Chapter Text
Set three months after ‘Big News’ (two years and five months after they met).
Tony leaned his head back and sighed in boredom as he listened to his third straight hour of the recordings that had been taken using the listening device he had slipped into SecNav Davenport’s pocket the previous week during his and Ziva’s attempt to break into the secure Navy facility the week before.
“Where to, sir?”
“Home. My niece Erica is in town and I promised Janet that I would be home for dinner.”
“Yes, sir.”
Davenport’s voice was becoming increasingly grating – the man never seemed to shut up! Tony unplugged his laptop and carried it into the kitchen to make some tea. JJ was in New Mexico on a case, so Tony had decided to spend the evening working – if he got it done now, he would be able to spend more time with JJ when her case was over.
“This is Secretary Davenport…I’m on my way home now, dear…”
The last month had been a hard one for both of them. Tony’s team had uncovered Michelle Lee as the mole at NCIS and Gibbs had been insufferable in his grief at having killed her, while JJ’s team was still dealing with the after effects of Agent Hotchner being held by the Reaper. It didn’t help that JJ was now eight months pregnant.
“Damn, cyclists.”
“Sorry, sir, I’ll have to take a detour.”
“Don’t make it a long one. Or, on second thought, make it at least fifteen minutes. I have some work I need to do.”
Tony sighed as he made himself a pot of tea and then dug around in the freezer for some cheesecake. They had bought it a few weeks ago when JJ had been having a craving, but she’d only managed to eat one slice before deciding that she didn’t like it.
“Is it done?...And there were no problems?...Good, good. I look forward to receiving the full report tonight.”
Tony considered trying to balance his laptop, teapot and cheesecake all in one load, before deciding to make two trips. The last thing he wanted was to have to scrub cheesecake out of the carpet. Once he was settled back in his office chair, he poured himself a cup of tea.
“Yes, I just heard from Peters…It was a success…Sleiman is out of the picture.”
Tony stiffened and leaned forward intently, but Davenport’s phone call seemed to be over and he started commented on the traffic again. Tony pulled his laptop closer and replayed the last few minutes of recording, was this it? He had no idea who Sleiman was, but if he was dead, or even missing, then this might be the information they needed to prove that SecNav had been using Project Lazarus to order unsanctioned assassinations.
Tony’s tea and cheesecake lay forgotten as he listened intently to the rest of the recording. The possibility of having found the evidence he needed was enough to make even Davenport’s dinner conversation with his wife and niece interesting. After dinner, Davenport excused himself and Tony waited hopefully. The earlier mention of Sleiman, whoever that was, would hopefully be enough, but Tony was hoping for something more. There was the sound of a door opening and closing, then car driving past and a dog barking and Tony presumed that the man had gone for a walk.
A few minutes later, Davenport spoke again. “What happened?”
“He caught up with Sleiman in LA.” A man’s voice answered. “There were no problems.”
“And the body?” Davenport asked.
“Was left in an alley, missing his wallet.”
“The police will suspect a mugging then.” Davenport’s tone was approving. “Good.”
Tony stared at the laptop, his hands shaking in anticipation. This was it! This was what he had been looking for. This was his key to being released from his undercover assignment – and four whole months early. If everything went well, he might even be free by the time JJ gave birth to Twinkletoes.
He stood up and quickly unlocked the safe that he kept under his desk, retrieving a brand new cell phone from it. Then he sat down again and turned it on. It was excruciating to have to wait for the phone to boot up. When the phone was finally functional he used a voucher he had bought months ago to put credit on the phone and then sent General Pike a message.
‘10387 – meet you soon?’
Pike replied within a minute, with an order to meet him ‘at the blue room, at twenty three hundred hours’.
Tony carefully copied the relevant sections of the recording onto an USB, before adding it to a large envelope from his safe. Then, after texting JJ to let her know that he was going out, he got into his car and made his way to the safe house that Pike had referred to in his text.
The lights were already on by the time Tony arrived at the house and he knocked cautiously at the door.
“Sir.” The door was opened by a young petty officer.
“Petty officer.” Tony nodded in greeting as he stepped into the house. “Where is the General?”
“Through here, sir.” The petty officer led him through a door and into a room where General Pike was sitting at a table.
“You’re late.” General Pike commented.
Tony saluted the man. “Sorry, sir.”
“At ease, Colonel.” Pike waved a hand towards the petty officer. “Reynolds, go wait in the hall.”
“Yes, sir!” Petty Officer Reynolds nodded briskly and left, shutting the door behind him.
“What did you find?” Pike asked, waving Tony towards a seat.
Tony sat down and pulled his laptop out of his bag. “A voice recording, sir.”
Pike’s eyebrows rose. “Will it be enough?”
“I think so, sir.” Tony pulled up the recording and pressed play.
Pike listened to it with a blank expression, nodding to Tony when it finished. “Who is Sleiman?”
“I don’t know, sir.” Tony admitted. “We need to get our hands on the body.”
Pike frowned in thought. “Are you still certain that Leon Vance is honest?”
“He’s more of a politician than an agent, sir.” Tony answered. “But there is no evidence of any corrupt or criminal behaviours.”
“I will speak to the Secretary of Defence in the morning.” Pike told him. “And recommend to him that we read Vance into the situation. We need his resources.”
“Yes, sir.” Tony nodded.
Pike stood up and Tony quickly followed him. “This is good work, Colonel.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Do you have copies of all the relevant information?” Pike asked.
“Yes, sir.” Tony picked up his bag and pulled out the envelope containing the USB and papers. He handed them to the General.
“I’ll see that the Secretary of Defence gets this.” Pike promised him. “Go home and get some sleep, Colonel. Tomorrow is likely to be a big day.”
“Yes, sir.”
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