Fox's Den

The Cascade Effect

Author: Sinopa

Beta: dragonheart25

Rating: R(Will Go Up to NC-17)

Warnings: CharDeath(minor)(past), Comedy, Get-Together, Romance, Slash, AU/AR/AT, OOC-ness, Angst, Family,

Pairing: Tibbs(future) Mentions of(Tony/Wendy(past))

Summary: One Event, One Minor change in the way something happens can change a lot of events in the future.

Disclaimer: I don’t own so no sense suing.

AN: I KNOW, I know many of those reading my fic L’amore are probably wondering why the hell I’m starting ANOTHER fic when that one is unfinished. The reason? I have hit a road Block on L’amore and am hoping that working on something else will help to destroy said road Block.

 

Prologue

 

2001

“I got it” Gibbs says to the Agent that accompanied Tony DiNozzo off the elevator as he walks towards them.

 

“You Made It.”

 

“Yeah. Wow, I’m not a big fan of the orange and the glare off that sklylight’s ridiculous” Tony says as he looks around.

 

Gibbs setS his coffee mug down and motions for Tony to follow him as he sets off down the hall and around a corner.

 

“You gonna ask?” Tony asks Gibbs as they round the corner.

 

“Nope”

 

“I’m leaving it alone. It was wrong, way wrong but…”

 

“It’s your partner.” Gibbs tells him as they walk towards their destination.

 

“Ex-partner.” I’m not going back to Baltimore. I can’t. I don’t know what I’m gonna do; maybe being a cop isn’t for me.” Tony says, a bit of self-deprecation in his tone.

 

*wack*

 

“Hah!” Tony stops walking and turns to Gibbs.

 

 “Did you just physically assault me?”

 

“I don’t have a lot of rules, but rule number five is you don’t waste good. You’re good.” Gibbs tells Tony as he looks straight into the younger man’s eyes.

 

“Thanks” Tony smiles as he rubs the back of head. “Don’t make a habit of that.” He says, a slight smirk on his face.

 

Gibbs feels a smile tugging at his lips and so pats Tony’s cheek a few times before pointing over the other man’s shoulder at the door behind him and as Tony turns around to look he start walking back down the hall before he decides to do something completely stupid.

 

Tony smiles as he turns to Gibbs’ retreating form.”Heh. Did I mention you’re a devious man Gibbs?”

 

“Boy, I got vision and the rest of the world is wearing bifocals.”

 

“Butch Cassidy. Nice!” Tony calls out to Gibbs as he turns the corner.

 

“Huh.” He says as he looks at the door that says Human Resources Agent Applicant Division then opens the door.

 

6 months later-2002

Tony groans as him cell phone begins to ring. He looks at the clock on the nightstand and grabs the phone.

“DiNozzo?” he answers gruffly. There’s a pause on the other end of the line before dispatch gives him the details of their next case. He knew why the pause, he’d sounded much like Gibbs would normally. Though who could blame him, he’d been having a very nice dream when he’d been awoken, so yeah he was going to be a bit grouchy. He grabbed the pen and paper before hanging up and calling his Boss.

 

“Gibbs”

 

“Boss, Dead Petty officer, Rock creek park.” Tony says.

 

Gibbs grunts and the phone goes dead. Thankfully, even after only six months of working under Gibbs, Tony had already learned what most those Grunts of Gibbs’ meant. That one had meant he’d be there in twenty so Tony himself had better already be there. Tony rushed around throwing on Jeans and a shirt, grabbed his bag, gun, badge and the knife he’d very quickly learned never to be without.

 

When he arrived, he groaned. It looked like it was going to be a very long day. Wendy would NOT be pleased. Oh well at least Tony no longer had to worry about Gibbs’ ex-wife Stephanie blowing up his phone like crazy since the divorce had been finalized a few weeks previous.

 

2 months later-2002

The day had started out fine. Tony was getting married to Wendy after 8 months of stressing over everything. Of course he’d originally planned to ask Danny to be his best man but, after finding out that he was Dirty he had no intentions of wanting to see the man again. Instead he’d asked Gibbs, who had quickly become not only his Boss, but also a stand-offish friend when Tony had needed to vent. The headslaps hadn’t stopped, they had actually grown in frequency the closer the wedding day got.

 

Gibbs was helping him straighten his tux when there was a knock at the door to his dressing area. Gibbs went over and opened it while Tony finished up.

 

“It’s Time, DiNozzo.” Gibbs told him as he left and took his place at the altar. Tony wasn’t far behind. Once Tony was in place the preacher gave the signal and the Bridal March began to play. Tony stood there nervously waiting for the doors to open and Wendy to come out. As the minutes ticked by Tony began to worry. He looked at Gibbs who gave a barely noticeable shrug then turned back to the doors the bride was to enter through.

 

After twenty minutes and still no bride Gibbs turned to the groomsman next to him and whispered into the man’s ear “Go check on the Bride, make sure she’s okay.”

 

Less than five minutes later the man came back and told Gibbs something. Tony watched the proceedings with curiosity and a bit of worry.

 

Gibbs turned to Tony and the look on his face had his heart in his throat.

 

“Tony, Wendy’s not here. Briedsmaids said she never showed up or called but her father said he talked to her on his way here and she seemed fine.” He whispered into his ear. Tony nodded dumbstruck and just stood there in shock.

 

Gibbs turned to the preacher who was watching everything with a look akin to pity. Gibbs growled in anger before walking over to the man and whispering to him.

 

“Bride’s a no-show. Tell Everybody to go home.”

 

As the preacher cleared his throat Gibbs grabbed Tony by the back of his neck to snap him out of his shock. “Let’s go DiNozzo.” He said and dragged the younger man out of the chapel and to his car.

 

Tony was still in shock but that shock quickly turned to anger.

 

“Just drop me off at my apartment Boss.”

 

“Ya sure, DiNozzo?” Gibbs asked.

 

“Yeah. I’ll be fine.”

 

Gibbs shrugged and headed to Tony’s apartment in DC before heading home himself.

 

2003-Before Kate

Tony groaned as he woke up. Things had been much more interesting since his wedding with Wendy had been called off. Okay since he’d been left at the altar by her. He’d made some wise-cracks that it was usually men who left the women standing at the altar but otherwise he was fine.

 

Two months after he’d joined NCIS a new lab tech had started. Abby Scuito. He’d unintentionally pissed her off within the first week but had managed to make it up to her after he’d found out what her favourite rose was. He’d bought her two dozen and had had them delivered with an apology card he’d handwritten. She’d still waited another three days before forgiving him. They had become fast friends once she had though.

It had now been over a year since he’d joined NCIS and he was enjoying it. This was a job he could see himself working at for a very long time. The cases were varied and interesting. It was never a dull moment, stressful yes but dull, no.

 

He had no idea just how interesting things would become in the coming weeks.

 

TBC…