Chapter 10

"How is he, Duck?" Gibbs asked as he walked briskly into Autopsy the next morning.

Ducky insisted that Tony see him first thing in the morning just to double check on his slight injury. Gibbs was over protective of the lad and Ducky knew that Gibbs would be in to ask the second he got to work.

"Ah, Jethro. Anthony will be just fine. The bullet just grazed his thigh."

"I told you, Boss, just a scratch."

"Uh, huh. Never believe what you're told, DiNozzo."

"Yeah I know, Boss. Never assume and always double check."

"There you are, Anthony. Change the bandage every six hours and make sure you clean it thoroughly."

"I know, Ducky, thanks."

Tony hopped off the morgue table. He and Gibbs made their way back to the bullpen. McGee and Ziva had yet to return. Gibbs resumed his paperwork, closing up the case report. With their suspect dead, the case was all but closed. Tony looked into the cold case files once again.

"Hey ya, Tony."

"Agent Andrews."

"Heard you got shot at a crime scene."

Agent Keller walked to her desk, but openly eavesdropped on their conversation. Gibbs kept working, but listened in as well.

"Happy news travels fast. I just got grazed."

"Gibbs get the guy who did it?"

Tony laughed, "Saying I can't take care of myself?"

"Not at all, but it's the worst kept secret here at NCIS."

"What is?"

"Gibbs is very protective of you. We all remember what happened when you had the plague. He went on a rampage. That time when Vance sent you away to be Agent Afloat, he was livid. I mean he was a real bear. He complained daily about how his new team couldn't hold a candle to you."

"That's touching, Boss."

"Sorry, Agent Gibbs."

"Don't apologize for telling the truth, Andrews."

"So, why are you here, Andrews? If you're looking for Ziva or McGee, they're not back from the crime scene yet."

"Actually, you see...it's like this..."

He fingered the file in his hand.

"I was...I thought...maybe..."

Gibbs was losing his patience, "Spit it out, Andrews!"

"Neither Agent McGee or Agent David have gotten back to me about our case yet. I know they have their plate full, what with the other six cases they agreed to look over, but ours is kinda time sensitive. They swore they would get back to me the next day. We really need the help and I know they're busy, but..."

"I'm not allowed to help. It's not that I don't want to. I promised not to interfere. Only Senior Field Agents are experienced enough to lend their expertise to other ongoing cases."

"I know, but we're really, really stumped. We're in a real bind. The boss is going nuts. Please, Tony."

"Andrews, I can't..."

"Do it, Tony." Gibbs said.

"Agent Gibbs! The deal was that Tony was not to interfere or help out in anyway. They are supposed to fulfill the job of SFA all on their own." Keller reminded him.

"So, what? While McGee and Ziva struggle to grasp the job of Senior Field Agent, other active cases suffer?"

Agent Keller had nothing to say.

"Now, DiNozzo. Look over the case. I assume this is important, Andrews."

"Yes, Gibbs. Murder of a Navy Petty Officer and her eleven year old daughter is missing. Husband has been out of the picture, but he has a solid alibi."

"There is a missing kid? Damn it! This should have been a priority."

"They did say they would get back to me next day, but..."

"I will deal with them."

"Thanks, Gibbs. You too DiNozzo."

"Not a problem. The file?"

Agent Andrews handed over the file. He came around so he could read over DiNozzo's shoulder and answer any questions he might have had. McGee and Ziva arrived forty five minutes later. They eyed Tony and Andrews.

"What kept ya?" Gibbs asked.

Keller turned around again.

"Um, clearing the scene was new for us, Boss." McGee said, watching Tony carefully.

"Yes, Gibbs," Ziva started, "It was difficult, but we finished and everything is in the evidence garage...What's going on here?"

Ziva approached Tony's desk and snatched the file out of his hand.

"Ziva...I need that."

"This is Agent Andrews case file isn't it? You were told not to interfere."

"Ziva, I'm not..."

"You are!"

"Gibbs told me to..."

"Gibbs!"

"Agent David!" Gibbs barked, "I gave Tony an order. Give DiNozzo the file."

Ziva hesitated, "Now." He ordered.

She handed the file back and Tony continued perusing. Another agent then brought a box of evidence from Andrews case to Tony's desk. They watched as he signed for it.

"I demand an explanation, Gibbs." Ziva said.

"So do I. McGee," he wiggled a finger, bringing McGee next to Ziva.

Gibbs looked at them both, his anger just barely contained, "You both told Agent Andrews you would look over his case file and get back to him next day."

"We were busy, Gibbs. We didn't have the time to..." McGee explained.

"Don't make promises you can't keep McGee."

"We had to take it, Boss. We needed to..."

"Show up, DiNozzo? Prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that you can do his job better than he can?"

"Well, we genuinely wanted to help, but yeah, Boss, that was part of it."

A snort was heard behind them. Agent Andrews looked at them, "Tony is one of a kind Agent McGee."

That hurt Tim's feelings.

"That why you agreed to look into the other six cases?" Gibbs asked.

McGee and Ziva wondered how he knew, but answered him.

"We did. McGee took half, as did I."

"Did you even read any of them?"

"We did not have time, Gibbs." Ziva repeated.

"You should have. Andrews case involves a MISSING eleven year old girl! It's now possible she may be dead because you couldn't keep your word. I have DiNozzo checking into it now. I suggest you get on those remaining six cases before you let another team down."

They sat down silently to do just that.

"I don't suppose either of you finished the supply requisition or handed in the payroll and paid time off forms to Vance yet?"

"We weren't aware those were our jobs. You're the boss, Boss." Tim stammered in the attempt to defend himself.

"You haven't asked me once to explain to you your job description. I hate paperwork, McGee. Tony has learned to anticipate. He took on the responsibility of doing the mundane paperwork all on his own. Neither of you would have vacation pay if not for DiNozzo."

"We had no idea, Boss."

"There was no way that McGee or I could have..."

"All you had to do was ask. You thought you could figure out his duties just by guessing?"

"We see what he does in a day, Gibbs. We assumed between what we knew and the manual, we had everything covered."

"You were wrong. Never assume."

"Boss! I think I know where the little girl is." Tony announced, having completely missed the conversation.

Ziva and Tim were glaring at him.

"Go, Tony. Watch you six."

"On it, Boss."