crack_van | NCIS/DARK ANGEL (PG-13)

Title: Concurrent Jurisdiction by shywr1ter
Pairing: Tony DiNozzo/OFC (off-screen), Logan Cale/Max Guevera
Author on LiveJournal:
Author's website: www.fanfiction.net/u/490677/shywr1ter

Why this must be read: When one actor has portrayed characters in multiple television series or movies, fanfic authors seem unable to resist the pull of justifying the multiple existences. Within the NCIS fandom, the most frequently explored backstory is that of Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard. David McCallum’s prior role as secret agent Illya Kuryakin in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. seems a completely plausible past for the story-telling M.E. Gibbs even remarked upon the two characters’ physical “resemblance” in season two.

I have read a couple of stories that make Michael Weatherly’s characters, Tony DiNozzo and Logan Cale, the same person, but that necessitates messing with one or the other show’s timelines, since the earlier show was set in the future. Shywr1ter solves that problem by making the two men cousins, setting the story in the Dark Angel timeframe, and appropriately aging DiNozzo to his late forties. A mature Tony is a wonder to behold because he still calls upon his wit, charm and way-with-the ladies, but he’s an even better investigator than ever.

Max makes some great observations about how different Logan and Tony are, even though they look “so much” alike.

“My bike; I have to...” Max indicated behind her and took a couple steps backward, eyes not yet leaving him, still getting used to this stranger who wasn’t a stranger. Realizing it was a silly reaction, she colored slightly and turned to cross to the Ninja, moving it up toward its protected bay.

Tony came around behind her to take one look at the bike and whistle, appreciatively. “Sweet. This is yours?” She looked up to see the genuine admiration for her baby in eyes identical to those that had never shown an interest in horsepower before. Her own grin was completely involuntary as she rolled the bike on into its bay, shut the gate behind it, and put the padlock in place. Knowing she’d follow, DiNozzo turned again toward the elevator and kept talking as he walked. “I’m Tony DiNozzo.” he offered. “Logan’s cousin.”

“Family resemblance is amazing” Max murmured coming along side as he predicted.

His smile drew up a little higher, pleased for Logan with his assumptions taking shape... “Really?” he pursed his lips, then shrugged broadly. “Hmm.”

“Oh, come on, it’s uncanny,” she insisted at his shrug. “You’ve never been told that before?”

“No,” he answered immediately, all wide eyed innocent charm as he looked to her, asking, “Ms...?”

“Max” she finally laughed, won over and completely outgunned, disarmed by the disparate personality hiding behind oh- so- familiar features. “I’m Max.”

“Max?” he frowned, seeming to mull it over as he hit the elevator call button. “Not what I’d expect. I would have thought something lyrical...Bella...Melody...” he was flat out enjoying himself now, teasing this woman who he hoped wasn’t just coming to do the windows. “Angel...” He decided with a big grin, considering her as they waited. Beautiful, very. But had he seen that face...? The elevator opened fairly readily, having remained at ground level after Tony had ridden it down, and he let Max go in first, to pull the card through for the penthouse and search his memory for why he found her familiar. After riding a moment or two in silence, his eyes narrowed first, as he closed in on his thoughts to recall it, then suddenly opened wide. He snapped his fingers and he grinned, “You were at Bennett’s wedding!”

“Were you?” She blinked.

His smile was easy as he shook his head. “No. I saw some photos–he’s my cousin, too...” Tony paused only a moment before raising his eyebrows in an amused challenge. “Nice dress.”

Max tipped her head to the side, mouth opening as if to speak, but rendered speechless in the presence of the cheeky, adolescent mind shining in Eyes Only's eyes.

[a few minutes later ...]

At Bling's perfect timing, and his easy, familiar greeting to Max, Tony smirked at the confirmation that she was a frequent part of Logan's life, no matter what he tried to tell Bennett. He shrugged, "Plenty for everybody, it appears to me. And there is no work in the world that should run off a beautiful woman who needs to be fed..."

At that, Max's eyes rolled over to seek Logan's, who, finally recognizing that his situation was hopeless, simply reddened a bit and squirmed, seeing in her face what was coming. "Oh, you two are so not related," Max drawled, looking back to Tony. Bling's poorly hidden grin in reaction verified another matter for Tony: Logan still needed to learn how to relax...

Concurrent Jurisdiction covers a lot of ground--one-third case!fic, one-third family!fic, one-third romance (Max/Logan). Great characterizations and an interesting plot.

NCIS/DARK ANGEL (PG-13)

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