Gibbs looked up with surprise from his desk to see Fornell looking down at him. Gibbs took off his reading glasses and looked up at his old friend cautiously. Fornell arriving normally meant one thing. Trouble.
"Tobias"
"Jethro"
The men greeted each other and Gibbs waited to see just what sort of trouble Fornell was going to pull out of his hat.
"How about we take this to your conference room" Fornell suggested lightly.
Oh that sort of trouble.
Gibbs sighed, shook his head and standing up walked across to the elevator while Tony's eyes bored a curious hole in his back.
Gibbs flipped the emergency switch and waited for his eyes to adjust to the sudden drop in light.
"So mind telling me what this is all about?"
Fornell sighed and rubbed his hand across his face wearily.
"You know I have had a hell of a week Gibbs. I have a big undercover operation that's going ahead in three days and suddenly my lead agent has broken his pelvis. Apparently his wife didn't see him behind her when she was reversing the car but scuttlebutt has it she had just learned about the affair he had been having so the jury is still out on that one."
"Is there a point to this Tobias?" Gibbs considered the mounting pile of reports on his desk and exactly how long it had been since he had had his morning coffee.
Fornell ignored him
"You would think that with an agency the size of the FBI that replacing an agent wouldn't be a problem. So far I have agents that are too short, too tall, too fat, too thin, not the right racial background, too old, too young, and too bald, they can't meet the technical requirements in time or they are already involved in ongoing operations. I have agents who are on stress leave, agents recovering in hospital, agents with measles and agents whose mothers are dying. I have been searching frantically for someone, anyone who can step up in time so we don't have to pull the plug on this operation and flush weeks of work down the toilet.
It would appear that at this moment the FBI doesn't have a single operational field agent who is ethnically Caucasian, 6 foot one, could pass for early 30's with advanced computer programming experience who looks like this."
Gibbs looked at the large photo Fornell had pulled out of a manila envelope of a tall smiling man in glasses with his arm wrapped around a laughing attractive brunette.
"I do" Gibbs smiled and shook his head at Fornell while Fornell grinned back at him.
"I know you do. Now how are we going to pitch this to your Director?"
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Vance narrowed his eyes as he watched Fornell make a pitch to 'borrow' one of his agents.
"Ok so you have definite Intel which indicates that Toby Wilson who is the Head of a small but select Research Department for a civilian company will be approached and maybe even kidnapped during the conference starting this weekend at the Plaza?"
Fornell nodded
"The company that Mr Wilson works for is working on a top secret bio engineering development. It could have military applications. They are approaching various armed services before submitting a developmental tender. It is believed that they wish to get more information on this project by kidnapping Mr Wilson and his wife and hopefully getting their hands on a ransom as well. The chatter that was picked up was short but specific and we have put together this op in pretty short time. I don't want it to fall apart now."
Vance stood up from his desk to consider the implications
"What is the bio engineering development you are talking about?"
Fornell hesitated for a minute "It's a modified strain of wheat"
Vance turned around surprised and gave Fornell a wry look.
"You want to use one of my agents to impersonate a civilian…with no connection to the Navy…..because he is helping develop some new sort of wheat?"
Fornell bristled a bit under the Directors sarcastic tone.
"Look Director when I said it had military applications I meant it. Wheat that doesn't mould? Wheat that can ripen in half the time standard wheat does? Wheat that can resist frost? Wheat that could be used for massive production of bread or pasta to feed an army anywhere in the world? The interest in this project from the reduced transport and storage costs alone make Mr Wilson a marked man."
Vance considered before turning to Gibbs who sat in the other chair listening.
"What do you think Gibbs? He is one of your men after all?"
Gibbs shrugged and tried to look non committal.
"Well we aren't in the middle of a case for a change. And I know McGee had been busting to do some undercover work. It might be good for him to get his teeth into something."
Fornell jumped in
"He wouldn't be alone Director. I have an entire team ready and waiting and of course I have one of my agents who is already well briefed on the operation who will be with him as Mr Wilson's wife. He will barely have a minute to himself."
Gibbs nodded "Still I would like to participate where possible with my own people Fornell. McGee is still a member of my team and I'm not just going to hand him over to you like a trading card."
Fornell nodded agreeing and Vance sighed before looking back and forth between them.
"Well looks like you have this all worked out. In the interest of inter agency co-operation then Fornell you have my permission to use McGee..as long as he agrees personally. This isn't NCIS territory and he will be operating under Fornell's command. You clear on that Gibbs? I don't want you demanding McGee back two days into the operation."
"Understood Director"
Vance watched the two men leave under the distinct impression that somehow he had been hustled.
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Tony grinned "It's never a good day when the FBI shows up Probie. Look they have already been here for me and they have already been here trying to arrest Ziva so by process of elimination they must be here for you."
Tim frowned and tried to ignore Tony who was perched happily on the end of his desk messing with his reports.
"Would you stop doing that?" Tim slapped his hand away and tried to finish off his affidavit.
"McGee! Conference Now." Gibbs jogged down the stairs with Fornell trailing only a step behind and they both headed towards the elevator.
"Ohhhhhhhh I told you so Probie. Better make a run for it now" Tony joked.
Tim stood and straightened his jacket and tried not to look nervous about what on earth they might want with him.
"McGee!" Gibbs called again from the elevator exasperated as he held the door open for his immobile agent.
"Oh Right. Coming"
And with barely a stumble Tim headed towards the elevator with Tony and Ziva's eyes curiously following him.