IN STROLLS THE BOSSMAN

Part 7

AN: Thanks for your continued suggestions for 'episodes.' And thank you all for your reviews and alerts. JL

Episode 32-SWAK

"You didn't have to do it, Kate." Gibbs replied. "But I am very glad you did."

"Do what?" Kate asked, grinning.

"Tony knew I wasn't sick." Kate replied. "I think he knew I was lying when I told him."

"That's why it means so much, to the both of us." Gibbs replied.

THE END

Episode 33—Boxed In

"I saw the Tony's chart, Ziva." Gibbs stated. "All those stitches don't equal a scratch. Tony was shot. Why would you say otherwise?"

"I didn't want to hear him witch and groan."

Gibbs didn't correct her, although he knew she meant 'bitch and moan.' "This is where you step up, Ziva, and take care of your partner. You know how Tony feels about hospitals and meds and all that. That means when he gets injured, his partner doesn't lie to me. She tells me he's been shot. She tells me what she knows because she knows her partner won't speak up and tell me. She speaks up because she knows he has an aversion to hospitals and pain pills. But most importantly, she speaks up because the only thing she has in mind is her partner's best interests."

Ziva didn't know what to say.

"If the situation has been reversed, what do you think Tony would have done?" Gibbs asked. "Think about it."

THE END

Episode 34—Hiatus

Gibbs walked into the bullpen. He had two folders in his hand. He put one on Ziva's desk and the other on Tim's. He continued on to his desk and took a seat, not saying anything to his team members.

Tim and Ziva looked at one another, then they looked at Gibbs, who was working on catching up on his email. They both shrugged, opened the folders, and began to read.

Gibbs waited until they both had closed their folders before he spoke.

"Is any of it true?" Gibbs asked.

There was no answer.

"Do I need to repeat the question?" Gibbs inquired. "Say it in Spanish, perhaps?" He was getting irritated and was glad that Tony would be downstairs with Ducky for a little while.

Tim looked down at the folder. It held several reports. Incidents of insubordination that Tony had written down, but had, obviously, not turned in. Ziva had several reports in her folder also.

"I did not put Tony in this position of leadership as a joke." Gibbs replied. "You know, and you can ask anybody else here, I'm not known for my sense of humor. So why did you consider it a joke?"

Tim started to speak.

Gibbs stopped him, shaking his head. "Did you consider it a joke, McGee? I read what you told Tony, verbatim, or is he just lying about the whole thing?" Gibbs asked just to see what they would each say. He was trying to control his anger as he spoke.

"He is not qualified to be a good leader." Ziva said, as if she was poking a bear, daring it to strike.

"Are you saying you would do better, Officer. David.?" Gibbs asked, coldly.

Ziva nodded. "As a matter of fact…."

"Let me tell you what is 'a matter of fact,' Officer David." Gibbs said, ready to explode. "It is a matter of fact that you were placed on my team, you didn't earn your position, like Tony and Tim did. It is a matter of fact that you are a Mossad Officer…not an NCIS Federal Agent. It is a matter of fact that you do not have the forensic knowledge to be an NCIS Agent. It is a matter of fact that you do not have the work experience, i.e. investigative experience, to be an NCIS Agent. And it is a matter of fact that, therefore, the aforementioned being true, that you could not and would not, under any circumstances, qualify to be Team Leader of this or any other team!" Gibbs hissed. "Those are the facts, Officer. David."

Tim had been listening, and he sank back in his chair as Gibbs shifted his attention.

"Do we need to do this?" Gibbs asked, as in do we need to rehash your transgressions publicly and make another scene in the bullpen?

Tim just shook his head and turned to his computer screen.

"Very good, Agent McGee." Gibbs looked at Ziva again. "Oh, just so you know, Director Shepard has seen the reports. She is ready to act on them at either Tony's or my direction. And I think, Officer David, you would not like the outcome."

THE END

Episode 35—

This is the episode where Tony and Tim had their computer game night and didn't invite Ziva.

Gibbs looked at Ziva. "You do realize that what you're feeling right now…that is exactly how Tony felt when you didn't invite him to your dinner party."

THE END

Episode 36—Dog Tags

Gibbs read the team reports. He waited until Tony and Ziva had left before he spoke to Tim.

"You locked yourself in a car and wouldn't let DiNozzo in when there was a vicious dog after the both of you?"

McGee nodded.

"Do I have to explain why…?"

McGee shook his head.

"This may seem like a minor offense, Tim. But if Tony had not been able to get himself to safety…."

"I understand." Tim replied.

"Good, but that still means a three day suspension, without pay." Gibbs replied.

THE END

Episode 37—Senior and Gibbs—Various episodes

"I don't really care if you believe me or not, Mr. DiNozzo. But I am not trying to be Tony's dad. He already has a dad. You!" Gibbs replied.

"HA!" Senior huffed. "You try to undermine my relationship with my son every chance you get."

Gibbs glared at Senior. "Please tell me how my supporting your son, being his friend, all that. Please tell me how I am undermining you."

"He leans on you. He comes to you for help. He…." Senior started.

"He trusts me. He knows he can depend on me, Mr. DiNozzo." Gibbs replied. "I've earned the privilege."

Senior looked at Gibbs. "Are you telling me that I have to... I'm his father!"

"Does your son trust you, Mr. DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked, already knowing the answer. "I would guess that that mistrust started long before your son met me." He paused. "You can blame me all want. But we both know the truth. We both know that you don't see those things that you don't want to see. It may blind you to the facts, but it doesn't make them any less true. If you were worthy of your son's trust, your son would trust you."

THE END