Continuation of episode tag for "Chained."

As I suspected, this will be at least a 3-parter, and depending on how long the last installment ends up being, possibly even 4 parts by the time it's finished.

"Doubt – Part II"

Abby was leaning on the edge of McGee's desk in anticipation when she caught sight of Gibbs, Kate, and a slightly-worse-for-wear Tony exiting the elevator. She immediately launched herself from her position, pigtails swinging furiously, and threw herself into a startled DiNozzo.

"To-Neee! Oh my gosh, are you okay? You have no idea how worried we were about you, mister!"

The object of her affection began to recover from the sudden shock and gingerly wrapped his arms around the forensic scientist, patting her back gently. "Hey, Abs," he greeted just above a whisper. "It's good to see you, too."

McGee, too, was standing in front of his newly-arrived teammate looking almost as awkward as he felt. He was thrilled to see Tony alive and well, but far less certain how to outwardly handle the other man's arrival than Abby had been. "Hi, Tony. I'm glad you're uh…here and…." Alive. But he stopped himself from actually saying the last part. DiNozzo might not appreciate thinking perhaps his teammates had doubted it.

Abby had finally detached herself from him and Tony nodded slightly at the younger man, offering with sincerity, "Thanks, Probie."

McGee smiled, finally relaxing just a bit, before noticing the bandage on Tony's neck and resuming a puzzled expression. He was just about to form the question when Kate caught his eye and subtly shook her head. Don't ask him about it. He began to put together the pieces in his head silently. They had originally thought that Lane Danielson was responsible for the three throat-slashings in the Seattle area, but once Lane's body had been found, murdered in the same fashion, they had all realized Jeffrey White was the cold-blooded murderer. And Tony had been with White for hours. And if Tony had a bandage on his neck that probably meant that….McGee shuddered slightly. And if he turned a few shades paler, his coworkers politely pretended not to notice.

"Director's expecting us, DiNozzo. You ready?" Gibbs asked with just a hint of concern showing.

Tony simply nodded gravely. The two men ascended the stairs on the way to Director Morrow's office as their teammates watched curiously. Finally, McGee looked over at Kate and broke his silence as a flood of questions assaulted his mind.

"Why are they going to see the Director?"

Kate shook her head slightly, still in disbelief over the turn of events. "The complaint from the Deputy Secretary of State about how we handled the case. It apparently got SecNav's attention so the Director's covering all his bases. He wants to debrief Tony himself."

McGee closed his eyes. "I feel terrible."

"Why, McGee? You didn't do anything wrong. You just did what Gibbs told you to."

"But I was totally in over my head and she could tell. If I hadn't seemed so….incompetent…maybe she wouldn't have been so bent-out-of-shape. Tony's not in trouble, is he?"

"Don't worry about it, McGee. Tony didn't do anything wrong either. Things happen. I don't think anyone's in any trouble."

"What about Gibbs?" Abby had been silently processing the information up to this point but she, too, looked worried.

"Gibbs couldn't have known. Jeffrey White had everyone fooled. I think Gibbs'll be just fine, too, Abby."

"Kate?" McGee asked reluctantly. "What happened to Tony's neck?"

"Jeffrey White's knife," his teammate answered seriously. "Right before Tony shot him," she felt compelled to add.

Seeing the two horrified faces in front of her, Agent Todd continued. "That psycho's dead and Tony's back here where he belongs. And right now, that's all that really matters, ok?"

But all three of them knew it was far more complicated than that.


"Can I get you something to drink, Agent DiNozzo?" Director Morrow offered. He was still making an effort to mask his surprise at the agent's altered appearance. Between the hair, the clothes, and the slight growth on his face, Tony looked quite a bit different from how the older man was used to seeing him. And then, coupled with the bloodshot, tired eyes that seemed to be holding just a glimmer of danger behind them, the young man in front of him gave off every indication of actually being the hardened convict he'd been portraying for the past day-and-a-half.

"No, thank you, sir," Tony answered politely. Ignoring the verbal response, Gibbs got up and poured a glass of water, setting it in front of his agent, who managed to look slightly annoyed. Morrow watched the exchange with interest.

The Director took his seat across the table from Tony, while Gibbs sat in the end chair, Morrow on one side and DiNozzo on the other. Then Agent Gibbs deliberately scooted his chair just slightly in the direction of his agent and Tom Morrow could have sworn the Lead Agent shot a protective warning glare in his direction. Trying to diffuse the tension in the air, the Director began with, "This is not an interrogation. I'm not here to place blame or to punish anyone. This is simply a fact-finding exercise. I need every detail you can recall, Agent DiNozzo. I know how the events transpired up to the point where you and White escaped the transport bus. Why don't you pick up there in your own words and tell us what happened next. If I have any questions, I'll interject."

Tony swallowed and began his story in a flat, emotionless voice as if he were reading an article out of the newspaper and recalling events that had happened to complete strangers. "We escaped the bus and we ran through the woods, chained together. At one point, Jeff- the suspect-stopped and sat down complaining that he couldn't keep going. I had made a show of trying to break the chain with a rock but was unsuccessful."

Tony had stopped a moment to collect his thoughts, so Morrow prompted, "And how did you get him to start moving again?"

"I compared him to Tony Curtis."

The Director looked befuddled, waiting for the younger man to continue, but Tony seemed suddenly lost in his thoughts so his boss intervened. "He made a movie reference, sir. 'The Defiant Ones,' right DiNozzo?" he inquired, trying to get Tony back on track. It worked.

"Oh, right. It's about these two escaped convicts chained together." Seeing the Director wasn't quite on board yet, Tony continued quickly. "Anyway, I guess you'd say I gave him a pep talk and made him feel like a tough guy. Even though he was anything but."

"So he got up and you started running again?"

"Yeah, for a while. I led him right to the trailer. Acted all surprised about it. That's when he tripped and we tumbled down the hill into the stream. I knew the tracking device was shot. I was pretty ticked at him."

"How did he explain it?"

"At the time, you mean? Well, he was a pretty clumsy guy. And he freaked out about the water. When I started yelling at him, he told me he had a phobia about it. I felt sorry for him…" Tony had gone from appearing detached to angry, a change noticed by both his boss and the Director. "Of course, later on he told me he couldn't wait to go scuba diving. Guess that should've clued me in, huh?"

"He had us all fooled, DiNozzo," Gibbs said quietly.

"So that explains how you lost the GPS tracker, but what about the truck?" Morrow asked, trying to steer the conversation back on course.

"Ah, the truck." Tony smiled bitterly. "Well that went exactly according to plan in the beginning. We got over to the trailer, changed out of the jumpsuits into some really cheesy clothes. I tried to convince J—" Tony looked annoyed with himself and was for some reason avoiding the use of the other man's given name. "The suspect – that he could be quite the ladies' man with just a little work. I gleefully 'found' the keys to the GMC and we took off. Then I casually mentioned that I could fly us out of the country if we could get to Florida, but that we couldn't stay in the truck cause it was probably Lo-Jacked. Stupid." Tony paused and took a deep breath. "Anyway, I got him to mention he had a friend in the area. Finally. So I got Abby on the On Star and asked him for the number. Conveniently, there was a motorcycle in front of us and he acted like he was all freaked out we were gonna hit it. So he grabbed the wheel and next thing you know we were hugging a tree. And my ability to be tracked was gone, just like that," Tony stated ruefully, snapping his fingers for emphasis.

"A good Samaritan stopped to help and Tony told him they'd lost their dog named Kate. While the guy was looking for it, Tony and White took off on the guy's bike. That's how Tony managed to let us know what happened to him." Gibbs told the Director that portion of the story with pride. "Unfortunately, Kate and I weren't able to catch up to the bike in time and we lost them."

Morrow was nodding. "So how did you get to the hunting cabin?"

"I knew we needed to find a pay phone so White could call his accomplice. Plus the bike was low on gas. We stopped at a gas station and used the phone. I stuck the keys to the GMC in the coin return hoping Gibbs would find them and trace the calls from the phone. And find the cabin that way."

"Is that how you found the cabin, Agent Gibbs?"

The Lead Agent looked down at the table and responded with chagrin, "Yes. The next day." The aura of guilt surrounding the other man was not lost on the Director.

"What happened after you got to the cabin?" Morrow asked, turning his focus back to Tony.

"Let's just say I slept with one eye open."

"Danielson didn't want you there I assume?"

"You assume correctly. He and Jeffrey" Tony winced at the accidental use of the name but continued, "argued. Danielson wanted me gone. I caught a piece of their conversation from the bedroom. I thought Lane Danielson was gonna show up to finish me off any minute. But he never came. Guess I know why."

"Kate and I found the body at the cabin. Throat slashed. Bike was covered with a blanket so Tony wouldn't see it and he'd think Danielson just took off." Morrow noted that Gibbs was even starting to look a little pale.

"He told me Lane already went to meet the buyer and he needed a partner. Wanted to get there first. I happened to notice a cell phone on the table and when Jeffrey wasn't looking, I snuck it into my pocket. Except for a second there I thought he might've seen me do it."

"I started getting hang-up calls from an unknown number," Gibbs interjected. Then looking directly at his agent apologetically, he explained, "I was getting wrong number calls the day before about selling a car. I just assumed…." The Lead Agent sighed in frustration.

"And then what happened, Agent DiNozzo?"

"Jeffrey pulled over to rest and I was confused cause I thought we were trying to get there before Lane Danielson. So I offered to drive and Jeffrey got in the back seat to…" Tony got an odd look on his face. "Well, I thought it was to take a nap."

Gibbs' face visibly darkened.

"You think he was planning to kill you even then." It was meant as a question, but Morrow found himself phrasing it as a simple statement of fact.

"He was ready. Had the knife out already. I think he planned to do it when we got there."

"But why did he wait? Why not at the cabin?"

Tony sat in troubled silence for a moment before answering, "I honestly don't know, sir." Maybe he wanted to believe me. Like I wanted to believe him.

"When did you know?"

Tony took a deep breath and reached for the glass of water, taking a few small gulps. Both men noticed his hands had begun trembling. "When we got there I told him I was a cop and offered him a deal. That's when he told me how he tripped us and crashed the truck on purpose. Cause he suspected it all along. I figured out Lane was dead. I felt him pull my head back." Tony's hand instinctively shot up towards his neck, fingers feeling of the bandage that was now there. "I didn't even feel the cut. I'd shot him before I even realized…"

Pulling the younger man out of his daze, Gibbs asked, "Tony, how did you get the gun?"

"It was Lane's. He'd had it the night before. I saw it. When we pulled up to meet the buyer, Jeffrey handed it to me."

Both Gibbs and Morrow looked dumbfounded. Gibbs exclaimed, "He gave you the gun?"

Tony, too, suddenly looked confused. "Yeah. I don't understand it. I don't understand any of it."

"And that's when you and Agent Todd, arrived, Agent Gibbs?"

Gibbs nodded in the affirmative, his eyes never leaving the face of his shaken agent.

"Thank you, Agent DiNozzo. That'll be all for today. Go home and get some rest. It's been a long couple of days." Turning to Gibbs, Morrow instructed, "Agent Gibbs, I need you for a few more minutes."

As Tony stood up to leave, Gibbs wanted to protest. He wasn't ready for the younger man to leave without having a few moments with him in private, but he didn't want to embarrass Tony and add to his mental distress. And the Director left no room for questions.

When the door closed, Gibbs spoke immediately. "Tony handled himself perfectly, sir. He didn't do anything wrong. I should've had a better plan in place."

Taking a more relaxed posture, the Director assured him, "Jethro, I meant it when I said I wasn't trying to place any blame. I don't see any cause for disciplinary action here and I feel confident I can make that case to the SecNav as well. I do see it as a valuable learning tool going forward, though. I'll be more closely evaluating any future proposed undercover assignments."

Relieved, Gibbs too took on a more relaxed posture. "I'm glad you see things that way, sir. But why did you need to see me?"

Tom Morrow took a deep breath and exhaled. He knew the other man wasn't going to like what he had to say. "I'm somewhat concerned about Agent DiNozzo's mental state. From what I know about him, it was obvious he wasn't himself here today."

Gibbs snorted before he remembered who he was talking to. "With all due respect, sir, you could hardly expect him to be himself. He just about had his throat slashed today. Give him some time to recover."

"I plan on doing just that. I'm putting DiNozzo on desk duty until he passes a psych evaluation."

Gibbs' eyes widened. With some effort, he managed not to completely blow a gasket in front of his boss, but it was a struggle. "You want him to see a shrink?"

"I think they prefer not to be called that. And, yes, I do. It couldn't hurt. And I have a responsibility, not just to that young man, but to the rest of his team to not send him back out in the field with any lingering questions regarding his ability to handle the stress. And right now, after what I just saw, I have questions. It's not punitive, Jethro. I have his best interests in mind."

"His or the agency's, sir?" Gibbs practically spat out.

"I think you know me better than that. I know you don't place much faith in the field of psychiatry, but it does have its place. In fact, it wouldn't hurt you to talk to the doctor, too, except that I know in your case it would be pointless."

It's gonna be pointless with DiNozzo, too. He can act his way out of just about anything.

Getting himself under control, the Lead Agent asked wearily, "How long?"

"I can arrange for Agent DiNozzo to see the psychiatrist tomorrow. If things go well, he could be back in the field the next day."

"He's not gonna like it."

"I'm not asking him to."

And with that, Gibbs knew the discussion was over. Unfortunately, it wasn't in time to catch Tony before he'd left.


Gibbs wearily descended the stairs from the Director's office. Tony's desk was empty, just as he'd expected, but Kate and McGee were both watching him, not even making the effort to disguise their curiosity.

"Did DiNozzo leave already?" He knew the answer but asked anyway.

"Yes, he said the Director sent him home to rest. Is everything ok, Gibbs?" Kate asked worriedly.

"Nothing to worry about, Kate. But DiNozzo's gonna be on desk duty for a few days."

Suddenly McGee jumped up. "But he didn't do anything wrong. That's not fair, Boss!"

The older man looked at the junior agent in surprise, not expecting the show of defensiveness on behalf of a coworker with whom he shared such a contentious relationship. "No one says he did anything wrong, Agent McGee. It's not a punishment. He just needs a break for a few days, that's all."

"Oh. Well that's good. I guess. He did seem kind of….strange." Changing the subject, he hesitantly asked, "So what about the complaint?"

"Stop worrying about it, McGee. You did exactly what I told you. The Director's gonna back us up."

The Probie sat back down in his chair with great relief. But Kate was still staring at him, knowing there was more going on than he was telling them. "Did Tony ask to be on desk duty?"

"No, Kate. The Director thought it was best. And I haven't told him yet, so don't you say anything to him."

The disapproval was evident on Agent Todd's face, but she nodded in agreement. "I won't be seeing him before tomorrow. But I'm assuming you're planning to stop by and check on him. I mean, even though you weren't worried or anything."

Agent Todd was finally beginning to understand a few things about her coworkers at least. Gibbs didn't know whether he should answer with a smirk or a glare.


Gibbs didn't shirk away from confrontations very frequently, but this was one conversation he wished he didn't have to have. Bracing himself, he knocked on the door to Tony's apartment. There was no answer and no sound. He pounded a second time on the door, this time with much more force. Still no answer. "DiNozzo! Open the door before I break it down. I know you're in there. Saw your car outside."

The door opened slowly, Tony on the other side looking confounded as to why the other man was there threatening to break down his door. He had clearly showered, hair still wet and sticking out at odd angles. He'd changed into more comfortable clothing. He even looked like he may have just woken up. On the outside, he was looking much more like his Tony. If not for the eyes, Gibbs may have been fooled.

"Boss, what are you doing here?"

A question he wasn't ready to answer just yet. "You gonna let me in, DiNozzo?"

"Oh. Sorry." Tony stepped back and opened the door wider to let his boss into the apartment. Gibbs scanned the rooms, first the living room and then the kitchen. At least I don't see any booze. But he did notice there was a pillow and blanket on the couch. And a gun on the coffee table.

"Something wrong with your bed?"

A dark look passed over the younger man's face before he responded, "It was a little early. I was watching a movie."

Gibbs decided it best not to comment on the gun. "Talked to the Director. He'd gonna tell SecNav that the case was handled appropriately. The whole thing should blow over soon with the State Department."

"I'm glad to hear it. But I know you didn't come all the way over here to tell me that. Spill it. Or are you just checking up on me."

The older man examined his agent carefully. "Would that be such a bad thing?"

"No," the younger man admitted. "Just unusual. And I can tell there's something else. Just tell me, Boss."

Seeing Tony wasn't in the mood for talking, he decided to get straight to the point. "The Director wants you to have a psych eval. He's putting you on desk duty in the meantime."

Tony was obviously furious. "So, we didn't do anything wrong, but Morrow just thinks I'm crazy."

"Not crazy, Tony. But he thinks you need to talk to somebody about what happened."

"Not just somebody, Gibbs. A shrink. Cause he thinks I'm screwed up."

"No one thinks you're screwed up, Tony."

This got a bitter laugh. "Really? I don't know about that. Maybe the Director should talk to my father. Or my ex-girlfriends. Even better, my ex-fiancee. Cause they could tell you some stuff…"

"Tony…"

"Do you think I need a shrink?"

Gibbs had argued against it and didn't put much store in psychiatrists, but standing here face-to-face with his agent, there was no doubt in his mind that the other man needed to talk to someone. He wished Tony would talk to him, but after dropping this particular bombshell on the younger man, he was certain it wasn't going to happen tonight. "You know what I think of psychiatrists, Tony. I was as upset as you are."

"I doubt that," Tony mumbled. "When do I have to do this?"

"Tomorrow."

"Wow. Not wasting any time are they? At least I can get it over with fast. Not like I haven't been forced to go through a psych eval before."

And Gibbs knew he'd always been able to pass them with flying colors. He had no doubt Tony would get through this one, too. And be entirely dishonest in the process.

"You know, Boss, I appreciate you coming over to tell me this in person. And I know it's not your fault." Gibbs wished he knew this entire situation was not his fault. "I'm just kinda tired and I think I'll turn in early if you don't mind. I'll see you in the morning."

Gibbs knew when he was being dismissed. On his way out he couldn't help turning to Tony and saying, "I understand if you can't be honest with the shrink tomorrow. But you better be honest with me before you even think about going back out in the field."

To be continued….