A/N – I'm going a little AU here and adding a character that is never involved with the show, although we don't get to meet her quite yet; we only learn about her. But, we also get to see some of Gibbs in this chapter, as well as A.J. Chegwidden and Vance.

Disclaimer – I do not own NCIS or the characters. Only the mystery girl you will meet later.

Chapter 8

More Questions than Answers

"Director Vance?" the secretary asked him, peeking into his office. "The people you requested are in the conference room now."

"Thank you," he said and sighed deeply.

This meeting was very important. He knew that he needed to have this meeting in order to make it more than clear to Parsons that the team was taking responsibility for their actions and that they did these things without the approval of Gibbs, although Gibbs had signed the reports. He had called them all in on a Saturday evening to make it clear, since neither Parsons nor Gibbs knew what was going on.

He left his office and entered the conference room. In front of him was A.J. Chegwidden, Gibbs, and Parsons. They were standing and staring at each other. Vance was not happy about this meeting but knew how necessary it was.

Gibbs was furious. He had been called in on a Saturday night and had to get things together for this mission that he was supposed to go away for in a month or so, if everything went according to plan. He had just been there yesterday, what more was there to say? He needed to get home and get to work on this information so that he knew what he was supposed to be doing.

"Thank you all for coming on such short notice," Vance said and sat down at the table. "Please, sit down."

They all sat down and stared at Vance. The tension in the room was sharp enough to cut through the air now. There was only anger to be felt and seen in that room at that moment.

"Why are we here, Director Vance?" Parsons asked. "You know what I am going to do and nothing is going to stop me once he is done with this ridiculous mission. In the meantime, I will make it perfectly clear that I will go after his team, now that he is not here to protect them."

"We are all here because there has been a change in the circumstances," Vance said, looking directly at Parsons, but he could feel the gaze of Gibbs and A.J. on him as well, since they didn't know this information either. What had changed in one stinking day? "At least according to the information that you have given me. The team, meaning Special Agents Anthony DiNozzo, Ziva David, and Timothy McGee have taken full responsibility for their actions and have turned in their guns and badges. They are no longer employed here. So, your job is done."

"They did what, exactly? And when?" Gibbs asked.

His team resigned to get Parsons of his back. Honestly, he was a little grateful, but at the same time he was pissed off with them. If the mission went as it was supposed to it would only take the summer. However, it was a real possibility that it would take longer. Were they going to wait around forever for him to be done? Why had they done something so stupid? What happened when the mission was over and they had all settled into another job? Would he be able to get his team back?

"They came to me yesterday evening, Gibbs," Vance said, turning to face him. "Honestly, I was expecting it. I knew they would do it. It was their job to take responsibility and I am proud of each of them for doing just that."

Gibbs could tell that Vance wasn't saying the parts he didn't want Parsons to hear. Vance knew that the team had really done it to protect Gibbs while he was on his mission and that they would all face Parsons together when the mission was over as a family. Gibbs felt a little touched by this as he read it in the Director's eyes. He loved his family and wished he could thank each of them, as well as head-slap each of them.

"Well, you are lacking some information, Director Vance," Parsons said, smiling again.

"Oh, what the hell is it now?" A.J. asked.

"Well, you see, there is new information that has come to light for me. It seems that Special Agent Gibbs has been very busy these last few years," Parsons said pulling a folder out of his briefcase and holding it to his chest. "I have gotten a hold of a copy of a file that shows that Gibbs is going behind everyone's backs, yet again."

He placed a manila folder on the table. The tap on the folder read "Gunnery Sergeant Gibbs; 2006-Present; Active" in neat handwriting. It was a military file. He smiled widely and the other two looked at Gibbs questioningly. But, Gibbs was smiling at Parsons. That was not his file. There would be another set of dates on there if it was.

"And, the best part is, is that most of it is blacked out, meaning that these are all covered up missions and assignments, that he has been recently involved in," Parsons said, his smile growing at the end of his statement.

"First of all, Parsons, I am not active duty and I have already retired from my days as a Marine. Second of all, I believe I am too old to be active duty. Third, they would be missing a huge chunk of my life if they thought these were the only years I served. I did serve in the Gulf War if you remember; and don't deny that you know that, because I'm sure you've done your homework thoroughly and know what I have done with my whole life. How do we know you haven't made up this file?"

"I haven't, and it is signed by the current Commandant of the Marine Corps. He is also under investigation, though he doesn't know it yet," Parsons said, his smile growing wider again. "I am still planning on bringing charges against Anthony DiNozzo and Ziva David…."

"It is pronounced Dah-veed," Gibbs corrected.

"As well as you Gibbs, and whoever it is that was your partner on these assignments, whoever First Sergeant David is."

"I have not been on any missions recently. Have you even read this file?" Gibbs asked curiously and picked up the file and read it. A.J. read over his shoulder.

Name: ············· Gibbs Rank: Gunnery Sergeant Birthday: 09/24/1988 Sex: Female Branch: Marine Specialty: Special Operations, Intelligence Operations, Sniper, Black Ops, Classified Missions Home Address: ·················, Bethesda, MD ····· Home Phone #: (301) ········ Cell Phone #: (301) ········ Current Location: Assignment in ·············

Mother: ················ Gibbs, deceased 02/28/1991

Father: ············ Gibbs, NCIS Special Agent

Siblings: ············· Gibbs, deceased 02/28/1991

Other Associated People: ·····················, NCIS Special Agent; ·········, ··················, deceased 01/10/2013; ············, missing; ··········, NCIS Special Agent; ···········, Mossad, deceased 09/23/2005; ···········, deceased 06/12/2003; ····· David, First Sergeant, Marine Corps

Need-to-Know Medical History: Hypoglycemia; Anemia; Broken arm in car accident in ·············· in 1991; Broken shin bone in ······ in 1998; Held hostage in ··········· in ······· in 2009; Broken collar bone in ······· in 2010

"Parsons, you've got the wrong Gibbs," Gibbs said with an uneasy feeling in his stomach. "I am not a female and I am not 24 years old. I think you need to read what you are handing me before you hand it to me and accuse me of things. I don't even care what this girl's missions were, as half of them are probably blacked out, like the rest of the information in her file."

Was it even possible that she was alive? Why had he not heard anything about her until now if that was the case? What had happened to her after the crash? Gibbs tried to fight the questions that he had in his mind. This girl had been in a car accident in 1991, but there were many car accidents in 1991, he was sure of it. Her history seemed to hold a lot of major injuries for her and one of them wasn't even specific as to what the injuries were.

"Then, who the hell am I looking for? What the hell kind of cover-up is this? You are Gunnery Sergeant Gibbs! Do I need to take down the whole government to get this girl, or you?" Parsons shouted.

"I think there is a misunderstanding here, Parsons, simple as that," A.J. said. "The file clearly states that this is a young girl and that her mother and sibling are dead. Her father is NCIS and two other people in her life are NCIS and one is Mossad. I doubt Gibbs was held captive in 2009, as well."

"I will figure this out, I assure you," Parsons said. "I will find the truth and if this girl really does exist then I will take her down as well."

Gibbs was sure that this girl really did exist and he wished he had a way of knowing how to contact her and warn her about Parsons. The least he could do was contact the Commandant of the Marine Corps as he used to be Gibbs's commanding officer.

"Then, that is all," Vance said. "You can't bring up charges on those that are not with us anymore, because we have nothing to do with them, and they have taken their own responsibility. Gibbs is off the hook. Leave him and us alone now."

Parsons stormed out of the room. Gibbs still had an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach as he glanced back down that file of this girl. Was she alive? Was she right there, in Bethesda, or perhaps somewhere else on assignment? A.J. was looking at him strangely and so was Vance.

"Leon, do you mind if I keep this file?" Gibbs asked, holding up the file in front of him. "I want to know what I can about the person that Parsons is accusing me of being."

Vance gave him a hard look and didn't mention what was on his mind. He just sighed and nodded.

"Sure thing, Jethro," Vance said. "Go on and get to work on whatever you are doing."

As he stood up, A.J. took his arm. "I think we need to talk about this, Jethro," he said gently. Gibbs only nodded as he left the room with the file in his hands, still feeling rather uneasy, but resolved that this was the girl he thought it was.


A/N - I had a lot of fun confusing Parsons! I am away for the weekend. I will update again on Monday. Thank you all for reading. Let me know what you think of the mystery girl so far!