Part 3: Brown
Even after the conversation between him, Gibbs and Ziva, Tony was still trying to make excuses. He knew damn well that time was running out and he really needed to tell the other three about what was going on. He had only told two people so far, and while their reactions has been quite good considering what he had told them, it didn’t mean he had enjoyed it.
It was one week after Ziva had killed Thomas, which of course had raised issues but he was reported missing and none of them has been suspected as Thomas had much more obvious enemies. Once everything had calmed down and Tony still wouldn’t invite the others to dinner, Gibbs decided to push Tony into the cold water.
He went down to the morgue. It was one thing to invite Abby to dinner, he had done that hundreds of times, but if he invited Ducky, Abby would be suspicious. Whereas the two men had a deep friendship they only met on regular dates outside the office.
However as he entered the morgue after working hours, he heard the end of a conversation.
"Yes, I’m looking forward to it, too...8 o’clock, I’ll be there...bye.“
Gibbs still stood in the door unnoticed until Ducky turned around, honestly surprised to see Gibbs standing there. The younger of the two couldn’t recall a time the ME had looked like this. Like a deer caught in headlights.
"Jethro, no case so late, I hope.“
"No, Duck, no case...who you’ve been talking to?“
"Oh, em...no one.“
Gibbs smirked. "You’ve got a date, huh?“
Ducky sighed, blushing to his ears. "Yes, indeed. And therefore, I have to hurry. I want to shower, as you can imagine.“
Ducky went for his coat but stopped. "Is there a particular reason you came down?“
Gibbs shook his head. "No, it can wait until tomorrow.“
As Ducky passed him, humming lightly, a bad feeling entered Gibbs‘ gut. He quickly took the stairs up to the bullpen. "Ducky has a date," he murmered to Tony, who had just put on his jacket.
"So?“
"Don’t you think we should check it out?“
Tony frowned at him. "Wow, you really think no woman could like Ducky, unless she wants to kill him...okay, we’ll check it out.“
Tony walked to the elevator, deliberately ignoring Gibbs‘ smirk.
An hour later they parked close to the restaurant they had followed Ducky to.
"This doesn’t seem right," Tony said while they walked down the street.
"We don’t really have a choice. Do you have to go into the restaurant to see her aura?“
"It should work from here.“, Tony said and stopped Jethro. He closed his eyes, and then opened them again, but somehow Gibbs knew that now Tony only saw auras. He stared at the wall of the restaurant, his eyes going from left to right.
"Got him...uh-oh, no good...“
"She’s got the same color, right?“
Tony closed his eyes again, rubbing over them and nodded.
"Pretty strong at that, too. We gotta get him outta there!“
*******************************
Meanwhile in the restaurant.
"It’s really nice to see you again, Ducky," the woman smiled at him sweetly.
"It is, indeed, Isabell," Ducky answered.
"Mhm, that accent.“, she murmured and touched his hand. Ducky smiled shyly. Just as he opened his mouth to make a compliment about her clothing his cell phone rang.
"Oh, excuse me...“
He looked at the caller ID, Jethro. He considered not answering, but Jethro knew he was on a date, so this was probably important.
"Yes?“
"Duck, you gotta come to my place.“
"Jethro, what happened?“
"It’s Tony, he showed up here, totally drunk. He passed out, and I think he hit his head.“
Knowing about the other man’s feelings for the young man, Ducky sighed.
"I’m there in a few," he hung and turned to Isabell.
"My dear, I’m so sorry. Apparently there’s an emergency, I really have to go.“
She sighed, and then smiled.
"Well, if it really is that important. Let me walk you to your car.“
Ducky nodded and together they left the restaurant.
Outside
"Tony showed up drunk? Couldn’t you have told him you put a screwdriver through your hand?“
Tony whispered, annoyed as they followed the two people to the parking lot.
"Ducky knows about my feelings for you. It was the only thing that came to mind he wouldn’t tell me to call an ambulance for...“
Tony motioned for him to shut up and draw his gun as they hid behind a car.
Ducky was talking but turned to his car to unlock. Suddenly there was a gunshot and when he turned around Isabell was lying on the ground, bleeding from the leg, a knife next to her. Ducky looked up to see Jethro and Anthony coming to him.
"What the hell is going on?“ he demanded.
"Ducky, I know this sounds crazy,“ Tony held out his gun to him, "but you have to kill her.“
"My boy, I certainly won’t...“
"Duck, she tried to stab you!“
"So take her into custody!“
Another man joined to the group. Tony and Jethro more or less ignored him, but Ducky was complete at loss.
"That won’t be enough, Donald. You have to kill her.“
"Who are you? I’ve seen you somewhere?“
"I am Metatron. Voice of God. Believe me, Donald. You have to kill her.“
Ducky looked from Tony, to Gibbs to Metatron. Finally he took the gun.
"Ducky," Isabell whined.
"I’m sorry. Apparently, I have to do this.“
Another shot rang through the ally and then there was light. Four men with large white wings stood beside Metatron. "Take her upstairs. Petrus will know what to do with her.“ The four nodded and took her up. One flap with their wings and they were gone. Tony carefully took the gun out of Ducky’s hand. A moment later two cops came running into the ally.
"What’s going on here? I’ve heard gunshots!“ One of them shouted and looked around, while he pointed his gun at them.
"Nothing happened," Gibbs said calmly and showed them his badge which he had already taken out. "Apparently my friend’s car doesn’t work. What you heard was backfire.“
The younger and more nervous officer pointed his gun at Tony. "You, show me your hip!“
Tony snorted. "Listen, he’s a fed, I’m a fed. Of course I have a gun. This guy,“, he pointed at Ducky, "is our ME. Do see any bodies? No, so, it was backfire.“
The older had already put away his gun. "C’mon, Denis. There’s nothing to do here. Have a good night, guys.“
"First night out?“ Gibbs asked him with a nod to the young officer and the older man laughed.
"So green, but allowed to carry a gun.“
"Tell me about it," Gibbs grinned back and the cops left them alone.
"What just happened?“ Ducky asked quitely.
"Well, Duck, let’s go to Tony’s place and we’ll explain it to you. Tony, call Ziva, and invite McGee and Abby already!“
Two hours later Abby and McGee arrived at Tony’s place.
"I seriously hope it’s important! McGee had to pick me up from a great party!“ Abby said, and from looking at her Tony could imagine that it indeed was a good party.
"It really is important, Abby. Probably the most important thing at all," he answered cryptically and lead them into the living room.
"Who are these guys?“ McGee asked as he saw the unknown faces.
"These are Rufus, Bethany, Jay and Silent Bob. Please sit down.“
Puzzled they sat next to Ducky, who still seemed very uncomfortable.
Tony stood in front of the group and took a deep breath. "Ok, I have to tell you this, and I know it sounds completely unbelievable, but please hear me out.“ He waited until they nodded. "I was charged with a holy crusade by the highest angels and you guys are part of it. There are people, who have been recruited by Lucifer himself and you guys have to kill them. Ziva and Ducky already have found their counterpart and killed them.“
"You’re kidding right?“ McGee asked his mouth hanging open.
"No, McGee, I’m serious. Every human has an aura...“
"You can’t seriously tell us that someone showed up and told you that we have to kill innocent people!“
"They really aren’t innocent, Tim," Tony responded but it seemed to enrage McGee even more. He stood from the couch.
"You should get your head checked! And you believe that?“ he asked Ziva, Ducky and Gibbs.
"There have been angels...“ Ducky answered slowly.
"Screw this! Abby?“
"I think we should hear him out, Tim," she said quietly.
"No way. You’re all mental!“, he yelled and stormed out of the door.
Abby looked after him and then at Tony, who sighed deeply.
"Yeah, that’s exactly what I expected.“
"Is it true?“ Abby asked. He looked her deep in the eyes.
"Yes, Abby, all of it," he sat down and told her and Ducky the whole story.