Authors Note: I feel I should apologize for the length of time between updates. As I'm sure most of you know it's exam time and I've been busy studying....well attempting to. Good news is that from the end of next week I'll be done :) and the updates should pick up pace, hopefully.


Shifting uncomfortably in his narrow airplane seat, McGee glanced over at his boss. The man hadn't said a thing to him over the last two hours, and even for Gibbs that was a feat. The car journey to the airport had been decidedly unpleasant, and it hadn't just been Gibbs's driving - although McGee had resorted to compulsive swallowing to stop himself from throwing up all over the car. It hadn't even been the silence that had seemed to echo around the car. No, what had really set McGee on edge was the somewhat murderous look on Gibbs's face. His lips were pursed so tightly that the skin around them was almost white and his jaw was clenched so hard that the tendons in his neck actually stood out in stark relief. It had been that look that had stopped McGee from asking why they needed to rush to L.A. he figured it had something to do with the Director and the photos she had sent Abby, rather than it having anything to do with Tony or Ziva. He doubted that no matter what Tony did, he would never be able to provoke such a reaction out of Gibbs.

Things hadn't improved any as they had pulled up to the airport, with Gibbs abandoning the car at the taxi rank outside the entrance. McGee had looked at the vehicle and even opened his mouth to suggest they move it to an actual car park, but when he had looked over at his boss, the man had been no where to be seen. Whirring around on the spot in a slight panic McGee had actually let out a sigh of relief when he spotted Gibbs storming away in the direction of the ticket desk and followed suit. He had then stood and stared miserably at his feet as Gibbs had demanded to be put on the next flight to L.A. despite the fact it was due to take off in twenty minutes. The desk clerk had only relented when Gibbs had flashed his badge and growled that it was a matter of national security that they were on that flight. She had also manage to see that they were rushed through security and as a result they had made it on the flight less than an hour after leaving NCIS.

McGee quietly sighed and looked at his watch, it was a five hour flight to L.A. and they had another four hours to go. He had a feeling it would be a long four hours. He glanced over at Gibbs, the older man had stolen the window seat, something McGee had found odd, he had fully expected his boss to demand the aisle seat so that he could make a quick exit when the plane landed. That being said, with the black mood that Gibbs was currently stuck in McGee wouldn't be surprised that if he didn't move quickly enough, then he would find himself on the floor with Gibbs storming out over the top of him. Right now however, he looked as though he was lost in his thoughts as he gazed out of the small window, his fists tightly clenched and held tightly at his sides. McGee couldn't quite see his face but he instinctively knew Gibbs's forehead would be creased in concentration and his blue eyes would be narrowed, the stare hard, like flint. McGee looked away, he also knew that now was not the time to try and pry answers out of his boss, and so was just debating whether to watch the in-flight film or try and nap when a bright, cheerful voice interrupted his internal debate, "Would you like any refreshments Sir?"

Looking up McGee took in the sight of the pretty blonde hostess smiling at him and realised just how dry his mouth was - it must be nerves, and he dug out his wallet, "Just some still water please"

She nodded and handed his drink over before turning her attention to Gibbs, who continued to stare out the window, seemingly oblivious to what was going on around him, "Would you like anything from the trolley?"

Much to McGee's surprise Gibbs actually looked up, obviously paying more attention than he had previously given him credit for and shook his head, "No thank you"

The stewardess smiled politely and continued on her way, but since she had diverted Gibb's attention from the window McGee figured there was no time like the present to ask Gibbs what was going on. The young Agent nervously cleared his throat before forcing out, "Um boss?"

**********************

Gibbs's mind was whirring as he stared out into the bright nothingness that was on the other side of the window pane. He was trying to figure out what Jenny was planning. She obviously had something up her sleeve, otherwise why would she have fobbed Tony and Ziva off? Gibbs felt his fist clench even tighter, almost subconsciously and he had to bite back a curse, what was going through his team's heads? They were supposed to be on protection detail, they even gave the job description in the sodding title! He thought he had taught them better, thought they would realise that they should never, ever let their guard down. At the moment he could only hope that they had paid attention to him and his warning, and tracked her down again. Surely they wouldn't push their luck by doing otherwise, Gibbs felt his stomach constrict, he knew deep down that they hadn't bothered, too entranced by the prospect of a few days to run unrestricted about L.A. and counting on the fact that he couldn't stop them. One thing was clear to Gibbs, when he got his hands on his two supposedly senior Agents, he was going to have to kill them, Tony would be in traction after the head slap he would receive for this stunt.

As for Jenny, surely she wasn't foolish enough to try and fix this on her own, whatever this was. His stomach tightened again, she would run off on her own, take the chance to fix what she saw as a failure. Deep down he knew she would, he just had to make sure he got their in time to stop her from doing something irreversible.

Out of the corner of his eye Gibbs saw the stewardess approach them, he heard her talk to McGee, and silently willed her to ignore him and walk on; she didn't of course and he found he had to answer the innocent question. For a moment he thought about asking for a bourbon, knowing it would help ease the cold icy feeling that was currently running through his veins. As tempting as it was, he knew he had to resist, at this altitude the alcohol would hit his system hard and he just couldn't afford the after effects, there was too much going on. So instead he shook his head, grounding out, "No thank you"

As he watched her go, he turned to face the window again. He could feel McGee shift restlessly in his seat, heard him awkwardly clear his throat. Gibbs felt his eyes flutter shut for a second, and had to repress a groan. He knew his youngest Agent was bewildered over what had provoked this trip, but he really wasn't in the mood to answer those questions, in fact he wasn't even sure if he would be able to answer most of them. The mission had been classified and it still was, not only that but it was safer for McGee if he had plausible deniability. Finally he spoke, "Um boss?"

Gibbs turned to look at the younger man, "What is it McGee?"

McGee seemed unable to even meet his gaze as he spluttered out, "I just wanted to know….I mean I was wondering why we need to go to L.A.? What I mean is it because of those photos that the Director sent Abby?"

Taking a deep breath Gibbs answered, "Yes McGee it's to do with the photographs"

"Do you know the man in them?"

Gibbs grimaced, "Not exactly"

McGee frowned, "I don't understand if you…."

Gibbs interrupted him, snapping, "McGee!", The young Agent looked up, the shock in his eyes making Gibbs feel slightly guilty, none of this was McGee's fault, he softened his tone as he continued, "McGee I know you want answers but right now all I can tell you is that we need to be in L.A. and we need to get Director Sheppard back to D.C. immediately. Ok?"

McGee nodded, "Right", he didn't look particularly satisfied by the answer, but seemed to accept that was the only answer he would be getting. Gibbs turned back to face the window, and despite everything that was going on around him, he couldn't help but smile, very slightly, as he heard McGee mutter, "It's going to be a long four hours"


Abby restlessly paced the length of her lab, violently waving her hands about as she spoke, "I don't like this, my gut is playing up. There is something wrong, very wrong. Why would Gibbs just run off like that, and to L.A.? No wait…..first of all he disappears and then he storms back in, grabs Timmy and drags him to L.A.", She paused to pick up her fifth Caf Pow and her forehead furrowed in concentration as she took a long sip before continuing, "It has to be something to do with the Director and those photos she sent, but what is it? And why does Gibbs need to go running off to L.A. when you two are there?"

Abby whipped round to face her Tony and Ziva mops, and after a brief second of just staring at them, her eyes narrowed in realisation and she pointed at mop Tony, her voice low and accusing, "You. You have done something", she whipped round to face mop Ziva, "And don't you stand there and look all innocent, because you're not. You two are both as bad as each other", Her finger swayed between the two, CafPow gripped tightly in her other hand as she continued, "It all makes sense, Gibbs goes off to phone you two and you tell him something and he panics…….well as close to panicking as Gibbs is going to get, and runs off to save the Director", Her face relaxed slightly, "Oh that's so romantic"

Grinning slightly Abby leaned back against the cold metal counter, although the peaceful feeling and the dreams of the parents finally seeing sense and getting back together quickly shattered though, as she realised that Gibbs would only have left if they were in real trouble. She groaned, "Oh no", For a minute Abby panicked, what if they weren't ok, what would she do? She did like her new Tony and Ziva, but they really weren't great conversationalists, she much preferred the real thing. Abby shook her head. No, she would know if there was something wrong with them, wouldn't she? She'd known with Kate, well not known exactly but she'd felt something bad was in the air, "That's the problem", she groaned aloud, "There's something bad in the air just now. I want to fix it, but I don't know what it is", Abby resisted the urge to stamp her foot in frustration and instead stomped up to mop Tony and head slapped him annoyed at the goofy expression on his face, "You should be taking this more seriously. At least you're out there, you can help. I'm stuck here waiting for a phone call!", she rocked backwards on the balls of her feet and gazed at him for a moment before finally breaking the silence, "I'm sorry, I'm just nervous, anyway how can I stay mad at you, it's impossible to stay mad at you", She smiled and looked at him thoughtfully, "Although McGee's right, you do suit that moustache"


"You said overnight bag"

Jenny looked up, one eyebrow raised questionably at Mike's hissed comment, "Excuse me?"

He stopped his restless pacing and turned to glare at her, "You said pack an overnight bag, that was two hours ago. What the hell is taking so long? Is she making her own clothes?"

Stifling a laugh Jenny got up from the arm of the sofa she was perched on, "I'll go and see what's holding her up"

"Girl needs a swift kick", Mike mumbled to Jenny's departing back. Continuing to grumble to himself he looked around the room, his gaze landing on Jenny's bag on the sideboard. He quickly looked behind him, checking that she wasn't about to magically reappear. Satisfied that he was alone and would remain so, he picked it up. He knew it was dangerous to go raking through a woman's purse, but he also knew that it was one of the best places to look if you wanted to know something about them. Mike unzipped the bag and peered inside, frowning at the contents. He gave one last glance in the direction of the bedroom before pulling out the bottle of pills and scanned the prescription label, they were hers alright. Mike groaned quietly, she was sick, that was what she hiding and from the way she was acting he very much doubted that anyone knew. Hearing the bedroom door open he dropped the bottle back into the bag and put it back in it's original place before moving away and resuming his pacing. He found he didn't even have to fake the frown on his face as Jenny re-entered the room. She gave him a brief smile, "Sasha's just on her way out"

"Bout time", He just watched as she rolled her eyes and went to pick up her bag, he took the opportunity to study her carefully, she didn't look sick but then he supposed nowadays you could never really be sure. She turned round and caught his stare, she narrowed her eyes, although to his relief she actually looked slightly amused by his expression,

"Still sulking about me giving away the car?"

"Yeah, especially since you still haven't explained how we are getting from here to a rental agency"

"I know it's been a while since you've spent time in modern society, but there is such a thing as a taxi"

"Taxi's are expensive, I'm a pensioner"

She shook her head, still smiling, "I'll pay"

"No it's fine, I'll get it, a gentleman should always pay"

Jenny laughed, "You've already said you won't pay, there's no need to repeat yourself"

Mike frowned at the thinly veiled insult and grumbled under his breath again, trust Probie to get involved with a smart-mouth.


xxx