43. The soon-to-be hotter spouse (Nathan Stark)
Jack Carter hated the world right now. He was stuck in a crazy egghead town and his daughter was far away in LA. There had been a bright side in all of this - the cute DOD agent was gorgeous, smart and had been flirting with him.
Jack thought he might have had a chance to until he’d been introduced to the King of the Eggheads. The tensions and arguments between Dr’s Blake and Stark were reminiscent of the ones he had with Abby, his ex-wife.
Jack sighed and pinched his nose already foreseeing the potential headache this was going to develop into. “Are you married, divorced or just separated?”
He got twin glares but Jack didn’t care. This was important as it would affect relationships between the most influential people in town. He needed to know to figure out how they might react in a crisis.
Blake gave in. “Separated because someone won’t sign the papers.”
Nathan smirked. “Yes, well that was two years ago and the wounds were too fresh. Here are your papers.”Allison took them and Jack noticed instead of being grateful, she seemed suspicious. “Why?”Nathan’s grin actually grew and that was because he could visibly see he’d gotten under her skin. Still, Nathan didn’t have to share anything now - that was the point. “You know, signing those papers means I don’t have to tell you.”Allison huffed. “So we divorced because you didn’t want to be head of GD and now two years later, you’re here and now you’ve signed the papers.”Stark shrugged. “My circumstances changed. Don’t worry, I will behave when you inevitably go after Mayberry.”Jack flushed and watched the way Allison’s eyes narrowed. This was going to turn into a shouting match and he didn’t have time for that. “Dr. Blake, why don’t we go and talk to Dr. Taggert about this ghost?”
Stark shook his head. “That sounds like a marvellous plan, Mayberry.”Jack rolled his eyes and all but dragged Allison away. Stark was relieved and also saddened that anyone with a Ph.D. would ever believe in ghosts.
Nathan waited until he was alone to make a phone-call to his lover. They had discussed it and agreed that it was too big an opportunity to walk away from. Nathan still couldn’t believe that Tony had agreed to move with him. He had believed they would stay in Washington but Tony’s work was getting to the point where he was happy to leave to go to Eureka. The DOD were ecstatic to have pinched his lover and Stark would be glad that his partner could finally use his doctorate at least in part. It just sucked that he was needed in GD early and Tony was stuck in Washington having to deal with his team being childish because their supposed leader had ditched them. “Why did I ever let you talk me into this?” Nathan said by way of a greeting. He loved Tony and already missed him, which was crazy because Stark had always assumed there would be nothing more important to him than science. It was one of the reasons his relationship with Allison had failed.Tony’s teasing retort was. “Are you going soft on me?”Nathan smirked because it was one the things he adored most about Tony. “Don’t be mean, Caro.”
Tony snorted. “I like you sexy and mean, don’t let anyone tell you any different. I would be with you in a heartbeat but I’m here stuck serving as leader of the MCRT for six months, or until Gibbs pulls his head out of his ass.”It was the only deal they could get between NCIS and DOD because Shepard had argued that the MCRT was too critical to go leaderless and it wouldn't survive the loss of two leaders in quick succession. The fact that the team had the highest solve in all of the alphabet agencies had supported her argument. Tony had little choice but to agree and promised Nathan that as soon as he could he would be in Eureka and they would marry.
Nathan grinned. “And how are the puppies?”That was the name the couple had come up for Ziva, Tim, and Abby. “In need of a rolled newspaper across the ass or a citation. I haven’t yet decided which would be best. If they think I am going to be a doormat they are going to be mistaken. I am not Gibbs but I won’t tolerate them disrespecting the victims we are meant to find justice for.”Stark knew that sometimes Tony would hide behind a mask but never with him. He’d done it in the past and now it was biting him on his backside and whilst part of Nathan wanted to build him a portal to drop them in a hell dimension - this was Tony’s team and he wouldn’t interfere. “Tony, be yourself and let them see who you are Dr. DiNozzo.”Tony chuckled. “Oh, that is part of the problem, if you said that they never would believe you.”Nathan rolled his eyes. “Then they are not as good investigators as they believe.”Tony would pay for someone to say that their faces. “I know. I love you, Nathan, don’t forget that in your crazy town.”
Nathan chuckled. “You are about to become oversight for the town.”Tony sighed wistfully. ”Yeah, the head of GD is a crazy sex god who asked me after blowing my brains out.”“Sounds like he is a master planner,” Nathan responded.
He got a chuckle and he knew he’d managed to at least relieve some of Tony’s stress.
Tony responded. “Yes, he is and I love him dearly.”
Nathan grinned. “And I love you too, now go and catch bad guys.”
Nathan shut his phone off at the eep to be faced with his new assistant. “Can I help you, Fargo?”The assistant shook his head. He was still trying to process all the things he’d heard. It sounded like there was someone who was in a relationship with Dr. Stark - and how were they not scared?
“Er, here are the files you asked for, Sir.” Fargo managed to say without too much of a stutter. He hated it but this was the man who had made three-star generals cry. He was so scary that he didn’t have to shout, he just stood there in his tailored suit making you feel small with just a look.
“Thank you, Fargo, that will be all.”Nathan sat back in his chair, catching himself up on the files. He wanted to be up to date so that as soon as Tony did get to town, he wouldn’t be stuck at the office. He wasn’t the type to put photos on his desk but his phone’s background once you unlocked the screen showed shining green eyes looking at him.
&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*
Tony walked into smug faces from Ziva and Tim - he looked stoney but inside he was dancing a jig. Tony just wished he could record this so he could watch it with Nathan later. Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo was going to leave NCIS with a bang, not a whimper.
“Why has my stuff been moved?” Tony asked.
McGee answered. “You are not the big boss anymore so I don’t have to listen to you.”Tony snorted. “Even if Gibbs is back McStupid, I’m still SFA and this is if I choose to stay.”Ziva snorted. “Why would you go anywhere else, you are Gibbs’ loyal St Bernard?”Tony was saved from answering by Gibbs coming down the steps from the Director’s office and Director Shepard was with him. This was her fulfilling her end of the bargain for all the crap he’d been forced to endure.
“DiNozzo, you should gas the truck.”
Tony stood up. “No, I think I will pass as that is a probie job. Plus, I don’t work for you, Gibbs.”Gibbs stared at him with a sneer, wow, so much for his memory being back. Tony didn’t care as this was NCIS’s problem. If Gibbs was back, then he would be the leader of the MCRT meaning Tony could finally start officially working for the DOD. “What - do you think you are too good to work for me?”Tony smiled brightly. “Maybe, or maybe you should let Director Shepard talk as she looks like she wants to say something.”
Shepard nodded her head in gratitude towards Tony. “Thank you, Agent DiNozzo for your years of dedicated service. I stand by the promise I made with the DOD. You are now free to go and I wish you every success in your future career.”“Thank you Madam Director, and I will make sure you get an invite to the wedding.” Tony looked at the box of his belongings and wanted to laugh. Gibbs in his attempt to reestablish his authority had actually saved him a task. “Thanks, Gibbs you saved me a job.”
“That’s it?” Gibbs growled. “And what wedding?”
He was calm and it was almost hysterical at the way the whole bullpen was silent and watching. Tony was calm, he handed Director Shepard his badge and gun. “Thank you once again, Director. Oh, and Nathan loved the wine.”
She smiled. “Thank you, Tony and I would leave now before the jackals demand things they have no right to know.”
Team Gibbs flushed as that wasn’t exactly a subtle dig. “We’re his friends.”Jenny snorted. “If you’re his friends then he really doesn’t need enemies but I look forward to seeing Agent Gibbs whipping you back into shape and remember Gibbs, Dr. Agent DiNozzo is no longer a part of this agency so you can’t complain to him.”
McGee paled. “You have a Doctorate? In what? From where? Why didn’t you say anything?”Tony smiled and it was incandescent. “I do, Behavioral Psychology, and from Harvard, and I did say things to my friends as they were there when I accepted my diploma. Hey, you should be pleased - your attitudes and the effect they had on team dynamics made a fascinating case study for my dissertation.”
Tony looked around the room and took the time to ignore Gibbs and the team. He shook hands with those who’d helped him in the last few months - he’d valued their actions more than you know. He’d already taken Ducky and the Gremlin out to dinner earlier that week to explain what was going on so he would be able to leave now before the shock wore off and the team started to demand things that they have no right to know.
&*&*&*&*&*&*
Tony hadn’t worried too much about the apartment as he owned it outright. He would have it maintained by a cleaning service and then Nathan and he had somewhere to stay when they were required to head back to Washington for work purposes and it would be less sterile than a hotel.
He knew he’d made it to Eureka when he saw the floating car. He drove down the main street wondering if he would get a chance to surprise Nathan and headed for the cafe remembering Nate telling him that the nerve centre for all gossip ran through the cafe and the chef, Vince.
He stepped into the cafe and all the occupants stopped and stared at him. “Hey now, I know I look good but does anyone think they can direct me to Dr. Stark.”The small guy turned around with glasses and Tony knew who this was, it was Nathan’s assistant. “He is going to be here soon.”Tony took his sunglasses off. “Well, I guess I will wait here then.”Vince slid a hazelnut latte over to him. “Okay, so why would you voluntarily be seeking out Dr. Stark.”
“Who is voluntarily seeking me out?” A calm voice asked from behind Tony. Vince was treated with a movie star worthy smile and the poor chef was fanning himself.
“Me.” Was all the newbie said but as he said it, he turned around got off his stool and walked toward the scary Head of GD.
Tony was looking directly at his fiance, knowing just what he wanted to do. There was also a piece of him that wanted it to get back to the ex-wife that she needed to keep her mitts of Nathan. “Well, I was in the neighbourhood and I thought I would stop by to do this.”
This was a thorough kiss and just barely respectable grope in public. They broke the kiss when oxygen became an issue. “I’m here to stay Dr. Stark.”“Well, in that case, let me show you home, Dr. DiNozzo.”
Vince watched the pair leave hand in hand. “Who is that Italian Stallion?”
“Dr. Stark’s fiance,” Fargo replied.
Vince pouted. “Damn, the good ones are always hot, married or gay.”Fargo grinned. “Well, then I think he is about to be all three and I am not going to fight Dr. Stark for him.”
Truer words and the fit Alison pitched when she realised his new spouse was beneath Nathan - was too funny not to be recorded. He would thank S.A.R.A.H for sending him the footage.