told her.
A short while later, Charity was parking outside the apartment building. She headed then got out and headed inside. When she got inside, she was surprised to see Wendy standing in the lobby by the elevator. Then as she thought about it for a moment, she wasn't that surprised. She stayed back for a moment and then when she saw the elevator doors open and Wendy step on, she ran for the door and hopped on. They were alone.
Charity pushed the button to stop the elevator and turned to Wendy. "I knew there was more to you going to see Tony at the presinct, than just wanting his help." She said, her tone accusatory.
Wendy looked at her. "Well, they do say that you are a good investigator." Wendy shot back.
"Tony is my husband." Charity said, her tone low and deadly. "You had better stay away."
Wendy just looked at Charity, giving her a small venomous smile. "That means nothing. If I hadn't of called the wedding off two years ago, he and I would be married right now."
"But you called the wedding off. You lost him, I found him." Charity shot back.
"But I could get him back if I want to." Wendy replied. "And I want to."
"Tony is committed to me." Charity countered. "And our baby."
"What?" Wendy asked, slightly taken aback.
"I'm carrying Tony's child." Charity answered simply. "So, even if you could get him back, I'd always be there. I'd always be a part of his life. Of course, as I said, Tony is committed to me."
"He's not committed to you. He's committed to being a father." Wendy countered. "That's the only reason he married you."
"That's it!" Charity said, pushing the button and the doors to the elevator opened. "You had better get your boney butt off this elevator before I wipe the floor with it."
Wendy just stood in the elevator and stared at Charity. "I'd like to see you try." Then the doors closed and the elevator started to move up.
Tony...
Tony sat on the couch in his apartment. He was watching a movie with his Senior and Joanne. They were waiting for Charity to come home so that they could all have dinner together.
"You know, this could really take a while." Tony said. "She had a really rough day at work."
"The more the reason we should all have dinner together." Joanne insisted. "What better way to wind down after a hard day of work than spending time with your family?"
"Maybe we should go." Senior told Joanne. "The kids might need some alone time when Charity gets back."
Joanne thought for a moment. "Alright, we'll be at the Roof Top Grill if you decide to join us when Charity gets back."
"Okay." Tony agreed. "Let me walk you guys out."
The trio headed out the door. Then they walked to the elevator. Tony pushed the down button for them. They waited for a few moments, then the doors came open. When they came open Charity and Wendy fell out on the ground, Charity on top. They were rolling around and fighting each other. Wendy reached up and pulled on Charity's hair.
Tony's eyes widened as it took him a second to realize what was going on. Once it hit him, he went to stop the cat fight. He pulled Charity off of Wendy and Senior, grabbed a hold of Wendy and held her back. "What the hell is this all about?" Tony asked, once they had the two women separated.
"Ask the boney bitch." Charity answered.
"She's threatened by me." Wendy answered. "Tony, I want you back. I made the biggest mistake of my life when I called our wedding off."
Tony looked at Wendy confused. "You're too late." Tony told Wendy. "I'm married to Charity."
"Only because she's pregnant." Wendy countered.
"Where in the world would you get an idea like that?" Tony asked. "I proposed before I knew she was pregnant. Charity is the love of my life. I married her because I love her and can't imagine my life without her. Now I think it's time you leave."
Wendy pulled herself from Senior's grip and hopped back on the elevator. The look in her eyes said she wasn't quite finished yet, but she didn't say anything as the doors closed.
"I think we'll stay out here and wait for the next elevator." Senior said, taking Joanne's hand to keep her back. "It looks like you two might need to talk."
Tony nodded and then walked to the apartment door, still keeping ahold of Charity. Once they were inside, Tony closed the door and looked at his wife. "So, what was that all about?" He asked letting her go.
Charity let out a sigh. "She was coming to see you and then we got into a verbal argument and my temper got the better of me." She answered.
Tony pulled wrapped his arms around Charity and pulled her close. "You can't let her get to you." He told her. "I love you and only you."
"But there was a time in your life when you thought you loved Wendy enough to ask her to marry you." Charity countered.
Tony pulled back and held Charity at arms' length. "That's before I met you and learned what love really is."
"You sound like a sappy Hallmark card." Charity told him, tears welling up in her eyes.
Tony gave her a smile. "Charity, I love you. I'm married to you. I'm committed to our life together and the family we are starting."
"I know." Charity replied. "I love you, too. Sometimes, I'm afraid of losing you. Sometimes, I'm afraid that I'm going to wake up and find out that this all isn't real."
"Well, it is and everything we have is real." Tony told her. He then pulled her in for a tender kiss filled with all the love he had for her.