Spoilers 5x05 "Leap of Faith"
"I don't think Gibbs knows," Tony says quickly, "Not going to hear it from me," Tony is obviously worried.
"Not going to hear what from you?" McGee is confused and Kate can see it.
"Abby may have gotten a job offer," Tony clarifies and Kate shakes her head.
"Ooh," Ziva is now interested.
"Big bucks," Tony says as they
"Allegedly," McGee adds.
"Not allegedly, McGee, Abby really did get a job offer," Kate says not adding that she is sure Abby won't take it.
"Private sector," Tony clarifies.
"Yeah they took her to the Ritz Carlton," Kate says with a smile.
"Are you sure, Abby wasn't just telling you that, maybe she was on a date?" Kate glances at Ziva almost bewildered.
"Abby on a date at the Ritz-Carlton. Strictly business time, Ziva," Kate nods agreeing with the man because that would be the weirdest thing.
"Did she say which business?" Kate can sense the worry in McGee's voice of possibly losing Abby to some big fancy forensics lab.
"No, she didn't want to in case Gibbs heard," the other Agents nod.
"Oh, that's a long way up," Tony says as they glance at the roof.
"Long way down," they nod at Gibbs.
"Okay, so what do you want to do is gain his confidence here, boss. He's been out there for a while. He's obviously having second thoughts," Kate wonders if Tony has any experience with talking people down from wanting to commit suicide, but his advice to Gibbs is pretty solid.
"If he was going to jump he would have already, but it is possible for him to be aggravated enough to decide to jump just be delicate, Gibbs," Kate adds under her breath and Tony turns towards her with a nod.
"Stay," Kate looks around wondering if there was any other way to help this guy other than to talk to him off the ledge because there were so many ways this could end and it would be nice for them to do this safely.
"Get away from me," the man screams.
"Just want to talk," Gibbs says.
"No!" the man is getting more agitated.
"Make it easier if I knew your name. Where you stationed?"
"I said leave me alone!" the scream resonates of the building.
"Boss you know we could snap a picture of him with a cell, e-mail it to Abby, get her to run it through photo-recognition. If he went to the Academy, we get a quick ID," McGee says quickly.
"Do it," orders Gibbs.
"Me?" It is clear that McGee is afraid.
"It's your idea, McGee," Gibbs clarifies.
"Right," Kate can't help the smirk as Tony smirks as well.
"Oh. Uh…boss? I'm not very good with heights," yeah that is a good thing to add.
"Point… point and click." McGee adds handing the phone to Gibbs as he clings to the ladder.
"Don't come any closer! What are you doing?" the man screams.
"Wouldn't give me you name. Want to know who you are," Gibbs clarifies.
"Yeah," Kate tries to remain expressionless as McGee clings to the ladder before coming down to get the phone.
"Whoa! Great view of the Washington Monument from up here!" Kate isn't sure how much that is going to help.
"McGee, he's got a gun," Kate hears Abby's voice say over the phone and Tony signals and the three of them spread out ready to shoot him if he decides to fire on Gibbs. Kate nods to signal she is going to try and climb up without being seen. She grabs the pipe above the door and pulls with all her strength and she gets close enough she grabs the ledge of the structure that forms the entrance onto the roof. Hoping to fire on him from above if needed.
"Boss, he's got a gun," Kate knows Abby has seen it on the new footage.
"Yeah, yeah. I know that, McGee. I see that," Gibbs voice booms over her ear piece.
"Boss, his name is Lieutenant Michael Arnett. Stationed at the Pentagon. Academy Class of '01. He's a linguist, translator. Married, no kids," McGee says into his wrist mic.
"So, Michael? You mind if I call you Michael?" Kate can now hear him say that as she pulls herself up onto the ledge above the entrance onto the roof.
"You can't help," the man seems distraught.
"I can try," Gibbs is doing well at remaining calm.
"Don't," Kate aims her gun ready to fire now that the Lieutenant as pulled out his revolver.
"I do not have a shot. I'll hit Gibbs, too," Ziva says.
"Lean back, boss," Tony says.
"I do, but I don't want to take it," Kate murmurs crouching low ten feet behind Gibbs and the Lieutenant and a few feet up.
"Just ease back," Gibbs signals to Tony and Kate can tell he doesn't want any of the three of them to try and take the shot.
"All right, boss, his wife works at a travel agency on K street. Name's Dana. She's at lunch. Her boss has no idea where she went," McGee adds giving more pertinent information.
"Trying to get a hold of your wife. You want to talk to her?" Kate can tell quickly that is the wrong thing to say.
"No! She left me," why that is, is probably important.
"Yeah. I've been there. That's tough. It's not worth your life," Kate knows he is more talking about Shannon than any of his other wives.
"It's more complicated than that," she is sure it is.
"Tell me," Gibbs says softly
"It's too late," the man says sobbing.
"He's got a sister. Her name's Rachel," Kate prays that will stop him.
"You want to talk to Rachel? How old is she?" Kate can tell that he is getting more nervous as his breath becomes more labored.
"Seventeen," the man lets out a sharp breath.
"Seventeen? What's that make her— a senior in high school? You want Rachel to remember this from her senior year? I don't want to make that call, Mike," Kate gives a satisfied nod that Gibbs is trying to steer the conversation away from the reason this man is on the ledge or at least a reason to get down from it. It is easy to tell that it is affecting the man as he begins to sob a little.
"Um…uh…oh," the man is obviously coming to the realization that this was a bad idea.
"Why don't we start with the gun, huh?" she nods that is a good place to start.
"I really messed up. I should have told someone," it sounds important.
"You can tell me. I'll help you. You can trust me. Put it down," Arnett leans down out of her vision and she can hear the clatter of the gun and she holsters her weapon knowing that there is no imminent danger to Gibbs. She keeps low watching the scene, but she knows she could get down since there is no reason to
"I'll help you. Take it real easy, Gibbs takes a few easy steps towards the troubled man keen on helping him walk off the ledge to safety.
Just as the man grabs for Gibbs hand the gunshot pierces the air and Kate can tell it has hit him square in the chest near the heart. In slow motion Gibbs grabs for his hand and the man starts to fall as the people continue to shout as the man falls to his death.
Kate narrows her eyes as she walks towards the ledge and she can tell right away how undisturbed it is that they aren't going to find anything. She glances back and sees Tony tilting his head obviously following where she is looking. She can clearly see the area where Gibbs and Lieutenant Arnett. She gives McGee and Tony a nod and she spreads out as if she were the sniper and finds that if she is close enough to ledge and leaning down enough no one would see her from this position.
"No wonder we didn't see anything before the shot. I'm guessing tenants didn't notice anything. People see what they want to see. All they saw was someone carrying a none descript duffle bag like they were going to the gym or on a trip," the t
"Though the one thing I can't figure out is why the sniper didn't shoot any of us," Kate's eyes narrow and she remembers her position on the roof top entrance.
"I guess they didn't think it was necessary at least if Arnett dies, his secrets, whatever they were die with him. Besides it would be too messy to shoot one of us, federal agents in all," Kate nods and as she starts to get back up she is surprised when the other Senior Agent offers his hand. She takes it and she is glad that this isn't a gravel roof like some of the other buildings in the area.
"They had a clear shot at me they could… have easily shot me, Tony," Kate tries to fight her fear as she says this and she is surprised when Tony gives her an understanding and warm smile.
"Shot defiantly came from the building across from the hotel," Tony says as they approach Gibbs.
"Clear line of sight and perfect to shoot from where the suspect couldn't be seen," Kate adds as she joins Tony and McGee as the walk with Gibbs back to the truck.
"Door to the rooftop was picked. No shell casings, no prints, nothing. Several people in the building heard the shot. Witnesses on the ground saw the flash," McGee adds.
"Guy's going to kill himself. When he doesn't, does it for him. Why?" Tony asks.
"He wasn't going to kill himself, Tony," Kate watches as Tony turns to her and she can tell he is question why she think this. She is profiler for god's sake; she knows if the man had jumped he would have done it long before they got there.
"Arnett's apartment," the man orders.
"Color back now that you're on terra firma there, probalicious?" Kate chuckles.
"Hey, I would have done it…" she raises her eyebrow not believing him one bit.
"Only… uh, you didn't. Did you see Kate climb up there without being told to?" he asks.
"I think he is more afraid of heights than you are," Ziva adds and Kate has to congratulate her on her good to honest dig at Tony.
"Please. I rock-climbed," once, Kate adds mentally in her head.
"20 feet with a harness, to impress a girl," Kate chuckles Ziva's jab is so true.
"Well, it worked," Kate can hear the sadness in his voice and she can tell that he misses being Tony DiNardo and trying to impress Jeanne Benoit.
"You were inside on a wall, Tony it is nothing like the real thing," she says looking over shoulder at him.
"There is absolutely no evidence that a woman lived here," she sees Tony glancing around and there is really nothing in the apartment. No paintings, no vases, no hand sewn blankets, nothing, it is depressing really.
"Manager said she moved out a week ago," Kate says.
"Gibbs was right. In a divorce the guy gets screwed. She left him diddly-squat," Tony says and Kate rolls her eyes.
"Maybe she had a good reason to leave him," Ziva says and Kate is sure that is true.
"Poor guy's sleeping on a blow-up bed," Kate chuckles as Tony comes out of the bedroom.
"I've seen worse, I had a girlfriend who left her husband with nothing, but his clothes. Most women do," Kate adds as she walks into the bathroom.
"Good marriage needs good communication," she hears Ziva say from the other room as Tony joins her in the bathroom.
"Here's another reason he'd wanted to end it all: Rejuvinator. Arnett was losing his hair," he shows her the small stopper bottle.
"Maybe he didn't talk to her anymore," Kate can tell she is saying that to either one of them, which everyone would answer her.
"He was younger than I am," Kate chuckles Tony has such vanity issues as he checks his hairline.
"You are starting to bald Tony," Kate adds from behind him catching a glimpse of the two of them in the mirror. The man looks horrified and rechecks his hairline.
"Or didn't listen. After a certain point men stop being interested in what you have to say," this makes Ziva laugh as she exits the bathroom.
"Aha! She did leave him something," Kate look incredulously at the toothbrush Tony is holding up to show the two of them.
"It is a toothbrush, Tony it could easily be his." Kate adds.
"It's a pink toothbrush, Kate," he is right.
"Confucius say, 'Life's many pleasures await you'," Tony turns to look at Kate, but he catches the incredulous look out of the corner of his eye that Ziva gives him.
"What'd yours say?" Abby asks glancing at McGee.
"Uh… 'As you approach life's crossroads, look both ways'," safety that is funny.
"I'm sure it's meaningful. Just think about it and search your inner self," Tony is sure it does have great meaning.
"Lisa Nerlman, Hypnotherapist. What is this for?" McGee questions reading a business card.
"She does wonder with phobias," Tony is sure she does.
"Tony, who else did you tell?" he looks up and feigns innocence.
"I told you it was a very sensitive subject, Abby," this earns a smile from Kate.
"Kate?" the woman gives a bright smile to her friend and Tony loves the fact that they are so different, but are really close.
"Good Luck bestows upon you. You will get what your heart desires," Kate sounds unconvinced, but sets it down with a shrug.
"Wow, Kate meet any hot guys lately?" this produces laughter from the older brunette.
"No, but at least I didn't make mine creepy," this produces an eyebrow raise from the scientist as she turns to look at him.
"Your turn," Abby walks over to Ziva's desk.
"I refuse to make decisions base on stupid sayings stuffed inside stale cookies," Ziva says throwing the cookie to Abby.
"Welcome an invitation to change your financial future. Got to go," Tony is surprised when Abby doesn't show any indication that it is pretty close to being told to take the job.
"That was incredible. It was fate that Abby opened that cookie. She's good. She didn't blink an eye," Tony notices Kate nod, but also give him a look that scream 'really?'
"That's why I don't play poker with her," Tony completely agrees.
"No tell. Uh, he was sleeping on an air mattress, boss," Tony quickly walks back to his desk as if he hadn't walked over towards Ziva's.
"The wife?" Gibbs questions.
"Staying at the Lafayette Court Hotel. She's coming in at 5:00. Wants to talk to Arnett's parent first," Kate says.
"Would have bet we'd find a suicide note. No luck," Tony says.
"Ah, that'd be too easy," Gibbs adds.
"If he had one he would have had it with him. I took his computer down to Abby. Maybe she will get lucky and find something," Kate adds.
"He's second-generation American. Grandparents immigrated from Syria. His fluency in Arabic led to his advancement and special assignments in the Middle East. Presently assigned to the Office of the Deputy Secretary of Defense for Combating Terrorism. Other than that, I can't tell you much. I'm getting stonewalled by the Pentagon. They won't even connect me to his CO," McGee lets out.
"I tried as well, Gibbs, nothing," the man nods taking in Kate's words as he goes to the phone.
"Yeah? Gibbs," Tony eyes Gibbs curiously as he sits down at his desk answering the phone and checking his computer screen.
"Yep, on my way. Let's go, McGee, Kate. You're with me," Tony glances at her as she and McGee quickly follow Gibbs out of the squad room. They are gone for a while obviously talking it over with the Office of Defense for Combating Terrorism.
"Todd," Tony looks up at her as she picks up the phone.
"Okay. We'll be right there. Thank you. Arnett's wife is here," she hangs up the phone and adds the other part to Ziva across the squad room.
Tony can't help the lost look that fills his face as he thinks about Abby leaving as he crouches next to Kate's desk, "I can't believe Abby would think leave without saying anything."
"It's not for sure, Tony." Tony gives her a smile thanking her for her confidence.
"I just can't believe she didn't tell me. I mean I've known her for a long time, you know," Tony can't help, but be sad.
"Arnett's wife is here," Ziva adds cutting off his thought from across the room to tell Gibbs.
"She is being brought up the conference room," Kate adds and Tony looks at her with a worried expression and she signals for him to go back to his desk. He does so reluctantly.
"Boss, I got an address for Dr. Neil Flemming. Prescribed Arnett the medication. He's not military. Has a private practice in Georgetown. Guy gets free medical care from the navy, goes to a shrink who probably charged 350 an hour," shrinks seem to be making a lot of money these days.
"I'll check him out," McGee asserts.
"With him, DiNozzo," Gibbs orders.
"With him boss," Tony says scurrying towards his desk to grab his pack.
"Our marriage was doomed from the start. The Navy took advantage of Michael's language skills. They assigned and reassigned him to dangerous posts in the Middle East. The few times he was home he was uptight. He wouldn't want to talk about what he did. I became more and more frustrated,"
"Did you discuss it with him?" Ziva asks.
"We tried marriage counseling. I didn't help. Michael couldn't open up," this woman obviously is conflicted for some reason.
"Did you know he was seeing a psychiatrist?" Ziva asks.
"no. I, uh…I wanted him to get help…I…I didn't think he would," she seems very surprised by this.
"Did you know he was on an anti-depressant?" Kate isn't surprised when the woman shakes her head.
"It was your idea to separate," typical Gibbs always going for the weak spot.
"I thought it would force him to face our problems. It was a mistake," Kate would have to agree.
"Where did you meet?" Kate can see the warmth in Ziva's expression and she knows the woman wants to find love no matter how much she doesn't want to admit it.
"The National Gallery. An exhibit of Mesopotamian art. I was standing admiring a sculpture, and Michael was behind me. He began explaining the piece to me. He brought it to life. He was the most intelligent man I'd ever met. And he made me laugh," Ziva and Kate share a look and they both giving a warm chuckle to the woman.
"I haven't seen him laugh in a long time," Kate feels bad for her especially since she had to watch him feel depressed.
"You're not surprised he was suicidal," Kate asks looking quickly at Gibbs and she can tell that he was thinking the same thing.
"What does surprise me is that he was murdered. Why, Agent Gibbs? Why?" Gibbs just gives her a sorrowed look, one that promised the woman that he would find out who did this.
Tony leans in to knock all the while listening in for any sound when McGee says, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, no, no, no. Don't do that."
"Do what?" he asks looking at the door.
"The doctor might be in with a patient, Tony," he is surprised by this.
"That tells him someone's here?" Tony quickly flicks the switch back and forth furiously.
"You ever been to a therapist before?" why would he?
"Me? No. You?" Tony asks picking up a magazine off the side table as he takes a seat on a green couch. The title reads hunting enthusiast.
"Yeah, once, when I was young," that doesn't surprise him.
"For you acrophobia?" though he wouldn't be surprised if McGee went for other reasons.
"You're blowing that all out of proportion, Tony," sure he is, but he had seen McGee up on that ladder.
"Well, you showed a pathological fear of heights earlier today," and it was hilarious.
"I was staring down ten stories. Getting a little disoriented, it's a little understandable," disoriented would be putting lightly.
"Disoriented? You had your panties in a twist. Tears in your eyes. Oh, wait. I couldn't see you eyes 'cause they were shut so tight. You were hysterical like a little girl," one who has had a really bad nightmare, this thought makes Tony laugh to himself.
"I was not," Tony thinks McGee totally was
"You were hugging the ladder. Ladder-hugger. And I got photographic evidence. Let technology show you the truth," he pulls his phone
"My eyes are not closed. I was blinking," McGee stares long and hard at the video.
"Oh. Oh, is that… is that what you're doing? Let's let the people decide," he presses a few more buttons.
"You're not gonna post that on YouTube," Tony can't help, but smirk.
"I might," he adds with eyebrows raised.
"You, give me that thing or I'm gonna… Hey, hey," Tony leans away as McGee tries to grab for the phone.
"What are you gonna do? Yeah!"Tony is having so much fun.
"Slap you silly!" Tony tries to hold in the laughter.
"You're not getting it," that is so true.
"Hey, hey," Tony looks over as does McGee.
"Hey. You two have deeper issues than you discussed on the phone," the man says and he is confused and so is McGee.
"On the phone?" McGee asks.
"Aren't you the couple who called about marriage counseling?" Tony is a little appalled by this, but he knows he is going to have fun with this.
"Couple? Us? No, No," McGee adds quickly.
Tony decides to pull one on McGee, "It's okay, Timmy. Timmy, we're in a safe place. We can be ourselves here."
"I…" watching McGee stumbling on his words is so worth it.
"We just got back from Vermont, pretty this time of year," he adds with a smile.
"Sorry. NCIS. Special Agent McGee, DiNozzo," he gives the man a bright smile.
"Very special agents," he adds trying to indicate that they are together.
"I've been seeing patients all day. I didn't hear about Michael," the man says this now as they sit on the couch.
"Why was he needing your help?" Tony asks now back in case mode.
"I can't discuss that," Tony can tell this man is being difficult.
"Doctor, we're investigation his murder. His job at the Pentagon makes it a matter of national security," McGee adds getting defensively.
"Mmm. Well, I'm bound by ethics and HIPPA laws," of course the man is going to say that he is bound by being a doctor.
"That ended with his death," Tony is getting annoyed
"Not for me," the doctor adds.
"Well, can you at least explain to us why a naval officer, with free medical care, would come to a civilian doctor?" McGee asks now changing the subject.
"I have several patients in the military whose psychological problems, if known, would jeopardize their careers. I can tell you this. The last time I saw Michael Arnett, he was depressed... not suicidal. Now without a court order, that's all I'm saying" the man adds signaling them to the door.
"It's a start-up bioengineering firm. $200,000 a year, stock options and a car," the old rumor mill is flying once again as Tony takes the elevator up to the squad room with Kate and Ziva.
"A car. What kind of car would Abby lease? Another hearse?" Tony asks looking perplexed.
"I'm wondering what Abby would do with stock options," Kate adds chuckling.
"Guys, this is Nikki Jardine. She's an intel analyst who had contact with Arnett. She's going to be working with us. Yes, I am still on hold," McGee says barely looking up from where he is on the phone as Tony sets his gun and badge down on the desk.
"Hi. I'm Ziva David, I've seen you around," Tony peels off his coat as Ziva heads towards the fellow NCIS employee. Tony notices Kate also making her way to her desk and preparing for the start of a new workday.
"I'm sorry, I don't shake hands," Tony can't help the smile that fills his face
"I guess a hug's out of the question. Anthony DiNozzo," he offers his fist to her and she bumps it hesitantly.
"Excuse him," Tony glances towards Kate who has joined them at Nikki, "He needs a lobotomy," she emphasizes this by sending a sharp elbow jab to his ribs which leaves him almost breathless before giving Nikki a wave. "Caitlin Todd, I prefer Kate." Tony cringes and walks away. Kate Todd really does know how to pack a punch and honestly he loves it.
"McGee?"Gibbs asks.
"Boss, can't find a judge to sign the warrant. No one wants to violate the patient-client privilege," Tony is unsurprised.
"Um, I know we started off on the wrong foot last night, and I just want…" Jardine is not going to get Gibbs to like her especially after she shown so much weird behavior already.
"Got something?" Gibbs asks not looking at her.
"I spoke with a cryptanalyst at the Pentagon. Lieutenant Arnett returned from the Middle East two weeks ago. He passed through the NCIS field off in Djibouti, with your permission I'd like to contact the special agent in charge there," Nikki says.
"Where are you going, Jardine?" Gibbs question.
"To my office to make the call," Tony watches as Gibbs motions for Jardine to head to the empty desk on the other side of the partition from McGee's.
"We have back-grounded Lieutenant Arnett's family," Tony says returning to work.
"Arnett's grandparents lived the American dream, boss. Came to this country as teenagers. Opened a small appliance shop in the '60s," Tony glance over and notices Jardine cleaning the phone on the desk vigorously as Ziva says this.
"Which evolved into a chain of electronic stores," he adds still staring at the woman.
"19, to be exact. The company grossed over $250 million last year," Kate adds and Tony gives a creeped out look to the rest of the team as she and Ziva get up looking at the intelligence analyst who is obviously a germaphobe.
"We're talking big family money. If there's a prenup, the soon-to-be ex-wife, stand to lose a fortune. Think Black Widow, Theresa Russell film of the same name," Tony gives a satisfied expression at his quick witted movie reference.
"Right, Tony. Dana Arnett, travel agent, is a hell of a shot with a sniper rifle," Kate and Ziva both send him an unconvinced look as the older brunette says this.
"Could've hired a hit man," all four of the other team members look unconvinced, but Gibbs nods.
"Get her in here again," Gibbs orders to Kate.
Dipping his finger into his water bottle he advances on the analyst and pretends to sneeze. "I'm sorry. I have allergies," he gives a satisfied smile when she look sufficiently freaked out.
Author's Note: The next section of the episode was originally between Tony and Ziva, but I changed it to be Kate and Tony.
"So what do you think of Nikki?" Kate asks as they head towards the stairs to go to the conference room.
"She is a good looking woman, weird though," this earns an incredulously look from the woman as Kate turns back towards him.
"So you admit she is pretty, typical Tony, always the horn dog," if there is anyone who is making him horny it is her.
"Bizarre trumps pretty," Tony doesn't let on that he hasn't really thought about another woman other than her and that includes Ziva and even Jardine.
"But you would sleep with her?" Tony doesn't know why he is surprised, but that is Kate always blunt.
"How in a hazmat suit? That is not right," this actually makes her laugh.
"You two could make a good couple," Tony's eyes widen, that is a creepy thought.
"You guys have something in common," him and Jardine having something in common would scare the shit out of him.
"What?" He is interested what is going on in the profiler head of hers.
"Fear. She is afraid of germs and physical contact. And you, DiNozzo are afraid of commitment. And you both are afraid of Gibbs. Yours may be a little less justified, but you and I both know it is because you are afraid of disappointing daddy and being on the receiving end of his head slaps," that is mean, but at the same time funny.
"For the record, Kate, I'm not afraid of Gibbs and I don't think he is my daddy," her incredulous look makes him wonder if she ever believes anything he says.
"Could have fooled me," she quickly adds before Tony opens the door.
"Thank you, Mrs. Arnett, for coming back in," Kate says overly politely.
"You have news?" the shot haired blonde woman asks.
"Sorry. We don't have anything as of late," Kate says.
"So why am I here?" the woman is obviously annoyed.
"This won't take long," Tony notices Kate giving the woman a reassuring smile.
"We just need some clarification regarding something," he says finally joining the conversation.
"The circumstances under which you got married," Tony takes a drink of water and the woman looks between the two of them trying to decipher what he is trying to find out.
"What does that mean?" the woman is obviously angry now.
"Your husband's family is worth a lot of money. You didn't by any chance sign a prenup, did you?" Tony can feel the shocked look on Kate's face.
"My husband attempted to take his own life and then was murdered. He hasn't even been dead 48 hours and you have the nerve to stand here and ask me how much money I may or may not get? Michael's parents are arriving and I have a funeral to arrange. Do I need someone to escort me out of the building?" The woman looks at Tony in horror before turning back to look at them.
"I will escort you, Mrs. Arnett," Tony waits on the edge of the conference table for Kate and the widow to leave.
"That's great, Tony, insult a grieving widow. I thought you were better than that," the end is what basically sticks a knife is heart.
"Black Widow. Guilty. When there's money involved it's always the spouse," he turns to look back at her and she leaves in a huff.
"Mid-Eastern ancestry. Arab- Speaking. Naval Academy graduate. Intelligence officer in the Pentagon. He is the perfect deep cover mole. Sort of an Arab version of Kevin Costner in No Way Out," Nikki says glancing between all of them.
"A movie buff. One more thing you two have in common," Tony can't help the cringe that brings to his face as the woman he loves leans on his desk.
"Arnett's juggling two lives. Thing are closing in on him. He's stressed to the max. On antidepressants, a liability to his al Qaeda handlers. When he doesn't jump, they terminate him before he can expose their cell," that sounds pretty good.
"Nah, I still like the wife. Had him killed for the money. There is a prenup. If he dies before they get divorced, she gets the big check. If he died after, she gets zip," it is always the wife they have to learn.
"It also sounds too messy to shoot the man when there were a dozen cameras watching and five agents on the roof," Tony has to agree with Kate on that.
"Yeah, why the suicide attempt, DiNozzo?"Gibbs asks.
"I'm still working on that part, boss," he adds quickly trying to not anger the boss.
"We know why he was suicidal," Abby says as she and Ducky swoop in.
"Abby found Timolol in Lieutenant Arnett's blood. It's used to treat glaucoma," what is glaucoma again, Tony wonders.
"He didn't have glaucoma," Ducky sounds very sure.
"So why'd he take it?" Gibbs asks.
"Well, that's the best part. He didn't know he was. Someone substituted timolol for his contact lens solution. His lenses were soaking in it all night," that sounds like it should sting.
"It's the equivalent of wearing nicotine patches on his eyes. I mean, the level of the drug was 20 times the recommended dosage," wow scary.
"I still haven't head why he was suicidal," Gibbs grumbles out.
"Because the combination of the eye medication and the antidepressant he was taking has a serious side effect: severe clinical depression," Abby says emphasizing the main point.
"Well, I think you're overlooking an obvious character," that is the word McGee is going to use.
"Character? This isn't one of your novels, Mr. Gemcity. " Tony says with a satisfied smile.
"Dr. Fleming has anti-government leanings. He prescribed the antidepressants and would know the combined drugs side effects. If Arnett discussed classified information during their sessions, Fleming could have passed the intel on. There's your spy," McGee is triumphant.
"Oh, yes, Probie, but the wife had access to the contact lenses," he says with a finger pointed McGee's way.
"That does not prove anything. McGee found a bottle of lens solution in Arnett's Pentagon office desk," Ziva adds and damn she is right.
"Your-Your Point?" he questions.
"Captain Walsh had access to his desk and, as Arnett's CO, knowledge of his intel," Kate adds and Tony is once again surprised when the woman agrees with Mossad officer.
"That's point's the weakest point of all," he says looking between the two women.
"It makes sense, Tony, you should have seen how forceful he was with us about information and then he didn't give us anything," Kate says and after that he doesn't really hear anything or remembers what he is saying because they are all talking at once.
Gibbs whistles and says "Break up the dog pile. This is a murder investigation. And I am hearing a lot of theories and not much else. Get on it!"
"You have any luck?" Ziva asks Nikki.
"Might be something. The summer before his junior year in high school, he spent two months in Damascus with relatives. I'm trying to ascertain their politics," Nikki says with a nod.
"Entrapped the Black Widow yet?" Kate lobs her comment his way.
"Minor setback. I thought since Dana Arnett was married to a guy with top-secret clearance, she would have been vetted," he says glancing at his screen.
"Let me guess. She's squeaky clean," Ziva says.
"Well, I don't know because she was never check out. If he'd married some foreigner, then, you know, obviously, she would have been subjected to a vigorous background check, but she was born in Kansas," you would think since he worked in the Pentagon they would have at least looked into her.
"We are having the same problem McGee has with Captain Walsh. The Pentagon is rock-walling me," this makes Tony laugh.
"Sorry, she means stone walling," Kate adds with a chuckle leaning back in her chair as Nikki looks on confused.
"It is a little quirk she has," Tony adds with a smile.
"I guess everyone has their little quirks, even me," Jardine glances between all three of them with an uneasy smile.
"I hadn't noticed," Ziva throws a watted up piece of paper at him and Kate gives him a death glare followed by an eye roll.
"No. I did. I got seniority," he says as he enter Abby's lab.
"Yes, but I…" Nikki trails off.
Abby whistles for their attention, "Back off! All of you, okay? I am one person!"
"Whoa. Easy, Abbs," Gibbs says.
"No! It's late. I am tired, I am overworked, and I am taken for granted!" Tony is appalled that she thinks that.
"Maybe you should accept that job offer," Gibbs says this and he is sure they are all shocked.
Tony's eyes widen and then he gets the shock of his life when Abby head slaps him.
"I can't believe you'd say that to me, Gibbs. How could you think that I would be leaving? 'Cause I got a little mad? So what? We're family. That's allowed. I get three or four job offers every year. I've never considered any of them," Abby really is loyal.
"Then why'd you have dinner with that headhunter?" Gibbs questions.
"Have you ever had the Beluga caviar at the Ritz-Carlton?" she asks the room.
"Oh, god, yeah," Tony eyes Nikki surprised, shouldn't fish eggs make her grossed out.
"And besides, it was nice to feel wanted. Now get out of here, all of you. I have work to do," she orders.
He is surprised when Gibbs head slaps him, "Oh! What was that for?"
"Spreading rumors," fair enough.
"Thank you, boss," he says with a smile.
"DiNozzo! Get back in here!" he look worried as he hears this when he is now in the elevator.
"Anyone want to come with me?" he asks worried and is surprised when McGee forces him out of the elevator.
"Kate and I are meeting Captain Walsh's former executive officer at Naval Amphibious Base at Little Creek tomorrow," Ziva says and Kate gives a smile and she nods.
"He is willing to talk to us, off the record, but not here," Kate adds glancing between Gibbs and Ziva.
"You losers might want to follow me. Boss, need you in MTAC. Clearly, you're not a one of the losers. My hunch paid off. Figured the Black Widow might have a felony record. Abby just got a DNA match from Interpol," Kate growls at the fact that Tony calls her a loser.
"Her real name is Najida Mamud, an agent of the Syrian Mukhabarat. A gifted linguist, she was educated in England, and secretly trained in weaponry, martial arts and covert operations," Kate stares at the Interpol agent before glancing at the pictures that have been revealed to them.
"Ziva, she is you or she's you, Kate, more Kate because you pretended to be an arms dealer," she gives him a glare, but it is kind of true.
"Najida Mamud was in an al Qaeda camp in Sudan until we lost track of her three years ago. We thought she was in Pakistan," their Interpol contact adds.
"She was obviously smuggled into the US and deep-backstopped with impeccable American ID," Tony adds and Kate notices his satisfied look.
"Homeland Security's worst fear," McGee adds and she has to agree.
"And ours. Let me know if you apprehend her," the Interpol agent adds before the MTAC screen returns to its colored bars.
"Lieutenant Arnett didn't casually meet his wife at a museum; she set him up, just like Kathleen Turner set up William Hurt in Body Heat," Kate rolls her eyes at his reference, but it is a good one.
"Lieutenant Arnett wasn't the mole," Ziva adds.
"He was married to the mole," Gibbs says walking towards the exit.
"How did she know he was going to jump off a building?" McGee asks as they hurry down the stairs.
"She didn't, she was drugging him, she was making sure everyone believed he was depressed," Kate says as they all quickly get close to bottom of the stairs.
"So when she killed him— overdosed, slit his wrists, whatever, it would appear to be suicide," Tony adds to her thought.
"He must have realized he was the source of the leak that got his operative killed," McGee asserts.
"Reason enough to jump?" Jardine questions.
"Guess when we got involved she had no choice. Had to take him out. Boss, I'm going to put out a BOLO, notify Homeland Security," McGee says hurrying to her desk.
"I will call the hotel, see if she's there," Ziva adds picking up her phone.
"I'll call Arnett's parents see if she is still trying to keep her cover," Kate says picking up the phone at her desk. The phone rings and rings and she quickly puts it down and grabs her pack.
"I'm getting the car, boss," Tony yells over his shoulder as he heads for the elevator.
"What can I do?" Nikki asks as she waits for the phone to be picked up.
"Assignment's over. You can get me that phone number," Gibbs asserts.
"Dana Arnett notified the front desk that she is checking out," she quickly hangs up the phone and glances at Ziva when she says this.
"She left the lobby less than a minute ago," Ziva yells as all five of them get out of the car.
"DiNozzo, McGee, start at the top work your way down," Gibbs yells and she and Ziva follow them.
"Federal agents. Keep moving," Gibbs yells to the driver.
"Boss!" Kate follows Gibbs gaze and looks in horror at the fact that Tony is hanging off the ledge a few stories above.
"Pull the fire alarm, David!" the man asserts.
"McGee, level seven! Todd with me!" Gibbs yells as they begin to run towards the car to stop the suspect who is trying to drive away. She gets in and pulls her Sig from holster ready to get out and shoot the woman.
She gets out of the car just a Gibbs rolls it to a stop and advances towards the woman getting out of the car.
The woman tries to turn as she pulls her gun, but Kate gives a smile when Ziva appears.
"Give me an excuse, huh?" the Officer orders.
"Me too. You may have shot your husband from across the street, but I can guarantee I am a better shot," Kate spats at the woman.
"Where's Gibbs?" Abby asks appearing with black roses.
"Uh. I don't know," McGee asks as he turns away from Tony who has planted himself at the partition near Ziva's desk.
"Is that what you get for turning down the job offer?" Ziva asks with a smile.
"No. For solving the case," Abby replies.
"I believe those are for me then, because I solved the case," Tony says with a smile.
"You wish, DiNozzo," Tony glances over at Kate who is sitting on the edge of Ziva's desk.
"But Abby ran the photo-recognition that ID'd Lieutenant Arnett," McGee adds.
"I risked my life hanging off a wall," he clarifies even though it doesn't seem to be helping his case any.
"She discovered the drug interaction that made Arnett suicidal," Ziva adds.
"I suggested we run the wife's DNA," Tony says trying to strength his case.
"Against a national database of felons. Dead end," McGee says with a smirk.
"Abby went through extra work and compared it to the Interpol database because her instincts are better than yours," Kate adds quickly beating McGee to the punch and Tony frowns because all four of them are against him. She gives Abby a playful nudge to the shoulder with her own shoulder and Abby wraps an arm around the shorter woman.
"I don't believe this," he expresses his previous thought.
"He still loves me," Abby says and Tony notices the smile Kate gives.
"Give it up, Tony," McGee adds before walking away.
"She will always be the favorite, Tony," Tony glances at Ziva and she smiles and then at Kate who shrugs knowingly.
"I still love you," Tony gives Abby a smile accepting the rose and batting his eyes at black haired girl.
"Back to work," Abby says before leaving and both Ziva and Kate laugh.
"I never thought Tony would love a flower so much," Kate says before walking back to her desk. He thinks about leaving it on her desk later, but it is black rose and to anyone who isn't Abby, knows they are for mourning and he thinks leaving the flower on her desk would be to obvious. Besides he doesn't want Gibbs or the team to know how he feels for her just yet. The woman also deserves more unique flowers or at least two dozen red roses something that screams romance, passion, and never-ending love. Tony then remembers the flowers he bought for her after the Newell case which ended up biting him in the ass when Gibbs told Kate he had picked through her purse and looked the number of the florist up in her PDA. He smiles at the memory especially the death glare that had set on the woman's face at hearing he had riled through her stuff once again.
One more filler chapter in the form of the 100th episode before we get to a big chapter that will most definitely show Tony and Kate moving towards being more than just partners! I have the major chapter almost finished and since four or five or finished after that the updates should come pretty regularly as soon as I finish the chapter!
