a/n - Jenny's got a cover story to tell the team, but will they believe it? How long can she juggle all the lies before something trips her up?

Jenny Shepard was on the phone before she even had the car started. She had to erase every part of Timothy McGee's life from the reach of Gibbs and the team. A moving company with a shady past was the easy part. She had enough dirt and leverage to get McGee's apartment cleaned out within two hours. The manager of his complex was a little more difficult, but a large enough wad of cash made the man forget all the details of the sudden move.

McGee's damaged cell phone had been recovered from the wrecked car, and Jenny had the number transferred to a burn phone before using it to call his parents. They were thrilled but worried to hear that their son had been chosen for a specialized mission that would keep him out of communication for several months. It was only the gentle assurances from his Director that she would personally keep them informed that convinced them not to try and make contact with him.

The car itself, or what was left of it, was sitting in a long term evidence garage and covered with a tarp. Storage bay twenty seven was the deepest one in the building, and housed the charred remains of Anthony DiNozzo's prized Mustang, another victim of Jenny Shepard's vendetta against Le Grenouille. It was easy to roll it out of the stall and add the second vehicle. The Mustang was back in place and the door locked before the garage attendant returned from the extra coffee break the Director offered him.

Jenny Shepard prided herself in the details of her work, but she was almost to the Yard before she remembered McGee's dog. Jethro hadn't been in the accident with McGee, and his parents hadn't mentioned having the German Shepard with them, so she again started calling. The fifth kennel she tried confirmed Jethro was a guest. The sweet sounding woman on the phone was heartbroken to hear that Jethro's owner had been killed fighting terrorists, but assured Jenny that she would find a wonderful home for the newly orphaned dog.

-NCIS-

"Arrgg, when is Probie getting back from his vacation?" Tony stared at the blue screen on his monitor. "He's the only one that can do this computer stuff right."

Gibbs was counting the days too. "What did you do to the computer this time, DiNozzo?" Ziva smirked at both of them.

"Is he not scheduled to return to work tomorrow?"

"There's been a change of plans." Jenny's voice startled all of them. "He's not returning to DC. Jethro, I'll have a list of possible replacements ready for you later this afternoon." She didn't slow down as she went up the stairs.

Gibbs immediately followed her, Tony and Ziva scrambling to keep up. "What do you mean, he's not returning? Since when do you make changes to my team without telling me about it?"

I believe I just told you, Agent Gibbs." Jenny sat behind her desk and gave him a meaningful look, which Gibbs ignored.

"Why? We're the best team in the agency, why would you break us apart? McGee wouldn't have asked for a transfer without talking to me first."

"Perhaps he got tired of being the butt of everyone's jokes?"

Tony paled at the implication. McGee had been glad to leave that last day after he'd finally been released from his keyboard.

Jenny continued. "He wanted a clean break and under the circumstances I agreed. Now if you three will excuse me..." She picked up her pen and looked at them expectantly. Ziva reacted first, tugging Tony with her. Gibbs stared hard at Jenny before leaning over her desk.

"This isn't over, Director Shepard, ma'am."

-NCIS-

"Again, tell me your name."

"Brad McDonald."

"And why do you want this job?"

"I want the job because I want the money." The man in question leaned forward with an intent look on his face. "The real question is why do you want me. I'll tell you why you want me. I'm the best hacker money can buy. So, are we going to do this or what?"

Pleased with his student's progress, Kort kept pushing as he pointed at the bruised face. "Who did a number on you?"

They hadn't discussed a cover story that would explain the injuries yet, so Tim had to scramble for an answer. "Client tried to double-cross me and not pay for my services. At least I'm still walking around; the goons he sent after me, they're not doing so good."

The glare he received was worthy of Gibbs, and Kort broke character to end the session with a smile. "Not bad, kid. Why'd you shorten it from Bradford?"

The twitching muscle in his jaw was the only indicator of stress. "Only my old man calls me Bradford. My closest friends call me BJ. You're neither."

"Okay." Kort had seen fresh operatives that stayed in character because it was easier than bouncing back and forth, but he suspected McGee's reasons were more personal. Bradford McDonald didn't believe that he'd just lost everyone important to him. "Let's get you fed and then you can rest. We're expected at the estate in time for dinner"

-NCIS-

There was no music playing when Gibbs walked into the lab, and Abby was sitting at her desk, staring at the screen saver that was looping across the monitor. When she finally noticed his presence, she jumped up and threw her arms around his neck. "It's not true, is it? McGee didn't leave us, did he?"

Gibbs' silence was an answer, itself, and she clung tighter. "It's a mistake, Gibbs, and you have to fix it. Promise me you'll fix it."

"I don't know if I can, Abs."

She finally let go enough to lean back for him to look at her, Rare tears were ready to spill over her lower lids as she chewed her lipstick off. "But if you can't fix it, then nobody can."

At a loss for words, Gibbs just kissed her cheek before he left, hoping that Ducky could give him some insight into what had gone wrong with his team.

Ducky wasn't all that surprised when Gibbs walked in. "Jethro, the expression on your face tells me that the rumor about Timothy leaving us is true."

"How did I miss the signs, Duck?" Gibbs sat on one of the autopsy tables and stared at his hands. "I thought I could read McGee like a book, but I didn't have a clue he was so miserable when he left for vacation."

It was a rare thing to see Gibbs second guess himself and that worried Ducky almost more than McGee's sudden departure. "When was the last time you spoke to him?"

Gibbs remembered the exact time, location and circumstances of their last talk. "Right before he left. DiNozzo had glued his fingers to his keyboard again and the acetone always does a number on his skin. I caught up with him in the parking lot and tossed him a bottle of hand lotion."

~Flashback~

"Here, noticed the bottle in your desk was empty."

McGee juggled his backpack and his keys as he caught the bottle. "Thanks, Boss."

"Can't have you vacationing with rough skin. What will the snow bunnies think?" The blush on the younger man's face made Gibbs smile. "Have a good time, McGee, and don't think about the agency at all, except..."

As expected, the dangling comment caught McGee's attention. "Except for what?"

Gibbs' smile grew wider. "DiNozzo's figuring that you'll have forgotten all about the gluing by the time you get back."

"Yeah..." McGee had a slight smile as he began to suspect where his boss was headed.

"So, I expect you to have planned out some legendary payback by the time your vacation is over." Gibbs turned serious after a shared chuckle. "Be careful on the drive and have fun, McGee. You've earned it."

"Thanks, Boss."

~End Flashback~

"How did I miss it, Ducky? How did I miss that he was so unhappy here that he'd never return?"

"I don't know, Jethro. I honestly don't know." He may not know, but the one thing that Donald Mallard did know was that Gibbs wasn't going to stop until he had an answer.