Chapter 10

Fornell looked around the room as he relayed DiNozzo's information to the DHS team. "Sarah and Rob McGee and their brother Major Geordie Perry will leave London tomorrow, the 17th. They're taking Virgin Atlantic flight 55 to Dulles, arriving the morning of the 18th. Sarah McGee has transferred her masters' program to George Washington University, Rob McGee his medical schooling to Johns Hopkins. Major Perry is on leave and then hopes to be posted on the East Coast."

"So we need details over here for them."

"Yes, certainly for Sarah McGee and Rob McGee. Major Perry may decline protection, but we need to offer it."

"Offer it…do they know?"

"I don't know what they know but it wouldn't surprise me if the major figured out his brother and family are in protective custody and reached the conclusion that his siblings are also being protected."

There were nods all around and Tobias sat back. They hadn't made any progress since the last meeting and he could not understand why. While his superiors had assigned him other duties, he was still involved in this, still doing his work. Were there others on the team who were no longer working toward their goal? Why would that change? Morrow committed to a dedicated team. Unless…he made a mental note to check into something.

"Tobias, how do you know their schedules and plans?"

"After their chat with Vance who told them what we ordered him to, the siblings left an emergency message for Major Perry and then contacted Agent DiNozzo to find out what was going on. They're civilians, the baby sister and brother of Timothy Gibbs; in fact, he raised them. No way were they going to accept our party line but we tied Vance's hands. They called DiNozzo and he told them a little more, enough to reassure them. As you know, I've frequently worked with Gibbs' team, so after his chat with them, he let me know. When Major Perry called him to tell him the three of them were coming home, DiNozzo let me know the details. He said he figured the siblings had protection details and didn't want anyone to be concerned when they packed up and left."

Tobias saw and heard mutterings and knew at least two team members were unhappy that anyone from NCIS knew anything about this at all. He tucked that away for further research. While he hated to think that agency bias was the reason this case was stalled, this was Washington DC, it was more than possible, probably edging closer to likely.

After the meeting, he stopped in to see Morrow, asking a couple of simple questions. Disturbed by the answers, he left, heading back to the Hoover. After brooding about the situation for over an hour, he decided he needed another opinion. Walking down the corridor, he was happy to see that his boss, Assistant Director Callaway, was in his office.

He walked out of Callaway's office nearly an hour later, not feeling any better. While his boss had listened to him, he'd quietly pointed out that Tobias was only involved in this because Tom Morrow brought him in. This was not an FBI case. He supposed it could have been; it seemed to be a case with a slight overlap between the Bureau and DHS. But DHS jumped on it first. In the end, he advised his senior agent to give it more time.

The more Fornell thought about it, the more he fumed. Part of the case was clearly NCIS jurisdiction but that had been kept quiet; in fact, it was the reason Director Vance had not been told the whole story. Or any of the story for that matter.

When he reached the office the next day he had a message to report to Callaway. His boss shook his head, "Tobias, I don't know what you said in your meeting yesterday, but someone bitched about it to someone here and Director Beldon has moved you to the Haase case."

"Sir, I'm their only advocate on that case. If I'm not there, that family will be kept away from their lives for who knows how long."

"I understand your concern Tobias, however, orders are orders."

Fornell looked at him in despair and then caught a slight movement as AD Callaway rubbed his eyebrow. Huh, did he get that from Vance or the other way around? I always thought Gibbs and Vance cooked that up.

"Sorry, I guess I'm more tired than I thought."

"Why don't we head out to Joe's and I'll buy you a cup of coffee."

Tobias nodded, sure he was about to be given somewhat different instructions.

As they walked the three blocks to the coffee shop, familiar faces dropped away the farther they got farther from the Hoover building. Finally, Callaway spoke.

"I listened yesterday, Tobias, but I didn't want you to do anything rash, at least not until I'd spoken with the director. We spent a couple of hours looking over your notes and the case notes, yes he has access to those and came to the same conclusion you did. Something or someone has caused this case to stall. We both agree that agency bias is very likely part of the stall. It could even be more personal than that. Jethro Gibbs has pissed off more than his fair share of federal agents; even entire agencies in his time, so much so that we fear professionalism and compassion have been tossed aside in favor of politics. In this case leaving the Gibbs' family stuck and NCIS in the dark. Unless you've communicated more than I know?"

"No, just what I've told you and nothing to Vance. Wanted him to have plausible deniability if necessary."

"Understood. He's a good man in a very difficult situation and unfortunately he's had to put his trust in someone who no longer seems to have the Gibbses' best interests at heart."

"If you mean Morrow, I agree. He's been a help to Vance in the past but I think he's being misled now and frankly he's more involved in Washington politics than anything else."

"Given the nature of Homeland Security, I can understand that to a point. Now, here's what the director and I would like you to do."

They found a private booth and Callaway outlined the plan. Fornell would, on paper, be working the Haase case while in reality, he would start (or continue, Callaway said with a smile) his own investigation, a parallel investigation into the Gibbs' situation. In the meantime, their director would make DHS an offer to provide the protection detail for the McGee siblings, relieving them of some expense. It was possible, Fornell's boss said, that the detail would then be discreetly outsourced to NCIS, which would in effect bring the agency into the picture.

Tobias couldn't help himself, he laughed. When he stopped he shook his head in amusement, "You two still miss the field, don't you? I bet you enjoyed putting this together."

"As a matter of fact we did and you should know we dismissed at least a dozen wilder schemes. But this one is for real; Director Beldon is contacting Morrow this morning."

"Understood. I'll pack and head west."

"Good, call me when you get in and I'll give you an update."

"It'll be late here, how about I send a text first?"

"Fine, if I'm asleep it'll wait until morning. But I'm certain I won't be!"

"Lawrence, you are as giddy as a young agent on his first operation!"

"It's been far too long. Now I understand why you refuse every promotion you're offered."

As Tobias stepped off the Bureau's jet the next day he inhaled a breath of air far warmer than the frigid winter cold he'd left behind. "Ah, December in Southern California, thank you, AD Callaway!"

Once in his room, he notified his boss and had a call back almost immediately.

"That was a long flight! How many stops?"

"About the usual, four. Wasn't bad, slept part of the way, worked the other part."

"You'll be happy to know Morrow took our offer. Beldon is going to wait until the end of the week to approach Vance. They're both scheduled for a meeting with DOD; he'll talk to him then."

"Excellent! Now that's in motion, I'll clean up and get to work."

Feeling better about the situation than he had since it started, Fornell got busy.

NCIS NCIS NCIS NCIS

Despite their continued exile, the Gibbses had a wonderful Christmas. They'd taken advantage of every Christmas event in the area, including those at their new church. Always mindful of Christmases past, in late November Tim contacted one of the shelters in town, volunteering to help shelter residents celebrate Christmas.

In the years since he and his siblings left the shelter, camp, and Baltimore, they'd made it a point to return each Christmas and help the residents celebrate the holidays. It was always a particular joy to treat the children to some fun. Practical was always covered too but watching a child's eyes light up over something they'd wanted was something special. The manager at the Albuquerque shelter gave him a list of practical items and sizes and then grinned happily when Tim asked what surprises the children might like. He went on to explain that he had a close friend who'd lived at a shelter, using Geordie's life story: a young boy whose father died while they were staying at a shelter, leaving him to spend the rest of his childhood in a homeless camp.

The manager invited him and his family to come meet the children and after telling Ty and Brynie where they were going and why, the four of them went to the shelter late one afternoon. Tim thought his children were a little too young to understand what being homeless meant but considering Sarah and Rob had been homeless when they were Ty's age, he was grateful. However, it was important to him that they grow up knowing not every child had a bed or a place to live in and that they do what they could to help.

They had a good time; the Gibbs kids were not at all shy about talking and playing with the shelter kids. While Poppy kept an eye on the children, Tim slipped away to meet with the manager. She'd done some homework with the parents and handed Tim a list of possible treats for each of the 9 children staying there. Smiling, he told her the story of his friend's little brother who received a play doctor's kit from Toys for Tots when he was five years old and grew up to be a physician. This one was Rob's story.

All during the Christmas season as Tim and Jethro went about buying gifts for the children and each other they also purchased gifts for the shelter kids. One of the grocery stores had an angel tree and after explaining the concept, the kids each picked a tag as did their father and grandfather. That added to the fun as well as to the spirit of the season and the kids enjoyed helping their father find the items requested. However, the children were not consulted on the shelter gifts as they went back a few times to visit and Tim was afraid the temptation to tell the kids they were getting something extra would be too much.

They did get to help with a few fun things. At the shelter, there was a counter separating the main room from the kitchen, perfect for hanging stockings. The Gibbses bought red and white Christmas stockings for all of the shelter residents and after Tim wrote the names on with red and green sharpies, Ty and Brynie decorated each stocking. Then they had fun picking out little things to put in them. For the 9 children, they bought Tube toys, packages of Magic Snow, Origami squares, Silly Putty, Lego Minifigures, Quick Milk Magic Straws, Hex Bugs and batteries, Sunprint Paper, flashlights with batteries and several practical items.

All of the adults received toothbrushes and toothpaste, packets of tissues, combs, lip balm, small first aid and sewing kits, hand wipes, two round-trip bus passes each, food items, batteries, and a gift certificate to a nearby thrift store. In addition, the adult Gibbses visited the thrift store, paid off all the layaways and set up a 'penny' jar for anyone who needed a few cents (or dollars) to complete a purchase or for use in an emergency. During Tim's childhood on the street, money from a similar penny jar fed his small family on two desperate occasions.

Their church donated a Christmas tree and decorations to the shelter and on Christmas Eve when it was lit up, the Gibbs' family arrived bringing their gifts as well as food for the shelter's day after Christmas feast. The shelter kids watched in awe as boxes of brightly wrapped gifts were brought in. With the kids gathered around the tree with their adults, Tim and Poppy called out each child's name for a special gift. A toy truck, a fire engine, a classic car, each with three sets of extra batteries, a doll with two outfits, a Lego kit, an action figure (or two), a small train set, a tool kit and a stuffed Winnie the Pooh bear for the youngest child were welcomed with joyous cries. Along with his or her individual gift, each child also got at least one age-appropriate book and one educational toy. Tim knew to keep the gifts light, as just like him back in the day, each child or parent had to carry all their belongings with them every day. Just in case, each adult with a child was given an extra shoulder bag secured by a zipper and that could be attached to the top of a suitcase.

The Gibbses hadn't forgotten the rest of the residents and with some help from the manager provided them with that something extra they wanted or needed, along with their Christmas stockings. Gift cards for grocery stores, clothing and shoe stores, hair salons – useful for job seekers, new suitcases, no contract cell phones with generous airtime cards, three months of bus passes for an individual who'd just started working but couldn't yet afford transportation, insulated bags with two ice packs each so items needing refrigeration would keep during the day. Along with that, Poppy gave everyone in the shelter, including the manager and staff, a pair of warm socks, hat, scarf and gloves, handmade by a wonderful vendor he'd found in Old Town.

Everyone had a wonderful time opening and 'oohing and aahing' over their gifts. Before the family left, Tim gave the manager a box with all the stockings and asked her to hang them from the side of the kitchen counter, he'd provided big push pins to keep them hanging. That way they'd all have more fun Christmas morning. They'd feast all day long as the area churches worked together to provide a special breakfast and dinner.

Tim felt a little less homesick as they traveled home that evening, knowing his friends Barry, Bill, Freddie, and Jose were doing the same thing that same evening at 'their' shelter and camp. He hoped that in the U.K. Rob and Sarah would also find some way to honor their past.