They're After Me? (Part 2) (16)
This is Part 2 to NCIS. Let's go!
Kate Todd's P.O.V.
I walked into the NCIS building, hoping we would crack this case today. I stepped out of the elevator, and walked to the desks belonging to my team: I mean, the team I was on.
I expected to be the first person there, but I wasn't. It was 5:37 in the morning, who on Earth would come in earlier than that? There was a person sitting at Tony's desk. But it wasn't Tony, it was a girl. I would put her age at around 15 or 16, with shoulder length red-brown hair, and a yellow top. I had never seen her before, but something about her seemed familiar.
She was looking down at something in her lap: the sound of the pages turning clued me in on the fact that she was reading.
"Who are you?" I asked, setting my coat around the back of my chair. The girl didn't answer, just kept reading. "What are you reading?" I asked, sitting in my chair, and turning on my computers. The girl held up her book so I could see the cover. "That's perfectly reasonable," I read out loud. What an awful name for a book, I thought. But the girl seemed to enjoy it.
The girl didn't reply to any of my other questions, just kept reading.
Thankfully Gibbs came in about 10 minutes after I did. "Morning Kate," He said distractedly, setting his things on his desk. I walked over to him, and placed my hands behind his computers.
"Do you know her?" I asked, jerking my head back at the girl, still sitting at Tony's desk. Gibbs looked up, obviously confused.
"No, do you?" He replied.
I scoffed. "Of course not. I wouldn't've asked if I already knew." Gibbs stood up, and walked over to the girl. "She seems so familiar though..."
"What's your name?" He asked. No reply from the girl. "Hey!" Gibbs said louder, hitting the desk with his hand. The girl jumped about a foot into the air, and looked up at last. "What's your name?" Gibbs asked again.
"L- Elioriana," The girl replied, clearly scared. I walked till I was next to Gibbs, and crossed my arms. "But you can call me Leah. Or, my dad calls me Ellie, Brock and Jack call me Ana, and Kaylee calls me Lori, so really you can call me whatever you want." The girl finished, placing a piece of string in her book to mark her spot. She -Leah- sat her book in Tony's chair, and held a hand out to Gibbs.
"Got a last name, Leah?" Gibbs asked, in the most Gibbs-like voice.
"I-" She stuttered. "DiNi."
"I don't believe you." Gibbs insisted. But I was confused. This girl -Leah- had no reason to lie to us.
"I-" She stuttered again. "It's- it's DiNozzo,"
"Wait a moment," I insisted. Leah put her hand down after it was obvious that Gibbs wasn't going to shake it. "You're related to Tony?" I asked bewildered.
"Tony's my dad." Leah replied. Gibbs and I made eye contact, both of us looking confused. "I'm in trouble aren't I?" Leah asked. Even her voice gave me de-ja-vous
"Not that I'm aware of," Gibbs said, walking over to his desk.
"You're not going to investigate this further?" I asked, looking over at Gibbs.
"Not till DiNozzo gets here." Gibbs replied. Leah looked closely at me for a second, then her eyes lit up in understanding. She walked around Tony's desk,
"How are you Kate?" She asked.
"Alright, how are you?"
"Confused. But I've heard so much about you!" She exclaimed, before walking over to Gibbs' desk. "And you're Gibbs... right?" She asked. Gibbs looked up from his computer, and said 'yes' as if it was obvious.
"How do you know us?" I asked, knowing the answer.
"My dad's told me a lot about you. And judging by the fact that you didn't recognize me, you've never heard of Leah DiNozzo."
"No we haven't. Tony never told us about you." I agreed.
"This is a classic 2016 Captain America Civil War." Leah said, smiling at us.
"What?" Gibbs and I said together.
"This is a classic Civil War scenario. I know who you all are, but you've never heard of me before. It's simple. I'm Spider-Man, and you lot are Captain America's team. Or maybe I'm Ant Man and you lot are Stark's team." Leah said, her eyes lighting up.
"Wow, you really are Tony's kid." I said in exasperation. McGee came in just then, and looked at Leah totally confused.
"Lori DiNi?" McGee asked, stopping in his tracks. That's why I recognized her, this was Tony's sister.
Leah walked over to McGee, and held her hand out to him. "I'm Leah. And yes, I do assume Lori DiNi as an alias on NOK forms." McGee shook her hand, then walked over to his desk "And you're Timothy McGee! It's so good to finally *actually* meet you! I've wanted to officially meet you-" She looked over at Gibbs and I. "All- all of you, for so long!"
"What's Lori doing here?" McGee asked, making eye contact with me.
"I'm Leah. Leah... DiNozzo." Leah said again, smiling. Now that I looked at her, I could see the physical similarities between her and DiNozzo. Their hair was the same shade of reddish-brown. Their eyes were the exact same green, and the same shape. Their noses were different though, and if they stood side-by-side, they would probably be within 5 or so inches of each other's height.
"Tony's sister right?" McGee started.
"I'm actually his daughter," Leah corrected, to much confusion from McGee. Leah smiled, and I could see the corners of her eyes crinkle just like Tony's did when he smiled. McGee dropped the pen he had just picked up.
"Tony never said anything about a daughter," He said, looking at Gibbs for confirmation.
"Like I said, this is a classic Captain America Civil War." Leah said again, sitting down in Tony's chair once more. If McGee needed anymore confirmation, the movie reference was what solidified Leah's claim.
Thankfully, Tony walked in just then. Leah immediately stood up, and walked over to him. Leah stood on her toes, and whispered something into his ear. Tony shook his head, and put his arm around her shoulders.
"You remember how yesterday I said I would find the kid's girlfriend?" Tony asked. We nodded. "Well... just... come down to Abby's with me." Leah looked bewildered.
"Did something happen to Brock?" She whispered to Tony, but it was loud enough for us to hear.
"Abby needs us down in her lab," Tony said again. Tony led us into the elevator, and into Abby's lab.
"By the way McGee, I love your book. I've read it 3 times, and I love it. It's very good. I can't wait for the next one." Small DiNozzo said, looking back at McGee.
"Is that where my copy went?" Tony asked, making Leah chuckle.
"Maybe they're not related," I whispered to McGee.
"At least someone appreciates them. Thank you Leah." McGee said happily.
3rd person
The group walked through the automatic door, and were greeted by a very enthusiastic Abby. Abby rushed over to the group, and hugged all of the adults before looking Leah in the eyes.
"Little Tony!" She said happily. Leah nodded, and Abby pulled her into a bone-crushing hug.
"Abby!" 'Little Tony' said, obviously overjoyed.
"How did you know about her, when no one else did?" Kate asked, folding her arms.
"I've met her before," Abby replied happily.
"We're great friends," Lead reiterated.
"What did you got Abbs?" Gibbs asked.
"Okay, so you know how the two bodies had identical bullet wounds. In the back, right into the heart, with no exit wound?" Abby asked, leading them over to her computers. "So, I analyzed the bullets, and they came from different guns. The son's bullet was a .45 caliber, short range gun. But the dad's was from a 1978 revolver."
"Wait don't pull up the pict-" Tony started but it was too late. Abby put pictures of the guns up of the screens, next to pictures of the person who was killed by that bullet. Leah gasped when she saw them.
"No." She said defiantly, backing up as she spoke. "That's- no. He- he can't be." Gibbs jumped on this little piece of information.
"Do you recognize either of these people?" He asked the scared girl. Leah raised a shaking hand, and pointed to the picture on the right.
"That- that- that's Brock." She replied, her voice also shaking.
"Do you know him?" Gibbs asked.
"Is- is- is he dead?" Leah asked, ignoring the question. "No. No he- he- he can't be dead." Leah insisted, her voice going up an octave. Leah hid her face in her hands, and sat down on a stool. She was shaking her head too. "No, this is a trick." She insisted. "It has to be, this can't be real." Tears were sliding down her face now.
Tony was stood by the same corner, seeming to have predicted Leah's reaction to the news. As Leah collapsed, Tony caught her and sat them both down gently. He wrapped his arm around her, letting her tuck her head into his chest. McGee and Kate shared a look, never having seen Tony be so affectionate or emotionally understanding. But Gibbs understood.
Gibbs crouched down, trying to make eye contact with Leah. "Do you know him?" He asked. Leah nodded. "How do you know him?"
"Tony?" Gibbs asked, turning to him.
"Remember the list we found next to the bodies?" Tony asked. "Written on the paper was Majour, Majours son, Son's girlfriend, Girlfriend's father. Right? Well, Leah's the girlfriend, and you're looking at the girlfriend's father." McGee nodded, Kate loosened her grip on her arms, and Gibbs sat on Leah's other side.
Leah sat up. "You- what did you say dad? They're after you- and- and me?" She asked, voice breaking on the last word.
Tony's P.O.V.
I was terrified. Not for me, but because of the fact that people were after Ellie. I could tell by the way Ellie was making herself as small as possible, that she was absolutely petrified with fear. I had told her stories about the people we went after, and with hindsight... that was probably not a great idea.
I felt her sobs of fear, confusion, and sadness for Brock as her tears hit my exposed neck above my shirt. When she heard my talking to Gibbs I felt her body tense up. The pain in her eyes when she asked me if they were actually coming after us next made my heart skip a beat.
I couldn't lie to her, but I didn't want to scare her even more. I replied honestly. "Yes,"
"But- we'll be okay. Right?" She asked, standing up. At that moment, I had a flashback to when Ellie was around 6. It was in the middle of a thunderstorm, and a particularly powerful rumble of thunder had shaken our house. Ellie had run into my room, and jumped in my bed. She hid under my blankets, and curled up next to me.
"Of course we'll be okay," I insisted, also standing. I hugged her, and tried to reassure her the best I could. "Ti proteggerò." (I will protect you; Italian) I promised in a whisper into her hair so alike my own.
Ellie fell asleep -probably dehydrated, with a headache- 5 or so minutes later.
"We need to establish protection," Gibbs said once Ellie had fallen asleep. "I need a person on Leah at all times, and one on DiNozzo."
"Boss, I'm-" I started to argue, but Gibbs held up a hand, and cut me off.
"It's non-negotiable. McGee, you're on DiNozzo first. Kate, you get Leah." Gibbs decided.
"How am I going to be able to go to school?" Ellie asked, apparently not asleep.
"You're probably not going to be able to," Gibbs replied. Ellie stood up, and looked around at the people surrounding her.
"What do you mean I'm not going to be able to?"
"I mean," Gibbs said standing up too. "Until further notice, you're not goin' anywhere except here, and your home."
"Mr Gibbs please," Ellie pleaded, looking Gibbs straight in the eyes. "I've got a history test tomorrow, and a seating audition the day after that. Is there any way I cou-"
"Sorry," Gibbs insisted, leaving Abby's lab. "Great work Abbs."
"Come on Leah," Kate said happily, "Let's go back to your house."
"Could I at least pick up my school work for this next week?" She asked, as a last attempt.
"I'll go get your work okay?" Kate said. "You, are going to stay here with Abby. Could you write down all of your classes for me please?" Ellie nodded, and did so with a pen and Abby handed her.
Kate's P.O.V.
Leah handed me the paper -which she had written her school's address on too- and I took off.
I pulled up to her high school 13 minutes later, and parked. I glanced down at Leah's schedule for the first time. I walked off in search of her first class. I eventually found the AP biology classroom, and knocked on the door before entering. I closed the door behind me, and walked right up to the teachers desk -where the man was sitting.
"Hello," I said, placing Leah's schedule in my jeans pocket. "I need to collect some work for- my daughter." I decided.
"And may I ask what your daughter's name is?" The biology teacher was.
"Leah DiNi," I replied, crossing my arms. Tony had reminded me that at school her last name was recorded as 'DiNi' for security reasons.
"Why do you need the work?"
Would it be a problem if I shot this guy in the leg? I asked myself, before remembering I left my waist gun in the car. "Leah will not be attending school for the next week. Due to medical reasons." The biology teacher nodded, and went into his office. He came back, and handed me a folder full of 20 or so pieces of paper. "Thanks," I said, before quickly leaving.
Leah's English teacher was much more compatible. I walked into Leah's orchestra classroom, and my appearance stopped the music from playing. I walked over to the front of the room, and spoke to the orchestra conductor. It was the same deal, as with the biology teacher. This time however, there was nothing I was given this time. A girl with bushy black hair, who was playing... viola- followed me with her eyes as I left.
I was about halfway down the hall, when someone called my name... rather, they called 'Mrs DiNi'. I turned to see the girl with bushy black hair, walking up to me.
"Who are you?" She asked me.
"You just called me by my name. I'm Mrs DiNi." I replied. "You might know my daughter Leah."
"You are definitely not Lori's mother." The bushy haired girl said, crossing her arms.
"Of course I am," I contradicted. Could I shoot her too? I hate suspicious people.
"Lori's mother died right after she was born. You are not her mother. Who are you?" The bushy haired girl said defiantly.
"I'm Leah's mother." I said, then I immediately regretted it. If Tony ever heard about this, I would die. The bushy haired girl nodded suspiciously, then went back into the classroom. Photography, history, algebra, and creative writing. Just looking at her schedule, I couldn't see the relation between Leah and Tony. Leah was taking high level classes, and Tony was... well... Tony.
I got back to Abby's lab, where I found Abby showing Leah her mass spectrometer.
"I got your work Leah, let's go." I said, showing her the about 50 pieces of paper I had in my hand.
I nodded, said goodbye to Abby, and left with Leah. I drove to the DiNozzo's house, and Leah unlocked the front door.
Tony's P.O.V.
Kate just left to go get Ellie's school work, when I wrapped an arm around my Ellie's shaking shoulders. "Hey squirt, you okay?"
"Do I look okay?" She asked, her voice and breath shaking.
"It's alright squirt. But we need you to answer a few questions. Is that okay?" She nodded, and started fidgeting with her necklace. I led her to an interrogation room. "Just wait for Gibbs alright?" I insisted, motioning to a chair facing a 1-way mirror. She nodded, and sat down.
I closed the door behind me, leaving my sweet Ellie in the interrogation room. Gibbs was down the hall. "Boss," I called, walking over to him. "My Ellie is going to tell you anything you want to know. She doesn't lie, and she wants to help. So don't push her, and don't yell at her. Don't go full on 'Gibbs' with her. One more thing. If she starts pacing, don't tell her to sit back down. That's how she sorts through her thoughts okay?"
"Okay," He agreed easily. He went into the room my Ellie was in, and I went into the observation room.
Ellie's P.O.V.
Gibbs walked in, and I looked over at him. "You want to sit?" He asked motioning to the chair facing the mirror again. That's the second person to tell me to sit in that chair. I nodded a few times, and sat in the chair. I crossed my legs, and started bouncing the one on top.
"So, Leah, how long have you known him?" He asked, pulling out the picture from Abby's lab.
"Known him, or dated him?" I asked, wringing my hands together.
"Leah, calm down. You're not in trouble. I've just got some questions for you." I nodded, closed my eyes and inhaled deeply before exhaling sharply. I opened my eyes again, and shook my head a few times. I nodded. "So, how long have you known him?"
"We went to Kindergarten together. We were... 4." I replied honestly.
"How long have you two been together?"
"Since the summer before freshman year. It'll be 2 years July 20th."
"When was the last time you saw him?"
"So, on Friday we made copies of papers together. We T.A. during the same period, and made copies together on Friday. After that we... didn't see each other again because I had knitting club, and Brock had to go and pick up his brother."
"Brother? We have no record of a brother."
"They were best friends for years, and when Jack's parents passed, Brocks parents adopted him." I said, quickly.
"What's the brother's name?" Gibbs asked, seeming unperturbed by my fast talking.
"Jack Kreezy. K-r-e-e-z-y." I replied. "Could I- pace? Please?" I asked, needing to move around.
"Feel free." He agreed easily. I stood up, and paced back and forth in front of Gibbs.
"Now that you mention it, Jack texted me right after knitting club ended -which was an hour after Brock left- saying that Brock never showed up. I texted Brock, and he said he just got caught up with teachers after school, and was just running late. So I told Jack that, and he didn't reply. We haven't talked since. But when did you say Brock and his dad got-"
"Saturday," Gibbs replied. That was 2 days ago.
"That's impossible, I talked to Brock last night. It was just a text conversation, but a conversation nonetheless."
"Did anything sound weird, or off?"
I thought for less than a second before replying. "Yeah," I agreed. "He kept calling me Leah."
"But that's your name."
"I know that, but he never calls me Leah. It's always Anna."
Gibbs nodded. "Did you know his father?" He asked, putting a picture of Brock's dad next to Brock's.
"Not really. I had talked to him a few times, but the only thing I actually knew about him was that he was a Navy commander."
"Okay," Gibbs said, gathering his papers and standing up. "When Todd get's back I want you to go home. You too Tony." And he left. I didn't leave. Dad came in a less than a second after he realized I wasn't going to leave.
"Ellie, do you want a-" He asked, but I cut him off. I ran at him, and hugged him tightly. I buried my face into his shoulder, and tried to keep myself from crying. I inhaled sharply and shakily. Dad rubbed circles on my back. "Being interrogated is hard. Especially when it's this personal." he insisted.
I broke the hug, and took a step back. "Sorry" I whispered, pressing the heels of my hands into my eyes, then using the pressure to wipe my eyes. "Sorry," I whispered again, taking a deep breath.
I moved to leave, but dad closed the door, and stepped in front of it. "Ellie, don't apologize. You're having an incredibly hard time right now, it-"
"No, I'm okay." I insisted, wiping my eyes again. I swallowed, and made to leave again.
He didn't say anything this time. Just half-smiled at me, and led the way back down to Abby's with an arm around my shoulders. He knew I wouldn't admit it, so he'd resigned. I didn't know how he was holding himself together in the midst of taking care of me. Brock's dad was his best friend too...
Kate's P.O.V.
It was a one story house, and Leah gave me a 'tour'. She motioned to a door next to a television, mounted above a mantle. "That's dad's room, that's the dining room," She said, pointing to the table in front of us. "Kitchen, and laundry room," She pointed to the right. "Then back this way," We went back into the room with the couch, and down a hall to the left. "That's dad's office, my bathroom, and my bedroom." She finished, motioning to the three rooms attached to the hallway from left to right.
Leah walked into her room. It wasn't large as rooms go, but it was decently sized. All of the walls were light yellow, except for the one directly across from us, which was very light grey. Starting with the wall to the left of us, there were two large sliding doors, painted white. The wall to the right of this one, held a floor length mirror, and a wooden desk. A square bed resided in the corner of this wall, and the one to its right. A window lived at the foot of the bed, with a seat attached to it.
An assortment of 4 bookshelves full of books, and a yellow bean bag chair were next to the window. A white board, and a large cork board were on the next wall. A large, wall length wooden shelf was above these boards. On this shelf, were a bunch of pictures. And in front of the boards, was a chair with a cello laying next to it.
Leah sat the stack of school work on her desk, her book on her bed, and her phone on the shelf above the boards.
"Do you play this?" I asked, pointing to the cello. Leah looked over at what I was pointing at and nodded vigorously.
"I do!" She exclaimed. Joining me by the cello. "I'm definitely not the best in the chamber class, but I think I'm okay at it."
"Will you play me something?"
"Sure," She agreed easily. She picked up her cello, plucked the strings for a second, then played a classical song I didn't know the name of. I took the time that she was playing to read the large words printed on the wall next to the double sliding doors.
Your Hero Fly's.
Mine Limps.
Song lyrics covered the sliding closet doors.
Leah switched songs, to what I assumed went with the lyrics painted on her closet. "You're pretty good," I insisted, looking up at the pictures on the shelf. Leah shrugged, and stood up again. She placed her cello down again, and joined me looking at the pictures. "You want to describe the pictures to me?" I asked.
Leah nodded, and started at the far left end, describing what was going on in the pictures, and going down the line to the right. "This is my dad, and my mum on their wedding day. This is my mum when she found out she was pregnant. My dad with me as a newborn. Teenage mum. Toddler me. Teenage me. My first day of preschool. My first day of kindergarten. Dad and I when I graduated elementary school. My first day of middle school. Last day of middle school.
"This is 3 year old me in an oversized NCIS t-shirt- Abby's first picture of me" Leah giggled, at the memory of the circumstance. "This one is a picture of my first orchestra concert. Goodness, that evening was a nightmare. Me when I started high school. This is one of me and Brock on our first date. A picture of Brock and I embracing. And this final one, was the only picture I have of the two of us kissing. Gosh I'm going to miss him.
"Kate, what am I going to do?" She asked, taking the last picture off of the shelf. "I'm going to miss him... so much."
Night fell, and McGee came over, and took my place. Gibbs was watching Tony now, so I was able to go home, and get some sleep.
McGee's P.O.V.
I knocked on the frame of the open door, and was met by a semi-cheerful 'come in!' from Leah. I walked in, and saw Leah sitting on her bed, reading a book. Leah looked up from her book, and asked me a question before I was all the way into the room.
"What would you prefer I call you?"
"McGee, Tim, I'm not picky." I replied, pulling her desk chair out.
"Right then, Tim, you're welcome to use my computer, I can tell you the password if you like. Or, you're welcome to any of the books on my shelves, or whatever you like." She said brightly. I ended up reading a story Leah was writing. It was a document on her computer.
To be honest, it was pretty good. I finished the 12 written chapters around 1 in the morning.
"Tim?" Leah's voice asked from my right. My head snapped over to where Leah was lying flat on her back, obviously wide awake.
"Leah? I thought you were asleep, what is it?" I asked, walking over, and sitting on the edge of Leah's bed.
"I'm too old to play this card, but I can't sleep."
"Why not?" I asked, regretting it almost immediately after. Leah didn't reply, only chewed her bottom lip. "You can tell me," I insisted, placing a hand on top of hers.
"I- I- to be honest... I'm scared Tim." She admitted in a small voice. "I don't know what's going to happen. I just get the feeling that any second now, some idiot is going to come bursting through my window, holding a gun, and-" But I cut her off. Leah's eyes had welled up with tears the second she had started talking.
"Hey, nothing is going to happen. I promise. You've got me here, in the room with you. Gibbs is right down the hall, and Tony's right there with him. Nothing is going to happen to you. Okay?"
But Leah didn't seem convinced. "How can you be sure?" Leah ran her fingers through her hair. Soothing teenagers was very different than little kids, so I tried to channel my inner Sarah (his little sister) as I did my best. "I mean, they already got Brock. They- they- they really got him. I'm really never going to see him again. How the hec-" I cut her off again, this time with a hug. I sat down on the bed, next to her, and hugged her tightly.
"I promise that nothings going to happen." I insisted again.
Gibbs poked his head into the room, and saw Leah crying. He came back, with Tony right in front of him, less than 10 seconds later. Tony took Leah from me, and I sunk into the yellow bean bag chair in front of the bookcases.
There's gonna be a part 3.
(HAHAHHAHHA! 4704 WORDS! Yes!)
-Eliza
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