Special Agent Punishment

Chapter Ten

Gibbs was waiting for the duo to get back into the bullpen for interrogation. He was happy for them. They finally got their heads out of their asses and saw what was right in front of them. They made their way to their desks and were filing in their paperwork from the case.

"He confess?" They both nodded.

"Tiddman hired Crishner to kill Sanders. Didn't want there to be any witnesses, so he decided to try and off me too."

"Motive?"

"Revenge. 15 years ago Tiddman tried to enlist in the Marine Corps. Sanders was the man that turned him down. Found the paper when I was going through Tiddman's files." Ziva pitched in. Glad that the case was over.

"Go down to Ducky, DiNozzo. Let him check your blood." Tony looked terrified. Last time he went down there, he almost killed Ducky. Gibbs saw his hesitance, but he trusted him.

"Go." Was all he said before returning to his paperwork. He had a date with a boat and bourbon waiting for him when he got home. Tony reluctantly nodded, looking towards Ziva, who nodded his way. As if saying,

'You are fine. You got this.' He nodded again and made his way to the elevator, heading down to Autopsy. He went through the doors and so Ducky already prepared to draw his blood. Ducky could see that he was terrified to step foot in the room and beckoned him over to the table.

Tony moved over and sat on the autopsy table, rolled up his right sleeve, and let Ducky take his blood. Tony closed his eyes. He didn't want to hurt anybody anymore. Especially not family. Jimmy came in and saw that Ducky was taking his blood and walked over. He took the blood container and went to Abby. Tony opened his eyes and saw Ducky standing there smiling.

"All done, Anthony." He went and put his materials away in his storage room and came back to see Tony still sitting in the same spot. He was looking down at the ground, finding it more interesting than what was really going on around him.

"Are you alright, Anthony?"

"I hurt you, Ducky. I never intended.."

"You could not control it, my boy. It is not your fault." Ducky put his hand on Tony's shoulder.

"Don't worry about it anymore." Tony nodded. Not ready to let go of it just yet.

"You should probably go up to see Abigail." Tony nodded and got off the table and went to the elevator. Halfway up, Tony hit the emergency switch. He turned with his back to the wall and slid down till he hit the floor. He pulled out his phone, went to text, and smiled when he pressed on Ziva's name.

Tony: It worked this time.

He got a reply almost immediately.

Ziva: That's good. How are you now that this is over?

Tony: Feel like I'm ready to take you on a date.

Ziva: Is that so?

Tony: ;)

Ziva: I am headed down to Abby's lab, but this stupid elevator isn't working.

Tony smiled, looking around at the elevator walls and let out a chuckle.

Tony: Damn that elevator.

Ziva: I love you, Tony. Always.

He flashed back to when he was in the hospital asking if she would come back. She said the same thing.

'Always.' He thought how much he really did love this woman. If he could he would ask her to marry him right here and now. They weren't ready for that though. He thought about the date that he had planned. He was going to take her out to the best Italian restaurant in town. Then he would take her back to his place and watch a movie. If things wanted to go beyond that, he was completely fine with that. But if they didn't, he was completely fine with that. He would wait forever for her.