Protecting Gibbs

Chapter 60

harity woke up bright and early the next day. She got herself and AJ ready. Then she packed AJ's diaper bag for the day, adding a few extra things since he would be with Tony at NCIS. She then fixed breakfast and had it ready for when the guys woke up.

The family all headed out to their cars after they had finished breakfast. Charity put AJ in his car seat in the back of Tony's car. She showered him in kisses. Then she climbed out of the back seat and turned to Tony. He pulled her into his arms and gave her a reassuring sqeeze. Then he kissed the top of her head. "I'm sure Memaw will be just fine." He told her. "She's a tough old woman."

Charity smiled. "I know. Thank you." She said.

"Any time." Then he pulled her in for a kiss. "I will see you tonight. I love you."

"I love you, too." She said, a small smile on her face.

Then Charity hopped in her car and headed for work. Tony and Gibbs hopped in Tony's car and headed to the navy yard. Once they arrived, Tony got AJ out of his car, still in his carseat and Gibbs grabbed the diaper bag. They headed inside. They stepped off the elevator and both headed to Tony's desk.

Gibbs sat the diaper bag down and then walked over to his desk. Tony plopped down in his chair, after gently putting the carseat down on the floor. He then leaned over and started to undo that buckles and straps of the car seat. "Alright buddy, let's get you out of there." He said.

Ziva and McGee both walked in and sat down at their desks. They looked over at Tony who was holding AJ. They each had a confused and questioning look on their faces. "Doesn't Charity usually take AJ to work with her?" McGee inquired.

Tony looked over at Tim. "Yes, but Memaw is sick and we really don't want AJ exposed to whatever she has, McGoo." Tony answered.

"What are you going to do if we have to go out in the field?" McGee asked.

"Take him down to Abby." Tony answered. "I'm sure she'd be thrilled to watch him."

Just then, the phone at Gibbs' desk rang. Gibbs answered it. When the conversation was over, Gibbs stood up without a word and headed to the director's office. He was in the office for quite a while.

While Gibbs was with the director, Abby came bouncing off the elevator. "Okay, I'm here to get AJ." She said walking over to Tony.

"Huh?" Tony inquired, looking confused. "But..."

Just then Gibbs came up behind Tony. "I called her from Vance's office. We have a case to go and work on." Gibbs told him.

"Okay boss." Tony said. He stood up, gave AJ a quick kiss on the forehead, and then handed him to Abby.

"Be safe you guys." Abby said, as the team all grabbed their gear and headed to the elevator. She picked up AJ's little hand and waved it for him.

The team soon arrived at the crime scene. A Lt. Colonel was found dead in a storage unit. "It appears that our cause of death is a single gunshot wound to the head." Duckie said, as he examined the body. "I'll know for sure when I get him on the table."

"Do we have a TOD, Duckie?" Gibbs inquired.

"Judging from his liver temperature, I would say about three hours ago."

Gibbs turned to his team and gave them their orders. He had Ziva and McGee processing the scene inside the unit. He ordered Tony to go outside and figure look for any evidence of the murderer.

Tony searched outside the units. He found a few ciggarett butts and some empty gum wrappers. He bagged and tagged them. Then he looked and noticed that there was a trail of empty gum wrappers, leading away from the unit. He started to follow the trail and as he followed he became suspicious. He reached for his gun as he came up behind a man, dressed all in black.

The man turned around at the sound of Tony's approach. He had a gun in his hand. "Drop your weapon." Tony ordered, pointing his own gun at the man.

"I've been waiting a long time for this moment." The man said, in a voice that was all too familiar to Tony.

Gibbs stood inside the storage locker, collecting evidence from the crime. Ziva snapped pictures around him and McGee was working on searching for the bullet. Just then they heard BANG! BANG! BANG! The sound of gunshots.

Charity...

Charity helped Memaw to her chair in her sunroom. They had just returned from the doctor's office and Charity was relieved that it was just a simple virus that had Memaw down. However, she still couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen. "You are such a dear to me." Memaw said.

Charity smiled at the old woman. "That's just because I love you." She replied, honestly. "I was so worried about you."

Memaw smiled. "And that's how I know you love me and dumplin, I love you, too."

Charity smiled. "I'm just glad that you'll soon be over this virus."

"You and me both dumplin."

The two women shared a laugh. Just then, Charity's cell phone rang. She looked at the number and saw that it was her father. "I had better take this. It could be something to do with AJ."

"You go right ahead dumplin. Take care of your family."

Charity smiled and gave Memaw a quick kiss on the cheek. She hit the accept button. "Hey Daddy, what's going on?"

"Baby girl, you'll want to set down for this." came her father's voice.

"Why? Is AJ okay?" She asked.

"AJ's fine. He's with Abby."

"Then what's wrong?" She inquired, worry and dread coating her voice.

"It's Tony. He's been shot."