I started this a few days before I saw Light Sleepers in reruns. I stopped writing this because of a comment by Gibbs in that episode and ended up writing When You're in Boston instead, but this story just wouldn't leave me alone.
Still Waters
No case is worse than one involving children. When the perpetrator is the parent, the whys can't be easily answered and the ache stays around long after the paperwork is filed. Gibbs had chased his team out of the bullpen over an hour ago and was unaware of two sets of eyes watching him. Taking a deep breath, as if to face a battle, Timothy McGee moved from his hiding place and returned to stand in front of his boss' desk. Above them, Jen watched from the shadows outside MTAC.
When the steel blue eyes stared at him McGee held his ground and reached out to snag the older man's coat. "Time to leave, Boss, we need to be there soon."
"Where?" Instinctively he caught the coat as it was tossed.
McGee just smiled. "It'll take too long to explain. You'll see when we get there." When the glare didn't leave, he sighed and leaned against the desk. "Boss, just once can't you trust me?"
Gibbs studied the young agent. Eager and willing, McGee was one of the most trustworthy men he knew. Whatever he had planned, it was obviously important to him. "Ah, hell McGee, I trust you." He shrugged on his coat as the two of them moved to the elevator. "Do I at least get coffee out of the deal?"
"Heck, when we're done, I'll even spring for dinner, Boss."
"Well, why didn't you say so, McGee?" He slapped him on the back as the elevator closed behind them. As they left, Jenny came down the stairs. She had been worried about how this case would affect Gibbs, but now she was curious about McGee's plans for her old partner. With a smile she continued down the stairs. If she was lucky she would be able to have her car on the main road before they left the gate. There were perks to being the director and that parking space at the entrance was one of them. Having one of the MTAC staff monitor the GPS on their phones without questions was another.
"Kinda a rough part of town, McGee." Gibbs looked around at the boarded up buildings and burned out cars as they passed.
McGee bit back a grin so his boss couldn't see his amusement. Not often, but sometimes Gibbs was easy to read. The man loved a mystery but had no patience. McGee would never tell a soul, but he used the older man as a gauge to determine the pacing of his books, making sure they never dragged to the point where Gibbs would grow frustrated with them. "Why, you're not nervous are you? We're armed."
The face may be blank, but the younger agent's eyes shone with his good humor. Gibbs shook his head as he bit back his own smile. Wherever McGee was taking him, the anticipation was already relaxing him, he had to admit. Intrigued, Gibbs played along. "Taking out drug dealers is your idea of fun, McGee? Thought you spent your nights writing?" Truth be told, Gibbs was a little uncomfortable – he'd never admit to being nervous – being in this part of town, this late at night, in a Porsche. Where did McGee plan on parking that would ensure more than a stripped frame when they were done?
Four blocks behind them, Jenny Shepard was entertaining similar thoughts, grateful the SUV had heavily tinted windows. She had confidence in her ability to defend herself, but she had no desire to be out looking for trouble. The GPS tracker that was following their phones beeped as the car she was shadowing made another turn. She stared at the screen, puzzled. "Where in the hell are you taking him, McGee?"
It was when McGee slowed and flipped on his turn signal in the middle of the block that Gibbs realized they were at the end of the journey. The employee parking lot of the old public hospital was not at all what he was expecting. McGee greeted the security guard at the gate with a wave before pulling in and parking near the back entrance. Gibbs stared at the other man as he asked the question he couldn't hold back. "You moonlighting, McGee?"
"Not exactly."
'Not exactly? What the hell does that mean? Doesn't NCIS keep you busy enough?" He couldn't imagine McGee, the probie who still turns green at the sight of blood, willingly spending time at a hospital. He especially couldn't imagine him at this hospital, where all the gang bangers, drug addicts and homeless end up. "If you want to volunteer somewhere, why not at Bethesda?"
McGee opened his door before he answered. "Bethesda doesn't have the same needs, you'll see. You coming?" Without waiting for a response, he climbed out of the small car and headed for the door. Gibbs stared, dumbfounded. What happened to his tongue-tied newbie, the agent who could barely string five words together at times? Whatever brought the young man here so late at night, it was obviously important to give him a rarely seen confidence. That in itself peaked his curiosity more than anything else had since this adventure started. Laughing, he climbed out also, catching up at the employee entrance. Behind them, a dark SUV pulled up to the guard shack.
"Excuse me, a silver Porsche just pulled in with two men in it." The guard interrupted Jenny Shepard's carefully thought out ploy to gain access to the parking lot.
"You're a friend of Timmy's? Well why didn't you say so?" His teeth stood out in stark contrast with his dark complexion in the poorly lit area. "Just take any open spot, our folks aren't fussy. Do you know what floor to meet him on?"
Jenny blinked in surprise. That was easier than she would have expected. "No, I don't remember which floor he said. Do you know where I should meet him?"
"Third floor, west wing, ma'am. You tell the gal at the desk there that you're with Timmy and she'll buzz you right in." He waved her on through as another car pulled in behind her. Laughing quietly, she parked several rows away from McGee's car and slipped through the back door, making sure to stay well behind the two men.
end part 1
