It Happened: NCIS

Chapter 38

Tony's POV:

"Melissa?" I call while knocking on her office door.

This is one of the reasons I didn't like the plan. It's because Melissa wants nothing to do with this but has to see them every day because they'll be staying here like they did last time. No one thought that she would try to put the pieces together and assume that we caught them. She's smarter than that and knew if we didn't catch them what them being here meant.

There's still no answer. "Come on. I know you don't have an appointment. You told me earlier you had your schedule free."

I say that and the door swings open, and there's no smile in sight. "I made an appointment with myself." She says and walks towards the couch.

I close the door behind me, thankful that she let me in. "I know this is a lot to take in." I tell her as I make my way to her.

"I don't want to take any of it in. I don't want to hear about this."

She buries her face in her arms and crouches over her legs. "I know. I know." I put my arms around her and bring her close to me as much as she'll let me.

I let her head rest in my lap and rub her back. None of this is easy. She got her childhood friend back and just found out he got married. It's obvious to why she doesn't like this plan. You would have to be a fool not to understand why.

"I don't want anyone to get hurt again."

"I know." I continue to rub her back. "I have to be honest Melissa. I don't know what to say without telling you something that you don't want to hear."

I hear her sniffle. "I know." She finally picks herself up to look at me. I see the redness in her eyes and tip of her nose. "That's why you're amazing."

She wraps her arms around me, and I bring her into me. I kiss her on the cheek and feel her shoulders fall as she hugs me. I wish I were actually amazing as she thinks I am.

"Does this mean it's going to be over soon?"

For me, sadly it does. "Hopefully." I tell her.

She takes herself out of my hug and looks at me. "Can you tell me one thing though?"

"Anything."

"Tell me that you'll be careful."

I see that saying those words makes her give herself the chills. I rub my thumb against her face and look into her eyes. I see that she's still hurting and seeing them didn't help her. It took her back and she wasn't ready for that.

"I'll be careful." I tell her. I always am, but this is something she needed to hear. I don't plan on leaving her the way someone else did in her mind.

She brings her lips to mine and I continue to hold her face. I know I can't kiss her long with everything going on.

There's a knock at the door that interrupts us.

I sigh as I let her lips go. "That was nice while it lasted."

"When you think about it, we had all morning." She smiles again teasing me about earlier.

I kiss her once more before she lets whoever is at the door in. I don't want to let her go because this means that it's ending soon. I'm not ready for that. I don't think I ever will be, but it's going to happen one way or another.

"Come in!" She shouts and we make ourselves more presentable on the couch.

The door opens and Abby, Ziva, and Adam walk through the door. "Hey." Adam is as laid back as I remember him. He was in our protection from Juice, and it was like he had no care in the world.

"Melissa, I heard the good news. Congratulations on the office."

It's weird to hear him say that. She's been in here for months that it feels like she's been in here ever since she started working here. It's the new normal.

He roams around looking at the tea and coffee in here. He always did wander around the building, but Sean was usually with him. He has Ziva and I promise you I don't think he minds.

He comes over to us and stands right in front of her. "Hey, so Abby and Ziva here were just catching me up on everything and I'm sorry for your loss. Those guys are brutal. I remember Tim and he tried really hard to get those guys for us. I'm sick I missed your wedding too."

I look at Melissa and luckily, she's smiling. "Thank you, Adam. I wish you could have been there."

"Yeah, but hey I went to Sean's wedding and let me tell you, you all would have laughed. It was kind of a joke, but you didn't hear that from me."

We all laugh including Melissa. It's nice to see her not resent Sean for still having his wife in his life. I love seeing her smile and laugh. I hate to remember that there was a time when she wasn't.

"Where is Sean?" She asks.

Ziva chimes in. "He's saying goodbye to Amanda. Until this is over there will be no communication between them, but she'll be in the area for as long as we need her to be."

Because if she goes home, she can put everything at risk.

Adam speaks up again. "There are other things I can say, but I've been told you don't want to know much about this case, so I'll switch the subject over to the idea that Abby had about having a movie night like our last here. Are you guys in?"

I speak up because as much as I would love to be here for that and right now, I can't be. I have to be someone else's company right now. "I can't. I actually have to get going."

"I'll be there." She says.

"Great!"

"Melissa, can you be in charge of snacks? By in charge I mean just taking them from the vending machine?" Abby asks her.

"Sure." She laughs.

"Do you remember the trick I taught you?" I ask her. That way she doesn't have to waste a single dollar.

"I do."

I lean to kiss her on the cheek. "Bye."

"Bye." She says sweetly.

Before I walk out of the room, I turn back to Adam who makes a face at me. "By the way, what was your name while you were in Wyoming?"

His confusion turns into a frown and he rolls his eyes. "Jerry."

"Huh." I say.

"Jerry's not a bad name." Ziva tries to comfort him.

"Yes, it is." Adam and I say simultaneously. He gives me a hurt look and that's when I make it my business to really leave this time.

As I walk out, I see Gibbs in the hall. He makes eye contact with me and I can tell he's wondering why I'm still here.

"I'm going. I'm going." I say making my way down the stairs.

I really am rushing. I don't know why Gibbs left him there alone instead of waiting for me to come to them. If he wanted to be here when Sean and Adam got here, he could have called and told me to head over there.

He usually is better than that.

This makes me wonder if it was the right decision bringing these guys back.