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Over There
Chapter Three
Tony walked into
the apartment he
shared with Tim.
Even though he
knew Tim
wouldn't be
there, he wasn't
prepared for the
shear emptiness
he felt once the
door was closed.
He sighed, aware
that he seemed
to be doing a
lot of that
today. He set
his backpack on
the floor by the
door at the
ready for when
he left in the
morning.
He walked into
the kitchen, not
really wanting
to eat a
sandwich alone.
He turned to
leave but
something
stopped him. He
opened the
refrigerator
door. There was
a small
casserole dish
sitting on the
top shelf with a
note attached.
He took the dish
out and read the
note.
"Tony,"
it started out
in Tim's precise
handwriting. "It's
my turn to cook
tonight so I
threw this
together for you
from the
leftover
chicken. I know
you wouldn't
bother eating
otherwise. Need
for you to keep
up your strength
for when I get
back. Hope you
like it. Love
you, T."
Tony laughed and
put the
casserole in the
oven according
to the
directions at
the end of the
note. While it
was heating
through, he
showered. His
mind flashed
back to that
very morning and
he could feel
his lover's
hands on his
body all over
again. He closed
his eyes and his
hand slid down
his body. He
knew Tim's
touch, how his
hands felt on
him, touching
him, loving him.
He came,
murmuring his
lover's name.
By the time he
got out of the
shower and
dressed, his
dinner was
almost ready. He
took a cold beer
from the
refrigerator and
a fork from the
drawer and set
them on the
coffee table in
the living room.
Normally he
would watch the
news with Tim,
but he wasn't
ready for any
war news
tonight. He
checked the
guide and saw
that TCM was
playing the
original version
of "Yours, Mine
and Ours" with
Henry Fonda and
Lucille Ball.
"Just the right
mix of humor and
drama," he
thought. The
timer sounded
and he retrieved
the hot bowl
from the oven
with a towel and
set it on the
table by his
beer. He ate
Tim's casserole,
which was very
good, but then
he didn't doubt
that it would
be.
Later he lay in
the bed alone,
eyes closed but
not sleeping. He
wondered just
where Tim was
and what he was
doing at that
moment. He
hugged Tim's
pillow to his
chest and
finally drifted
off into a
fitful sleep.
***
The flight
was long but
blessedly
uneventful. Tim
and Ziva slept
off and on,
sitting on the
uncomfortable
seats provided
in the military
transport. The
marines sharing
the flight with
them were quiet,
some reading, a
few obviously
playing games on
their phones.
Most of them had
already been to
Afghanistan at
least once and
knew pretty much
what to expect.
Tim was not a
stranger to the
danger that
could befall
him. He'd been
shot at and had
to shoot his way
out of
situations
before, and he
was there to see
what had
happened to
Chris Pacci in
the elevator of
the old hotel.
Yes, he knew
danger, but that
didn't make it
any easier
facing the
present mission.
"McGee, here,
eat your
sandwich," Ziva
said, handing
her teammate a
plastic bag. "It
won't do you any
good to sit and
think about
things."
"I'm not
thinking, just
observing," he
admitted, taking
the food. "These
guys are so
young."
Ziva laughed.
She saw the look
Tim cast her
way. "What?" he
asked confused
at her reaction.
"Nothing, Tim,"
she said, a
smile still on
her lips. "Eat
your sandwich."
The large plane
landed in Kabul.
The group of
marines were the
first to
disembark, with
Tim and Ziva
following. The
weather was hot
and dry, much
different than
the summer
humidity they
were used to in
DC. They were
met by Major
O'Hara's aide
Lt. Jasper, whom
they'd talked to
during their
final briefing
in MTAC just
that afternoon;
or yesterday
afternoon, due
to the time
difference. What
sleep they had
on the plane
would have to do
because the day
was just
starting for
them.
"Welcome to
Kabul," the
lieutenant said
in greeting,
holding out his
hand. Tim and
Ziva shook
hands,
acknowledging
the greeting.
"Shall we get to
work? The
situation has
become more
urgent over the
past two hours."
"That's why
we're here,
Lieutenant.
Let's go."
The officer led
the two agents
to the waiting
Humvee. They got
in,
acknowledging
the young
private who was
driving and the
two men carrying
large weapons.
They drove to a
non-descript
stone building
inside a fence
made of barbed
wire.
Ziva had been in
places like this
before, unlike
Tim. Of course
he had seen
pictures and
even live scenes
on MTAC, but
nothing could
prepare him for
the real thing.
He wasn't
scared. After
all, he carried
a gun as part of
his job and had
even used it.
They were shown
to a small room
with two men at
computers.
"Here you go,
Agent McGee,"
the Lt said
pointing to an
empty chair in
front of an
unoccupied
computer. "Sgt.
Brown will fill
you in on the
updates." McGee
placed his
backpack on the
floor, ready to
work.
Turning to Ziva,
the officer
offered to show
her their
accommodations.
She nodded and
followed him out
of the room.
"It's not much
and the two of
you will have to
share. At least
there's indoor
plumbing and the
food's not too
bad." Before her
was a small room
with two cots.
Everything was
OD green.
"Nice," she said
with a smile.
"I've been in
worse. Thank
you, Lt.
Jasper."
"You're very
welcome, Agent.
If you'll come
with me, I'll
show you the
rest of the
place."
While Ziva was
getting a tour
of the station
Tim was busy at
the computer. He
was handed a cup
of marine coffee
and took a sip.
He knew Gibbs
would not
approve of the
brew but it was
caffeine and
well needed. He
let his mind
wander
momentarily to
the coffee Tony
had brought into
work yesterday
morning. His
smile did not go
unnoticed.
"Agent, you have
something?"
"Wwwhat," he
stammered, smile
gone.
"You were
smiling like you
found
something."
"No. Well,
maybe. Just let
me work a little
more on this."
"Okay," the
perplexed
Sergeant said.
***
PO Klein was
waiting in his
CO's office as
promised when
Tony arrived in
Norfolk. The
agent
interviewed him
for over an
hour, but the
only thing he
got was a new
name. He would
have to start
with that
investigation as
soon as he got
back to the
office.
He left Klein at
his CO's office
and left the
building. In the
parking lot Tony
pulled out his
phone and
checked for
messages. There
were none, but
he had hoped Tim
would have been
able to call
him. It was
selfish he knew.
Tim had
important work
to do and
probably
couldn't take
time off from it
just to call
him. Maybe Gibbs
had heard
something from
the director.
Tony exited the
elevator and
walked to his
desk. He placed
his backpack on
the floor out of
the way of
traffic.
"Hey, Boss, I'm
back."
"Anything new,
DiNozzo?"
"He gave me
another name to
check out. I'm
not sure if he's
sending me on a
wild goose chase
or not. There's
something not
quite right
about this
situation but I
can't put my
finger on it."
Seated in his
chair, he got
the notebook
from his pocket
and turned on
his computer.
"Um, Boss, any
word on our
wandering duo
yet?"
"No, wasn't
expecting any."
"Guess you're
right. I'm sure
they're busy
over there."
"I would expect
so, Tony."
"I'll just get
to work on this
name," Tony
said, holding up
the pad he had
written the
information on.
He started to
log onto the
site he needed
to check on the
new name, but
changed his
mind. Tony
checked his
email. Nothing.
At least nothing
from Tim. There
was a message
from his frat
brother, Jayson,
no doubt about
the birthday
bash for Artie;
there was a
message from his
insurance
company and an
offer for a
credit card.
"Timmy, I know
you're busy, but
I need to hear
something from
you," he
mumbled.
Gibbs saw the
look of
disappointment
on Tony's face.
There was
definitely
something going
on with his
second in
command.
Finally, Tony
took a deep
breath and
settled back in
his chair and
started typing
on his keyboard.
Whatever it was
had passed and
Tony was
concentrating on
his job once
again. However,
Gibbs continued
mulling over the
situation and an
idea suddenly
came to him; an
idea that he
found hard to
believe.
DiNozzo and
McGee? True,
Tony made it a
point to include
both McGee and
Ziva in his
references,
but…he shook his
head, surprised
he hadn't seen
it before. The
change was
subtle but still
there. Okay, he
wouldn't push
it. If Tony
wanted him to
know, he'd tell
him; he could
wait.
To be continued
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