This story was written for the NFA Series Finale Challenge - there is a link to NFA challenges on my profile page. The challenge is summarised as follows:
If you were asked by DPB to write the series finale (in the future), what would you do to end the series? Write it! Should be at least 4,500 words. Deadline: Midnight EST between September 24 and 25, 2007. (I don't know what date we count that as here). That's the premiere date, so you won't want to be writing past then anyway.
Restrictions:
1) Must be with Ziva and Jen
2) Must stay true to canon when it comes to ship.
3) Keep the rating similar to what we would see on the show - ie, violence, gore, etc. If they couldn't air it, you can't write it.
4) This will probably be an emotional story already, so if you're having someone leave or die, put the warning in "Sad Character Development."
5) There needs to be a case - think of it like writing a regular episode.
I decided to take the features of NCIS episodes and season finales in particular as my guide. Note this is what I think might happen as opposed to what I want to have happen. Except near the end where McGee gets way too much air time for a real NCIS team chasing a nemesis episode. I find it very hard to write plot or Tony based stuff. I suppose that's why the call it a challenge. My story elements:
Elements: Someone named Sarah, Redheads, People leaving (s2 and s3), Rain, People sleeping at work, Nemesis hunting, Flashbacks, Tony needing personal tragedy to realise he need to appreciate what he's got. A la Grace Period and of course a pretentious title – either Finale or something starting with "Dead Man".
Finale
Teaser:
Tony Flashback
The restaurant is a kaleidoscope of color and sound. A delicious red-haired waitress slides the plates onto the table but Tony Dinozzo does not notice her for tonight, he only has eyes for one. He reaches into his breast pocket and draws out an ornate jewellery box. She smiles slightly but as her eyes come to rest on the locket concealed within, her face explodes into an expression of genuine pleasure that would live in his heart forever. She lifts the pendant by its heavy looped golden chain and strokes the clasp. Her smile deepens as the pendant opens to reveal the two photos cradled inside. She envelops him in an Abby-worthy hug. He utters those three little words – and he means them.
End Tony Flashback
Chapter 1 - Opportunities
"To the future!"
The clink of Ducky's brimming glass against the half full flute of Jethro Gibbs echoed in the pristine silence of the morgue.
"Been a long time coming," Gibbs noted, downing the champagne in a single draught and slamming the glass on the harsh metal table.
Ducky winced, anticipating the accompanying sound of shattered glass which, fortunately, did not eventuate. "Traditionally, this drink is savoured a little longer, Jethro."
"No time, Duck," said Gibbs: "paperwork."
"I put my resignation papers in last week; there was almost no paperwork involved."
"Not that paperwork – boat registration."
"Ah yes, think of me as you sail the North Sea."
"Your golf so bad you'll be looking out to sea?"
Ducky chuckled. "Not in general. I do hope I have time for a few rounds in between lecturing duties."
"Palmer getting your job?"
"I can't just pick someone and say, 'he's doing a good job: I'll take him'," said Ducky regretfully.
"That's how I got Kate," Gibbs pointed out.
"This is more: 'he's doing a good job: I'll promote him'," Ducky countered.
"Like the way I got McGee," Gibbs replied.
"Here in the real world," Ducky was getting exasperated, "there are things called competitive interviews."
"You had a chat to the Director about that?"
Ducky lowered his glass thoughtfully and placed it on the table. "I'll be right back," he murmured.
"How's Abby taking it?" Tony asked as McGee returned from the lab.
"Better than last time," McGee noted wryly. "The Gibbs pictures are back on her screens but this time he promised to keep her birthday date no matter what."
"Did she get a contact number?"
"Well…..," McGee considered, "I'm not sure how Mrs Gibbs the Nth would take to Abby ringing every hour while they are on their honeymoon."
Tony shuddered. "The honeymoon: every bachelor's nightmare."
"Not if you're finally sailing the boat you've been building for most of your life."
Tony pondered the idea for a moment. "Gibbs and a Lt. Col. alone on a boat: I suppose it looks better than two guys with facial hair sharing a beach shack in Mexico and building a teak hot tub together."
Whack!
"Boss," Tony grimaced as the pain reverberated around his skull: there were some things about Gibbs he was just not going to miss.
Gibbs did a U-turn and gave Tony a second whack, causing his teeth to jangle in their sockets.
"What was that one for?"
Gibbs turned for his desk again. "I've got a lifetime quota to fill in a week, DiNozzo," he said. "Some comments are going to cost you double."
McGee noted wistfully. "It's not going to be the same with two members of the team gone."
"Three," Ziva corrected tonelessly from her desk.
"What?"
Ziva looked up from her screen, a brave smile fixed on her face. "I have been recalled."
Tony and McGee exchanged glances.
"What?" Ziva's feigned nonchalance fooled no one. "I was here to learn. There is a European assignment that could use my help – I have been recalled. She leaned closer to the screen and located the exact phrase in her email – 'team guppy'."
"You're making that up," Tony accused.
"I am not," defended Ziva. "It's a loose translation but I wouldn't make it… Director?" Ziva stopped as she caught a glimpse of Jenny Shepard descending the stairway.
"I just received the email," the Director said with forced pleasure. "Congratulations."
Ziva's eyes fell to her desk. "Thank you."
But the Director was no longer looking at her. "Tony, I need to see you in my office."
Tony frowned at Ziva momentarily. With a gentle tilt of her head she motioned that he should follow Jen. He understood the message: they could talk later.
As he ascended the stairs in Jenny's wake, Tony looked back to see McGee already squatting in front of Ziva's desk consoling her. He knew she would be telling McGee that she had no need of comfort. He also knew she would be grateful that someone cared enough to try.
Tony closed the door quietly behind him. The Director had adopted a formidable pose behind her desk: bolt upright, arms folded protectively in front of her, the spikes of her cropped auburn hair glinting like steely knives in the sunlight that seemed to spotlight her positions. He hesitated – this didn't look good. He half expected her to invoke his second name.
"Have a seat Tony." She inclined her head towards the isolated chair positioned directly in front of her desk.
He sat abruptly. "I'm fired aren't I?"
A smiled wormed its way across her lips. "No Tony, you're not fired."
"Then?"
Jen took a deep breath and leant back in her chair. "A long time ago I told you that an opportunity to lead your own team doesn't come up very often."
"The answer is yes." He knew Sarah Yeardon was retiring soon: that left a head-of-team vacancy. Result: promotion and still a chance to fulfil his ultimate obligation.
"You haven't heard the question yet."
"OK, give me the question. The answer is still yes."
The Director paused. She had practised this speech until her voice was hoarse but it still never came out right. "A position has come up in the field of international espionage.." she began carefully.
"OK," Tony hedged, "now the answer is tending towards a 'maybe'."
"It's located in Paris, France,…"
"No."
"Tony.."
"Not while he's still alive."
She hadn't wanted to raise her voice but it was going to happen anyway. Throwing her arms to her side she shot up from her seat and learned on the table to glower at him from above. "Listen to me!"
Tony slumped resentfully in the chair.
"I, more than anyone, appreciate your need to avenge Jeanne's death but you can't let that desire run your life."
"Ha! Any other words of wisdom Madam Pot?"
Tony Flashback
An open shipping container on the Newport docks, a ragged line of boarder tape bounds the area, people in black jackets mill around collecting evidence. The picture zooms inside the container to what at first appears to be a black sculpture. Slowly the horrific realisation dawns on him: the sculpture is a badly charred human body. He turns his head and squeezes his eyes shut tightly to hide from the sight. Now he understands the threats.
End Tony Flashback
"Tony," the Director snapped. She had to hold his respect or all would be lost. "You need to step back from the situation. You have proven yourself in undercover ops and they could really use someone like you."
Tony stared at her stubbornly, his teeth clenched. They shared a common bond, he and Jenny – they alone knew the true identity of the Jane Doe they found that day. For his team-mates, he had fostered the rumour that his subsequent vendetta was rooted in the violent nature of the crime and its unsolved nature. A theory had sprung up that his obsession over the case caused the break-up of his long-term relationship. He let them think it, it was easier that way.
"What about Yerdon's position?" he managed to force out.
"I have someone else in mind for that," said Jenny flatly returning to her seat. "It's this or a level transfer to another team where the head is not so compliant with personal agendas. You do realise NCIS is a large organisation? There many people who deserve to run their own team."
"You mean people without a score to settle," Tony growled.
"You have until Friday," said Jen by way of dismissal. "Think about it. This sort of opportunity comes up once in a lifetime."
Tony eyed her momentarily then rose from the chair and left without a word. One thing was clear: he only had a few days to find the maniac who killed the only woman he had ever loved.