Okay, here is the next chapter. This day took waaaaaay longer than I expected (I haven't even watched NCIS yet. Thank goodness for DVR!). I hope it was worth the wait. Tomorrow's update will be around the regular time as always.
Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS or its characters.
Tim heard the elevator ding above him and turned to watch Gibbs and Roger stalking towards the Director's office.
Oh, that can't be good.
A few minutes latter, Tony and Ziva came back up. "So, what did you guys find? What was on the flash drive?"
"McGee ..."
"Tony, I'm not going to break."
Zia walked over to McGee and sat on the edge of his desk. "I think it is best if you wait for Gibbs to tell you."
"Ziva ..."
She reached out and placed a finger on his lips. "Wait. It is what Gibbs has asked of you, yes?"
McGee sighed but nodded.
"Good, have you found anything else?"
"Nothing useful."
"Hey, let us be the judge of that McPessimist." Tony also walked over to McGee's desk. "I'll even look at the women, if you want." He was trying to get a smile out of his friend. It only half worked.
"Sure Tony." McGee handed a stack of printouts to him and Ziva.
She nodded and gave a smile, hoping to relieve some of the distress she could see in Tim's eyes. "Do not worry McGee. We will have this figured out soon."
"I know you will." He took a moment to look at both of them. "Thanks guys." He gave a small smile and went back to his searches.
Tony and Ziva gave a worried look to each other but went back to their own desks and started going through the information Tim had found.
XXXX
Gibbs had stormed into Vance's office, per usual. "I guess you've found something Gibbs." Leon looked at the steely expression on the MCRT's Team Leader.
"That damn Theodore is controlling everything from his prison cell. Seible found out and left everything but the details on that damn flash drive. We need to bring that s.o.b here. I need to interrogate him."
"Do we know if the body belongs to Gunny Seible?"
"Not yet, but the flash drive was definitely his. He talks about McGee and Theodore and some sort of 'Final Reckoning and 'Ultimate Destiny'."
"That doesn't sound good. Staff Sergeant Ferris, what do you think?"
"I agree with Agent Gibbs. I think bringing him here is not part of his game plan. It might just throw him off enough that he will talk."
Vance took a moment to look between the two men, both looked angry and determined. "Alright, you two, MTAC, now." He stood and walked around them and out the door, knowing they would be following.
XXX
The meeting in MTAC took the rest of the day to get the coordination between NCIS, the Air Force and Central Prison in Raleigh, North Carolina. They had finally gotten everything settled and Theodore McGrory was scheduled to leave the prison in time to arrive at NCIS by 10:00 hours.
XXXX
Gibbs and Roger came down the stairs and noticed the evening protection detail was already waiting.
Is it really that late already. Damn, McGee went all day without really eating anything. Gibbs was kicking himself. "Alright everyone, time to call it a day."
Tony and Ziva popped up, Tim took a little longer but he was ready to leave with the rest of them.
The ride to the garage was quiet, each lost in their own thoughts.
It had been decided to not let Tim know that his childhood tormentor was on his way to NCIS. Gibbs knew he would have to tell Tony and Ziva so they could be prepared to conduct interrogations. Although, he would get the first crack at Theodore.
Once they were in the car, Gibbs looked at his team while keeping an eye on the road. Ziva was sitting in the front with him. DiNozzo and McGee were in the back. "Okay, just how hungry is everyone?"
"I'm starving Boss! Can we stop someplace on the way?"
"I am hungry as well, but I think it would be a better idea to wait until we get back to your place. Maybe we can order-in ... out." She titled her head sideways.
"It's actually right either way." Tony shoulder bumped Tim. "What's your opinion, McSilent?"
Tim shrugged. "I'm not really hungry guys, but I think Ziva's right, we shouldn't stop anywhere."
"Oh no, McWaif, you're eating something."
"Yes, McGee. I agree."
"Tim ..."
"Alright, alright." McGee actually smiled. "I know Tony will want pizza ..."
"Of course."
"Again? Do you not ever get tired of the same thing?"
"Of pizza? No way!"
"What do you want, Tim?" Gibbs pressed.
Tim shrugged again and took a moment to think. "Well, I haven't had Italian since ..." He shook his head. "No that's not a good idea."
Ziva turned around and looked over the back of her seat a soft expression on her face. "I think it is a very good idea. I have not had Italian in a long time either."
Tony looked between Tim and Ziva. "Since when?"
Tim looked down and murmured very quietly, "Amanda."
There was an awkward silence. Then Tony threw is arm around Tim's shoulder. "Well, then we need to remedy that! You cannot go through life without having Italian! I will be personally offended!"
Tim gave a small smile, "The closest you get being Italian is the pizza you eat."
"Hey! I have you know that we came directly from the old country. I think my dad might even have some mafia ties. Although, I think they may actually be after him ..."
McGee gave a quiet laugh.
It wasn't the full laugh as earlier, but they all were happy to take what they could get.
"Ziva, get in the glove compartment, I have a take-out menus for everything near by. I'm pretty sure there is an Italian restaurant or two that deliver."
"Really, Gibbs?"
"It's either that, or we could call Fornell and have him cook for us. He does Italian pretty well."
All three agents looked at their superior. Tony was the one brave enough to ask. "Um, how do you know ..."
"We share an ex-wife."
No one knew exactly what to say to that. Gibbs smiled to himself at the momentary silence. Tony was the one who broke it. "Okay then ... anyway, hand me that menu, like I said I'm starving!"
"I think McGee should choose first."
"Why ..."
That started the 'bickering' that lasted all the way to Gibbs'. During some point in the drive, he had called the order in and the delivery guy was waiting at the house by the time they pulled up. Gibbs had ordered enough for Abby, Jimmy and Ducky as well, plus a little extra for the Air Force detail.
Gibbs took care of the bill while the Airmen did a security check. Once the all clear was given, he roped Tony and Jimmy into helping him into the house with the food while Ziva and Abby watched after McGee.
This night was livelier than the one before. They got through two more of the saga before Gibbs forced them all to get to bed.
Tim insisted that he could sleep on his own and tried to give up the room he had been using.
Gibbs, placed a hand on his shoulder. "No, Tim. It's the safest bedroom in the house." Tim didn't look convinced. "It will make our job easier. Really."
Gibbs knew that plan of attack would work. Tim sighed and headed to bed, dog in tow.
"So, where you able to get him to talk about his nightmares?" Gibbs asked as he turned to look at Ziva, who had been standing behind him as he sent Tim to bed.
She shook her head. "There was not an opportunity."
Tony came from the kitchen. "Opportunity for what?"
Gibbs sighed and shook his head. "Nothing DiNozzo. Listen, we have arranged to have Theodore brought into NCIS tomorrow."
Tony grinned at looked at Ziva. "Told you so."
Gibbs shook his head at them. "I don't want Tim to know. At least for as long as possible. I want to keep him away from that monster for as long as I can. Be ready for anything, bring your best."
They both nodded at their Team Leader.
"Okay, DiNozzo, you take first shift." He walked past the two of them heading for Abby.
She was busy cleaning up. Even though they had ordered in, there were still some dishes to be done. "Hey Abs, you got a minute?"
"Sure thing Gibbs, just give me one sec." She finished drying some glasses and turned back to Gibbs. "Where to Bossman?"
He smiled, turned and started walking towards the back door, expecting Abby to follow, which she did.
They were sitting outside on the steps, much the same way Gibbs and Ducky the night before. "Tell me what happened today."
"What do you mean?"
Gibbs looked at her and became very serious. "I know that you were not in the bull-pen just to keep Tim company. So, what happened?"
She looked away. "Well, I just wanted to watch him at his desk." She looked back at Gibbs, pleading her case. "You know he looks really good at that desk ... and not just because I'm used to him there. Timmy's turned into such a good agent. Too good. Too many others want to take him away and I just needed to watch him be Special Agent Timothy McGee."
He could see the desperation in her, the way she talked, moved her hands, and the look in her eyes. But, he was still no closer to understanding what had taken place. He moved over to Abby and put a gentle arm around her. "What's got you so freaked out Abs?"
She chewed on her bottom lip, both not wanting to get Tim in trouble and not wanting to voice her own fears.
Gibbs felt her reluctance and gave a quick shoulder squeeze. "It's okay, whatever it is. I won't punish him for it."
It was the right thing to say, as her shoulders slumped and she finally voiced what had bothered her all day long. "He, Timmy, is just so good at so many things ... and they love him down in Cyber-crimes ... do you know they still call him Boss, even though he hasn't been down there in years ... They treat him so great down there ... and we don't always ... I mean most of the time, but not always ... they keep wanting him to come back ... and what if he goes? ... I couldn't blame him ... but I don't want him to go ... I ... I ..."
It came out rushed and run together, pauses only long enough for her to take a breath. When she was done, she leaned into Gibb's shoulder and cried.
Gibbs held her and let her work it out of her system. He knew these kind of tears, had seen them from Kelly on occasion. These were tears of frustration and pent-up emotion. Once she had calmed down, he knew he could start asking questions. "What brought this all up?"
Abby wiped her eyes and her nose with her sleeve. "Tim came and checked on my progress, when we were done, he went to see Ducky. Guess he didn't know there was a call out. He wandered into Cyber-crimes. He does that sometimes when you guys have nothing going on. Did you know that?"
Gibbs nodded, oh yeah, he knew, he didn't like it very much, but he knew. Gibbs thought about putting a stop to it, but couldn't think of a valid reason. He had reasons, he didn't want to share and he didn't want Cyber-crimes thinking they could get Tim back, but even he had to admit, they were not valid work related reasons. However, he couldn't deny Tim when he had seen him come back from Cyber-crimes all smiles and use something he just figured out from there to help on one of their cases.
"He lost track of time down there. When we, Shane, one of the Air Force guys, and me went to get him, everyone down there was just loving the fact he was down there and Joan tried to talk him into going back. He said no, that he was happy where he was, but ..."
He gave another squeeze. "But what?"
Abby started working herself up again. "I know he gets really frustrated with us at times, all of us, and what if ... what if we push to hard and he decides we're not worth it ... what if ..." She was almost crying again.
Gibbs pulled her into a full hug. "Then we are going to have to be careful and make sure he knows that we really do want him with us."
She nodded against him and fought to gain control without more tears. Gibbs wanted to leave it there, but knew he couldn't. "Does this have anything to do with Mexico?"
