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Chapter 2

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The main advantage of having the section of the top floor nearest the stairs that lead both to MTAC and the Director's office was that you had an unusually good view of the entire floor in front of you and almost guaranteed reassurance that the area behind your desks was safe. The biggest advantage, however, was being able to observe the goings-on on the top floor if you were one Ziva David, Mossad Officer and liaison to NCIS. Of course her current superior, Agent Gibbs, had an even better view because his desk sat in just the right position that he could simply tilt barely a fraction in either direction and have a clear view of both the entrance to the Director's office and the one to MTAC. This gave him a tactical advantage since he had a heads up when Director Shepard decided to get a little more personal with her agents, or when she went to and from the large communications room.

Today, however, it was Ziva's turn to observe the activity, or rather lack of it, on the top floor. If anything, the action was centered on her floor not four feet in front of her. And even then nothing was happening because no one was actually in front of her.

McGee was sitting at his desk when she'd strolled into work twenty minutes early. She'd been feeling rather good, having beaten her previous time during her run this morning thus enabling her to get through the rest of her routine - shower, gun maintenance, then dress and off to work. With a whole half hour to spare, she'd stopped at the little cafe down the street from the NCIS offices for one of those delicious vegan wraps that Abby had recently gotten her hooked on.

She silently observed that her youngest teammate looked a little pale and fatigued, but wrote it off as usual when she remembered his penchant for 'gaming', as he would call it, sometimes took precedent over sleep. Ziva had never found the appeal of those virtual worlds full of terrorists and fake blood, and couldn't understand how a young man as bright as McGee could enjoy them. The MIT graduate didn't enjoy firing his weapon on others while in the real world, but reveled in the activity whilst online. Perhaps it was another American thing; one she would never care to understand, even when it bothered her to not. However, that wasn't what concerned her at the moment. It was her other, absent partner; DiNozzo.

Officer David took a moment as she sat her bag beside her chair, simultaneously using her free hand to switch her computer on, to glance across the open floor separation to Tony's desk, and took careful note that though there were indications that he'd been there today - the computer was on and the chair off to the left of his desk instead of dead center where it had been when they'd left - there was no sign of the man himself. Ziva merely shook it off and settled into her seat, expecting him to turn up at any time. But time wore on and there was no Tony. Or Gibbs, for that matter.

The Israeli looked from one desk to the other and then to the clock at least a half dozen times in just under twenty minutes before sighing in frustration and casting a look toward McGee.

"Is there a reason for both Gibbs and Tony to not be here this morning?" She shifted in her chair and casually observed their boss' desk. Unlike Tony's, it didn't show signs that the ex-Marine had been near it today.

Tim thought to ignore the question. Ziva, while a teammate and somewhat friend, still had strong ties with the Director; and right now that wasn't in the exotic woman's favor. Though Timothy didn't think less of her for her connection, he just didn't know if he could trust her. McGee winced internally at the thought of not being able to trust her, because she'd proven herself time and again; took great pains in doing so at times, as well. No, he couldn't ignore the question, but he couldn't answer her either. At least not with the complete truth.

"They're both here actually." He turned weary eyes on Ziva, and then swept them toward the MTAC stairs. "Gibbs is with the Director and Tony's either with Ducky or Abby at the moment."

Ziva frowned and scrunched her nose. "Is there something going on that I have not been made aware of?"

This is where it was going to get tricky, and he seriously didn't want to have Ziva mad at him right now. He was not in the mood for more bad things to happen. "Well, there is something, but Gibbs is going to have to fill you in on it since I don't have all the information and don't think he'd appreciate me talking about it."

"And why is that McGee? Does he not trust me to understand what is going on, or does he not trust me?"

"Ziva, you know he trusts you, we all do; but you know how he is when something's going on that he doesn't have all the Intel on." He was finding it harder and harder to concentrate on his screen, and he really needed to finish compiling all the information he could get on Tony's gir… ex-girlfriend before Gibbs came back from the Director's office. "Besides, he hasn't told me everything either, and I know he trusts me."

She relaxed her facial features until she no longer held the look of frustration, but it was clear that she was, even more so now. What McGee had said made perfect sense. It was true that she knew that he trusted both the younger Agent as well as herself, so why did it still feel like she was being left out of the hoop - Or was it loop?

"But you, at least, have some clue as to what is going on, yes?"

McGee sighed and pressed the print button. "Look Ziva, Gibbs will tell you if and when the time comes, okay? Please, don't ask me to give you something like this when I don't have all the pieces. Anyway, he didn't tell me much to begin with." He moved from behind his desk and toward the printer to collect the steadily growing stack of papers. "Just wait for Gibbs, okay?"

Tim could clearly see she wasn't happy with his answer, but noted, with relief, that she seemed to accept it. He just wished the Boss would get back soon.

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"You, my dear boy, should really be at home, resting." Ducky chided softly while checking over the various abrasions on Tony's slightly pale skin.

"Would love to be, Duck, but we both know I can't. At least not right now." Tony winced and tried to pull away from the sting of the disinfectant the Medical Examiner was brushing over his wounds, though a firm hand on the side of his face kept him from going to far.

"Of course, but that doesn't mean I can not complain about your condition and the abysmal reasons you're sitting here on my table instead of tucked nicely under your comforter. Or Abby's for that matter." The elder man shook his head and tossed the soiled cloth he was using into the small red bag sitting close to his left. "Now, let me get a look at that nasty gash." He waited patiently for Tony to turn onto his stomach, and settled comfortable before leaning close to take in the injury. "Ah yes, this is a nasty wound but not to worry, it doesn't look as if it'll scar once healed. Though it won't feel too good for the next few days."

A quick, but thorough cleaning followed the wake of his words, and only the sounds of Tony's soft hissing and Dr. Mallards own movements filled Autopsy until the task was complete. Ducky turned back to the raised table that held his tools, picked up a cold compress and placed it gently on the back of the Agent's neck. "There we are; all done. Now, I want you to keep that on for the next twenty minutes to help ease some of the swelling that's surrounding the gash. And I want you to take some aspirin since Heaven knows you'll be needing it."

Slowly, ever so slowly, Tony managed to make his limbs obey and jerkily righted himself on the cool steel table. He felt a little lightheaded, but once he was erect and took a couple of deep breaths the feeling passed. There was a slight pressure behind his eyes and he knew that the Doc was right; he needed aspirin. "Thanks Ducky. You wouldn't happen to have some handy now, would you?"

"But of course I do. I'll just slip into my office and raid my medicine cabinet." He turned to head off toward the side door. "As soon as I return and you've taken the pills, I want Mr. Palmer to escort you to Abigail's lab where I order you, Anthony, to lay down on that little futon of hers."

Jimmy, who'd remained quiet and relatively in the background throughout Tony's arrival, moved to the Italian's side, offering a slight but serious smile. "Here, Agent DiNozzo; you can lean on me while you get off the table. You look a little dizzy there for a moment."

Tony's smile was a little dull, but grateful, while he accepted Palmer's assistance off the table and leaned into the steadying gesture for a moment before righting himself. He didn't really feel like talking and honestly felt a little embarrassed that the Autopsy Gremlin was witnessing him in such a battered state, but managed a weak "Thanks". He let the shorter man keep a gentle hand on his side and guide him toward the door. Ducky met them halfway with pills in hand; Tony made short work of them and finished off the glass of water that had been provided.

"Now, then, off you go," the genial voice urged. "I'll phone Abby and let her know you're on your way." Sharp eyes watched the pair start out the automated doors and smiled when he saw the taller of the two hesitate. "I'll make sure that her music is off."

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The dismissal had rankled and scraped at his nerves until they were all but raw. He had barely managed to school his features into an impassive mask when he opened the door to let himself out, and even, somehow, tipped his head toward the secretary as he passed her at his usual breakneck speed. But once out of the outer office and heading down the stairs, Gibbs let the mask slip briefly as he ground his teeth in seething frustration. The Director was off her nut, clearly, and was meaning to take down his entire team because of her little fuck-up, willing to sacrifice them all. And Jethro couldn't bring himself to label Jen insane even though her actions and words, which were still running on a perpetual loop in his head, made her seem that way. The problem was, Shepard was in full control up there in her office. She knew what she was doing and didn't seem to give a damn about how many lives she was ruining in order to get closer to her goal.

He had loved her once, had even asked her to marry him at one point, so he knew she wasn't always like this. The Jenny Shepard that he knew, the beautiful, fresh, vivacious agent of yesteryear with biting wit and brilliance, had never been cruel or savagely calculating. True, she had her own share of problems and she was a bit tactless and naïve, but… but she'd never been this. Hell, Gibbs didn't even know what this was. All he knew was that she'd gone too far over the edge and there was absolutely nothing left of the woman he'd once loved to bring back from the edge over which she'd thrown herself.

"McGee, David, with me!" He barked out, storming past the bullpen. He didn't even wait for his people to catch up as he stabbed the down button on the elevator, pushing between the opening and slamming his knuckles into the button for Autopsy. Ziva and Tim scrambled to catch up and just barely made it into the lift before the doors closed; Tim caught the edge of the railing and winced at the spark of pain, but managed to keep the hiss behind tightly clenched lips.

Barely three breaths passed between them before Gibbs reached over and flipped the emergency switch, jolting the car to a stop. This time Timothy's hiss of pain couldn't be stifled as the sudden stop sent him back against the railing again. He bit at the inside of his cheek and shook his head when blue eyes swept over him. A curt, silver nod and the eyes shifted to stare unforgiving into deep brown.

"Does this mean you will now tell me what is going on, Gibbs?" the woman asked, subconsciously framing her body in a defensive stance.

"Do you work for me?" He watched Ziva's eyes narrow fractionally but she didn't answer. "I asked you a question, Officer David."

"Yes. I work for you," she growled out. "Of course I do, Gibbs."

He wasn't convinced, but it was a step in the right direction. "Do you answer to me or the Director?"

"I answer to you, both… what is this about?!"

Moments passed with only quiet breathing for an answer. Gibbs seemed to measure her worth, and it became evident that he found her wanting as he turned and flicked the elevator back into motion. It didn't last long because Ziva surged forward and slammed the trigger down, actually growling over the ex-Marine.

"I answer to you. I no longer go to Director Shepard. Only you, Gibbs."

With deliberate care, Jethro wrapped his hand around her fingers and pulled her hand away from the lever. "Good."

The ride finished in silence.

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Surprisingly, Ducky met the trio as the elevator doors opened and redirected the agents toward Abby's lab 'If they wanted to find young Anthony, and Mr. Palmer'.

"Yes, it does seem that I've either lost my assistant to the wiles of our resident forensic genius or DiNozzo has managed to engage James in some random tangent or, more likely, sent him to run errands for him." Donald continued as he pressed in beside Timothy. "One of these days I will have to give him a stern talking to. He's rather eager to please, you see."

Thankfully, the ride was short, and soon they all poured out into the hallway, headed to the same destination; Gibbs in the lead and without a Caff-Pow! beverage that seemed to fuel the Gothic Mistress that ruled the forensics lab. The automated door slid to allow them entry. Gibbs stopped short of the large specimen fridge.

"Abby?"

There was a rustling sound then twin pigtails flashed from beneath the table follow quickly by scrambling limbs and leather on concrete. "Gibbs, I was wondering when you'd get here! We got trouble."

'That ain't even the half of it, Abs.'

"Where's Tony?"

Abby gestured wildly, hands flying into a flurry of motion. Signs formed and melted into one another, growing more flamboyant as her agitation grew. Growing up in a deaf home, she had a grasp of ASL that many would envy and, unfortunately, only few could actually follow if they hadn't had been exposed to the language for a number of years. Gibbs was not one of those people. He rarely practiced outside of the few silent conversations he held with this very woman, and was soon lost in the movements.

Gibbs raised turned his left hand over and quickly slammed the side of his right into the open palm, flipping them over to then run the palm across the top of his other hand; telling her to ease up and slow down. His fingers flew into motion, urging her to calm down and tell him what happened, why she was so upset. He gave her an indulgent but strained smile when she took a deep breath.

"He's gone - I mean they're gone. Him and Jimmy both. See, I was doing a clean up on my system, since there's nothing in the lab this morning so it was really slow, and so I'm checking my email, naturally, and I come across this really hinky internal memo that's talking about everyone! I read it and, of course, I start freaking out, and about that time Duckman calls and tells me that Jimmy's bringing Tony to me so he can crash on the futon, so there I am running to turn my music off and grab the futon and little blanket combo, and grabbing Bert because he's like the best pillow ever. I had to do that first because Tony needs his rest."

It was amazing that she could get that out all in one breath and just when it looked like she was going to continue Abby paused long enough to suck in some much needed oxygen, and launched right back into the thick of things without missing a beat.

"I'm getting all that set up in the back room, making things all nice for Tony, when they walk in. Tony's all quiet and looks like a kicked puppy, and he's trying so hard not to look like a kicked puppy that he starts babbling ninety to nothing, and poor Jimmy's trying to keep up. Well, I kinda tune him out for just a second, Gibbs, I swear, to finish getting everything all nice and comfy, and then Tony's suddenly cussing up a storm in Italian. I don't think I've ever heard him like that before."

"I'd left the memo up! But I didn't realize that until he was practically dragging Jimbo out the door and heading to the stairs. Now I did try to follow them!" Her hands flew up, fingers spread wide, to cut the Gunny off before he started. "But he yelled at me. Told me to stay in the lab and don't go anywhere until he or you came to get me." Abby's bottom lip quivered for a moment and her voice lowered until she sounded more like a scared little girl then the tough as nails twenty-something woman she was. "Tony never yells at me."

Gibbs moved forward and drew the distraught tech into his arms, offering her whatever comfort he could. "Shh, Abs, you know he didn't mean to yell at you. Because he knows I'll kill him if he does."

McGee was already at the computer and had pulled up the memo she'd mentioned. He was stunned at the contents and bit back a startled 'fuck'. "Boss… Boss the Director's breaking us up! Not only that, but she's siccing Internal Affairs on you and Tony." He tossed a nervous glance to the foreign officer.

Ziva moved to stand beside her partner and quickly scanned the screen, letting loose a heated string of distinctly non-English words in a sharp, deadly tone. She spun away and immediately crossed behind the desk to start pacing. "She is sending me back to Israel! Without even consulting me, she is dissolving my visa and sending me home!"

On the other side of the room, Gibbs clenched his teeth to keep his own anger over the situation from polluting the air. He screwed his eyes tight and forced himself to recite the Marine CoC - Code of Conduct - until he was able to wrangle enough control over himself to speak.

He released Abby and took a step back, running a quick hand over his hair to give himself a few extra seconds to compose himself.

"She's moving faster than I thought, and that was my first mistake." He lifted his hand and pointed toward McGee. "Abby, you and McGee get into our own systems and make this go away for as long as you can. Then find a way to stop Ziva's deportation." The silver-haired man spun on his heel and made his way toward the door at a good clip. "Buy me as much time as you can! Ducky, I'll find Palmer and send him back as soon as I can. Ziva, you're with me!"