A/N: Ok, I know this is kinda confusing, and not the most team-centric fic ever. But that's about to change. And the questions that keep mounting will be answered. Enjoy and thanks for reading, reviewing, favoriting, etc.

Chp. 5

15 Miles North of Fayetteville N.C.

September 15, 2010

1005 Hours

The other members of Section Eight watched as their leader got angrier the longer he stayed on the phone. "Mike, I'm not gonna say it again. We'll complete this mission, the same way we've completed every other mission. But we're not working with NCIS. Period. If that's their condition, we walk."

Mike was getting pissed off. "Dang it, Jake! This isn't about you and your issues! Knowing what you know, do you want Dinozzo dead? Do you want the satisfaction of ending his life yourself?"

Jake sighed. "You know I do, but…"

Mike cut him off. "No buts, Jake. This is your only option. We need ya, son."

Jake pinched the bridge of his nose in an effort to forestall his growing headache, and didn't say anything for several minutes. Mike waited patiently. Jake was a good kid and he would come around, he just needed time.

Finally he sighed and asked. "When and where?"

000

Georgetown University Hospital

Washington D.C.

Same Day

1035 Hours

Shannon held Tony's hand and ran her other hand through his hair, softly humming a lullaby that she somehow still remembered from happier times. The doctor's had concluded it was safe to give Tony pain medication and he'd been asleep for about thirty minutes, but Shannon couldn't bring herself to leave him.

She thought the worst of it was when he collapsed outside the school, but that paled in comparison to the scars all over his body. She'd had to force herself to remain in control, to not cry. But she'd wanted to. She wanted to still. Wanted to rage at a God who let innocent children be hurt…or even killed. Unable to stop it anymore, she let the tears she'd fought to hold at bay spill over she cheeks and run down her face.

She didn't know how much time passed, but suddenly she felt strong arms around her, holding her, protecting her. Without looking at the persons face, she turned around and buried her head in what she knew to be her husband's chest, weeping silent tears of grief for the child in the bed, the children she'd lost and for herself. After she calmed down, she pulled away and looked at him, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Sorry."

Gibbs didn't bother telling his wife that apologies were a sign of weakness because she was the strongest person he knew. "He'll be ok, Shannon. I promise."

"It's not that." Shannon said. "I was just thinking about Kelly…and Jake. I miss him, Jethro. I wis I could go back and slap the bitch that I was then and tell him how wrong I was."

Gibbs shook his head. They'd had this discussion more times than he could count, and frankly he was growing tired of it. "Shannon, I've told you. You were grieving, you didn't…" He sighed. "You didn't know what you were saying…you…" He stopped when she pointed at him, a fire in her eyes.

"Don't you dare!" she hissed, keeping her voice low because of the sleeping child, but no less intense. "Don't you dare try to justify what I did, Leroy Jethro Gibbs."

Uh oh, now I've done it. Gibbs raised his hands in surrender and backed away. For several minutes the only sounds in the room were the machines, the ticking clock and people breathing.

"I'm sorry." She said again, "It's just…I feel like I made him what he was."

Gibbs raised an eyebrow when she didn't continue. "Meaning?"

Shannon sighed. This was going to suck, plain and simple. "Mike called me at school yesterday. He calls every so often, just to let me know Jake's ok."

Gibbs nodded in understanding. "Me too."

Shannon didn't show it, but the revelation surprised her. She'd thought her husband had cut their son off even more so than she herself had. "Anyway, he said he convinced Jake to agree to meet him in D.C. to get an assignment. I knew that he'd done this before, but I didn't know who Jake was working for. Last night, he came by the house and we went for a drive. Jake's the leader of some unit called Section Eight. Mike said their…a kill squad." She finished, the last part said barely above a whisper, as if that would make it less true.

When he didn't respond, she continued. "So, you see, Jethro, I pushed Jake to do what he did."

Gibbs waited for a minute then slowly shook his head in the negative. "Shannon, Jake's thirty five years old. Whatever he's doing now, it was his choice. He wouldn't want you to blame yourself." Without warning, Gibbs stood, kissed her and left just as quickly as he'd come.

Shannon watched where his image had been moments before, and shook her head. She wasn't so sure she believed her husband.

NCIS – HQ

Washington Navy Yard

Washington, D.C.

Same Day

1125 hours

Gibbs stopped in front of Director Morrow's gatekeeper, Cynthia. "Director Marrow's expecting, Agent Gibbs."

"Who's with him?" Gibbs asked, curtly.

"He ordered me not to tell you." Cynthia said.

Gibbs glared at her, and she glared right back. When it appeared she wouldn't break, Gibbs turned and entered the Director's office. He was surprised to find not only NCIS Director Morrow, but also CIA Director Frank Alvarez and FBI Director Martin Hawkes.

"Agent Gibbs." Morrow said, "How's the boy?"

"Unknown, sir." Gibbs said. As usual, he would wait for the other men to reveal information.

"And your wife?" the director asked.

"Good, Sir. I left my team with them as protection detail." Gibbs said.

"Good, good." Morrow said. "You're probably wondering why I asked you here."

Gibbs shrugged. "The thought had crossed my mind."

"Agent Gibbs, It's come to our collective attention that Anthony Dinozzo Sr., CEO of Dinozzo Defense Systems, has been directly implicated in selling U.S. state defense secrets to Islamic radicals." CIA Director Alvarez answered.

"Al Qaeda?" Gibbs asked.

"Unknown."

"Where does my team fit in?" Gibbs asked, not liking where this was heading.

"Keep Dinozzo's son out of the crossfire." FBI Director Hawkes answered.

"What I'm about to tell you does not leave this room." Alvarez said, and turned to Morrow. Morrow picked up a remote control, pointed it at a plasma screen and pressed a button. Four pictures, along with dossiers appeared on the screen.

"The President," Alvarez said. "has been briefed on the situation and has authorized Dinozzo's assassination. The men you see on the screen on part of a group called Section Eight."

Gibb's felt his famous gut turn to ice, as he realized that he knew these men and that was why they had been chosen to carry out this mission. When he didn't speak, Morrow continued. "Section Eight is attached to your team until their mission is complete."

Gibbs shook his head, his face a mask of utter disgust. "Let me guess, they get paid whether Tony lives or not, right?"

"Agent Gibbs, when your son heard about Dinozzo's proclivities, he offered to kill him free of charge and so did his team." Alvarzez said. "Once they knew what had been happening to this little boy, the mission became just as personal to them as it is to you. I assure you, it's not about the money."

Gibbs felt his head swimming and fought to maintain his famous control. He was going to see his son again, whether he wanted to or not. "Where do we make contact?" he finally asked.

000

A/N: As Scooby Doo would say, "Rut Row!" I wouldn't want to be there when Gibbs and Jake meet. Perhaps I'll send Mike to play referee. Thanks for reading!