Chapter Ten
Yes, he was feeling better, so much so that he wanted something to do other than talk about himself and being guarded by people, who he didn't want to put at risk. What he wanted was a way to redeem himself and that meant a way to find Cobb and bring him in to be tried.
Getting out of the shower, he dressed in jeans, a lavender dress shirt, loafers, and Armani sports coat. When he walked downstairs, Gibbs was drinking coffee at the dining table and Ziva was cooking breakfast. Tony walked into the dining and looked at Gibbs.
"I want to speak to Vance," he said.
"Why, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked.
"That's between him and me," said Tony.
Gibbs stared up at him for a moment then took a deep breath and exhaled.
"I call him," he said.
Ziva came in from the kitchen. She looked Tony then at Gibbs and back at Tony. There was tension between the two men.
"What is wrong?" she asked.
"He wants to talk to Vance," said Gibbs.
Ziva looked at Tony. There was no hiding the concern in her eyes.
"Why, Tony?" she asked.
"I just need to talk to him," said Tony.
Ziva wasn't fooled. She saw it in his eyes. He wanted revenge.
"Tony, you should think twice about this. You are still hurting," said Ziva.
Tony looked at Gibbs.
"I'm ready to go whenever you want to," he said.
Gibbs shook his head. He knew Tony well enough to know that they were beyond discussion. DiNozzo was stubborn, just like he was stubborn, and sometimes you just had to like him have his way.
"I'll make the call after I finish my coffee," Gibbs said.
"The sooner the better," Tony said then stormed into the living room.
Ziva looked at Gibbs. He could read concern and apprehension in her eyes. Gibbs knew that Ziva and DiNozzo had danced around each other for a long time. From her expression, he knew the dance was over her and rule 12 didn't mean a thing to her any longer. DiNozzo was a different story. He was too angry to let anyone close to him right now. All he wanted was a chance to get Cobb.
"Gibbs, he shouldn't do what he wants to do," she said.
"We can't stop him, Ziver. We can only support him right now," he said.
NCIS
Vance sat behind his desk staring at Tony, who sat rigidly in his chair. He'd back a few weeks and had made great strides in a short time.
"You wanted this meeting Agent DiNozzo," said Vance.
"What do I need to do to get back on duty?" Tony asked.
Vance sat back in his chair and nodded. He expected Tony to push to get back in the game. The Director of NCIS in him wanted to use this agent to get to Cobb. He wanted either to use him was bait or what he had learned from his time with Cobb. The man in him wanted to keep DiNozzo away from this situation. The man suffered and was pushed to the breaking point if not beyond and there was no reason to endanger his stability.
"I need to know that you are ready, DiNozzo, to let you back in the game," said Vance.
"I am willing to go through a psych eval and a board of enquiry whatever hoops you want me to jump through," said Tony.
"I want you to be ready; I don't want you to jump through hoops," said Vance.
"Sir, I am ready. I want back on duty; I want on whatever task force you have set up; and I want a new security detail or no detail would be better," said Tony.
Vance mulled what he just said. Cobb killed the SecNav. He was a priority to find and bring to justice. DiNozzo could help with that situation. Still, he didn't want this man to go through any more hell than he had already been through.
"I'll make some calls," Vance said.
"Sir, may I speak freely?" Tony asked.
"Of course, DiNozzo, speak freely," said Vance.
"You won't be able to find and catch Cobb, but, if you use me as bait, you get him. He's going to want me either to kill me or program me right this time," said Tony. "Use me and catch this bastard, or let me use me and catch him."
"I want to work with you, Tony, but I don't want to use you," said Vance.
"We both know I've been used in the past by this agency. Jenny used me for her personal war against the frog. Well, this time I am will to be used. I am asking to be used. Please, Director, use me to get Cobb," demanded Tony.
"I get a psychologist in this afternoon to sit down with you. I'll also call the acting SecNav and see if you need be questioned by a board or if someone from the FBI," said Vance. "But you need to pass the meeting with the psychologist."
"And the change of security detail?" asked Tony.
"That's going to be a little more difficult to deal with," said Vance. "Gibbs and Agent David were adamant about being your security detail."
"You're the top of the pyramid, sir; you make the decisions," said Tony.
Vance looked at Tony and a smile creased his lips, "You actually are willing to listen to me as the boss of this place. There is a first for everything."
"So I get a new detail?" asked Tony.
"I'll talk to the FBI," said Vance.
"FBI is better than nothing," smiled Tony.
NCIS
Tony was in a conference room with a psychologist, who was called in by Vance. Both Ziva and Gibbs sat in the bullpen not sure what was happening, as they hadn't seen him since he got to Vance's office. Knowing that he had two agents getting more and more impatient Vance headed down the stairs to speak to them.
"Gibbs," he said.
"Where is DiNozzo?" asked Gibbs. The tone of his voice didn't hide his annoyance or his slow burning anger.
"He's in with a psychologist and the FBI is on the way to take over his security detail per his request," said Vance.
"Psychologist?" Ziva spoke up. "He expects to be put back on duty."
"He's demanded it," said Vance.
"Director, this is a mistake," stated Gibbs leaving no more for argument.
"It every well may be a mistake, but it's his to make," said Vance. "Trust me, Gibbs, I'm not in favor of this, but DiNozzo is not going to be denied."
"He is not ready yet," said Ziva, as she stood up and walked over to Gibbs' desk joining them.
"That will be up to the psychologist," said Vance.
"DiNozzo will have whoever it is eating out of his hand. The man knows who to hide in plain sight," said Gibbs.
"Let me talk to him. I will knock… I mean talk some sense into him," said Ziva.
"He has asked that you two are not on his case and that he temporarily be relieved of MCRT duty," said Vance.
"What the hell is he up to?" growled Gibbs.
"He's looking to take back control of his life the only way he knows how and that is get Cobb," said Vance. "If he passes the psych eval then he'll be interviewed by Fornell. If that goes well then he'll be working with the FBI on getting Cobb."
"This is madness. He should be with us. We are a team, a family. He is not FBI; he is NCIS," said Ziva.
Vance looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Leon, he is one of us," said Gibbs.
"I know, Gibbs, but I spoke to the acting SecNav and he is excited by the thought that DiNozzo will be helping the task force go after Cobb," said Vance.
"Not right, Leon, it's not right," said Gibbs.
"At some point, DiNozzo, put this out of my hands when he started to make certain requests," said Vance.
"This is stupid," spat Ziva.
She stormed out of the bullpen and headed for the elevator. Vance looked at Gibbs.
"She's emotional," said Vance.
"He's her partner. She worried about him and thinks he's making a damned mistake. I think that he's making a damned mistake, too," said Gibbs.
"Maybe so, but it's his mistake to make," said Vance.
Gibbs exhaled deeply out of frustration.
NCIS
Vance was trying to catch up on paper work when the psychologist came into his office. Dr. Holland was well respected at NCIS having worked with several of the agents.
"Director," he said.
The older man looked tired and slightly irritated. Vance knew that DiNozzo had purposely put the man through the wringer. Before Holland could make his report, Gibbs walked into the office.
"Agent Gibbs," said Vance.
"You know why I am here, Leon," said Gibbs.
"Dr. Holland, you can speak in front of Agent Gibbs," said Vance.
"Okay," said Holland. "I am clearing Agent DiNozzo for duty."
"How the hell can you do that?" asked Gibbs.
"I can do it because he… how do I explain this? Either that man is the most brilliant son of bitch at hiding his emotions or he is ready to resume duty," said Holland.
"You don't sound sure," said Vance.
"That's because I have the feeling he is brilliant at hiding, but I have no proof. Yes, I've read his personnel file, but I can't prove anything with him. I know he has been talking to Rachel Cranston, but she can't tell me anything. It will break confidentiality."
"You can't put him back on duty," said Gibbs.
"I have to Agent Gibbs. Unless I find a reason not to clear, I have to put him back on duty," said Holland.
"Thank you, doctor," said Vance.
Holland left the office. Gibbs still stood there staring at Vance.
"I know, Gibbs, you disagree with this whole process," said Vance.
"Leon, you know that he fooled him," said Gibbs.
"I have no doubt about that," said Vance.
"This is wrong," said Gibbs.
"Let's hope for the best," said Vance.
NCIS
Tony sat in interview room one waiting for Fornell. In the observation room, Special Agent Sacks and Ziva stood watching. Tony looked relaxed, as if he didn't have a care in the world. Ziva knew better.
Fornell came into the room and Tony smiled at him. As Fornell sat down, Tony straightened up in his chair and started to straighten his clothes.
"Alright, DiNozzo, we both know that you're crazy," smiled Fornell, "but let's see if you are ready to help me find Cobb."
"I love you, too, Fornell," smiled Tony.
"So, are you ready to catch, Cobb?" said Fornell.
"I'm ready to be bait if I have to be," said Tony.
"Okay," said Fornell. "If we catch Cobb, what do you want to do with him?"
"Kill him," smiled Tony.
Fornell looked at him and laughed.
"You are playing around this time, are you?" he said.
"Fornell, you know I want him dead," said Tony. "If he did the shit to you that he did to me, you'd want him dead, but it will be up to you to control me and keep me from going too far."
"DiNutzo, you're going to be a pain in my ass, aren't you?" said Fornell.
Ziva's stomach churned as she listened to the conversation. Fornell was going to use him and Tony was going to let him. She wanted to march into the room, grab him, and pull him to safety, but she knew she couldn't. He didn't want to be saved.
"He is going to be a pain in the ass," said Sacks.
Ziva glared at Sacks.
"If he is helping you then you should feel lucky," said Ziva. "He is worth ten of you."
"Well, he better be because the psycho we are looking for is worth ten of him," said Sacks.
"You better have his back, Sacks," Ziva said.
"Or what?" he asked.
Ziva smiled. It was her assassin smile.
"Try me," she said.
