Summary: A simple what if Gibbs was a woman.
Warning: This story is AU and contains a female Gibbs who drinks coffee, has PMS and slaps Dinozzo
Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS
Chapter: (1) Yankee White
Chapter Summary: Gibbs and her team investigate the death of a Naval Commander on Air Force One with the assistance of Secret Service Agent Kate Todd.
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The President waves to the cameras and press waiting outside Air Force One as he boards the plane. He turns to address the stewards. "Bobby did those babybacks from Papa Joe's make the flight?" asks the President.
"Yes, sir, Mr. President. They were flown in from San Antonio ten minutes ago, sir," answers the steward. The president looks particularly happy at this news.
"Good. Let's have an early lunch," suggests the president. As the steward agrees, the President turns away, putting an arm around the shoulders of a man, behind them Kate Todd follows.
"I love the babybacks from Papa Joe's," states the president. The man informs the president that he knows. The president then turns to Kate and asks her "Wasn't Major Kerry supposed to be handling the Football on this one?"
"He came down with the flu, Mr. President," answers Kate. The man beside the president raises his arm to indicate the new Football carrier and informs the president that the new football carrier is Commander Ray Trapp, as the Naval commander stands at attention for the president.
"Have we met before, Commander?" asks the president as he shakes the Naval commander's hand,
"Yes, sir. On the Abraham Lincoln, Mr. President," answers Commander Trapp. The presidents smirks and reminisces for a moment before turning to his secret service detail and states how the trip to the Lincoln had been his best day on the job. The president then turns to Commander Trapp and invites him to lunch, which the commander readily agrees to. The President and the Secret Service man walk away while Kate lingers to speak with Commander. Trapp, who finally relaxes once the President is out of sight.
"Lunch with the boss on your first day. You're destined for stars on those shoulders, Commander," she states giving the man an encouraging smile before heading off in a different direction than the President did. Commander Trapp sits down, looking in the direction that the President disappeared to, and smiles. Then he reaches over to the side of his chair where a large black briefcase is unobtrusively tucked away and pats it with his hand.
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Some time later;
A flight attendant carries a tray of food down an aisle and sets it down on a table between two people. The crewmember from before, the steward, walks past her to speak with the Secret Service agents.
"Agent Baer, Agent Todd, would either of you like anything to eat?" asks the steward. Both agents decline.
"I'll be in the Comm. getting an update from Bowman. Keep an eye on things down here," instructs agent Baer to Kate as he gets up.
"You expecting a problem, sir?" asks Kate as he turns back to face her.
"Expect problems, Agent Todd. And with a little luck, you'll never loose the President," he informs her as he jogs up a flight of stairs to the next deck. Kate looks down and smiles ruefully.
Moments later, Commander Trapp enters the room with the briefcase referred to as the Football in hand. He moves slowly, almost shuffling and then stumbles and drops the briefcase. Kate looks at him in concern as the Commander stares at his hand, flexing his fingers. He turns and flashes a grin at Kate.
"I fumbled in my first Army-Navy game, but I recovered the ball," he says as he reaches down and picks the briefcase back up and places it beside his chair carefully. He then turns to Kate and offers his hand to shake. The pair shake hands and exchange names. The Naval Commander begins to look flushed in the face and is beginning to noticeably sweat.
"Eating with the President was… (swallows) a bigger sweat than… making a ni-night cap," he stutters, swallowing and walking in a small circle as he does before collapsing in his seat heavily. Kate is concerned and asks him if he is ill. Seconds later he begins to convulse and falls to the floor as foam starts pouring out of his mouth.
"Slammer, Rose fern for a medical emergency, section one," says Kate issuing orders into her communication device concealed in her sleeve as she kneels down and attempts to stabilize the convulsing Naval commander as Agent Baer rushes down the steps. He demands to know what is going on to which Kate replies she doesn't know. The two agents look up as three medics in Naval whites rush over to them.
The medics begin to resuscitate Commander Trapp when Kate looks up in horror and informs the doctor that the Naval Commander had lunch with the President. Agent Baer hands the briefcase to Kate and informs her to stay with the football as he and the Doctor sprint up the stairs. Kate grips the briefcase tightly and takes her seat watching anxiously as the two medics performing CPR on the Naval commander.
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Gibb's basement;
A red haired woman with her hair tied in a tight bun is working on a boat in her basement, diligently planing the wood smooth as the television is playing quietly in the background when the phone rings. She walks around the skeleton frame of her boat to the phone mounted on the side wall and answers it.
"Yeah, Gibbs," she answers.
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NCIS bullpen;
"A Navy commander carrying the Football on Air Force One just carked in the air," says Dinozzo informing Gibbs about what just happened. He listens as Gibbs asks where Air Force One landed.
"Wichita, Kansas, The President's transferring to the backup bird. I booked us on a 15:00 United flight out of Reagan, stops in Dallas before going on to Wichita," replies Dinozzo typing on his computer the as he does before grabbing his coat and putting it on. Through the other end of the line, Gibbs can be heard asking if that's the best DiNozzo can do.
"It's Saturday, Gibbs. You know, if we had our own jet…," complains DiNozzo only to be cut off by Gibbs.
Gibb's basement;
"We don't. Ducky's buds with coroners across the country. See if you can't get one of them to hold the body until we can get there," suggests Gibbs, which Tony quickly agrees to. She hangs up and leaves her basement while a TV news report can be heard in the background reporting on Air Force One's unscheduled stop.
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Airport;
Gibbs and Tony head towards the security check in at the terminal as DiNozzo complains to Gibbs about how other agencies have private jets and then proceeds to list them before Gibbs shuts him up suggesting that he drive.
They arrive at a Security checkpoint. Tony puts his bags down on the ground; Gibbs lays her single one on the conveyor belt and turns to address the security guard.
"We're L.E.O.s," she states, the security guard just smiles and informs them that he is a Capricorn,
"L.E.O., short for Law Enforcement Officer," states an annoyed Tony handing the security guard their paperwork for their weapons while Gibbs show the guard her badge. Gibbs leans over and asks the security guard if it his first day. The security guard nods nervously, deliberately maintaining eye contact to avoid looking down the red-haired woman's blouse. Gibbs lets out a small laugh as the security guard returns to checking the paperwork.
"NCIS, anything like CSI?" asks the guard. "Only if you're dyslexic," states the annoyed Italian-American agent.
"Okay. You can go ahead and go around the, uh, metal detector, but your bags have got to go through the scanner," instructs the guard motioning to their bags.
"Wait a minute, you're letting us take weapons aboard but you want to scan our bags?" asks and confused and irritated Gibbs.
"Well, you've got permits for the weapons but you don't for the bags," states the guard, Tony starts piling the bags onto the conveyor belt.
"We really need our own jet," states Tony turning to his boss only to hear their medical examiner calling out to them from the other side of the security check point.
"Dennis! Those bags are mine!" call Ducky
"Why didn't you tell me you were subbing for the Doc? You've got a bag permit," says Dennis smiling at the two agents in front of him as Ducky calls out to Gibbs and DiNozzo urging them to hurry up so they don't miss their plane, smirking as he turns to walk off as the two field agents hurry to catch up.
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Air Force One;
Around Air Force One, emergency vehicles and government personnel move around the plane performing various checks. Inside an assortment of official personnel from Secret Service, FBI, State Troopers and Airport security stand around all eyes fixed to the man with 'CORONER' printed on his jacket.
"If J. Edgar Hoover was alive, I'd tell him what I'm telling you. This body is in Wichita County, and as County Coroner, I have jurisdiction. No one moves it until the M.E. says they can," says the coroner.
"Your jurisdiction doesn't supersede the FBI on Air Force One," states a clearly irritated Theresa Fornell, only for her to be interrupted by Agent Kate Todd sitting behind them;
"It's not Air Force One, Agent Fornell," states Kate, as everyone turns to look at her.
"When the President departed on the backup plane, it became Air Force One. This is now Alpha Foxtrot 2900," she continues, ignoring everyone's glares.
"Don't get into this pissing contest, Agent Todd. As you pointed out, the President's gone – it's no longer a Secret Service problem," comments the lone female FBI agent.
"Look. This could be a natural death, or it could be a botched attempt to murder the President. Until I know which, it's my problem," states Kate, defensively trying to diffuse the situation.
"Uh, I don't give a damn which one of you is boss. You ain't moving this body until the M.E. says you can," reminds the coroner, only for Ducky to enter moments later, followed by Tony and Gibbs. Theresa Fornell's eyebrows quirk slightly as she recognizes Gibbs boarding the plane but doesn't say anything, as the red-haired NCIS agent pretends not to know her either.
"You talking about me?" asks Ducky, addressing Elmo the coroner.
"Ducky! How'd you like those steaks I air-expressed you?" asks Elmo. Ducky responds by informing Elmo that they were delicious.
"He 'air-expressed' him steaks?" whispers Theresa quietly into Kate's ear. Kate shrugs commenting that it is a big state. Kate then turns to the coroner Elmo.
"Uh, Agent Theresa Fornell here is FBI. Agent Caitlin Todd, Secret Service. Ducky, these two lovely ladies been fighting over this body like two hounds over a t-bone," Elmo says to Ducky, pointing to each woman as he does.
"Well, it's our t-bone for the moment," comments Ducky as he bends down and begins examining the body of Commander Trapp.
"All these L.E.O.s are contaminating the potential crime scene," states Gibbs motioning to all the various agents standing around.
"Oh yes, my assistant's right. Everyone who boarded in Wichita will have to evacuate the plane," informs Ducky.
"I'm not going anywhere," states Fornell, Ducky looks to Kate.
"I flew in on it," says Kate.
"Very well, you two can stay. But everyone else must deplane," instructs Ducky, motioning to everyone to exit the plane as the coroner backs him up, instructing everyone to leave.
"No outward sign of trauma," comments Ducky returning to examining the body.
"He was stricken after having lunch with the President," says Kate briefly retelling what happened.
"Yeah, how is the President?" asks Tony DiNozzo.
"He's fine. His physician cleared him to fly on to L.A" she replies.
"What happened?" asks Gibbs as both Kate and Theresa look askance at her soft-voiced question; Gibbs just stares placidly at them until Kate answers.
"When the Commander returned from lunch, he had an equilibrium problem and his grip was too weak to hold his briefcase," she recounts. Ducky looks at her and asks,
"Did he gradually become ill, or was it sudden?" asks the medical examiner trying to piece together what happened.
"Sudden. He started to convulse and collapsed. The President's physician believed that the Commander had a stroke," she informs the medical examiner who nods, processing this new information as Tony moves around taking notes.
"Kinda young for a brain fart," he jokes to Ducky, who responds with a small smile and a chuckle. After a moment Ducky stands up and addresses Elmo.
"Looks like a natural death to me, Elmo. They can leave with the body as long as they sign releases," states the medical examiner, Theresa Fornell rolls her eyes and asks the coroner why he didn't say that, the coroner responds by informing the FBI agent that it wasn't his call. The coroner then informs the Secret Service Agent and FBI Agent that the release forms for the body were in his truck.
"Let's go. We can work out jurisdiction for Washington on the flight to Dallas," says Theresa Fornell turning to Kate, Kate glances at Gibbs before leaving. The look on her face is inscrutable.
"Ah, Ducky… about those soft-shell crabs?" asks Elmo just as he is about to deplane, Kate pauses behind Ducky and Elmo at this exchange, throwing another odd look Ducky's way as she tries to figure out what is going on.
"Ah, you'll have them by the weekend," replies, Elmo looks particularly happy and deplanes.
The moment everyone else leaves the plane Gibbs goes into full agent mode.
"Tony, go hot. Show the pilot your credentials; get us the hell out of here," orders Gibbs addressing her subordinate. Tony starts walking down an aisle, but Gibbs calls him back and points up the stairs.
"Hey! Cockpit's on the top deck," says an exasperated Gibbs. Tony tries to pretend that he knew that and quickly climbs the stairs as a smirking Gibbs watches him. She then crouches down beside the medical examiner. "Enjoy playing my boss?" she asks ruefully.
"I did, rather," states Ducky giving her an amused smile.
"What do you think happened, Duck?" she asks him.
"Good God, Gibbs, I barely met the deceased," says Ducky feigning anger much to Gibb's amusement.
"I think DiNozzo's right. Naval aviator, stroking at his age?" comments Gibbs.
"He could have been born with an aneurysm. They're time bombs in the body. I remember this young promising basso-perfundo in London. He was only 27 when he keeled over, in the middle on a Notaro aria…," comments Ducky, only to interrupted as Kate Todd storms onto the plane, her hand moving to her holstered gun on her hip.
"Who the hell are you people? You're no M.E. assistant," she states pointedly to Gibbs before turning to Ducky.
"And there's no soft-shell crab within a thousand miles," she adds.
"Sorry," mutters Ducky to Gibbs, Gibbs turns to Kate
"Special Agent Leanne Jennifer Gibbs, NCIS. We flew down here from Washington to take over the investigation," she admits. Kate's hand moves from her gun exasperated.
"First the FBI tries to muscle in, and now NCIS," comments an irritated and tired Kate.
"Yeah, well, I do believe this is a dead naval officer," comments Gibbs pointing at the dead Naval Commander.
"Who died on Air Force One, after having lunch with the President it's my job to protect," points out Kate.
"Okay, we can share jurisdiction. You can be on my team," says Gibbs acquiescingly.
"Your team? Why should you head the investigation?" questions the Secret Service Agent.
"You ever worked a crime scene, Agent Todd?" the red-haired woman asks the brunette woman.
"I am a Secret Service agent," the brunette woman replies.
"I thought not," comments the redhead smirking.
"Well don't dismiss me like that! Okay? I earned my jock-strap, just like you have Leanne," growls Kate, pointedly using Gibb's first name to emphasize the fact that they are both women working in a male dominated career.
"Yeah, does it ever give you that empty feeling?" asks Gibbs.
Kate replies with a simple, "What?"
"Your jock-strap," elaborates Gibbs.
"No. Like some species of frogs, I grow what I need," she responds smiling brightly. Gibbs smirks back, obviously impressed and enjoying the heated exchange. Tony scrambles down the stairs, speaking as he does;
"Gibbs! Pilot won't take off until the Secret Service chick gives us the…" reports DiNozzo, stopping mid sentence as he see Kate. "…thumbs up," he continues, with the decency to look slightly embarrassed. Kate turns to smirk at Gibbs;
"I think that just made it my team," gloats Kate.
"No. It means we'll just have to hijack Air Force One. Tony, escort Agent Todd off this aircraft and close the hatch," orders Gibbs.
"You're not serious?" asks an incredulous Kate, who quickly chases Gibbs up the stairs to the cockpit.
"Okay, okay! Your team, but only because I don't want to delay us further by having to shoot you," acquiesces Kate, offering her hand to shake on the deal as she does. Gibbs takes her hand and seals the deal.
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Outside on the tarmac beside Alpha Foxtrot 2900 (Air Force One);
Outside the plane, Theresa Fornell and a couple of FBI agents in suits begin ascending the boarding stairs to the plane;
"Damnit, Agent Todd, let's get this show on the road!" calls out Fornell, only to see her way blocked by DiNozzo;
"Oh gosh, I'm sorry. We, uh, overbooked the flight," says DiNozzo feigning surprise, before blowing the female FBI agent a kiss and a suggestive wink as he closed the hatch.
"What the hell are you doing?" cries Fornell as the boarding stairs move away from the now taxing plane. Tony looks out a window and waves at the thwarted FBI agents as Fornell yells at various people on the ground. She runs down the stairs making a beeline for the coroner
"Alright, do you know what the hell's going on?" she demands.
"Guess Ducky decided to take the body to Washington," comments an amused Elmo.
"Why did your Medical Examiner decide to take the body to Washington?" she questions.
"I never said he was my Medical Examiner," says Elmo slyly.
Everyone turns to look at the presidential plane as the jet engines kick in and it picks up speed as travels down the run way.
"Then who the hell's Medical Examiner is he?" demands Fornell.
"Ducky? He works for NCIS," states Elmo inwardly enjoying the outrage on Fornell's face. Fornell turns to watch the plane take off.
"Gibbs," she mutters.
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The Comm. Room of Alpha Foxtrot 2900 formerly Air Force One;
Gibbs is sitting in front of one of the communication screens; on screen, the NCIS Director can be seen, being briefed by Gibbs on what happened.
"Did you have to literally slam the door in the FBI's face?" asks Director Morrow.
"There were more of them than us," reasons Gibbs.
"There's always more of them than us," the director replies wryly. Gibbs smirks, tilting her head to the side. "You ever hear of interagency cooperation?" he asks.
"Yes, sir. I got the Secret Service Agent-in-Charge at Wichita to agree to share the investigation," replies Gibbs.
"Willingly?" asks a shocked Director. Gibbs smiles ruefully.
"Well, we could use a little backup when we land at Andrews," Gibbs admits. The Director lets out a small laugh.
"Eh, that's what I thought. We're spread a bit thin; we've got no agents," He informs Gibbs.
"If the FBI gets this body, we won't see an autopsy report until after they leak it to the Washington Post," comments Gibbs.
"Then make sure they don't get it." Gibbs nods "Will this Secret Service agent stand up to the FBI?" asks the Director.
"I don't know. She's got balls," answers Gibbs honestly. The Director laughs, mentally comparing what he knew about Agent Todd to Gibbs, ending the video conference.
Gibb's phone rings. She checks the caller ID and sees that Agent Fornell is calling. With a sigh, she answers,
"Hello Leanne," greets Theresa curtly.
"Theresa," answers Gibbs happily.
"What the hell was that Leanne?" asks a clearly irritated Theresa.
"The body is a Naval commander," answers Gibbs.
"You realize for appearance sake I'm going to have to demand the body when we land in Andrews," states Fornell.
"Don't worry, you'll get a body when we land," replies Gibbs, thankful Theresa can't see her grin.
"We had better, oh and did you tell your agent to flirt with me when he slammed to door in my face?" she asks.
"No, but you know what DiNozzo's like," chuckles Gibbs.
"Does he still flirt with you?" asks Theresa.
"At least twice a day, more if he's sucking up. I just remind him I have a sexual harassment form filled out in my desk and that I only need to sign and date it. He leaves me alone for the rest of the day when I do," jokes Gibbs.
"So no chance of DiNozzo being Ex-husband number 4?" jokes Theresa.
"God no, first he's too good of an agent to risk losing over an office romance and secondly, can you really imagine me taking DiNozzo as a surname?" she asks her long time friend. The two share a laugh.
"Why didn't you say anything when I boarded pretending to be Ducky's assistant?" asks Leanne Gibbs.
"I figured you were up to something and wanted to see what you'd do. I'm extremely pissed with what you did but I'll admit it was clever and amusing," Theresa Fornell answers.
"Yeah well we can have a cat fight when we land. I'm sure Tony could find us some mud to fight in," jokes Gibbs.
"Knowing DiNozzo, he'll find us a pool of jelly and offer to lick it off us when we're finished fighting," Theresa jokes back. They share another laugh.
"To think people call us frigid bitches," comments Gibbs.
"See you in Andrews Leanne," says Fornell.
"Bye Theresa," responds Gibbs, hanging up.
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Alpha Foxtrot 2900 formerly Air Force One, the crime scene;
Kate is sitting in a nearby chair, watching Ducky insert a thermometer into the body's liver. She winces as he does.
"Are you starting the autopsy?" she asks incredulously.
"Goodness, no. I'm just taking his liver temperature to corroborate the time of death," he informs her. Kate checks her PDA.
"The President's physician declared him dead at 20:32 Zulu," she reads aloud.
"It never hurts to double check," he states as the thermometer beeps.
"Excuse me, you'll need to stand clear so I can take measurements for my crime scene sketches, thanks," says Tony, pushing past Kate with a pen and paper in hand.
"Sketches? You've taken a dozen photos," she exclaims. Tony picks up a magazine with a bikini-clad woman on the cover and waves it in front of her face.
"Tell me her measurements," he asks.
"You're pathetic," she responds rolling her eyes at him.
"No, I'm serious. Can you tell if she's," he looks at magazine "5'4" in a 35-C, or 5'7" in a 36-D? You can't, not from a photo. That's why we do sketches, take measurements," he informs her, defending his need to sketch before pushing her out of the way and resuming his work.
"I've got 19:50 Zulu, that's nearly an hour earlier," comments Ducky, pulling the liver probe out.
"Well, then you miscalculated," retorts Kate. Gibbs comes jogging down the stairs.
"What's the problem?" ask Gibbs, addressing the medical examiner.
"There's apparently a discrepancy between my time of death and the President's physicians," answers Ducky.
"Log yours." Ducky bends to do so "Enough sketches, Tony. Agent Todd's gonna give you a floor plan," says Gibbs walking off.
"Oh, no, she won't," argues Kate following her.
"I thought your photo analysis was brilliant, Tony. But wasn't 36-D a bit of wishful thinking?" says Ducky looking up at Tony as he logs his test results and time of death. "You think?" asks DiNozzo, taking a good look at the model on the cover.
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Gibbs and Kate are, meanwhile, walking down an aisle, as Kate continues to list reasons why she won't be giving DiNozzo the floor plans; Gibbs ignores the brunette's rant as she begins asking questions.
"What can you tell me about Commander Trapp?" she asks the brunette.
"I can't give him Air Force One floor plans, they're top secret." Kate ignores the red-haired woman's question.
"Come on, I saw this in a Harrison Ford movie," comments Gibbs looking around.
"Well that's Hollywood speculation. You're asking for the real thing," comments Kate.
"Isn't the President's head down here someplace?" asks Gibbs, caught up in her own little world as she remembers the Harrison Ford Film. Kate offers a simple 'No' as the redhead walks into a conference room.
"Now this was in the movie!" exclaims Gibbs happily. she looks around the conference room he just walked into. She indicates the chair at the head of the table, "Yeah! Harrison was sitting right here," she says, moving to stand behind the chair looking around happily.
"I can't risk those plans getting out on the Internet," states Kate.
"NCIS does not leak, that's the FBI's job. These plans get out, you can shoot DiNozzo," jokes Gibbs. Kate looks un-amused.
"No, I think I'm destined to shoot you," the brunette woman retorts.
"What about Commander Trapp?" asks Gibbs, returning to her previously asked question.
"Only met him this morning. He just received his Yankee White clearance and was Major Kerry's backup. The major has the flu," says Kate, breaking eye contact when she mentioned Major Kerry. Gibbs notices this but doesn't comment on it and continues to explore the plane.
"We'll have to get a Navy doc to verify that," comments Gibbs, keeping an eye on the Secret Service Agent as she continues walking around.
"He's got it," she confirms. She then waves her hands, "But go ahead, and waste a doctor's time double-checking like your… Ducky," the brunette continues.
Gibbs stops in front of cabinet, with a keypad lock on it, and smiles.
"This is where the terrorists got their weapons in the movie," she comments happily and starts playing with the keypad.
"Oh, that is as ridiculous as the President's 'escape capsule'", huffs Kate.
"Anybody switch planes with the President?" asks Gibbs.
"The President was put on a separate plane. Everyone else boarded the backup three stewards, who were put in the Press cabin," answers Kate.
"What'd you keep them for? Make coffee?" asks Gibbs pulling the curtain aside ad waving at the three stewards sitting inside.
"I may not know the finer points of investigating, like sticking needles in liver or measuring swimsuit models, but I do know enough to hold the stewards who prepared and served the President's lunch," she supplies. Leanne hums and nods in approval.
"You want to question––?" Asks Kate but is cut off by Gibbs.
"No, they're not going anywhere. We've got a crime scene to investigate. Rule number one, never let suspects stay together," instructs Gibbs, as she starts walking back towards the front of the plane.
"Well I didn't consider them suspects," comments Kate, following close behind.
"Why'd you hold them? Put these on," she asks and then hands Kate a pair of latex gloves.
"My fingerprints are all over this aircraft," Kate points out.
"Rule number two, always wear gloves at a crime scene," instructs Gibbs rattling off another of her rules.
By this point, Gibbs has managed to steer them back to the crime scene area. Ducky is kneeling beside the body when they approach.
"I believe I know why there's a discrepancy in the time of death. Now since the Commander had lunch with the President, I'm sure the President's physician rushed to evaluate his condition. He also called Trapp's time of death," suggests Ducky.
"Yes, once he was sure the President wasn't in medical danger, he returned and… He was gone nearly an hour," she recounts, realizing why the two time of deaths had been different.
"Yes. I'm sure the autopsy will show that Commander Trapp expired almost immediately," notes Ducky.
"I owe you an apology, Doctor," the Secret Service agent offers.
"Oh, please; it's Ducky to my associates. I'm just relieved we straightened it out. It's inconsistencies like this to lead to conspiracy theories. It reminds me of a case once in New Orleans. A jealous husband shot his wife off a Mardi Gras float, right out of the clock at the corner of Bourbon Street," recounts Ducky, becoming lost in one of his stories only for Gibbs to cut him off.
"Ah, doc, give it a rest. She's got work to do," complains the redhead. Kate smiles at Ducky and gets up to follow Gibbs.
"I'll tell you the rest later!" calls Ducky watching the two women leave.
"Rule number three, don't believe what you're told. Double-check," instructs Gibbs.
"Should I write these rules in my Palm Pilot, or crochet them on pillows?" Kate asks ruefully.
They walk into another room. Tony is seated behind the desk, twisting the phone around in his hands watching the television is playing in the background.
"Oh no, I draw the line at him sitting in the President's chair," shouts Kate angrily
"He's not using it," jokes Tony to Gibbs, Kate complains to Gibbs once more.
"If you're finished taking pictures, start bagging and tagging," orders Gibbs, DiNozzo jumps out of the president's seat.
"Just waiting for you, boss," he replies
"Bagging and tagging what?" asks a confused Kate
"Well, to start with," she indicates the lunch "… everything." She points at chair Tony just left "President was sitting there?" asks Gibbs.
"Pretty good bet, since it is his desk," Kate replies curtly.
Tony passes Gibbs a clear evidence bag as Gibbs starts instructing Kate on proper investigative technique.
"Okay, to maintain the chain of custody, take the item – in this case, Commander Trapp's lunch – place it in the evidence bag," instructs Gibbs, emphasizing each instruction by physically showing Kate each step, then writing down on the label what the item is, where it was found, who bagged it and finally the time and date. She then seals the bag and passes the filled evidence bag to Tony with a 'Keep it cold' order. Tony hands her a new evidence bag. Gibbs then turns to Kate with it.
"Okay, why don't you try it?" suggests the red-haired woman to the brunette woman.
Kate begins to look sick; she throws a hand up over her mouth, and runs out of the room, Gibbs running after her with the evidence bag.
"Oh, wait a minute! Hey, wait! Wait a minute! Whoa! Stop!" shouts Gibbs.
She corners Kate against the bathroom door, turns the other woman around, and shoves the open evidence bag in her face;
"In here, in here…" orders Gibbs. Kate vomits into the evidence bag. Gibbs seals and labels it. Kate looks at her reproachfully.
"Can I rinse now that you've got your evidence?" she asks hotly.
"Yeah, sure," replies Gibbs shrugging her shoulder. Kate gives her a disgruntled look, before disappearing into the bathroom. Gibbs finishes labeling the evidence bag then turns as Tony approaches. She hands him the evidence bag, instructing him to log it and to find Ducky. Tony questions if the Secret Service Agent has what killed the Naval Commander. Gibbs just shakes her head, takes a seat at one of the plane's windows, and looks out at the clouds.
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Presidential rally.
An announcer can be heard introducing the President George Bush to the stage as the crowd cheers as Agent Baer walks through the crowd talking on his phone.
"Don't threaten me, Theresa. I'm not in your food chain," says the Secret Service agent crossly.
FBI private jet;
Theresa Fornell can be seen talking on her phone inside of the FBI's private jet. "If NCIS does the autopsy, they'll control the investigation. You want that?" questions Fornell.
"Commander Trapp was a Naval officer, they have every right to do the autopsy," states Baer over the phone.
"Damnit Bill, they're bush league. We have assets those cowboys can only salivate over," exclaims Fornell irritably.
Baer can be heard advising Fornell not to underestimate NCIS.
"Oh they're good, at making drug busts and catching sailors who've jumped ship. But an attack on the President?" questions Fornell attempting to discredit NCIS.
"The President's doctor thought that Commander Trapp had a stroke," responds Baer.
"Maybe he did, but if he was poisoned… You want to put the man's life in the hands of retread cops and ex-MPs?" suggests Fornell.
Presidential rally
Agent Baer lets out a resigned sigh, "If you withhold so much as a comma out of the report…," he warns the FBI agent.
FBI private jet;
"You'll get copies of everything before the ink dries," replies Fornell
"I'll order Agent Todd to turn the body over to the FBI at Andrews, but I can't control NCIS," admits Baer
"With us joined at the hip, all they can do is watch and Bitch," she jokes hanging up
"We're back in the ballgame," she says to herself, smirking while imagining the look on Leanne Gibb's face.
xX NCIS X NCIS X NCIS X NCIS X NCIS X NCIS X NCIS X NCIS X NCIS Xx
Alpha Foxtrot 2900, formerly Air Force One;
Ducky is examining Kate, who is lying stretched out on a couch.
"Low temperature. I think it's a stomach virus," says Ducky, removing the thermometer from Kate's mouth and putting it away
"I know it is. Did you use that thermometer on cadavers?" she asks looking at the thermometer suspiciously. Ducky lets out a small laugh.
"Would you rather I use the liver probe?" the medical examiner jokes.
"Why're you so sure it was the flu?" asks Gibbs. Kate lets out deep sigh.
"It's the same symptoms Major Kerry had," she admits.
"Did you work together recently?" asks the medical examiner curiously.
Kate answers with an embarrassed; "No".
"Well if you didn't work with him, then how…? Ah!" Ducky trails off realizing the implications.
"Did you think I was a virgin?" she asks ruefully.
"I'd… hoped not," he admits obviously embarrassed. The medical examiner then gets up and leaves and Kate chuckles. Gibbs just sits there watching her. She shifts on the couch getting comfortable, staring back at the other woman.
"You gonna lecture me about sleeping with people you work with?" she asks. Gibbs replies that she isn't, Kate nods slowly. Gibbs keeps looking at her. Before anyone can say anything else, a voice can be heard over the intercom system informing Agent Todd that Agent Baer had called her on a secure line. Kate sighs and slowly, possibly painfully, sits up.
"You want me to take that call for you?" offers the red-head.
"I'd have to be dead" the brunette responds. She leaves and Gibbs nods to herself, laughing.
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Alpha Foxtrot 2900, formerly Air Force One; the president's office
Tony is sitting behind the president's desk once more as the chief steward sits opposite him answering various questions.
"And how long have you been on Air Force One?" Tony questions, moving onto the next question.
"Five years, sir. Two with President Clinton, three with President Bush," replies the chief steward. Gibbs walks in and heads straight for the bathroom, Tony then wraps the interview up and dismisses the crewman. Gibbs' muffled voice can be heard from behind bathroom door.
"What'd you get?" she asks. DiNozzo looks up as Ducky enters the room. DiNozzo quickly motions for the medical examiner to remain quiet and motions to the camera.
"Ah, food security's very tight. Incognito purchases, randomly selected stores. No one knows their buying for Air Force One," says DiNozzo, as he pulls a pose behind the president's desk as Ducky snaps a picture.
"Stewards usually prepare all the food, but today the President had ribs and coleslaw flown in from a smokehouse in San Antonio. So they only reheated them and served them," continues DiNozzo as he jumps out of the seat as Ducky takes a seat behind the desk and poses for his own photo. DiNozzo quickly snaps the picture and the pair resume their original positions pretending as if nothing had happened.
"Did anybody else have ribs?" asks Gibbs from within the bathroom; Tony quickly answers "No."
"Gibbs, if the ribs were poisoned, then how come the President wasn't affected," reasons Ducky.
"Maybe he's used to Papa Joe's barbecue," comments Gibbs as a flush can be heard, followed by the sound of water running. Moments later Gibbs emerges.
"If you two are through taking pictures of each other, maybe we can move that body out," suggests Gibbs. Tony and Ducky look at each other realizing that they'd been caught. Gibbs then sits down behind the president's desk places the phone to her ear and indicates for DiNozzo to take a picture.
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Secret Service motorcade;
Agent Baer is double-checking all of the cars for the motorcade as he talks to Agent Todd over the phone.
"I made a deal with NCIS to share the investigation, sir," Kate's voice rings out from his phone speaker as she informs her boss of her agreement with NCIS.
"You're not senior enough to make deals, Agent Todd. We're working this with the FBI," she scolds her as he climbs into one of the cars.
"Sir, these NCIS agents are not just going to turn the body and the evidence over to the FBI," she states. Baer motions to the driver to drive.
"NCIS had no right to use a local coroner to delay your departure," he argues.
"You have to see it from there side," she attempts to reason.
"Agent Todd, shut up and listen. I'm giving you a direct order. That's our aircraft, everything living and dead on board is under Secret Service control. Turn the body over to the FBI at Andrews, or the only presidential detail you'll get will be walking Spotty," he orders, leaving no room for argument or discussion as he hangs up.
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Alpha Foxtrot 2900 formerly Air Force One;
Kate walks down the stairs from when she notices Gibbs sitting alone, Ducky, DiNozzo and Commander Trapp's body no where to be seen.
"Where's the body?" the brunette asks.
"I don't know," replies the redhead looking as innocent as she can. They both laugh, knowing she's lying through her teeth. Kate admits to herself that she appears to be a good liar.
"You move it to the off-ramp for a fast getaway?" suggest Kate correctly guessing Gibb's plan. Gibbs just grins and drinks her coffee silently, a smirk visible around the edge of the coffee cup. Kate puts on her coat and takes her own seat as the plane is coming in for a landing.
"It won't work, Gibbs. I've been ordered to turn the body over to the FBI at Andrews," states Kate.
"You could stall them until we get off," suggest the older woman.
"No, I can't. I won't defy a direct order. I'm sorry, Gibbs," apologizes Kate.
"Never say you're sorry. Ah, you don't have to crochet that one," she jokes, lightening the mood. Kate smiles, but is obviously not happy with the situation.
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FBI van;
"Why'd you let NCIS have the evidence they bagged on the plane?" asks one agent.
"Since we have the body we control the investigation. If a few ribs and coleslaw saves some face, what's it hurt? If the food was poisoned the President would…" says Fornell, only to be interrupted when a cell phone begins ringing, both occupants of the van look around.
"Not mine," says the driver. The phone rings again. Fornell checks her cell as well.
"Not mine, either," she says.
"Hello?" whispers Tony. Both agents look back at the body bag where the voice came from. Tony is inside it, with his cell phone pressed to his ear.
"We're in the clear, you can get out of the body bag," says Gibbs over the phone. The FBI SUV slams to halt in the middle of the road, forcing drivers behind them to serve.
"I never thought I'd say this, but I'm not sure I want to," whispers Tony.
NCIS Van;
A white van is driving down another road somewhere else. Gibbs and Ducky are in the back with the real body of Commander Trapp.
"Fine. You've got to search Commander Trapp's apartment tonight," informs Gibbs.
"Oh, Gibbs, come on! It's 1:00am," complains DiNozzo over the phone.
"Agent Axelrod is trailing you to pick up the body bag when the FBI tosses it," says Gibbs.
"That's funny, Gibbs, real funny. Especially since— Aaahhh!" screams DiNozzo over the phone as the FBI can be heard pulling him out of their van and dumping him on the road. Gibbs just calmly hangs up and turns back to look at Ducky.
"I guess they found him," she comments, smirking.
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NCIS MTAC;
The NCIS director is standing in front of the main screen in MTAC and is video conferencing the Director of the FBI and the Director of the Secret Service.
"Special Agent Gibbs has been operating under my direct orders," states the NICIS Director Tom Morrow.
"Agent Todd was also acting under orders," responds the Secret Service Director.
"As was Agent Fornell," replies the FBI Director.
"Then the problem seems to be that my people succeeded where your two… didn't," comments the NCIS Director.
"Tom, this is no time for turf wars. Not after 9/11. And especially when the President's life may be at risk," the Secret Service Director responds curtly.
"I'd like to think this is not about turf, Mark. Rather that we all believe we have the right people for the job. We shouldn't be agency directors if we didn't," responds Director Morrow attempting to placate the two other directors.
"You're offering a shared investigation?" asks the Secret Service Director. The NCIS Director confirms this.
"Who leads? Your man?" asks the Director of the FBI.
"We do have the body," replies Director Morrow.
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NCIS Autopsy;
Gibbs walks into the Autopsy room where Ducky is systematically checking the body of Commander Trapp.
"I found Abby, she's on the way in," states Gerald, Ducky's assistant.
"Yeah, did you wake her up?" she asks back.
"No, I called her on her cell. Sounded like one phat party," comments Gerald nodding his head in approval as he leaves, carrying the Commander's uniform wrapped in plastic. Gibbs just blinks in confusion at the terminology.
Gibbs walks over to Ducky shaking off her confusion; "Find anything Ducky?" she asks.
"Nope, and I won't for hours," states Ducky as he lifts an arm, using a magnifying glass to peer at it. "I've just begun examining the body for needle marks," he informs her.
"You think somebody stuck him?" she asks.
"I don't know," admits Ducky.
"Anything on the uniform?" asks Gibbs.
"Not that I could see. I've sent it up to Abby," states Ducky. Gibbs spots something and peers closer to have a look.
"What's this?" she asks. Ducky looks at it for a moment.
"A mole. Gibbs, go home. Get some sleep. I would if I could, this is gonna take all night. What's left of it," he comments with a weary sigh. Gibbs wanders over to the side counter and picks up a roll of paper towel. She lays the roll down like a pillow on one of the autopsy beds beside the corpse's and stretches out with a groan of relief. She rolls over onto his side and closes her eyes for a nap.
"Ducky, why would Abby go to a 'fat' party?" she asks, confusion clearly heard in her voice
"Jennifer, get some sleep," orders Ducky turning the Autopsy lights off. Ducky resumes his work under the sole light of the spot lamp over the body.
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Abby's lab
Abby is examining Commander Trapp's uniform under UV light as Tony enters with a box of evidence.
"Abby?" calling out for the Gothic lab technician.
"Yeah?" she responds.
"Find anything on his uniform?" he asks as he sets the box of evidence down.
"Not yet," she admits.
"Well, I think I found how he was poisoned," he says as takes the evidence bags out of the box and starts laying them out on the countertop.
"This guy had enough vitamins, herbs, and organic food to open his own health market. If he was poisoned, I think you'll find it laced into one of these," says Tony motioning to all of the containers of medicines, vitamins and herbs as Abby signs the label on the evidence bag to keep chain of custody.
"So what are you gonna do while I'm finding poison in a health snack?" she asks.
"I'll wait," he says between yawns.
"There's a futon, by the cabinet over there," she says pointing to the cabinet in question. Tony claps his hands together in mock prayer. "Oh, bless you," he says causing the Goth girl to chuckle.
"What are you, my priest?" she jokes.
He pauses. "Curse you?" he responds as Abby laughs again. Tony lays down for a nap under a desk, with the futon mattress as Abby goes back to work.
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NCIS headquarters, a couple hours later;
Ducky is standing beside a widescreen television and is pointing to a yellow spot highlighted on the brain scan of the corpse, as Gibb's team and Agents Kate Todd and Theresa Fornell watch.
"My neural pathology exam indicates that our victim succumbed to a cerebral embolism. Here, in the parietal lobe. I also found a number of clots, most of them centered in the renal artery," explains Ducky as he goes over his autopsy findings.
"Isn't that unusual?"" asks Kate seeking clarification.
"Oh, not at all. In most cases of arterial thrombosis, clots will develop over a period of minutes or hours, spread to the rest of the body," answers Ducky.
"Butt what caused them to develop in a healthy young aviator?" asks Gibbs wanting further information.
Ducky turns to Abby and motions for her to answer.
"Well I did a fibrinogen test. The pro-coagulate numbers were high, but they weren't off the charts," she answers.
"Any drugs that might induce the clotting?" asks Fornell.
"Well yeah, but none of those popped up. I only isolated the epinephrine that was injected when he got jolted and juiced on the plane," she replies.
"No vitamins? Herbals?" questions Tony.
"The guy was an organic freak. I mean, he probably whizzed green. But none of that'll cottage cheese your blood," she replies in typical Abby manner.
"Did you test the food that ingested on Air Force One?" asks the Kate. Abby nods;
"Everything that was bagged and tagged. Ribs, coleslaw, barby sauce… it was all negative for toxins. I mean, that stuff will kill ya, but it'll take, like, thirty years. Do you dudes in the Secret Service ever think about throwing yourselves in front of the President's diet?" she jokes. Gibbs and Fornell chuckle while Kate smiles ruefully.
"So, you're both saying he wasn't murdered?" asks wanting to clarify everything.
"However freakish and tragic, it apparently was a natural death," answers Ducky.
"I want my people to check your results," informs Fornell.
"Of course. You and Agent Todd will be receiving copies of all our tests," states Ducky.
"Does it for me," replies Fornell. She then turns to DiNozzo with a smirk. "How's your butt?" she asks.
"Still bouncing on the beltway," he responds with a small glare. Her face twitches into a small smile for a moment as she leaves. Kate goes to follow, but Gibbs calls her back offering a stick of gum, which she accepts.
"Kate. When's the President returning?" asks Gibbs from behind her desk.
"Uh, tomorrow. Noon. I'm flying back tonight to rejoin the detail," replies the brunette.
"Mind if I tag along?" asks the red haired woman Kate is about to say no when Gibbs does the unexpected.
"Please?" she asks childishly. Kate smiles smugly.
"You can. Your sidearm can't. We have a rule: no weapons on Air Force One unless they're Secret Service," she says pointing to Gibb's holstered gun. Kate pops the gum in her mouth. Gibbs shrugs and takes off her sidearm, tucking it away in a drawer. She puts on her coat and follows Kate out. As she passes Abby and Ducky she instructs them to continue working on the case.
"Wow. Gibbs said please," exclaims an awed but amused Abby.
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A Bar in George Town;
Kate is having a drink with Major Kerry. As he proposes a toast to the memory of Commander Trapp, they clink glasses,
"To come all the way through the war without a scratch and then die in a stroke… He was in the thick of it on the push to Baghdad," comments Major Kerry.
"You never told me that you knew him," she says.
"We had a drink when he reported to the Whitehouse. He wanted to know what tips I could give him," Major Kerry explains.
"About the Football detail?" she asks.
"Yeah. Where he could find a good gym. Dry cleaners. Grocery mart. Local watering hole," he listed.
"Did you tell him about this place?" she asked.
"No. He might have run into us and that wouldn't have been good, would it?" he comments, taking her hand in his. She looks at their hands for a moment.
"No, it wouldn't," she admits sliding her hand out of his.
"Huh. He wouldn't have run into us after tonight though, would he?" he questions.
"No," she whispers. Major Kerry leans in concerned
"Worried about losing your job?" he asks her.
She nods in affirmation and adds; "Worried about losing the President. When we work together, my focus just wouldn't be a hundred percent. I'm sorry, Tim. That's the way it's gotta be and you know it," she explains. He reluctantly agrees and helps her out of her seat and then walks her to her car, watching as she drives away.
He goes to his own car, and as he gets in, he starts to sweat profusely. He grabs at his collar trying to loosen it. He starts convulsing and falls over, white foam dripping from his mouth as he dies in an identical manner to Commander Trapp.
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Air Force One;
The president boards the plane, greeting the new Football carrier as well as congratulating Agent Baer on a job well done.
"I'm surprised that you didn't object to Agent Gibbs riding with us," says Kate addressing her boss.
"She's here because her gut is still churning, isn't it?" asks Agent Baer
"Yes, sir. I suppose you could put it that way," she replies.
"Well so is mine" he comments as he turns around and walks off. Kate nods, equally as concerned, as she watches Baer follow the President.
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Abby's lab;
Ducky, I have tested everything. Mineral acids, organic acids, alkaloids, bacterial poisons…" she trails off having listed every possible chemical.
"You know, Abby, nature always proves to be a far more elusive and powerful killer than man," he comments before walking off leaving a thoughtful looking Abby.
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Air Force One;
Gibbs watches the new Football carrier eat. Kate notices this and comments on it.
"Expect him to drop?" Kate asks. Gibbs turns to her.
"I see you're over the flu," the redhead comments, taking a seat beside Kate.
"Twenty-four hour bug. Tim got over it yesterday. Tim is Major Kerry," she explained.
"Yeah. I kinda figured that," commented Gibbs sarcastically. Kate immediately goes on the defense.
"I met him for a drink yesterday. I told him we had to stop seeing each other. I mean, we hadn't been dating long. I mean, we knew each other on the detail for a couple of months before we started… dating. You know, when you're on the job 24/7, how else do you get to know someone?" she says defending herself.
"Church," is Gibbs' only answer.
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Abby's lanb;
Abby is testing whether or not the toxin that killed Commander Trapp is from a Puffer fish. The test comes up negative. She sighs, shoulders slumping as she goes back to try another.
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Air Force One;
Gibbs and Kate are watching as Agent Baer escorts a journalist to the front of the plane. "Where they going?" asks Gibbs.
"The President promised ten minutes to each member of the Press on board. Since we kicked them off at Wichita, he's playing catch up," explains Kate.
"Three years before 9/11, Clancy wrote a book where a terrorist hijacked a commercial jetliner and crashed it into the Capital," the redhead states, having read the book herself. She glances in to the press cabin.
"In the Harrison Ford movie, the terrorists were reporters," she adds, turning back to the Secret Service Agent.
"Gibbs, everyone on board has been vetted by us for years. Except you," retorts Kate.
"In the film, the terrorists got they're credentials from a Secret Service turncoat," states Gibbs as she turns and walks away.
Kate lets out a sigh watching Gibbs depart. A man from the Press cabin walks up beside her and watches Gibbs leave.
"Loosening up your dress code, Kate?" asks the journalist motioning to the departing Gibbs.
"She's not one of us," she replies.
"We all gonna get our fifteen minutes of fame?" he asks her.
"It's ten, Leonard, and the President's doing his best," she says, directing him back to his seat.
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Abby's lab;
Abby is spinning a pair of scissors around her finger while she waits for her machine to beep. She looks up as the results are displayed. The test for Poison Arrow Frog is also negative.
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George town street;
Tony pulls up to see the street sealed off by police. He gets out of his car and walks over to the officer in charge who is standing by the car.
"Agent DiNozzo, NCIS. What do you got?" says Tony introducing himself and flashing his badge.
"One dead Marine officer. No signs of trauma," lists the cop. He hands a wallet to Tony; "Doesn't appear to be a robbery, there's still cash and credit cards in his wallet. I've got two shooting already this morning. Since this guy's one of yours, I hoped you might take it," informs the cop. Tony flips open the wallet and sees the ID. It's Major Timothy Kerry.
"Yeah. We'll take him," says Tony, not sure why a sense of foreboding and dread filled him.
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Abby's lab;
Abby looks up as the screen displays the results of the toxin. She's finally gotten a positive test result. The toxin is identified as "taipan1", a poisonous snake from Australia. Abby jumps up and down in exaltation.
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Air Force One;
Gibbs is wandering around exploring the plane again, trying to note any differences between this plane and Alpha Foxtrot 2900.
"There's something different about this plane than Air Force One," she asks Kate.
"This is Air Force One," replies Kate.
"You know what I mean" Gibbs comments back. Agent Baer passes the two women. He brings Annie back and calls for Leonard telling him that it is his turn with the President now. He lingers putting on his sport coat as he leaves, overhearing Kate talk with Gibbs.
"There's some minor differences. 2900 is newer, has some minor updates," she admits. Gibbs asks her to list the differences.
"Rear loading hatch is bigger on the 2900. Extra lavatory forward. Locks are digital on 29, and keyed on this," she replies, reading aloud the differences.
The Intercom interrupts them as Gibbs is informed that there is a teleconference call in the comm. Room. Gibbs gets up but turns to Kate as she does.
"Kate, I want to know every difference on this plane, no matter how small you think it is," she orders. Kate sarcastically responds that a please would have been nice.
Gibbs takes the teleconference call, to be updated by Tony.
"Major Kerry is dead. D.C. cops found the body in his car on a street in Georgetown. Ducky and Abby'll update you," informs DiNozzo. He then switches the teleconference over to open up windows into Ducky's autopsy and Abby's lab so they can contribute as well.
"Another stroke, Duck?" she asks her medical examiner.
"I'm afraid so, Gibbs. However, this time there are multiple embolic infarctions. The Major must have received a heavier dose than the Commander," notes Ducky.
"Dose of what, Abby?" she asks.
"It's venom, from a coastal Taipan. It's a highly toxic Aussie snake. Well this junk zaps the nervous system and it clots the blood. You convulse, and then you stroke," explains Abby.
"The toxin is almost impossible to detect," admits Ducky.
"Well, the truth is, Abby would have detected it if I hadn't interrupted her while she was analyzing the uniform," admits DiNozzo, briefly feeling a phantom head slap.
"The venom was in the uniform?" asks Gibbs seeking clarification.
"Yeah. I found traces of DMSO in the collars and the cuffs. I think it was mixed with the venom to make it absorbed through the skin," she theorizes.
"Major Kerry was the intended target. When he came down with the flu, he didn't put his uniform on until yesterday," theorizes DiNozzo.
"How did the terrorist get the poison into the uniforms?" asks Gibbs.
"Well, they both have tags from Dry Doc Cleaners on 19th Street," she informs Gibbs.
"DiNozzo, why are you sitting there on your ass? Get a team and go hit that dry cleaner," she barks. Tony looks behind him at Director Morrow.
The Director sits down in Tony's seat.
"I've passed that baton on to the FBI. This has all the earmarks of Al-Qaeda; unexpected, well planned, brilliantly executed. But to what end?" he wonders aloud to Gibbs.
"Wouldn't surprise me to hear Bin Laden on Al-Jazeera bragging about how he iced the President's Ball carriers," jokes Tony
"I don't think that's what he wants to brag about," comments the Director.
"Eh, neither do I," she agrees as she signs off and leans back in his chair, thinking.
She jumps out of her chair and runs down the stairs to the new Football carrier, who leaps to his feet when he sees Gibbs.
"Where'd you get your uniform dry-cleaned?" she demands.
"Base cleaner at Quantico, Ma'am" the marine responds. Gibbs walks back down the aisle, encountering Kate on the way. She's got her laptop open in her arms.
"I've accessed everything I could on the differences," she states as the NCIS agent approaches her.
"We need to talk," states Gibbs, hauling the brunette Secret Service Agent and goes to open a door to an office.
"What are you doing? There's a campaign conference going on in there," she says stopping the other woman.
"I need to talk to you in private," answers the redhead.
"Well, there's no other private meeting room. You could ask the President to give up his office, but it might be a little weird," she jokes sarcastically.
Gibbs grabs her laptop and throws it down on a seat. While she protests, Gibbs then pushes her into a bathroom and squeezes in with her and takes her weapon aiming it at Kate as she orders the brunette to sit down.
"What are you doing?" demands Kate, looking between the Gibbs and the barrel of her own gun.
"Commander Trapp was poisoned. Australian snake venom. Hard to detect, mimics a natural death," states Gibbs.
"What? You think I did it?" a shocked Kate asks.
"Well, sweetpea, you were with him when he was poisoned," she comments sarcastically. "Yeah, so was the President. You gonna accuse him?" Kate bites back.
"No. He wasn't with Major Kerry yesterday," says Gibbs.
"Tim?" says a shocked Kate.
"Yeah. Stroked, on a Georgetown street," Gibbs informs the other woman. Kate looks upset.
"You know, I bet it wasn't far from the bar where you two kissed and said bye-bye," she comments, angering Kate. Kate starts hitting her, crying, very upset. She repeatedly calls her a "Bitch", and then buries her face in the other woman's shoulder while she holds her.
"I gave it to you cold, wanted to see your reaction. Liars can't pale on cue," Gibbs explains to the sniffling woman. She hands Kate her weapon back when Kate appears to have calmed down.
"You're still a bitch," comments Kate. Gibbs doesn't argue.
"How were they poisoned?" Kate asks Gibbs.
"Dry cleaner laced their uniforms with poison. Must be an Al-Qaeda sleeper," explains Gibbs.
"Tim must have recommended his dry cleaners, he…" she trails off.
"What?" demands Gibbs as fresh tears roll down Kate's cheeks.
"Yesterday, Tim told me that they had a drink and he gave Commander Trapp tips like that," she explains.
"Well they've got to be after the President, but what would killing the Ball carrier give them?" rationalizes Gibbs.
"Nothing. Another aide steps in," says Kate. Gibbs eyes widen as she realizes the terrorist's plan.
"And another plane. This plane. They forced the President to fly his backup," exclaims Gibbs.
"Security's exactly the same," argues Kate.
"But the plane isn't. And I'll bet Security isn't either until the President's on board. Al-Qaeda has to have planted something on this plane," theorizes Gibbs.
"It can't be a bomb, they would have detonated it by now," rationalizes Kate.
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Air Force One, Press Cabin;
A journalist starts going into convulsions and drops to the floor. Secret Service agents rush to his side. Agent Baer who is escorting Leonard races to the Press cabin. Leonard ambles along behind him as three medics from before come running.
"Captain, is this the same thing Trapp had?" asks Baer addressing the doctor.
"It appears to be," the doctor states, as the other two medics begin CPR on the journalist.
Leonard, meanwhile, walks over to the cabinet Gibbs had noted before as being the armory when comparing the plane with the Harrison Ford movie. Leonard pulls out a key to unlock the cabinet. Inside are weapons, and he arms himself with an automatic.
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Air Force One, the Bathroom;
"You said the locks were different," Gibbs demands to know.
"29 has digital ones, this one has keys," she states.
"Armory, the armory. They have keys to the armory. They copied the movie. They've vetted a reporter," cries Gibbs.
"That would take years," comments Kate putting her earwig back in.
"So did setting up 9/11," replies Gibbs.
As the two women exit the washroom, Leonard sees them and ducks down side corridor before they can see him. Kate listens into the chatter over the comms.
"There's a medical emergency in the Press cabin," she informs Gibbs.
"It's a diversion. Cover the President," orders Gibbs.
They split up. Gibbs heading back toward the Press cabin, while Kate goes on ahead to the President. She draws her weapon as she approaches instructing the Football carrier that no one is to get past him. The Marine Football carrier plants himself in the middle of the aisle, a determined blockade.
Leonard waits until Gibbs has passed by before going back out into the aisle. Gibbs makes her way to the armory and grabs a handgun out of the already open locker. Leonard approaches the Marine guarding the hall, who moves to intercept him.
"Sir, stop right there. Stop right there, sir!" orders the Marine. Leonard stops, hiding the automatic weapon behind his back.
"What's happened?" he asks.
"Freeze!" calls Gibbs from behind Leonard, pointing her gun at him. Leonard halts.
"Get your hands in the air," instructs Gibbs, her gun still trained on the journalist's back.
"Sure. Someone yelled for a doctor," he states.
As Leonard turns, he starts firing the automatic on an arc toward Gibbs. Gibbs doesn't flinch, but fires once into Leonard's chest; all of the bullets had missed Gibbs. Leonard falls backwards onto his butt, alive and no longer firing the gun, but still with his finger on the trigger of the automatic. Gibbs shoots him twice more in the chest and head. Leonard keels over, dead.
Kate come running weapons drawn to see what happened. Gibbs walks passed the body, up to Kate and hands Kate her appropriated weapon with a smirk.
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Air Field, Air Force One has landed;
Air Force One sits on the tarmac surrounded by federal and emergency vehicles. Inside Gibbs and Agent Baer are walking through the plane, discussing paperwork.
"Agent Todd told me about her and Major Kerry when she tendered her resignation," Agent Baer informs Gibbs.
"Are you accepting?" she asks hopefully.
"Of course, she broke the rules," he says as he offers his hand. "Well, thank you, Special Agent Gibbs," he says appreciatively. Gibbs accepts and shakes his hand.
"No sir, thank you," she says happily, as she deplanes.
Kate is walking despondently away from the scene. Gibbs comes running up to her.
"I heard you quit, Agent Todd," she says off handily.
"Happy news gets around fast. Yes, I resigned. It was the right thing to do," she admits with a resigned tone of voice.
"Yup. Pull that crap at NCIS, I won't give you a chance to resign," states Gibbs. Kate turns to her surprised
"Is that a job offer?" Kate asks surprised but hopeful.
"Be careful around DiNozzo, I think he just made you his next conquest. He's being trying his luck with me since he started at NICS," warns Gibbs.
"I think I'll be able to handle him. He seems like the shallow playboy type that sleeps with women and then breaks their hearts, not my kind of man," says Kate, defending her pride.
"Yeah, he seems like that kinda guy," replies Gibbs. Kate notices the emphasis on the 'seems'.
"What do you mean by that?" asks a confused Kate.
Gibbs doesn't respond, as a silver convertible pulls up driven by a man with salt and pepper hair. Gibbs hops in and kisses the man on his cheek as the car drives away. Kate looks on in bewilderment.
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Gibb's basement;
The TV flicks on in the middle of a news report. Agent Theresa Fornell is giving a press conference on site at Air Force One.
"Federal agents working in unison with the Secret Service were able to foil a terrorist attempt to assassinate the President while he was on board Air Force One. The body of the terrorist is being delivered to the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, where FBI forensics experts will endeavor to identify him," says Fornell, addressing the press.
"Was it Al-Qaeda?" asks one reporter.
"That's all we know at this time," answers Fornell.
Gibbs looks from her TV to the boat as she resumes sanding the frame to smoothness.
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Hello, I'm Greenie
Firstly, I would like to dedicate this chapter to Miss Woozy, author of Yankee White Tate Style and its subsequent sequels and to extend my thanks to my Beta-reader L. Hawk for all her help.
This story arose from a simple idea posed in the NCIS forum by nightingaleraven, where they raised the question of what the series would have been like if Gibbs was a woman. Several authors including myself on the forum discussed this idea. After some deliberation, I decided to give it a go, and I hope you all enjoyed.
Each chapter will be each episode though eventually I will diverge from the canon plotline and the series will become further AU as I go but I will endeavor to maintain the characters we all love.
Oh and one last thing, every now and then I'll reference a television show or movie that one of the show's actors has appeared in, lets see how observant you all are.