Chapter Text
Ziva's trial went over behind closed doors. Tony told himself not to react to it at all and was on a friendly visit down in the morgue with Ducky and Palmer. He hadn't seen them in quite some time that with the new team and it was now a more basic rule that Ducky, Jimmy and Abby couldn't come up as frequently due some laboratory regulation quarantine thing. Tony got that and had always wondered about the whole situation but found that mostly it had been Gibbs ignorance of regulatory that kept them from having a good environment.
Abby had also been asked to wear a hat to cover the hair at all times now. She had thrown a fit in a loud, adorable Abby-way and had wanted to complain to Gibbs who had shrugged and simply pointed out yet again that he wasn't the boss anymore. Tony had pointed out that neither was he as Vance was the head of department and as a result the one to point out the regulations.
Therefore, while Abby could wear her shoes and clothes the way she liked, her hair had to be away from open contamination, her wristbands and similar attire had to go while she was free to do much else. The music was regulated down to a normal work environment due to the speakers limits now and Bert the hippo had to leave the lab area but could be moved to Abby's office where she was to do her paperwork that was out of the way of contamination.
Furthermore, the access to the pcs had been restricted. She did not have direct internet access on the lab results pcs, had a special sandboxed pc for unknown sticks and was not allowed to hack anything anymore without a second pair of eyes. That included the phones for the team. Tony had insisted on a security system there.
After their repeated captivity of each member, they had all agreed to a tracker that needed two unbackable passwords to be found. One was in Vance' safe and one was in a password tool on each of their phones so that they all had the numbers ready just in case. The idea had actually come from the LA office.
Fornell was one day walking into their office and looked around in surprise at the new faces. They hadn't yet caught a case with FBI jurisdiction so their interacting had been minimal. The man looked around once, twice before focusing on Gibbs: "You're really not the boss anymore?"
"Tony is," Gibbs replied: "My Guide status as his kind of prevents me from bossing him around on an instinctual level anyways."
"Damn kid, this is quite a turn around," Fornell then looked at the others as much as the others were looking at him: "I only know former FBI Special Agent Mondo."
"Sir," Elijah replied and then indicated Carrie: "Special Agent Carrie Wells, former NYPD and Special Agent Elenore Bishop, former NSA."
"Wheew, DiNutso, quite a team you've gotten yourself there. I'm surprised Vance allowed for it." Tobias said and then looked again: "The Sentinel status suits you."
"Thanks," Tony replied and looked at Carrie.
"I've seen him three times in my life," Carrie said simply: "September eleventh, 2011 at the memorial, March sixth in 2012 and again just a few weeks ago, July twenty-eight."
Tobias looked at the woman in surprise: "You remember all that?"
"Ooh, she remembers everything," McGee said: "It's actually pretty cool to prove you've said something when others forgot about it already. Or writing reports. Very handy to pick her amazing Guide brain. I'm jealous."
Fornell stared at McGee as that were the most words he had probably heard from McGee that weren't stammered or about computer technology they couldn't understand. Fronell grinned: "Now I'm really glad you didn't take Prophet, Rawson and Seaver as well."
"Ah so you know about that,"
"Of course, I do. Penelope is a chatty person and widely known outside the BAU as well. I knew right away that she was your pack." Tobias sighed: "Speaking off, have you met Emily after you came online?"
"No, not yet. Why?"
"I need a good pack for her. And as much as I hate to say it, you're the best there is and a good agent. Plus, she sees Gibbs as her uncle anyways."
Tony felt uncomfortable for all of a second there. It was something different to have FBI agents in his pack, but a teenager? Damn, that was changing the responsibility right there. Not that he wouldn't take on children eventually. But not being bonded yet to Gibbs was a huge dent. While Jimmy was keeping him stable enough for now, and with Carrie as well, it was a good spot to take on people to his pack that were bonded or had experience. Teenagers were a different matter.
"Sure," Tony heard Gibbs say from beside him: "Bring her by for a proper meeting."
Tony nodded in agreement: "I'll let you know when and where the next team event will be and invite my pack as well."
"I thought we are your pack?" McGee frowned.
"You are, McTardy," Tony said: "You're all pack. Doesn't matter if you're online or not."
"Many others don't make that distinction," Elijah added in defense of McGee. Tony smirked at that friendship that had broken out and nodded.
"We've got a case, children," Vance said from above in an amused tone.
"Going," Tony replied to Vance and everyone was grabbing their gear. Vance looked at Fornell: "You, too Tobias."
Tobias sighed and flipped his phone out, muttering: "One of those cases again."
Tony patted the other man on the back: "Watch my team. They're good."
Fornell just raised an eyebrow, not quite believing those words. That was until he saw them at the crime scene and working together. Ironically, Fornell had taken on Seaver, Simms and Rawson as agents. Probably Tony's doing and to one-up him. Tony smirked at the smart move of Tobias but also what it must have cost the other man.
The fun part of this was, that Jonathan as the web told me “Prophet” Simms was the Guide to Mick Rawson's Sentinel. The former behavior team members of the crisis front were now looking for quieter times, more bound to the area instead of flying all over the country to scenes. It had something to do with them as a Sentinel and Guide pair and being rooted in their area so much that they were unsettled when being away. That was what had made them attractive to Tony in the first place but Tony couldn't make up his team of Sentinels and Guides only. McGee needed normal people to look up to as well. They needed good investigators that weren't online for cases dealing with Sentinelphobes.
Nevertheless, Tony smirked at both men and walked up to them: "I'm Tony DiNozzo,"
Before the men could reply, Fornell walked up: "What are you doing DiNutso!? Get away from my people."
All three were amused at that and continued: "Mick Rawson and my Guide Prophet. Nice to meet you and thanks for showing an interest in us. It landed us this position."
"And indirectly working with me after all. That was what I wanted," Tony replied: "I guess I can expect you to tag along to a pack meeting?"
"You can," Prophet replied: "We'll bring Emily and keep Fornell far away."
"Hey! I heard that!" Tobias called out and Tony handed over his business card before focusing back on his team and their investigation of the scene. He then wandered over and gave his own quick findings of the place, such as smells, perfume, microfibers, sounds and residues or bruises on the body he could detect.
Carrie was standing next to him, only looking around the whole time but listening to Tony's words carefully. Ellie was being instructed on photos of the scene and measuring the things while McGee taught her how he had learned it from Tony with Gibbs backing up Elijah at the sidelines to get witness reports and character witnesses of their body.
Jimmy and Ducky were lost in yet another tale of Ducky's while Jimmy had a firm hand at Tony's back to keep him steady for a second there while working with Tony on the quick finds on the body, like mentioned bruises.
Tony's attention was briefly caught at the sideline by Fornell commenting about his work but was drawn back to the present. They now had two cases to finish up with all at once. A rare occasion but now Tony was more than happy to have additional hands on the team as well as in this case help by Fornell's team to pawn the jobs off.
Before they could finish, it started to rain. But not a drizzle, no, the flood from hell.
They scrambled to quickly get everything done and wrapped up before it was washed away. The resulting surge of adrenaline was making them giddy and made them chuckle when in the dry trucks of NCIS while Tony could make out Fornell and his team still trying to get to shelter.
Meeting back at the bullpen, Fornell and his team was with him, they discussed the basics of the case that they had found out already while Tony left McGee, Ellie and Elijah on the old case with Carrie as aid for questioning while Gibbs, Carrie and Fornell’s people were sorting through the new case first.
Once again, the new order in the bullpen came in handy as the teams scrambled together and changed their desks. Once everything was viewed and they found their dead person’s social circle, Fornell and Tony addressed their teams to head out and investigate the social surroundings. Briefly taking McGee for from his position so that they all had backup out in the field.
As they couldn’t question people in the middle of the night, they headed home and caught a break for the first case, Ellie, Tim and Elijah arresting their perpetrator while Fornell had a strong lead on the second’s case perp that they brought in while NCIS claimed partial jurisdiction.
Tony was hiding briefly in the MTAC, where it was quiet and no one was around. The door behind him opened and Gibbs came in: “Tony?”
“Just catching my breath,” Tony replied and enjoyed the silence: “This room was made to be Sentinel-proof and friendly. A good place to be.”
“What is worrying you?” Gibbs asked softly: “You know they cleared me for bonding, right?”
“I heard,” Tony replied and smiled: “Do you want to bond?”
“I still do,” Gibbs agreed: “And I am in a much better place now.”
“Along comes a pretty big pack by now,” Tony shook his head: “Have you found a Beta?”
“I want Jimmy as my Beta-Guide. While I don’t have a Beta-Sentinel, we’ll find one.” Gibbs said and thought it through.
“Sarah will be my choice in Beta Sentinel and Carrie will be my Beta-Guide. I want you to know that I don’t want to get rid of the partial bond I have with Jimmy. I feel that he has become more secure in his own skin and I want to be there for him until he finds his Sentinel. If not, I don’t think it is a hindrance.”
“Of course, Tony. That is a good thing. I like Jimmy. I think he was always scared of me because my mental state was so off the charts. And I recognized him as a threat more or less but not anymore.” Gibbs took Tony’s hand in his: “How do we proceed?”
“I want to bond with you at the pack meeting. Maybe invite Stan Burley? He’s be a good Beta Sentinel for you,” Tony said and then shrugged: “Alexandra Quinn would also be a good addition.”
“She just shoved our asses through FLETC,” Gibbs grunted: “And you want her to be added?”
“Yes,” Tony smirked: “Ned Dorneget, EJ Barrett, they’re all good to fit in a pack. While we don’t have much to do with them right now, I think they would be a good addition.”
“Let me start with Stan,” Gibbs said: “I always referred to him in a good manner.”
Tony then took a breath: “Team night as a pack meeting. When do you think is a good time?”
“Might just do it tonight. We could go to that Italian place you love and highjack their private room,” Gibbs offered: “Team night just having dinner this time.”
“Good idea,” Tony looked at the other man and had the biggest question yet. Jethro was looking back at him in the same manner and voiced it first: “Tony, I think you’ve become just as important to me as Shannon once was.”
The air rushed out of Tony’s lungs: “How far are you willing to go with our bond?”
“All the way,” Gibbs replied quickly: “Just, I might just need a bit more time.”
Tony nodded in agreement but knew that a bit more time could be ruined by the next shootout after they were bonded. Might just be that they didn’t have a different choice. Feeling that the moment between them was over, Tony stood up and Gibbs followed him out of the room to the chaos that was the bullpen with two teams and Jimmy, Ducky and Abby that had come up in their civvies.
Vance was coming out of his office with his briefcase and Tony indicated for Gibbs to whistle. He did and all eyes turned up to them: “Team night out. Sentinels and Guides required. All pack members are to attend. The Italian place around my corner.”
“I’ll call Breena,” Jimmy said right away. Elijah was on his phone with his daughter, McGee was reaching out to his sister while the others called their respective partners and Gibbs and Tony arranged for the missing pack members.
Littering into cars and making their way over, Tony was slightly nervous. Jimmy was looking at him through his glasses and patted Tony’s arm: “Relax. Bonding will be easy for you.”
“I know. But Jimmy, I won’t let go of our bond. I want the whole Pack to be connected and bonded in a friendly way.”
“What- like, like the ancient ways? Tony, no one has done such a complete pack bonding in centuries.”
“Because people are scared of the power it has,” Tony agreed: “Most packs are smaller than ours. We are in law enforcement and pretty much everyone who attends has a foot in that door. It is required for us and with that strong a pack, we will attract others.”
Jimmy nodded in surprise but agreed.
Arriving at the Italian place, Tony walked in first and spoke to the owner, apologizing for the overflow of people and how many people they would be. Tony estimated thirty people showing up.
The Italian guy was not to be fazed, simply taking out another baking tin of lasagna and risotto that he had prepared and replied: “Maybe for once I won’t have leftovers.”
Tony grinned, passed him some money for a tip in advance and went to the back.
That the whole BAU had showed up, was a big surprise, but Tony thought it was expected. Along were all they had requested or were considered pack. Even Fornell had brought Emely and while the teenaged girl was nervous, she seemed to thrive with the whole pack there.
“Hey, thanks for all coming so quickly,” Tony started and raised an eyebrow at Gibbs when he did see Quinn, Barrett, Dorneget and Burley in the back: “Gibbs and I decided to bond and we have chosen our Betas. Therefore, we want to do a full pack bond.”
Penelope was gasping loudly: “Really? Are you- no wait, I know that answer, right, damn. Well, go on,” while Morgan smiled at her. Tony was surprised to learn that they weren’t the only Sentinel and Guide on the team. Jennifer and her husband were a pair with JJ being a strong Sentinel, while Reid was a Guide, weak but stable while Hotchner was a Sentinel. Most were unbonded but had a healthy relationship to the team members.
“My Betas are Guide Carrie Wells and Sentinel Sarah Lincoln. Gamma Pair are Garcia and Morgan.”
Gibbs followed suit: “My Beta Guide is Jimmy Palmer and my Sentinel is Stan Burley. The Gamma Pair of my choosing are Simmons and Rawson.
“We accept our position and are one with the pack,” the chosen answered at once. Then Tony turned to Gibbs and rested his forehead against the other man’s and opened his mental shields. Gibbs was following suit and within a second, their mental shields fell away to strengthen as one. The bond with Jimmy was suddenly there as well, like a tether to their cores and strengthening it.
After the initial bond, both men looked at another and then across the room. Then, the pack imprint started. That meant, every Guide and Sentinel was to memorize each member of the pack to always recognize them and include them in their pack.
The food was a welcome relief as the whole ordeal took some time.
*
That evening, late in the night, Tony was following Gibbs out of the Italian place and to his apartment around the corner. They both had known that there was no way to be separated anymore. Not even for a night. At least not right at the beginning.
“Slow,” Tony said and was unsure all of the sudden.
“That’s what we agreed on,” Gibbs replied and suddenly both men were accompanied the last few steps to the door of Tony’s place by Kate and Kelly. The animals were brushing each other and looking as solid as if they were real.
Intertwining their fingers, they were bridging one gap and Gibbs suddenly said: “Does that count as my team event? Is it still my turn next time?”
“As I called it out, no, it’s mine. Why, what do you have in mind?”
“While its still somewhat summertime, Blobbing.”
“Blobbing? Seriously?” Tony asked: “You? With life jacket and helm on and water?”
“Yeah Tony, that’s what I chose.”
“Good choice,” Tony snorted and they entered the place: “My Guide,”
“My Sentinel,” Gibbs replied and the bond bloomed brightly between them.
The end