Remedy
The world always makes the assumption that the exposure of an error is identical with the discovery of truth - that the error and truth are simply opposite. They are nothing of the sort. What the world turns to, when it is cured on one error, is usually simply another error, and maybe one worse than the first one. H.L. Mencken
Prologue
"Demoted." Tony whispered the words, as he stood outside the conference room, where three minutes ago the verdict had been so concisely, so coldly read out.
Ten years of loyal service had meant nothing. Glowing testimonies from Gibbs and the team had done nothing to soften the panels judgement. Maybe if Director Vance or Secretary Davenport had said something, but there was no chance of that. It was because of them that he was stood here at all.
The events of the last week flashed through his mind like a high speed train, threatening to derail him. Secretary Davenport had made it clear he was to speak to no one about what he'd seen and heard that night.
He'd complied, not fully realising, until now, quite what a sacrifice he'd so readily made.
OOO
Chapter 1
Day 1
Tony appeared from his bedroom a little after noon. He rubbed his bloodshot eyes and bristly chin as he staggered into the living area.
He hadn't bothered changing out of the suit he'd worn to the Disciplinary Hearing the day before, and it now looked like a flaxen-sack of potato's, rather than the expensive designer suit that it was.
As he'd downed his seventh vodka the night before, he'd thought maybe he should have toned down the suit. That maybe it made him look like he was more interested in his image than his duties as a Federal Agent. The lady he'd been talking to all evening at the bar assured him he looked 'hot' and if she'd have been on the disciplinary panel, she'd have punished him in ways they both would have enjoyed.
"You want some coffee?"
He looked up to see Gibbs appear in the kitchen doorway, an oversized mug of the boiling black liquid already in his hand.
Even in his dehydrated, befuddled state, there was no mistaking that, 'I'm pretending everything's fine, but really I'm about to kick your ass' tone of voice from his boss.
He slumped into the leather armchair. "How long you been here?" If his appearance didn't give away the level of his alcohol consumption the night before, his gravely timbre certainly did.
"I came just after you staggered in at 03.05. You were already lying face down on the bed by the time I got up here."
Gibbs poured another mug of black coffee and brought it over to Tony along with dry toast and pills. He placed them on the side table.
Gibbs allowed the silence to fall between them. He was more comfortable with it than most. After several minutes, Tony spoke.
"I'm sorry Boss."
"Heard it before DiNozzo. The only thing I want from you is the truth." Gibbs was more direct than he had intended to be, but the lack of sleep was making him even less tolerant than usual.
"There's nothing more to say."
Even though red rimmed and blood-shot, Tony's eyes failed to hide the lie.
"So, just so were clear; Jackie Vance gets approached by a tattooed man outside her home, he asks to speak with her husband before running off when she threatens to call the police. We get a witness from Ivy City who thinks she's seen someone matching his description; mid-forties, scrawny, olive skinned, shaved head. You go speak with her and tell me she was mistaken, not checking it out further. The following day the witness phones NCIS to ask what's going on after you'd promised her you'd call for back up and check out the storage facility she'd seem him walk out of."
"Guess that sums it up. I'm going to take a shower." Tony eased himself up, only to find himself forced back in the seat seconds later, with Gibbs's hands pushing down on his shoulders.
"You're not going anywhere."
"Why can't you accept that I screwed up?" Tony angrily responded, instantly regretting it as his head started pounding. He put his hands to his temples trying to massage away the pain. "I know you and the team have been investigating, trying to find something that'll clear my name. Did you ever think that there's a reason none of you have found anything to contradict my story?"
"What the hell's the matter with you DiNozzo? You're better than this." Gibbs said.
"Maybe you got me wrong. Maybe I'm the one who finally got to pull the wool over the eyes of the infamous Leroy Jethro Gibbs and his gut."
Gibbs smirked. "You weren't that difficult to read DiNozzo."
Tony scowled at him, insulted by the comment, but knowing deep down it was probably true. That's what was worrying him. Gibbs knew him far too well.
"Look Boss. I'm sorry for what happened, I'm sorry for making you look bad in front of Vance and the others." He paused, "and I'm really sorry for letting you down, but I'm paying the price for it. Can't we forget this and just move on?"
"Move on? You've managed to land yourself top spot on Vance's hit-list." Gibbs said. "Your career at NCIS is all but over. You've got a cat in hells chance of ever being promoted to Senior Field Agent again, and there's nothing I can do to change Vance's opinion."
The realisation of Gibbs' words hit him like a bullet train. His head slumped forward, as he sat wondering, not for the first time, if he'd just made the biggest mistake of his life.
OOO
It was after one in the afternoon, but Vance had only been at his desk for just under an hour; he'd wanted to spend some time with Jackie. His anger had not dissipated by being informed the day before of the outcome of the internal investigation. In his mind DiNozzo should have been fired; marched off the premises and told never to darken their door again, but instead the son of a bitch had just been demoted.
As soon as he'd heard that DiNozzo was free to saunter back in a weeks time, after he'd ridden out the rest of his suspension, he'd put in some well placed phone calls to colleagues and acquaintances to look for a permanent transfer for Tony.
Vance heard the door open, and knew immediately who it was. There was only one person in the whole Navy Yard who dared not knock before entering.
"Something I can do for you Agent Gibbs?" Vance asked, as he looked up from the thick manila file in front of him.
"You got the verdict yesterday?" Gibbs knew he had to get this white elephant out of the room quickly.
"Seems your boy managed to worm his way out of it. But let me tell you this here and now Gibbs, there is no way on earth that man is setting foot in this building again. If he had any decency he'd resign, find another job where it's not so important if you'd rather chase a skirt than do your job." The bitterness in the Directors words threw Gibbs for a few moments. He knew he'd have to tread carefully on this one.
"There's no evidence DiNozzo was 'chasing a skirt'."
"You told me that DiNozzo had asked to leave early to go on a date that evening." Vance's brow furrowed, as he tried hard to control his anger. "You turned down his request and sent him to Ivy City."
"Doesn't mean that's why he didn't check that store room out."
"He returned back to the office at 19.05," Vance continued. "left twenty minutes later. Withdrew $300 from an ATM fifteen minutes before his 20.00 reservation at Fleur de Dor restaurant. I can investigate too, Gibbs." He stood and moved to the other side of his desk, leaning against it.
"No one from the restaurant has confirmed DiNozzo was there, never mind who he was with."
"I know how desperate you are to prove he didn't screw the pooch. I know you sent McGee and Ziva to speak with the witness, Celina Grantham. I know they checked out the storage facility."
"You'll know then that they found no evidence that anyone had been there and that the Internal Investigation team wouldn't let them anywhere near Ms Grantham."
"He's caused an embarrassment to you and this agency. You know I had to hand over the case to the FBI. I can't even trust my best team to investigate a case involving their own director. We're probably the laughing stock of the country. This reflects badly on all of us."
"Worried about your promotional chances Leon?"
Vance's face contorted. "If this pep talk is about me accepting DiNozzo back, you can dream on Gibbs. He'll come back over my dead body."
"I'll find something to prove DiNozzo didn't screw up."
Vance snorted. "You never give up do you? You have such faith in him, you're blind to the truth."
"One week Leon. Give me one more week. I'll find something. He's suspended for that long anyway."
"I've put a call in to a friend in Montana, they have a vacancy for a Sergeant at one of their remote stations and have a record in turning screw-up's around. I thought DiNozzo would be a good fit. Apparently there are twenty men to every woman; less temptation for his dick. He needs a response by Friday, so you've got until then. But I'm warning you Gibbs, what you get better be damn good or your boy's on his way to the big blue sky of Montana, and he wont be coming back!"
End of Chapter 1