Note: Obligatory spacing note
Chapter Nine
Born to Run
"He's got a big ole tattoo on his neck," Tony said, staring at the picture of Cody Redman.
It was a mugshot taken when the FBI detained him so they could take over his life – at least his upcoming work-life at the Vault Tavern.
Tony arrived at the branch office with a mild hangover, but nothing that would interfere with his mission. He owed Sully that. While he'd visited several of his old haunts the night before, it was mostly to process his feelings about being back in Philadelphia. A lot had gone down here. Of course, he'd still watched the bartenders closely and observed what the people around him seemed to order the most.
A few Extra Strength Tylenols, and he was good to go.
The others were all in the conference room, but Kehoe and Tony were in her office, going over everything she knew about Cody Redman so that Tony could begin impersonating him later that day.
"Yes, it's a Celtic cross on the left side of his chest, peeking out over the neckline of his shirt. Our Forensic people have brought in an artist to put a Henna replica on you shortly," Tina said matter-of-factly.
Tony had never felt the desire to mar his skin with a tattoo, so he stared at her blankly. Any distinguishable mark could make him too easily identifiable in his line of work.
"Is that really necessary? I thought you said no one from the Vault had ever actually met him."
"As far as we know, they haven't, but we don't want to leave anything to chance if we know how to cover it," Tina replied.
"Uh, huh," Tony said warily.
"Don't be a baby. Henna is perfectly safe, and it will wear off in a couple weeks. We can re-apply it if your assignment goes on longer than that," Tina said.
"If you have a picture of the guy, how come you were sending Sacks undercover? I'm not sure if you've noticed, but we look as much alike as Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzenegger did in Twins. Besides, I'm much better looking than he is," Tony said.
Tina rolled her eyes. "Shockingly enough, as a Federal agent paid to observe, I did notice the slight difference in your skin tones," Tina deadpanned.
Tony grinned predatorily. "Yeah? What else did you notice?"
"That you're both far too arrogant about your own abilities. While the bar atmosphere might lead you to think this is going to be a fun assignment, these people are killers who beat their victims with iron rods, pulling their fingernails out one by one before breaking the finger," Tina said, glaring, her eyes a steely gray. Her voice shook slightly by the time she'd finished.
"I know what they did. I read the autopsy reports, and I think you're forgetting that I was the one who found the bodies," Tony said coldly, vainly attempting to block his mind's images of the same things being done to Sully.
Tina pressed her lips together until they disappeared and took a deep breath. "I know you did – and I know you're worried about Sully, too," she said more softly.
Tony nodded, appeased. He'd almost forgotten what it was like to work with a female partner who pushed back but also accepted his points rather than dismissing them. It was nice.
"When Sacks was tapped to go undercover, we didn't have the photograph, and we only knew they wanted to add another bartender. Sully was going to recommend someone he knew before he learned they'd already reached out to Redman. He'd applied, looking to move to Philadelphia. From what Sully said, he had the credentials, and they liked the idea of someone outside the area. I think they've become paranoid as their operation has grown," Tina said.
Tony pursed his lips. "Fair enough. Surely there must be someone at the FBI that's actually tended bar before, though… right?" he asked.
He was sure the reason Fornell conceded so easily to Tony going undercover rather than Slacks was because they now had this photo. Cody Redman was white, and like Tina said, even if they'd never actually met him, there was no point taking chances.
"I'm sure Agent Sacks would've been fine, but the fact you have experience is certainly a bonus. Did you learn anything from your… reconnaissance?" she asked, not quite able to hide the note of disapproval from her voice.
"As I expected, Cosmopolitans are still all the rage amongst the female population. The tv show, Sex in the City has greatly influenced that. Have you seen it? Those women are hot, and I know a few ladies just like them," Tony said, waggling his eyebrows. "I bet you're a Cosmo girl yourself, aren't you, Tina?"
Tina rolled her eyes again. "Let's see about getting you that tattoo."
Tony followed her from the office apprehensively. "I'm really not a big fan of needles," he said.
"Henna isn't applied with needles. I really didn't expect you to be such a baby," Tina said, never breaking stride.
"I'm not a baby," Tony said indignantly. "I have very good reasons for not liking needles, and besides, why would I want to blemish the perfection of my skin?"
Tina simply pushed open the door of the Forensics lab. Tony had a brief moment to take in the equipment and people in lab coats before he was hit by a mini – if very familiar – tornado.
"Tony!" Abby shouted, launching herself into his arms and nearly knocking them both over. "I missed you."
Tina's mouth formed a small, perfectly formed 'o' at the greeting.
"Missed you, too, Abs – but I just saw you yesterday. What are you doing here?" Tony asked after he regained his equilibrium.
"Are you kidding me? I've tried for years to get some ink on you. You think I'd ever allow some random artist to apply it without supervision – even if it is only Henna," Abby said, bouncing on her toes.
Tony shook his head, trying to grasp the fact she was here. "Does Gibbs know?" he asked.
Abby scrunched up her face and hit him on the back of his head. "Gibbs knows everything. He and Fornell arranged it. The FBI flew me here this morning," she said.
Tina recoiled when Abby hit him. She obviously was still unused to how NCIS operated. Tony and Abby continued as if they hadn't noticed.
"Just Henna, Abs. Don't you dare sneak any permanent ink in there. I see one needle, and I'm outta here," Tony said.
"That's what Gibbs said. You guys are no fun," Abby said, pouting.
"We're on a tight schedule, so you can talk while the artist works. Sit down and take your shirt off," Tina said, indicating a stool.
"Just like that? Aren't you even going to buy me dinner first?" Tony asked, waggling his eyebrows.
Tina frowned disapprovingly as she held her hand out for his shirt, but Abby giggled as she looked over the art supplies already laid out on the table.
Tony slowly and seductively began undoing each button on his shirt, never taking his eyes off Tina. She broke contact first and looked away uncomfortably, a flush working its way up her neck. Tony grinned once he'd succeeded in embarrassing her and quickly removed the shirt and T-shirt he wore underneath.
Wasting no time, Abby brushed her fingers over the hair on Tony's chest. "I'm going to have to shave some of this so the artist can apply the ink in the right position, but that'll look too obvious that it's just been done. I'm going to have to shave it all," Abby said, talking to herself more than anyone.
"Shave it all? No way. That'll look stupid," Tony yelped.
"No, it won't – it's all the rage in California," Abby said, sterilizing a razor she picked up from the tray of supplies.
"We're not in California," Tony protested.
"Would you just sit still and shut up so we can get this done?" Tina asked, exasperated.
"Smack on the back of his head usually works," Gibbs said, entering the lab and observing their progress – or lack thereof.
He placed a bottle of water in front of Tony, and kissed Abby on the head. "Can Redman's tattoo be matched exactly?" he asked.
"We've used this artist before. He's very good," Tina said.
Gibbs still appeared doubtful.
"I'm here to monitor and be sure of it. Don't worry, Gibbs, I'll see that it's a perfect replica, even if I think a little embellishment would make it look so much cooler," Abby said.
"Abby," Gibbs growled.
"Okay, okay. No embellishment. I can restrain myself," she said.
"Boss, she wants to shave my chest," Tony said.
"Do what it takes, DiNozzo," Gibbs said, as Abby ran her hand down Tony's chest, stopping on his defined stomach muscles and resting it there.
"It'll be painless, Tony," she said.
"Tattoo goes on his chest, not his abs, Abs," Gibbs said as he strode out of the lab looking amused. Abby quickly pulled her hand away as if startled.
"Good morning to you, too," Tina said wryly to Gibbs retreating back.
Tony braced himself as Abby began shaving the hair off his chest, trying not to imagine how much it was going to itch when it started growing back.
"Tony, you're all muscle. How do you stay this way with all the junk food you eat?" Abby asked over the buzzing of her razor.
"Just my natural make-up," Tony said smugly.
"That'll catch up to you one day. Can we talk about the assignment now?" Tina asked, gritting her teeth.
"Sure, what've you got?" Tony asked, shivering as Abby braced her cold hand against his pectoral muscle.
Abby's lab was usually chilly, too, but he wasn't accustomed to being half-naked while there. The lack of blaring heavy metal music and some of Abby's other quirks was blatantly obvious, making the FBI lab seem colder and more impersonal.
"The owner/manager of the tavern is named Dave Barrows, and he personally oversees everything when they're open. He's very demanding and considers his club his kingdom," she said.
"Excellent. I'll feel right at home," Tony muttered.
"His background includes a dishonorable discharge from the Navy back in '94 for behavior unbecoming," Tina said.
"That could mean he has a beef with NSWC," Tony said.
"He's impatient and has a reputation for having trouble with the chain of command," Tina said, rattling off information from the folder she held.
"Huh, maybe Gibbs should've let Ziva take this one. They'd bond instantly," Tony said.
"No kidding, right?" Abby asked, chuckling.
Tina stared at them, perplexed. "Are you saying Agent David has trouble with the chain of command, as well?" she asked.
"Nah, that's not what I'm saying – just that she gets very impatient, too," Tony replied easily.
Abby, however, was never very adept at lying, and her face gave everything away. Tina picked right up on it.
"I'm not trying to pry, but I need to be aware of all the idiosyncrasies of the people I'm working with. I did notice that she only heeds the orders that come from Agent Gibbs, but I thought it was an FBI bias," Tina said.
"Well, there is that. She's not an NCIS agent, by the way. She's a liaison officer from Mossad," Tony said, the words tasting like ash on his tongue.
"Mossad?" Tina asked, startled. "And she works as an agent?"
"A liaison officer," Tony said, stomach roiling.
If Tina could easily see the improprieties with this arrangement without knowing the half of it, why on earth did the director allow it to continue – personally arrange it, even. And why the hell was Gibbs allowing it? Tony took a deep breath, trying to reign in his emotions on the matter. He couldn't be distracted now, and Ziva was a problem for another day.
"A liaison officer who acts as a full agent? That's not how a liaison relationship is supposed to work. There are clear rules about classified intel," Tina said, persistent.
"Well, maybe you can take it up with our director after this assignment is finished," Tony said firmly, indicating the conversation was over.
Tina nodded; her face pinched.
"Tony," Abby said, biting her lip, eyes troubled. "You need to watch your six in there. Ziva visited my lab the other day when you and Tim first came to Philadelphia. She was really upset that she was left behind, and she totally blamed you for it."
"Of course, she did. Anything that doesn't go Ziva's way lately is my fault. Par for the course, but it has nothing to do with this operation," Tony insisted.
Abby frowned. "Okay, I'll drop it for now – but I need to know one thing. Did she ever actually invite you to her team dinner party?" she asked, pulling slightly on the hair on Tony's chest in warning not to lie.
Tony winced, but his silence was all the answer Abby needed.
"When you decide to do something, I'm in," she said fiercely. The air between them was heavy with the weight of their shared friendship.
Tina's eyes bounced between the two of them, lost, but Tony couldn't help feeling warmed by Abby's steadfast support. Maybe there was an avenue to check on those files he'd found on Ziva's computer, but he'd have to think about that later, when he had time to process. He couldn't put Abby in any danger, and even with Ziva's apparent loyalty to Gibbs, he didn't trust Mossad. Ziva was first and foremost Mossad.
"You have the names of the other employees in the file I gave you yesterday, but there are two that Sully interacted with a lot. I don't know if either was the one who blew his cover, or if his cover was actually blown, but you need to proceed with caution around them," Tina said, tightly.
Tony could tell the weight of sending yet another operative into the same situation where she might've already lost one was weighing heavily on her. He knew how that felt. Sometimes, the responsibility for the lives of those around you could feel like an albatross around your neck.
"Matt Evans is in charge of security, and he's suspicious of everyone, so tread carefully. Sully said he's no fan of law enforcement. You'll recognize him right away by the jagged scar that runs from his cheekbone down to his chin. Records show he was in a car accident, but that's not the story he likes to spread," Tina said.
"Can't blame a man for embellishing, especially in his line of work. You can get a lot of dates that way," Tony said.
"And embellish he does. You'll probably like him, actually – he's very charismatic," Tina said.
Tony grinned wolfishly. "That sounds like a challenge. He's going to have to step up his game when I get there."
Tina rolled her eyes and ignored him. "The other one is harder to read. Lola Garcia serves drinks, and they call her their Texas Rose. Sully said she flirted with everyone, but he thought there was a sort of desperation beneath the surface. As far as I know, he never got an answer. Don't be fooled by her apparent vulnerability," Tina warned.
"This isn't my first rodeo," Tony said.
"That's what they tell me, Cowboy, but it's your first time working with me, so I'll be the judge of that," Tina replied.
"If Gibbs trusts Tony, there's nothing to judge," Abby said fiercely, glaring at Tina. She never took it well when an outsider questioned the team Abby considered her family.
"It's all right, Abs. She wouldn't be doing her job if she just trusted blindly. Isn't that even a Gibbs rule?" Tony asked.
Abby's expression softened as she contemplated, eventually nodding with fervor. "Rule Eight. You're right. Okay then, but don't forget the rule that overrides them all – never screw over your partner," she said.
"Rules?" Tina asked, puzzled.
Gibbs has his own set of rules to live by – and they're all designed to help us succeed," he said. "And just so we're clear – just because Sully trusted you doesn't mean I do."
"You have to trust someone," Tina said.
"I trust Gibbs."
At that moment, the artist entered the lab. He was short and wiry with a plethora of tattoos adorning his arms and fingers. Abby looked him over speculatively, and stood over his shoulder like a sentinel as he began his work. When Tony saw her shoulders relax and her face become animated, he knew it was going well. She and the artist chatted excitedly as he worked.
The morning was spent in the lab, going over both the layout and the other employees at the Vault. Tony got lost in the details, tuning out the fact some guy was drawing on is chest. He was almost startled when Abby finally pulled back from where she was leaning over the artist, beaming.
"It's finished," she said, delighted.
Tina stood up to take a look. "I'm impressed. It's a perfect match."
The artist smiled humbly, and Abby handed Tony a mirror.
/* /* /* /*
Tim sat in the FBI conference room along with Ziva and Ron Sacks, arranging a schedule of shifts for those agents who would pose as patrons of the club. They needed to keep eyes on Tony during operating hours. Neither of the other two agents was happy with the assignment, and both were expressing their displeasure – repeatedly. Tim grew weary of listening to them complain and found himself wishing he could escape down to the lab to check how Tony's tattoo was coming along.
He smirked, imagining Tony's reaction to having to sit still for so long while someone drew on his skin. He knew the nearly hyperactive DiNozzo would find both difficult, and the part of him that Tony always made fun of wanted to get a little payback. It would be fun to see him squirm.
As of yet, Tim hadn't done any undercover work, but he was hoping to get his feet wet on this assignment, even if it was as simple as posing as a bar patron. He felt disgruntled that he was never even considered for the role when undercover work came up. Even now, Ziva and Sacks were sniping back and forth about how each of them was the better option for Tony's assignment, as if McGee wasn't even in the room. He was a field agent – same as them – and he grit his teeth over the dismissal.
He really thought Ziva accepted him and appreciated his abilities, but she seemed to have dropped him like a hot potato now that Sacks was working with them. It was bringing all Tim's insecurities to the forefront, and he'd thought he'd finally managed to get a grip on them.
"This club will be filled with beautiful women in skimpy clothing distracting him at every turn. He will not be able to keep his mind on work," Ziva said.
"I'm aware that DiNozzo has a reputation with women, but Fornell insists he's also a capable undercover operative," Sacks said uncertainly.
"It is a well-deserved reputation. He cannot stop himself from chasing a skirt, and he has blown other operations because of his roving vision," Ziva said peevishly, ignoring the second part of Sack's statement.
Tim knew she was wrong about Tony blowing an operation, but he was too fed up with the both of them to dispute it. He didn't bother correcting Ziva's mangled interpretation of roving eye, either.
"And Gibbs allows it? Aren't there complaints filed against him?" Sacks asked angrily.
"I doubt it. For some unfathomable reason, the women all seem to find him charming," Ziva said, her voice dripping with disdain. "And not just the bimbys – women who should know better also fall for his childishness. It's infuriating," Ziva said, slamming the papers she was organizing back on the table.
"Er… what's a bimby?" Sacks asked.
"She means bimbo," McGee said wearily.
"Look, I know DiNozzo is full of himself, but I'm not covering for him if he can't keep it in his pants and do his job," Sacks said, seething.
"Tony can focus when he needs to. Gibbs wouldn't trust him if he couldn't," Tim said, his mind flashing on the many head slaps the Senior Field Agent received.
"You cannot deny that he is completely inappropriate where women are concerned. He is a clown with no training. He would not survive one day in Mossad," Ziva said.
Tim couldn't deny that Tony's penchant for pranks and putdowns wore on his nerves, as well, but if Mossad was the bar, Tim didn't think he'd survive a day, either.
"We just have to do our job, or Gibbs'll be all over us," Tim said, wondering if Ziva was going to keep this up during the whole assignment.
Maybe he could arrange a few shifts with Gibbs – better yet, put Gibbs with Ziva, and Tim could partner with Sacks.
"I still think Tony should wear a wire. It is more difficult for us to know exactly what is happening with eyes only, and we will not know when he needs to be redirected," Ziva said.
"Can't. Too likely a wire will be discovered, and the bar is noisy. We had eyes only on Agent Sullivan, as well," Sacks said.
"And look where that got him. Perhaps Tony will suffer the same fate," Ziva said.
The hackles on the back of Tim's neck rose because he didn't think Ziva sounded very concerned if that was the outcome. It had to just be her phrasing, though. She often messed up how she said things, and he was sure she didn't mean it the way it sounded.
Mostly sure.
"That's why Gibbs trusts us to have his six," Tim said firmly lest Sacks misconstrued her meaning.
"Oh, come on, McGee. You cannot be happy with these assignments, either. You are far more intelligent and qualified than Tony, yet he always boars the best jobs for himself. He is desperate for attention," Ziva said.
"The expression is hogs, not boars, Ziva. You're right, though. Tony does like the spotlight, but you're forgetting – he's the only one of us who has bartending experience," Tim said.
"I could've done it. I was going to until NCIS interfered," Sacks said bitterly.
"Were you not just telling me the other day how you want some undercover experience, McGee? That will be much harder to get with Tony always putting you down," Ziva said.
Tim pressed his lips together. She wasn't wrong, but he wished she wouldn't share these feelings with Sacks.
Not only did Tim feel left out by their newfound camaraderie, but there was also the growing concern that Ziva was only adding fuel to Sacks' opinion that Tony was a criminal. Even with all the evidence showing otherwise, Sacks held onto his belief that Tony killed and dismembered that woman. DiNozzo was a lot of things, but he wasn't a killer. Ziva knew this, but she must be really mad about not getting to go undercover since she wasn't refuting Sacks' impression at all. In fact, she was feeding into it.
It was making Tim uncomfortable.
"Someone get this walking Ken doll out of my way," Tina Kehoe's impatient voice travelled into the conference room.
Tim, Ziva, and Sacks all turned to see her trying to push a preening DiNozzo aside. He wore a T-shirt and held his overshirt slung over his arm so the top of his new tatt was prominently displayed. It was green and black with intricate lines revealing the tip of the cross.
A beaming Abby walked alongside Tony, who was clearly strutting. Tina finally shoved him to the side and approached her office, where Gibbs stood in the doorway.
"Abby! What are you doing here?" Tim blurted.
"Keeping DiNozzo focused," Gibbs said. "Took you long enough."
"That's because he refused to sit still for longer than thirty seconds at a time," Tina said, pushing one of the longer strands of her hair behind her ear.
"You got a whole thirty seconds?" Gibbs asked, using his coffee cup to hide his grin.
"That hurts, Boss. I think you're all forgetting what's really important – and that's how good I make it look," Tony said, grinning.
"You do look fantastic – enough to make you consider getting a real one?" Abby asked hopefully.
Tony rolled his eyes. "Let's not go that far. Besides, you took enough pictures. That should satisfy your need to see my ink."
"Tony doesn't handle pain well, Abs. He could never handle sitting for a real one," Tim said, smirking.
"That's right, Timmy. Yours is real, and it looks great," Abby said.
"You have a tattoo, McGee?" Ziva asked, frowning as her eyes examined him up and down.
"Yeah, but you didn't actually sit for it, did you, McExhibitionist? More like you were lying on your tummy with your butt in the air," Tony said.
Tim felt his face coloring.
"You have a tattoo on your ass?" Ziva asked.
"Agent McGee's tattoo isn't relevant. Does that one match Redman's exactly?" Sacks asked, jerking his head toward Tony.
"It's a perfect match," Abby replied.
"It took longer than I expected, so we need to get everyone in place. You're due to arrive at the club in a couple hours," Tina said.
"Are you sure you've read everything we have on Redman – even the new stuff gained from our conversations with him in custody?" Sacks asked.
"I know who I'm playing – and if I get stuck, I'll just give 'em the ole Razzle Dazzle, style over substance like Richard Gere in Chicago. He did a great job, even though he can't really sing," Tony said.
"Tony, this is not a movie," Ziva snapped.
"You'd better be able to come up with something better than a musical. These aren't amateurs," Sacks said, lip curled.
"Relax, Slacks. I know what I'm doing. You're wound so tight you probably produce a diamond every time you have a bowel movement," Tony said. "Redman is more laid back."
Sacks clenched his fists and took a step forward, "Laid back doesn't mean incapable of taking anything seriously – like you."
"You done?" Gibbs asked, breaking up the oncoming fray. "We've got work to do."
"Thank you," Tina said, pointing her finger towards her office and indicating Tony should go inside. "I have your bogus credentials."
"Ah, Tina – You Better be Good to Me," Tony said, flashing his teeth.
Tina rolled her eyes and shoved him again, but Tim saw a reluctant grin as she followed Tony into her office. Maybe she liked the Tina Turner references more than she'd admitted.
Note: I hope you enjoyed it. Please take a moment to share your thoughts. I love to hear what's connecting and what isn't. There won't be another update until I return from vacation, most likely June 2 or 3. I didn't leave you on a cliffy, though. (That's coming soon 😊).