AUTHOR'S NOTES: Even though I'm working on the chapter 'Dog Tags' with author Shaggy37, I decided to go ahead with the episode 'Internal Affairs' on my own.

Chapter 9

Internal Affairs

For Tony there was a strange sense of déjà vu when he walked into work and saw Kelly sitting at her desk, her feet up and a book in her hands. Walking towards his girlfriend, Tony jumped when Ziva loudly pounded her hole-punch.

"House-keeping, Tony," Ziva explained with a smile.

"Well, keep it to a dull roar," Tony replied, taking a sip of his coffee. "I've got a hot beverage here," he added, setting his stuff down at his desk. Looking over at Kelly, he asked, "Whatcha readin'?"

"Autographed copy of James Patterson's new book," Kelly replied, glancing over the top of the book at Tony. "Birthday gift from Tim. And Ziva gave me a really nice boot-knife."

"Don't forget the necklace from Abby," Ziva added. "And the bracelet from Ducky."

"Um…" Tony said, looking embarrassed. "I… haven't gotten around to shopping yet?" Seeing Kelly glaring at him, Tony knew he was in the doghouse. "I'll pick up something today?"

"Pick up what today, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked as he strolled into the room and set a small gift on Kelly's desk.

"Kelly's birthday gift, boss," McGee said, smirking at Tony who gave a mocking expression in return. "Tony forgot it was today."

"I didn't forget!" Tony snapped, irritably.

"Forget what, DiNozzo?" Tobias Fornell said as he came into the squad room with half a dozen FBI agents in tow.

"Tobias?" Gibbs asked, looking at his friend and the other agents as the computers suddenly went down. "What's going on?"

"It's a shut down, Gibbs," Fornell said, looking at the NCIS agents. "A few months ago they pulled a body out of the bay. PD's had him on ice while they ran a DNA match. Body's been positively identified as Rene Benoit."

"La Grenouille?" Kelly asked, sitting up and closing her book. "He's dead?" she asked, seeing Jenny come into the room.

"Murdered," Fornell corrected. "This entire unit is under investigation."

Pulling Fornell aside, Gibbs said, quietly, "You had to do this on Kelly's birthday?"

"Shit, Jethro, I don't want to do this at all," Fornell said, angrily. "My bosses are telling me what to do on this one. This unit was the one investigating La Grenouille and my bosses suspect it was one of you who killed him." Looking at the other agents, Fornell said, "Escort Agent Gibbs and his team to the evidence lock-up. And find Dr. Mallard."

-------

Sitting on the table in the evidence storage, Kelly glared at the FBI agent guarding them.

"I'm terribly sorry, my dear," Ducky said, looking at Kelly. "I can't imagine this is one of your better birthdays."

"Mom died a few months before my 9th birthday," Kelly said, hopping off the table. "That was definitely my worst birthday so far." Looking at her watch, she asked, "How long do you think they're going to question Dad?"

"I couldn't say," Ducky replied. "I suppose it would depend on what useful information Jethro gives them."

After about 10 minutes, Gibbs came back into the room and Fornell looked at Kelly. "Kelly. Come on."

Getting an encouraging nod from both Ducky and her father, Kelly followed Fornell out of the room and to one of the interrogation rooms.

Sitting down, Kelly was a bit surprised when Fornell handed her an envelope. "What's this?"

"What?" Fornell said with a smile. "You think just because you and your father and your team are under investigation I'm going to forget your birthday?"

"Thanks," Kelly said with a nod. "So… what do you want to know?"

"How close are you and the director?" Fornell asked.

"You've never been one for mincing words, have you?" Kelly asked, leaning back in her chair. "Director Shepard has been a friend… a mentor… and… a surrogate mother. She's always been fair and she's always been there to help me."

"Did she ever tell you what she had to do to get you out of FLETC?" Fornell asked and when he saw Kelly's raised eyebrow, he knew she didn't know.

"I had to pass the field test, firearms test… And that was it," Kelly said with a shrug.

"Giving you a pass is a violation of protocol," Fornell corrected. "There's a reason FLETC certification is a requirement for all federal agents. But since you've been hanging around NCIS since you were a kid, Director Shepard figured you already knew everything."

"I passed all my exams and field tests," Kelly said, flatly. "I aced my last firearms proficiency."

"What's your relationship with Agent DiNozzo?" Fornell asked, throwing a wild curveball.

Kelly gave a wry laugh before asking, "Did Dad tell you to ask me that?" Seeing that Fornell wasn't smiling, she said, "We're dating."

"Sleeping together?"

"Why do you want to know?" Kelly asked, crossing her arms and fixing Fornell with a look.

Across the table, Fornell couldn't help but be a bit unnerved at how much Kelly was like her father. "Were you and Agent DiNozzo dating and/or intimate while he was undercover?"

"No," Kelly replied, quickly. "Until the… whole mess with La Grenouille… Tony always acted like a big brother."

"Did you know the details of DiNozzo's undercover assignment?" Fornell asked.

"No," Kelly replied again. "As far as I know only Tony and Director Shepard know the details of the assignment."

-------

Once back in the evidence lock-up, Kelly went over to Tony who was looking nervous. "You okay?" Kelly asked.

"What did they ask you?" Tony asked in response.

"My relationship with Jenny… My relationship with you," Kelly added, glancing at her father before looking at Tony.

"Well, McGee's next," Tony said, looking at the others. "Then probably Ziva or Ducky."

"Then Abby, then you," Kelly finished. "Who do you think Fornell's really after?"

"You know who they're after," Gibbs said, walking over to the couple.

"Jenny's not a murderer," Kelly protested.

"You don't know her like I do," Gibbs said, quietly.

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Kelly asked, crossing her arms and walking up to her father.

"Jenny believes La Grenouille killed her father," Gibbs replied.

"That still doesn't make her a murderer," Kelly insisted, not backing down.

-------------

"It took Kelly Gibbs a while to warm up to you, didn't it?" Fornell said when Ziva sat down across from him.

"I thought I was here to discuss the murder of La Grenouille," Ziva replied, coolly.

"Background," Fornell replied, succinctly. "Kelly didn't like you when you first came to NCIS."

"No, she did not," Ziva said, simply. "She and Special Agent Todd were close. Kelly felt as though I was trying to take Agent Todd's place."

"Officer David, I know what you did with Mossad," Fornell said, staring her down. "I know you were trained to…" Smirking, he said, "Well… we know what you do." Opening a file, Fornell said, "The mission to Canada. What was the purpose?"

"We received intelligence the subject would be in the vicinity," Ziva replied, wondering why the questions about Kelly at the beginning. "I was there to insure mission safety. I was never given a fire order."

"You and Kelly Gibbs have an unwavering loyalty to Director Shepard," Fornell said, quietly.

"I was following orders," Ziva replied, starting to get a picture of what Fornell was after. "Yes, I was in a sniper position. But I was called off at the last second. Kelly was not a part of the mission in question."

"Why not?" Fornell asked, his own curiosity getting the better of him.

"The Director did not feel Kelly needed to be involved," Ziva explained. "In any part of the dealings or operations involving La Grenouille."

"Why not?" Fornell asked. "Because Director Shepard cares about her? Because of a… maternal protection?"

-------

When Ducky left for his 'interrogation' with Fornell, Ziva went to Kelly and asked, "Did you know La Grenouille was already dead?"

"What?" Kelly asked, confused. "Why the hell would you ask me—?"

"Because Fornell believes that you had something to do with his death," Ziva explained, her dark eyes studying Kelly. "That you, Director Shepard, and I had something to do with the murder."

"I was at home when La Grenouille was murdered!" Kelly said, angrily. "Maddie and I were having coffee!"

"And the night before?" Ziva asked, her gaze never wavering.

"She was with me," Tony replied, giving Ziva a look.

Ziva let out a sardonic laugh but didn't reply to that.

-------

When Ducky came back, he and Gibbs spoke in quiet tones while Kelly went over to Ziva. "Fornell really thinks I had something to with La Grenouille's murder?"

"Fornell alluded to that fact," Ziva said, quietly. "He would not say directly who he suspects… but he does believe you are somehow involved."

-------

After Abby had had her turn with Fornell, Tony finally sat across from the FBI agent.

"Got to admit, I'm surprised, DiNozzo," Fornell said with a grin. "I've known Kelly for years and I never thought of you as her type."

"It just kinda happened," Tony replied with a smile. "After Jeanne… Well…"

"And Gibbs is okay with you dating his daughter?" Fornell asked, raising an eyebrow.

"He warned me that if I hurt Kelly I'd regret it," Tony replied.

"Tony…" Gibbs said, his tone quiet but his eyes full of promise as he went on. "That is my only little girl. There is nothing in this world that means more to me than her. If you hurt her… if you break her heart… you will regret it… every day… for the rest of your life. Am I making myself perfectly clear?"

"Did Jeanne know you were in love with Kelly?" Fornell asked.

Tony chuckled and grinned. "If you're implying that Kelly had something to do with La Grenouille's murder, you're crazy."

"Jethro taught his daughter how to fight… how to shoot…" Fornell pointed out. "Of course it could have been the Director's orders, not Gibbs'. The day your car was blown… that was when Jeanne found about who you really were."

"It's like you're someone else," Jeanne said, still reeling from seeing Tony's car explode. "Someone I don't know."

"My name isn't Tony DiNardo," Tony said, quickly. "It's Anthony DiNozzo and I work for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service."

"So was Jeanne the reason you couldn't be with Kelly before?" Fornell asked. "Jeanne could have calmed down… forgiven you later… unless you made sure she'd hate you… by killing her father."

Tony didn't reply but leaned back in his chair. If the FBI was going to pin this murder on someone he sure as Hell wasn't going to give them Kelly.

"Director Shepard picked you personally for the undercover assignment, didn't she?" Fornell asked, trying to find a talking point. "Played matchmaker? Did Director Shepard order you to sleep with Jeanne?"

"Wouldn't call it an order," Tony replied, simply.

"So you had no problems developing that kind of relationship," Fornell said, quietly. "That kind of intimacy comes easy to you?"

"Sometimes," Tony said, vaguely.

"But you fell in love with Jeanne," Fornell went on. "Not very professional. How'd that happen?"

"Gradually," Tony replied. "I was always hoping that it could end without me breaking her heart, but…"

"Whose heart?" Fornell asked, leaning forward. "Jeanne's… or Kelly's?"

"Let me ask you something, Fornell," Tony said, leaning forward as well. "Why are you so eager to make Kelly a part of this?"

"It never occurred to you that Kelly was planted by the Director herself?" Fornell asked, raising an eyebrow. When Tony looked surprised at that, Fornell gave a soft chuckle. "I mean, come on. You know all prospective federal agents have to go to FLETC. Yet Kelly Gibbs gets a free pass from the Director of NCIS and everyone just accepts that?"

"Why would the Director put Kelly in a position like that?" Tony asked. This didn't make a lick of sense!

"Director Shepard planted you in Jeanne Benoit's life to get close to her father," Fornell explained. "Kelly was planted to be Director Shepard's successor."

"What?" Tony asked, even more confused. "That's… That's crazy."

"Director Shepard knew that things would come to a head with La Grenouille sooner or later," Fornell went on. "And if she was removed from her position… she'd need someone in her place she could trust… Someone she knew would carry on her agenda. So… Let's talk about that night."

"I was with Kelly from 1700 to about 1am the following morning," Tony said, simply. "We went out for pizza… went to a club… I dropped her off at home and then went back to my apartment."

"And the following morning?" Fornell asked.

"Went for a drive," Tony replied. "I needed to clear my head… Borrowed a company car and just drove around. I wasn't exactly plotting a course."

"Must have been upsetting," Fornell said, tired of playing around. "You're still in love with Jeanne but you want to be with Kelly. Only one way to finish things for good… Kill Jeanne's father. She hates you, but you also manage to protect her from her father's enemies. It's a win-win."

"It wasn't like that," Tony insisted.

"You barely managed to save Jeanne from a drug dealer," Fornell went on. "Then someone tried to blow her up by bombing your car. High maintenance woman there, DiNozzo. Can't always be running around saving your girlfriend's life while you're keeping secrets from her and pretending you're someone else. You had to do something. Jeanne would never be safe… not with her father around. And you'd never be with Kelly while Jeanne was in love with you. There was only one way to get exactly what you wanted. You killed La Grenouille!" Fornell shouted and although he knew it was true, the surprise in Tony's eyes unnerved him.

"I did what?" Tony said, caught off guard.

----------

Before Kelly could leave the building, she was summoned to the director's office and once inside, Kelly found herself facing a man she'd hoped never to see again. "Assistant Director Vance," Kelly said, trying to be polite as possible. "You wanted to see me?"

"Have a seat, Miss Gibbs," Leon Vance said as he chewed on a toothpick. When Kelly sat, he said, "I've been going over some of Director Shepard's reports. You're doing very well for a trainee agent."

"Well, I've been hanging around NCIS since I was—"

"9 years old," Vance finished nodding. "Yes, I know. I never approved of it, personally. This isn't the kind of job where you bring your kids to work."

Kelly smirked at that. "Well… Dad's never been one to follow the standard. He always thought I'd learn more here than at some after-school day center. And before you go any further, I have already been interrogated by Fornell."

"This isn't an interrogation," Vance replied. "I just wanted to know if you knew about Director Shepard's plans… involving you."

"Pardon?" Kelly asked, not quite following along.

Vance smirked and slid a memo across the desk. "I received this a few weeks ago," he said as Kelly took the letter.

As Kelly read the lengthy memo, several phrases jumped out at her such as 'almost a lifetime of experience', 'natural ability', and 'potential for expedited advancement'. The whole letter seemed to be one exceptional glowing letter of recommendation. But when she reached the end, Kelly read aloud to make sure she was really seeing what she thought she was. "'It is my recommendation that Kelly Gibbs be named my successor and/or replacement in my absence.'" Looking up sharply, Kelly said, "She wants me to be Director of NCIS?"

"You seem surprised," Vance said, calmly. "She never told you?"

"No," Kelly replied, rereading the memo. "Lately Jenny—I-I mean Director Shepard has been having me shadow her. Accompanying her to conferences, speaking arrangements… But she enjoys my company, so…"

"Exactly how close are the two of you?" Vance asked, hoping for a confirmation of what he already knew.

"I thought you said this wasn't an interrogation," Kelly said, suspiciously.

"It's not," Vance insisted.

Kelly stood and as she headed for the door, she said, "If you want me… you know where to find me."

-------------

As she drove down the street towards her father's house, Kelly noticed the FBI car out front and as she parked in the driveway, she smiled at the two agents and gave them a wave before going inside and down to the basement where McGee was trying to work with a very, very old 'laptop' computer. "I thought Dad got rid of that thing," Kelly said with a smile as she set her bag on the workbench.

"Well, it's not like we've got anything better," McGee grumbled as he tried to work with the barely-present wireless signal. "And if you're looking for Gibbs he went out. Didn't say when he'd be back."

"Well, then it's a good thing that I'm here to help you," Kelly replied. "Merry Christmas, Tim," she added as she opened her bag and pulled out a laptop and power cord. Seeing McGee's face, she said, "I swung by the apartment and told Maddie what was going on. She charmed our new neighbor and he agreed to loan us his laptop. It even has wireless internet."

"Kelly, I think I love you right now," McGee said, shutting down the old computer and firing up the other laptop.

"What did Vance want?" Ducky asked as he gathered up the photos of La Grenouille's corpse that he'd been studying.

"Just… wanted to talk…" Kelly said, evasively. Looking around, she asked, "Where's Ziva?"

"She went on a coffee run," McGee said, not looking at her.

"But Ziva doesn't drink…" Kelly nodded. "Ahhh… Got it." Looking at Ducky, she said, quietly, "Um… Ducky, I… I-I was wondering… if… If Jenny ever mentioned…"

Ducky nodded, sagely. "She did ask my opinion regarding your… possible promotion," he said in a low tone. Turning to look at McGee, Ducky said, "Kelly and I will be in the kitchen, Timothy."

"Right," McGee said, looking over his shoulder and watching the two head upstairs. As he turned back to the computer, he wondered what they were talking about.

--

"Assistant Director Vance showed me a memo he got from Jenny," Kelly explained as she put water in a kettle and threw a tea bag in a mug before pouring herself a cup of coffee. "She's… I don't know… grooming me to be her successor, I guess."

"Kelly…" Ducky said as he looked at her. "Jenny thinks of you as a daughter. She's watched you for years. She knows you're capable and she also knows that unlike Jethro, you are much more patient and… diplomatic."

"I'm not even 30!" Kelly protested. "I-I-I don't have the… the-the international experience Jenny has! And I don't have Dad's combat experience! And Jenny thinks I can lead a federal agency?"

"Choosing you as a successor means that if Jenny has a choice as to who takes her place, she wants it to be you," Ducky explained. "It doesn't mean that when this is over you're going to be named Director of NCIS."

As Kelly poured hot water into Ducky's mug, she said, "So what do I have to do with La Grenouille's murder?"

Ducky didn't reply to that, but he waited until Kelly looked him in the eye. "What makes you think that?"

"Because Fornell's been asking the team about my relationship with Tony and Jenny," Kelly replied, giving Ducky a look.

"Did you have anything to do with his death?" Ducky asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No!" Kelly said, glaring. "I was at home! Maddie and I were having coffee!" Calming down, Kelly sighed. "Sorry."

"Don't apologize," Gibbs said as he entered the kitchen.

"Sign of weakness," Kelly snapped, irritably. "Yeah. I know."

Smacking Kelly on the back of the head, Gibbs said, "Nope. Because you have nothing to apologize for."

"Did you find the FBI's witness, Jethro?" Ducky asked, sipping his tea.

"Yep," Gibbs replied, heading for the basement.

"Who is it?" Kelly asked as she followed her father with Ducky bringing up the rear.

"Jeanne Benoit," Gibbs replied as he reached the bottom of the basement steps.

"Wait," Kelly said as she saw Ziva standing with McGee. "How the hell did you…?" Looking at Ziva for a second, Kelly shook her head. How the hell did the Mossad agent get past her?

"Jeanne Benoit is the FBI's witness?" McGee said as Kelly climbed up on the boat hull and sat cross-legged while the others gathered around.

"Yep," Gibbs replied. "Says she saw Tony kill her father."

"She saw what?" Ducky asked.

"That's ridiculous," Kelly insisted.

"She sounded adamant," Gibbs replied, although his tone made it clear that he didn't believe it either.

"He had motive, means… and no alibi," Ziva said, sadly.

"I don't believe it," Kelly said, sliding off the hull and heading for the steps. "Tony's not a murderer. And we're going to prove it."

Once Kelly was gone, McGee and Ziva looked at Gibbs who said, "What?"

"What does Kelly have to do with La Grenouille's murder?" Ziva said, succinctly.

Looking at Ducky, Gibbs sighed before turning to the other two members of his team.

-------------------

Once her father contacted CIA operative Trent Kort, Kelly went to find Tony who was still in the interrogation room. "Want some company?" Kelly asked, sitting across from her boyfriend.

"Does Vance know you're here?" Tony asked, a bit nervous as he looked at the two-way mirror nervously.

"I don't care if he does," Kelly admitted. "I know you didn't kill Rene Benoit."

"Yeah?" Tony said, doubtfully. "How's that?"

"Because you couldn't kill someone's father in cold blood," Kelly replied. "You cared about Jeanne and even if it meant saving her life I know you couldn't hurt someone she cared about like that."

"Kelly…" Tony said, wanting to stop her before she went on too far. "I was in love with Jeanne. And if I had a choice between saving her or saving her father… I would have chosen her."

"I see," Kelly said, quietly, looking away. "I understand," she added, getting up and hurrying out of the room.

As Tony got up to follow her, he was stopped by Jeanne who said, "Did you mean that?"

It took a moment for Tony to understand that she'd heard but he nodded. "I did love you, Jeanne," Tony said, honestly.

"Did?" Jeanne repeated, looking into Tony's blue eyes… remembering the love and tenderness she'd always found there. Only now there was pain and regret as well. Looking at the doorway, she asked, "Do you love her?"

"Yes," Tony replied without hesitation.

"Have you told her?" Jeanne asked, not certain if she really wanted to know. When Tony nodded, Jeanne wanted to cry… to hit Tony… but she couldn't. She didn't have the energy for anger… or hatred.

"Jeanne…" Tony said, reaching for her hand.

Jeanne backed away. "No… Tony." Turning, she started down the hallway and out of sight.

Turning to go in the opposite direction, Tony stopped when he saw Kelly. "Kelly."

"Tony…" Kelly replied, not moving.

"I love you, Kelly," Tony said as he walked up to her and pulled her into his arms.

----------------------------

One Month Later

"Abby, I need you to run a blood sample," Kelly said quickly as she entered the forensics lab.

"New case?" Abby asked before taking a long drink of her Caf-Pow.

"Not… exactly," Kelly said, nervously as she handed over the sample. "But it's an emergency."

"No problem." Abby replied, as she put the sample into the mass spectrometer. "So how are you and Tony doing?"

"Um… that depends," Kelly said as she paced the length of the room.

"Depends on what?" Abby asked, as she checked the mass spec results. "Whoa." Looking at Kelly, she asked, "Does Gibbs know you and Tony have been…"

"Yeah," Kelly said, looking at the results.

"And has Tony…?" Abby asked, looking at Kelly's hands.

"Nope," Kelly replied, shaking her head.

"Does Ducky know?" Abby asked.

"He drew the blood," Kelly replied. "He probably suspects, but…" Pacing the room, Kelly couldn't believe this was happening.

"Is there anything I can do?" Abby asked.

"No," Kelly said, quickly. "Wait. Yes. Don't tell Dad."

"Are you sure?" Abby asked, nervously.

"Am I sure about not telling Dad Tony got me pregnant?" Kelly asked. "Oh, yeah. I'm very sure."