Gibbs smirked when the CIA agent across from him started to speak. He was sputtering as he tried to figure out how to lie.

"Who gave you the money?" Gibbs asked again.

"Nobody. I didn't get any money…" Agent Thomas tried to lie.

"Bull! Stop lying and answer my question," Gibbs growled angrily. "My agent's life was almost ended because of you!"

"Fine! It was Anthony DiNozzo Senior! He gave me the money and a piece of paper with instructions written on it. I was supposed to follow the instructions. He wanted his son dead."

"Why?"

"I don't know. He wouldn't tell me anything else."

"How were you going to tell him when the job was done?" Fornell asked.

"I have a cell phone number. I don't know if it will actually work or not, I've never had to call it."

"Give it to us, now."

"Is anyone else trying to murder Special Agent DiNozzo?" Gibbs snarled.

"Not that I know of. I doubt it, though. Mr DiNozzo seemed like a one-man job sort of thing."

"Explain yourself."

"I mean, I don't think he would ask anyone else to do this job unless the person already doing it fails."

"What do you mean by 'fail'?"

"What do you think I mean? Anything less than death is a fail."

"Where can I find Mr DiNozzo?"

"I don't know."

Gibbs pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. "Call him. Tell him you need to speak to him." He threw the phone to Agent Thomas.

Agent Thomas glared at Gibbs for a moment, but he knew he had no choice in the matter. He sighed and dialled the phone number he had made himself memorise.

"This is Anthony. Who am I speaking to?" said a voice on the other end of the phone call.

"It's Agent Thomas. There's been a problem, and I need to speak to you. Can we meet somewhere?"

"Is it urgent?"

"Very much so."

"Fine. I have thirty minutes between my meetings this afternoon. We can meet at two thirty outside Denise's Café on Wilshire Boulevard."

"Thank you," said Agent Thomas with a soft sigh. He hung up. "Is that good enough for you?" he asked sarcastically.

"Tony," said Gibbs when he got back to his desk.

"Yes, boss?" asked Tony.

"I'm going to be out of the office this afternoon. I don't know how long I'll be gone, but I'm leaving you in charge. If you have any problems, call my cell, but ask Morrow first."

"Okay, boss. Where are you going?"

"Fornell wants my help with something. He won't tell me until I get there," lied Gibbs. He threw in an eye roll in the hopes that Tony would believe him.

"Alright. Be careful, Gibbs." Tony smiled and returned to a message he had been typing on his phone.

Two thirty came quickly. Gibbs was sitting in Fornell's car, watching as Agent Thomas spoke to Tony's father. Gibbs was desperate for information that could put the man in prison, but he was only half listening. His mind was filled with worry about what would happen if the CIA agent somehow blew things. He needed to keep Tony safe, but he didn't want Tony to know what was going on. The younger man had finally relaxed and was allowing himself to get better. He couldn't jeopardise that.

"So, you're telling me that you can't make my son's death happen?" asked Senior finally. "Why not?"

"He's protected by his boss and fellow NCIS agents. They won't leave him alone for more than half a minute," answered Agent Thomas.

"So, kill them as well. The less cops in this world, the better."

"You do know I work for the CIA, don't you?"

"If you weren't corrupt, I wouldn't have been able to get you to agree to this deal."

Gibbs felt his anger rising more, even though he had thought that was impossible.

"We got him, Gibbs," said Fornell as he prepared to open his car door. "Are you coming or not?"

Gibbs turned to his friend. "Are you sure we got it on tape? I don't want anything to ruin this."

"We've got everything we need. Let's go." With that, Fornell got out of the car and started walking towards Tony's father and Agent Thomas.

Tony grinned when he saw Tessa step out of the elevator. She looked like she was searching for someone or something, and Tony knew exactly what it was.

"He's not here, Tessa," said Tony, his amusement evident in his voice. "I'm in charge for the afternoon."

Tessa breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank god. I haven't seen him since you handed the report over for me. How did he take it?"

"He laughed. Believe me, he took your comments as a compliment. To him, it means he still has what it takes to be tough. He likes to push people past their limits."

"He can be scary, Tony. Scarier than any headmaster I ever had."

"Maybe, but he's the best boss ever. I'm really glad I met him in Baltimore."

"I can see that. I think everyone can see that. Or maybe it's just because I know you and I know what Gibbs represents in your life."

"That has to stay between us, okay?" Tony asked, suddenly very serious.

"I understand. Nobody will hear it from me." Tessa smiled. "Hey, do you think I still have a place on this team after this week is over?"

"I don't doubt it. Gibbs likes you, I like you. That's really all Gibbs wants in his agents. Of course, it helps that you are good at the job."

"I hope you are right. I like this team, this job. NCIS is great, but I like being pushed, and Gibbs certainly does that."