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“So where are you going to put all this stuff?” Tony asked as he glanced around at the now very cluttered apartment.
 
“Honestly I have no idea,” Mandy replied with a sigh, her voice muffled by the stack of boxes she was hidden behind.
 
“We need to find you a larger place,” Don said.
 
“I’ll manage,” Mandy said. “Although that does remind me, I need to send some money down to Horatio in the morning. Do any of you see a yellow dragon figure with red eyes? She’s sitting on a nest.”
 
It took some searching but Hawkes eventually found the dragon bank behind a stack of binders on one of the bookshelves. “That’s clever,” he smiled.
 
“Yep, no one even thinks it could be a bank because there’s no coin slot and the seams are hidden,” Mandy said. “It there’s room just put it on the kitchen table for me, please. I’ll wire the money on my way to the lab in the morning.”
 
“You’re actually going to work tomorrow?” Adam asked. “When you have all this stuff to sort through?”
 
“If only to make sure Mac knows I’m going to be gone,” Mandy said. “There’s enough work here for a couple of months even with help. I don’t want to be gone the whole time as I do have bills to pay.”
 
“I’m sure the communities will help out with that,” Don said. “I mean, it’s not like you ain’t doing nothing all day; this is important work. We need this info sooner rather than later.”
 
Mandy sighed and went back to the box she had been unpacking. She didn’t want to get into that discussion at the moment, especially as it would lead to some rather awkward questions about her family.
 
Don looked at Tony and raised an eyebrow. He hoped he wasn’t the only one who had noticed how odd their young friend had been acting. Tony just shrugged and went into the kitchen to start unpacking some of the boxes in there.
********************
 
Gibbs had had Abby program Mandy’s cell phone number into his phone so, theoretically, all he had to do was push one button and he’d be able to talk with her. But Abby had forgotten one very basic thing about Gibbs – technology hated him almost as much as he hated it. So after a couple of frustrating minutes he handed the phone to Mac with a snarl. Mac bit his lip, figured out which speed dial was Mandy’s, activated it and handed it back to his alpha.
 
“Hello?”
 
“Mandy, it’s Gibbs. I’ve got a question for you.”
 
“What’s up, Jethro?” Mandy asked. “Oh, Tony and the others got here safe and have finished off loading the boxes.”
 
“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” Gibbs snorted. “We’re wondering if there’s a way for a dragon to turn off some of his senses but not all of them.”
 
“Huh, well I’d imagine you could but I haven’t come across anything in my reading to teach you how,” Mandy said. “And I can’t exactly get to my reference books right now, Jethro.”
 
Gibbs laughed. “It’s okay, kid, we’ll find out from Chrysalis. You get those boxes unpacked and organized,” he said. “I want to know what’s in them.”
 
“I know, and you want the information yesterday,” Mandy said. “I’m doing the best I can.”
 
“I know,” Gibbs said. “Take care, kiddo.” Gibbs closed his phone and glanced over at Mac. “As much as I hate to suggest it, I think we should call Gil and Horatio and arrange a meeting up on Pax Draconis tonight. But we’ll have to make it as short as possible because I don’t know how safe it is for both alpha and beta sets to be gone right now.”
 
“Then why don’t we go in shifts,” Mac asked. “You and I can talk about what needs to be reviewed with Miami and then we can report back after we’re done talking to Chrysalis.”
 
“I’d rather have all four of us there.”
 
“Yeah, but if something happens here then we’ll need at least one alpha or beta to deal with it in each community,” Mac pointed out. “You know that as well as I do, Jethro.”
 
“Yeah,” Gibbs said. “Especially with hunters running around and those two young pups Mandy befriended. They know about everyone but my part of the community.”
 
“H vouched for them,” Mac said.
 
“I don’t trust anyone until I meet ‘em,” Gibbs said. “Call Horatio and let him know what’s going on. I’ll get in touch with Gil.”
 
Mac grinned. “There has to be a better way to do this.”
 
“Talk with Abby,” Gibbs replied. “Technology has a tendency to blow up if I look at it. She’ll know what we need.”
********************
 
Don was closet to the door when someone knocked. He checked to make sure everyone was in a place they’d be safe and opened the door. “Hey Stella,” he said.
 
“Flack, what are you doing here?” she asked.
 
“Tony and I brought some stuff to Mandy,” he replied. “And we actually need to get going to catch our flight. Mandy’s around here somewhere.”
 
Stella was more than a little surprised by the number of boxes stacked in the apartment. “I don’t want to intrude.”
 
“You aren’t,” Tony said as he joined them by the front door. “Mandy’s going to call in a day or two, Flack. We need to get home. Jethro wants the alpha and beta pairs to jump to Pax Draconis tonight and I don’t stand a chance in hell without him.”
 
“Okay, did you let Mandy know we’re leaving?”
 
“Yeah, and also that we’d talk about her living arrangements and finances,” Tony said. “She wasn’t happy about it.”
 
Don rolled his eyes and turned towards the living room. “Amanda Bonnibel, if you are working for the community then you deserve to be paid by the community,” he shouted. “And that’s final.”
 
“There’s no need to shout,” Mandy said as she appeared behind him; she’d been in the bedroom. “Thanks for bringing everything up, guys, I really appreciate it. Stella, its good to see you, thank you for coming over on such short notice. I hope you don’t mind but we ordered a sandwich and crisps for you.”
 
“I’ve eaten, but thanks,” Stella said. “I’m not sure why you called me, actually.”
 
Mandy locked the door behind Don and Tony and made her way towards the boxes in the living room. She cleared off a chair and put the books in a neat stack on the floor. “Please, sit,” she said. “I apologize for the mess and disorder but, as best I understand, a hunter was captured and his is his library.”
 
“Its fine, Mandy, honestly,” Stella said. “I still don’t believe everything you guys have been telling me. Dragons are physically impossible.”
 
“Not at all; dragons are merely large lizards, roughly seven meters long if you don’t factor in their tail but they have hollow bones much like birds and an advanced physical system that is in many ways superior to a human’s.”
 
Stella sighed. “You’re missing the point,” she snapped. “There’s no way a human being can turn into a giant reptile.”
 
“That’s no reason to take your frustrations out on me,” Mandy said. “I think that ultimately the best thing for you to do is fly down to Miami and meet Gil. Or go talk with Horatio; I know you’ve worked with him before.”
 
“I don’t understand why everyone keeps telling me to go to Miami,” Stella said.
 
“Well, ultimately, it’s because they have a nice large, private beach where the dragons can Change to true form,” Mandy said. “And we know that some people have to see to believe.”
 
Stella fell silent and Mandy just let her sit and think while she continued to unpack. Sheldon and Adam had offered to stay and help but Mandy shooed them away for two reasons. First they both had to work in the morning and second she thought that Stella would be more willing to talk if there was no one else around.
 
“Did Mac kill Peyton?” Stella finally asked.
 
“How do you want me to answer that, Stella?” Mandy pulled the last two books from a box, set them on the floor and started to break the box down. “I wasn’t there when Peyton died. All I know is what I heard around the lab.”
 
“Oh, come on, Mandy, you don’t expect me to buy that,” Stella said with a small smile. “By the time I got to her apartment it was empty and it looked like a lot of books had been taken. They ended up here, didn’t they?”
 
“This is my personal library,” Mandy said. “All the boxes are from DC where Gibbs and his team got a hunter today.”
 
“You didn’t answer my question, Mandy,” Stella said. “The books and binders and who knows what else that were taken from Peyton’s apartment ended up here after she was dead.”
 
Mandy bit her lip to keep from sighing and took a small plaque off the wall. “This is meant as a joke,” she said handing it to Stella. “Because people don’t know dragons are still alive. But it’s good advice for those of us who do.”
 
“Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons for you are crunchy and good with ketchup,” Stella read. “Is this supposed to be some sort of a threat?”
 
“Of course not but it applies equally well to feds,” Mandy said. “As far as I know Peyton’s death was a suicide but there may be some information I’m lacking. You’d have to speak with Mac or Gibbs to find that out.”
 
“I can’t,” Stella said.
 
“Why ever not?” Mandy asked. She put the plaque back on the wall and returned to the boxes.
 
“Because Gibbs is a creep who doesn’t deserve to be in command of a team,” Stella replied. “And Mac’s not Mac anymore. He’s different.”
 
“Bastard,” Mandy said.
 
“What?”
 
“Gibbs; he prefers to be called a bastard,” Mandy said. “And he may be tough on his people but they all respect him and work well together. As to Mac, he’s exactly the same as he was before he Changed. He’s just found he has a new place in the world.”
 
Stella sighed. “Then why did I hear him casually mention killing someone and then, only after considering something, call it a homicide?”
 
“My best guess, having not been there, is that there was someone threatening either Danny or the community,” Mandy said. “In our world it’s only considered homicide if a dragon kills another dragon in cold blood.”
 
“There isn’t another world, Amanda,” Stella said. “Dragon’s don’t exist.”
 
“Why don’t you shout a little louder, Stella?” Mandy asked with a frown. “I don’t think they heard you at the lab. And only Mac is allowed to call me that. You know where the door is. Good-night, Stella.”
********************
 
Danny was at the kitchen table reading through one of Tony’s older journals when he phone rang. He checked the display and answered it with a grin. “Hey Mandy, what’s up?”
 
“I’m buried in boxes with absolutely no space to move and I sent Adam and Shel home so they wouldn’t be tired at work tomorrow. Stella just left in a huff, it’s going to take me months to sort through all this, Sammy and Dean have vanished and I’m getting a headache,” Mandy replied. “How are you doing?”
 
“Aw kiddo, I’m sorry ‘bout the boxes and will be there to help as soon as I can,” Danny said. “And everyone will work with you to sort through the stuff. Take some Tylenol for your head and drink a cup of tea. And tell me ‘bout Stella.”
 
“She wants to know if Mac killed Peyton,” Mandy said.
 
“So what’d you tell her?”
 
“That I wasn’t there when it happened, I only knew what I’d heard in the lab and she should talk with Mac or Jethro if she wanted to know more. And that as far as I knew it was a suicide,” Mandy said. “She tried her interrogation techniques on me but they didn’t work.”
 
“Damn you’re a good liar, Mandy.”
 
“I know,” Mandy snickered. “But I think you and Mac will have to take her to Miami as I know I was the last hope up here. She even snapped at me a few times.”
 
“She what?” Danny demanded.
 
“Oh don’t worry, I snapped right back. Look, I know Mac and Jethro are busy but would you let them know, please? I think this needs to be dealt with sooner rather than later.”
 
“Yeah, I sure will,” Danny said. “Gibbs is talking about us going to see Chrysalis tonight which makes you the senior community member for us. Call the others and let them know what’s going on and you’re in charge until we get back.”
 
“Okay, but be sure to have someone call me when you get back so I’ll know not to worry.”

 

No matter how many times Gibbs visited the teaching plain he was always struck by how unchanging it was. The sky was the same shade of purple and the level of light never changed; it was always dusk. And he could never figure out how Chrysalis knew he was there. It never failed, within minutes of his or any other dragon’s arrival, Chrysalis’s white head popped up from behind the rocks that, to a human, were a mountain.
 
“Gibbs, Tony,” Chrysalis said as his head came into view. “And Mac and Danny; what brings you all here tonight?”
 
“The Miami group will be here soon,” Gibbs said. “We’ve had multiple attacks on our communities and agreed to meet up here to get some extra help with setting up some new rules.”
 
“Is everyone all right?” Chrysalis asked. He came around the mountain and curled up in front of his so his head was a little more level with his friends.
 
“Fortunately,” Mac said wrapping his arms around Danny’s waist. “But I have a feeling it’s been luck up until this point and it isn’t nice to keep tempting fate.”
 
“How true,” Tony agreed leaning up against Gibbs.
 
The four NYDC community members turned at the sound of soft pops behind them. “Sorry we’re late,” Gil said as he and Nick joined the group. “We have a couple problems come up just prior to our heading to bed.”
 
“Is everything okay?” Mac asked.
 
“It’s just that we had a connection come up to Vegas and we’re trying to figure out who we can put on it,” Nick said. “Because right now it’s me, Jim and Rick on it.”
 
“And there’s not a chance in hell we’re letting any of our community go back to Vegas,” Horatio said.
 
Chrysalis snorted when everyone else jumped. “I hear you have a reputation for moving silently, red dragon,” he said. “I didn’t believe it until I saw you arrive. I’m impressed.”
 
Gibbs snickered. “It’s a real shame you hate feds, Horatio, we could use that talent.”
 
“You’ll have to kill me to get me out of Miami,” Horatio said. He settled onto his rock and Greg flopped down into his lap.

Everyone laughed. “What’s going on, Gibbs?” Nick asked.

“Well I mentioned to Gil that Mac and I have been talking and believe it’ll only benefit the communities if we put some new rules into place.”
 
“So what do you have in mind?” Gil asked. “We have a couple in play but they’re not really enforced at the moment.”
 
Chrysalis blinked his large green eyes slowly. “From what I’m hearing these hunters have become an infestation,” he said. “What rules are you thinking about Gibbs, Mac?”
 
“The most important, at least to my mind, is that there can’t be any further mention of the dragon world while we’re at work or out in the general public,” Gibbs said. “And that includes the use of the code words and the like we’ve been using up til now.”
 
Nick nodded. “That’s actually a really good point,” he said. “Especially as we really don’t know who we can trust.”
 
“It’ll take some getting used to but I’m in full agreement,” Horatio said.
 
“We should also be on the lookout for lip readers,” Gil said. “It’s a talent that’s not always listed in an employment jacket.”
 
“That’s a very good point,” Mac said.
 
“We can ask the people we can trust for help with that,” Danny added. “Like Adam and Hawkes; you know as well as I do that people tend to overlook the lab techs when they’re talking or skulking around.”
 
“I don’t see that extra eyes can hurt,” Tony said. “What do you think, boss?”
 
“Let’s talk with them and see what they say,” Gibbs said. “The second rule I was thinking about is already in place but we need to make sure it’s strictly enforced. And that’s to be sure there’s always at least one dragon in the field with every team that has a bonded community human in it.”
 
“And that brings up the point we wanted to ask you, Chrysalis,” Mac said. “We were wonder if there was a way for a dragon to shut down some of his senses but not all of them when working a crime scene.”
 
“How do you mean?” the white dragon asked.
 
“Well, the best example I can think of is a case Dan and I worked last week,” Mac said. “There was a lot of blood from the victim and I had to turn off all my senses so I wouldn’t be overwhelmed by the smell of the blood.”
 
Danny smiled at his dragon. “And he was way more protective because he couldn’t hear what was going on around us,” he said.
 
“As far as I know there isn’t a way to do this,” Chrysalis said. “But it’s much like the question Gil asked me about protecting the community. I’ll check with my fellow lore masters but I can’t promise a quick answer.”
 
“Nothing worthwhile is ever quick,” Gibbs said with a small smirk. “No matter what kids today think. Well then, the third rule is that the alphas and betas should talk every evening about the events of the day and exchange information.”
 
“Dragons and humans?” Danny asked.
 
“I was thinking just dragons but it might not be a bad idea, once everything is worked out, for the alpha and beta pairs to talk,” Gibbs said. “Especially if Gil and Nick spend the day apart then they’ll have different perspectives on what happened. And Mac and I already talk several times a day so we always know what’s going on in our cities.”
 
“Is Abs going to work something out for us?” Greg asked.
 
“We’re going to ask her tomorrow,” Tony replied. “Although Jethro and technology are not a good mix.”
 
“That’s why I’ve got you, Tony,” Gibbs said stroking Tony’s hair. “And I’m sure she’ll help us figure something out.”
 
“And if McGeek ever gets over his shock of finding out dragons are real I’m sure he’ll help out too,” Tony said. “Ouch, sorry boss.”
 
Mac grinned. “Chrysalis, I have a team member we were recently forced to bring into the community for her protection,” he said. “And she’s having a hard time accepting what we’ve told her.”
 
“How much does she know?” Chrysalis asked.
 
“She’s been through several meetings with the New York half of the community, talked with various members, including Mandy, and it hasn’t done a damn bit of good,” Gibbs said.
 
“Not to mention the fact that since I’ve Changed she doesn’t think she can trust me any more,” Mac added.
 
“You’re still planning to bring her down to Miami, right?” Gil asked.
 
“Yep, you guys are our last hope,” Mac said.
 
“Well, not your absolute last,” Chrysalis said with a snort that messed up Gibbs’, Tony’s, Gil’s and Danny’s hair. “There is always that one final option.”
 
“Stella’s been like family for more years than I can count,” Mac said. “We’re not killing her.”
 
Emerald green eyes blinked at him slowly in a calm regard. “And if she cannot be convinced that you are telling the truth,” he asked. “And becomes a danger to you and your human by speaking of your true nature to outsiders. What will you do then?”
 
“He’s got a point, Mac,” Gil said. “Look, you know we’ll do everything in our power to convince Stella of the truth but it might not be enough. What are we going to do then?”
 
Mac buried his face against Danny’s neck. Danny reached up and cupped the back of Mac’s head. “I know,” he whispered. “Miami can take care of it if it absolutely has to be done.”
 
“No,” Mac said, voice muffled against Danny’s neck. “No, it’s my fault we’re in this situation and I owe it to Stella to make things right. If Miami doesn’t convince her of the truth then I’ll take care of her.”
 
Danny kissed Mac’s head. “It won’t come to that, Mac,” he said. “Stella’ll have to believe us once she sees you guys in true form.”
 
“Take care in using that method,” Chrysalis said. “Especially if there are as many hunters around as you say there are.”
 
“We’re having to convince scientists that not only magic but dragons are real,” Gil said. “There are times when our only chance is to show them. But I think that a group Change really will be our last choice in this instance.”
 
Gibbs sighed. “And this is really getting depressing,” he said. “Mac, we know what we might have to do but we’ve also got to work in the morning.”
 
“You’re right, Gibbs,” Gil said. “Give us a call tomorrow night. Danny, take care of your dragon.”
********************
 
Mac spent the rest of the night awake thinking about all the problems he had in his life, the main one being Stella at that point. He hated to classify her as a problem but at that point it was the only way he could really deal with it and attempt to work out a solution. He knew that technically he was telling Stella the truth about Peyton because kidnapping the bonded human to try and trap the dragon was a form of suicide. It just wasn’t something that they could tell anyone else about. He supposed that death by dragon was just another way to kill yourself. Mac snorted and rolled over, resting an arm over Danny’s firm stomach. There was no way in hell that a dragon would let their human be taken away from them.
 
“Mac,” Danny murmured.
 
“Shh, I’m here,” Mac said. He ran his fingers through Danny’s messy hair. “Go back to sleep.”
********************
 
Early the next morning, much earlier than Mac was really comfortable with, he made his way to Mandy’s apartment. He knew he needed to apologize and also to ask a couple of favors although he really didn’t feel he had any right to do it. The sun was just coming up over the buildings but the streets were already crowded with people running errands before work or out getting some exercise. He made his way through the crowds with practiced ease to Mandy’s apartment and took a minute to gather up his courage to knock.
 
“Mac,” Mandy said with a smile. “Please come in, would you like some tea? I was just about to make some.”
 
“Amanda, I came to say I’m sorry,” Mac said. He looked around the apartment at all the books and boxes stacked around the living room. “Don was right; we need to find you a larger place to live.”
 
“I wouldn’t be able to afford it,” Mandy said. “There’s a free chair in the living room, please take a seat and I’ll bring you some tea.”
 
“I do need to apologize,” Mac insisted. “Amanda, it was wrong of me to try and tell you who your friends can be or what you do. I’m going to make a lot of mistakes in our relationship but I hope you’ll be able to remember that I do care for you.”
 
“That’s something I never forgot, Mac,” Mandy replied. She handed him a mug and settled onto the floor as all the other chairs still had boxes on them. “I’ve never told you guys about my past because it hurts far too much but I basically raised myself. I’m not used to have parents around who actually care about me and if I over-react to something you say or do that’s the reason.”
 
Mac frowned. “I won’t press, Amanda, but are you in any danger from them?” he asked. “Are you hiding out here?”
 
“No,” Mandy said. “I would doubt that they actually know I’m gone. It doesn’t matter, Mac. But it’s not fair to ask you guys to pay my rent just because of some books. I’ll make room for them. It’s not a big deal. So, what’s going on with Stella?”
 
“Danny’s gone to talk with her and we’re heading down to Miami,” Mac replied. “Amanda, we went up and met with Chrysalis last night and he reminded us that we might have to kill Stella. Have you come across anything in your reading in these new books that could possibly help us out here?”
 
“You mean like a memory wipe or something?” Mandy asked. “I’m sorry, Mac, but no I haven’t. I don’t want to think about having to kill anyone in our community so I’ll do some research today.”
 
“There’s something else,” Mac said. “And I hate to just dump it on you like this but we’re trying to figure out a way to block or shut down some of our senses when we’re at a crime scene.”
 
“Peppermint,” Mandy said.
 
“Come again?”
 
“Its something I read in a Terry Pratchett book,” Mandy grinned. “I’ll check the internet and see if I can come up with something. Do you see a black notebook lying around here somewhere?”
 
Mac glanced around, once again surprised at the sheer number of books and boxes in the apartment. “I don’t.”
 
“That’s where I’ve been keeping my to do lists of late,” Mandy said. “As well questions I need to research for the communities. Damn, I had it last night. Oh well, I’m sure I’ll remember this. Oh, could you do me a favor, please?”
 
“Sure, what’s up?”
 
“You said you’re going down to Miami, you could save me a trip to the bank and post office,” Mandy replied. “Could you take some money down to Horatio and Jim for me?”
 
“Why?” Mac asked.
 
“They paid the bail for Sam and Dean and they left before their trial date,” Mandy sighed. “So the community took the hit and that’s not fair to them. I asked for their help so it’s only fair that I pay them back.”
 
“You know they’re not going to expect you to do this,” Mac said.
 
“It’s the right thing to do,” Mandy insisted. She opened the dragon bank and counted out the amount she thought she needed to send.
 
“Amanda, that’s way too much,” Mac said. “There’s no way you can afford it. I promise that Horatio and the others don’t expect you to pay them back. You need to keep this to live on.”
 
“I manage,” Mandy said. “Please, Mac.”
 
He sighed and tucked the bills into the inner pocket of his wind breaker. “All right, but don’t be surprised if I come back with it,” he said. “Amanda, I hate to ask so much of you, especially when you already do so much for our communities.”
 
“It gives me something to do,” Mandy said. “Although if you and Danny and Stella are going to be done I’d probably better plan on working at the lab for a few hours to help out where I can. Don’t worry about me, Mac. I’ll be fine. I always am.”

On the airplane down to Miami Stella sat in her window seat and, if Mac didn’t know better, he’d say she was sulking. He knew that she wasn’t happy about the trip south, especially with him and Danny, but he just hoped that she’d understand in the end.
 
*So how’d it go with Mandy* Danny asked over their bond.
 
*Better than I could have hoped but I’m worried about her* Mac replied. *Danny, she told me that she raised herself, that her parents don’t care about her and that’s why she’s had the problems she has. And she’s trying to do so much, I’m worried that she’s going to burn out*
 
*So we just got to help her, yeah* Danny said. *We know there’s an issue here and now that we do know we can watch to make sure she don’t work herself to death. Remember what she told Horatio about Ray*
 
*Yeah, he’s going to try and work on as much as possible to make himself useful to the community so we won’t want to get rid of him* Mac sighed. *So you think Amanda’s doing the same thing here*
 
*It makes sense, don’t it? If she’s telling the truth about being abused and neglected as a child then she’s going to want to make sure that she fits in with the community* Danny said. *And not be able to ask us for help or want us to help her. She’s going to want to avoid owing anyone anything*
 
*Speaking from experience, Danny*
 
*A little* Danny admitted. *Maybe it’d be a good idea for me to talk with her and see what I can do. I know where she’s coming from, maybe she’ll listen to me*
 
*She needs to listen to someone because, right now, I agree with Flack. We should be paying her for her research time and she really does need a bigger place, Danny. She was sitting on the floor today because she has boxes stacked everywhere*
 
Danny shifted in his seat a little, wanting to touch his dragon more than anything. *You know she’s not going to see it that way*
 
*Yeah, and I don’t think we can force her into anything* Mac said. *Because the last thing we want or need is for her to resent us for any reason* He rubbed his shoulder. “Can I help you, Stella?”
 
“I asked if there’s a reason we’re going to Miami,” Stella replied.
 
“We told you we’re going to go see Horatio and his friends,” Mac said. “And spend some time with them. It’s just a vacation.”
 
“When was the last time you took a vacation?” Stella asked.
 
“A couple months ago,” Mac replied. “Not that it’s that big a deal. Just relax and we’ll have fun in Miami, Stella.”
 
“Yeah, Stel,” Danny said. “Greg knows all the hot places to go and we’ll have a blast.”
 
“Why do I doubt that,” Stella said.
********************
 
Ryan and Lindsay looked at each other and then at Mandy. “You’re kidding right?” Ryan asked.
 
“I wish I was,” Mandy replied. “We need to make some very, very strong peppermint candies, preferably in taffy form. I found a recipe online that we can use but we need enough to supply both communities.”
 
“We can cook at my place,” Lindsay said. “Adam said your kitchen is full of books right now.”
 
“Yeah, it kinda is,” Mandy said with a slight blush.
 
“We should send the boys to unpack some of the boxes and we’ll cook,” Lindsay said. “That’s if you don’t mind them in your house without you around.”
 
“As long as they just stack them on the floor or tables then its fine,” Mandy said. “I have a system to log in the books and things and I don’t want it messed up. Thanks for your help, Linds.”
 
“Not a problem,” Lindsay said. “I’ve never made taffy before so it’ll be fun.”
********************
 
Ryan, Adam and Hawkes all met at Mandy’s apartment to start sorting through the boxes and setting the books on the tables and chairs. While they were working on that Mandy and Lindsay went to Lindsay’s apartment with the most powerful peppermint liquid they’d been able to find to work on making some peppermint taffy for the communities.
 
“Do you really think this will work?” Lindsay asked as they each mixed up a batch of taffy.
 
“I don’t know,” Mandy admitted. “But would you be able to smell anything after sucking on one of these?”
 
“No way,” Lindsay said. “But the dragons have much better senses than we do. I just hope its enough.”
 
Mandy sneezed as she was adding peppermint to her bowl. “Oops,” she said. “Somehow I think that was too much. Well, I suppose we can try them both out and see what the dragons think.”
 
“They’ll accuse us of trying to kill them,” Lindsay snickered. “Oh, there’s the phone, can you get it? I’m kinda stuck at the moment.”
 
“Sure.” Mandy put her bowl down and grabbed the cordless phone that was on the landline. “Lindsay’s apartment, how may I help you?”
 
“Amanda, there’s trouble in DC,” Mac said. “I want you to get everyone together somewhere safe and stay there until Danny and I get home.”
 
“What should I be looking for?”
 
“It’s not hunter trouble,” Mac said. “Gibbs is having trouble with his boss and it seems that someone managed to frame one of his friends. I just don’t want to take any chances.”
 
“You got it, Mac,” Mandy said.

 

Gibbs and Tony got to the yard early the morning after the meeting on pax draconis. Gibbs knew that he had to talk with Flack about heading down to Miami to attempt to blend and he really wanted to send his younger dragon down before he started losing control. But it all depended on the case load, as so many things in their lives did. But Gibbs had another reason for being in the office as early as they were. He and Tony had copied the black book they’d found at Ari’s place and Gibbs was going to give the copies to Morrow.
 
“I’m going upstairs,” Gibbs said. “Let Flack know I want to talk to him when he gets here.”
 
“You got it, boss,” Tony replied with a smile. He settled in at his desk and got to work answering the emails that had come in and also filling out the necessary forms to keep the team supplied. “Good morning, probie.”
 
“Hey Tony,” McGee said as he walked past the desk. “How are you doing today?”
 
“Not too bad,” Tony said. “Hey Katie, Donnie.”
 
“Good morning Tony,” Flack said with a grin. He put his jacket down on the back of his chair and was just about to sit down when he spun around with a snarl. “Fibbies.”
 
Tony looked up. “Well there goes our good morning,” he said. “What can I do for you, Fornell?”
 
“I need to talk to Jethro,” Fornell said. “Where is he?”
 
“In with the director,” Tony said. “And will probably be there for a while yet. Why don’t you sit down and take a load off? You’re only going to have a heart attack if you don’t relax more.”
 
The team watched as Fornell stalked past them, up the stairs and vanished into the MTAC. “Well that was odd,” Tony said. “Hey Donnie, let’s go down to the lab. I know Gibbs was going to do this but I think it’s more important we take care of it now.”
 
“What’s going on?” Kate asked.
 
“Nothing much,” Tony replied. “For now go ahead and work on clearing up your inboxes and cold cases. I’m sure Gibbs will have an assignment for us when he comes out of his meeting with the director.”
 
“What was that all about?” Kate asked once she was alone in the bullpen area.
 
“Who knows,” McGee replied. “But I’m sure they’ll tell us if we need to know.”
********************
 
“Tony,” Abby exclaimed with a grin.
 
“Hey Abs,” Tony said. “Do you still have sun block left over from your last trip south?”
 
“Somewhere,” Abby said. “But I didn’t think I’d need it any time soon.”
 
“Well seeing as Flack here has hit six months its time for you guys to head south and let Donnie attempt to blend,” Tony grinned. “It means that you’ll be in the sun for at least a couple of days.”
 
Flack blinked a few times. “Is this what Gibbs wanted to talk with me about?”
 
“Yeah, but after your reaction to Fornell I think it needs to be addressed now rather than later,” Tony sighed. “And I don’t know how long Gibbs is going to be in his meeting with Morrow; especially now that Fornell is up there too.”
 
“When are we leaving?” Abby asked.
 
“I’d say sooner rather than later but Mac and Danny are down in Miami right now with Stella so if Flack can hang on until the weekend it’ll work out better,” Tony said. “And we won’t overwhelm Miami with our people.”
 
“And if I can’t?” Flack asked.
 
Tony grinned. “Then Stella will get a first hand look at a dragon in true form,” he said. “And now that we’ve totally broken the new rules I suppose I should fill you guys in.”
********************
 
Gibbs looked up as the door to the MTAC opened and Fornell walked in. “If there’s nothing else, Tom,” Gibbs said softly.
 
“For now, Jethro,” Morrow replied. “But stay in the yard today. I’m going to want to talk with you again soon.”
 
“Tobias,” Gibbs said as he walked past.
 
“Gibbs, I need to talk with you,” Fornell said.
 
“Our usual conference room,” Gibbs sighed. He really wasn’t fond of the federal agent but, at the time, Tobias Fornell was one of the better friends he had. And that was really a sad commentary on his life. “What can I do for you, Tobias?”
 
Fornell sighed and looked at the wall behind Gibbs. “I should have listened to you, Jethro,” he said. “But now I’m really in trouble and, as sad as it sounds, I need your help.”
 
“What are you talking about, Tobias?”
 
“That black book,” Fornell said. “Some of the information was sent to my director and I’m about half an hour away from being arrested for passing information to terrorists. I need you to prove that it’s not true.”
 
“And how exactly do you want me to do that?” Gibbs asked. “You need to talk with your IAB people and explain about the information Ari was assembling. That’s your only hope, Tobias. I don’t think I can do anything to help you with this.”
 
“You have the book, Jethro,” Fornell snapped. “How hard would it be to just turn it over to my director and let him see that it was collected by a known terrorist and there are other people named in the book as well?”
 
“That might be a little hard to do, Tobias, seeing as I just handed everything over to Tom,” Gibbs said.
 
“Like you’d ever do something that stupid,” Fornell said. “I know you handed over copies, Gibbs. You wouldn’t let something that valuable out of your possession no matter what. I know you don’t owe me any favors but would you really let a friend go to prison for something he didn’t do?”
 
“Aw hell, Tobias, you know I wouldn’t,” Gibbs said. “All right, I’ll see what I can do but I’m not making any promises. I don’t think that there’s going to be much I actually can do.”
 
“Thanks, Jethro,” Fornell said. “I suppose that’s all I can really ask for.”
********************
 
“Abby,” Gibbs said as he stalked into the lab. “Tony?”
 
“I was explaining the new rules, boss,” Tony replied with a smile. “And I already talked through the other stuff with Abby and Flack. They’re thinking this weekend will be soon enough.”
 
“Thanks, Tony,” Gibbs smiled back. “Abby, I need your help with something.”
 
“Yes, thank you,” Abby exclaimed. “All I had planned today was maintenance on my equipment. What do you need me to do?”
 
“You still have the scans of the black book?” Gibbs asked.
 
“Of course, loaded and ready,” Abby replied.
 
“Go through it and find all references to Tobias Fornell,” Gibbs said. “He’s in trouble and has asked for our help. I don’t know what good it’ll do but I told him we’d do something for him.”
 
Abby grinned. “Then I’ll work my magic,” she said. “I’ll call you as soon as I have anything that Fornell can work with. Tony, what’s the team working on?”
 
“Finishing up their reports and cold cases,” he replied. “I figured you’d want them working on something while we were finishing up our other business.”
 
“Good enough, thank you,” Gibbs said. He paused and sniffed the air. “There’s something happening upstairs, Tony. I think they just arrested Fornell.”
 
“What’s going on with him, boss?”
 
“They think he’s a mole,” Gibbs sighed. “And there’s nothing we can really do to prove it otherwise until Abby’s done with the book. I just hate to think of him in jail.”
 
“They wouldn’t ship him off without a trial, would they?” Flack asked.
 
“I don’t know, Flack,” Gibbs said. “But we need to get his name cleared as soon as we can because we know he didn’t do any of this.”
********************
 
Tom Morrow glanced through the book on his desk and sighed. He knew that Gibbs was his best agent and he could trust the man with anything but this was going too far. The fact that Gibbs would go so far as to make an almost perfect copy of the book in question showed that his loyalties weren’t totally with NCIS any more. And that wasn’t something that Morrow was going to stand for. He picked up his phone and asked to have Gibbs sent to his office.
********************
 
“You wanted to see me, sir?” Gibbs asked shutting the door behind him.
 
“I want the real book, Jethro,” Morrow replied.
 
“You sure don’t beat around the bush, do you?” Gibbs said. He settled into the single chair across from the director of NCIS and looked at him closely. “And that is the real book, Tom. I wouldn’t keep evidence from you for any reason.”
 
Morrow sighed and flipped the book over. “This was made here in the states, Jethro,” he said. “I find it very hard to believe that anyone associated with Ari and the other terrorist groups would buy notebooks here.”
 
“That’s not something I can speak on,” Gibbs said. “But I’m telling you that’s the real deal.”
 
“And I’m saying its not,” Morrow snapped. “I’m not going to tell you again, Gibbs. Give me the book.”
 
“I did,” Gibbs said again.
 
“Then you leave me no choice in the matter, Jethro,” Morrow sighed. “You’re suspended, Gibbs. And don’t come back until you come to your senses and give me the book.”
 
Gibbs took a deep breath to keep his eyes from glowing and tried to relax. “As you will, sir,” he said. He stood up and left the office without a backwards glance and made his way down to the bullpen. “DiNozzo, conference.”
 
Tony jumped up and followed his dragon into the elevator and waited until they were stopped between floors. “What’s going on, Jethro?”
 
“I’ve been suspended,” Gibbs said finally relaxing and letting the dragon come through. His eyes started glowing a deep amber. “It was all I could do to keep from Changing and biting Morrow on the ass.”
 
“That would be hard to explain,” Tony said. He moved in and wrapped his arms around his dragon’s waist. “What are we going to do, boss?”
 
“I’m going to clock out and then sneak back in,” Gibbs said. He kissed Tony’s neck and pulled him in closer. “I’ll hide out in the lab or with Ducky until its time to go home because there’s no way in hell I’m leaving you alone right now.”
 
“And Morrow is going to put me in charge of the team, isn’t he?” Tony asked.
 
“Probably,” Gibbs replied. “But you’ll be staying in the building because if Tom tries to send you guys out on a case he’ll have a very pissy dragon in his face.”
 
“We’ll be fine, Gibbs,” Tony said. He ducked his head and caught his dragon’s mouth in a soft kiss. “And now you’ll have a chance to work with Abby on the whole Fornell thing.”
 
“You always know how to cheer me up,” Gibbs said. “And I wish we had more time here but Morrow wants me out of the building and the last thing I want is to have security take me out of here.”
 
Tony snickered. “There’s an experiment I wouldn’t want to miss,” he said. “I’ll call Mac and let him know what’s going on.”
 
“Nah, leave it to me,” Gibbs said. “It’ll give me something to do.”

 

It was easier than it should have been for Gibbs to get back into the building but he had to make sure that no one saw him because the last thing he wanted to do was let the director know that he was back in the building for any reason. If he did there was a very good chance that he could lose his job for disobeying a direct order, no matter how good his record or standing with NCIS. And there wasn’t a chance in hell that he’d leave his community without protection.
 
So he went around to the side of the building and tapped on the back window of Abby’s lab. She was working on her computer and jumped when she heard the rap on the glass. “God, Gibbs, what are you trying to do, give me a heart attack or something?” she asked as she let him into the lab. “Can’t you just use the door like a normal human being?”
 
“Nope,” Gibbs grinned. “And no one can know I’m down here, Abs. I’ve been suspended.”
 
“What the hell are you talking about? How could the director suspend you, Gibbs?”
 
“I wouldn’t do what he wanted me to,” Gibbs said with a shrug. “So I need a place to hide out for a while.”
 
“You’ve got one,” Abby said. “And no one will hear it from me that you’re down here. I promise you that.”
 
“That’s good because I’ve got to make some phone calls,” Gibbs said.
********************
 
Mac had just turned his phone back on once the plane landed in Miami when it rang. “Taylor.”
 
“Hey Mac, it’s Gibbs; we’ve got a problem.”
 
“Lay it on me,” Mac said.
 
“Well, starting with the most basic, I’ve been suspended,” Gibbs said. “They wanted that book with all the blackmail data in it and I refused to give it up. And one of my friends from the FBI has been arrested for being a mole. Where are you at?”
 
“We just got off the plane in Miami and are heading for Gil’s as we speak,” Mac said. “And Stella still isn’t happy about all of this but I’m really hoping that Horatio will have some effect on her attitude. And Amanda’s got some ideas too.”
 
“I hope she can come up something for us because I’m drawing a blank on everything,” Gibbs said. “And that includes how to help Tobias get out of jail before he gets killed by the other inmates.”
 
“I wish I had some answers for you, Gibbs, but I’m kinda at dead ends too,” Mac sighed. “Amanda is doing a ton of research for us and we might have to just rely on her right now.”
 
Gibbs sighed. “I can’t do that,” he said. “Because Tobias needs the answers now and not in a week or so when Mandy gets done with her research. But I’ll take anything else she can come up with.”
 
“Don’t let her hear you say that,” Mac said. “She’s feeling really, really vulnerable right now and I don’t want anything to hurt her feelings again. I made up with her before I left town this morning and she forgave me.”
 
“I wasn’t going to call her,” Gibbs said. “Abby is dealing with some stuff for me now and I’ve got to go. Get your people together just to be on the safe side. I don’t think this is a prelude to a hunter attack but I’d rather not take any chances.”
 
“You’ve got it,” Mac said. “I’ll talk with you either later tonight or tomorrow, Gibbs.”
 
*Mac, is everything okay* 
 
*I don’t know, Danny* Mac sighed. He dialed Lindsay’s home number. *I really don’t know*
********************
 
“So what do you have, Abby?” Gibbs asked later that afternoon. He was willing to bet that most of his people wouldn’t have expected him to be patient about anything, let alone evidence being run, but Gibbs wasn’t stupid and he knew that the last thing he really wanted to do was piss off Abby in her own lab. So he’d been sitting quietly in the very back of the lab flipping through copies of the information Abby had printed off for him. And he was sure that the only person who knew where he was in the building was Tony and he’d been hoping his human would bring him lunch but it hadn’t happened yet.
 
“Not a lot, Gibbs and this is going to take longer than we thought it would,” Abby sighed. She flopped down in the chair next to him and rolled over to another one of her computers. “This book was kept in two different hands and they each used a different code, almost as if they didn’t trust the other and I’ve only been able to work out Ari’s so far. This other one is a lot harder than anything I’ve ever run across before. It’d help if I could grab McGee and get him to help me with it.”
 
“I’d have to go to the morgue,” Gibbs said. “Give me ten minutes to get there and then call McGee and get him down here. I’ve got a really bad feeling about Tobias and want to get him out of holding as soon as possible.”
 
“Boss?” Tony’s voice was soft.
 
“I’m back here, Tony.”
 
“There was just a phone call from the holding cells,” Tony said. He put his hand on his dragon’s shoulder. “I’m sorry; Jethro, but Fornell hung himself.”
********************
 
“Sir, you can’t go in there,” a guard called as Gibbs stormed down the hall towards the holding cell where an ME and a couple of other people were working.
 
“Just try and stop me,” Gibbs snarled. “What the hell happened here?”
 
“Special Agent Gibbs,” the head guard said. “I came in to bring him some lunch and found him hanging from the ceiling. I went in to cut him down and called for our doctor to come up.”
 
Gibbs growled. “There’s no way in hell Tobias would have killed himself,” he said. “I’d like a copy of your report to go to our ME at NCIS, please.”
 
“Ducky? Of course,” the ME said. “It’s always sad when this happens but you know it does when people think they have nothing to lose.”
 
“He wouldn’t give up,” Gibbs said. “And he wouldn’t kill himself.”
 
“Do you know who is his next of kin?” the ME asked.
 
“I think it’s me,” Gibbs replied. “But I’m not positive. You’ll have to check with the bureau on that one.”
 
“Why don’t you stay close just in case,” the ME said. “You can come with me.”
********************
 
Once the door to the morgue was shut behind them Gibbs looked at the ME. “You know what’s up,” Gibbs said.
 
“Fornell asked for my help,” the ME said. “My name is Jackson, Thomas Jackson. Agent Fornell was scared that his life was going to be in danger and asked for me to come and talk with him in the cell. We came up with this scheme but now I don’t know what to do with him.”
 
Gibbs poked Fornell’s arm. “You can wake up, there’s no one else here.”
 
“Jethro? What are you doing here?” Fornell asked as he sat up, rubbing his neck. “Thom, that wasn’t the most painless thing I’ve ever been through but I appreciate your help getting out of that mess. Now what?”
 
“That’s what I was about to ask Special Agent Gibbs,” Thomas said. “Do you have any idea of a place we could hide him that no one else would look?”
 
“My place,” Gibbs said. “It’s the most logical conclusion at this point if Tobias thinks he can put up with me for a day or two. Or I can send him out of town to some friends in New York City. It’s his choice.”
 
“I’ve needed a vacation,” Fornell said. “But don’t you think you should call your friends and ask them before you send me up to them?”
 
“I guess I do need to see where they’d put you,” Gibbs said. He pulled out his phone and dialed Mandy’s number. “Mandy, I need a favor.”
 
“What can I do?” Mandy asked. “We’ve got everyone together at Lindsay’s place and are just waiting for the next phone call from you or Mac.”
 
“I’ve got a friend here who needs to hide out for a week or so,” Gibbs said. “And I was wondering if you guys had some space for him in one of your apartments.”
 
“Hang on a minute,” Mandy said. There was some muttering in the background and then Mandy came back on the phone. “Ryan says you can use his apartment and he’ll stay with Lindsay. They’re looking for a new apartment anyway.”
 
“That’s great, Mandy,” Gibbs said. “I’ll be up with him in about six or seven hours.”
 
“Great, then you can be the guinea pig for me,” Mandy said. “See you then.”
 
Gibbs just blinked at his phone a couple of times before he tucked it back into his pocket. “Well, Tobias, it seems that we have just the place for you. I’ll get Tony to pack you a bag and meet us.” He went to the door and looked back over his shoulder. “Well, what are you waiting for, Tobias?”
 
“They’re going to be looking for my body soon,” Fornell said.
 
“Let me worry about that,” Thomas said. “Thanks for your help, Agent Gibbs. I didn’t want anything bad to happen to Agent Fornell.”
 
The dragon looked between them and bit back a smile. “Are you sure you want to go to New York, Tobias?” he asked.
 
“Where else would I go?” Fornell asked, a little puzzled.
 
“I’ll explain it on the drive up to New York,” Gibbs said. “Well, let’s go.”

 

“So you seem to know something I don’t,” Fornell said once he and Gibbs were on the road to New York. “Are you planning to tell me what the hell was going on back in the morgue?”
 
“How long have you and Thomas Jackson been friends?” Gibbs asked.
 
“Hell, I don’t know; longer than I’ve known you. Why?”
 
“Just curious. I think that he wouldn’t have minded you staying at his place until this all blows over,” Gibbs said. “In fact, I think he was a little disappointed when you turned him down.”
 
“Will you quit with the riddles already?” Fornell asked. “You make it sound like Thom was planning to seduce me or something.”
 
Gibbs just looked over at Fornell. The other man saw the look and panicked. “Will you keep your eyes on the road, Gibbs? What the hell are you trying to do, get us both killed?”
 
“I wouldn’t have told you if I thought it would upset you that much,” Gibbs said.
 
“Your driving is what’s upsetting me.”
 
“My driving is fine.”
 
“Yeah, for a race track,” Fornell snapped. “I suppose letting me drive is out of the question. Yeah, that’s what I thought. You know, you should blindfold your passengers, Jethro. That way they wouldn’t have to put up with the mind-numbing terror of seeing what you’re doing. No wonder they don’t let you transport suspects. This comes under the heading of cruel and unusual punishment.”
 
“We don’t have to go to New York, Tobias,” Gibbs said changing lanes to get to his exit. “We can always put you back in your cell or, better yet, your slab in the morgue.”
 
“That’s low even for you,” Fornell said. “Now how the hell did you come to such an insane conclusion about Thom?”
 
Gibbs grinned. He wasn’t going to tell Fornell the real reason; he’d been able to smell the other man’s arousal. That was the real reason Gibbs had rushed Fornell out of the building – medical scrubs could only hide so much after all. “You’d have to be blind not to see it, Tobias,” he finally said. “The guy was practically drooling over you.”
 
“I didn’t see it.”
 
“When was the last time you had your eyes checked?”
 
“It’s not funny, Gibbs.”
 
“You’re right, it’s not,” Gibbs said. “We shouldn’t make fun of another man’s feelings. So what are you planning to do about it?”
 
“And why should I do anything?” Fornell asked.
 
“Because your friend knows that I figured out his feelings and would be telling you about them,” Gibbs replied. “And he didn’t object so that means you need to figure out how you feel about him and what you’re going to do about it. And I don’t just mean your automatic, knee-jerk reaction either. You need to think about this seriously.”
 
“I don’t believe that Jethro Gibbs is encouraging me to get involved with another man,” Fornell said.
 
“You’ll find happiness in the strangest places, Tobias,” Gibbs said. “And having someone in your life who understands the job, the hours, the dedication isn’t something you should throw away.”
 
Fornell glanced back over at his friend. “Something is different about you, Jethro,” he said. “And I don’t know what it is.”
 
“You should know better than most that the face we show at work isn’t real, Tobias,” Gibbs said. “And that’s all I’m going to say on that.”
********************

~South Dakota~
 
It had taken some arguing on Sam’s part but Dean eventually agreed to go see Bobby. Sam hadn’t told his brother the real reason he wanted to go see the older man and Dean hadn’t pressed much. They’d come to an agreement not to talk about Mandy or what they had learned in Miami. But that didn’t stop Sam from visiting every web page he could find on dragons and as working to separate the fact from the fiction as best he could. He knew he’d have to call Mandy eventually but wanted to at least try and work things out by himself first. Sam just couldn’t shake the feeling that he had really hurt Mandy when he let Dean drag him out of Miami and didn’t know how to apologize – yet.
 
“Quit your day dreaming, we’re here,” Dean’s voice cut through his thoughts.
 
“I was just thinking, Dean,” Sam said as he followed his brother towards the house.
 
“Well stop it, it ain’t healthy.”
 
“Sam, Dean,” Bobby said with a grin. “What brings you boys out this way?”
 
“The Impala needs some work and geek-boy here wants to use your library,” Dean replied. “Plus it’s on our way to our next hunt.”
 
“You know where the tools are, Dean,” Bobby said. “Now then, Sam, what exactly did you want to read up on?”
 
Sam looked around to make sure Dean was out of earshot before replying. “Dragon lore,” he said softly. “And I can’t let Dean know what I’m reading either, Bobby.”
 
“Now why would you be asking about that?”
 
“So you know something.”
 
“Yeah I do ‘cause my daddy was one,” Bobby said. “I know I still got his books here somewhere. Are you going to tell me what’s going on with you, Sam?”
 
The young man outlined what had happened in both New York and Miami while being careful to leave out the actual names and locations. “But Dean’s convinced they’re all evil and need to be killed,” Sam finished. “So I’ve been hiding my research because a friend says I’m a dragon and I want to know more.”
 
“When don’t you?” Bobby asked. “I can remember chasing you outta here when you were little, Sam. You always wanted to read my books.”
 
“Bobby, does Dad know about this?” Sam asked.
 
“Damned if I know,” Bobby admitted. “If he was an unchanged dragon then your mother wasn’t his human. That don’t mean he doesn’t love her, she just wasn’t the one his soul called out to.”
 
“My friend says that being able to recognize a dragon in unchanged form is a fairly good indication that they’re going to bond,” Sam said. “But she’s only sixteen, Bobby.”
 
Bobby blew some dust off a box and handed it to Sam. “These are some of my dad’s journals,” he said. “And that’s not always the case, Sammy. There are some people who can just tell and it doesn’t have anything to do with their bond.”
 
“So you’re saying there’s no guarantee she’s my human,” Sam said. “Is there any way to know who is?”
 
“Not until the moment you Change to save ‘em,” Bobby said with a grin. “You go ahead and read through what I gave you and I’m going to have a chat with Dean.”
 
“Bobby, you can’t tell him about this,” Sam said quickly. “Please; he’s only just started talking to me again and the only thing keeping him from going back and trying to kill my friends is a promise he made to me.”
 
“That boy sure don’t like having his world view upset does he?” Bobby grumbled. “I could almost say I hope he’s your human because then he’d have to listen and learn about the dragon world.”
 
Sam paled. “He’s my brother, Bobby, how can you say something like that?”
 
“Hell Sam, things like that don’t matter in a male to male dragon bond,” Bobby said. “It’s in one of the journals I gave you. The only problems come from the restrictions society places on sexual partners.”
 
“But isn’t that the point?” Sam asked.
 
“Read, Sammy,” Bobby said gently. “I’ll go talk cars with your hard-headed brother.”
********************

~Washington D.C.~
 
“You wanted to see me, Director?”
 
“DiNozzo, close the door and sit down,” Morrow replied with a warm smile.
 
Tony’s instincts kicked in and several warning flags went up. He really wished he and Gibbs had the silent speech talent as he wanted his dragon to know what was going on without alerting anyone else.
 
“As you’re no doubt aware, DiNozzo, I’ve been forced to suspend Jethro for an undetermined period of time. So I want you to take command of the team until Gibbs returns. You’ll have Special Agent Doris Smith assigned to you so I don’t have to take your team out of the field.”
 
“With all due respect, sir, I have three special agents on the team already and we work well together,” Tony said. “I don’t believe adding an unknown, especially with Gibbs gone, is a good idea.”
 
“It’s not open to negotiation,” Morrow said. “And when you call Jethro I want you to tell him that he’s not to show his face in the yard until he gives me the real book.”
 
“I wasn’t planning to call Gibbs, sir,” Tony said. “And if that’s all then I’d like a chance to brief my team.”
 
“Yes, that’s all DiNozzo.”
********************
 
“Abby, we’ve got a problem,” Tony said as he walked into the lab.
 
“I know,” Abby replied. “This code is next to impossible to break and if I can’t do it then we won’t be able to clear Fornell’s name and we won’t ever get Gibbs back. I mean, not that you don’t make an awesome boss or anything like that, it’s just…”
 
“Yeah, it’s just Jethro,” Tony agreed softly. “The director has put a new agent on the team, Abby. What do your files say about Doris Smith?”
 
“My top secret, only known by me files say that it’s totally an alias,” Abby grinned. “Her real name is Kathy McMantiss and she’s the director’s spy. Morrow must really think something is up to put her in with us.”
 
“We’ll have to tell the others,” Tony said. “Especially Flack.”
 
“Why do you think we’ve been stuck with her?” Abby asked. “Is it because of this or everything else?”
 
“I don’t know, Abs, I really don’t,” Tony sighed. He rubbed his eyes. “Jethro is out of town and up in New York for a couple of days so I’m in charge here and I don’t know where to start.”
 
Abby popped out of her chair and hugged Tony. “You go let the Duck-man know what’s up,” she said. “I’ll get the others and let ‘em know I’ve got something they need to see and we can fill them in down here. But don’t forget Donnie and I are on vacation this weekend.”
 
“I haven’t and it might be sooner if he doesn’t stop growling at everyone,” Tony said. “Somehow I have a feeling this is what Mac was like.”
 
“According to Mandy he was way worse,” Abby said. “So shoo, we need to get this taken care of before Morrow’s spy has time to get here.”
 
“I’ll call Jethro when I get home tonight,” Tony added. “For some reason Morrow expected me to call Gibbs the second I got back to my desk. I told him I hadn’t planned to.”
 
“Freaky.”

 

Gibbs got Fornell squared away at Ryan’s apartment and made sure there were no community books or other dragon information lying around. It looked like it had all been cleared out. “I’ve got to go and meet with some friends,” Gibbs said. “Don’t wait up.”
 
It was easier to leave the car at the apartment and take the subway to Lindsay’s building. It was the first time Gibbs had ever been to the youngest bond pair’s home and he was impressed by the directions given him.
 
“Hey Gibbs,” Ryan said opening the door in response to the brisk knock. “Come in, can I get you anything to drink?”
 
“Coffee if you have it,” Gibbs said with a smile. “How are things, Ryan?”
 
“Quiet for the moment apart from Stella; she’s down in Miami with Mac and Danny now,” Ryan said. “But we haven’t heard anything from them yet.”
 
“Jethro,” Mandy exclaimed when she saw the alpha dragon enter the kitchen, “try this for me, please.”
 
Gibbs opened his mouth to ask what it was and Mandy took the opportunity to pop one of the peppermint taffies in his mouth. Gibbs bit down out of reflex and his sinuses were flooded by the cold tingle of a very strong mint. “What the hell is it?” he asked.
 
“Taffy,” Mandy replied with a grin. “Now the question is, which batch did I give you a sample from.”
 
“The extra strong one,” Lindsay said after checking the counter. “The ones we dyed blue to mark them out.”
 
“Oops,” Mandy said. “I’m so sorry, Jethro, I just grabbed a piece when I heard you come in. But what do you think? Will it work?”
 
“I can’t smell a damn thing,” Gibbs snarled.
 
“Well that answers that question,” Lindsay said. “Ryan flat out refused to help us with the taste tests and none of us have strong enough senses to make sure its working properly.”
 
Ryan snorted and handed Gibbs a mug of coffee. “I figured that until we know exactly what’s going on the only dragon here should have all his senses fully functional,” he said.
 
“Good thinking,” Gibbs said.
 
“So do you think it’ll work?” Mandy asked. “Mac just told me you wanted a way to knock out your sense of smell at certain crime scenes whilst leaving your other senses firmly in place to protect the humans with you. This was the only thing I could think of on short notice.”
 
“All I can smell is peppermint but my other senses are fine,” Gibbs said. He sipped his coffee and made a face. “Except taste, that is. But once the shock goes away they’re tasty enough. Can you make up enough for all the dragons?”
 
“It’ll take some time but if we spend a couple hours a night on it then we should be done by the end of next week,” Mandy said. “And that’s allowing for bonding time between Ryan and Lindsay, my research time and all of us pulling shifts at the lab as well.”
 
“Speaking of the lab,” Ryan said, “we should probably call it a night. We’re all on the early shift tomorrow to make up for the others being gone.”
 
“I’ll escort your home, Mandy,” Gibbs said.
 
“Okay, night guys,” Mandy said. She hung up her apron and left to gather up her things.
 
“Thanks for giving up your apartment like this, Ryan,” Gibbs said. “Tobias is innocent and they’re trying to railroad him. We had to fake a suicide just to get him out of the city.”
 
“Does he know about us?” Ryan asked.
 
“No and I’m not planning to tell him,” Gibbs replied. “I checked and it looked like all community items were gone before we arrived.”
 
“Yeah, we cleaned house after you called,” Lindsay said. “Don’t worry about how long your friend is in town. Ryan’s building manager knows he has company staying and will wait before renting the apartment.”
 
Gibbs nodded. “I told Tobias to order in and charge it so no one will know he’s here but I’m starting to think it would be better to have you guys take him food so even the delivery people don’t get suspicious,” he said.
 
“Whichever works out best,” Ryan said.
 
“I’ll be happy to play waitress,” Mandy said as she rejoined the group. “Ryan’s apartment is on my way to the lab and it really wouldn’t be an extra hassle.”
 
“We’ll talk about it,” Gibbs said. “Goodnight.”
********************
 
Gibbs was shocked when he saw the state of Mandy’s apartment. “Amanda Bonnibel, this is crazy,” he said looking around.
 
“Says the man who is building a boat in his basement,” Mandy replied. “I manage, Jethro. The guys were here unpacking and things are just a little messy at the moment. It’ll be fine once I get everything organized and stacked away.”
 
“Mandy, even I can see that your living room will be so full of books that you won’t be able to get around,” he said. “Why are you so determined not to move to a bigger apartment?”
 
“Because I can’t afford it,” Mandy said softly. “And I don’t want to be a burden to anyone else. Let it go, Jethro. I’ll be fine. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I do have to be at the lab early tomorrow.”
 
Gibbs pulled Mandy into a hug. “What’s it going to take to convince you that you’re a member of our community and we look after our own?” he asked.
 
“A miracle,” Mandy said. “Good night, Jethro.”
********************
 
When Gibbs got back to Ryan’s apartment he found Fornell engrossed in a movie. He snorted softly and made his way to the master bedroom as Fornell had wanted to sleep on the couch for some strange reason. Gibbs took a quick shower and climbed into bed with his cell phone to call Tony.
 
“DiNozzo.”
 
“It’s me, Tony.”
 
“Jethro, I was just about to call you,” Tony said. “There’s something really strange going on with Morrow and I don’t know exactly what I should do.”
 
“Tell me what happened.”
 
Tony fell into agent mode and reported everything to Gibbs as if he was going a briefing on a case. Gibbs couldn’t help but be proud of his human. Tony had matured as an agent so well and honest his instincts perfectly. “All right, Tony, now give me your feelings on this,” Gibbs said when his human was finished.
 
“The way Morrow was looking at me really bothered me, Jethro,” Tony said. “And then there was his comment about me calling you as soon as I was out of his office. It’s almost like he knows something is going on with us.”
 
“Do you think he could’ve recognized me as a dragon?” Gibbs asked.
 
“Honestly, I don’t know,” Tony replied. “I’ll keep an eye on things for a few days, boss, and see if I can get more data for us. Flack’s managing to hang onto his control but only just and I don’t know what’s going to happen when Morrow sends us out on a case.”
 
“I told Tom you weren’t to be in the field until I was back,” Gibbs snarled.
 
“I know, boss, but I think you’ve fallen out of favor with the director at the moment,” Tony said. “I’ll be sure to take extra care with the team in the field if we catch a case tomorrow. I’m still trying to figure out why Morrow is so keen on getting his hands on Ari’s little black book.”
 
“There must be something in it he doesn’t want anyone else to see,” Gibbs said. “But he should know there are copies floating around.”
 
Tony was silent for a moment. “Just the two here at the yard, boss,” he finally said. “Because you didn’t give a full copy to Fornell or any other agency.”
 
“Then it’s a damn good thing I have the book with me,” Gibbs said. “Tell Abby to take everything with her down to Miami and ask Grissom for help. I’ll leave a copy here with Mac for his team to work on too. We need to find out exactly what this book says.”
 
“On it, boss,” Tony said. “So when are you coming home?”
 
“Late tomorrow,” Gibbs replied. “I want to visit with Mac about a few things and then I’ll leave.”
 
“I wish I could’ve gone with you,” Tony said. “I don’t like it when we have to be apart like this.”
 
“I know, Tony, I don’t like it either,” Gibbs said. “I don’t like it when we have to sleep apart.”
 
“You’re a protective bastard,” Tony teased.
 
“You shouldn’t tease your dragon, Tony,” Gibbs said. “If I was home I’d pin you down and teach you exactly how bad an idea it is to tease your dragon when there’s a forced separation like this.”
 
“But you know how much I love it when you let the dragon lose and pin me down,” Tony said. “Especially when you pin me to our bed and keep me there for hours.”
 
Gibbs growled deep in his chest as he felt his cock starting to harden at his human’s words. “Don’t start something you can’t finish, Tony,” he warned.
 
“Oh I think I can finish both of us,” Tony said, a smile very obvious in his tone. “Do you want me to tell you what I want?”
 
“I know what you want, Tony. You want me to pin you to the nearest flat surface and make you scream as I claim you,” Gibbs said. He flipped the covers back and wrapped his fingers around his erection.
 
“I want more than that, Jethro,” Tony said. He moaned softly as he stroked his own cock. “I want you to take me hard and fast and then I want you to lick and taste every part of my body and then claim me again. And I want you to mark me. I want everyone to know I belong to you.”
 
“I want you here with me on my cock, Tony,” Gibbs growled. “I need to feel the tight heat of your body wrapped around me as we both climax. I need to be able to feel our bond wrapped around us as we move together.”
 
“Jethro, so close,” Tony moaned.
 
“Hold on for me, Tony,” Gibbs said.
 
“Don’t know if I can,” Tony panted. “Need to come, Jethro. Please.”
 
Jethro growled again as his body tightened and he came. He heard Tony cry his name and knew his human had reacted to the growl on a subconscious level. “Is that going to hold you until tomorrow?”
 
“It’s not as good as when you’re with me, but yeah,” Tony replied. “Hurry home, Jethro. I need you.”
 
“I’ll be home as soon as I can, Tony,” Gibbs said. “Tell Flack to keep on guard if you guys do end up in the field because we still don’t know how secure we are here and I don’t want anyone taking any chances.”
 
“Okay, but he’s getting ready to go to Miami to blend.”
 
“I’ll be home before he leaves and I’ll shadow you guys if you’re in the field. And I don’t give a damn if Tom finds out about it either. I’ll take being fired if it means I can protect you.”
 
“We’ll get the book translated and you’ll be back at work before you know it,” Tony said. “Because we’re not a team without you there growling at us.”
 
“I’ll remind you that you said that the next time you complain about my head-slaps,” Gibbs grinned. “I love you, Tony.”
 
“Love you too, boss.”

Gibbs woke up the next morning around five and took a minute to orient himself. He really, really did not like sleeping away from his human as he always woke up both groggy and cranky. And a cranky dragon wasn’t pleasant to be around no matter how you sliced it. He showered, hand wandering down and wrapping around his erection as Gibbs thought about showering with Tony and how much fun they could have in the shower. He sagged against the wall as his climax washed through him, rinsed off, dressed and went to the kitchen to see if he could find any coffee.
 
Fornell was still on the couch, sound asleep, the TV still on. Gibbs snorted and checked the time. He decided to hide his bastard side and was as quiet as possible in the kitchen so he wouldn’t wake the other man. He supposed that faking your own death probably would take a lot out of a person.
 
There was a soft knock on the door just as Gibbs was getting ready to leave for the lab. He frowned and opened it to find Mandy standing there with a couple of shopping bags. “Good morning, Jethro,” she said. “I know you don’t eat breakfast but I thought your friend probably would want something when he wakes up. I also included the fixings for sandwiches for lunch and some pop, although I didn’t know how he felt about that.”
 
“He’s a fed, Mandy, he’ll eat and drink anything,” Gibbs said. He pulled out his wallet and handed her some cash. “That should cover it and no arguing with me, young lady.”
 
“Thank you,” Mandy said. “I wasn’t planning to at any rate. Are you coming to the lab this morning?”
 
“Yeah, just let me leave a note for Tobias and I’ll be ready to go.”
 
Mandy waited quietly in the entryway until Gibbs grabbed his jacket and then led the way out into the hall. “He really can sleep, can’t he?” she asked. “Are you sure he’s not dead?”
 
“I checked and he’s breathing,” Gibbs replied. “He’s just worn out from all the stress he’s been under. I’ll probably ruin my reputation taking care of him like this, you know.”
 
“Your secret is safe with me,” Mandy grinned. “So what are you planning to do at the lab if Mac isn’t home? Terrorize everyone just for fun?”
 
“Keep you safe,” Gibbs replied. “And any other human that has to go out into the field. With Mac gone, Ryan can only be at one crime scene so he needs back-up.”
 
“Well the team assignments will probably be Ryan and Lindsay together and Hawkes on his own,” Mandy said. “They still haven’t cleared me for field work so I’ll be fine. You go out with Hawkes and I’ll stay close to Adam for the day. That way we’re all paired up.”
 
“We’ll see how well that plan works,” Gibbs said.
********************
 
Mac, Danny and Stella got back to the lab about midday and the city more or less exploded. Gibbs stuck close to Hawkes who was now working with Stella on a double homicide. Ryan and Lindsay pulled two hit and runs that seemed to be connected. Mac and Danny had a domestic dispute that ended in a homicide. Mandy and Adam ran evidence as quickly as they could as it came in and helped out where they could.
 
By five Mac was finally able to take a quick break and talk with his alpha. “How’s it going, Gibbs?”
 
“Better than it is here,” Gibbs replied. “I don’t know how you guys manage it. I’m always impressed when you manage to juggle so many cases at once. Mac, we’ve got a couple of things. I know Gil probably mentioned something to you about this, but we have got to get Mandy into a bigger apartment. She can’t even walk around her living room right now.”
 
“But you know she doesn’t want to,” Mac sighed. “And I don’t know that we can force this on her and not damage our relationship with her at the same time.”
 
“Gil had a thought on that too,” Gibbs said. “They’ve got a complete hunter kit in Miami that Abs and Flack are going to be bringing back. Gil suggested that we let Mandy know we have it and not give it to her until she agrees to find a bigger apartment and accept the communities help.”
 
“I don’t know that extortion is the best way to go here, Jethro,” Mac said. “But I suppose it can’t hurt to start at least looking at the listings.”
 
“The Miami group is going to be sending some figures up to us on how much they can donate a month to pay Mandy for her research,” Gibbs said. “We need to do the same thing but, if I’m right, there should be plenty to pay for a larger place and money left over for food and other expenses as well.”
 
Mac nodded. “She definitely deserves to be paid for her work for the community,” he said. “Especially with as much time as she puts into it for us. Have you mentioned any of this to her, yet?”
 
“No, I wanted to have some firm decisions in hand before I did,” Gibbs said. “And I have to get home.”
 
“Leaving me to do your dirty work,” Mac snorted. “I see how it is, Gibbs.”
 
“You can put all the blame on me if you want to,” Gibbs said. “But Flack’s getting ready to head down to Miami and I need to get back to protect my human. Fornell is at Ryan’s apartment and Mandy’s taken over bringing him food on her way to work. I’ll try and get back up in a week or so. Oh, and I’ve left some files with Adam. It’s a code Abby has been trying to break. Gil and his community have a copy of it as well. I was hoping you guys could take a look as well.”
 
“Sure; Adam and Hawkes thrive on puzzles like that,” Mac said. “And I’m sure Amanda will enjoy it as well. I’ll call you as soon as we have something.”
********************
 
Ryan and Lindsay were just packing up their Avalanche when Ryan stiffened suddenly and turned to look around. Lindsay noticed and her hand drifted towards her gun. “What is it, Ryan?”
 
“I’m not sure,” he replied. “I just felt like we were being watched there for a minute. But its New York, we’re always being watched when we’re working a crime scene.”
 
Lindsay scanned the crowd and saw that there was one man who did seem to be awfully intent on what they were doing. She nudged her dragon’s arm and nodded in the man’s direction. Ryan sighed and made his way over towards the police barrier. “Can I help you with something today, sir?” he asked.
 
“Me, nah, I’m just curious ‘bout what you’re doing is all,” the man said. “I had a couple of you CSIs at my house not long ago and didn’t get to watch much.”
 
“Did you happen to see what happened?”
 
“Nope, I didn’t see nothing,” the man said. “I already gave a statement to the officer as he was working his way down the line. I really just wanted to see what you was doing is all. There ain’t no crime in that, is there?”
 
“It depends on what you plan to do with it,” Lindsay said.
 
“You’re feisty, I like that,” the man said. “I ain’t planning to do nothing with it. I didn’t have much time for science in school and I get the feeling I really missed something. Oh well, you guys have a nice day now.” He turned to leave but paused and looked back at Lindsay and Ryan. “Do you work with Danny Messer?”
 
“We’re on the same shift,” Ryan said. “Are you a friend of his?”
 
“Me, nah; just tell him Sonny said hi will you?”
********************
 
“Hey Adam, have you seen Danny?” Ryan asked while Lindsay was booking their evidence in at the locker.
 
“Dan? I think he’s out in the field with Mac.”
 
“Damn,” Ryan said. “Look, I don’t know anything about this but this really weird guy was at my crime scene today and I need to talk to Danny about it as soon as possible because the guys singled him out and it really made me nervous.”
 
“Who was it?” Adam asked.

“He said his name was Sonny,” Ryan replied.
 
“Call Danny now,” Adam said. “I’m serious. You need to let him know what happened. I’ll go tell Stella and the others but you need to call Danny, or Mac, right now.”
 
“Okay, but what do I tell them?”
 
“Just what happened at the crime scene but be sure you tell them the name first,” Adam said.
 
Ryan shook his head in confusion and pulled out his cell phone. He dialed Danny’s phone and frowned a little when it went to voice mail. “Hey Danny, its Ryan. Look, give me a call when you get this, will you? A guy named Sonny showed up at my crime scene and asked about you today. Adam is all freaked out about it. I’m going to call Mac now and see if I can get him.”
 
“Anything?” Adam asked as he came back into the lab.
 
“Voicemail; let me try Mac.” Ryan waited through the rings and his frown deepened as it went to voicemail as well. “Adam, there’s something not right here. Both Mac and Danny’s phones went to voicemail. One of them always picks up no matter what they’re doing.”
 
“Well, almost always,” Adam said, blushing a little.
 
Ryan grinned. “But that’s usually here at the lab. Do you think this is serious?”
 
“I think you should call Gibbs,” Adam said. “And at least give him the heads up. Look, Sonny Sassone is a mafia wanna-be who almost ruined Danny’s career last time he popped up. It happened before Mac and Danny bonded and its one of the reasons for Mac’s amnesia. I don’t want to think about what the guys could want this time.”
 
Lindsay ran into the lab and skidded to a stop in front of her dragon. “I just heard it on the police scanner. Mac and Danny have been kidnapped.”

 

Flack grinned as he slipped on his sunglasses. He loved Miami, the sun and the warmth and was looking forward to spending some time alone with Abby away from work. Then he realized that she had stopped and was digging in her large black shoulder bag. “What’s up, Abs?”
 
“I’ve got to put on sun block, Donnie,” she replied. “Do you know what that stuff will do to your skin?”
 
“Why do I have a feeling we won’t be sun bathing any time soon?” Don grinned. He took the bottle from Abby’s hand and poured some of the white lotion into his right hand. “You could’ve worn a shirt that provided a little more coverage for your back, you know.”
 
“I’ve got a jacket and a parasol,” Abby said. She started rubbing the sun block on her face. “But could you get my back anyway? I don’t want to risk burning.”
 
“Hey guys,” Speed said as he joined the pair. “Abby, you’re as bad as Horatio.”
 
“Worse,” she smiled. “He’s not a Goth and I like totally am. I like the night time and not the sunshine. It’s just a twist of fate that I have to work during the day. At least they gave me a lab in the basement so I don’t have to put up with a lot of light.”
 
Don snickered and started rubbing lotion on Abby’s lower back. “You should see her bag, Speed,” he said. “I don’t think she packed anything but clothes and sun block.”
 
“We’ll just have to keep her in the lab during the day then,” Speed said. “Are you sure you’re covered, Abby? You don’t want to put on a second layer or anything?”
 
She slipped on her jacket and opened her black parasol. “You can make fun of me all you want, it’s not going to change anything,” Abby sniffed.
 
Don kissed her cheek. “You know I wouldn’t have you any other way, Abs.”
 
“I know,” Abby said. “So Speed, are we really going to the lab because I’ve got a favor to ask of you guys. Well, actually, Gibbs has a favor to ask of you guys and I’m just the messenger.”
 
“Gil’s waiting for you at home to talk through some things and you’ll probably get to the lab tomorrow,” Speed said. He unlocked the Hummer and climbed up into the driver’s seat. “And I think he’s got a favor to ask of you. Or at least your computer hacking skills.”
 
“Anything I can do to help, you know that,” Abby grinned. “So how have things been down here?”
 
“Busy,” Speed said. “Between two hunters kidnapping Greg to try and lure all of us out and having to convince Stella that Mac’s been telling her the truth and a case from Vegas that brought some of their people out here and causing tension with Jim and Warrick, I need a vacation.”
 
“You could always come home with us,” Don said. “Gibbs is suspended and we’ve got a spy for our boss joining the team. I think New York is the only quiet city at the moment.”
 
“And probably not for long,” Abby added. “I don’t know if putting so many dragons together has affected the probability curve or something but it seems like there’s always something happening in all the communities and there’s trouble somewhere.”
 
“Horatio would say it’s centered on a couple of certain people,” Speed snorted. “Mainly Greg, me, Nick, Danny and Tony. But as there’s no evidence to back him up, yet, he hasn’t voiced the opinion to too many people.”
 
“I can see that,” Flack said. “Danny has always attracted trouble. I think it’s his innocent eyes and face that does it.”
 
Speed snickered. “How does anyone who gets to know Danny think he’s innocent?”
 
“I didn’t say nothing about getting to know him,” Flack said with a grin. “I just said anyone who sees his big blue eyes and innocent face. And I know for a fact that he’s used it on Mac a time or two to try and get out of trouble.”
 
“I thought that’s what the storage closet was for,” Abby said.
 
“That too,” Don agreed.
 
“So Speed, is Greg okay?” Abby asked.
 
“Horatio saw the attempted kidnapping and somehow managed to get into the Hummer they took before they did,” Speed replied with a snort. “And threatened to put a bullet in the kidnapper’s head if she didn’t drop the knife and start talking. We’re all a little shaken up that she was able to get into our lab as easily as she did but physically we’re all fine.”
 
“Good, because Mandy and I were talking and we were thinking it might be fun to have a human’s night out where we all go to a couple clubs and just hang out,” Abby said.
 
“Do you really think we’ll let you guys go off unattended like that?” Don and Speed growled together.
 
“You could be like on the other side of the club or something,” Abby said.
 
“That’s all we need, our humans and historian plotting,” Speed grumbled. “Tell me that Eric wasn’t involved in this.”
 
“Not yet,” Abby said trying for innocent and failing miserably.
 
“I’ll tell you right now, Abby, that it’s not going to happen,” Flack said.
 
“You’re just protective because you’re so close to blending.”
 
“Are you complaining?”
 
“No way,” Abby grinned. “I’m not stupid, Donnie.”
********************
 
Gil was on the back deck waiting for Speed to drop off their guests and updating his latest journal as well. He still wasn’t sure how he felt about how easy it had been for hunters to get, if not a person, a contact in the lab and how easy it was for Boa Vista to get Greg out of the lab without anyone commenting. Gil had talked with Horatio and they were going to take a look at the various exits that Boa Vista could have used and see what they could do to improve security because the last thing they wanted was for a hunter to be able to get in and attack while they were at work.
 
“Hey Gil, did you set that up just for me?” Abby asked as she sat down under the umbrella casting a wide shadow over the deck table.
 
“Nick did,” Gil replied with a smile. “Welcome to Miami Abby, Don. Thanks for picking them up, Speed.” 
 
“Not a problem but if you don’t need me I should get back to the lab,” Speed said. “I left some trace samples running and they should be done soon.”
 
“I’ll see you tonight then,” Gil said. “Don, Abby, can I get you anything to drink?”
 
“I think we’re fine, Gil,” Don said. “So what’s gonna happen?”
 
“You’re going to wait for nightfall and then you can either Change on the beach or in the water and you’ll blend,” Gil replied. “And I checked the books because you’re the first male/female bond pair we’ve hand blend. I found out a couple of interesting things too.”
 
“Like what?” Don asked.
 
“Well, for one you’ve been sterile for the past six months, Don,” Gil said.
 
“I’ve been what?” Flack exclaimed.
 
“That explains a few things,” Abby said putting her hand on her dragon’s arm. “I’ve been wondering why we haven’t been able to get me pregnant.”
 
“So what’s going on, Gil?” Don asked.
 
“It seems that a dragon is rendered sterile when he Changes for the first time,” Gil said. “And the fertility returns when he blends. The notes in the journal state that it’s to allow the bond time to form without having to worry about hatchlings. Truthfully it seems like a good idea, especially for Ryan and Lindsay and their bond situation. So it seems that from tonight on there’s a chance you’ll have a hatchling.”
 
Don smiled. “I like the sound of that,” he said. “Although I know Gibbs is scared to death about the idea.”
 
“There’s a good reason for it,” Abby said. “He was married before he met Tony and they bonded. His wife and daughter were murdered while he was overseas and he thinks he failed them. I don’t think he’s ever forgiven himself for it.”
 
“I don’t know how you could recover from something like that,” Don said. “So does that mean he don’t want kids in the community?”
 
“No, it just means he’s going to have to come to some conclusions for himself,” Abby said. “Like the fact that he can be a great uncle and not have to worry all the time that something’s going to happen to the kids.”
 
Gil snorted. “It almost makes me wonder who is going to be worse in this case,” he said. “Gibbs or Mac because it sounds like they both lost something who was very precious to them.”
 
“I think it’s going to be a toss-up,” Flack said. “Still, it sounds like Abs and I will have kids before Ryan and Lindsay. Do they know about this?”
 
“Considering I just ran across it about a week ago, no, I haven’t had a chance to call them,” Gil said. “And I haven’t had a chance to tell Gibbs or Mac either. I will but I think that Ryan and Lindsay still need some time to adapt to their bond and living situation before we mention children to them.”
 
“They’ll be good parents,” Abby said. “You can tell just by watching them.”
 
“I’m sure they will although it’ll be very interesting to see if a dragon is more protective of his own hatchling or if Horatio is more protective of Ray,” Gil said. “Because right now Ray is the only hatchling we have and we’re all pretty protective of him.”
 
“You guys aren’t ever going to have kids down here, are you?” Don asked. “I mean, biological kids.”
 
“Seeing as it’s impossible for a male to become pregnant I find it highly unlikely,” Gil said, straight-faced as only he could manage. “Now, moving on; Abby, I know you did some checking on Natalia Boa Vista when she first came to the Miami crime lab but I was wondering if you’d be able to figure something out for us.”
 
“Shoot.”
 
“We’re still not sure which story she gave us was the real one,” Gil said. “But it doesn’t matter in the end as she kidnapped Greg and tried to take him to known hunters for money. What we’re wondering is if you can figure out who actually wanted her placed in the lab and how contact was made between her and the Cruz brothers.”
 
“That should be a piece of cake,” Abby said. “I’ll get McGee to help me with it when I get back to DC and, oh, yeah. Gil, we kinda have a problem with doing community research at the yard right now. The NCIS director is acting wicked strange. He suspended Gibbs and is putting his personal spy on our team. We think it’s because of the blackmail books but we can’t be sure until something actually happens.”
 
“How effective a spy is she if you know what she is?” Gil asked.
 
“I’m the only one at the yard who knows,” Abby replied. “But I told Tony and the others because they’re my family and are going to have to be working with her. The director wants the team out in the field to work cases and they don’t have really good protection because Gibbs is having to hide and follow them as best he can.”
 
Gil sighed. “I don’t suppose you could just give the director what he wants, could you?”
 
“Not really because we still don’t know what’s in it,” Don said. “Gibbs was hoping you guys could look through it as well and see what you could manage to do. Abby’s been running it through every type of computer code software she can think of and it’s only halfway done.”
 
“Speed is really the one to talk to about codes, although I think Nicky is starting to pick up an interest in them as well,” Gil said. “We’ll do what we can, of course, but I was just thinking it’d be easier to give the director what he wants so Gibbs can get back on the team and, hopefully, get things back to normal.”
 
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen,” Abby snorted. “There’s something else going on, Gil. We just don’t know what it is yet.”
********************
 
Later that night, as the sun was setting, Don and Abby made their way out onto the beach to talk. Both Gil and Nick had spent some time with them talking the pair through what to expect during the blending process. “So you really do what kids, Abby?”
 
“Are you kidding, of course I do,” Abby replied with a grin. “I think it’ll be totally the best thing that can happen for us, short of the bond of course.”
 
Don smiled. “We’re going to have some color in the kid’s nursery though,” he said.
 
“You’re no fun,” Abby said. She kicked at the sand. “What if it’s a girl?”
 
“What if it is?”
 
“Well, she won’t be a dragon.”
 
“She’ll still know about us,” Don said. “And she’ll know that her dragon is out in the world somewhere just waiting to find her. I’m not going to be one of those guys that demands all boys, Abs. I’ll be happy with either.”
 
Abby snickered. “The poor girl is never going on a date.”
 
“Probably not until she’s twenty-one,” Don agreed. “So, are you ready to try this?”
 
“Are you going out into the water?”
 
“Gil says we float in true form so I think I’ll stay here on the beach,” Flack said. “I’m not keen on tipping over in the water just because I don’t know what’s going on, you know.”
 
“Okay, I’ll be waiting for you.”
 
Don leaned in and kissed Abby before counting off, muttering under his breath about the calculations and finally turned. He focused and then there was a large emerald green dragon on the beach. Abby squealed and ran forward to hug the dragon’s neck.
 
From his place by the window Gil turned and looked at his human. “One more to go, Nicky my boy,” he said.
 
“Maybe not,” Nick said. “Mandy seems pretty sure that Sam is going to Change here soon. The communities might still be growing.”
 
“Do you know if she’s heard from him recently?”
 
“No, but I think something is going to happen soon,” Nick commented. “You should ask Jim if he’s feeling anything.”
 
“E tu, Nicky?” Gil asked with a grin.
 
“Apparently,” Nick said. He wrapped his arms around Gil. “But you love me anyway.”

Ducky looked up from the autopsy he was performing with a sigh. “Really, Jethro, you’re as distracting as a herd of elephants on roller skates dancing disco,” he said. “Would it be too much to ask for you to sit for a moment?”
 
“I want to be in New York, Duck,” Gibbs said making the turn and pacing back towards the wall of freezers. “I want to find this dirt bag who took Mac and Danny and make him pay. I want my damn job back. I’m sick of skulking around like this.”
 
“Well then the answer there, at least, is easy. Give Thomas what he wants.”
 
“I can’t do it, Duck,” Gibbs said. “For one I’m not letting Tom know I lied to him and two, I want to know what has him all tied in knots. Tony, tell me you have something.”
 
Tony handed Gibbs a fresh cup of coffee from his favorite coffee house. “McGee just finished his run on Sonny Sassone. The man is a two-bit wanna be with family ties to the mafia in New York City. He’s the leader of a gang called the Tanglewood Boys. One of the known members is Louie Messer.”
 
“Relation to Danny,” Gibbs asked.
 
“Older brother,” Tony replied. “McGee also found out that Mac arrested Sonny on a murder charge a little over a year ago, about two months before Mac’s first Change.”
 
“That could be reason enough to grab ‘em,” Gibbs said. “Have you heard anything from New York?”
 
“No, but Flack called,” Tony said. “He’s upset that Gil’s making him stay in Miami.”
 
“Flack needs to focus on blending,” Gibbs sighed. “Life was so much easier when it was just the two of us, Tony.”
 
“But not nearly as much fun,” Tony grinned. “Seriously, boss, I love having the community. It really makes me feel like I’m part of a family.”
 
“I know it does,” Gibbs said. “How’s our little spy getting along with her job?”
 
Tony snickered. “I caught her going through my desk,” he said. “She found all your awards, by the way. I think she’s a blind, boss.”
 
“Why?” He glanced over at the slab where Ducky was still working. “That’s really gross, Duck.” Gibbs unwrapped peppermint taffy and popped it in his mouth.
 
“Go in my office if you must,” Ducky replied. “But this must be done if your team wants its autopsy report. Death is, after all, merely a part of life.”
 
“I think we’re supposed to focus all our attention on this new agent, boss,” Tony said. “And then Morrow is going to do something else. I just don’t know what yet.”
 
“Keep the team safe, Tony,” Gibbs said. “You know where to find me. I’ll read this and then call New York again. I’m waiting for Horatio to get there.”
 
“It was nice of him to come up and help.” Tony made a face. “Can I have one of those mints, please?”
 
Gibbs handed one over with a grin. “It might be too strong for you,” he warned. “It’s getting easier for me to ask for help. Gil’s such an easy going man. I just have to trust him.”
 
“Maybe we should talk about making this one big community with two leaders,” Tony said.
 
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Gibbs said. “Scat, Tony, before they wonder where you are.”
 
“I took a page out of your book, boss, and said I was going for coffee. But I should get back upstairs. I want to figure out this whole spy thing because it’s driving me nuts.”
 
Gibbs kissed Tony gently. “I know you’ll do it,” he said softly.
********************
 
The smells eventually drove Gibbs out of the morgue. Grumbling to himself he made his way to one of the nearby coffee houses for another cup of coffee. The second he was in the door Gibbs felt eyes watching him and it took a minute of scanning the crowded room to pinpoint where the gaze was coming from. When he spotted the man in the Air Force uniform, Gibbs grinned and went to the counter to place his order. While he was waiting he took out one of his cards and wrote a note on the back.
 
He could feel the eyes on him as he made his way through the room and dropped the card on the table. Gibbs grinned at the shock he could smell rolling off the other dragon – an alpha unless he missed his guess – raised his coffee in a quick salute and left.
 
When he got back to NCIS Gibbs took the lesser of the two evils and went to the empty lab. “Tony it’s me,” he said. “Find everything you can on Colonel O’Neill, two “L’s”, Air Force. Bring it to me in the lab. I’m going to call New York again.”
 
“On it, boss, but what’s he got to do with our current case?”
 
“He’s a dragon, Tony, and based on his facial expression he wasn’t expecting to see me today.”
********************
 
When he got back to his hotel room Jack changed out of his uniform and into some sweats. Then he flopped onto the bed and stared at the business card that had been dropped in front of him at the coffee house. There was the NCIS seal along with the name L. Jethro Gibbs and a cell number. He turned it over and read the message on the back for what felt like the millionth time. 
 
--It isn’t safe to talk here. I know what you are and will answer questions. Call me.--
 
Jack was puzzled because, as far as he knew, there were no other dragons on earth. Or in the universe, although he and his team had encountered plenty of lore and mythology on the subject. All the earth-based legends Daniel had managed to uncover stated the dragons had died out. While Jack knew that wasn’t true, he was living proof, he’d never expected to meet another dragon.
 
The question now was what to do. The other dragon, Gibbs, hadn’t looked the least bit surprised to see him. Jack really had to wonder if that meant there was still information he was missing. And why did all the legends say the dragons had died out. Jack had grown used to being alone, being unique, and now this.
 
With a deep growl Jack grabbed his cell phone and dialed the number on the card. He wanted answers.
********************
 
Gibbs was in his home office reading the files Tony had managed to track down on Jack O’Neill – and there weren’t many – when his cell phone rang. He grabbed it and flipped it open quickly, hoping it was someone from New York. “Yeah, Gibbs.”
 
“You weren’t surprised to see me.”
 
“Nope,” Gibbs replied with a chuckle. “I was hoping you’d call, Colonel, because you sure seemed shocked when I walked in today.”
 
“Why isn’t it safe?” Jack asked.
 
“How long have you been Changed?” Gibbs asked in reply.
 
“How long have I been what?”
 
“Changed, Colonel; it means being able to Change into your true dragon form.”
 
“Oh, that, eleven years,” Jack said. “But what’s that got to do with anything?”
 
“Well, first of all it means you’re the oldest Changed dragon that we know about,” Gibbs replied. “But its sounding like there is some major gaps in your knowledge. What size is your community?”
 
“Community?”
 
Gibbs sighed. “Look, Colonel, I have a feeling this is going to be too complicated to discuss over the phone,” he said. “We should meet.”
 
“And where the hell can we do that?” Jack demanded. “Your note says there’s nowhere safe.”
 
“Sure there is,” Gibbs said. “If you trust me, my place or, if not, your hotel room. If I’m too threatening then I’ve got a friend who knows four times as much as I do. It might be a good idea for you to talk with her.”
 
“You’d really invite me into your home?”
 
“Why not but not for more than three days,” Gibbs said. “Because I can almost promise we’ll start fighting.”
 
“Now I’m really confused.”
 
“Unless I miss my guess you’re what’s known as an alpha dragon,” Gibbs replied. “And alphas can’t be together for more than a couple of days without fighting.”
 
Jack was quiet for a moment. “Maybe I should meet with
your friend,” he finally said.
 
“Okay, she’ll have to fly in from New York and she’ll have a human male with her,” Gibbs said. “Her name is Mandy Bonnibel and I can guarantee she’ll be able to answer your questions. How long are you in town for?”
 
“Four more days,” Jack said. “Budget meetings.”
 
“I would like to talk to you again. Can I give you a call?”
 
“Sure,” Jack said. “I’ll admit to being confused as hell but I want to know more. I’m going to call my human and get him to town. He’s a bookworm and he’s going to go nuts.”
 
“I’ll call you tomorrow when Mandy gets here,” Gibbs said. “Nice talking to you, Colonel.”
 
“Jethro?” Tony asked from the door.
 
Gibbs put the phone down and grinned at his human. “That was our new dragon friend, O’Neill,” he said. “Tony, he doesn’t know anything about our world. He’s been Changed for eleven years and didn’t even know what that meant.”
 
“Are you gonna call Mandy?” Tony asked.
 
“Yeah, I’m bringing her and Adam to DC,” Gibbs replied. “Maybe it’ll take her mind off Mac and Danny.”
 
“Good luck doing that,” Tony sighed. “Mandy considers Mac her dad and Danny her brother. She’s going nuts and there’s nothing for her to do.”
 
“There is now,” Gibbs said.

When Horatio stepped off the elevator in the New York Crime Lab he got an armful of distraught teenager. “Horatio, I’m so glad you’re here,” Mandy said, her voice muffled against Horatio’s green dress shirt.
 
“I wouldn’t be anywhere else at the moment,” Horatio replied. “Mac and Danny are going to be fine, Mandy. We’ll find them.”
 
“But they’ve been gone over 24 hours,” Mandy said. “What if something happened to Mac when they were kidnapped and now they’re both dead?”
 
“Do you really believe that?” Horatio asked as he started walking Mandy towards Mac’s office. “Don’t you think you’d know if something really bad happened to either of them? Hi Adam.”
 
“Hey Horatio,” Adam replied with a relieved grin. “I’m glad you’re here ‘cause Stella and the others are out in the field and Mandy’s been going nuts.”
 
Horatio got Mandy to let go long enough to get them both seated on the sofa and looked up at Adam. “Can you fill in the details for me, please?”
 
“Sure, but I think you probably know everything,” Adam replied. He pulled a chair over and sat down. “A bad dude from Danny’s past, and I mean real bad, showed up at Ryan and Lindsay’s last crime scene yesterday. They didn’t know who he is and agreed to pass on the message that Sonny – that’s the bad guy – said hi. So they get back to the lab and Mac and Danny aren’t back yet so Ryan mentions it to me. I recognize the name and tell Ryan to call Danny. That call and the one to Mac go straight to voice mail which never happens unless they’re taking inventory, if you know what I mean. Then we get word that Mac and Danny have been kidnapped from their crime scene.”
 
“And Gibbs can’t come to New York at the moment because Don and Abby are on vacation in Miami,” Horatio concluded. “So he calls Gil and here I am. Have there been any leads on Sonny?”
 
Mandy wiped her eyes. “That’s where Stella, Ryan, Linds and Sheldon are now,” she said softly. “Jethro has McGee searching for information on Sonny but we’re just waiting.”
 
“What about evidence from the scene Mac and Danny were working?” Horatio asked.
 
“Ryan and Lindsay finished processing it and that’s what we were working on when you got here,” Adam said.
 
“Then let’s get back to it,” Horatio said. “Mandy, honey, do you need to stay here for a bit and rest?”
 
Mandy shook her head. “I need to be working, Horatio,” she said. “I’ll be okay. I just want my dad back.”
********************
 
Mac woke slowly with a splitting headache. He blinked a few times to make sure his eyes were really open and sighed – he was blindfolded. *Danny*
 
*Where are we*
 
*I don’t know. Are you okay*
 
*My head hurts, but yeah, I’m fine* Danny replied. *You blindfolded too*
 
*Yeah, and we’re not in the same room* Mac said. *I can smell you but you’re at a distance. Do you remember what happened to us*
 
Danny was silent for a moment. *We was processing that stabbing when there was a commotion at the door to the apartment* he finally said. *I was in the bedroom at the back so it took me longer to get out. I dunno, Mac, I remember seeing you on the floor but I got hit on the head or something ‘cause I don’t remember nothing more until we woke up here*
 
*I came out of the kitchen to see what was wrong and I remember seeing our officer on the ground* Mac said. *And I smelled someone in the apartment but couldn’t see them. And then I’m drawing a blank*
 
*No one knows where we are* Danny said. *They gotta be going nuts searching for us*
 
*They’ll find us, Danny* Mac said soothingly. *And even if they don’t I can probably manage to get us out of here* He paused and carefully scented the air around him. *Our suspect just came back, Danny. He must have me in the living room and you in the bedroom. Pretend to be unconscious until I tell you otherwise*
 
*Be careful, Mac*
 
*I will; I love you so much, Danny*
 
Mac’s blindfold was ripped off. He blinked to get his eyes to adjust and stared up into a very familiar face. “You,” he growled.
********************
 
Horatio was working on a piece of trace evidence when Mandy’s cell phone rang. She pulled off the glove she was wearing and flipped it open. “Hello?” She frowned and left the lab.
 
“What was that all about?” Adam asked from behind Horatio.
 
“I don’t know, Adam, but what have you been able to find?”
 
“Nothing that will help,” Adam sighed. “I mean whoever took Mac and Danny knows what they’re doing. I haven’t found a print or a hair or a fiber in all of this.”
 
“So what exactly are Stella and the others doing in the field if we don’t have any evidence to link Sonny to the case?”
 
“They had a lead on where he was,” Adam said. “I think they want to get him to question him but if we don’t have anything to prove he was there I don’t know what good it will do.”
 
“And if he is as bad as you say he is then he knows how to play the game,” Horatio said. “I wonder if Stella would let me talk with him.”
 
“I might be convinced,” Stella said from the doorway. “Horatio, it’s good to see you again. Have you been able to find anything in here, Adam?”
 
“No,” Adam said. “Everything that Ryan brought back has been a bust. I don’t know what else we can do at this point.”
 
Stella pushed her hair out of her face with a sigh. “Sonny must have gotten word that we’re looking for him because he wasn’t there when we arrived,” she said. “Horatio, do you think Mac and Danny are in any danger from this?”
 
“Honestly, no,” Horatio said. “As long as they’re not in a small space Mac will be able to handle everything just fine. I think they’ll be back just as soon as possible.”
 
Mandy came back into the lab. “I have to go to DC,” she said. “Jethro needs my help with something.”
 
“What’s going on?” Horatio asked.
 
“Not here,” Mandy replied. “But he wants Adam to come with me.”
 
“We need Adam here,” Stella said.
 
“Actually, Chad’s been looking to pick up some more hours and he’s just as good as I am, Stella,” Adam said. “And some fresh eyes on the evidence might not be a bad idea. We’ll be back by tomorrow afternoon.”
 
“Gibbs wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important,” Horatio added softly. “He knows exactly what’s going on here and wouldn’t take away our resources if there wasn’t a very good reason.”
 
“Okay, but you’re explaining it to Mac,” Stella said firmly.
 
“We’ll be right back,” Horatio said. “Mandy.”
 
Mandy led the way to the storage closet that Mac and Danny used when they needed their bond time and shut the door. “Gibbs says he’s met another alpha,” she said softly. “The catch is that he doesn’t know anything about our world.”
 
“And Gibbs needs you to fill in the blanks,” Horatio said. “Mandy, I know you don’t want to go but you’re the only one who can help in this situation. I’ll find Mac and Danny for you. I promise.”
 
“I know, but it doesn’t mean I have to like the idea,” Mandy sighed. “I guess he wants Adam there to talk about the hunters.”
 
“Honey, if hunters had captured Mac we’d know it,” Horatio said. He pulled Mandy into another hug. “I think that Sonny has them and wants to do something. We just have to work it out and then everything will resolve itself.”
 
“Could you have been any more convoluted?” Mandy asked with a weak grin. “I’ll call you when Adam and I get to DC and are with Gibbs.”
 
“You go and take care of that,” Horatio said. “And I’ll take control of things here.”
********************
 
Ryan felt a wash of relief when he caught sight of the familiar and very welcome red hair in the lab. “H,” he said.
 
“Hello Ryan, Lindsay,” Horatio said with a fond smile. “How have you been?”
 
“Stressed,” Ryan said honestly. “H, do you know what’s going on? Is this because of Sonny or because of that other group?”
 
“I don’t know,” Horatio replied. “But I’m going to act in Mac’s place until we find him as far as our business goes. Stella has firm control of the lab.”
 
“Where’s Mandy?” Lindsay asked looking around.
 
“She was called to DC by Gibbs for a teaching lesson,” Horatio said. “Can you two walk me through the crime scene were Mac and Danny were kidnapped, please? Adam and I were unable to find anything in the evidence you collected.”
 
“Sure, it’s still sealed off,” Lindsay said. “Let’s go.”
 
“Thank you,” Horatio smiled.
********************
 
Horatio’s phone rang as Lindsay was driving them to the crime scene. “Hello, Jethro,” he said.
 
“What’s going on up there?” Gibbs asked.
 
“Nothing has changed,” Horatio replied. “Ryan, Lindsay and I are on our way to look at the crime scene where Mac and Danny were abducted. Mandy and Adam are on their way to you. I promise I’ll call if anything does happen.”
 
“Do you know how hard it is to just sit here and do nothing?” Gibbs demanded.
 
“I have an idea,” Horatio said. “But that’s how things worked out. As I understand it you have a number of problems in your city right now.”
 
“Too many,” Gibbs sighed. “Between the book, my director placing a spy on my team and this new dragon I don’t know where I should be starting to try and bring things together. I really want Flack and Abs to get home again.”
 
“I know,” Horatio said. “It won’t be too much longer now though. I suppose its possible Gil will let him try and Change morning and night to blend but it really depends on his energy level more than anything else.”
 
“Can you Change to blend more than once every 24 hours?” Gibbs asked.
 
“I haven’t heard of it but most of our community have taken only once to blend fully,” Horatio replied. “Ask Mandy when she arrives.”
 
“We’re here,” Lindsay said.
 
“Gibbs, I need to go, we just arrived at the crime scene,” Horatio said. “I swear I’ll call you the moment I learn something new.”
 
“I don’t like this, Horatio.”
 
“I don’t either,” Horatio sighed. He rubbed his eyes. “It’s possible that we’re just going to have to trust Mac to get them out of it and there’s nothing we can do.”

Sam looked up as his brother stormed into the room and sighed. For a man who could move silently when he wanted to, Dean was awfully loud. “What, Dean?” he asked.
 
“Come on, Sammy, we’ve been here a week and you haven’t left this room except to sleep,” Dean exclaimed. “I’ve got the Impala ready to go, the weapons are restocked so what the hell are we still doing here?”
 
“Research,” Sam said calmly. “And I’ve got at least another week’s worth of work to do here.”
 
“I’m going stir-crazy, Sam,” Dean said. “Look, Bobby has a hunt he needs help on and it’s only a couple hours away.”
 
“So go, have fun,” Sam said. “I’ll be here when you get back.”
 
Dean closed the book on Sam’s hand. “He needs both of us, Sam. And to tell you the truth, I’m still not exactly clear on what you’re so damn anxious to research here.”
 
“I told you, it’s personal,” Sam said. “I’ll go on the hunt with you, Dean, but only if you promise to let me have another week here when we get back.”
 
“Personal. So damn personal you can’t even tell your brother, is that it? Fine, you can have the week but we’re leaving right now with Bobby,” Dean said. “Come on, he’ll brief us in the car.”
********************
 
“I’ve been trying to find a couple of hunters willing to help me with this place but we ain’t the most social bunch,” Bobby said once they were all in the car heading east.
 
“What did you find out here that’ll require three of us?” Sam asked.
 
“Oh you boys are gonna love this one,” Bobby replied with a grin. “Fifty years ago a family named McClenn lived up here on a farm; husband, wife, twin teen boys and two daughters. One night their house burns to the ground with everyone but the husband inside. Naturally everyone thought he set the fire until they found him shot out in the yard the next morning.”
 
“Was the family black, Bobby?” Sam asked.
 
“How’d you guess that?”
 
“It sounds like something the KKK might have done,” Sam said softly. “Set fire to the house and then stand around and shoot anyone who managed to escape. I’m guessing no one was ever arrested.”
 
“And you’d be right,” Bobby said. “But that don’t mean the spirits didn’t get revenge. There was a series of smaller fires over the next year. Seven white men, one Native American and two black men all died in mysterious fires.”
 
“Whoa, now wait a minute there, Bobby,” Dean commented holding up his hand. “These spooks all died in a fire except their old man so what’s holding them here?”
 
Sam made a face. “Actually, your average house fire isn’t hot enough to completely cremate a body, especially a fresh one,” he said. “If someone dies in a fire they will burn to a degree but there are still remains.”
 
“And they’re in the local cemetery,” Bobby said. “I came up here alone last time and managed to salt and burn the dad. The rest of the family broke my arm in two places and gave me a concussion. That’s why it needs three of us.”
 
“It sounds like it needs five of us,” Sam said. “One for each grave. And what about those other deaths, Bobby? Is there any spirit activity from them?”
 
“Not that I’ve been able to tell but the family we’re after more than makes up for it,” Bobby said. “I ain’t worried ‘bout the uneven number because they didn’t act up until I lit the match.”
 
“So we go in at full dark, dig them all us, douse them and light them up all at once,” Dean said. “And you’re sure that’s all we need to do on this one, Bobby?”
 
“Yep, it’s just the man power,” Bobby replied. “They’re buried in the middle of nowhere so there won’t be any awkward questions.”
 
“I thought you said they were in the local cemetery,” Sam said.
 
“The town emptied out ten years ago and it wasn’t large to begin with,” Bobby said. “So it is local and isolated.”
 
Dean grinned. “Good news for us,” he said. “Let’s roll.”
********************
 
The moment they walked into the cemetery Sam couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen. He trailed behind Bobby and his brother watching everything around them. “Sam,” Dean called.
 
“What?”
 
“Stop gawking and get your ass up here,” Dean said. “Bobby and I aren’t going to dig these graves up by ourselves.”
 
“Dean, there’s something wrong,” Sam replied as he took his position at one of the grave stones. “Don’t you feel it in the air?”
 
“Nope,” Dean said. He started digging up one of the graves marked for the twins.
 
Bobby paused for a moment and glanced over at the younger Winchester. “Sammy, what’s wrong?” he asked quietly.
 
“There’s something wrong with all of this, Bobby,” Sam said. “I can’t explain how I know it; I just do.”
 
“You know the reason for that, Sam,” Bobby said. “Keep your eyes open while you’re digging. I want to know if this feeling gets any worse.”
 
Sam nodded and managed a weak smile. “Okay,” he said.
 
The three men worked in silence after that, digging up the five graves as quickly and efficiently as they could. Sam was done first and turned to the bag to get the salt and lighter fluid. When he turned back his shovel was in the air and aimed at Dean’s neck.
 
“Dean,” he called and then everything went black.
********************
 
Bobby was just climbing out of the last grave when he heard Sam’s shout and then he was knocked over by a chocolate brown wing. He ran as fast as he could to get behind the huge dragon just as a ball of flame rolled over the five graves.
 
“Aw hell, you would be one of the one’s who can breathe flame,” Bobby grumbled. “Sammy, you’re gonna have to Change back so we can get outta here. Where the hell is Dean? Dean, can you hear me?”
 
“I’m over here,” Dean grumbled. “What the hell is going on, Bobby?”
 
“I’d say you were about to be killed,” Bobby said. “You’re gonna have to relax and touch Sammy to get him to Change back into human form. And we’re heading back to my place and we are going to talk about this.”
 
“There’s no way in hell this is Sam,” he said. Dean broke off as the dragon growled. “Okay, so that’s not the thing to say right now. Bobby, how am I supposed to calm down when I’m being held by my brother looking like something from a horror movie?”
 
“You need to adjust your attitude, boy, before I risk being torn apart and come over there and do it for you,” Bobby said. “This is still your brother we’re talking about. Well, now he’s your dragon too. Look, pretend you’re on a hunt and need to center yourself. That’ll calm you down enough to get Sam back to true form.”
 
“You are so explaining this when we get back to your place,” Dean grumbled. He closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them again, looking into the dragon’s green eyes. “Sammy,” he whispered.
 
The dragon rumbled in reply. Dean smiled softly and reached out to touch the scaled arm holding him. The dragon shimmered and then Sam was standing there. Dean hit the ground and rolled. “Come on, Sammy,” Bobby said, catching the newly Changed dragon as he stumbled. “We’ll get this all taken care of when we get back to my place.”
 
Dean stepped up and touched his brother’s arm. “Sammy,” he said softly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t understand.”
 
“Its okay, Dean,” Sam said. He pulled his brother in for a hug. “There’s still stuff we have to work out and we have to do it within the next day.”
 
“Or what?” Dean asked.
 
“Or we both die,” Sam replied.
********************
 
Bobby made the executive decision to drive back to his place. Which basically meant that he threw both Sam and Dean into the backseat and told them he’d shoot them if they tried to move before they got home.
 
“This is what I’ve been researching, Dean,” Sam said. “Mandy seemed so certain that I was a dragon that I wanted to know more. When you reacted so badly to the group down in Miami I started doing my research in secret. I didn’t want to hide anything from you but I needed to know more.”
 
“Sam, I didn’t understand until I saw your eyes on the dragon’s face,” Dean said. “And then it’s like something shifted inside me and everything was clear. You’re my brother and I love you. But there’s something more now.”
 
“Keep thinking that because you’re not going to like the next part of the news,” Sam said. “Dean, the bond shared between dragon and human is in part sexual.”
 
“Wait a minute, sexual?” Dean asked.
 
“It’s not uncommon between brothers,” Bobby commented. “There’s only a fifty percent chance of a guy being a dragon so I’m not too surprised that only Sammy is. And, as I told him, it’s only a societal restriction placed on the sexual relations. You guys can’t have kids so there’s no risk of genetic abnormalities passing on.”
 
“Wait a minute, Bobby,” Dean said. “You’re telling me that you want me to have sex with my own brother and you’ve got no problem with it?”
 
“Dean, my daddy was a dragon so I’ve had a lot of years to explore the various ideas of the world,” Bobby said. “I think you’ll find, once you talk with some other dragons, that this situation isn’t as uncommon as you seem to think it is.”
 
“I just don’t know if I can wrap my head around it,” Dean said.
 
Sam turned Dean’s head so he was facing him. “Don’t tell me you don’t feel it, Dean,” he said.
 
“I do, Sammy,” Dean said. “And it’s scaring me to death. I’m supposed to take care of you.”
 
“Maybe it’s my turn,” Sam said. “Maybe it’s my turn to take care of you for a while.”
 
Dean groaned as he closed the space between them and kissed his dragon for the first time.

Mac looked around the room as his kidnapper turned on some lights. “What the hell do you want?” he growled. The room was sparsely furnished with just the couch Mac was lying on, a wooden chair and a table. He was good at estimating room size, a talent he’d developed over the years as a CSI and it would be cramped but Mac would be able to Change if he had to.
 
“Revenge.”
 
The last time Mac had seen his attacker had been at a criminal trial. The man’s daughter had been murdered and Mac had been the one to investigate the crime. The evidence hadn’t been conclusive and the jury hadn’t been able to come to a unanimous decision and the man had walked. Mac had watched the father’s face as the defense attorney celebrated with his client. He’d seen the look of hatred and loathing flash across the man’s face and wished he’d been able to find something that proved conclusively who killed the young girl. But the killer had been too good. The strange thing was that there had never been another killing that matched the MO of the teen’s death. It was almost as if the killer had only wanted to kill that one girl.
 
“So you decided that killing an officer and kidnapping one of my CSIs and myself is a good idea?” Mac asked. “Well I have news for you. It’s the dumbest thing you could’ve done.”
 
“I told you that I want revenge and I’m going to kill that young man first and then I’m going to kill you,” Mike Roberts said. “I told you that when I called you after the trial.”
 
The pieces all fell into place for Mac. “You killed your daughter,” he said. “You murdered your own daughter and tried to frame her boyfriend for the homicide. That’s why we couldn’t find anything to link him to the crime.”
 
“You’re crazy,” Roberts exclaimed.
 
Mac rolled onto his side. “I’m only sorry I didn’t see it before,” he said. “Then I could’ve arrested your ass and thrown you in prison for what you did.”
 
“You’re mad,” Roberts said. “Shut up.”
 
“The best thing you can do right now is let us both go and you’ll only face one charge of murder for the officer at our crime scene. Your daughter’s case is old enough that I won’t be able to prove anything in it,” Mac said. “You don’t have to do this. Danny didn’t even work your daughter’s case. He’s an innocent. Let him go.”
 
“My daughter was an innocent,” Roberts yelled, his chair slamming to the floor. “And she was murdered. Now your CSI is going to suffer the same fate.”
 
Mac watched as Roberts grabbed a knife and stormed down the hallway. He double-checked his space and Changed, being sure to keep his wings tucked in tight. Thanking whatever gods there were out there for scales as wood shattered and splintered around him but bounced harmlessly off his scales. He grabbed Roberts in his right front paw. “This is your last mistake,” Mac growled. “And if I find out that you hurt Danny in any way I will make this very, very painful for you.”
 
*Mac* Danny called weakly.
 
“What did you do to him?” Mac asked, talon at his victim’s throat.
 
“He’s dead,” Roberts croaked.
 
Mac snarled and used his talon to cut the man’s throat. He threw the body into the kitchen and Changed back to human form. Mac ran down the hall and found Danny on the bed, bleeding from a neck wound. He pulled off his jacket and then his shirt, ripping it to form a bandage and wrap. *Danny, stay with me. Talk to me, love. I need to hear you*
 
*Mac* Danny said. *Why would he do this? Why would he do this to me*
 
*Its my fault, Danny. He was the father of one of my victims. It was a case that ended in a hung jury* Mac said. He picked up his human and carried him out of the room. *I’m going to take you to the hospital and get you taken care of. And then I’m going to call the lab and let them know what happened, okay. Just keep talking to me, Danny. Don’t leave me. I won’t be able to survive if you leave me*
 
*I won’t, Mac. I’m never going to leave you* Danny said. *I’m just going to nap for a while*
 
*No, stay awake, Danny. Don’t go to sleep on me* Mac said. *Don’t go to sleep, Danny. Stay awake. Stay with me*
********************
 
Horatio sank down on the couch in Mac’s office with a sigh. No one had been able to find Sonny Sassone and there was no evidence in either case file that was going to be able to lead them to their suspect. And they were no closer to finding Mac than they had been from the moment he and Danny had been kidnapped.
 
“Caine,” he said flipping open his cell phone.
 
“H.”
 
“Mac, where the hell are you?” Horatio demanded sitting bolt upright and almost falling off the sofa.
 
“The hospital,” Mac said. “Horatio, you need to get down here. They’ve got Danny in surgery and I’m only just holding onto the last thread of my control. Please.”
 
“I’ll be right there,” Horatio said. “Deep breaths, Mac, stay in control for me. And stay on the phone too. I think you’ll be calmer if you have someone to talk with. What happened to the person who kidnapped you? Who was it?”
 
“Just what you’re thinking and it’s a suspect from a former case,” Mac said.
 
Horatio flagged Adam. “Let everyone know that Mac and Danny are safe,” he said. “I’m on the phone with Mac now and on my way to the hospital. Mac, what do you mean it’s a suspect from a former case?’
 
“A man named Mike Roberts,” Mac said. “His daughter was killed and we weren’t able to prove who did it. He decided that he’d get his revenge by killing Danny and me. Fortunately his knot-tying skills sucked.”
 
“Mac, we’ve been chasing a man named Sonny,” Horatio said.
 
“Sonny Sassone,” Mac demanded. “How the hell did his name get mixed up in all this?”
 
“He showed up at a crime scene Ryan and Lindsay were processing right before we got word that you’d been kidnapped,” Horatio said. “He said to pass on word to Danny and we all just assumed that he’d taken you. Speaking of, how’d you know to call me?”
 
“Gibbs’ phone was busy and I know Gil is tied up with Flack,” Mac said. “You were the most reasonable call to make. I didn’t know you were in New York.”
 
“Mac, you called and asked me to join you at the hospital,” Horatio said.
 
“I did?” Mac asked.
 
“I think we need to talk about this when we get you home,” Horatio commented. “Because something isn’t right.”
********************
 
By the time Horatio got to the hospital Mac had been sedated to deal with a concussion. Horatio managed to not only get into Mac’s room but find out exactly how Danny was doing. The young human had gotten lucky. The doctor told Horatio that if the cut had been a little to the left, Danny would have bled out long before he’d gotten to the hospital. Horatio thanked the doctor and settled in next to Mac’s bed.
 
Horatio’s control had progressed to such a degree that he was able to make the jump to Pax Draconis and still be aware of his surroundings on Earth as well. He closed his eyes and focused on the pendant around his neck. When he opened them he was on the conference plane and Chrysalis was looking at him in surprise.
 
“I admire your control, red dragon,” Chrysalis said with a fangy smile. “What can I do for you tonight?”
 
“I’ve got a question for you,” Horatio said. “It seems that Mac and I have developed a connection of some sort. Is that normal for beta dragons?”
 
“A connection?” Chrysalis settled down and rested his head on his forelegs. “Tell me more about it, Horatio.”
 
“It sounds like we’ve thrown you another curve-ball,” Horatio grinned. He settled down on his favorite rock and leaned forward. “Mac and Danny were kidnapped and I went to New York to help locate them. Mac Changed to true form to save his human and took him to the hospital. Then he called me and asked for me to come and help him keep control. The catch was that he didn’t know I was in New York and we didn’t realize it until I was in a cab on my way to join him. What I’m curious about is if we have some kind of a connection that will allow us to keep track of each other the same way we keep track of our humans.”
 
“I’ve never heard about this,” Chrysalis said. “But it seems that the others have. They say that it is rare but occasionally beta dragons can connect in the way you’re describing.”
 
“What’s the benefit to such a connection?” Horatio asked.
 
“For the most part, nothing,” Chrysalis replied. “But I’d like for you to explore this connection more and write about it. And I’d like to know more as well. See what you can learn. It won’t harm you.”
 
Horatio ran his fingers through his hair. “I don’t understand, Chrysalis,” he said.
 
“It’s strange how the oddities seem to happen to you,” Chrysalis said. “And by you I mean you in particular and not your community. But in a way I’m happy about it too because it means that I know you’ll use them to your advantage to keep your community safe. I don’t have to worry that you’ll try and hurt anyone else.”
 
“Has that happened in the past?” Horatio asked.
 
“Yes, it has,” Chrysalis replied. “There are times when the human nature manages to over-ride the dragon instinct of protection and then there really is trouble. But I think Mac is awake and has questions for you. Have your human do research and then come back and I’ll tell you more. I promise.”
 
Horatio nodded. “Okay, Chrysalis. And Mac and I’ll work through what we can do with this new talent. We’ll be in touch.”

 

Mandy tucked her cell phone back into her jacket pocket with a small sigh. “Mac and Danny are at the hospital,” she said. “Horatio says they’re both pretty beat up but fine. And he’s on his way home as soon as Flack and Abby arrive.”
 
“So what happened?” Adam asked.
 
“They didn’t give me any details which makes me think maybe something had or was going to Change,” Mandy replied. She double-checked the room number. “This is it; do you have the badges Tony made for us?”
 
“Do you feel a little weird being called an NCIS consultant?”
 
“A little,” Mandy grinned. She clipped the plastic ID to her black jacket collar and knocked on the door. “Colonel Jack O’Neill?”
 
“Yeah,” the man replied, his coffee brown eyes wary.
 
“My name is Amanda Bonnibel, Mandy for preference, and this is Adam Ross,” she said with a warm smile. “Special Agent Jethro Gibbs asked us to come and talk with you. He said you had some questions.”
 
The door closed for a moment, then there was a soft clink and it opened wide. “Come on in,” Jack said. “My partner, Danny, just got here and is dying to talk with you. Gibbs said you’d be bringing books?”
 
“We did, copies of all the basic journals that you should have been able to find,” Adam said. “It’s weird that you’ve been Changed all this time and haven’t found anything. It’s almost like someone doesn’t want you to know.”
 
“I thought I was the only one alive,” Jack said. “Danny-boy. Hey, Spacemonkey, get in here. We got company.”
 
“You know how much I hate that nickname, Jack,” Daniel said as he joined the group. He was the same height as his dragon, about six feet tall, with short brown hair, blue eyes and glasses. “It makes no sense and just confuses people, oh, hello. I’m Dr. Daniel Jackson.”
 
Mandy bit back a laugh. “Nice to meet you, I’m Mandy and this is Adam. We’re community historians for the Miami and NYDC Communities.”
 
“Exactly how many dragons did you find, Jack?” Daniel asked.
 
“One, I thought,” Jack replied. “We might be in over our heads here, Danny-boy.”
 
“Well, it won’t be the first time,” Daniel said. “How many dragons does it take to make a community? How are communities formed? How do dragons find them?”
 
“One, by an alpha, and feelings,” Mandy replied. She kicked off her shoes, tucked her feet under her and settled onto the couch.
 
Jack laughed. “She’s gotcha there, Danny,” he said. “Seriously though…”
 
“That’ll be a first,” Daniel muttered.
 
“Can one dragon make a community?” Jack continued, ignoring his human.
 
“Yes, if he’s Changed and bonded,” Mandy said. “How many people know the truth about what you are?”
 
“Five; my team, CO, doctor and a really close friend stationed here in DC,” Jack said.
 
“Then they’re all members of your community,” Adam said. “Communities are primarily the home of the Changed dragons and their bonded humans; they can also have non-bonded members. Those are people you know and trust to keep your secret safe.”
 
“Gibbs mentioned something about danger and that it wasn’t safe to talk about this in public,” Jack said. “I was just stunned that he picked me out for what I am.”
 
“Jethro has been Changed for three years now and is extremely aware of what to look for,” Mandy said with a fond smile. “And he is correct that you are an alpha dragon. If you weren’t we’d be recommending that you relocate to either New York, DC, or Miami.”
 
Daniel leaned forward. “That’s three cities; I thought you said there were only two communities.”

“Adam, why don’t you and Jack start reviewing hunter information,” Mandy said. “And I’ll work Daniel through the basics of the community.”
 
“Is it wise to divide us up like that?” Daniel asked.
 
“At this point, yes, because we don’t have nearly as much time as I would like to teach you all of the information you need,” Mandy replied. “Adam and I both have to be back at work tomorrow, but I’m going to leave you my cell number and email. Most of what Adam is covering is in the journals we brought for you. It’s just that Jack doesn’t strike me as much of a reader.”
 
“He’s not,” Daniel grinned. “He’s more of a shoot first and ask questions later type. There are days when that’s fine, but most of the time I just want to put a muzzle on him.”
 
Mandy snickered. “I know some people like that,” she said. “Okay, so community basics; we have two communities spread over three cities. As we said, a community can have as few as one or as many as eight dragons. Sizes beyond that are too hard to hide from the hunters. Each community is lead by an alpha dragon and he is most likely the first to make the Change to true form. There is also a beta dragon, a second-in-command who can take over when the alpha has to leave and, bugger!”
 
“What’s wrong?” Daniel asked.
 
“Has Jack ever told you about any strange dreams involving a rocky landscape under a dusky purple sky and mountains?” Mandy said.
 
“No, should he?”
 
“He hasn’t made the jump yet,” Mandy replied. “Adam, Jack hasn’t been to meet Chrysalis.”
 
“Can Gibbs teach him?” Adam asked.
 
“Why and how would Jack go to meet a butterfly cocoon?” Daniel asked.
 
“Chrysalis is a dragon lore master who lives on another plane of existence,” Mandy said. “Only the alpha and beta pairs have the power needed to make the trip to see him. And I think that Horatio – the beta dragon in Miami – is the best one to teach you because he’s been there the most. And I do apologize for my language.”
 
“If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you?”
 
“I just turned seventeen,” Mandy said. “I’ve been studying dragons since I was six.”
 
“Why didn’t you tell anyone it was your birthday?” Adam demanded. “We should’ve celebrated or something.”
 
Mandy sighed. “Because Mac and Danny were still missing and I didn’t feel like it,” she said. “Yes, there is a Danny here in New York so it might get a tad confusing at times.”
 
“Daniel, Doc, or DJ works fine for me,” Daniel said with a smile.
 
“Or Spacemonkey,” Jack added.
 
“There are two questions that I have to ask,” Mandy said, trying not to laugh. “But it’s more for my own personal research than anything. What color are you in true form and what talent do you have?”
 
“He won’t admit to it because he thinks it’s too girlish,” Daniel said, “but I think he’s beautiful no matter what.”
 
“Handsome, Danny, men are never beautiful, especially not in the Air Force,” Jack said.
 
“Jack is purple,” Daniel said. “A deep, royal purple that almost glows in the sun.”
 
“Historically purple has been the symbol of royalty,” Mandy said.
 
“That’s what I’ve told him but he doesn’t want to listen to me,” Daniel said.
 
“Two of ‘em,” Jack muttered.
 
“What about your talent?” Mandy asked, ignoring the comment.
 
“I’m afraid you just lost me,” Jack replied.
 
“Your talent is an ability that would have developed no less that four but no more than six months after your first Change to true form,” Mandy said. “For example, Horatio and Gibbs can both smell when someone is lying to them; Jim can sense danger coming to his community; Speed can see emotion shadows at crime scenes…”
 
“Jack and I can talk with each other silently,” Daniel said. “And it started right after he lost control of his emotions and felt the urge to Change to dragon form several times. We’ve noticed that distance doesn’t seem to matter, it’s always like we’re in the same room.”
 
Adam glanced at Mandy. “That seems to support your theory that talents are community specific rather than dragon specific,” he said.
 
“True, but nine dragons is hardly a good sample for an unbiased result,” Mandy said. “Well, ten if Sammy ever Changes to true form.”
 
“Mandy, you mention that alpha and beta pairs have the power to go and meet Chrysalis,” Daniel said.
 
“You’ll need to read through the books and journals first,” Mandy replied. “And then get in touch with Horatio down in Miami to learn the proper techniques, but yes, you both should be able to go see him. The alpha dragon is always the most powerful in a community and that’s so he can protect everyone. I’ll have to ask Jethro about it, but I see no reason you two can’t come to the annual meeting down in Miami.”
 
“I think it’d be a good idea,” Adam added. “It’s a large two to three day gathering of all the bonded dragons and humans where everyone can exchange information and just visit.”
 
“If we can get leave we’ll definitely be there,” Jack said. “Danny-boy might be the bookworm, but I’m determined to learn everything I can about this. Now, I don’t know about the rest of you kids, but I’m starving. How about some dinner?”

 

When Mac opened his eyes he could see Horatio sitting in the chair next to his bed. His blue eyes were open and looked aware but Mac had a feeling that his friend wasn’t home, so to speak. All he could do was wait and was rewarded when Horatio blinked and focused on him. “Hey,” Horatio said, “I was talking with Chrysalis. How are you feeling?”
 
“My head hurts, but I’ll be fine. What did the doctors say about Danny?”
 
“He’s fine, he’s right over there,” Horatio smiled, pointing to the other bed. “I told them that your attacker was still alive and at large so we needed to keep the two of you together. And I made sure they didn’t sedate him with anything heavy so the bond should still be active.”
 
“It is,” Mac said. “I would’ve been awake a lot sooner if it hadn’t been. That is one thing I hope the hunters never figure out because it would give them a major edge over us. So what’s been going on?”
 
“Gibbs found another alpha dragon in DC,” Horatio said. “Mandy and Adam are down there now talking with him and should be home tomorrow. I don’t know too many of the details because Gibbs has been in a lather about your kidnapping. He wanted to be up here to help but couldn’t leave the humans in DC.”
 
“Flack, how’s he doing?”
 
“Gil almost had to sit on him to keep him in Miami,” Horatio said. “They’ll be here in a couple of hours and then I’m heading home. There’s some unfinished business I need to take care of at home. But we have to talk, Mac.”
 
Mac pushed himself up carefully, moved to the other bed and settled in beside Danny. “That’s better,” he sighed. “I don’t know how I knew you were here, H. I just did.”
 
“That’s what I was checking on when you woke up,” Horatio replied. “Chrysalis hadn’t heard anything about this, but the others had. It’s something that happens between beta dragons in closely set communities. I don’t know much more about it now, but Chrysalis would like us to explore it a little.”
 
“When things settle down,” Mac said.
 
“You mean in twenty years,” Horatio laughed. “How about at the next meeting, Mac, when we know that both Greg and Danny will be safe while we’re off together. I think that we do need to explore this a little.”
 
“You’re right, we do,” Mac said. He glanced towards the door. “Ryan and Lindsay are here along with Stella and Hawkes. If you need to get back to Miami, H, go on. I’ll be okay now.”
 
Horatio rested his hand on Mac’s shoulder and squeezed. “I know,” he said. “Take care of Danny, Mac. I’ll give you a call in a few days and we can talk.”
 
“Okay,” Mac said. “Tell everyone I said hello.”
********************
 
When Danny was released from the hospital three days later, with strict instructions to stay in bed, the first person he saw was Mandy. And even that was only for a second before she ran to him and wrapped him in a hug.
 
“Hey there,” Danny said, his voice still a little hoarse from the wound. “What’s with the water-works?”
 
“I was scared something awful had happened to you,” Mandy said. “And that I wouldn’t see you again.”
 
Mac walked over to the pair and pulled them both into a hug. “Amanda, I promise you that nothing like that is ever going to happen,” he said softly. “You won’t ever be left without a family again.”
 
“How’d you know?” Mandy asked.
 
“Horatio filled me in on what you said to him when he first arrived,” Mac replied. “I think we need to head home and talk.”
 
She snickered and took the tissues he handed her. “We can’t,” Mandy said. “At least not yet. Gibbs is back in town along with Tony and the rest of his community. They managed to dump their latest addition to the team and snuck out of DC. Jethro wants us all working on the little black book that the director seems so keen on getting his hands on.”
 
“I’ll have a talk with Gibbs,” Mac said. “Because something like this shouldn’t be put off or allowed to fester.”
 
“It has done for years, another few weeks won’t matter, and I’d really rather wait until everyone is together,” Mandy said. “Because then I only have to tell the story once.”
 
“And we all missed her birthday,” Adam said as he joined the small group.
 
“You promised,” Mandy said, smacking him on the arm.
 
“I lied,” Adam grinned.
 
“Amanda, you have to quit hiding things like this,” Mac said. “Because I know for a fact that Danny and Abby want any excuse possible to take you out for the night. Can you imagine what they’ll do with this?”
 
“Yes,” Mandy said. “I’m joking, Danny. Seriously, I only kept it to myself because the pair of you were missing and I didn’t want to not have you there. Plus Jethro called us down to DC almost immediately after and I wouldn’t have been nearly as effective as I was if I’d been tired from a long night.”
 
Mac laughed. “I think you’ve been hanging out around Calleigh too much,” he said. “From what Horatio has told me, she always manages to put a positive spin on anything bad that happens, from hurricanes to snipers.”
 
“If you don’t have a positive attitude then this job can kill you,” Danny said. “Mac, can we get moving? I’m starting to fall asleep on my feet here.”
 
“I’m sorry, Danny,” Mac said. “Come on, Amanda, let’s get him into the car and home again. You guys can tell us all about this new alpha and I’ve got something new for you to research as well.”
********************
 
Gibbs was pacing around the apartment when Mac and the others arrived. “You’ve what?” he demanded. “No, I’m not questioning you, I just want to make sure that you understand what you’ve….He has what? Only you could pull that one off, Grissom. No, I’m not sorry, but I’ll stop. The rest of my community just got here. Yeah, call me if he does.”
 
“Grissom?” Mac asked, a little puzzled.
 
“They received an email from a college professor out in LA,” Gibbs replied. “Danny, you need to get into bed and rest, you look rotten.”
 
“Thanks,” Danny muttered with a grin. “I am gonna nap, Mac. Unless you guys need me for something.”
 
Mac kissed Danny gently. “You almost died, Danny,” he said. “Nothing matters more than you sleeping right now so you can get better. Call me if you need anything, okay?”
 
“Okay, love you,” Danny said.
 
“I love you too,” Mac replied. He watched as Mandy helped his human towards the bedroom. “Now spill, Gibbs, what’s going on with Gil?”
 
“He’s out in LA talking with two dragons and their bonded humans,” Gibbs said. “Apparently the college professor found the web page that Abby and Greg maintain and contacted us for more information. Horatio couldn’t get away from the lab; he and Greg have been outted, so Gil went.”
 
“That’s not enough to make you lose it like that, Jethro,” Tony said. “You were yelling at him for five minutes before Mac got here.”
 
“Gil took the code book out with him and gave it to the college professor to work on,” Gibbs said. “And I was upset that he’d risk our investigation like that and told him so. But it turns out this guy has worked for the NSA and does regular consulting work for the FBI.”
 
“So he has the security clearance,” Abby said. “I could’ve told you that, bossman. Greg asked me to run the name to make sure it wasn’t a trap set up by the hunters.” She caught his hand. “Uh, uh, no Gibbs’ smacking the Abby.”
 
“Next time tell me these things,” Gibbs ordered. “So the question now becomes why the hell are all these dragons are popping up right now.”
 
“Who knows,” Tony said. “I want to focus on getting this code broken so we can get rid of that bitch on our team and figure out what the hell is going through the director’s mind and then get things back to normal.”
 
Abby glanced up. “Uh, Tony, what planet have you been on lately because nothing has been normal since the community formed,” she said.
 
“And speaking of not normal,” Mac said.
 
“I thought we were talking about the book,” Gibbs said.
 
“I seem to have developed another talent,” Mac continued. “I didn’t know you could make jokes, Gibbs. You keep that sense of humor very well hidden.”
 
Mandy flopped down on the sofa next to Abby. “What do you mean you’ve developed another talent, Mac?” she asked. “It’s impossible.”
 
“Not according to Horatio,” Mac said. “He called it the beta-bond and the lore masters have heard of it. That’s what I’d like you to research for me, Amanda.”
 
“Do it,” Gibbs said. “We have enough people working on this puzzle. You’re the only one who knows where all your books are to get dragon questions answered quickly.”
 
“I’m stealing Adam and Abby,” Mandy said with a grin. “I’ll need some help.”
 
“Okay,” Gibbs said. “We’ll work on things here and, hang on. Yeah, Gibbs.”
 
“Boss, its McGee. Our spy just found us at the hotel and wants to know where Tony and Abby are,” he said. “And she also said something about Fornell so I don’t know what’s going on.”
 
Gibbs growled. “You know, I think its past time that I meet this woman,” he said. “Then I can tell her to get the hell away from my people and I don’t care what the director says.”
 
“Jethro, deep breath,” Tony said. He put an arm around his dragon’s waist. “Probie, how long can you stall her?”
 
“I said that you and Abby were out clubbing and it would take about an hour to track you down,” McGee said. “Because I didn’t know what club you guys went to. But I don’t know if she believes me or not.”
 
“It’ll give us enough time,” Tony said. “We’ll be there as soon as we can, McGee. Good work on stalling her for us.”
 
“Thanks, Tony,” McGee said.
 
Gibbs closed his cell phone. “I guess we’re flying home again, Mac,” he said. “But I would feel better if one of your people checked on Tobias for me. He’s got to be wondering what’s going on and I’d really feel better if I knew he was okay.”
 
“We got it covered,” Mac said. “We’ll work on this and see what we can come up with. One of us will call you.”
 
“Thanks,” Gibbs said. “Tony, get Abby and get back to the hotel. Tell Mandy I’m sorry, but something came up that we have to deal with.”
 
“On it, boss,” Tony said with a smile. “I’ll see you back home. Mac, glad you and Danny are okay.”
 
Mac nodded with a smile. “Ryan, do you and Linds mind checking on Fornell on your way home?” he asked. “I think maybe Danny and I will have an early night after all. Don’t glare like that, Gibbs, we’ll look at the code before I fall asleep. It’s time to get some answers.”

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