Chapter 10
"I don't recall giving you permission to go to Mexico, Gibbs." Vance stated irritably, he had decided to contact the rescue group to give and received an update, what he hadn't expect was to find Gibbs and the Admiral with them.
"You didn't" Gibbs replied nonchalantly, with a shrug, the small image of Vance on Callen's laptop didn't bother Gibbs in the slightest.
"Gibbs!" Vance growled, he had taken in the image of the room behind the group "Where the hell are you?"
"Hospital at Naval Air Station in Kingsville" Gibbs replied
"So not Mexico?" Vance said with scepticism
"Not Mexico" Arthur McGee replied dryly, he hadn't taken to the newest director of NCIS and he didn't like the way the man was talking with Gibbs who was doing exactly what any good commanding officer would have done.
"Admiral, sorry I didn't see you there" Vance replied
"Obviously" Arthur stated
"What's happening Leon?" Gibbs questioned with a smirk
"I was going to ask Callen the same thing" Vance replied
Gibbs quickly gave Vance an update on Tim, leaving out certain details like the possibility he would may never walk again and that it was possible Tim was in fact his nephew. It wasn't that Gibbs was unsure of that fact, truth be told now his own memories were back he could very much see how the young boy he knew looked a lot like the youngest agent on his team, but right now he felt it wasn't the Director business – the man was far to nosey as it was.
"That's good to hear Gibbs, so when will you all be back?" Vance question he could tell Gibbs was holding back something but he couldn't possibly know about his relationship with McGee and now wasn't the right time to bring that into the conversation.
"Couple of days, maybe?" Gibbs hedged with a shrug.
Callen, like the rest of the group had been listening in but decided it was time to bring himself into the conversation "Actually Director when you call us, we had been about to contact you"
"Why?" Vance questioned
"Well we've been trying to work out just how Paloma Reynosa knew how Abby and Tim would be in the dessert" Callen informed
"It's a good question" Vance replied "One to be added to the list of questions I have for Miss Sciuto, once Cade's team returns from collecting her."
"Director?" Ziva quizzed clearly surprised at the hard edge in the man's voice.
"Information has come to light about certain tests being carried out without authorisation or certain parties consent." Vance told the group of the discovery without going into any details
"I'm not following and what does this have to do with the case?" Callen questioned
With a sigh Vance informed the group about the DNA testing watching closely how to see how Gibbs reacted to the news and wasn't at all surprised when the other man exploded.
"She been doing what?!" Gibbs growled menacingly
"Calm down Gibbs, I'll get to the bottom of it." Vance assured
DiNozzo, who was still in shock from being told about Tim, had been quietly listening to the call and decided that both men knew the same information but just weren't telling each other, so decide to test his theory. "You've discovered the link between McGee and Gibbs"
Gibbs glared at his SFA before he looked back at the screen only to see Vance's own facial giving him away.
"We have the DNA evidence to prove it." Vance confirmed with a sigh.
Gibbs sat there stunned, he knew the probability was high what with everything Ducky had told him and his own memories, but to know there was actual DNA proof that just floored him.
"I wanted to know why Leon." Gibbs demanded
"Oh don't worry you're not the only one, so does SecNav." Vance informed.
NCIS
Abby Sciuto was on the phone when there was a knock on the door "I call you back" she said quickly disconnecting the call before going and answering the door.
"Marky." Abby greeted, in happy pre-tense, the junior agent of Cade's team, Mark Harris cringed he hated that name.
Ron Cade himself was not fooled by the show and firmly addressed the woman in front of him "Miss Sciuto you need to come with us."
Abby's whole demeanour changed "Now why would I want to do that?"
"Well you either come willingly or I use these." Ron Cade informed as he held up a set of handcuffs.
"Fine…" Abby retorted, reaching behind the door, most people would presume she was reaching for a coat – she wasn't, there was a gun there instead "Let me just…"
Abby never finished the sentence as she screamed, Ron Cade had reacted faster than she would have thought slamming the door against her arm, there was a short scuffle at the end of which Abby found herself on the ground with her arms being firmly pinned behind her back as the cuffs where tightly snapped into place whilst Mark Harris informed her of her rights.
Much to her disgust and due to the time of day many of her neighbours where there to see her being lead out to the waiting car.
NCIS
"How long are we letting her stew for?" Mark Harris questioned as he observed Abby through the two way mirror from the observation room.
"As long as the Director wants, I think he's on a conference call with LA again" Ron Cade informed
"He's sure calling Hetty a lot" Harris remarked
"You got a problem with that?" Ron Cade questioned
"No, it just not normal for the Director of an agency to be so involved, you know?" Harris responded
Ron Cade sighed, he understood where Harris was coming from; even though the man was considered a junior agent he had been on the team and with the agency three years and knew Directors didn't usually get personally involved like this. "Yeah well Eric from LA the only other person I know that is as good as McGee at doing all that computer magic stuff he does, so I expect it has something to do with that."
The discussion halted when the door to the integration room opened as Director Vance made his way into the room with a face like thunder but the agents behind the mirror were surprised to see who was with him.
NCIS
It was nearing lunch time when Admiral McGee and Gibbs walked into the room behind Ducky and the hospital doctor that was currently in charge of McGee's care.
"I have to say this is very unusual." Doctor Harper Johnston said as he led them into the room. It had taken a while before Doctor Johnston was convinced that this was the best thing to do for his patient, however he had concede once he had been given the facts.
"Agreed Doctor, however our young man here needs to know that he is safe and the two best people for that job are Agent Gibbs and Admiral McGee"
"Because Gibbs is his uncle and the Admiral is his adoptive father" Johnston's voice was still sceptical
"Exactly" Ducky said with a reassuring/knowing smile
"Very well, he will properly wake shortly, after which I'd like to run some tests, see if our young man here can feel anything." At the concerned looks he got, the doctor clarified further. "Couple of simple tests, only take a minute or so. We'll run a pencil or pen along the bottom of his foot, tab his knee with a light reflex tool, nothing strenuous I can assure you, it will also tell us how well the nerve blockers administered by Doctor Mallard are wearing off. X-rays and scans can tell us only so much and whilst we can see damage to the spin itself we do not have the fancy equipment some large hospital have to see if the spinal cord is damaged. "
Both Gibbs and Arthur nodded in understanding, they both knew this base hospital was small and not up to the high standard of a hospital like Bethesda, really speaking it wasn't a hospital more of a medical centre with the ability to do operations if necessary.
"How soon can Agent McGee be transferred?" Gibbs questioned, he want his agent/nephew back home as quickly as possible
"I'd like to wait until tomorrow, having twenty four hours of stability on record will go a long way with the base head physician – Doctor Morse. We need to be sure that transferring the patient will not do any further harm, especially given the circumstances of his arrival here."
Arthur McGee was use to a certain standard of living, he was the son and grandson of past Admirals and only the best was good enough as far as he was concerned, not that Doctor Johnston wasn't good, he just hadn't liked the fact the head of this base's medical facility wasn't even around.
"And Doctor Morse is definitely back from his leave tomorrow?" Admiral McGee quizzed just as the door opened
"Actually I'm back now" the new comer to the room said as he walked in, it didn't go unnoticed how tired the man looked
"Sir." Doctor Johnston stated in surprise
"Relax Johnston, seems our new patient has some powerful friends." Doctor Morse as he tilted his head in the Admirals direction, whilst picking up the chart from where it hung at the bottom of the bed before he continued "I was contacted by SecNav after my flight landed and thought it best to come in see the patient for myself."
NCIS
"What the hell is he doing here?!" Abby demand upon seeing Trent Kort enter the room behind Leon Vance
"Pleasurable as always." Trent retorted, as he made his way to the far corner of the room, standing underneath the video camera. Personally he wanted to be as far away from the pretentious woman as possible, but the fact was he had good reason to be there.
"He's here because I asked him to be." Vance informed
"Well I don't want him here." Abby groused
"Too bad" Trent replied flippantly and would have said more but Leon Vance held up his hand indicating to the other man, he was wanting him to be quiet, at which Abby gave the man a smirking smile
"It's is not your call as to who attends this meeting Miss Sciuto, and I would wipe that smile off your face if I were you, as you are certainly in no position to think you've won anything. Now we have questions and we'd like answers so let's get started shall we?"
NCIS
"Well whilst I can certain understand you desire to get the young man to safety, moving him in such a way was certainly questionable at best." Doctor Morse stated having been brought up to speed with the events that had led to his newest patient's arrival. "You're very lucky that it appears no more damage was done."
"Luck had very little to do with it, I can assure you" Ducky replied, the trio of doctors and Gibbs were standing off to one side in Timothy's room as the doctors reviewed the x-rays that had been taken earlier. "As much as we would have loved to have had a helicopter, not only was one not available, but it would have attracted too much attention. I can assure you that every option was looked at prior to moving young Timothy."
Having listened for a good ten minutes to Doctor Johnston and Morse giving their 'valued' opinion of how much better the rescue could have been if correct and proper procedures had been followed, Gibbs was getting tired of one-up-man-ship game the two were playing against Ducky and could see the pair gearing up to take the argument further. Deciding to put an end to it Gibbs let out a shrill whistle, before throwing out a sarcastic question. "Hey doc's how about we just concentrate on the patient and the now?"
"Quite Jethro." Ducky heartily agreed, gratitude of thanks showing on his face.
"Very well" Doctor Morse conceded, at the same moment that the attention of the entire group was then taken by a low moan from the bed
"Timothy?" Arthur questioned as Gibbs quickly came back to be alongside his nephew/young agents adoptive father, the pair had agreed that Arthur would take the lead and they would continue to call McGee by his given adoptive name for the time being.
"Hurts" Tim mumbled his eyes still closed
"What hurt?" Arthur asked, as the doctors listen closely from the other side of the bed.
"My head" Tim informed turning slowly and looking at Arthur
"Tim do you recognise me?" Arthur inquired
"Yes Sir" Tim smiled softly before his eyes moved to Gibbs and went wide and in that moment both the older men on that side along with Ducky realised Tim's full memory had be retained.
"Hello Seanie" Gibbs smiled.
"Uncle J, Boss…..I…." Tim confusion was obvious.
Gibbs interrupted before Tim could get too wound up, reassuring the young man whilst indicating across the bed "It's alright, don't worry about that right now, let's see what the doctors know okay?"
As the head doctor, Morse spoke to his patient first, as Tim turned to look at the trio "Good to see you awake Agent McGee, how are you feeling?"
"My head hurts" Tim informed
"Anything else?"
A look of thoughtfulness crossed over Tim's face, before panic set in "I can't feel anything, why can't I feel anything?!"