Title: No I in Team
Pairing: None.
Rating: K
Genre: Drama, Episode Tag
Cat: Gen
Spoilers: Takes place around the end of Judgment Day/beginning of season 6. More of a "what if" than reality.
Warnings: None.
Summary: In the end, they are all his.
Author's Note: Written for the Man of Few Words Challenge, in which the story must be about Gibbs and be under 500 words.
Gibbs walked into Vance's office, depositing some files on his desk with a thump. Vance looked up, eyebrow cocked.
"You want me to pick a team?" Gibbs said, his calm voice belying the anger he exuded. "I pick Tony, Ziva, McGee. The end."
Vance reached forward and drew the files toward him. The tension in the room heated to a boil, only lessened when Vance spoke several moments later. "Your team."
Gibbs met his stare. "My team."
Then, to Gibbs' surprise, Vance smiled. "I was wondering when you'd make your way up here."
Gibbs narrowed his eyes at the Director. "You were pulling my chain."
Vance turned serious again. "I knew what you would do. Here." He opened a drawer and took out some files, handing them to Gibbs. "I think we're done here."
Gibbs gave an almost imperceptible nod, turning to exit the office. He waited until he was back at his desk, having jogged down the stairs with the files in a white-knuckled grip, before he opened up the files.
The first was Tony's.
The tiniest of smiles graced his face at the sight of his senior field agent. His. Vance could send Tony off to sit on some ship and solve cases at sea, but he was still a part of Gibbs' team. He always would be.
He closed the folder and opened the top drawer of his desk, sliding all three folders Vance had given him inside. He didn't need to look at the other two to know what they were.
Gibbs leaned back in his chair, lacing his fingers together and sliding them behind his head. He pushed out a breath. The waiting was agony, but it would be worth it.
He'd bring his people back.
THE END