A/N Thanks for all the reviews, feedback and alerts. I have had a burst of an idea and started another story, I hope you read that one as well. The plan is to update both stories at least once a week. Since work has finally become manageable again as of yesterday, I know I'll have the time.
EJ had been hesitant about joining the team in their quest to figure out what Jarvis was up to, but the invitation from Tony made her realize that she was at least being tolerated and possibly accepted by Team Gibbs. But she wasn't ready to believe that completely, at least not yet.
She walked up to the pizza boxes with all the confidence she could muster and took a slice. Gibbs watched the interaction between his agents and EJ. "Would you like water, soda or beer?" McGee asked EJ.
"I'll have water, thanks McGee."
McGee fetched a bottle of water from the cooler and handed it to EJ.
"Thanks, McGee" she smiled.
"How have you been?" Ziva asked EJ gently, aware of the apprehension that had washed over EJ as she entered the basement.
"OK. Been hanging at my uncle's estate trying to figure out what I'm gonna do next."
"Figure it out yet?"
"Not yet. Too many options"
Ziva and EJ looked at each other. They locked eyes. The unspoken understanding that they formed at the safe house passed between them again. They understood each other and connected with each other on a level the men around them would never understand. Both had overcome relatives in power who had controlled their careers. "Welcome to the team, EJ" Ziva, who was not comfortable with contact when she first joined the team, reached out and gave EJ a hug. Ziva had gotten use to the form of affection from Abby and knew it was the proper way to welcome the woman to the team.
EJ realized that at that moment, she wouldn't have any issues with Ziva. In fact, if anything, she could probably trust Ziva more than anyone else in the room, except maybe Gibbs. As much as she butted heads with Gibbs, she knew that he always had his team members' backs. She was now a member of his team, maybe an unofficial, temporary member but she knew that didn't make any difference in his eyes.
McGee was next, he reached out his hand and EJ offered hers. "Welcome to the team EJ."
"Thanks McGee." EJ smiled at him. She looked around, suddenly feeling very overwhelmed and thinking about her former team who were all gone. She started to get a tear in her eye.
Just then Gibbs said, "Hey! We got a job to do! Enough of this sappy stuff. We aren't Army CID! McGee, whatdya got!"
McGee with slice of pizza in hand spun and faced Gibbs. I went to Waverly University and moved every 10 minutes so that I never used the same wi-fi node for more than what they could trace. I was able to get a general profile on the SecNav, and hacked into a few databases. Jarvis was appointed SecNav after Phillip Davenport resigned. The Secretary of the Navy is appointed by The President and is approved by The Senate. It seems that Jarvis was approved as part of a list of presidential nominees, so there was no unusual scrutiny of him as part of the approval process."
"Not unusual McGee. Anything not part of the public record?" Gibbs asked as he remained leaning against his workbench.
"Yeah, boss. When I was able to access some restricted databases, it appears that Jarvis was responsible for creating and managing the Watcher Fleet and was responsible for the formation of the Phantom 8 team. He was the liaison between Sean Latham and the US Navy prior to his retirement from the Navy. He then became a lobbyist for a group of companies that relied on contracts with the military."
The astonishment of the latest information could be seen on the faces of most of the team, except Gibbs. Gibbs had a gut feeling there was some sort of connection, Jarvis and Latham seemed too buddy-buddy. McGee's discovery just confirmed it.
A thought suddenly came to Gibbs, "McGee, the DHS guy, Pearce, last year. The one who attempted to release the biological agent to kill top brass at that football game, he was part of an unknown group that may have had ties to military contractors, any chance Jarvis or Latham may have been involved in that?"
The weight of what Gibbs just said settled on the team as the basement remained silent for a few seconds before McGee finally spoke. "I hadn't searched for a link to that case, Boss, but I could do more digging."
"Abby, do you still have access to the computer that we confiscated from Pearce's home?"
Abby was taken by surprise at Gibbs asking her a question, "Uh, I should Gibbs, but I'll have to check."
"I don't want your name added to the chain of evidence. The case should be closed, and you should be able to access it without causing any suspicion. If you have to leave a trail, find another way to access it." Gibbs said with concern in his voice.
"I'll be careful, Gibbs." Abby said resolutely.
Gibbs nodded in acknowledgment, convinced that Abby would take all precautions necessary. "Ziva, find anything?"
"I have made some inquiries on the down short to some very discrete sources."
"Down low" Tony Corrected.
"Down low" Ziva glared at Tony as she corrected herself. "I may get some responses in the next several days. I have asked that they not e-mail anything, but communicate directly with me through secure phone lines."
"Tony"
"I checked with my source in The Pentagon…" DiNozzo was interrupted.
"Jerry the barber?" McGee asked.
DiNozzo glared at McGee. "Just one of many, McInterruptus!" He turned back to Gibbs and continued his report. "Director Vance visited SecNav this afternoon." Tony revealed. Everyone's eyes went wide in surprise, except Gibbs.
"Yeah, he was summoned for an appointment." Gibbs shared.
"Other than that, SecNav was at The Pentagon all day, and then went home. Nice home. Nice neighborhood. Landscaping could have been better thought out. Must of cost him a fortune." DiNozzo stopped his commentary when he saw Gibbs glaring at him.
"We are to focus full time on our regular cases. Only do this in our spare time. EJ, that's where we can use your help. For some of the surveillance on SecNav outside of The Pentagon, we'll need someone who can move on a moment's notice. You coordinate with DiNozzo and tag team the surveillance. For the most part, the SecNav's movements are planned and we can get a copy a day ahead of time, it is the unplanned time periods we want to track him, at places he could meet someone." Gibbs took a sip of his bourbon as he let the assignments sink in with the team.
"We may need to get someone inside at his Country Club, Gibbs. Jarvis really liked meeting there when I was on that assignment for him last year." Tony added.
"Which country club was that, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asks.
"Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase. Very exclusive. Costs $100,000 for the initiation fee and something like $15,000 for the annual dues."
"That leaves any of us out." Gibbs said, smirking.
"Not me." EJ said. "Uncle Philip has a membership; I am on the family membership and have access to the club."
Gibbs scrutinized her, "you sure you could go there without anyone being suspicious that you might have other reasons for being there than playing tennis or getting a massage?"
"I've been going there to play tennis and use the pool for the past couple months. I am pretty well known there." EJ offered.
"OK. You're our eyes & ears at Columbia Country Club, EJ. Don't get yourself into any dangerous situations! Call for backup immediately if the situation changes." Gibbs commanded her, knowing she liked to go 'lone wolf' at times.
"What about me, Jethro?" Ducky asked.
"Ah Duck, if you could manage to get SecNav's medical records without rousing any suspicion, that might help us."
"I might be able to get them Jethro. He is a political appointee, so his medical records may be part of the public record. But we will leave a trail if we request them through normal channels." Ducky explained. "It might be possible to obtain them through unofficial means, if one has the ability to access records without official authorization." Ducky looked at McGee.
McGee picked up on the implication, "I'll see what I can do, Ducky."
"Do it, McGee." Gibbs commanded. "Everyone good with their assignment?"
A couple nods, "Got it, Boss", "Yes, Gibbs.", "Of course, My Silver Haired…..Gibbs", and "yes." answered his question.
"Good." Gibbs downed the rest of his bourbon. He reached under his workbench and pulled out a bag. "I have burn phones for everyone. There are 500 minutes charged up on each. If you need anymore, don't buy them yourselves. Bring it to me. I'll probably ditch the phone and give you a new one. Turn them on only when you are going to use them. Any suspicion that you might be compromised, ditch the phone. We aren't playing with amateurs, we are dealing with the US Navy, and we're dealing with us. If we can track us, Jarvis' guys can track us. Remember that! See most of you tomorrow."
He then went to the middle of the basement and continued to sand. The rest of the team moved to the side of the basement after they each grabbed a phone. They had all grabbed another beverage and discussed some of the finer details they might encounter.
Once they decided that everything was good to go for the next couple of days they headed up the stairs and out the door. As Abby left the basement, she was in the back of the pack, she grabbed DiNozzo, who was just in front of her. The rest of the team kept going and didn't realize the two were left behind in Gibbs living room.
"Tony, I'm worried about Gibbs! If SecNav is really out to get him, he really doesn't have much of a chance, does he?" Her big green eyes were filled with tears, looking to Tony for answers.
Tony enveloped her in a reassuring hug. "We won't let anything happen to Gibbs, Abby. But I am pretty sure he can take care of himself. Gibbs vs. SecNav? Gibbs is gonna win every time. No need to worry Abs."
"I hope you're right Tony." She said as her head lay against Tony's shoulder.
Tony thought, 'I hope I am, too.'