𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐕𝐄 ━━ 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐳𝐳𝐨

THIRTY THREE | kind of dead

I walk towards the squad room, shuffling through some things in my purse. Suddenly, a pair of arms wrap around my waist from behind.

Of course, without knowing who my captor was, I grab their right hand and flip them onto their stomach, pinning them with their own arm. And then I realize it's just Tony.

"I see you've been. . .practicing." He grunts out in pain.

A sigh escapes my lips as I help him back up. "Damn it, Tony. You know better than to sneak up on me like that."

"Next time, I'll think twice." He leans forward to peck me on the lips. "Morning, sweetheart."

"Well, I guess you two finally got together."

Standing beside the monitor is Agent Paula Cassidy, one of our many acquaintances from prior cases.

And a close friend as of now.

"Nice to see you again, Paula." I greet her with a kind hug, which she instantly returns.

"I'd ask why Tony, but you make him somewhat tolerable."

The two of us laugh, and Tony joins in sarcastically. McGee stops by carrying in a tray of beverages, one of which is iced specifically for me.

I pluck the first one, gently sipping the cold yet refreshing liquid. "So, what were you guys doing before I came?"

"Kyle Boone." Paula nods towards the monitor near Gibbs' desk.

It displays a mugshot of the psychotic serial killer from the 1990s. I was only nine when the first victim was killed.

"That man ruined my childhood." Memories of the years fill my head. "He was only going after college-aged girls at the time, but the parents in my neighborhood banned any and all outdoor activities for months."

Tony stands behind me, but I can feel his tense stature. "Were you upset that boys wouldn't pull on your pigtails in elementary school?"

"You're the one to talk, Tony. After all, you're dating moi." I flash him a smirk.

"No regrets there." He settles down in his chair, accepting the warmth of his fresh coffee. "Paula's gonna be using your desk, by the way."

"And I'm fine with that." I nod my head. "But where am I supposed to sit?"

All he does is chuckle before pulling me towards him right into his lap. "Why, you get to sit in the best seat: my lap."

Moments later, Gibbs storms down the stairs from MTAC, clearly upset about something or someone. This prompts him to pick up Cassidy's bag and toss it to the vacant desk in the corner.

"Good discussion, DiNozzo."

"Right back at you, Giudice."

The four of us congregate around Paula's temporary desk as Gibbs walks around his desk. He cocks his pistol, preparing to leave.

"Where you going, boss?" Tony calls out to him.

Gibbs yells back. "Sussex State Prison, interview Kyle Boone. Be gone the rest of the day." And he's gone.

"I would love to meet whoever convinced Gibbs to do the interview."

Hours later, Gibbs still hasn't returned from the interview, leaving the four of us with nothing to do.

So we end up ordering takeout.

"Where is he, Timothy?" Ducky comes charging into the bullpen. "Where is Gibbs, damn it?"