DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NCIS OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS

While the Boss is Away

Ch 1

Sitting at his desk Gibbs hung up his phone. He stood abruptly and walked briskly to the stairs. His agents watched wondering what had prompted their leader to take off in such haste. They saw him enter the director's office without knocking and exchanged concerned looks.

"Gibbs?" Vance looked at the clearly distraught face of his top team's leader. The normally unflappable man was upset about something. 'What's the matter?" Vance was getting ready to stand to offer some comfort or support, but Gibbs waved for him to stay in his seat.

"I got a call from my dad," Gibbs told him. "I need to go to Stillwater."

"Everything okay?" Vance had only met Jackson Gibbs a few times, but found the man to be jovial and easy to get along with.

"Healthwise, he's doing fine. He's having some hip surgery tomorrow. He took a fall outside the store this morning. He's going to need some help until he can get back on his feet."

"What about your team? You want me to take them off rotation until you get back?" That thought didn't sit well with the man who counted on the success rate of his top teams to keep his leadership skills looking top notch.

"That's not necessary. DiNozzo can handle it," he stated with the utmost confidence in his senior field agent. Catching the tense look in the director's eyes, Gibbs glared at him. 'Damn it Leon! You know he can do it. Maybe you weren't here during the time I was away, but look at their cases and how he closed them all in speedy fashion. He's the best agent I've ever had."

"I trust your judgment, but reserve the right to bench them if I see the need," Vance compromised.

Humphing Gibbs said, "That won't happen."

Dismissing that line of discussion Vance turned to the time line they were working with. "When do you plan to leave?"

"Now. The day's about done and there are no new cases to tie up."

Nodding Vance gave him the okay to leave. As Gibbs opened the door Vance spoke up, "Give Jack my best."

Gibbs gave him a curt nod in response and strode out leaving the door open.

Vance grinned. 'I may miss him while he's gone,' he thought. 'DiNozzo a team leader?' he puzzled. 'Jethro best be right about him and his leadership skills. Guess it's about time I find out what he can really do.' He got up to watch the scene play out in the bullpen.

The trio of agents had gathered together in Gibbs' absence to brainstorm what was going on. Upon his return all three heads snapped to watch as their boss gathered all his things together.

Tim and Ziva looked to Tony who hesitated for only a second before braving up to ask what they were all anxious to know, "Hey, Boss." Tony waited until Gibbs looked at him.

"Yeah DiNozzo?" he answered seeming a little distracted.

"I was…Well we," he indicated waving his hand back and forth between himself and Tim and Ziva, "were wondering if everything is okay."

"Does something look not okay to you?" Gibbs narrowed his eyes at Tony waiting to see his reaction and how much he observed.

"Well, now that you mention it," he stood a little closer to Gibbs' desk. "You're about to leave early, something you almost NEVER do." Tony recalled the only other time he had and then Gibbs was gone for months in Mexico. "This after getting a phone call that caused you to rush up to barge into seeing the director only to return ready to head out."

Gibbs smiled at him, "It's going to be alright, Tony. The call was from my dad. He needs me to go help him out for a while." Gibbs had finished gathering all his things together and was making his way back around his desk.

Tony looked worried. First about Gibbs' father, a man he was earning a lot of respect for. Second he was concerned about the team and what this held in store for them. He did not want to end up doing cold cases indefinitely.

"Don't look so worried. Dad will be fine," he said seeing Tony's trust in his words as he relaxed slightly. "I'm leaving you in charge," he instructed.

Tony looked surprised, "What about Vance?"

"He agreed to let you lead," Gibbs clapped his shoulder and turned to Tim and Ziva standing and taking in all that had been said. "I expect the same work you put in the last time I was away." They both nodded stunned at the fact that Gibbs was going off to help his dad and that Tony was going to be 'Boss' again.

Not that they thought he hadn't done a decent job as their leader, even implementing some of his own twists into the investigation process, like the campfires. Sure Tim might've resented calling his antagonizer, 'Boss', but he ended up gaining a new found respect for the experienced agent he really was.

Ziva didn't want Tony to have any authority over her. It was sometimes hard enough to be called his 'Probie'. She did not want to have to answer to him for her actions or be told what to do by him. She already owed him her life; a debt she could never repay nor even begin to thank him for. Still she recalled that he treated them well when he was thrown into this position last time. She would have to find a way to make it work.

Tony still harbored doubts about Vance's approval, but gave Gibbs his most confident smile, "You can count on me, Boss."

"I know that Tony," Gibbs stated. They watched him enter the elevator and shared glances around, before Tony broke it off saying, "Okay back to work," and headed for his desk.

Sitting there he glanced over towards Gibbs' desk wondering if he should take that place in the morning. Gibbs didn't say how long he'd be gone. 'I'll decide in the morning,' he thought returning to finish going through the last file of the day.

Vance, satisfied that the exchange went well and no one seemed to be arguing Tony's appointment, chewed his toothpick and turned to reenter his office. Tomorrow morning could be interesting.