Gibbs watched silently and subtly as Tony strolled happily into the bull pen and felt himself holding his breath in apprehension for the first time in many, many years. He had shooed Stan away from his second's desk and planked him at a spare station but he'd not had the chance to forewarn Tony about his presence. It was pretty early even for him and especially for the kid, but strolling in he was. Smiling happily at Gibbs as he spotted him, Tony opened his mouth in greeting, glad he'd gotten in before the rest of the team. It would just give him a chance to slip back into his regular rhythm with the boss-man. His face dropped openly when he clocked Stan swinging side to side at an abandoned station but he recovered quickly. He stopped short and stared for a moment before seeming to win an internal battle with himself. Gibbs watched as he strode right by him and came to a sharp landing in front of Stan who looked up and smiled widely.

"Stan, I'd like to apologise. I acted like a complete idiot. It won't happen again." He held out his hand and rising, the talented actor in Stan came forth to grasp and shake warmly. "Not at all Tony," he deflected with an air of almost brotherly affection, "We all act a little odd now and again. Especially if you're staring at the orange on these walls for ten or more hours a day. It's entirely forgotten about. I'd be delighted to start all over again, maybe even have a beer tonight or something?" Tony stared into the warm, open face and felt another stab of idiocy course through him. the guy, in the bright light of day, seemed like a solid dude. Someone he could even be friends with if he didn't act like a serial killer in the making. Swallowing, he felt a natural smile cross his face in thanks and releasing Stan's hand with a polite nod, turned and walked towards his own desk. As he threw himself down the proud look that has crossed Gibbs' face and the quiet "nicely done, DiNozzo," as he'd passed truly registered and he smiled broadly.

Today was going to be a good day. He could feel it.

Smiling meaningfully at Gibbs as he inclined his head in approval, Stan went back to swinging side to side. He couldn't quite believe how dense DiNozzo was, but he was extremely grateful for the fact. He would be even easier to manipulate now. It would be a cakewalk. He'd managed to sweet talk his way into the office this morning which was the biggest obstacle to today's task. Infiltration. Gibbs had been reluctant at first and he'd correctly guessed it was due to him being careful not to ruffle his oaf's feathers. But a little hint here and a little nudge there about the urge to drink being the strongest when he was alone had seen him settling into Gibbs' passenger side with a stern warning to adhere to anything he or Tony decreed. It had been to swallow the pill of superiority that DiNozzo possessed, but he'd nodded his head like a choir boy and promised to be ever so docile.

And he would be, because it was a necessary evil.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Gibbs nodded to McGee and Ziva as they entered and set about the day's delegations. He worded himself carefully in issuing orders so he didn't give the appearance of the team being behind due to Tony's absconding, but they were and the senior field agent knew it. Stan managed to catch one his guilty looks as he shuffled in his chair and he gobbled it up like a hog at a trough. By the time he was through with him, that ignoramus was going to look a hell of a lot worse for wear. Jealously burned in Stan as he watched Gibbs and Tony bounce ideas off each other. There was a natural chemistry there, something he knew deep down he and the man had never had. He had worked like a horse to get Gibbs to a place where he could remember his name. But it was clear that this…this Tony never had such a problem. They gelled. It was so obvious it made his inside glaze over with tiny crystals of venomous envy.

He smiled grimly in satisfaction. He would soon put all manner of spokes in their wheelhouse. For Gibbs' sake, of course. He deserved so much better and he, he was the better. "Alright. Move it." The dismissal order was clear but Stan had been so lost in his trance he didn't know where he fit into the day's plans. "Burley," Gibbs snapped, "You with the program or not? You're with McGee and DiNozzo. You wanted to get more experience of field work, here's a tip. Move your damned ass when I tell you to!"

Stan sprang into action.

He was by Tim and Tony's side in record time, looking suitably abashed. As the trio walked from the office building, he gave a long suffering sigh. "I forgot how much of a hard ass Gibbs is to work for. I guess you two are going to have bring me back into touch gently." He laughed as Tony rolled his eyes good naturedly, making a concerted effort to make up for his momentous lack in judgement. "There is no gentle on this team Stan. You'd better open up your memory book and revise quick, otherwise he's gonna eat you alive. Isn't that right, Probie?" Tim snorted as he nodded vigorously. "Yeah, study up Stan; he's still as impatient as ever. You don't want to go into a job interview showing signs of concussion cos' he's slapped you into the next time zone."

Burley groaned.

"Headslaps? He's still going with them?"

Tony and Tim exchanged meaningful looks before bursting into laughter.

"You'll see," they chorused in tandem. By the time the three reached the MCRT van, there was an ease and comfort between them. With Stan's history as Gibbs' second and Tony and Tim's present as his right and left hands, a certain comrardary was born. The more and more time spent with him, the more and more Tony felt any residual reservations slip away. He knew now he'd just been silly, jealous and petty. It was good of Stan not to make a big thing of it and he was more than willing to play ball when it was being so graciously kicked his way. It wasn't long before the three were on seen and Tony was divvying up tasks. It took everything Stan had to take orders from a galloping buffoon like Anthony DiNozzo, but he did so with a kick in his step. It was all part of the bigger picture. It was only on Gibbs' authority that he was allowed in the field at all and he knew it was a tenuous hold. Any fracas and he would be sidelined. His plan orbited around being at the hub, not the bleachers. He had to play it cool. He planned to wait for the perfect blip and seize it. He didn't know what it was, but he knew it would come.

An opportunity would present itself, he just knew it would.

After fifteen minutes of talking aimlessly to disinterested bystanders about the comings and goings of the office building he was stationed outside, he grew weary. He didn't really see how canvassing the place their vic had worked for a few measly months was going to help, but he wisely kept that to himself. Jotting down notes of no use from his tenth bystander, he decided that was more than enough and decided to source a new task. He recalled dumb and dumber saying they were going to scout out the dead guy's old office on the fifth floor and set course in that direction. Breezing through the corridors and up the elevators his heart was light and his mind whirring. Tedious as it was, this stupid field assignment brought back the memories he had clung to so desperately. He and Gibbs, years ago, before anyone even knew or cared that Anthony DiNozzo existed.

He heard heated voices.

That answered the question of which office the two stooges were in and he followed the angry vocals down the hall and to the right. Inching into the open office, he moved to stand beside Tony who barely looked at him as he argued with an officious looking pen pusher, who looked equally aggrieved. "Listen," the senior field agent ground out, "What you are holding could be invaluable evidence in our investigation. You said yourself you don't need it, or even know what it is. But I know that our victim had a collection of engraved USB's just like that one. It could contain vital information. It is clearly not your property, and since our victim is a dead Sailor….we have jurisdiction over his effects. So, if you could effectively hand over his effects, we would be just thrilled. Right, Probie? Stan?" Two heads nodded in tandem, Tim, intent on progressing the investigation, Stan…seeing an opening.

"It is simply not possible," the angry man clipped out. "I may not know nor want what is on this USB, but it could possibly contain confidential and sensitive company information. I cannot simply hand it over. Get a warrant and you can have all the engraved USB's you want. Until then, we have business to conduct and I would appreciate it if you were to take your leave. I will not be giving you this USB and if you attempt to interfere with it unlawfully, I will ensure our legal department drags your agency through the thickest of mud. As well as you personally, Agent DiNozzo. Now, get out." With that, he promptly snapped the USB down on the polished desk and sat with a huff, quickly engrossed in whatever spreadsheet was flickering in front of him.

Tony glared with uncharacteristic heat before shaking his head and storming from the room.

Tim quickly followed suit.

Stan dawdled for the briefest of moments, so brief Tony and Tim didn't even notice it when he reappeared at their side, nodding vigorously at their heated diatribe. The cold metal of the carefully removed USB lay comfortably in his pocket as a small, discreet smile played about his lips. It was amazing what a small distraction and skilful slight of hand could produce. Tony was still ranting as he screeched the MCRT van from the lot and set course for the Navy Yard. When they piled out some thirty minutes later he was lost in a Sean Connery impression, requested by Stan. Tim, having heard it many times before left them at it with a roll of his eyes. As he gesticulated wildly, Tony didn't feel the skilful transition of the USB from Stan's pocket to his own. He had absolutely no idea. And that was exactly as Stan had intended.

The scene as they walked into the bull pen had Tony's impression catching in his throat. Stan carefully shot his brows up in surprise, putting a subtle distance between himself and the confused looking senior field agent. McGee appeared to be on the receiving end of a roasting as Ziva looked on uncomfortably. Gibbs stood behind his desk, laying into his junior agent who stared at him in wide eyed innocence. "Boss…I swear…I didn't. Why would I? We can get a warrant. I would never…c'mon…I would never steal evidence. It would be inadmissible, what would be the point? I haven't got it!"

Gibbs stared for a moment and then nodded, apparently satisfied.

Spying Tony and Stan, his eyes narrowed. "You two, over here," he barked, pointing at the vacant spots behind McGee in the hot spot. Exchanging incredulous looks, Tony and Stan did as they were bid and stared Gibbs with the same innocence that McGee wore. Deciding he really ought to get to the bottom of the ruckus, Tony cleared his throat. "Boss? What's going on?" Gibbs snorted, his face contorting with ire. The connections of the legal department at that damned software company were apparently high and far reaching. Jenny was doing her nut and he'd forgotten just how high pitched her voice could be when she screeched uncontrollably. "That suit from the company you've just come from called. He alleges that you, Tony, were verbally abusive towards him and downright intimidating. And also…he alleges that one of you stole some damned…computer chip thing….the damned doo-dah you were arguing about. He told you all to get a warrant and now the thing is missing."

He glared at the three who stared back in increasing shock.

He shook his head. He just wasn't in the damned mood.

"Alright. I got an easy fix for this. I just want to satisfy the Director, I know none of you are stupid enough to actually steal evidence." He flashed an apologetic look at McGee who inclined his head in recognition. "But our Director is not a happy woman. There's cameras all over this bull pen so just empty your pockets, the three of you so she can see you ain't got no…thingy on you. Won't calm her completely but it'll go some way." He tapped the surface of his desk and indicated to the camera above his head. "Everything in your pockets on my desk. The three of you."

With much indignant huffing, Stan, Tony and Tim slowly complied. Moving forwards in tandem, the three reached into their pockets and dumped the contents without compunction on Gibbs' desk. Groaning at the sheer amount of sweet wrappers that managed to appear, the team-lead leant over the three separate bundles and studied them quickly. Tim…cell, wallet and some weird figurine thing. Due to the blushing across the kid's face, Gibbs decided not to question him on it. Stan…cell, wallet and his AA chip. Nodding, Gibbs moved onto Tony's pile and shot his second in command a baleful look. The debris was horrendous and the toothy grin did nothing to assuage his contempt. Sighing, he poked through the bundle of wrappers, girls' phone numbers in order to get to real contents. He nodded as he checked them off. Cell, wallet, loose change….

Engraved USB drive.

The air suddenly vanished from the room as Gibbs slowly took in the chip that had been explained to him in great detail. There was no mistaking it as the missing property. He stared at it for what felt like an eternity, hardly able to believe it. When he looked up, everyone in the room had turned ashen. But none moreso than Tony. He looked as if he'd just donated his entire blood volume and was very much regretting it. His voice was broken and high pitched when he spoke, his head shaking side to side and his hands coming up defensively.

"Boss…no, no….this isn't…. I didn't…..please; you've got to believe me-"

Gibbs' look quailed him into silence as the room temperature dropped into the minus figures. The team-lead raised a hand that was shaking with shock, disappointment and raw anger. When he spoke, his voice radiated with disgust, every syllable oozing with it. Tony felt the contents of his stomach tumble around his gut as he stared in frozen horror at the fire in the man's eyes, the eyes that were boring directly into his very soul.

"You. Conference room. Now."

…

TBC

A/N: Wrote this whilst stuck in a horrendous traffic jam. No time to check for typos, will do so later and correct if necessary! Hope you enjoyed! _Inks

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