McGee took as much detail as possible from Julia about what she had seen when Tony had got into the car; then he and Gibbs ran back to the squad room.

"Men in black," panted McGee, "you don't think it was Agent Fornell, do you?"

Gibbs looked doubtful, "check when we get back."

"Or car salesmen?" said McGee, "perhaps Tony's finally ready to commit?"

"Julia said he didn't look happy," said Gibbs, "if it was about a car, wouldn't he look cheerful?"

"Must be the FBI then," said Tim, determined to be optimistic. He thought again, perhaps the FBI wouldn't be an optimistic option, "Fornell wouldn't be charging Tony with murder again, would he?"

"Better not be," said Gibbs grimly, "not if he knows what's good for him."

"You wouldn't shoot Agent Fornell, would you, Boss?"

"Nope. I'd set Tony's bus friends on him."

Knowing almost the exact time that Tony had disappeared made finding the incident on CCTV relatively easy and it became clear that the FBI were, this time, in the clear. Tony's cell had been disabled in some way but Tim and Abby were able to track the movements of the kidnappers' car through the city. They were also able to identify the two men in dark sunglasses as 'associates' of the defendant, John Michaelson, in the trial at which Tony was a witness.

Tim, Vance and Gibbs stood in front of the plasma screen in the squad room.

"The car went into this area, Laurel Town, about 10.30," said Tim, "but we haven't been able to tap into cameras in that neighbourhood."

"Why not?" asked the Director.

"Nothing worth protecting there," said Gibbs, "it's just old factories and run down housing. It's waiting to be redeveloped but it's held up."

"We caught the car coming out again an hour later," said Tim, bringing up the picture.

"Can you see who's in the car?" asked Vance.

"No," said McGee, "dark windows. Can't see inside. We've got a BOLO out on the car and on the two men."

"What you think, Gibbs?" said Leon.

"That they've dumped Tony somewhere. They hadn't stopped anywhere for long before. I don't think they stopped in Laurel Town to do shopping and get their nails done."

Leon decided not to ask whether Gibbs thought Tony had been dumped dead or alive, "big area to search," he said.

"McGee, any of those properties owned by Michaelson?"

"Good thought," approved Vance. Michaelson was on trial, for among other things, a pensions scam targeting Navy veterans. One of his frauds had been misleading investors into the potential of the redevelopment in Laurel Town.

"On it, Boss," said Tim, as he hurried back to his desk. "Um, he owns three houses, a warehouse, a factory building and three storage sheds."

"OK," said Gibbs decisively, "we'll search all of them."

"I'll contact Metro PD and the FBI," said Vance, "ask them to assist. I'll co-ordinate from here and get the search warrants." Privately, he realised that Gibbs wouldn't wait for that formality but he decided not to enquire about that, "Where do you want to start, Gibbs?"

Gibbs gazed at the list of addresses Tim had brought up but his gut was silent.

"We'll start with those storage sheds. They're close together. Then we'll go to the factory."

Night was falling as NCIS, the FBI and Metro PD closed in on the warehouse, the final building to be searched. Tension had risen during the day as the searches had proved fruitless and now, although the thoughts were left unsaid, they were wondering if Gibbs' theory had been wrong and they had been looking in the wrong place.

Tim and Gibbs took the top storey which consisted of a number of lockable storage units.

"Someone's been here, Boss," said McGee, as he pointed to a series of footprints on the dusty floor.

Gibbs breathed a bit easier as it looked as if they had come to the right place at last. And so it proved, the footprints led to a unit with a new padlock on the door. Gibbs wasted no time on picking the lock but just shot it off. He kicked the door open and he and McGee entered cautiously.

"Hey, Boss, McStBernard," came a tired voice from the corner of the room, "glad you could make it."

McGee spoke through his earwig to let the others know they had found Tony while Gibbs went to check on him. He was handcuffed to a chain attached to a sturdy ring embedded in the concrete floor.

"You all right, DiNozzo?" asked Gibbs as he examined the chain and handcuff.

"Better now," said Tony, "I don't think the bad guys were planning to come back any time soon. A bit too squeamish to shoot me but didn't mind leaving me to starve."

"Or give you a black eye," observed McGee.

"Oh, yeah. I didn't exactly make it easy for my friends to chain me up," admitted Tony.

"Good thing you've got other friends," said Gibbs cryptically.

Tony was a bit puzzled at Gibbs talking about himself as his friend but was too weary to query it, "must admit. Didn't expect to see you here so soon, Boss. Your gut working overtime, was it?"

"Not mine," said Gibbs, continuing to be evasive, "let's get you out of here."

NCISNCIS

About twenty four hours after first meeting him, Joe got a call from Gibbs,

"We found Tony. We'll be at the coffee shop in an hour if you want to be there."

"We'll be there," said Joe firmly.

Ducky gave Tony a quick check up and declared that he was just in need of sleep, food and hydration and that the bumps and bruises, though painful, needed no special treatment. He had been lucky. By the time Ducky had made his diagnosis it seemed too late to go home so the team had spent what was left of the night at the Navy Yard managing to snatch a couple of hours sleep.

"Come on, DiNozzo," said Gibbs the next morning, "I'll drive you home."

Tony smiled at the thought of soon being home. With Gibbs driving, he didn't anticipate a long journey so he was a bit put out when Gibbs pulled into the coffee shop carpark.

"Going for coffee," he announced. "You too," he added, when it looked as if Tony was going to stay where he was. Muttering under his breath about Gibbs' odd behaviour, Tony took the line of least resistance and followed him. He was even more surprised when Gibbs didn't get the coffee to go but placed an order for both of them and went to sit at a large table in the window.

"Er, Boss? What's going on?"

Gibbs nodded towards the bus stop. "Some friends want to say hello."

Moments later, the bus passengers flooded into the coffee shop followed by McGee. Charlie couldn't decide whether to go to Gibbs or Tony but, as it was a long time since he had seen Tony, finally went to him.

"Um. What's happening?" said Tony even as he lifted Charlie to sit on his knee.

Remembering how long the bus people had taken to come to the point the previous day, Gibbs decided to take charge of the explanations.

"We're very sorry," said Martha once Gibbs had brought Tony up to speed.

"Sorry?" said Tony, "what are you sorry for?"

"Well," said Joe, "for thinking that you'd done something foolish with your money."

"But you tried to look after me," said Tony, "at least, I guess that's why you all had those failed dinner parties and things?"

Seya nodded, "we couldn't think how to give you new clothes," she said, "So food had to do. But we were relieved when you started wearing your other clothes again. We were running out of ideas to explain why we had left over food!" She looked embarrassed for a moment and then handed Tony a box, "I know you don't need this, but I made you a curry. I thought you might not want to cook today and you seemed to like the Indian food before."

Tony smiled his thanks.

Joe stared at Tony's suit, "that's a very nice suit, haven't seen that one before."

"It's my court suit," said Tony, "specially selected to say here's an honest, hardworking, clean-living, dedicated public servant."

Tim stifled a laugh. Martha looked at him with concern and handed him a cough drop.

"Oh, no," said Tim, "that's OK. I haven't got a cough …" he trailed off as he encountered Martha's stare, "thank you. Thank you very much." He coughed, unwrapped the candy and popped it in his mouth.

Joe ignored the interruption, "A good choice. Clothes have a language all of their own. It's important." He looked briefly at Gibbs' jacket and it looked as if he might have said something about what it said but instead, after looking with pain at the dust and grime on the precious suit, he said to Tony, "Take the jacket off. I'll tidy it up a bit."

Tony passed Charlie to Gibbs so he could take his jacket off. Joe took a small sponge and a clothes brush out of the opposite pocket to the one he kept his sewing kit in and began work. Tony shivered without the jacket on; he hadn't felt warm since spending the day in the unheated warehouse. Martha noticed and took a package out of her shopping bag,

"Put this on," she said.

Tony opened the parcel to reveal a sweater made out of grey-green yarn.

"This is what you've been knitting the last few weeks," he said, "it's beautiful!" And it was. Almost a work of art with its intricate, pleasing design.

"I thought the colour would bring out your eyes," said Martha, "and Joe approved it all so you fashionistas can be happy about it."

"It fits!" said Tony in delight as he put it on.

"Joe's got a good eye for measurements," said Martha, pleased with Tony's reaction and pleased to notice that she had been right about the colour looking good on him. She was even more pleased when Tony kissed her on the cheek in thanks.

The conversation became general as the passengers brought Tony up to date with the bus happenings he had missed over the last week or so. Douglas confessed he had thought of applying to become a police officer when he had found out that Tony was a federal agent but it was clear that seeing the bruise blossoming on Tony's face was making him think again. Tony kindly steered him towards Tim for advice on other jobs available in police forces and federal agencies.

After a few minutes, however, it was clear that the federal agents were flagging from lack of sleep and that the passengers had to continue their journeys so they all got up to go.

"See you on the bus tomorrow, Tony?" the passengers asked.

"You bet!" said Tony, "and thank you!"

NCISNCIS

Gibbs drew up outside Tony's apartment.

"Thanks, Boss, see you tomorrow," said Tony as he prepared to get out.

"When are you going to tell them?" asked Gibbs.

"Tell them what?" asked Tony, pausing with his hand on the door.

"That you bought another car last month?"

"Oh," said Tony, "Well, you know … well, it turns out … it turns out that I like riding the bus!"

"See you tomorrow, DiNozzo," said Gibbs with a smile.

EPILOGUE

Gibbs returned to the squad room later in the day to catch up on some paperwork. He was thinking about leaving for the day when he got a phone call.

"Front gate here, Special Agent Gibbs. Trevor Webb."

"Trev."

"Um. A load of passengers just got off a bus."

"Yes?"

"Yeah. They're worried about Agent DiNozzo. Seems he catches their bus home in the evening and they haven't seen him for a while. They wonder if he's in trouble and needs any help …"

"On my way, Trev. On my way," smiled Gibbs.

Later that evening, as Gibbs drove home he found himself singing a new verse to Wheels on the Bus:

The people on the bus, they care for him,

Care for him, care for him,

The people on the bus, they care for him, all through the town.

AN: the end of the journey. I'm not going to write about Tony's friends on the evening bus! Thank you so much to everyone who has read, reviewed, favorited or followed the story.

I incorporated BuckeyeFan00000's suggestion about the men in dark glasses being Fornell and Sacks even though it wasn't them. And congratulations to NCIS fan for guessing the destination of the sweater.

Clearly, the NCIS characters don't belong to me but I own a few bus passengers!