"Where the hell is DiNozzo?!?"
Startled, both McGee and Ziva shot to their feet as Gibbs barreled into the bullpen – five minutes late.
"Uh, B-boss?" McGee stammered – well, didn't he have the right to stammer? He'd never heard his boss quite that upset, especially just because DiNozzo was late. DiNozzo was late all the time, but Gibbs very rarely got worked up about it. Usually he would just make some threatening sarcastic comment and forget about it. For his part, Tony would cringe, flinch, and apologize and move on.
"Well, McGee?" Gibbs snapped. When he realized he wasn't going to get an answer from the shocked agent, he turned to Ziva. "You know where he is?"
The liaison officer shook her head. She was just as puzzled and concerned as McGee. This was not normal behavior for Gibbs, even when Tony was late. Normally he just strode in coffee in hand – coffee in hand?
"Gibbs, did you not stop for coffee this morning?"
"Yes." Gibbs' scowl deepened. "Damn girl gave me decaf."
Both agents' eyes widened with sudden comprehension. No coffee – that explained the black mood. It was unfortunate for Tony that Gibbs seemed to need a target.
"Where the hell is DiNozzo?"
** * ** * ** * **
Fifteen minutes later DiNozzo limped off the elevator. His face was drawn and haggard. His shoulders slumped as if he were bearing an invisible burden.
Gibbs noticed this, but blamed it on some late night partying with too much booze. If he were less cranky, he would have reminded himself that DiNozzo rarely partied anymore, and almost never on a school night. On any other day, Gibbs might be concerned by the unusual behavior – but today it just made him mad.
"DiNozzo! Where the hell have you been?" Gibbs was barely conscious of the silence that descended on the bullpen. Everyone was watching him and DiNozzo.
"Easy, Boss" For his part, Tony knew he was going to have to tread carefully. He was supposed to keep Gibbs calm and unstressed – what a load of bull crap. He sighed in defeat – then smiled gamely as an idea struck him. "I think I have a case for us."
Gibbs stared at him in disbelief, but said nothing as Tony backed away from him and started up the stairs to the director's office. Well, he almost said nothing.
"We aren't done here, DiNozzo! Be late tomorrow and I'll fire your ass!"
** * ** * ** * **
Tony frowned. Usually Gibbs was more creative with his threats. He must really be feeling lousy.
Quickly pushing aside those rather depressing thoughts, Tony ran through his proposal and tried to muster a smile for Cynthia.
"Agent DiNozzo?" Cynthia sounded concerned. "Is everything all right? You look-"
"I'm fine, Cynthia." Tony mustered that smile. "I need to speak with the Director, is she in?"
"She's in MTAC, but she should be back in a few minutes."
"Thanks. If you don't mind, I'll just wait in her office."
Cynthia nodded, still giving Tony funny half concerned, half confused looks. He smiled again, hoping to put her worries at ease. It didn't work.
He shrugged mentally – maybe his smile was broken? It hadn't worked all morning. First Ducky, then Kit, and now Cynthia. He had to do something – he was going to need the persuasive power of his smile if he was going to convince Jenny to play along with his scheme.
Surveying the large office, Tony spotted a mirror hanging above the couch. Resolutely, he marched over to it and began practicing his smile.
His was still making faces at the mirror when the director walked in.
"Agent DiNozzo, there are mirrors in the men's room, if you are so worried about your appearance."
"Erm, no, Director." Tony fidgeted slightly – this was not an auspicious beginning. "I need to talk to you about Jethro."
Director Sheppard's eyebrows almost disappeared into her hairline. This was not a usual turn of events.
"Is something the matter, Agent DiNozzo?" From the expression on her face, Tony could tell that she was more concerned about his state of mind than Jethro. She moved to sit behind her desk, and Tony wonder if she took any comfort in the pistol he knew she kept in the top right hand drawer.
"Ducky called me this morning." Tony sat in one of the plump, straight backed black chairs positioned in front of Jenny's desk. "From Bethesda. Gibbs had a heart attack."
"Are you being serious?" Tony sighed. Now Jenny was going into protective mode. He'd have to talk her out of mandatory medical leave.
"Yes. The doctor said it was only a mild one – he was in his basement when it happened. He managed to dial 911, but conked his head shortly after. Mild concussion."
"Was he released?" Jenny demanded. Tony made a face – considering the source that was a stupid question.
"What do you think?" Jenny sighed and nodded.
"I can assign forced medical leave – how long did the doctor suggest?" Bingo – exactly what Tony had anticipated. She'd do it, too. She might even assign a guard to make sure he stayed home.
"No good, Director. Doctor said no coffee for a week. We need him where I can keep an eye on him."
Tony actually derived some amusement from Jenny's horrified expression. It seems that the longer a person knew Gibbs, the more dramatic the response to his 'news'. You'd think they'd be more concerned about the heart attack – but no. Gibbs off coffee equals worst nightmare. DiNozzo hid his grin. Hey – he'd always been able to find humor, even in extremely unpleasant circumstances. This one was no different.
"You get a case and you're screwed. I take you off rotation and Jethro will eat you alive."
Tony nodded – this was going much better than he had expected. He took a deep breath to gather his courage.
"I know. Which is why I have a plan. Assign us a cold case." Jenny raised her eyebrow.
"You have a particular case in mind, Agent DiNozzo." Her tone said that she knew he did – and she was fairly sure that Gibbs was NOT going to like it.
"Director, I have a lead on the Wetherly case." The director's eyes widened. She probably thought Tony was insane. "That'll be a couple of days here, catching up. After that, Gibbs will want to go over the scene again – with a fine toothed comb."
"Tony, you're insane! You want to go - with Gibbs, and no caffeine?"
He nodded solemnly. Gibbs had saved his ass more than once – it was time to return the favor.
Even if it meant – he refused to think about it right now. He wouldn't. There would be plenty of time to dwell after he'd told Gibbs.
"I think it's going to take all week, Director." Jenny nodded back.
"Of course it will. You're a brave man, Tony." Jenny smiled. "I'll let you tell him."
Tony didn't cringe too badly – he'd expected as much. Suddenly he wished he'd talked this over with Ducky first. Ducky might have talked him out of it. Well, he'd always been impulsive. Besides, it was for the Boss's own good.
He slowly walked out of the director's office. So what, they were going to go back over the Wetherly case. So what if that meant a trip to the East Ridge Mountains. It'd be just like a father-son camping trip, right? Those weren't that bad, were they?
Gibbs was like ten times the man Tony's own father was – so it really couldn't be that bad. Nah, sure it wouldn't. Tony forced his legs to move. He just had to go explain to Gibbs why he'd gone to the director first. And why he'd asked for the Wetherly case. Right.
Piece of cake.
** * ** * ** * **
A/N: Again, sorry about the delay. Thanks for reading and please, please review! ;)