Part 2 Silver
Tony and Gibbs spent most of the day with Tony explaining Gibbs about everything he knew.
"So...I could see those auras as well?“ Gibbs wanted to know.
"Technically, yeah. But it’s quite difficult to learn and...well, with time it gets more difficult, if you know what I mean?“
"You mean I’m too old to learn?“
Tony nodded. "When you’re young, it’s possible, I mean, it’s still possible...but...quite unprobable that you’ll really learn. Maybe you could see a slight glimmer when you’re concentrating really hard and shutting everything out. But apart from the fact that everyone would notice it wouldn’t be much help. To interpret auras is just as difficult and that’s something I can’t explain to you. It’s like a gut feeling. It comes with experience.“
Gibbs leaned back in the couch. "When did you learn?“
Tony sighed and tried to remember. "As soon as I could talk, I think...I don’t really know...Metatron told my Nonna to teach me everything and she started as soon as possible, I think.“
"Your grandmother taught you? So, your parents couldn’t see auras either?“
Tony shook his head. "Nonna said my father had other things on his mind. He was too distracted...she tried to teach him as a kid, but when he grew older, he forgot how to use it, and I think he forgot all about it. Religion had stuck...but spirituality didn’t. He thinks of it as witchcraft, and therefore a sin.“ A pained expression crossed his face.
"Is that why you haven’t had such a good relationship?“
"Among other things, he was religious...I had faith. You’d be surprised what a big difference that is.“
"Talking about sins, isn’t homosexuality one?“
Tony grinned at that. "That’s what I asked soon after I met you...no, it isn’t. Metatron said that there are quite a few mistakes in the bible. It’s because the muses could only inspire people but couldn’t do anything against what they actually wrote. Rufus, for example. He’s trying to convince everyone that Jesus was black. I believe him, though I don’t know what difference it would make. Metatron actually pushed me onto you.“
"He did?“
"Well....I fell in love with you without his help...your aura is really beautiful.“
"It’s blue, right? What does blue mean?“ Gibbs asked.
"You mean what does your blue mean, and above all it means loyalty.“
"So, it does have other meanings?“
Tony sighed and shifted on the couch, trying to find a comfortable position. "A pure aura has one major trait. Yours is loyalty. Of course there are other traits in your soul, but they all go back to it. For example trust, reliability and pride are really strong in you. And then there are the things which developed. Courage, silence...desire.“
Gibbs swallowed at that. "And...what’s your aura?“
"Mine is green. Mainly it stands for hope," Tony paused, "I can’t really interpret my own aura...“
Gibbs nodded. "What about the others? They have pure souls, too, right?“
"Yeah. McGee’s soul is white â€" truth. Abby’s yellow, which means optimism. Ducky’s brown, which is soundness and Ziva’s silver, that’s security. I couldn’t help but notice that these are traits I’ll really need to fight the evil.“ Tony grinned slightly and Gibbs smirked, but then he looked down.
"You said you know what I feel for you...?“
Tony sighed. "Well, I told you about atmospheres. Whereas the atmosphere in the team is golden, which stands for friendship, the atmosphere between you and me is red. And it has been since you hired me.“
He softly stroke over Gibbs‘ cheek to make him look at him. "I love you, Jethro. Only with you will I be able to do this.“
Just as their lips met in a soft kiss, Gibbs cell phone went off. "Goddamnit," he muttered and then cast a look at Tony.
"Curse as much as you want. Even angels do it.“
With a grin Gibbs opened his cell. "Gibbs?“ he barked as usual, "okay, I’ll be right there.“ He hung up and sighed.
"We got a case, right?“, Tony asked annoyed and sighed. "Well, I’m not even surprised.“
*************************************
The scene wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. Marine killed in his own house, douple tap to the head. Execution style. Well, maybe that was a bit out of the ordinary. Anyway, it was nothing they hadn’t seen before and therefore the mood on the scene was quite light. Since he couldn’t shut out auras anymore he knew he wasn’t the only one who’d rather be someplace else.
Ziva’s silver was dull in a way Tony already knew. She probably had spoken to her father again, what always put a damper on her mood. McGee on the other hand, Tony couldn’t quite place it, he only saw that his aura was beaming.
But there was something else. Somehow Tony had a bad feeling. He looked at the ceiling, silently asking for help, before he turned back to the room and starting his sketches. Gibbs noticed the unease Tony felt and threw him a concerned look. Tony just shook his head in a dismissive manner, what made Gibbs roll his eyes and he went to the younger man.
"What’s going on?“, he asked low.
"Nothing, I just have a bad feeling...you know, that feeling as if someone was watching me.“
"Wouldn’t your prophets have warned you?“
"I still have trouble to believe that those two are really prophets, besides the fact that I don’t know what they actually do. Would be too easy if they just told me, wouldn’t it?“
Gibbs nodded and then went over to Ducky. Tony checked the room once more but then returned to his sketches.
*************************************
When Gibbs entered the bullpen with McGee there was a young man, around Tony’s age, waiting in front of his desk.
"Agent Gibbs?“
"Yeah?“
"Christian Thomas, CIA.“, he said and extented a hand which Gibbs didn’t take. "Okay...sir, I’m afraid we have to take over the case.“
"Yeah, why’s that?“
Thomas changed his stance slightly. Gibbs noticed that he had very dark eyes, and he had a gut feeling. "Marine Corporal Denis Craig has been working with us.“
"Last time I checked a Marine was still our jurisdiction, apart from the fact that the CIA doesn’t do criminal investigating.“
"You should check that with your director.“ The young man said and Gibbs‘ gut was twisting. This guy couldn’t mean anything good. Anyway he nodded and lead the agent up to Vance.
A few minutes later Tony returned with Ziva from the evidence garage. "I seriously think they don’t like me...“ Tony muttered as he sat behind his desk.
"And you figured that out all on your own?“, Ziva asked, mockingly surprised. Tony always knew that the "baggy bunnies“ didn’t like his demeanor, at least most of them, but after seeing the atmosphere down there, Tony doubted they liked anyone who brought work. "Where’s Gibbs?“ He asked to change the subject.
"He’s with Director Vance. With a CIA Agent who wants to take over the case.“ McGee answered meaningfully. Tony turned towards the office and concentrated. After a second he saw Gibbs‘ aura, but the aura beside him made Tony suck in a breath. Silver, cold as ice.
"Great,“ he muttered. So, Ziva would be the first. He looked over at the Israeli talking to McGee. How the hell could he tell her that she had to kill that CIA Agent? He definitely couldn’t convince her with Bethany’s son, hencing that she didn’t believe in the first Son of God, why in this one.
"Tony!“
He looked at her and McGee, confused. Had he zoned out once more?
"Where have you been?“ McGee asked.
"Um...I’m just wondering what’s happening up there.“
It wasn’t that much of a lie. He knew that it had been beginning, but this, having one of their counterparts in the office, made it more than real. He turned around because he noticed that Gibbs‘ aura was getting closer. The older man looked at him and Tony could see that Gibbs realized what he was thinking. Gibbs cast a look at the CIA Agent and sighed as he walked into the bullpen.
"Guys, this is Special Agent Thomas. He’s with us for this case.“ Tony’s jaw dropped. Well, damn. Tony watched Thomas for a while. Whereas he seemed to know what he was doing here he didn’t seem to know that Ziva was his counterpart, so Tony concluded that he couldn’t see auras. It only gave them a small advantage.
When the day was nearly over Thomas cell phone rang and he stepped to the window to talk in private. Though his gaze landed on Ziva while he was listening and Tony knew that their advantage had just turned to their disadvantage.
He turned to his computer and quickly typed a message for Gibbs.
Thomas, Ziva’s counterpart. He knows. Gotta tell her.
Gibbs looked at him, his jaw set.
"McGee, go down to Abby, see if she has found anything. Take Thomas with you.“
"I don’t think I should...“ the agent started.
"There’s nothing to see up here, but maybe down there," Gibbs said and shot him a look to better not disobey. When they were vanished Gibbs stood and mentioned Tony to follow him. "Ziva, we gotta talk.“
He lead them to the elevator and stopped the car between floors.
"Tony," he said.
"Why me?“
"You are the charged one!“
"What are you talking about?“ Ziva interrupted the conversation, silent now, that was going on between the agents.
"Ziva...I know this sounds stupid but...Thomas is here to kill you.“
"Yeah, right. Thomas is here because the Corporal was working black ops! If someone tried to kill me, they wouldn’t send them here!“ Tony opened his mouth but couldn’t come up with a believable explanation.
"As long as you don’t give me a damn good reason to believe you, this conversation is over.“ She said and restarted the elevator.
************************
At some point Gibbs couldn’t keep them any longer in the office and Ziva was out as soon as he said that they would pick it up in the morning. He drove to his house and wasn’t surprised to find Tony already there.
"We have to find a way to tell her," Tony said as soon as Gibbs entered the kitchen.
"If it isn’t already too late," Gibbs answered resigned. Usually he wouldn’t worry. Ziva could take care of herself, but this was big and he had no idea with what methods their counterparts would fight.
"I think we’d know...at least Metatron would have shown up, I guess.“
Gibbs nodded and sat at the table. "What happens if we lose?“
Tony sighed and shrugged. "Metatron made it quite clear to me that it’s very important, but he never really said what happens if we lose.“
"And you never asked? Did you never wonder?“
"Of course I wondered...but I guess I didn’t really want to know. I’m pretty sure it would have put me under a hell lot of pressure. Actually, it doesn’t really matter. I’m under a hell lot of pressure anyway. And I don’t even know why me, or why you...“ He sighed again and stood up.
"I gotta go back to my apartment and see if the prophets are worth their title. Maybe they have something to go on with.“
***********************
It didn’t surprise Tony at all that none of his supporters were of any help. All Rufus could tell him was that Thomas was as human as Ziva and that they could only hope. At four am Tony’s cell phone rang. Annoyed he looked at the ID, seeing that it was Gibbs, took a deep breath, expecting the worst and answered.
"Yeah?“
"Tony, Ziva’s here.“ He let out a breath. A least she wasn’t dead. "She killed Thomas.“
Tony opened his mouth. "What did she say?“
"She said he showed up at her apartment and tried to kill her. Luckily she was a better fighter. She broke his neck and...“
"And?“
"Angels came and took him away. Now she’s sitting in my living room demanding answers. One could expect her to be confused or something, but she’s really pissed with us.“
Tony grinned slightly. "Well, I guess it would be best if you brought her here. If angels aren’t enough maybe my guests are.“
"Ok, we’ll be there in a few.“
****************************
Predictably Gibbs and Ziva arrived at Tony’s place faster than anyone else would have. The two men lead Ziva into the living room, where the other four already sat.
"What the hell is going on? And who the hell is that? Why the hell did you know that he was going to kill me?“ She started to rant and Tony put up a hand.
"Ziva, I seriously hope you’ll believe what I’m going to tell you, after what you have seen. If you don’t, well, it’s the only explanation because it’s the truth. Therefore I ask you to let me finish.“ She looked at Tony, then at Gibbs, at the other people in the room and then nodded.
"Okay, you see, I was charged by the highest angel with a holy crusade. This crusade, is that I have to find allies with which I have to fight Lucifer’s servants. You, Jethro, and the rest of the team, are those allies. And Thomas was one of Lucifer’s servants. You know, everybody has an aura, and this aura has a color. There are only very few people who have just one color and we do. And so do Lucifer’s servants. Thomas, in fact, had the same color as you do, just the evil version of it.“
She looked at him with a raised eyebrows. "So, you’re telling me that there really were angels in my apartment taking him away?“
"Yeah, they were angels.“
She took a deep breath and sat on the recliner. "You do know that it is absolutely crazy?!“
Tony sighed. "Yep, I know. Ziva, I tried to warn you, but if I had told you what I just told you, would you have believed it?“
"No, and I still have trouble believing it...but after what I saw...“
Tony looked at Gibbs for support. Gibbs gave it. "Ziva, I know it is hard to believe. Only a few days ago I didn’t believe it. But it’s true. I talked to that angel, Tony talked about. And Bethany here, her baby is the son of God! He healed the scars on my shoulder.“
Ziva nodded slowly. "Do the others know?“
"Not yet,“ Tony answered hesitantly, "I had trouble coming up with a good way to tell them.“
"But you have to! I was lucky that I could beat Thomas! Abby, Ducky and McGee might not be as lucky!“
"I know! Jesus! No one believe me when I tell them, but once they believe me, they’re very quick in hurrying me!“ Tony, said annoyed.
Ziva changed a glance with Gibbs.
"Ziva, this is hard for Tony. He was the one who had to deal with it for a very long time. Your mission is to win against evil, he is the one who has to bring the bad news.“, Rufus said calmly and Tony threw him a look.
"Thanks for taking my side. It would be more useful if you finally could help me with the problem at hand! What did Metatron send you down for anyway?“
"I didn’t," Metatron said from the doorway.
"Oh, great, the voice finally decided to join the party!“ Tony said sarcastically.
"The voice?“ Ziva asked confused.
"Metatron, the voice of God, nice to meet you.“ Metatron said charmingly. "And you better get rid off that sarcasm!“ he told Tony.
"Well, is it really a surprise that I’m a little irritated by this? Now, tell me, Harold of the Almighty and Voice of the one true God, how the hell am I supposed to tell them about this?“
"Anthony, when the right time is there your heart...“
"Don’t give me that crap! I mean, you never really said what I have to do in the first place! You show up, tell me I have to do something but you don’t tell me what and what for! That stinks!“
Metatron waited until Tony was finished and then continued in a calm manner. "You are, in fact, fighting a battle for all mankind. You have been chosen to protect all those people from eternity in hell.“
Tony sank onto the couch. "Great...now I’m really under pressure.“
"Anthony, I can’t tell you how to tell your friends, because I simply don’t know. I found it very hard to tell you this, and you had a faith not many people are blessed with. To tell you the truth, it was no easier to tell you all of this, than to tell Jesus Christ that he was the son of God and therefore had to be crucified at the age of 30.“
"So, Jesus really is the son of God?“ Ziva asked weakly and everybody turned to her. "What? I’m Jewish!“
"My dear Ziva, you should know that religion hasn’t much to do with faith. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Jew, Christian or a Muslim, the faith is what counts.“
Tony sighed. "Alright, I’m going to invite them to dinner and tell them. But if they don’t believe me that’s not my fault!“
"You have all of us to convince them," Gibbs said supportively, and strangely it helped Tony a little.