Chapter Text
Anthony DiNozzo always thought he wasn’t too special behind the whole mask he had going on. The cheerful act was that, a long undercover-like con for his coworkers. Namely Ziva and Tim.
Gibbs and Abby knew him from before and were frowning at him all the time given that he had changed drastically when they had recruited Kate. His behavior with her was different but not too much that Gibbs and Abby had called him on it.
Ducky, ever since his psychological degree, was different. He was pretty much the only one that was talking to him honestly now. That and assessing him about everything Tony did but in a friendly manner.
“Anthony, my dear boy, I do think something happened on the last case that made you different. I know it has been two months since then and you have altered your behavior.” Ducky told him about his observations but for once he didn’t tell him anything, no excess-rambling about stories he had heard before. That alone told Tony that Ducky had been paying attention to him if not the whole team more closely than they had thought. And wasn’t that the mayor problem?
Tony sighed and thought back to the past few weeks and what had happened.
~
It was the op that changed everything. Tony was going from door to door, knocking and talking and yes, flirting with everyone he came across simply because he wanted, no, needed to find out about the people pulling the strings. It was itching in his brain that something was going on, a gut feeling that hadn’t let him go ever since they had gotten the case. It was like smelling their suspect’s perfume in an empty room or walking past her that he picked up.
And he shouldn’t have picked up on those cues. He knew that. He knew he hadn’t been one of the few that had the Sentinel or Guide gene and as a result, he didn’t even think to question it. But he knew he had a strong intuition which was very helpful in his line of work. it probably was also the reason why Tony had agreed to come with Gibbs to NCIS. All his decisions in his life had been made straight from the gut.
So, when Tony had reached that one house, that one house that was second to last on his list to question, Tony just knew something was off. And it was. The moment he had opened the door and flashed his grin alongside his badge, he knew he was doomed.
The gun staring back at him was the first clue, obviously. Being dragged into the house the second and Tony was smart. He could talk a mile a minute and add their secret Backup-code into the conversation.
“You know, my partner Kate is right across the street,” Tony said and a twitch of his lips indicated that he hadn’t gotten a reply from either Ziva or McGee. Which was strange.
The bad guys, three of them in total, were not realizing what was going on, given that they weren’t the brightest and wouldn’t notice anything amiss from his facial expressions.
The whole thing was going downhill further and further.
When suddenly, one guy shot another bad guy, Tony knew it was now or never. He had all but a few seconds to react before the man would shoot him. And reacting, Tony did. Violently. It was like a switch had been flicked on in his brain and three seconds later, the two remaining bad guys were on the floor, Tony holding his gun in his hands that badguy#2 had taken from him and was flicking the safety switch.
His hearing expanded out across the few houses next door. Someone was already calling the police. Tony took his phone out and called it in as well to cover his bases. Then he suddenly heard McGee and Ziva talking quietly, rustling of papers as well as their talk and quiet music. Tony seethed. He should have heard a backup feed from his talking to the operator but hadn’t heard anything.
His team had turned off his mic without hesitation. Without contemplating that Tony was out on the streets alone while they were sitting in the car, talking.
Not quite knowing what happened next, Tony stood frozen and blacked out. It was as if his hearing had collapsed and he was deaf and falling into a blackout.
“Sir?” someone asked and touched him, the scent of the person drawing closer as well and startling Tony out of his zone.
“What happened?” the house around him was crawling with police and EMS, people going in and out and Tony frowned. How the hell did that happen?
“You were in a zone,” the blond woman replied. And she reminded Tony of Abby. Her blond hair and bright colors of makeup, her ribbon in her hair and the pink nails and weirdly
shaped glasses.
“A zone? I can’t be, I’m not a Sentinel…” Tony replied but realized in shock that he now was: “I never showed the genes.”
The blond woman nodded: “My name is Penelope Garcia and I was the only Guide above a level six living close by. You were in a zone for about ten minutes and the EMS team on site were treating you but you were unresponsive. They called an emergency due to the fact that the Guide here on the scene is only a level four. You are a strong Sentinel or else the Guide would have been able to draw you out.”
Tony suddenly flinched when he felt his arm hurt: “What happened to my arm?”
“You were grazed by the bad guys. The EMS were treating you when you were in the zone to not administer you any drugs as well as a painless stitching up they did.” Garcia explained: “Don’t worry, I’m an FBI agent and managed to call your boss, assuming he was your number one speed dial on your phone.”
Tony grinned at her: “He was, thank you.” she nodded at him and he frowned: “What happens now?”
“Since you came online a few minutes ago, I would like to accompany you to the local Sentinel and Guide Center. You know those places, right? Well, there they will be able to get you through your first few days and get you back on your feet. Since you will be rather strong as a Sentinel, we’ll need to make sure you are comfortable and maybe, hopefully you can find your Guide quickly. I know this might seem like a huge thing right now and maybe feels like you’re losing control over your life but trust me, this is actually the best thing that can happen to you. I found my Sentinel through pure luck and he is just the best fit in the world to me.”
Yeah, Garcia was like Abby. She was kind, he could feel it empathically, as well as quick in talking, hyper and just bright in a very comfortable way: “You mentioned you were FBI?”
“Ah yes. Not like Agent Fornell that you are working with every now and then. I’m their computer specialist and help the BAU.”
“Wow, you’re on Hotchner’s team? I’m keeping in the loop with your works and it is amazing how your profiles work. The solving rate you guys have is amazing.”
“Thanks,” she smiled: “I’ll be sure to tell the others.” she was looking around and was frowning when Gibbs showed up, marching into the site: “DiNozzo?”
“Just a graze, Boss,” Tony replied and indicated his arm.
“Did you get any medications?” Gibbs asked quickly, frowning.
“No, I didn’t,” Tony replied: “Gibbs, this is Guide Special Agent Penelope Garcia. She’s with Hotchner’s people and was kind enough to help me.”
Gibbs frowned: “Help you with what?”
“I came online as a Sentinel?” Tony asked: “I swear I had no clue.”
“We had you tested when you joined NCIS,” Gibbs agreed: “Where are Ziva and McGee?”
Tony winced.
“Tony?”
“I kind of zoned when I tried to find out where they were? They were parked around three streets that way and were talking and probably reading? I couldn’t hear my feedback sound when I made the call to the operator and I did say Kate.”
Gibbs murderous look was not directed at Tony and Tony felt scared. He indicated the microphone Tony still had and yelled into it. Tony shook his head: “No feedback from that direction.”
“Dial down your senses for now, Agent DiNozzo,” Garcia said: “We don’t want you zoning again.”
“He won’t,” Gibbs replied: “I’m an Alpha Guide and can take care of him now.”
“That’s why I can’t feel you! Your shields are amazing, Sir,” she smiled at him: “Okay, can I trust you to see that he will be brought to the Center for the paperwork and care?”
“Yes,” Gibbs replied: “Thanks Guide Garcia.” The thanks were surprising Tony a bit but he figured nothing would be quite as normal as usual today.
She looked at Tony with a smile and handed him a business card and whispered: “Call me if you want to talk.”
“Are you good to write your report first, DiNozzo?” Gibbs asked without much emotion and Tony frowned at that. He couldn’t feel anything from Gibbs, no hint that the other man was a Guide and to be honest, Gibbs had only once told him he was a Guide.
Being lost in his thoughts for a few seconds apparently told Gibbs enough: “Okay, go sit in the car. I’ll handle the scene here first. Do not listen in and try to not focus on anything too far away.”
“Got it, Boss,” Tony agreed and walked outside, being looked at by various police but he ignored it. His arm hurt quite a bit but it was neatly wrapped. He cursed slightly. He had liked that suit and shirt.
A few minutes passed where Tony tried to mentally erect shields. He knew he had felt every single emotion in those rooms and that wasn’t good. It was nearly too much but Garcia had buffered him quite a bit. When she had left, so had the buffer and Gibbs’ shields weren’t around him.
Breathing in and out, Tony thought about how his best friend had described coming online and building shields with his family before he had come online. He tried doing that.
Suddenly, it was as if the whole world got quiet and calm. Or rather, only his emotions were left. He felt at peace for a moment before the door next to his car opened and Gibbs looked at him: “You just built your own shields.”
“I did. A friend told me once how he did it and it was getting too much,” Tony replied.
Jethro’s gentle touch on his hand startled Tony but also soothed him. Ah hell no, please tell him he had been Gibbs’ Sentinel all along and the other man had suffered to wait for him: “You are impressive. I didn’t even realize you were having empathic troubles until you had your shield up.”
“Am I your Sentinel?”
“Yes, you are.” Gibbs replied: “But I’m fighting hard not to bond with you right away.”
“Why?”
“Because you just came online and might not be stable enough. The local Center will have more information but I won’t let you be alone.”
Tony was looking at Gibbs in surprise and nodded: “Ziva and McGee?”
Gibbs’ frown was telltale and now that Tony had an empathic ability, he realized with clarity that Gibbs was pissed. The shields of the former Marine were wavering and the younger man found it quite soothing to know that Gibbs’ wasn’t completely perfect.
“We’ll deal with that later. That is why I asked about the report but taking care of you is a higher priority now,” Jethro replied and got into the car, starting to drive: “I’ll let you decide how to deal with this after that. You were the one hurt by this so it is your call but I want you to include me if possible.”
“My priority now is making sure I’m getting my senses under control and then bonding with you?” Tony asked hopefully.
“I’m your Guide and I’m not going anywhere,” Gibbs replied: “But I get a sense that you want to keep this quiet.”
Tony sighed: “You know I do. I’ve never been sharing too much with the team.”
Gibbs was parking the car in the front and indicated for Tony to go ahead: “I’ll be parking and seeing you later. I’ll register that you are my Sentinel so they don’t get the stupid idea to force other Guides at you that want to bond because they simply want the rep for being with an Alpha Sentinel.”
“Sounds good Boss,” Tony agreed: “I just walk in?”
Gibbs gave him a look that Tony only knew all too well and nodded. He winced slightly when his arm stung due to the stitches. Thankfully, Gibbs had a NCIS windbreaker in his car so Tony could take that and cover his bloodstained and cut open shirt.
Walking into the place, he looked around. Never before had he been in one of those places. They were for Sentinel and Guides only and any and all questions concerning them while working cases were handled by liaisons.
“What can I do for you?” a woman asked him from behind the counter and Tony realized she was a Guide. Low-leveled and probably not quite realizing what he was with his intuitive shields in place.
“Oh, I just came online?” Tony asked and shrugged with his good arm: “Someone told me to come here?”
The woman frowned at him: “I can’t detect anything from you.”
Tony frowned and glared right back: “That might be because you’re what, a level three?”
She gaped at him in surprise: “There is no way you just came online.”
Tony was about to explode. He had a real crappy day and that woman was more or less ignoring him. And treating him badly. The emotional bleed from her showed hostility.
Thank god a Sentinel from across the room came over in a hurry: “Sentinel Alpha? We’ll get you sorted. Just take a seat please.”
Tony shot the Sentinel a thankful look while the Guide was still staring at him with a confusion: “Hey, Sentinel? I hope you don’t plan on shoving Guides my way right away.”
“Oh, but that’s standard-“ the Guide replied.
The Sentinel frowned at her deeply: “I’m sorry, Alpha. My name is Sarah Lincoln. May I ask why you don’t want to find your Guide right away?”
“Because I’m his Guide,” Gibbs yelled from behind them but thankfully had touched Tony’s back to make him distract his senses from the sound. Tony of course had been following Gibbs with his senses even if the other man had told him not to try.
“What he said,” Tony replied: “But seeing as I was shot when I came online and managed my own shields, I’ve been told by two Guides that I should find my own footing before bonding.”
Sarah was nodding: “Of course,” she shoved the Guide that had been unfriendly to a side and handed Gibbs the paperwork: “You know what to do?” Gibbs nodded and she turned to Tony: “Your Guide will handle all the paperwork so we’ll get you settled into an isolation unit and I’ll arrange for an instructor to come and meet you. Ideally, they would start with your shields but luckily you have those. The next would be training your senses anew. Are you with the law enforcement?”
“Yes,” Tony replied and she noted something on her touchpad: “Why?”
“Just so we will train you for gunfire and unexpected loud noises as well as the chemicals you might run across in your job. Yes, that includes radiation and any and all bioweapons we have access to. Is there anything in your medical history that we should know about?”
It was Gibbs that piped up: “I’m already his next of kin and yes, my Sentinel had the plague and survived but the damage to his lungs is lasting so you might want to ease off on those chemicals.”
“Oh, that is rather good to note. May I contact your physician?” she addressed Tony.
“Yes, Dr Brad Pitt,” he replied and the Sentinel chuckled lightly. Tony ginned at her: “Not the actor but the same guy that broke my leg in college.”
“Now that sounds like a very interesting story,” she looked at Gibbs in amusement: “You are lucky to have such a great Sentinel.”
“Oh, I know. That’s why I kept him,” Gibbs replied and handed her the paperwork. She then looked apologetic: “I’m sorry, Guide Gibbs but we’ll need to take him to isolation now. Do not worry, I’ll let my Guide buffer him so he won’t be approached by other Guides. Furthermore, we will keep you posted but we don’t expect any troubles. Is his place cleaned so he can return home? Else we’ll prepare a suit here.”
“I’ll deal with his place and he can sleep there,” Gibbs shrugged: “I do have the key to his place anyways.”
Tony grinned at him: “Thanks Boss.”
“You just get better.” Gibbs nodded at him, reaching for a head slapping but then touching his head kindly before making the grip tighter to follow with his words: “Don’t think this is your fault, Tony. We’ll deal with this when you’re back.”
Nodding, Tony followed the other Sentinel to a room but nearly freaked when he was cut off from Gibbs abruptly. The woman looked at him: “I’m sorry, my Guide Susanne is rather abrupt in ending the connection for your own sake.”
A small woman with a great smile entered then: “Hi, Tony.”
“Susanne!” he grinned at her: “I didn’t know you were working here? FBI too boring for you?”
She grinned: “Ah you know Phil,” she laughed: “I volunteer here every now and then. With my administration skills, this is a cakewalk. With my Guide abilities, this is the least I can do.”
“Congrats on bonding,” Tony indicated Sarah: “Last I heard from you was two years ago when you signed Martin’s paperwork.”
“Thanks, and Martin will always be dear to me,” she grinned: “Have you heard from him?”
“Not as much as I would like but he’s online, kicked his father’s ass and bonded?” Tony asked. He and Martin had grown up next to each other. More or less. Martin and Tony had played basketball in the same club their fathers used to hang out and the two boys had clicked right away.
Susanne nodded: “Right, now Tony, lets focus on you for a moment. I am rather impressed that you managed to erect a shield on your own before your Guide was there and I’m even more impressed that you didn’t bond with him on sight.”
“I think I need to be able to control this first. I feel the pull towards him but I knew logically that I have no clue how to bond without damaging him and I know I could.”
“With your empathic ability, that would actually be likely,” Susanne agreed: “So let’s get started.”