Fic: Back Swing (Part 1)

[mosquito-larva.livejournal.com]

Title: Back Swing
Author: mosquito_larva

Written for: fanofsg 
Prompt: Tony and Abby are held hostage and he goes out of his way, puts his life on the line, to protect her. I'd love for their relationship to be explored, romantic or friendship, whichever you prefer. Extra points if she calls him Anthony.
Archive: sure
Genre: gen, friendship
Pairings: none
Rating: PG-13 for language and some really, really tame violence
Disclaimer: Not mine, never were, never will be. I don't have any money either.

Note:  thanks to

kelmendi  for catching all my spelling mistakes and for all the encouragement.

 

Word Count: 6052
Summary: Tony and Abby go bowling. But things never work out that simply.

 

Approach

"Tony, come on, we're going to be late!" Abby called as she tidied the pleats on her skirt. Once satisfied they were properly placed, she amused herself by flipping through Tony's DVD collection.

"Do I have to wear this?" Tony's disembodied voice filtered through the door to his bedroom. "I look ridiculous."

"Don't be silly, you'll look fine. I picked it out myself!"

The door opened and Tony emerged. Abby clapped her hands together, pleased that the ensemble worked so well. He clearly couldn't complain about the jeans, as they were well worn, and soft in all the right places. So it must be the shirt. She rolled her eyes as she straightened his collar. "See, you look amazing."

"I'm just not sure it's really me."

Abby stepped back, her poodle skirt whipping about her knees, and smiled slyly. "Trust me Anthony, you can pull of classic. The nuns are going to love you."

Tony looked down at the blue and green bowling classic shirt, complete with his name embroidered on the breast pocket, and grimaced. "This is going to be a mistake," he said as she grabbed his hand and pulled him from the apartment, his protests floating behind them like a smoke trail. She always was able to get him to do what she wanted…right from the first day she had met him

Foul Line

Abby hated cases with children. More specifically, she hated cases that required her to shift through three gigabytes of child porn on the suspect's computer. She frowned and sucked viciously at the straw of her Cafpow. It didn't help that it was completely unexpected. The marine was accused of mail fraud, of all things. So now the local Baltimore police where involved in breaking up the child porn ring.

And Gibbs had plunked a computer in front of her with instructions to "find something, Abs." She had found something, alright. A whole lot of somethings.

She missed Stan, too. He'd be down here with her, saying the right things, bringing her chocolate (and not the gross nougat in the candy machine). With him gone, it was just Gibbs stomping around the second floor like a cranky pit bull. Well, he would be stomping around up there if he was in town and not stomping around Baltimore, probably pissing of the Baltimore PD as much as he pissed of the FBI. Abby chortled to herself at the thought.

There were rumors that Gibbs had found someone in Baltimore to be on his team. It didn't sound good through. Marcy in accounting had gone to school with him, some frat boy who majored in physical education of all things. She knew in her gut he'd be a problem.

Idly fingering a spike on her collar, she scrolled down the screen and printed off yet another set of pictures that made her stomach churn.

"Abby, what have you got?"

"Gibbs! You're back!" She spun on her chair and raced towards him. Throwing her arms around his neck she squeezed tight. "Did you bring me a present?"

"Well, I guess DiNozzo here could be a present," Gibbs said, untangling himself and gesturing behind him. "Anthony DiNozzo, this is Abby Scuito, our forensic scientist. Abby, this is DiNozzo, the new guy, play nice."

Abby backed up and squinted suspiciously. The new guy was tall, taller than her and she had on her really, really high platforms today. His hair was slicked back and his eyes showed he clearly wasn't sure about her appearance. It wasn't the first time she'd been judged like that and it certainly wasn't going to be the last. But it confirmed what she already knew. She and he were not going to get along. Anyone who wore such an ill-fitting suite didn't have any right to judge her fashion sense!

"Hi, call me Tony," the new guy said, transferring a thick folder to his left hand and extending his right with a wide grin.

"Agent DiNozzo," Abby said in acknowledgement, holding up her gloved hands in apology as she turned back to her computer. She grinned inwardly as he awkwardly withdrew his hand and smoothed it against his pants. Goth geek: 1, Frat boy: 0.

"Abby, like I said, play nice." Gibbs admonished. "He's here to help. He's been the front man on the investigation for the PD in Baltimore. He's been trying to crack this ring for over three months."

"I hope I can be some help, Ms. Scuito," DiNozzo said. Abby was sure he could help, he and his physical education degree could help themselves to the door.

"Fine. Here, I've printed out these photos because they've got identifiable backgrounds that might help us find locations." Abby handed over the stack of pictures. He managed not to drop them and looked around the lab, lower lip caught between his teeth.

"Is there a table or something I can sit at?" He asked, shooting what Abby thought was meant to be a furtive look at Gibbs, but it just ended up looking desperate. Taking pity on his impending panic, she rolled her eyes, moved Bert from his resting spot on the evidence table and shoved a stool towards .

"You can work here."

"Yes, ma'am." She watched out of the corner of her eye as he placed the photos in the small space available to him and perched carefully on the rolling stool. Geeks: 2, Frat boys: 0. Looks like he was amenable to doing as she said. For now.

"I gotta go, Abs. I'll be back to pick you up in three hours, DiNozzo." Gibbs gave her a peck on the cheek and left them together.

Abby liked Stan because he always kept up a running commentary, mostly funny, when they worked together. Granted, there really wasn't anything funny about child porn, but still, the silence was wearing. Snatching up the remote to her CD player, she hit play and took a deep calming breath as Brainmatter's "Cherry Cerebrum" rhythm's thumped in her chest.

DiNozzo shot her a look, but to his credit, didn't say anything, just opened the folder he carried, pulled out a sheaf of papers and began sorting through the photos.

Abby decided to take a break from depravity and work on some fingerprinting for Pacci, who was working a new murder case. Loosing herself in the swirls and curves of prints, she bobbed her head to the music and forty minutes later sent her baby on a search of AFIS.

While the search ran, she glanced over at the new guy, and frowned. His back was to her, but she could see the lines of tension in his shoulders.

"Everything okay?" she asked, not sure where the concern was coming from.

He laughed bitterly. "Not really."

She stripped off her gloves and crossed the room. "What's wrong?"

He held up a picture. "I know this place. It’s a cheap motel, bad area of town." He stared at the picture Abby couldn't bear to look at again. "I interviewed this kid. He was on the streets, kicked out of the house by his druggie parents because he thought he might be gay. He was found in a snow bank the next day." His voice roughened. "The time stamp of this photo is that night. I tried to get him to come home with me. Just for a dry place to stay, warm meal. But he was to scared. Thought his pimp might find out. He said he just wanted to be able to go home."

Impulsively, Abby wrapped her arms around his shoulders and squeezed. "I'm sorry, Tony."

When he looked up, his eyes glistened with unshed tears and a wobbly smile graces his lips. "Thanks. I think I needed that."

Abby, struck by sudden inspiration, reached over and solemnly handed Bert to Tony. He looked confused, but took the plush toy in his hands. She placed her hands over his and then squeezed. He looked up at her startled, but then slowly began to lose the pain in his eyes.

For the rest of the three hours, Brainmatter's lyrics were punctuated occasionally by the sound of a flatulent hippo. Perhaps he'd work out after all, Abby mused with a private smile.

Track

Abby was quite pleased with herself. Tony was conducting himself like an utter gentleman, helping each nun off the bus with grace. His smile froze a little when Sister Mary Claire goosed him on her way by, but overall, he was the perfect addition to their merry crew of bowlers.

"Abby, dear, where on earth did you find him?" Sister Jane Francis asked, patting Abby's forearm. "He isn't quite your usual fare."

Abby grinned. "He's just a friend. We work together."

They both watched appreciatively as Tony bent down to lace up the bowling shoes provided by the clerk, who also seemed to be giving him a once-over. When Tony straightened, he froze at the attention before a wide grin spread across his face.

"Let's bowl," he cried. The nuns clapped excitedly and broke into smaller groups, clustering around their usual bowling lanes.

Abby loved this bowling alley. It had retro décor, cheesy tables and a colour scheme so wild it felt like she was living in the seventies when she walked in the door. Opposite the lanes was a sitting area with plastic tables and chairs, servicing the small café that sold honest to goodness soda floats and the best fries she had ever tasted. Plus, it was always dead quiet, so the nuns never had to put up with any hassling from drunken men with nothing better to do. Today, it was typically slow, with just the clerk and two men sitting at a corner table.

Sister Margaret and Sister Pauline had snagged Tony for their group, and Abby was content to watch from an adjacent lane as Tony helped Sister Margaret up the step to the lane and laugh at something she said. Oh yes, this was working out perfectly. This was just what Tony needed after the week they'd had. She had been scared stiff while he was out of touch, chained to that psycho killer. He'd had a bruised look to his eyes for days and Abby was sure that he wasn't sleeping well. Heck, she still was having nightmares about the GPS chip going dead.

"Dear? It's your turn," Sister Ann said with a grin as she returned from an apparent spare. Abby shook herself back to the present and grinned.

"I feel lucky today, Sister!"

A gutter ball later, she was pouting at the lane when Tony materialized at her elbow."Hey, Abby."

She jumped, whapping him lightly on the arm. 'Geez, Tony, don't do that!" She was about to hit him again, when she saw his face. It wasn't his aren't-we-having-fun face, it was his I-am-an-agent-do-as-I-say-face. "What's wrong?"

He gave her a tight smile. "Can you quietly start getting everyone to go back to the bus? I think we may have a potential problem." He draped an arm over her shoulder and whispered in her ear, "One of the guys at the corner table has a gun. He may have legitimate reasons for it, but let's not risk it."

His arm kept Abby from reflexively turning to look at the men and she felt her heart start to speed up. "Do you have your weapon?" She didn't think he could get a shoulder holder under the shirt without spoiling the lines.

"I have a back up ankle holster, but I'd prefer to avoid a shootout. So can you start at this end, just say we have to go. I'll start at this end," he said pointing at the group closest to the corner tables, pulling out his cell phone and hitting the speed dial. Gibbs no doubt.

Drying her suddenly wet palms on her skirt, Abby nodded. She beckoned to Sister Ann and began to explain that they really had to leave. But before she could even find an excuse that Sister Ann would believe, a shout echoed.

"Nobody move!" One of the men had moved from the corner table and was brandishing his weapon, what looked to be a Smith and Wesson M1911A1, Abby noted abstractly.

A shocked silence met the pronouncement and Sister Margaret promptly fainted. Abby's heart began to race faster, but one look at Tony's determined face had her taking a deep and controlled breath. He'd get them through this. Just like he always did.

Gutter Ball

Abby twirled her pigtail around her finger as she made her way to see if Tony had any free time that week end to help her move her new bed into her apartment. He'd be all freaked out by the coffin and that would totally make the whole thing worth it. Even after a year at NCIS, she was still able to shock him. She added a mental note to pick up some black silk sheets while she was at the department store that evening.

Her pleasant musings were rudely interrupted as the interrogation room door flew open. Her eyes widened as large man stormed into the hallway, his eyes wild.

"Fucking navy cops, I never did anything wrong. Just trying to take me down." He shouted, grabbing Abby by the shoulders and shaking her. "I didn’t do anything!"

"Let her go," came a growl from the interrogation room, as Tony leaned against the doorframe, gun drawn and hands steady.

"I said I didn't do anything!" the man shouted.

"You're doing something right now," Tony pointed out grimly. "Let. Her. Go."

It happened so quickly, she wasn't ready. The man released her and before she should brace herself to stand under her own power, she fell rapping her elbow sharply on the funny bone, which was a misnomer if she had ever heard one, and smacking the back of her head soundly against the wall.

She was vaguely aware of shouting and many feet when Tony's face materialized in front of her.

"Abs, you okay?" he asked, voice filled with concern.

"Did you get the number of the elephant that hit me?" she asked, peering past him. Two agents were kneeling on the back of a very large man who was bucking wildly against their grip. Focusing back on Tony, she gasped at the blood trickling from his nose and the puffy swelling of his eye. "You're hurt!"

"I'm okay. Are you hurt?" He skimmed his hands down her arms, checking her carefully, pressing gently on her shoulder when she tried to get up. "Just stay still a moment."

"What the hell just happened here, DiNozzo?"

Tony winced as Gibbs made an appearance. "My fault, boss. Jones flipped out, clocked me one and managed to get into the hall. Abby was –"

"Hey Abs," Gibb crouched beside her. "You okay?"

"I'm fine." She accepted Gibb's hand and he pulled her carefully up. Rubbing at her elbow, she rolled her eyes at the glance they exchanged. "I'm fine."

"Tony, take her Ducky, just to make sure. I'll finish up with Jones."

"Boss, I'm sorry, I didn't think he'd do—" Tony said, his posture screaming remorse.

"Don't apologize. It’s a sign of weakness." Gibbs gave Abby a peck on the cheek and literally handed her off to Tony, who took her elbow in a most gentlemanly way. "Get yourself checked out too, DiNozzo."

"This way, milady," Tony genuflected towards the elevator.

"Why thank you, Anthony," Abby said grandly as she linked her arm through Tony's, allowing him to lead her towards the elevator. "Don't mind if I do."

Arm in arm, they strolled down the hallway as if taking a Sunday perambulation. Tony suddenly grinned down at her, his earlier agitation gone. "When Ducky clears you, I'll set you up with a Cafpow and you can tell me why you were wandering the hallways instead of holed up in your lair."

"Its always more exciting outside my lab. Remember that time when we got stuck in the elevator during the fire alarm? That was so much fun!"

"I distinctly remember someone having a bit of a panic attack," Tony joked. "I had to go through all of my knock knock jokes to keep you occupied."

She hugged his elbow and rested her head on his shoulder. "I knew it'd be okay. You were there. Just like now. You always make things better."

Open Frame

Abby lightly patted Sister Margaret's wrists as Tony stepped forward to take control.

"Hold one there, guys. Just relax."

"I said no one move!" shouted the guy Abby dubbed Joe because he reminded her of a guy she knew in high school who had the IQ of a toaster. Tony froze as the gun came to bear on him.

"Okay, not moving. What do you want?"

"Money, all of it. Hand over your purses, wallets, jewelry, everything," said guy number two, who Abby decided to call Bob for no better reason that he looked far to ordinary to be holding up a bowling alley. The bowling clerk began to pull out his wallet as Bob gestured at Sister Ann who looked blankly back at him from her huddle with her Sisters. "What's the problem, lady? Give me your purse!"

Abby held up her hand hesitantly and forgave Tony for his subsequent eye roll.

"What is it, Abs?"

"Um, none of the Sisters have any money. They took a vow of poverty."

Bob paused. "Sisters? They're too old to be your sisters."

Abby gestured for Sister Ann to remain silent when she saw the feisty nun about to take umbrage at the remark. "Not my sister," she said with exasperation. "Sisters. As in Sisters of the Perpetual Penitent? You know, nuns."

Bob paled. He turned to Joe and punched him in the arm. "You didn't say anything about taking fucking nuns hostage, asshole." He then promptly turned red. "Shit. I mean, sorry, sisters. I mean –"

"Shut up!" Joe said, slapping Bob on the back of the head in a gesture scarily reminiscent of Gibbs. "Okay, calm down. Everything'll be fine. You, "he gestured at Tony. "You're not a monk, are you?"

Abby snorted as Tony shook his head.

"Good, then toss your wallet over here." Tony, placating the robber, obeyed and the wallet fell on the floor near Joe's feet. Bob held his gun steady as his partner slowly crouched and picked it up, flipping it open.

"Oh shit," Joe muttered. Bob jerked his head nervously towards him.

"What?"

"He's a fed. NCIS. My brother dealt with them once when his friend in the Navy got caught doing dope. Shit. They're hardcore. They're the fucking marines, man! They can kill you with their pinkie finger!" Joe broke out into a sweat as Tony and Abby looked at each other and shrugged. At the movement, both robbers drew a bead on Tony, who stilled and made sure his hands were clearly visible.

"Look, these ladies have nothing you want. Let them go," Tony suggested gently. "Just let them go. You hurt any of them, and trust me, you won't get any sympathy. No one likes guys who hurt nuns. Am I right?"

Bob reflexively began to nod, but caught himself up short. "No, no one is leaving."

Tony held his hands in front of him, gesturing slightly towards the bowling group, many of whom were silently crying, clutching rosaries or crosses. "Look, they're frightened. Do you have any idea how much bad karma you get for scaring them? Plus, you have me. I'm more valuable than them as a hostage, I know the tricks the police use. And you can control one person more easily than ten. Right? Just let them go."

Joe's gun wavered slightly. Abby bit back a smirk of triumph. Tony was good. Really good. She was totally going to get him the best gift ever when they got out of here.

Continued in part 2

Comments

[goodisrelative.livejournal.com]

And you are faster than I can type! Thanks!

[mosquito-larva.livejournal.com]

I had just hit post when I remembered I forgot the LJ cut. Sorry 'bout that.

[goodisrelative.livejournal.com]

I just posted my story which is why I caught it... but you fixed it before I could edit the post fast enough! :-)

Thanks. I should have given it a few minutes since LJ is being all wonky for me right now.

[nightshadow-t2.livejournal.com]

I love the scenes about Tony and Abby's past. They're wonderful and really reveal how their relationship is in this story. And now they're having another mis-adventure.

[kittyblackcat.livejournal.com]

super cute! I really love it. Love how Abby and Tony are depicted here! Great job!