Missing Scene from Jet Lag - based on something Gibbs said in the episode. Loose interpretation enclosed.
"Our Best Agent's with her."
Leon Vance hid his surprise as his brain attempted to process what he'd heard. Did theMCRT Team Leader really just say that about his Senior Field Agent? Vance mentally challenged the pedestal the man had just verbally put DiNozzo on. Thankful that the just as dedicated and capable Agent McGee hadn't been here to here himself thought less of in such an obvious way. Did Gibbs really think of his agents in such different degrees? Casting a glare in Gibbs' direction, Vance silently vowed to discuss this with the man later.
"Hey Mcnever gets to go anywhere important on a case; you miss me?" Tony loudly gloated as he sailed into the squad room, completely obvlivious to Vance watching from the stair landing and Gibbs walking up behind him as he vacated the elevator. Ziva quickly distanced herself from Tony's brash taunting of McGee. Sometimes Tony just went too far and apparently this was going to be one of those times.
Tim rolled his eyes and attempted to shrug Tony's meanness, off and turned back to his computer without bothering to rise to the bait. He no longer worried about whether this slight of manners went over well where Tony was concerned. Tony still, after all these years, took too much pleasure out of other people's expenses. The sad part was that even after everything they'd been through, with Ziva's rescue and all the other ups and downs the team had been through, Tony still insisted on treating Tim this way, less than equal; always inferior. Right now, Tim was too worried about Gibbs' injury from where the boss had shoved him out of the way of that bastard's car. He hadn't even had time to talk to Gibbs about it or apologise for putting Gibbs in the position where he'd gotten damn near run over in the parking garage. Yeah, right about now, Tony wasn't something Tim even had time to deal with.
*Smack*
"Thank you, Boss. Glad to see you missed me." Tony responded with the goofiness of his typical frat boy persona.
"Knock it off, DiNozzo! You've got a report to write. Get on it!" Gibbs barked as he headed to his own desk and sat down. Feeling Vance's eyes on him, he raised his eyes to the ones he felt boring into him from across the room. Rising back up out of his chair, Gibbs silently headed up to see what Vance wanted.
"You need to see me?" Gibbs asked.
"In my office." Vance said in his normally short and cryptic manner.
Gibbs silently walked with Vance; unsure of what the guy's problem was or what was going on. His gut was telling him that this wasn't gonna be a positive meeting. As Vance shut his office door behind them and walked around his desk to sit in his chair, Gibbs, unsure of how long this was gonna take, took the chair in front of Vance's desk.
"What's on your mind, Leon?" Gibbs asked carefully.
"Your agents, Gibbs."
"What about them, Leon? They all did their jobs. The case has been solved and the witness is safe and sound.
"Heard something disturbing today, Gibbs; a couple of things, actually. Think we need to talk about it." Vance said.
"What's this about, Leon?" Gibbs asked impatiently.
"Our Best Agent's with her." "Your words earlier today, talking about DiNozzo." Leon reminded the grey haired man in front of him.
"Yeah. I said that. Leon." Gibbs said. "Some reason you have a problem with what I chose to say about my agents, now?" Gibbs asked in aggravation.
"Is there some reason you play favorites among your agents? It's not something that bodes well for morale within the Agency. Come to think about it, this is quite an ongoing thing on your team, isn't it? Any idea why it is, Gibbs, that the entire agency is under the impression that you regard DiNozzo and only DiNozzo as your 'son'?"
"I don't control skuttlebutt, Leon and I damn sure don't listen to it," Gibbs said in anger.
"No, I'm sure you don't. But, I also know you're well aware how damaging skuttlebutt can be. From what I've heard today, I thought you'd appreciate being more careful with your team's morale." Vance advised.
"My team's morale is fine, Leon." Gibbs bit out.
"So, you just smacked DiNozzo upside the head for the hell of it, then?" Vance asked dryly but without humor.
"What's your point, Leon?" Gibbs asked angrily.
"Rein DiNozzo in, Gibbs. If I even hear that he's disrespected anyone else, he'll find himself on the losing end of a suspension." Vance vowed.