Chapter Text
oXoXoXo
Tony's dreams of going home to put his feet up and try and obey Ducky's commands to rest were pretty much sunk the moment he had exited the bathroom.
The information that Ziva had managed to glean from her afternoon with the socialite sociopaths had not only revealed the location of Johansson's bomb, but the rather disturbing number of members of the MAH in the gated community.
Though their methods were more than a little questionable, Tony did understand their cause at the heart of it, and even to a degree could go along with the principles. He'd been a Cop for nearly half his life, he'd seen carnage on his watch, he'd seen young innocent lives wasted for nothing. He'd stood by and watched almost helplessly as year after year communities were destroyed and wondered why no one did a damn thing about it. Living and working in DC had jaded his view even more. It was hard to be in a company town and not see the pork barrelling that went on every day. A hammer that cost $13.95 in Walmart if he wanted to buy it would cost a requisitioning officer in the Navy upward of fifty bucks.
It wasn't about politics. As far as Tony was concerned, they all sucked equally. It was about the insane need some people seemed to have over making a buck for themselves at the expense of others.
Those who served their country deserved the best – Tony could not and would not ever deny that. It was just the accountability of those holding the purse strings that needed a swift kick in the pants. Yes, Tony could see how a group like MAH could be created. Especially for someone like Haskell. His life was turned upside down by a random punk leaving him feeling helpless and abandoned by the powers that be and now he was seeking to change the status quo, he was going about it the wrong way, but at least Tony understood why he was doing it.
Driving back to the estate, Tony listened as his three team mates planned their next move.
"The bomb is currently located in the freezer in Haskell's yard." Ziva was saying. "There are three access points. A west facing external door to the yard, the internal connection to the main body of the house and the garage door itself."
"What's security like?" McGee asked.
"Minimal. It appears that the owners in Royal Woods are happy with their security patrols. I saw nothing in the way of a individual system at the house."
"That'll make things easier" McGee murmured.
"Nothing easy bout it McGee, still got a bomb to deal with." Gibbs laconically replied
Tony grinned. He always marvelled at Gibbs ability to seemingly underplay issues that would make other people pale.
"Ziva, I don't want the bomb squad within a block of the gates when we get there. We don't want to tip em off." Gibbs directed the newest NCIS Agent.
From over his shoulder, Tony saw Ziva reach for her cell and start dialling the bomb squad.
"McGee. You'll stay here and liaise with the local LEO's. They should have a list of persons of interest by now. Fornell'll probably be on scene and might try and muscle in… do your best."
"Gotcha Boss." McGee nodded as the car screeched around a corner, approaching the gated community at speed.
"Gibbs, I have confirmed with the squad leader. He said he will wait at the corner of Victory and Third. He'll send a liaison up to meet us at the gate." Ziva relayed.
Gibbs nodded, his eyes never leaving the darkened roadway. "When we get there Tony, you and Ziva'll be with me."
A few minutes later the dark sedan pulled up to the curb outside the high pseudo gothic walls that stood as the demarcation line between the real world and the fairy-tale safety of Royal Woods. Without command, McGee slipped silently out the rear door of the car and loped over towards the gatehouse. Through the windshield the other three Agents watched as McGee engaged the guard in some rather animated conversation. It was apparent from his body language that the guard was not particularly pleased with the idea of letting people without access into the gated community at this time of night.
A glance over his shoulder from McGee was all the indication Gibbs needed. Rolling the car forward he pulled up under the security light illuminating the gate. Lowering his window, Gibbs looked at McGee.
"Problems McGee?"
McGee pursed his lips in frustration. "He's not budging Boss. Says without a pass, approval or invitation he won't let us pass."
"You show him your pass." It wasn't a question.
Tony lowered his head slightly to catch sight of the guard hovering the background. Recognising the man Floyd from earlier in the day Tony touched two fingers to his forehead in salute, catching his attention.
Ducking down himself Floyd looked past Gibbs at the grinning Tony.
"Hey, Mista Dee-no-zo. What-choo doin’ here this time of night? Youse lookin’ at what da place looks like after dark?"
Tony flashed him his best thousand watt smile and grunted what he hope sounded like an affirmative sound, praying the man wouldn’t ask any more questions.
The portly man gave a chuckle, slapping McGee on the shoulder. "Youse coulda said youse was meeting Mr Dee-no-zo to look at the house y'know." Floyd reached into his pocket and drew out a black remote. Fingering the first button, the mechanical whirr of the gate drawing back sprang to life. "Have good night, just hit the red exit button on da way out like youse did last time." Floyd metaphorically doffed his cap with the remote and wandered back towards the little guardhouse tucked behind the wall.
As Gibbs drove into the estate proper, Tony allowed himself a small smile at the expression of McGoo's face as they left him standing at the gate.
"Good job DiNozzo." Gibbs commented. "You got a problem David?"
Tony shot a look over his shoulder just in time to see Ziva's mouth snap shut. Her eyes met his in the strobing light of the street lamps.
"No, just thinking how lucky it was the guard happened to recognise Tony." she replied blandly.
Ziva's response suddenly put Tony in a delicate position. If he pressed the matter any illusion that he had over whether McGee and Ziva had just been joking about actually turning him off earlier in the day would be set in concrete. If they really had been listening after all they would know that Tony and Floyd had met about halfway through his sweep of Royal Woods. That Brooklyn accent was a dead giveaway. Was he really ready to accept whatever outcome it proved? Also, Gibbs wasn't a fool. Tony had deflected their Boss once already today; he didn't know if Gibbs was going to accept another noble gesture on Tony's behalf. Not that he could really do anything about it. Until Tony said something it was pretty much all supposition. But that didn't mean that given the opportunity Gibbs wouldn't extract retribution on his own with or without all the facts.
Tony breathed a sigh of relief when he saw they had nearly arrived at Arthur Haskell's address.
"Here." He squeaked, pointing to the long drive leading up to the house unclipping his seatbelt.
The car pulled smoothly to a halt and the three agents alighted from the car.
"You two take the west door to the garage." Gibbs directed quietly before jogging off towards the front door.
Skirting the exterior of the house and accessing the back yard, Ziva led Tony silently up to the door she remembered exiting from earlier that afternoon.
"In place Gibbs" Ziva whispered into her sleeve.
"Go!" came the command over the earwig.
Leaning back, Tony booted the door with all his might. Despite bracing himself for the impact, a shiver of energy reverberated up his leg and through his hip into his spine. A long dry summer had provided an unexpected benefit. Tony had been expecting a fair amount of resistance from an exterior door to a house, but low humidity and hot conditions had sought only to dry the timber of the door out more than was usually expected. The result was more that Tony could have hoped for. The door jam splintered neatly around the lock allowing the door itself to spring back into the garage.
"Federal Agents, Federal Agents." Ziva announced forcefully as she moved passed Tony into the forward position, feeling for a light switch in the process. Scanning the empty garage space, both Agents spotted supine form of Arthur Haskell on the concrete floor at the same time. "GIBBS! Back here!" Ziva shouted.
Leaving Ziva to tackle the locked freezer chest, Tony checked the condition of their would be terrorist. Kneeling down next to the man, Tony could see immediately that someone had done a number on him. Deftly feeling for a pulse, Tony was relieved to find it beating strong and steady.
"He's still breathing" Tony rasped as Gibbs moved over next to him.
"Gibbs…" Both men turned at the sombre tone of Ziva's voice. From the expression on her face, Tony had a fair idea what was going to come out of her mouth next. "The bomb is missing." She confirmed. Damn he hated it when he was right!
Before any of them could react further, the sound of the front door closing echoed through the house. "Daddy, I'm home." A girls voice called. Through the arch of the door leading back into the house, Tony saw a petite young teenager appear. "Daddy?" The pitch of her voice rose slightly as she spotted her Father sprawled on the concrete. "Daddy?" Another pitch change as the realisation of what she was seeing set in. Like any family member seeing someone they loved injured, the girls first reaction was to race to her Fathers side.
Watching Gibbs step in to intercept her before she could get to her Father tugged at Tony. "Federal Agents… Stop." Gibbs caught the girl up in a hug arresting her forward movement.
"Homygod! What happened." The girl almost wailed, struggling against Gibbs arms. "Daddy?"
Tony felt the muscles along his jaw ripple. The Agent in him knew why Gibbs was restraining the girl. They hadn't had time to assess her Father's condition and they couldn't risk further injury to him, or even her. But that didn't stop Tony feeling a like a heel over the fact they couldn't let a worried girl see her Dad.
Still holding the now shaking girl in his arms, Gibbs turned towards Ziva. "Call McGee. Bring 'em in. Then, I need you here."
The attack on Haskell, the missing bomb and the unexpected arrival of Haskell's daughter unnecessarily complicated what had initially set out to be a very simple task.
Gibbs could feel Haskell's daughter start to shiver under his embrace. The initial surprise was giving way to shock; her young body was starting to release a flood of epinephrine through her system, her innocent blue eyes hazing over. Keeping her here at the crime scene longer than was absolutely necessary wasn't an option. Gibbs glanced over to Tony who had knelt next to the fallen man. The Senior Field Agent had manoeuvred Haskell into the recovery position and was checking the man for any signs of obvious breaks or obstructions. A slight moan escaped the unconscious form when Tony touched his ribs.
"What are you doing to him! Leave him alone" Gibbs's charge wailed renewing her struggle against the Team Leader thumping ineffectively against the former Marines chest. "You're hurting him!" she screamed at Tony.
Gibbs clutched the girl tighter. "No he's not. He's trying to make him more comfortable."
Conflicted anger flashed in her eyes. Gibbs could almost see the emotions warring within her.
"Gibbs, they are on their way. EMT's should be here in approximately ten minutes. The bomb squad have begun sweeping the area." Ziva announced brusquely
"Bomb squad?" Arthur Haskell's daughter squeaked.
"Ziva." A pointed look from Gibbs to the former Mossad Officer was all the instruction Ziva needed.
"It is Kristin isn't it?" Ziva asked moving over next to the girl.
Kirstin's eyes narrowed as Ziva approached. "You? You had a meeting with my Dad?"
"Yes, that is correct, I did. You met me this afternoon."
"Is this your fault?" there was no hiding the accusation in the girl's voice.
Ziva's features softened. "No. This was not our doing." Ziva placed a gentle hand on the girls elbow. "My name is NCIS Agent Ziva David. I met your Father this afternoon as part of an ongoing investigation." The girl was clearly up set and had fixated her gaze on the prone form of her Father. Stepping deliberately into the path of that view, Ziva met the disconnected grey-eyed stare with one of her own, a small smile tugging at the edge of her mouth when the girl flinched first. Disconnection was reformed as confusion and offered Ziva the opportunity she needed. "Agent Gibbs and DiNozzo need to work here. How about we go inside, yes?" Steering the more compliant girl away from Gibbs grasp, Ziva led her up the step back into the main body of the house.
Gibbs breathed a little easier as Ziva and Kristen disappeared from view. "How's he doin' DiNozzo?" He asked.
"Noh.. Aahd"
Gibbs read that to mean 'not bad', noting the wince Tony attempted to hide when he spoke. His Senior Field Agents voice was getting worse rather than better, despite his so far concerted efforts to remain silent. Despite the warmth of the day, there was still a decided bite to the evening air. He watched as Tony suddenly turned away and coughed heavily and unpleasant rattle seemingly echoing around the empty garage space.
A choice needed to be made, and soon, and it was most likely going to be a choice that would get a lot of resistance from DiNozzo.
Gibbs wasn't blind to Tony's interesting take on illness and injury. Stub his toe and Tony could give you an Oscar winning performance of pain and suffering. Give him a real injury or illness, and the stonewalling you faced would make the Rockies look feeble.
A second bout of coughing sealed the decision.
"DiNozzo!" Gibbs barked. "When the EMT's and Bomb Squad get her, I don't want Haskell's daughter on scene," he tossed the keys to the agency sedan towards Tony. "Go get her and Ziva and take them back to the Navy Yard and stay with the daughter until someone from Child Services can get there. Tell Ziva to bring the car straight back." Tony opened his mouth to protest only to be stared down. "When someone from DCS get there, go home! Don't want to see you back in the office until tomorrow." Gibbs made sure he put enough emphasis behind the statement. Tony would use any excuse to try and wiggle out of the orders.
Tony's eyebrows knitted together as he processed the information.
"Boss?" McGee's voice interrupted. Both Team Leader and Senior Agent turned towards the sound of their co-workers call. "Local LEO's have started searching the surrounding areas with members of the Bomb Squad. FBI is a no show at the moment, but a missing bomb'll probably mean they'll be here shortly."
Gibbs nodded. "Good. McGee. Take over here from Tony." Gibbs turned to Tony. "You still here DiNozzo?"
Tony was certain he'd misheard something. Had Gibbs really just dismissed him in the middle of a crime scene? The cool flat stare that his Boss was giving him seemed to say everything. He was… he was being dismissed. All because he had a crappy throat? Tony opened his mouth to argue only to close it as equally fast when Gibbs just glared at him. Unsure if the lump at the back of his throat was from the inflammation of his oesophagus or from the kick in the pants he'd just received from his Boss, Tony turned and headed into the house.
He found Ziva and Kristen sitting quietly at the kitchen table. A glass of water sat untouched between the young girls hands, the condensation of the cold drink trickled down the outsides of the glass onto the high gloss wood of the kitchen table. Tony absently thought that if it wasn't wiped up soon it would leave a watermark.
Ziva turned at the sound of Tony's approaching footsteps. "Do you need me Tony?" she asked.
Solemnly Tony shook his head. Wiggling his index finger towards the two women to indicate he was talking about them then turning the finger on himself and holding up the key fob, he mouthed Navy Yard.
Ziva pursed her lips and then nodded before turning back to the girl. "Kristen, we need you to come back to the NCIS Head Quarters."
The strawberry blonde haired girl frowned. "Why?" suspicion laced her question.
"We need you to answer some questions for us, and we need to make sure you are looked after until your Father is better."
"I'm not going anywhere." The teen stated.
Tony and Ziva shared a glance. "The EMT's are going to be arriving shortly to take your Father to hospital. You can not stay here."
"Well, I'll go and stay with my friends!" Kristen replied pugnaciously.
"That is not possible Kristen, we need you to come with us." Ziva said, rising to her feet, her words firm and unequivocal.
Tony watched as the teenaged girl ran her options through her head. She was clearly confused and rightly upset. She'd walked into her home, a home that had been invaded by unknown people to find her father injured on the concrete floor of their garage. For all that they were trying to help her, from her point of view NCIS was being far from it and now they were demanding she went with them. Too many memories from homicides in Tony's past came flooding back in quick succession. He'd witnessed this type of scene far too many times to count on his fingers and toes – distressed family members being bounced about to make room for an ongoing investigation.
And for Kristen Haskell this was twice as distressing, first she witnesses her mothers murder by a drug crazed gun-man, and now this.
Valiantly trying to hold back the welling tears in her eyes, Kristen finally nodded once and stood up from the chair and walked towards the front door. Tony noticed the slight flinch as she passed the open door into the garage but did not look in. Tony lengthened his stride to reach the front door before her and open it stepping out onto the porch. Wrapping her arms tightly around herself and lowering her head, Kristen and Ziva walked down the steps towards the drive leading to the car. Halfway to their intended destination, the EMT wagon passed them heading up the drive towards the house, the crunch of the gravel drive and the lack of sirens making the scene all that more alien. Walking behind Ziva and Kristen, Tony noted as the young girl deliberately turned her face away from the ethereal glow of the Ambulance lights.
As they climbed into the sedan and Tony pulled away heading back out of Royal Woods towards DC, a random thought passed through his head. This was no way for a seventeen-year-old girl to be spending her Monday night.
oXoXoXo
Ziva had escorted Kristen into one of the interview rooms while she made the call to child services. There was very little that Tony could do.
Setting aside the obvious impediment to communication with Kristen, because she was a minor and female Agency rules stipulated that a female officer had to be present at all times leaving Tony at a loose end.
Restless and unable to settle at his desk Tony decided to try his luck and see if Ducky or Abby were still in the building. Exiting the elevator at the forensics level the thrum of a base-note was all the indication he needed to know the answer to at least one of his questions.
Expecting a repeat performance of his made bongo skills from earlier in the day, Tony approached the door jam to the lab only to have Abby turn at that precise moment towards the door.
"Tony!" She grinned. "Back already? Whatcha got for me?"
Tony held his hands out and shook his head.
"Nothing? What the scene was a bust?"
Tony only had time to grimace and open his mouth to respond before once again the scarlet iPad was thrust into his hands.
Quickly he tapped out a note explaining what had happened at Royal Woods.
"So what are you doing back here?" Abby queried scrunching her face a little. Tony made a mental note to tell her how cute she looked when she did that after his voice returned.
Don't know Abs. Gibbs sent me back.
"Gibbs sent you back? What for?"
Tony shrugged his shoulders. You guess is as good as mine. He paused in thought. To go home I think.
"Go home? In the middle of the case? Abby was confused. Short of an Agent being super dumb and blowing it big time, the only other explanation for Gibbs sending someone away from an active scene was if they were really ill. A horrible thought crossed the scientist mind.
Lunging out Abby grabbed at Tony's head pulling it towards her. Placing her hand on his forehead Abby tried to feel for a fever.
"Abby!" Tony squeaked in surprise overriding the iPad in his hands.
"No, doesn't feel hot… but maybe I'm too hot blooded? My doctor is always telling me I'm hotter than the average patient… perhaps I can't use myself to tell if someone has a fever? Or perhaps I have one too and I can't tell? Or maybe I've been working too much and my hands are hot, those lights can get pretty intense. Should I get Ducky? I'll get Ducky!"
Abby's hands worked frantically as she placed them over various parts of Tony's face in her valiant effort to see if he had a fever. As always the pretty young Goth's mind was working a mile a minute, in a desperate attempt to keep up with her verbalisations. Tony loved this side of Abby. Loving… caring… heartfelt… and just a little bit nutty.
Gently setting the iPad down as Abby continued her fussing, Tony finally took her wrists in his hands.
"Abs, I'm fine." He spoke each word slowly to reduce as much irritation as possible, and to drive home his point as he released her wrists
"No you're not Tony. Gibbs wouldn't send you home unless something was wrong or you did something really dumb!" She drew in a sharp breath her hands flying to her mouth. "You didn't do anything stupid did you?"
Tony rolled his eyes and picked up the iPad. No more than usual.
"Tony?" The Senior Field Agent turned to see Ziva standing in the doorway behind him. "Child Protective Services have arrived, they are taking Kerstin to a placement home overnight until we know what is happening with her Father. I have spoken to Gibbs."
He wants us back at the house? Tony typed, hoping circumstances may have changed. He held the device up for Ziva to see.
Ziva absently scratched her ear as she read the typed text. "He wants me back at the scene, they are about to wrap up and they need the car. His exact words to you were 'tell DiNozzo if he's still there when I get back, the depth of the creek he'll be up will require scuba gear to find the bottom!'" If Tony hadn't suspected that Gibbs would be good to every word, he might have found Ziva's attempts to emulate her boss's mannerisms funny.
Unfortunately Tony had no doubt that Gibbs would kick his butt around the beltway if he even entertained the idea of hanging around until they got back.
Tony felt a comforting pressure around his upper arm, and turned his head to see Abby had wrapped herself around it and placed her head on his shoulder.
"Well. I should go." Ziva said, her eyes softening slightly as she turned to leave. "I will see you in the morning. I hope you feel better Tony."
As the door to the elevator shut announcing Ziva's exit, Tony let out a sigh he hadn't been aware he was holding in. Gibbs' dismissal from the scene still chewed at DiNozzo. He was wracking his brains trying to figure out exactly why Gibbs had benched him, couple this with the fiasco at Royal Woods this morning and Tony suddenly felt all of his forty plus years. He was suddenly tired. Tired of the whole ball of wax.
He felt Abby's gentle presence warm on his back where her right hand now lay. "You sure you're okay Tony?" Her tone as soft as the touch of her hand. "You've not had a good day have you?"
Trust Abby to zone in on things better left unsaid. I've had better. He typed.
"Are you sure you don't need Ducky?"
Tony kissed her forehead. The Duckman has told me what I need to do… and I'm doing it. He cleared the screen before typing the next line. I'll be fine tomorrow, you'll see.
"You'd better be Mister, or you'll be answering to me!" Abby grinned.
Tony returned the grin. Tapping a message quickly into the screen, Tony turned it towards his friend hoping to deflect the conversation. I gotta get me one of these.
He handed the device back to Abby and sauntered casually out the door.
Abby stood fixated on the spot where Tony had last been. It was hard not to notice the tension in the air between Ziva and Tony. The light-hearted banter, the easy smile couldn't completely hide the tension in her friend's body language. Something was going on, and like a good forensic scientist Abby knew sifting through the evidence would be the key to untangling what was eating at the heart of Team Gibbs!
oXoXoXo