A/N: Ok, I know it's been a while between updates on this one. Please be patient. I'm writing as fast as I can. More soon. F.
Tony looked up from his study of the computer log to see an anxious-looking man hovering indecisively near the edge of his desk. He sized him up, noting the absence of a visitor's badge, meaning he was NCIS; judging by his demeanour, Tony mentally pegged him as a clerk.
"Can I help you?" he asked.
Noticeably startled, the stranger stammered "Ah, I was told to report to Agent Gibbs. I'm- I'm Special Agent Keating."
Eyebrows raised, Tony shot a look at Ziva. She looked just as surprised as he did. This guy looked greener than some of the new recruits that came through; and surely they didn't have a replacement for McGee already? He'd only been injured 3 days ago.
"Gibbs is upstairs with the Director. Have a seat." Ziva told him.
As the newcomer moved towards McGee's desk, Tony and Ziva spoke in unison
"Not there."
At Keating's confused look, Tony explained "That's McGee's desk."
"I heard Agent McGee was injured."
"Doesn't matter; that's still McGee's desk" Tony told him.
"I see you've met Agent Keating" Gibbs commented as he entered the bullpen. "He's from Cybercrimes; he'll be filling in for McGee—temporarily." The tone of Gibbs' voice made it perfectly clear how little he relished the addition to his team. He nodded acknowledgement of Keating's tangled greeting before turning his attention to Tony.
"DiNozzo. What've you got?"
"I'm having a little trouble figuring this out, Boss. According to the computer log, only one person accessed the lockup or the computer when the phone call was made, a Lieutenant Michael Francis; but the security camera footage doesn't show anyone anywhere near the lockup at that time."
"Any chance they could have avoided the camera?" Gibbs asked him.
Tony shook his head. "Not a chance, Boss. There's a clear field of view, and the computer is right next to the munitions lockup. It doesn't add up."
"So either the computer log is wrong, or someone figured out how to access the computer from somewhere else." Gibbs contemplated the possibilities for a second. "Keating, help DiNozzo. Ziva, you're with me."
"Yes sir" Keating replied.
Gibbs chucked his empty coffee cup into the trash on his way out of the bull pen.
Keating watched them leave, asking Tony "Where are they going?"
"Probably to question Lieutenant Francis. Can we get on with this?"
"Oh, right. Um, what exactly do you want me to do?"
Tony rolled his eyes in frustration, deciding that 'Temporary replacement' better mean temporary.
...
Gibbs entered the headquarters building at a brisk walk. It had not been a good afternoon; first Keating, then Lieutenant Francis. He and Ziva had questioned the Lieutenant, discovering that he had an alibi for the time the hotline call. He'd sworn he was at the firing range, and he'd had three witnesses to prove it. They'd tracked down the witnesses; all three corroborated the Lieutenant's story. Gibbs had been out on a coffee run when he received Abby's excited phone call, telling him she had a hit on the DNA from the bomb. He stopped by the Caf-Pow dispenser on his way; he figured a DNA match deserved one.
She was watching for him when he entered her lab.
"You got a hit, Abs?" he asked her.
"Correction, Gibbs. I got two hits. Meet Sergeants Mark and Samuel Adams"
...
She could see that the multiple DNA matches had puzzled Gibbs. It had puzzled her too when two files had come up on her screen after AFIS found a match. She hastened to explain.
"They're identical twins, Gibbs."
"They share the same DNA."
"Exactly. Now, Sergeant Mark Adams was dishonourably discharged from the Marines four years ago after he was found guilty of selling drugs on base at Quantico, along with a bunch of other Marines. It was a sting operation, Gibbs. He was sentenced to six years in Leavenworth. Sergeant Samuel Adams was deployed in Iraq at the time, said he knew nothing about his brothers' illegal activities. Mark Adams was killed last month in a brawl at the prison."
"Who ran the sting?" Gibbs asked.
"It was one of ours." Abby confirmed.
"Motive" Gibbs commented. "So how did Sergeant Adams get Lieutenant Francis' password to access the munitions computer? And how did he make a call from the computer without being at the computer?"
Abby shrugged. She didn't have an answer for that one. But it did give her an opening.
"I heard about Keating" she told Gibbs. "He's not really replacing McGee, is he?"
"Temporarily, yeah Abs." Gibbs had that aggravated tone in his voice that told her he didn't like the replacement one bit.
"Permanently, Gibbs?" She had to know the answer. NCIS just wouldn't be the same without her favourite geek, and his replacement had better not be Keating.
"With luck we won't need a permanent replacement. If he passes his physical and firearms tests, he can come back as a field agent."
Incredulous, Abby stared at him for a moment. "Who said that?"
"Vance." Gibbs replied.
"Gibbs! Does Tim know?" She was really excited now; she'd been unable to picture working here without McGee, and now he might be able to come back after all.
"Nope. Haven't had a chance to tell him yet, Abs" he pointed out.
"You gotta tell him! You didn't see him last night, Gibbs." She shivered, remembering the cold, deadened look in McGee's eyes. "It was McGee, but it wasn't... it was like the shell of McGee. He needs this, Gibbs." She glared at the older man.
"I know, Abs."