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Author's Note: HI! Here is Chapter Twenty-One! I try to give this one a cliffhanger I thought it was time for another one. ;) I foresee four more chapters. Please leave me your thoughts on both this chapter and how you feel about four more chapters, if you don't mind. I respond, I promise! Also, the legal details about what could happen to Frederick Williams are a little fuzzy. I did some research and the sentencing time is correct, but I didn't find anything about threatening Director's. So I added in a few details. :)
Disclaimer: NCIS, its actors, owners, and stories are not mine.
Summary: Leaving Williams in Interrogation, Gibbs sees a few ladies at NCIS.
Rating: T (Perfectly safe!)
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Even though they didn't have a case, Gibbs still felt the need to check on both Abby and Ducky. Somehow, he knew that they would find out about what was going on with the Director and they deserved to be updated with the details.
Stepping off of the elevator outside of Abby's lab, Gibbs is slightly surprised to see Ducky in with Abby. Once he walks in, he can see why:
"Hey Duck."
Turning at the voice bellowing in from the doorway and making its way closer to him, Ducky turns:
"Ah Jethro, it is about time you showed up."
Glancing around and then at his watch:
"We have a date Duck?"
Only Dr. Mallard can't respond. Walking through the automatic doors that separate ballistics from the lab, Abby makes her entrance.
And she looks stressed to say the least:
"No Gibbs, but the three of us need to talk. Look, I know you and Ducky have known the Director for years, and that's fine and all. But I know her too and she's more than just my boss Gibbs, she's my friend. In this job friends can come and go and don't always stick around due to the risks they take, which I totally understand the risks…you know you have to do what you can for your country, though I doubt I could do some of the things everyone else has done, but that's beside the point.
The point it this: you have to get this guy Gibbs."
For the first time since she began, Abby's voiced slowed and seemed calm.
Which, with Abby, meant she was serious, concerned, and a little scared:
"If he can get to her he can get to us all Gibbs. So please get him and do whatever you have to, just keep the Director safe,"
She moves over to him and envelops him in a bone-crushing hug:
"Please keep her safe. We lost Kate, we can't lose her too Gibbs."
At the word 'Kate', Gibbs can literally feel his chest tighten.
That was happening a lot today. And both times it had involved a woman. Women could be his weakness after all.
Arms already around her small frame, Gibbs increases his grip on Abby, trying to communicate to her that he understood without speaking.
After a moment, she lets him go. Ducky, quiet and respectful through the whole exchange, speaks:
"Abby called me earlier once the pieces were put together. Since we have no body for me to analyze, I told her I would come down here and discuss some things with her. Maybe calm her down some. She's right Jethro, even through all of her energy, we have to do whatever is necessary to bring this…gentleman in and assess this situation."
"Right, so I'm giving you 72 hours Gibbs."
At the mention of a time limit, Gibbs can't help but smirk:
"72 hours and then I'm taking matters into my own hands. And I already know what you're going to say, 'Abbs, you don't know this guy.' 'Abbs, you're the forensic scientist, not an agent.' 'Abbs, the lab is where I need you.' 'Ab-"
"Abbs?"
"Gibbs?"
"We got the guy,"
Seeing two surprised faces standing before him, his smirk widens and he further explains:
"He's in interrogation, I came here after talking with him."
Slapping him on the side of the arm, Abby has a few word for him:
"Why didn't you lead with that? I've been a nervous wreck since I first heard about this. This morning. But that's beside the point."
"Didn't give me a chance to, thought I let you finish saying whatever you wanted to say."
"What did you say to this fellow exactly Jethro?"
Gibbs had to give Duck credit, even though he hadn't said much, he sure had been thinking:
"Didn't say much. Need you to look at these though."
Showing them both his red and now beginning to swell knuckles and hands, Abby's slight gasp and Ducky's slight eye-roll let him know they've been down this road before.
"Honestly Jethro, must you use your fists over your words?"
Smirking, Gibbs follows and Ducky turns him around and lays his hands on the table of the lab that is in the center of the room. Abby leaves and quickly returns with items that Ducky will need.
Standing across the table from Gibbs, Abby prepares and hands the necessary items over to her favorite Medical Examiner:
"Words weren't getting through, these did."
"Gibbs! So tell us, is he gonna hurt the Director, do we know he did it? There has to be jail time, right? He's threatening to kill the Director of NCIS. Tell me there's some way to get this guy."
Seeing that Jethro's hands were barely injured hands, Ducky only put some anti-infection cream on, then blended them into the skin. That was all that was required:
"Jethro, your h-"
McGee's sudden entrance with a case file in his hand into the lab throws the attention to the second Special Agent in the room:
"Boss, just got a call from Agent Lee in legal. What I told you earlier was wrong. Agent Lee says we do have enough to press charges against Frederick Williams. But only if the Director agrees and signs off on it."
Abby, now nervous at the possibility that Jenny wouldn't do anything makes her use a voice much calmer than how she really felt:
"She'll press the charges right?"
Looking around and seeing all three men in front of her not answer because they didn't know was a very un-comforting notion:
"Right? Tell me she's gonna make Gibbs put this guy behind bars."
Again, Ms. Scuito is met with silence, until Ducky has a question:
"What makes you think that she wouldn't press charges on her own? After-all this gentleman is threatening her own life."
The room still filled with silence, Abby shares her feeling:
"I don't know Ducky, I just have this weird vibe that she won't go for it. Gibbs, you have to convince her. You can get people to confess to things that they didn't even do just by looking at them, make her do this. You can make her do this. You're gonna walk into her office, slam her door like you always do because you're you, look at her. And that's it. Give her that good old Gibbs glare, leave no room for her to decide anything but what you're telling her to do."
Beginning to pace and now getting her energy back since she had a plan, another through stirkes this forensic scientist's head. She looks and smiles, now realizing her full idea, and so does McGee:
"Boss, boss that's not a good look. She has an idea."
"Yeah McGee, I can see that."
McGee is worried. Usually when Abby has that look, it doesn't turn out well for Tim:
"Are you frightened Timothy?"
"Well sort of Ducky. Whenever Abby gets that look in her eye, it mainly involves me doing something I don't want to do."
Ducky and Gibbs share a smirk.
Tim was right.
"I've got it! The two of you are going to go into her office. Gibbs will give her the gruff, tough point of view, which leaves McGee on his own in the Director's office. McGee...McGee will give her all the legal details and stuff that Lee gave him. It'll be perfect Tim, just give her the geek speak."
Tim instantly wanted to bolt out of the door, get away from the possibility of even attempting to tell his boss what to do.
Or rather, his boss' boss.
"Boss, really, I'm really uncomfortable with telling the Director what she should do. I mean she could fire me if she wanted to. And what? I'm just supposed to tell her to press charges? In her office? In her building?"
With smiles on the other three faces in the room, Abby and Gibbs only have one thing to say. And they say it together:
"Yep."
Gibbs puts his hand on Tim's shoulder and turns him around, beginning to head out the door:
"C'mon ElfLord, we have a Director to see."
As they exit, Ducky and Abby chuckle as the recently hatched plan is being put into motion.
"Do you think they'll be okay Ducky?"
He moves to stand beside her and Abby puts her arm around him, in an attempt of a small hug:
"With you telling them what to do? They'll do wonderfully my dear, I know it. Now, what was it you were trying to show mw before they arrived?"
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McGee and Gibbs enter the Director's office without knocking or any warning whatsoever.
This was definitely Gibbs' team.
Jenny looks up from her seat and sees McGee, looking a little scared, and Jethro, looking as though he had to say something.
This had to be good:
"McGee, Gibbs, what can I do for you?"
McGee was ready to speak, but then he saw the Director stand.
It wasn't until now, in such close proximity, that he realized how much weight she had actually lost. It was more than a little shocking.
Timothy McGee had come to respect and admire his Director, and for more than a few reasons.
She was a woman who had been put down and dis-respected by fellow agencies purely because she was a woman. And it made Timothy mad.
They didn't give her any credit for any of the work she had done, didn't even so much as give her the time of day. Common respect was supposed to be shared with all human beings. Period.
So when they treat his boss, a person who had covered his ass, a person who had given everything to her work, her agency, and her agents, like dirt:
It pissed him off.
And Timothy McGee would always do whatever he could, or whatever Gibbs told him to, to protect and help his Director.
Suddenly, McGee was hit with a wave of strength. And he wasn't so afraid of his Director, or her response, anymore.
"Director Shepard, we have the individual who has been making the threats on your life, Frederick Williams, in custody. He is currently in the Interrogation Room. Agent Lee has contacted me and I have been informed that there is enough evidence to bring criminal charges and actions against him. Threatening a United States Government Employee is a federal crime, a felony and a punishable offense from anywhere from five to ten years in a federal prison. Now, the sentence can be more, should you chose to testify on the record.
However, there is always the possibility of a smaller sentence.
Crimes like these do not have an exact sentencing time, I am sorry to say."
Jenny looks at Jethro, then at McGee:
"Well done McGee, take a breath."
Tim smiles, and does in fact take a deep breath.
Gibbs picks up, noting the silence in the room:
"Ziva and Tony have eyes on him whenever you decide what to do Director."
Jenny nods, un-sure of what to say or where to look. Her gaze falls from Jethro's eyes, heading to the floor to give herself a moment to think.
But her eyesight it caught.
On Jethro's hands:
"So Tony and Ziva have eyes on him. Have you had your fists on him Gibbs?"
Jethro smirks and McGee gives a small smile, impressed that she could see his injury, and bring it into conservation:
"Had to talk to him, see what he knows."
Jenny smiles:
"I see. McGee, is that case file what I need to fill out for charges?"
"Yes Director."
He hands her the file, feeling relieved that she's taking initiative to put this freak where he belongs:
"Thank you. I'll call you when I have filled everything out, is that alright?"
"Yes ma'am,"
He glances at Gibbs, who only gives him a look which instantly tells Tim what to do:
"I'll be downstairs, I'll leave you two to it."
Jenny nods and smiles and McGee exit's the room, gently closing the door behind him.
Which leaves Jenny and Jethro alone.
Again.
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Did you like it? Did you hate it? Tell me! :)
