Disclaimer: NCIS and its characters do not belong to me and this story is not intended as an infringement of copyright. It has been written solely for entertainment and no profit has been made from its creation.
Impasse
Chapter One
In the basement level of the NCIS building, Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs watched as his senior field agent climbed from the passenger side of a dark panel van. Dressed in well-worn denim jeans and a faded green Philadelphia Eagles t-shirt, Tony was sporting a goatee and his hair was darker and longer than usual. Despite an absence of fifteen years, when your agent accepts an undercover assignment in his old stomping ground, a change in appearance is a necessary precaution. While Gibbs wasn't a fan of DiNozzo's new look, according to Abby, it made him look "hotter than hot."
With a well-trained flick of his eyes, Gibbs sized up the younger man's demeanour; noting the firm set of his jaw and the stiff posture. As much as DiNozzo enjoyed the challenge of working undercover, eight weeks spent infiltrating a drug cartel took its toll both physically and mentally – his agent was running on vapours and the two and a half hour drive from Philadelphia had done nothing to ease the tension.
Grunting his thanks to the driver, Tony heaved the sliding door open, firmly gripping the bicep of the heavyset prisoner in the back and guiding his exit from the van. With his hands restrained behind his back, Sean Mahoney stepped down, hitting his head painfully on the door frame and stumbling momentarily before regaining his balance.
"Sorry about that," Tony uttered without remorse, earning a disdainful glare as Mahoney straightened to his full height.
Sean Mahoney and his son, James, had been heading a drug operation in Philadelphia for two years, leaving a trail of dead bodies in their wake. They recruited young men off the street as pushers and dealers; men who could not resist the lure of fast money and the promise of a better way of life; men who quickly served their purpose and, more often than not, wound up dead. That fate had been tragically assigned to twenty-two year old, Lance Corporal Matthew Jenkins.
Jenkins was a promising Marine serving in Afghanistan when his parents were killed in an automobile accident. With no insurance to speak of, Corporal Jenkins inherited a large mortgage, back taxes and the guardianship of his two young siblings. He was on terminal leave waiting for his discharge from the Corps when he met James Mahoney who offered a solution to his financial burden. Several weeks after that, Jenkins' lifeless body was found in an alley.
NCIS had taken the lead in the investigation and Tony had convinced his old informant, Billy Simmons, to help him infiltrate Mahoney's operation. While wearing a wire, and in true DiNozzo fashion, Tony had inveigled a confession from Sean Mahoney. The subsequent raid on Mahoney's warehouse by NCIS and Philly PD had resulted in the arrest of Sean Mahoney and six associates but James had slipped through the net and brutally murdered Tony's informant.
Gibbs followed silently as Tony shoved the former cartel boss toward the lock-up, dutifully signed the charge sheet and escorted Mahoney to a vacant cell. As the door closed and locked with a definitive click, the man turned to glare menacingly at Tony through the bars.
"This isn't over, DiNozzo," he hissed.
Tony flashed a half-hearted smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Get used to those bars, Mahoney," he countered as he turned to walk away.
Mahoney's lips curled, baring his nicotine-stained teeth in a contemptuous sneer.
"Watch your back," he growled. "You don't want to end up like Billy Simmons."
Instinctively, Gibbs was moving seconds before his agent launched himself at the cell. Threading his arms between the bars, Tony grabbed the lapels of Mahoney's jacket and pulled back powerfully until he heard the crack of the man's head against the bars.
"You son of a bitch!"Tony seethed.
Grabbing his agent from behind, Gibbs wrestled Tony's arms to his sides and fought against the younger man's efforts to get free.
"Tony!" Gibbs snapped as his agent continued to struggle against him. "DiNozzo, stand down!"
The unequivocal tone of the barked command pierced Tony's consciousness and, with his chest heaving, he allowed himself to be led away from the cell.
Leaning into the retina scanner, Gibbs was relieved when the elevator doors opened immediately. He nudged his agent into the car and pressed the button for the operations level. Tony leaned heavily against the wall, rubbing a hand across his brow and pressing his fingers firmly into his temples to dispel a brewing headache. Gibbs watched him closely, his blue eyes sharp and knowing.
"You okay?"
Tony shrugged a shoulder in silent reply.
"Mahoney's looking at twenty to life...you did good. Got the old man to confess to Jenkins' murder and shut down a major drug syndicate."
Tony huffed a laugh.
"Tell that to Billy's widow. While we were patting ourselves on the back, James Mahoney was emptying his Beretta into her husband," he stated flatly.
Gibbs flicked the emergency stop switch, bringing the car to a halt and muting the lighting.
"Tony-"
The younger man pounded his fist into the wall, wincing as the pain reverberated up his arm.
"He didn't want to do it, Boss," he said. "I pressured Billy into vouching for me so I could get close to the Mahoneys. I swore I'd protect him."
Tony took several deep breaths, attempting to quell the turbulent emotions that were burning inside of him. The muscles along his jaw line contracted while he continued to bite down on his anger. After a moment of thunderous silence he turned to his team leader, his expression as determined as Gibbs had ever seen it.
"I want him, Boss. I want James Mahoney."
"We'll get him," Gibbs replied with a succinct nod.
They traveled the rest of the way in silence and, as the doors slid open, they stepped into the operations room. A smattering of applause from the other duty teams, acknowledged a job well done and Tony's safe return. Not for the first time, Gibbs watched bemused as his agent forcibly suppressed his feelings, slipped on the affable mask and held it firmly in place. The corners of his mouth bore the beginning of a smile as Tony motioned for silence.
"Thank you, all," he grinned, waving his hands in a shooing gesture. "Now, get back to work...go catch bad guys."
Rounding the partition into the bullpen, they walked to their respective desks where McGee and Bishop were waiting.
"All hail the return of the conquering hero," McGee quipped.
"Job's not done yet, McGoo. Besides, it was a team effort."
"Maybe, but you're the one who spent eight weeks undercover," McGee countered.
"And you guys spent the last eight weeks tracking the evidence we needed and watching my back. Like I said; team effort."
McGee nodded, accepting the acknowledgement.
"Oh, Boss," the IT specialist said. "Director Vance has been called to the Pentagon. He wants to meet with you and Tony for a debriefing when he gets back."
Across the bullpen, Ellie Bishop eyed the senior field agent with concern. She'd be the first to admit that she didn't know Tony very well but even she could tell that he was exhausted. Ellie removed a candy bar from her desk – the same brand she had watched Tony pilfer from her drawer whenever he thought she wasn't watching. Casually, she rounded her workstation and placed it on Tony's desk.
"A welcome home gift," she smiled.
Barely aware of the small talk or the gesture, Tony looked lost in his thoughts as he unconsciously stroked his goatee.
"Tony?"
"Any news on James Mahoney?" he asked, snapping back to the present.
"Ah...not yet," McGee replied, exchanging a curious glance with Bishop. "He hasn't accessed his bank accounts and we've had no hits on our BOLO."
"Dammit," Tony cursed, carding his fingers through his hair.
"We'll get him, Tony," McGee said. "He has to surface sooner or later."
"We should have had him," Tony replied, surging to his feet and pacing in an agitated manner. "I blew it. I must have done something or said something that tipped him off."
"Or...maybe James just got lucky," Bishop suggested. "I mean, he idolizes his father, right? Surely if he had any idea who you were or that the warehouse was about to be raided, he'd have warned his father. You did what you had to do...you got Jenkins' murderer."
"She's right, Tony," McGee added. "Everyone knows that Sean Mahoney is the brains of the operation and James is the brawn. You cut the head off the snake and shut the syndicate down."
"James Mahoney is still out there," Tony said, still pacing. "He's a wild card; he's unpredictable. He may not have his old man's brains but without Dad around to rein him in, he's dangerous as hell."
He looked up in surprise as Gibbs blocked his path.
"Which is why you don't go anywhere without McGee, Bishop or me until James Mahoney's in custody," the team leader said casually.
Tony's jaw dropped.
"Come on, Boss, you can't be serious!" He took a moment to unsuccessfully stare down the older man but Gibbs' face remained as impassive as ever. "Okay...so maybe you can be serious but you're overreacting a little, don't you think?"
"I'm with the Boss on this one, Tony," McGee said. "Like you said, James Mahoney's dangerous and unpredictable."
"Not helping, McGee," Tony snapped before turning his attention to the new team member. "Bishop, you're the hotshot analyst, you got anything to add."
"Nope, not me," she said quickly.
"Good," Tony said, throwing a look over his shoulder. "See, Boss, no babysitting necessary."
Bishop squirmed under the scrutiny of her team leader and spoke up.
"Except that...er, I think Gibbs and McGee are right," she winced. "Sorry, Tony."
Outnumbered and too exhausted to argue the point, Tony slumped heavily into his chair.
"Okay, you win," he said wearily. "But I want it known for the record that I think you're all overreacting."
Leaning forward to switch on his computer monitor, Tony keyed in his password and accessed the Unified Crime Reporting program to begin logging his report. His hands shot out to support him as his chair spun quickly around and he came face to face with his team leader.
"Boss?"
"Go home – hit the rack."
"Thanks, Boss, but if I don't finish my report by the time the director gets back, the next thing I'll be typing is my resume," Tony answered.
Gibbs leaned in to his agent and spoke again.
"Wasn't a suggestion, DiNozzo."
Tony glanced at his teammates who had both jumped to their feet, securing their weapons and grabbing their gear.
"What about my report?" he asked.
"Tomorrow's soon enough," Gibbs said turning to McGee and Bishop. "Take him home. Make sure he eats something. I'll relieve you at twenty-four hundred."
The former Marine suppressed a grin as McGee and Bishop took up their positions by Tony's side and escorted the grumbling agent from the building.
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Finding the outer office unattended Gibbs gave the door a perfunctory knock and walked into the director's office without waiting to be invited.
"You wanted to see me, Director?"
"Gibbs, take a seat," Vance replied looking up from a mountain of reports. He frowned and looked toward the door. "I assume DiNozzo will be joining us?"
"Tomorrow. McGee and Bishop took him home."
"Is he injured?"
"Been eight week's Leon. He's out on his feet."
"And his report?"
"You'll get it tomorrow," Gibbs told him.
"I'm afraid it can't wait until tomorrow," Vance said. "I just came from the Pentagon. There are moves afoot to cut our operating budget."
"They're always cutting our budget, Leon. What's that got to do with DiNozzo's report?"
"The arrest of a Marine killer and the shutdown of drug cartel is the kind of thing that plays well in the press," Vance said. "It's the kind of case that SecNav can use to keep the appropriations committee at bay. DiNozzo's report and his testimony will be crucial. I need that report."
"You'll get it – when DiNozzo's had some rest," Gibbs said determinedly. "SecNav's waited eight weeks, Leon, she can wait one more night."
Vance raised an eyebrow at his senior agent.
"That's easy for you to say, you're not the one taking the calls. Hell, even the Philly PD is on my back. They're pissed as hell that we got Mahoney extradited to DC before he could face charges in Philadelphia."
"DA agreed that the murder of our Marine trumped their warrant for drug trafficking," Gibbs stated.
"Doesn't stop them bitching about it," Vance replied. He tapped his index finger thoughtfully against his pursed lips. "Why the protection detail for DiNozzo? Do you think James Mahoney's dumb enough to come after him?"
Gibbs climbed to his feet and headed for the door.
"You said it yourself, Leon," he replied over his shoulder. "Without Tony's testimony, we have no case."
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With his teammates sticking to him like glue, Tony arrived at the door of his apartment and fumbled in his pockets for his keys. He rolled his eyes as McGee grabbed the keys from his hand and nudged him safely away from the door. Signalling for Bishop to watch the hallway, McGee drew his weapon and silently entered the apartment. After clearing every room he motioned for Bishop to usher a rather bemused Tony inside.
"Nice place," Bishop stated. "I didn't know you played the piano."
"I dabble," Tony replied, shrugging out of his jacket and shoulder holster.
"Nobody dabbles on a baby grand," Bishop laughed, running her fingertips over the polished black wood.
"I see you finally upgraded to a King-sized bed," McGee noted from the bedroom door.
"I was motivated by the image of my father and my neighbour making out in my old bed."
Bishop looked at McGee with a mixture of confusion and repulsion on her face.
"You don't want to know," McGee assured her.
Tony returned from the kitchen with several take-out menus and handed them to Bishop.
"Whatever you choose is fine by me but super-size everything...I'm starving like Lee Marvin."
"Oh no you don't," Ellie replied. "You've probably been eating this stuff for weeks. If I can use your kitchen, maybe I can whip up something more nourishing."
"Knock yourself out," Tony said with a sweeping gesture toward the kitchen. "I'm gonna take a shower."
Ellie Bishop considered herself a better than average cook, however, as she walked into the kitchen, she was mindful of the fact that Tony had been on assignment in Philly for eight weeks. It was highly doubtful that she would find anything edible let alone nourishing. Taking a deep breath, she cracked open the refrigerator door and, to her surprise, found it stacked with fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, bread and milk.
"When did Tony have a chance to shop for groceries?" she asked.
"He didn't," McGee said, sprinkling flakes of fish food into the small tank and watching as the hungry fish devoured them. "When Tony's undercover, Gibbs restocks his kitchen at the end of his assignments. It's a Gibbs thing, just something he does."
As she prepared dinner, Ellie was struck by the depth of friendship that existed between the members of her new team. It was unlike anything she had encountered at NSA. In the short time she'd been working with the MCRT, she'd noticed the ribbing, the jokes and the occasional head slap but she knew instinctively that each of these men would do whatever it took to protect the others. They shared a kinship, a brotherhood. They were a family...and not for the first time, Ellie realized that it was a family to which she hoped she'd one day belong.
Twenty minutes later, McGee and Bishop were setting the table amid the mouth-watering aromas filling the apartment. Ellie cocked her head, her dark eyebrows knitted in a frown as she glanced at Tony's closed bedroom door.
"He's been in there a long time," she said. "Do you think we - and by we I mean you - should check on him?"
McGee shook his head.
"It's part of his process," McGee replied.
"His process?"
"When he finishes an undercover assignment, he takes long showers to wash off the stink," he explained. "He'll be fine."
Another ten minutes passed; dinner was on the table and still, there was no sign of the senior field agent. Ellie glared intently at McGee, silently urging him to act. Reluctantly, he crossed the room to stand outside Tony's bedroom.
"Tony?" he called through the closed door. "Tony? Are you okay?"
Ellie placed her ear to the door and listened.
"The water's still running," she stated.
"See? What'd I tell you? He's probably still in the shower," McGee replied.
He started toward the dining area when Ellie grabbed his arm.
"What if something's wrong?" she whispered. "What if he's passed out or he slipped and hit his head or something. We were assigned to protect him."
"Against bad guys with guns not against bathroom accidents," McGee argued.
"I don't know Gibbs as well as you do but I don't want to have to tell him that Tony got hurt on our watch."
"You and Abby should get along famously," he muttered. "You both have a flair for theatrics."
Rolling his eyes dramatically, the IT specialist tried the handle and pushed tentatively at the door.
"I hope you realize that if he's naked in there, no amount of therapy will help me," he quipped.
The bedroom was clouded with steam from the shower and in the muted light, they saw Tony sprawled across his bed - fully clothed and softly snoring.
"I guess he didn't make it to the shower," McGee said softly as he turned the water off.
"Do you think we should wake him?" Ellie whispered.
"Nah, let him sleep," McGee replied, ushering Bishop out of the room and closing the bedroom door behind them.
"O-kay, but what do you think Gibbs is going to say when you tell him Tony hasn't eaten?"
McGee looked thoughtful before responding.
"I think he'll say, 'Gee, McGee, you look a lot like Bishop," the IT specialist smiled at Bishop's alarmed expression before turning his attention to the dining table. "Shame to let dinner go to waste," he said. "Come on, let's eat."
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In the bowels of the NCIS building, Sean Mahoney languished on a rickety holding-cell bunk that struggled to support his large frame. White-haired and thickset, he was an imposing figure with the pugilistic jaw and badly-broken nose of a former prize-fighter.
The bunk gave a mournful groan as Mahoney twisted onto his side to glance at the clock on the far wall. Noting it was well past midnight, he sighed deeply – if things had gone according to his instructions, there'd be no turning back now.
He released an audible sigh; his unyielding arrogance still refusing to comprehend how the likable but garrulous man he'd met several weeks ago, had turned out to be an undercover federal agent.
To survive in his line of work, good instincts and a highly suspicious nature were paramount. Sean Mahoney had always prided himself on having both. But DiNozzo – or Bricker as he'd called himself - with his affable nature and quick wit, had breached the older man's near impregnable defences and, somehow, enticed the confession of the murder of Lance Corporal Jenkins. The words had barely left Mahoney's mouth when the smile disappeared from Bricker's face and his features hardened with naked dislike. He drew his weapon and the older man found himself staring into the intense glare of a seasoned law enforcement officer.
During his time in NCIS custody, Sean Mahoney observed Gibbs and DiNozzo's interactions with a great deal of interest. As he adjusted his position on the uncomfortable bunk, his dark eyes grew dim as he recalled how the two agents had inadvertently revealed their Achilles heel…each other.
FLASHBACK
Moments after DiNozzo had revealed his identity and placed him under arrest, the warehouse was swarming with a dozen agents and Mahoney and his men were taken into custody. He'd watched as the silver-haired lead agent known as Gibbs, quickly secured the scene before eyeing his agent for any sign of injury or distress. The dialogue that followed between the two agents was brief and unremarkable but Mahoney's sharp instincts sensed something more between them.
Several hours later, in a Philly PD interrogation room, news was received of Billy Simmons' brutal murder. Mahoney watched with perverse pleasure as the younger agent paled visibly and his eyes filled with turbulent emotions. Certain of the Mahoneys, involvement in the death of his informant, DiNozzo took two menacing steps toward him when his path was blocked by the lead agent. Sensing the younger man's self-control was hanging by a thread, Gibbs took hold of DiNozzo's arm and led him from the room.
Through the open door, Mahoney watched as the former Marine spoke in a quiet but firm voice and DiNozzo nodded his head in reluctant agreement. His curiosity piqued when Gibbs gave his agent a gentle slap to the back of the head before dropping a supportive hand on the younger man's shoulder. The gesture had the required calming effect but there was more behind it than lead agent to subordinate... Mahoney was now convinced that a relationship akin to a paternal bond existed between these two men and he smiled menacingly as the seed to his most audacious plan was planted.
END FLASHBACK
Given his current location, Mahoney had little choice but to place the logistics of his plan entirely in the hands of his trusted attorney and his son James who, himself, was only half a step ahead of the law. Now, his freedom was hanging in the balance and completely dependent on the actions of his son...and the reactions of Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo.
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Tony was still sleeping deeply when his slumber was disturbed by the sound of someone repeatedly calling his name. He turned his head away, desperately trying to ignore it. The voice became more insistent and was joined by an intermittent nudge to his shoulder. He cracked open one eye and saw McGee's worried face leaning over him.
"I'm up," Tony mumbled, still half asleep.
"Tony, it's after midnight," his partner informed him.
"Worried about turning into a pumpkin, Probie?"
"No," McGee replied. "It's Gibbs, he's not here."
Frowning deeply, Tony peered into the darkness, still waiting for his brain to reboot.
"Course not," he muttered, closing his eyes and pulling the afghan up under his chin. "Why would Gibbs be in my bed?"
McGee whipped the afghan from the bed and shook Tony's shoulder firmly.
"Tony, listen to me, Gibbs was supposed to relieve us thirty minutes ago. He's not here yet."
McGee wasn't sure if it was his words or the worry in his voice that finally penetrated Tony's sleep-addled mind but he was relieved when the older man's eyes snapped open and he sat upright.
"You call his cell?"
Bishop replied from where she'd been hovering at the door.
"We've been calling for the last twenty minutes," she said. "His cell's switched off."
Instantly alert, Tony surged from the bed and forced his feet awkwardly into his shoes. Shrugging into his shoulder holster he grabbed some extra clips and slipped them into his pocket before snatching the car keys from the dresser.
"Let's go."
-oo00oo—oo00oo—oo00oo—oo00oo—oo00oo-
The late hour made the drive across town much faster than usual and the team arrived to find Gibbs' home in darkness. After donning their vests, Tony waited until Bishop and McGee were in position at the back of the house before giving the order to enter. With their weapons and flashlights held securely in a two-handed grip, the agents cautiously scanned each room, confirming the house was empty. The living room was in disarray with the upturned furniture and a small pool of blood by the front door evidenced the struggle that had taken place.
"Sonofabitch!" Tony swore.
"Mahoney?" McGee asked, receiving a curt nod in reply.
"Wait a minute," Bishop said. "I know I'm the newbie here but from what I've learned Gibbs has pissed off a lot of people over the years. This could be a coincidence."
"We don't believe in them," Tony and McGee answered in unison.
The silence was interrupted by an intermittent beeping that had the agents spinning around and bringing their weapons to bear. Cautiously following the sound to the dining room, they found a laptop positioned on the table.
"Tony, that's the Skype ringtone," McGee said. "Someone's calling."
"Answer it," Tony told him.
Tony's gut twisted painfully in anticipation as McGee slipped on a latex glove and pressed the answer button. Almost instantly the sneering smile of James Mahoney materialized on the screen.
"You didn't expect me to forget about you, did you DiNozzo?"
Tony winced.
"I'm not that lucky," Tony answered glibly. His expression hardened and his jaw clenched tightly. "Where's Gibbs?"
Mahoney smiled smugly.
"We're getting acquainted," he replied.
"Let him go, Mahoney. It's me you want, not him."
"That's true...but you're the only one who can get my father released."
"Then we gotta problem," Tony said, "cause I don't have that kind of authority."
Mahoney bared his teeth again, this time in a predatory smile.
"Maybe you need motivation."
He stepped away from the camera, leaving the agents with the image of an empty chair in a large room. He returned moments, roughly manhandling a handcuffed Gibbs into the chair. Bishop gasped involuntarily as she saw the former Marine's badly beaten face. Swelling had already closed his left eye, stretching the badly discoloured skin tightly across his eye socket. Purple and black contusions contrasted sharply against his blanched skin and a thin streak of blood dribbled down his chin from a badly split lip. But it was the sight of the collar bomb device hanging around Gibbs' neck that sent icy tendrils of fear spearing into his agents' hearts.
"Tony-" McGee uttered.
"I see it," Tony replied sharply.
"I want my father released, DiNozzo," Mahoney demanded. "or I'll mail your boss back to you in a shoebox."
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