CHAPTER 3

Leon Vance, Director of NCIS, rose as Gibbs and DiNozzo entered his office, coming around his desk to greet them as they moved to the conference table in the room.

Tobias Fornell, FBI, was already seated at the table, studying an open file while making notes on a legal pad. He looked up in concern as they strode into the room. "How's your boy doin', Jethro? I haven't had time to get there to check on him yet."

Seating himself rather tiredly in a chair with Tony pulling up the chair on his right, Gibbs replied, "McGee's stabilized, they took him off the vent 4 hours ago and he is breathing fine on his own. His latest scans came back showing that the swelling has reduced significantly. Doctor says that he will come back to is when he is ready. They just don't know anything about residual damage from the injury until he wakes up and they can do an evaluation. Right now, it is just a waiting game."

Vance glanced at Gibbs young protege with sympathy, taking in the stress and exhaustion that seemed to rise off him, "You doing okay, DiNozzo?"

"Tired, Director, just really tired . . . and worried." was the low response.

"What's going on? Why did you call this meeting, Jethro?" asked Fornell.

Gibbs looked at both men, "Tell them, Tony."

Both men listened intently as Tony DiNozzo replayed the events from four days ago, and what he had remembered earlier while in his best friend's hospital room. The room was quiet for a few minutes after he finished speaking, as each man mentally reviewed his report.

Director Vance was first to respond, picking up his phone and making a call. "Balboa, your team just finished up a case? I need you to report to my office, right away." Closing his phone, Vance leaned back in his chair looking at both Gibbs and his SFA. "We let Balboa's team in on this, get them coordinating with you on protection detail for McGee and helping with the investigation. Next to you and your team, they are the best we've got."

"Thanks, Leon. My team is running pretty ragged right now. One man down and the rest of us running on fumes. We don't want to make any mistakes here . . . "

"What do you need from the FBI resources, Jethro?" Fornell was ready to provide any help that was needed. "I have some men who have been with me for years that I would trust with my life, hell, that I would trust with Emily's life. We can take rotation on McGee when needed."

"What we need is to make some connection between Masters and someone in our strike team. Someone had to have tipped them off that Tim had tracked them down with proof of their activities." Giving a small huff of air, Gibbs stated, "Hell, the best person to do that is the one laying in the hospital right now needing protection . . . who else do we have that can do what he can?"

"From our CyberCrimes Unit, either Keating or Murray should be able to assist. They're not able to pull rabbits out of their hats like McGee, but Keating has worked with your team as TAD on occasion, Murray is relatively new but according to McGee has a lot of potential. We could get both of them working on a connection. Do you think Miss Scuitio would be willing to give them a hand, she seems to have a knack for assisting with these types of things? I know she has been helpful to McGee at times."

"This is for Tim, Leon. Just try to keep her out of it!" was Gibbs wry reply.

The Director moved his toothpick to the corner of his mouth and gave a small half-smile, "Yeah, I see some potential in that area, but I'm sure that you are already aware of that. Even though they work together a lot, they work in different departments so I really don't see a problem there if you don't."

"Rule 12 exists for a reason, but what can I say, they aren't "dating", they are in love. There is a big difference there." Was Gibbs reply. "I've never encouraged them, but I have never interfered between them either. Just waiting to see what they decide."

Tony listened to this exchange with a small smile. He thought to himself, 'Man, if Probie only knew! I know he and Abby have been so worried about what Gibbs would think. Kinda thought that is what has been holding them back . . . making them try to keep their relationship a secret, respect for Gibbs and his rules.'

He was abruptly brought back to the present when Gibbs turned to him, "DiNozzo, go home, get some rest. I need you to be back at the hospital at 2100 to take over for David. And I mean get some time horizontal, preferably sleeping! Do not back to the hospital right now. Got it?"

"Yeah, Boss, I know I need to get some sleep. Need to keep on my toes if I'm gonna be any good for Probie. I'm just . . . well, I know I can trust Ziva, but I'm not sure about the others. Even if you, Fornell, trust them, I still don't know them-they haven't proved themselves to me yet, if you know what I mean." Tony looked troubled. He liked and respected FBI Assistant Director Tobias Fornell and didn't want to seem disrespectful, but several of the FBI agents were not among his favorite people.

"DiNutzo," Fornell began, using his own nickname for the younger agent, "you know my opinion of your partner. He's one of those that if your agency didn't have him, I would. You know how much my daughter means to me. I would trust these men with my daughter's safety, so you should be able to trust them to watch over your partner." He looked at the younger man, and for the first time Tony saw a crack in the FBI agent's facade, "We won't let anything happen to him, son, not on my watch. I personally owe him too much." came the promise.

Tony stood a little shakily, "Boss, I'm not going home, but I will go lay down on the long couch in the quiet room for a while." He held up his hand, forestalling any interruption by his Team Leader. "Right now, I really don't think I should be behind the wheel of a car," he admitted quietly.

Gibbs eyes softened slightly, "Go on, Tony, lay down for a while. I'll make sure you are up and ready in time to relieve Ziva."

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