A/N Translations for the Italian will be provided at the end. I'll admit now (in case it turns out to be wrong =D) that I used Mac's translator on Dashboard for this… So if it's wrong, blame it =D
Twenty minutes went by in relative silence as everyone was working. Tony had divided the list with Ziva, and McGee was going through the security footage trying to find any clue as to who helped him out. Gibbs and Jack were going over all the guards' statements to see if they missed anything there. Everyone was so focused on they're own tasks that no one noticed the two people standing at the opening between Ziva's and Tony's desk, that is until the man coughed loudly enough to get everyone's attention.
"Carter. Daniel. So nice of you to finally join us." Jack greeted with a slight smirk. Daniel glared. "Alright people, this is Dr. Daniel Jackson and Colonel Samantha Carter. They're part of my team and are here to help out. Kids, this is Officer Ziva David and Agents Tim McGee and Jethro Gibbs. Gibbs is going to run this boat with me. " He purposely left out Tony because his team already knew him, but Ziva didn't know that and flashed a quick glare at Jack before introducing him herself.
"And that is…" Ziva started, gesturing in Tony's direction.
"Tony! Dobbiamo smettere di incontrarci come questo." Daniel greeted him in Italian. Ziva frowned. She hadn't expected Tony to know them. Or for the man to great him in a different language.
Tony's smile widen before he replied. "Se non ci incontrassimo come questo, noi non si vederebbe mai." Daniel laughed and reached out a hand to Tony. They shook once before pulling the other in for a half hug.
"Too true, Tony. Too true." Daniel backed away, allowing Sam access to give Tony a hug as well.
"I guess just having dinner is too much to ask for in our lines of work, huh?" Sam grinned, pulling back from Tony. "You're looking good." Jack snorted.
"Good luck with that dinner, Sam. There's always something. And speaking of, let's have an update, bring everyone up to speed." Tony stood then to start, turning on the screen to bring up two pictures, a man and a woman.
"Major Neumann and Lt. Tobias," he pointed at each in turn before continuing, "Are both still happily enjoying their stays in a US Penitentiary in Fremont County, Colorado. The man who got us in this mess to start with, former Colonel Harold Maybourne," Tony switched the picture again to show the clean shaven, slightly pudgy face of Maybourne. "He may have started it, but it's very, very unlikely he's going to finish it. At least not by helping Makepeace." Gibbs was about to interrupt Tony about speculations when Jack beat him to it.
"Maybourne isn't in this. Makepeace wouldn't go to Harry for any kind of help. They'd be no guarantee for Makepeace's safety. Harry has helped us out far too often with incidents related to the NID, for Makepeace to trust him. What else you got?"
"Ziva?" Tony turned the floor over to the Mossad Agent.
"Mark Devlin was looking like a pretty good candidate, that is up until I found out that he, too, is in the USP in Fremont County. Colonel Grieves, deceased 2 years ago. No known family that would be willing to help Makepeace. Frank Simmons also deceased, no family."
"And our final candidate, the most likely of them all, but also the one that will be the hardest to prove. Has had it out for Jack, and well the entire operation in general, just specifically you and your team, for years. One Senator Robert Kinsey."
"I highly doubt he knows about Makepeace's escape. He didn't let on to anything when he 'greeted' us at the base, and he's arrogant enough to let something slip. It's best that he doesn't find out, if at all possible. He'd somehow use this to his advantage, and possibly seek out and help Makepeace." Added Daniel.
"Senator Kinsey? He's always struck me as an ass, but to help a traitor?" asked McGee.
"He'd do just about anything to become President and take control of the program, ethics be damned. He believes that Colonel O'Neill has been a major hindrance to his campaign." Sam supplied.
"I, according to Kinsey, have made it my personal mission to stop him." Jack stated proudly, though his voice was dripping with sarcasm. "Like I don't have better things to do with my time, free or otherwise. Let's move on. McGee, anything on the security cameras?"
"I've gone through all the cameras leading to and from and surrounding Makepeace's cell. There's no movement what-so-ever. Not even a glitch on the tape to presume it was tampered with. Just the camera that was in his cell." He brought up the footage for everyone to see. "Here we have Makepeace in his cell, 10:39pm. Fast forward 15 minutes, the screen snows out then shuts off, only to come back on just after 11, and Makepeace is missing. I have yet to figure out where he went, since he doesn't show up on any of the other cameras. I'll work with Abby to see if we can clear up what happened in the snow period before it shuts off." Jack nodded before continuing himself.
"The gaurds' statements don't give light to anything other than it happened during a shift change."
"The guards normally posted outside his cell were updating the new arrivals when this all took place. It's safe to say he had inside help as well. Though the guards leaving, did remember seeing a flash of light around the time the cameras went out in his cell." Gibbs finished.
"The how isn't the concern here. The where he is, is what we need to focus on." Jack reminded the all.
"Then what was the point of having McGee look over the video, or us reviewing the statements? Just to waste time? Are you waiting for him to show up at DiNozzo's door and attack? Certainly save time in looking for him, just waiting for him to show up!" Gibbs nearly growled his last statement.
"The point, Agent Gibbs, was to find an accomplice. We had yet to view any video or read any statements, immediately having everything sent directly here for this joint effort. No one wants to see any harm come to Tony. Especially us." Reasoned Daniel, his first contact 'we mean you no harm' side coming out.
"Actually, that's not a bad idea, Boss."
"And what's that DiNozzo?" Gibbs all but snapped.
"We do what you just said. We wait for him to come to us."
"Come again?" Jack didn't like where this was going. And his fears came to light when Tony spoke again.
"We use me as bait."
*Tony! We have to stop meeting like this.
* If we didn't meet like this, we'd never see each other.
