Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, or any plot ideas borrowed to make the story flow.
Spoilers: 7x22 aka Borderland with mentions from all that follows though AU from it.
Summary: What if Paloma made her need for vengeance known sooner? One of the team may pay the ultimate price for Gibbs actions so many years ago.
This chapter ended up on the shorter side but since the next one leads us to where this is all heading I'm okay that. I wanted to say though I agree with the thought that Abby's normal selfish behavior towards McGee or concerning him is an issue, I deliberately choose to have Tony get pissed while having Ziva calm her down, mainly because writing about Abby's issues is a whole nother story that I don't feel like writing. Also, I'm having fun writing Tony's emotions. So yeah, this chapter is basically a filler, well until the end. Hehe. All is not as it seemed.
And if anyone is wondering, yes I completely avoided Ms Hart and Bell on purpose. They both irked the hell out of me so I'm pretending they didn't exist.
Also, bastard plumbers are here ripping up pipes in the yard and the dogs are running amuck and being loud, so no sleep for me.
The Plight of Vengeance Ch.7
"Ahem"
Tony groaned and sat up on the floor. He shook his head and looked up. The director was standing in front of him. He groaned again while getting up. He raised an eyebrow at him; Leon was dressed in an un-tucked tee shirt and jeans.
"Wow, now I know things are out of hand, you're out of your usually dress code."
"Yeah well, I'm practically living here, may as well be comfortable. I see everyone stayed here last night."
"No, just me and Ziva… Ziva, get up!" He yelled over to the other desk.
"No everyone, I just came from the other floors, Scuito's curled up on her cot, doctor Mallard in his chair, Palmer on a table and Gibbs is asleep out in his car." He walked over to Ziva's desk. "Get up David." Ziva sat up.
"What time is it?"
"O seven hundred." Gibbs spoke up while walking through.
"Glad to see your awake, go make yourself look not like complete crap, you're finally coming into play."
"Really? What's changed?" Tony and Ziva both walked over to listen.
"Don't get excited, you're not going far, Alejandro Rivera is apparently coming here to rub it in our faces."
"Oh that son of-"
"And were gonna play him right back. We have nothing to hang him with but Dinozzo's word and that's not gonna work."
"So you're saying we play dumb?" Gibbs snapped.
"No we play it however seems fit, but within the law, he's gonna make a political battle with me, I'm sure. We'll give him the rope."
"And hope he hangs." Ziva finished. Tony looked at her. "What did I not get that right?"
"No you did miss America." He laughed and starting looking through his desk. "Ah ha, there it is." He pulled out the deodorant stick while unbuttoning his shirt.
"Yeah Dinozzo, please clean up, I need you for something. David, go get out of here, you have a ceremony to attend." Ziva smiled with a nod and headed towards the elevator. "Dinozzo, with me. Gibbs I'll be back for you in a moment."
"Director, what's going on?"
"You're going back to Mexico."
"Assignment this time?"
"Still observe and report. See if you can locate Franks, we have nothing to confirm he's dead so we need to assume he's not."
"When am I leaving?"
"Now, and for now this is need to know. Keep it that way; I don't need Gibbs deciding he wants to play too." Leon nodded. "Go." Headed walked back over towards the bullpen. "Gibbs, my office in an hour."
"Right." He opened a drawer and pulled out a spare shirt.
AAA
Gibbs shifted uncomfortably on the bench.
"Do I make you nervous agent Gibbs?" Alejandro questioned.
""No, why on earth would you think that?"
"You seem to be being very quiet, as if you're actually thinking before you act. It seems you've learned something over the years." All Gibbs wanted to do was beat this guy to a pulp but he held his tongue.
"Never underestimate your opponent."
"I should write that down. But seriously Gibbs, you and I are on the same side." Gibbs snorted.
"No, were not. You're holding the cards, you have McGee, Franks." Alejandro shrugged.
"No idea what you're talking about." Someone was walking up on them.
"You two sure know how to make a guy feel left out."
"Director Vance."
"Senor Rivera, I hope this visit means you have information on my missing agent."
"Nothing of much use I'm afraid. All I know is he is not on her estate, we searched the land yesterday."
"What about Mike Franks?"
"Well we have no body, so he may still be out there somewhere, or maybe we just haven't recovered him yet." Alejandro glanced at his watch. "Well I have a flight to catch, sorry to cut this visit so short."
"You came up here to tell me nothing?" Leon questioned with a look.
"Actually I was hoping to get a copy of Miss Scuito's report."
"It was sent down." Leon hoped he looked as confused as he was trying to.
"We haven't received it. Did you read it?"
"No, a twenty year old cold case really is of no interest to me."
"Oh, well, I hope to see it soon. I'll be in touch." Once out of earshot Gibbs turned to Leon.
"Wow that was a very impressive act."
"Yeah well, the longer he's thinks I'm out of the loop the better, it gives us an advantage. He say anything of use?"
"No, you walked up too soon so he just got to gloat. He knew I wanted to hit him."
"Oh yeah good job on not doing that."
"So basically this was a waste."
"It would appear that way. Well go home, get ready, we have a ceremony to attend."
AAA
Ziva looked around the room. Abby was standing next to her with Ducky and Jimmy on her side. She took a breath and raised her hand with the rest of the group. "I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic" Ziva glanced to her other side, where three empty seats were, Tim, Tony and Gibbs should have been sitting there. "that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law" She glanced further back, spotting the director and smiled sadly while continuing. "that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God." She took a deep breath; Abby put an arm around her giving a half hug. The room was filled with lots of clapping people. She took another deep breath, this was an important day and yet nothing felt right about it. She jumped when someone walked up to her. "Director."
"This is a proud day David; I just wish the rest of the circumstances were better." He rubbed her arm with a nod. She smiled.
"Where are?" She trailed off.
"Gibbs, I don't know, but if I were to guess probably wallowing about his missteps in life. Dinozzo is on assignment again, I'm sorry it prevented him from being here."
"No, it's alright. McGee is the most important thing right now; I just wish he could have been here."
"I know, which leads me to, we do have to get back to work, take a little time if you need here and I'll see you all back at the office."
AAA
Tim shot up screaming. He smacked his hands onto his chest. Nothing's there, nothing's there. It was just a dream. "Way too freakin vivid of one." He muttered. I can't do this, I keep trying to be strong, but I'm not. This is too much. He tried to stand but was shaking too hard. He felt around aimlessly for the bottle of water that had been on the floor eventually finding it. He took a gulp and fell back onto the mattress. "Dammit boss, why, why am I being tormented for your sins? And why the hell am I talking to myself? Ah crap." He threw his hands up by his head with a loud sigh. I'm going to go insane long before the bitch even tries to kill me. He rolled onto his side and grabbed the stray blanket pulling it close. I'm so glad Tony is not here to witness this; I can already hear the nickname, McBaby. Another deep breath and flood gates opened, he was still alive but the term scared to death didn't even come close to how he was feeling in that moment.
