House of Cards
by channelD
written: as a Haiti auction set of two ficlets.
rating: K plus
characters: Tim and Tony
prompt: I was requested to have the same story told from two different points of view. This, therefore, comes in two parts.
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disclaimer: I own nothing of NCIS.
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1.
NCIS Standard Field Case Report
form No. NCIS-307 (DOD approved), May 1999. Prior editions are obsolete.
Please type or print neatly, using black or blue ink.
Reported by: Probationary Special Agent Timothy McGee
Date of report: October 2, 2004
Case No.: 04-018-HQ
SSA: L. J. Gibbs
Report Narrative
On the afternoon of June 14, 2004, Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo and I were sent to investigate a lead in this case. The lead took us to a reported crack house at 1741 Carmel St SW, Washington DC. We would attempt to interview one Cyril David Feeley, who was reported to have been seen with the suspect, Larry DeWayne Cobb, shortly before Cobb was engaged in the shooting on the National Mall.
There was no answer to our knock at the door at the old building, which appeared to be about to fall down. I had misgivings about entering this house of cards, but I hoped we could make it fast and get out. Having a warrant, we forced entry. The house appeared at first glance to be abandoned, with a thin layer of dust everywhere. The electricity appeared to have been shut off. In searching the first floor, we found no inhabitants, but could see some footprints in the dust, indicating someone had been here recently.
With Agent DiNozzo in the lead, we proceeded up the stairs to the second floor. The dust was thick on the stairs, which creaked alarmingly. At one spot my foot went through a rotted stair, and I was slow in getting it extracted in the dim natural light while Agent DiNozzo continued on up. By the time I did so, he was out of sight. I stepped gingerly on the next step up, found it held my weight, and I then continued to the top.
Agent DiNozzo appeared then and told me not to come any further, saying that the floors there were in bad shape and might not hold both of us. He'd searched the rooms there and found no one and nothing notable. He shoved an evidence bag at me for me to carry—I think it was drug paraphernalia, but I didn't have time to check it. We decided to leave. Coming down from the second floor, the stairs seemed to shake, and a light fixture in the ceiling fell, clipping Agent DiNozzo's shoulder. He wasn't badly hurt. Another stair, and then another, crumbled beneath my feet and I fell. Agent DiNozzo was unable to stop soon enough and fell over me.
There was a great creaking sound, and then the ceiling started to come down. Agent DiNozzo shouted that we had to get out of there before the house collapsed on top of us. He'd gotten to his feet and was scrambling to get me to mine when a ceiling beam fell, pinning me on my back, and the rest of the ceiling was still falling. I tried to tell him to get out and save himself, but I'm not sure I got the words out. It was hard to talk. I was losing consciousness but I'm pretty sure I heard him say that he wasn't leaving me. I tried to argue. Then, as I tried to get free, I must have hurt something and I blacked out.
When I came to, the air was full of dust, but at least things had stopped falling. I could see up to the roof through the gaping hole in the ceiling. The roof at least hadn't fallen, yet. I was having a little trouble seeing, but I could make out Agent DiNozzo lying not too far away from me. I shouted his name, three times, and then he stirred. I asked him to call for help, since I couldn't reach my phone. He appeared dazed, and not able to understand me.
But he managed to get to his feet. Then, the door opened, and there was Cyril David Feeley, who looked in amazement at the destruction. I identified myself as a federal agent and said we wanted to ask him some questions. Instead of cooperating, Feeley drew a gun and aimed it at us, wavering between the two of us.
I could no more reach my sig than I could my cell phone. I didn't know what to do. The house creaked again, ominously. I don't remember what I said to Feeley, but it angered him. He got off a round, hitting my right arm, before Agent DiNozzo threw a chunk of plaster at him, knocking him over.
Then things got worse. More of the ceiling came down, and a wall collapsed. It was only a matter of time before the roof fell in. Surely one of the neighbors would call the police, but would anyone think to look in here before it was too late? I called to Agent DiNozzo to save himself, and to take Feeley out with him. Just because he's a suspect doesn't mean we shouldn't try to save him. I knew I had to face facts: It would take more time than we had to get me free. There was no reason why all of us should die.
And then…a miracle happened. There's no other term for it. I wiggled and…the beam holding me turned out to be rotted, too, for it broke and with Agent DiNozzo's help, I was able to pull myself out from under it. I don't know how it had managed to hold up the ceiling as long as it had, but I knew this was not the time to stop and think about that. I was sore but I could move, even though my arm hurt. (Gunshot wound referenced above; minor.) Agent DiNozzo pulled me to my feet and then we both dragged Feeley out through the door. I wanted to go back in for the evidence bag, which I am sorry I had dropped. Agent DiNozzo tackled me and prevented me from reentering the house. I was starting to feel shaky then, and I think I blacked out. Agent DiNozzo must have dragged me as far as the sidewalk as then more of the house came down. Emergency vehicles arrived. I only remember from there making sense of things in the hospital ER, with the doctor telling me I could go home shortly. I asked about Agent DiNozzo and was informed that he was being released within an hour as well.
I suggest that Agent DiNozzo be put in for a commendation. He is truly a hero.
--Timothy McGee