Three hours later, Gibbs sat at the table of a man he didn’t know and ate that man’s food. It was long since he had felt weird in any way.
„Lenny, we need to get away from here.“
The argument heated up again as Tony and Lenny returned from somewhere else in the house.
„You know I can’t fly you out of the country without them knowing. They’re watching me.“
Tony rubbed his hand over his face.
„Florida? That you’ll manage, won’t you?“
Lenny gave him a look.
„Hey, you owe me! You forgot about two years ago? You wouldn’t be flying anywhere without me!“
„Yeah, and it gave me a whole lot of trouble. They were watching me all the time. If I come too close to the Mexican border, they’re waiting for me! As if one could run away from you guys. You know that as well as me. Why are you trying to anyway?“
Tony shook his head and sighed.
„Cause I have to. Because I have a mission and I won’t screw that one up. And if it means that I have to run away from my own people, so be it. Florida, Lenny. That’s all I’m asking from you.“
Lenny gave something between a grunt and a sigh, and went back out of the room. Tony sat at the table and rubbed over his face.
„It’s the only way to get us there. Driving’s too dangerous. There are too big distances in which we can’t change the car.“
„But if they’re watching Lenny they could simply shoot us up when we’re in the air.“
Tony gave him a long measuring look, but then shook his head.
„Whoever I killed in your house wanted you alive, so the Agency wants you alive as well. I guess it’s more important to them to get you than to kill me.“
Gibbs nodded slowly.
„You really have no idea why...why you protected me?“
Tony shook his head with a slightly raised eyebrow.
„I got an order and I followed it.“
„Yeah, and that’s why you don’t know what to do now.“
Tony frowned at him.
„You always followed orders and for the first time there is no one giving you orders and you have to make up a plan totally on your own. And that you never learned to do.“
Gibbs expected Tony to say something against his statement, but the critism went past Tony unnoticed.
„I guess you’re right. There are too many variables. I don’t know what the people want who tried to abduct you. Neither do I know what the Agency has planned to stop me. I don’t know if they still think of me as useful or just dangerous. I tend to the latter, though.“
Tony sighed slightly and stood up.
„Are you afraid?“
The younger man raised an eyebrow incomprehensively.
„Why should I be afraid?“
„We could die.“
Tony made a sound which Gibbs couldn’t quite place. It sounded as if Tony hadn’t thought about the possibility, but Gibbs thought that Tony probably hadn’t considered it as something to be feared.
„I’m not afraid of death...“
„Not even of mine?“
Gibbs stood up now.
„I won’t screw up this mission.“
„I’m not talking about the mission, Tony. Are you worried about me, or just the protection detail?“
Tony opened his mouth, but closed it again.
„I don’t know.“
Before Gibbs could say anything Lenny returned. He grunted again, nodding to the door.
The flight in the tiny plane was spent in silence. Gibbs didn’t want to risk a fight with Tony, at least not in front of Lenny. Once they were back on the ground, Lenny left the airport quickly again, and Tony didn’t linger long either.
„What do we do now?“
„Stanley...you don’t have a problem with uncomfortable flights, do you?“
Gibbs raised his eyebrow.
„Canvas seats?“
„Nope...“
Author's Chapter Notes:
They go to meet an old friend of Tony who owes him.
Chapter End Notes:
From this point on, it's betaed by the lovely 80girly. Thanks so much!!