Brief chapter, if anyone found the language in the last chapter offensive, I apologise, but there was a warning and the rating is correct.


Director Leon Vance could unequivocally say that his time in the top office had been far more interesting than he had anticipated. 'Glorified paper pusher my ass,' Vance mumbled under his breath. That was how a former partner had described his job. Well, thanks to certain team two floors below his office, he was being kept very entertained.

'Sir, there's a call coming in for you, from Special Agent DiNozzo,' one of the computer techs told him. Vance nodded.

'Leave the room,' he ordered. He waited until the techs had all evacuated MTAC before picking up the phone. 'You have some explaining to do DiNozzo,' Vance began.

Tony sighed into the phone. 'What do you want to know?'

'Have you switched on TV in the last hour DiNozzo?' Vance asked, making Tony laugh.

'I don't have time for TV.'

'You should make time. When you and Franks took Rivera, did you know that there was a TV crew in the area?' Vance asked. 'They caught everything.' The string of profanities from Tony gave him his answer. 'The Mexicans have identified both of you, you're number one and two on their most wanted list.'

'Who got number one?' Tony asked suddenly, Vance gritted his teeth.

'Ever the smart ass,' Vance muttered. 'I have the DOJ, FBI, CIA and the SecNav riding my ass, wanting to know how I didn't know one of my top agents was masquerading as a Cartel hit man.'

'You told them I'm not though, right?' Tony asked. His insecurities rarely affected his work, but it would still be a long time before he forgot how easily Vance made him Agent Afloat. The way Vance had disregarded his value to MCRT without batting an eyelid.

'It's a difficult situation,' Vance replied. 'I can't publicly support you right now, DiNozzo. We have nothing on Rivera, not even some kind of proof that he is related to Paloma Reynosa.'

'I'm beginning to think that maybe I should have just let Franks off Rivera.' Tony mumbled.

'Maybe you should have.' Vance replied.

'I can't do that now, when we took him, Reynosa called Rivera. She's got Jackson Gibbs,' Tony explained. 'I've already made contact with the team, they should be on their way up there.'

'Don't have a recording of that conversation by any chance?' asked Vance, hopefully.

'No, that would have been way too easy,' Tony replied, frustrated.

'Look, I have a video conference with SecNav in two minutes. Call back in 12 hours,' Vance told Tony. 'Keep Rivera alive, keep out of sight, and don't commit any more felonies on Mexican soil.' Vance hung up and left MTAC to tell the techs to set up the conference. He took a moment to look down at the bullpen and was not surprised to find it almost empty. Only Palmer from autopsy stood in the middle of the room with a handful of papers, watching a TV broadcast of the abduction, his mouth agape.