Chapter 2: Cracks in the Foundation

Gibbs passed through security, coffee in hand, and made his way toward the elevator. This Monday was going to be a nightmare; he was exhausted and his head thudded relentlessly. The confrontation with DiNozzo Saturday evening left him feeling gutted. Unable to sleep or concentrate on the boat, he'd spent the remainder of the weekend overindulging in bourbon and self-pity. His moods swung wildly between fury, indignation, and shame. Gibbs still felt deeply unsettled and angry about DiNozzo's sudden resignation and his assertions about Gibbs' physical and emotional state. He was unable to come to terms with any of it, choosing instead to settle on denial. DiNozzo's accusations were stuffed in box someplace in the back of his mind where he wouldn't have to deal with them. Arriving at the elevator, he stepped inside the thankfully empty car and pressed the button for the bullpen floor.

Gibbs exited the elevator and flinched slightly as DiNozzo's bare desk came into view. McGee and Bishop were already in the bullpen, both huddled around McGee's desk for some reason. His irritation rose as they looked up at his approach and watched him uncertainly.

"You two have something to say?" he growled.

So this was how it was going to be, McGee thought as he looked at Bishop then back at Gibbs. "No boss," they answered in unison.

"Then I suggest you get to work," he said as he glowered at them. "The reports and case files aren't going to fill themselves out just because DiNozzo left us high and dry."

"Uh, he didn't boss," McGee said quietly as Bishop moved to one side and slightly behind him, showing her silent support.

Gibbs froze, surprised and irritated at the challenge however softly it was spoken. He stepped right up to McGee and stared a moment; an intentional move to intimidate the younger man. "He didn't what, McGee?"

McGee paled slightly, but his voice was steady as met Gibbs' eyes and answered. "He didn't leave us high and dry. All the team requisitions and reports for the next month are done, including yours. They're in your box for signature."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, that's so" McGee replied emphatically. "Not only that, he's left all his own reports, case summaries, notes and potential leads on every cold case file he's worked."

Bishop just watched, wide-eyed as Gibbs glared a moment, leaned even closer to McGee. His voice carried a dangerous edge as he growled, "Anything else you'd like to add McGee?"

McGee resented Gibbs' attitude in the face of a situation that he helped create. McGee hadn't really stepped up and taken Tony's side lately when it might still have made a difference, but he could damn well do it now. He was not only upset that Tony clearly felt he was forced into leaving. He was also angry that Gibbs refused to acknowledge the time and effort Tony must have put into minimizing the impact of his sudden departure, all while trying to arrange his affairs before moving away. He made his upset clear as he replied.

"As a matter of fact, there is Boss. Not only did Tony clear our paperwork backlog, he made sure we'd have weeks in the clear unless we get a new case. You haven't even seen everything he did yet. From where I sit, he did his best to leave us on solid footing. He didn't have to complete any of it, and yet he did. To be fair, you could maybe take a look before you accuse him of leaving us high and dry." Determined to hold his ground, McGee waited to see how a clearly angry Gibbs would respond to the uncharacteristic challenge to his authority.

"Fair, McGee? I'll tell you what's fair..." Gibbs began loudly. McGee startled slightly and Gibbs stopped speaking as a raised voice carried down from the landing above.

"Excuse me."

Both men looked up to see Vance at the railing, observing them.

Vance looked down at the floor below, his mouth set in a grim line as he noticed the early shift personnel had clearly been eavesdropping on the drama going on around Gibbs' team. Looking pointedly at the team leader in question, he said "Agent Gibbs…a word please," then turned back toward his office.

Gibbs met McGee's eyes again and took a step back, outwardly gaining control of his temper once again. "Both of you get to work. Cold cases until I say otherwise," then he turned and took the stairs up to Vance's office. Bishop and McGee were left staring at each other in surprise at Gibbs' behavior toward McGee, and wondering what to tell the onlookers who'd begun gathering around them now that he was no longer in the room.

Vance stood behind his desk as Gibbs entered his office and shut the door behind him. He watched in disbelief as Gibbs strode up to the desk, his bearing entirely nonchalant, as if his team weren't suddenly a man down and as if he hadn't just been putting on a show in the bullpen.

"You wanted to see me Leon?"

"This isn't a social call, Agent Gibbs," he replied in a no-nonsense tone. "Would you care to enlighten me as to the events that led to your team being short a Senior Field Agent?"

I don't know, director. He gave his resignation to you, not me. I expect DiNozzo should have enlightened you.

"Save the smart ass Gibbs, I'm not in the mood." Vance replied coolly.

Gibbs smirked at the reproach and replied. "He left for another job, what else do you need to know? What do you expect me to explain about that other than he felt it was time to move on?"

Vance raised his eyebrows at that, looking at Gibbs skeptically as he replied. "Mm-hmm." He went on, clearly indicating his irritation with Gibbs' attitude. "Well then maybe you'll find it a little easier to explain what was going on between you and McGee just now."

"We were discussing the vacancy on the team and status of our paperwork." Gibbs replied in a neutral voice.

"Oh really?" I can't imagine what would be so interesting about that," Vance said sarcastically. "So why did everyone else on the floor gather round like they were watching a WWE match?"

"I have no idea." Gibbs said. He continued, tilting his head in that infuriatingly smug way of his. "Want me to ask 'em?"

"Gibbs, I didn't fall off a turnip truck and land in this chair," Vance said tersely. "DiNozzo leaving the way he did and you being in McGee's face just now tells me there's something going on within your team. The fact that you can't or won't explain it tells me you're part of it somehow."

"Is that what DiNozzo told you?" Gibbs asked sharply.

"DiNozzo didn't tell me a damn thing. Not about where he's going or what he's doing. Oh, I got an entirely plausible explanation for his sudden departure, if a little lacking in detail. Detail I suspect has everything to do with you."

Gibbs recognized he needed to back off on his knee-jerk adversarial response. The last thing he wanted was Vance to interfere or dig deeper until he got his head around DiNozzo's accusations. "What do you want to hear, Leon?" Gibbs said in a conciliatory tone.

"Apparently, something neither you or DiNozzo are willing to share," Vance said. "You and I have come to an understanding in recent years. I've overlooked your team's idiosyncrasies and unconventional methods, particularly yours, for a long time because together you got results."

Vance continued while looking at Gibbs pointedly, "I am not happy with this turn of events and losing an agent of DiNozzo's caliber. If you want that same latitude from me going forward, your team will continue to perform as well with a new SFA."

"We'll do what we always have, Leon. The job will get done." Gibbs asserted.

"I'll be watching your team's handling of this development going forward, so see that it does," Vance said. "I've assigned Jeff Ellis as your interim SFA. He's due in this afternoon. Give him a chance, Gibbs."

"What about McGee?" Gibbs questioned. "He's qualified. Why not move him up and assign us a junior agent?"

Vance shook his head. "I'm sure McGee could handle it but Ellis is senior to McGee by over a year and has already been serving as a SFA overseas. I think it's best for your team to have another experienced agent, not a probie, considering Bishop is not too far removed from her probationary period."

"Fine, Leon." Gibbs relented, not wanting to push his luck with Vance right now. "Is there anything else? I'd like to get a handle on where we're at and inform the others about our interim SFA."

Vance shook his head as he replied neutrally, "No Gibbs. Just remember I'll be keeping an eye on things."

"Like always, right?" Gibbs replied sardonically as he turned to leave.

Vance contemplated the recent developments with the MCRT as the door closed behind Gibbs. This situation definitely bore watching. He'd made a quick decision after DiNozzo's sudden resignation to assign Ellis to Gibbs' team. The more senior agent was a tough former military man like Gibbs. He would be more apt to challenge Gibbs if needed, and not roll over like a probie when confronted with Gibbs' tendency toward intimidation. He'd also be an impartial observer to the inner workings of the premiere investigative team, and well placed to perceive the internal problems he strongly suspected were there.

Vance shook his head ruefully. Gibbs' evasiveness over DiNozzo's resignation and clear interest in what DiNozzo might have told him gave Vance a very uneasy feeling. The question was what exactly to do about it.

Next up: A peek in on Tony as he hits the ground running in Seattle.