Five Agents Who Were Surprised By [SPOILER ALERT] — and One Who Wasn't
Spoilers: 10.24 - Damned if You Do
Title: Five Agents Who Were Surprised By The Team's Resignation — and One Who Wasn't
Rating: PG
Pairings: Gen
Characters: Balboa, Burley, Dorneget, Jardine, Keating, Vance, Wilson
Chapter 1: Dorneget, Ned
Dorneget slipped out of the evidence locker, and the other two agents let him. They knew. Vance had triple-staffed the lockup the day Richard Parsons started his investigation — just in case. But nobody had seen the investigators yet today, so Dorneget took the chance.
He expected to see the MCRT in the bullpen, working to clear Gibbs' name. He stopped when he saw the empty space, looked around. Their gear was there, all except Agent Gibbs'. Three agents stood in line at the copier by the stairs, chatting and smiling. The rows of desks between the bullpen and the Most Wanted wall were full, heads down and low conversations to people on the other end of phone lines coming across in three — or was it four? — languages.
He looked up to the catwalk outside MTAC, where the team was just coming out of Vance's office. Tony looked like he was never going to smile again, and McGee's eyebrows had that furrow between them. Dorney couldn't read Ziva's face, but that was nothing new.
As the team walked downstairs, Dorneget stood, and waited for them to enter the bullpen.
"Hey, guys," he said. "I've got some time. I want to help."
"Not us," Tony said. "Ask some agents." His lips turned up in a mockery of a smile.
"Tony, this was your idea," Ziva said.
"It was our idea, Ziva," Tim said. "Come on, before Vance feels like he has to come down." Tim walked past Dorneget and grabbed his backpack. "Sorry, Dorney, but Tony's right. We're not the ones you should be helping."
Dorneget looked at McGee, then noticed what the computer-savvy agent was doing. Dorneget stepped back, inching toward Gibbs' desk, and looked over at the other two agents. Tony dropped his Mighty Mouse stapler in his pack. Ziva held the small Israeli flag from her pencil tin.
"Guys?" Dorneget felt his voice crack. "What are you..."
"We're no longer NCIS," Tim said as he took down the last of the photos tacked on the wall behind his desk. "We did all the things Parsons is charging Gibbs with, and we're not making Vance prosecute us. We confessed, and they're dropping the charges against Gibbs." Tim straightened up and turned to face Dorneget. "You've been a big help to us, Dorney," he said. "Thanks."
"But..." Dorneget just stared at Tim's outstretched hand. "You can't... I mean... What are you guys doing?"
Tony walked over and clapped him on the shoulder. "You're going to be a good field agent," he said. "You got hazed by the best." He grinned and winked. "Don't worry, we'll still be in the area."
Ziva joined them in the middle of the bullpen. "It is for the best," she said. "You will do well when you become an agent. You learned from the best." She shot a look at Tony. "Gibbs, that is."
"Ziva, you wound me." Tony shrugged. "Come on, McFreetime. Let's go have a few drinks before you turn into Thom E. Gemcity at midnight and go back to writing about Agent L.J. Tibbs and the rest of his team. At least this time, it really will be fiction."
They were gone before Dorneget could protest. He looked around the bullpen again, the three desks anonymous. Their owners' personalities were gone. Dorneget knew he should go back to the lockup, but he found himself walking upstairs.
When he entered Vance's assistant's office, she gestured for him to go in.
"Director?" Dorneget said as he edged through the doorway.
Vance looked up from where he sat at his desk, but didn't stand. "Agent Dorneget."
"Sir, I heard about Gibbs' team." Dorneget walked closer. "Are they-" he broke off as he saw the three gold badges sitting on the black desk, light glinting off the battered shields. "They weren't pulling my leg."
Vance shook his head. "Not this time." He picked up one of the badges. "The team had a few options, and they decided to take this one."
"But-" Dorneget cut himself off.
Vance arched an eyebrow. "You have something to say, Agent Dorneget?"
Dorneget nodded, then realized Vance was probably waiting for him to speak. "Whatever you need me to do, sir, I will. I want to help." He fought with himself before adding, "Agent Gibbs isn't like the IG investigator made him out to be, and neither are they."
"No, they're not." Vance stood. "You've been an asset to their team when they've needed you, Dorneget." He reached out a hand. "We have three agent openings, at least for now."
Dorneget looked at the hand holding the badge, then up at the director's face, then back down at the badge. "Sir?"
"I can't promise this is permanent," Vance said. "But Agent Gibbs will need team members once his current mission with JSOC is complete. Until that time, you'll work with me to help fill the gap."
Dorneget nodded, then realized Vance was still holding the badge out to him. He reached over and took it. "Thank you, Director."
He didn't really need it — he had his own on his belt — but he knew what Vance was offering him. "I'm not as good as them, but I can help until you and Agent Gibbs figure out how to get them back."