I'm a DiNozzo

I'm Not Under House Arrest? (Part 3) (16)

This is part 3 of NCIS. Let's just get right into it!

Tony's P.O.V.

Gibbs went to check on Ellie and McGee, and came back seconds later.

"Come on," He insisted, waving me over to him. I stood up, and almost ran into I Ellie's room. Ellie was crying again, and Probie was doing the best he could to comfort her. Ellie looked up when she heard us come in, and raised her arms, wanting a hug from me too. I walked right over, and picked her up.

After a second, we got in a good position. I sat on Ellie's bed, back up against the wall, and Ellie was sitting between my legs, curled into a ball, still crying.

"What the Florida did you do McProbie?" I asked, running my fingers through Ellie's hair.

"Nothing," He insisted from the bean bag chair.

"It's obviously not nothing, the Florida happened?"

"Look, I tried." McGee insisted, raising his voice a little.

"Obviously not," I countered, raising my voice to match the volume.

"Don't." Leah pleaded from my arms. "He was honestly trying to help me dad. I couldn't sleep because I was scared. You know how in- in games your- your person isn't allowed to sleep if there's danger nearby? I thought it might be something like that. Like- like in Signs, when the kids can't fall asleep, and then their house gets breached and they have to barricade themselves in the basement before they all get eaten? I-I don't want to get eaten by aliens dad." Leah finished, moving even closer to me.

I rubbed my hand up and down Ellie's back a few times, and smiled. "If there was ever a doubt in anyone's mind that you were my kid, those were squashed by the Signs reference. And I promise you're not going to be eaten by aliens. Besides, the aliens from Signs didn't eat anyone. They expelled a toxic vapor from their wrists, and killed people that way."

"I don't want to get shot in the back either."

"And you think I do?" I asked, looking my daughter in the eyes. "Don't worry, we're gonna be okay. Nothing's gonna happen to you. We'll be safe. Gibbs is the best there is."

"Hey!" Probie exclaimed.

"He's not wrong," Gibbs said, chuckling. I smiled, and turned my attention back to Ellie.

"What can I do to make you feel safe again?" I asked, toying with a lock of Leah's hair.

"Just stay here for a minute," She insisted, moving closer still. "And maybe some chocolate," She added.

"You heard her Probie-San, chocolate's in the fridge."

"Don't be mean to Tim," Leah said defiantly.

"Did you just defend the king of the probies?" I asked, looking at Ellie incredulously. "That's it, I'm disowning you."

"What? No you're not." She challenged.

"Yup, get out of my house."

"No,"

"What did you say?"

"No," Leah repeated, sitting up, and crossing her arms.

"Are you refusing a federal agent?" I asked, standing up.

"Yup." Leah agreed, unabashed. "And there's nothing you can do about it."

I thought for a second, then found something good to say. "I could tickle you."

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! I will throw my pillow at you, don't you dare. Don't you dare, no. Dad, no!" Leah was giggling now, and I knew I had done my job.