The next morning Tim got to the Navy Yard early. Although the normal start time was usually 0700, today he made sure to get there by 0600. He stopped and grabbed a coffee and doughnut along the way.
Hoping that neither Gibbs nor Tony were around, Tim was thankful to discover that he was the first one in the bullpen today. He crept upstairs and into the directors outer office. Pamela, the assistant, had not yet arrived, so Tim knocked on the inner door.
"Enter" came Vance's voice.
Tim opened the door and walked in.
"Good morning, Agent McGee, what can I do for you today?" Vance asked, his toothpick firmly set in place and rolling around his lips.
"Sir, I know this isn't what you want to hear, but I feel I need to leave Gibbs's team. I have been typecast," Tim used his fingers as an emphasis, "as a Computer nerd and geek, and I honestly believe that Tony and Gibbs are unable to see me as anything else. I am usually left back to do the computer searches. Whenever I do go out into the field, they think they have to micro-manage me.
"I just want to find a new team leader who appreciates me and allows me to do everything that agents do. I would love to do more field work and undercover work and more interrogation as well as the computer stuff.
"I would prefer to stay here at HQ, but I do need to find another team, so if I have to move out of DC, then I will. I would also like to apply to become an SFA, if such a position is or becomes available."
Vance wasn't shocked at this announcement. In fact he had been waiting for quite some time for McGee to make this request. After Tim fell silent, Vance nodded.
"It may take me a while to find you a new team, but I will start looking for you. I do want to say, Agent McGee, that I am extremely impressed with everything you have done and the way you have handled everything Tony and Gibbs have thrown at you. I am also extremely impressed with your tolerance level. I think a lesser man would have thrown in the towel a long time ago. Let's keep this quiet until I find you a new team, but I will keep you informed, alright, Agent McGee?" Vance stood up and held out his hand.
"Yes, Sir. Thank you, sir." Timothy shook hands and left the office with his heart feeling lighter. The Director had not been angry or upset with him. In fact the director was very impressed with Timothy's staying level. And he certainly understood why Tim felt he had to leave Gibbs' team. Tim hoped that it would not take too long for a new team position to become available.
Back down in the bullpen, the time was just on 0630, and still no one else on the Gibbs team had arrived. Tim sat down at his desk and began working a cold case. He was excited to know that soon he would be away from Tony and from the Boss from Hell. But 'damn it' he had to keep this excitement way from his eyes or Tony would grab it like a bulldog and never let it go.
Oh, he knew Tony and Gibbs were going to be furious when his transfer was announced, but it was too late. They would probably claim that he had betrayed them. But Tim was sure that actually it was the opposite way around. They had betrayed Timothy by not training him, the way they should have trained him.
Tim had said nothing for months and years, in the hopes that Gibbs would wise up and tell Tony to stop hazing and pranking him. Especially since Tim was no longer the probie agent. Now that Tim understood that bullies don't change and that Gibbs was never going to ask Tony to stop with the hazing and the pranks, it was time for McGee to stand up for himself, and get out while he still could.
Ziva arrived at 0640 and was most disappointed to find that she was not the first one at her desk this morning. McGee thought it was ironic that the two junior agents had both arrived at work BEFORE the Team Leader and the Senior Field Agent.
Shortly after, both Gibbs and Tony arrived, and the new day began.