Gibbs watched with vested interest as DiNozzo engaged Jenny Shepard in what had the potential and more than likely would turn into a heated conversation. As soon as the Director entered the room, the team leader noticed that Tony's mood seemed to darken; the positive attitude that the younger man had been exuding had vanished and Tony now wore an expression of uncertainty and wariness. There was a lot of history between his senior agent and Jenny and he knew that DiNozzo's distrust of her was warranted. Tony had been caught up in her personal vendetta once before and it had taken him a while to rebound from the fall out of that assignment; ever since then, DiNozzo had been cautious of her and had managed to keep his distance.
Gibbs knew that DiNozzo was mentally bracing himself for Jenny's revelation; he felt the tension radiating off Tony's body and the former Marine hoped that the Director chose her words carefully or she would be on the receiving end of DiNozzo's wrath. Tony no longer wanted sympathy or pity and if he thought for one moment that she was trying to placate him, DiNozzo would quickly put her in her place. Gibbs smiled to himself at that image; he would almost pay to see Tony bring her down a notch or two.
He knew that Tony wouldn't accept her offer and he had told her so, but she didn't want to listen and the team leader was more than prepared to let her experience another epic fail. Gibbs knew that Tony wanted to be his senior field agent and he had every right to reclaim his position; there was nothing wrong with DiNozzo's mind and adaptations could be made for his physical disabilities. He had spent the better part of this past week making special modifications to Tony's apartment and he would be willing to do whatever was necessary to make sure that his work area was suitable for him as well.
Gibbs just hoped that Jenny kept her word and would permit Tony to resume his role if he turned down her job offer, which he would do. If she didn't, she would lose more than the best senior field agent that had graced the doors of NCIS; the Director would lose Gibbs and probably his team and he knew that SecNav wouldn't be thrilled at that possibility. Although there would be a few stipulations to DiNozzo returning to his status as senior field agent, Gibbs knew that Tony could handle anything that Jenny threw his way.
"I'm prepared to offer you something that I don't think you can turn down," Jenny said with nearly unbridled enthusiasm.
"And what would that be?" Tony asked, his tone betraying his doubts.
Now was the moment of truth; even though his instincts told him how Tony was going to react to Jenny's offer, he was looking forward to hearing the words come out of DiNozzo's mouth.
"First of all," she began. "Let me just say that I hope that you will carefully consider this offer; you passed up a golden opportunity when you didn't take the job in Rota."
"I don't have any regrets."
"I find that hard to believe but I won't dispute that point with you."
"Good idea; you'd be wasting your time if you did."
"I know." Jenny's gaze briefly alternated between Tony and Gibbs. "You two are too much alike."
"Thank you," Gibbs and Tony said in unison.
Gibbs hid his grin as he ignored Jenny's harsh stare. "Agent Gibbs, perhaps you need to go get some more coffee," she coolly suggested. He knew that she wasn't fond of him being present while she talked to Tony but he had made it abundantly clear to her during their discussion that he wouldn't be leaving DiNozzo's side. Gibbs knew that Tony wouldn't have any problem standing up to Jenny; the team leader just wanted to make sure that DiNozzo knew that he had his six.
"Nah, I'm good," he shot back. "Please continue, Director."
"Please do," Tony added. "I'm curious as to what you have to say."
"All right," Jenny conceded. "Tony, your…condition has raised a lot of questions that we've never considered before; in fact, although there is a policy regarding employees with disabilities but there are a lot of gray areas. One of those gray areas include how to handle agents with permanent disabilities who want to come back to work."
Gibbs made a mental note to look up that policy and read it; if there were that many 'gray' areas, then he would need to identify them and make sure that they would work in Tony's favor. He listened intently as Jenny continued her well-rehearsed spiel.
"SecNav and I feel that you still have a lot to offer NCIS and that your talents would be wasted by sitting behind a desk and…"
"That's good," Tony interjected. "Because I have no intention of being a desk jockey."
"Which is why SecNav has offered me the authority to create a special position for you," she boasted. "If you choose to accept this position, you will serve as a consultant to the various team leaders, so technically you'll still be working with Gibbs on occasion; however, your main role will be as an instructor at FLETC. You will be teaching a new class that is being created and training new recruits to…"
"I'm not a teacher," the dark-haired man reminded her.
"That's where you're wrong," Jenny insisted. "Gibbs says that you're the best agent he's ever worked with; personally, I kind of took offense to that but truthfully, I have to agree. You're good at what you do and although sometimes your methods have been unorthodox at times, both McGee and Ziva have informed me that you've taught them a lot both personally and professionally.
"You've managed to stay with Gibbs longer than anyone and it's obvious that you've learned a lot in your seven years together. You would get to write the curriculum and no one will tell you how to teach as long as it results in these probationary agents coming into the field a little more seasoned. There are so many young agents coming up that don't have the instincts and street smarts that you do," Jenny pointed out. "They need to understand that life isn't necessarily black and white and both SecNav and I think that you are the perfect man for the job."
"You can't teach instincts and street smarts," Tony stated, each word forcefully spoken.
"I disagree."
"Do you disagree or are you trying to talk me into a job that doesn't exist except in a supposed conversation between you and SecNav? How stupid do you think I am? A consultant? A teacher? What's next? Hey, maybe I could be the Director."
Gibbs couldn't help but notice how tired Tony suddenly appeared. File lines of fatigue and irritation were evident on his face and judging by the daggers that were being directed at the Director, he knew that DiNozzo was about ready to tell her what she could do with her so called job offer. He settled back in his chair; things were about to get interesting.
"I guess you think you're funny," Jenny fumed.
"Most of the time," DiNozzo shot back. "You know Director, I'm not sure what I was expecting but I had a feeling that I shouldn't get my hopes up. Looks like I was right."
"Tony, be reasonable. This is a good opportunity for you to prove that you still have a lot to offer."
"Is that what you think I need to do? You think I have something to prove? A wise man told me not too long ago that I didn't have anything to prove," Tony declared. "I think my record should stand for itself. I don't need a special job created for me; as far as I know, I still have a job. As you pointed out, I'm good at my job; why do I need a new one?"
Gibbs could see that Jenny was actually surprised that Tony was telling her no. He knew from personal experience that she usually refused to accept no as an answer, especially if she thought she was right. However, Jenny should have learned from the last time she had to deal with DiNozzo on a professional level, that once he made up his mind, it was nearly impossible to change it.
"How can you be a senior field agent when you can't go out in the field?" Jenny wanted to know.
"We'll work around it."
"How?"
"I have a team and…"
"You're being selfish, Agent DiNozzo. We are offering you an opportunity that many agents would give their right arm for and you're turning it down."
Gibbs didn't miss that slight tremor in Tony's hand as he gingerly raked his hand through his hair. He had a feeling that he was going to have to soon put and end to the conversation; Jenny's presence was wearing on DiNozzo's already frazzled nerves.
"That's a load of crap, Director," Tony growled. "You came up with this job so that I'd be out of your hair; this job would be great for someone who's going to retire in a few years, who wants to ride out his last few years on easy street. Don't insult me by pretending otherwise."
"Do you know how hard this is going to be not only on you, but on your team? You're going to have to requalify on your weapon from a wheelchair and…"
"I know it's not going to be easy but if I can't do my job, it's going to be my decision and not yours."
Defeat was written on the Director's face and Gibbs thought he saw a hint of acceptance in her eyes. He had tried to warn her that Tony was not going to perceive her offer as an honor; Gibbs had known that DiNozzo would reject the offer because he would have done the same.
"All right, Agent DiNozzo," she sighed. "You win. Your job as senior field agent will be waiting for you if you come back."
"Don't you mean when?"
"There are conditions to your return and I will make sure that Agent Gibbs has the list of stipulations within the next couple of days; as long as you satisfactorily meet them, you will be able to resume your position as senior field agent."
"What about McGee?" Tony asked.
"He will continue to serve as interim senior field agent until your return; it's been a good learning experience for him. Agent McGee has already told me that he wasn't as ready as he thought he was to fill your shoes; he will step down if you come back to work."
Gibbs stared at Jenny, his eyes betraying the uncertainty that he felt regarding her revelation about McGee. The younger man had not informed him of his decision to resume his previous place on the team; he would definitely have to have a talk with Tim about accountability and chain of command.
"When do you think you'll try to come back to work?" Jenny inquired.
"I don't know, but I'm sure you'll be the second to know."
With a curt nod, Jenny dismissed herself and headed towards the door; Gibbs immediately rose from his seat and followed her. He caught up to her as she reached the elevator. "Don't say it," the Director warned.
"Say what?"
"You're just dying to say I told you so."
"Nah, you already took care of that. I just want to know what you think you're trying to do by putting these 'stipulations' on DiNozzo."
"He's got to prove that he's capable of doing the job of a senior field agent, especially if he's going to do it from a wheelchair."
"You want him to fail, don't you?" Gibbs challenged.
"No, Jethro, I don't want him to fail; believe it or not, I have his best interests in mind," she tried to assure him.
"That's why you offered him a pie job?"
"I offered him the job because I thought it was something that he would be able to do…"
"In a wheelchair?" the team leader blurted out, purposefully finishing her sentence.
The doors to the elevator opened and Jenny entered the lift car; she held the button that kept the doors open as she angrily glared at him. "I'm going to ignore that last remark, Agent Gibbs. I'll have those requirements for you by tomorrow morning; I'll email them to you and to Agent DiNozzo, so you better actually check your email instead of letting it sit in your inbox for several months."
The doors closed and Gibbs couldn't help but laugh at the fact that Jenny still had to have the last word; he figured that it made her feel more powerful or gave her an unusual sense of satisfaction to believe that she had won an argument. He turned and headed back down towards Tony's room; the team leader had given DiNozzo a few moments alone to get his thoughts together and now it was time for them to talk. He wanted to make sure that the Director's visit had not quenched the fire that was fueling Tony's desire and determination to get better.
He entered Tony's room to find him staring out the window. Gibbs sat down beside him and gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze. "You all right?"
Tony nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine."
"You don't sound fine."
"Well, maybe pissed is a more accurate description."
"Can't blame you there."
"She's got a lot of nerve," Tony mumbled. "Did she really think I was going to accept that so called job offer? It wasn't a job offer! It was a…it was an insult! She thought that I would jump, no pun intended, at the idea of wasting my life by…" DiNozzo blew out a frustrated breath. "The Director can take her wonderful job offer and go to hell."
Gibbs patiently waited for Tony to continue. He was aware that the younger man had just begun his tirade and the team leader was not going to deny him the opportunity to rant and express the anger and doubts that Jenny's visit had resurrected. The subsequent weeks after the shooting were filled with uncertainty and there were days that Gibbs wasn't sure that Tony had even wanted to live; now, DiNozzo was fighting with everything he had and the older man wanted to make sure that Tony's efforts weren't in vain.
"I can't believe she thinks I'm that naïve," DiNozzo continued. "I can still do my job, Gibbs; I'm damn good at it and I don't have anything to prove! Isn't that what you said?"
"Yep."
"Then why all of a sudden do I have stipulations that I have to meet before I can come back to work? It's a bunch of crap."
"I know it is, but you know something, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked.
"What?"
"I think that whatever she throws at you, you'll just pick it up and throw it back at her."
Gibbs didn't miss the small, mischievous grin that danced upon Tony's lips. "She'll never know what hit her," DiNozzo said.
The team leader returned his smile. "No, she won't."
Tony cleared his throat. The team leader could tell that DiNozzo was still anxious about something; Gibbs fought back the urge to curse Jenny for causing Tony so much turmoil.
"Gibbs, being an NCIS agent is who I am.," Tony quietly stated. "I can't give it up; I won't give it up."
"Damn straight. You think about giving up and you'll answer to me," Gibbs warned.
"Thanks, Gibbs."
"For what?"
"Having my back."
"Always, DiNozzo. Always."
The agent glanced at his watch. "It's about lunchtime and I'm kind of hungry; do you want to go down to the cafeteria?"
"Sure," Tony eagerly replied. "They're having a choice of sweet and sour chicken or broccoli and beef for lunch; of course, if Edith's working, you can get both."
"Edith? As in Mrs. Kiser?"
"Yep, she started volunteering here the first of the week," Tony informed him. "She said she wanted to keep an eye on me to make sure I'm doing what my doctor tells me to do."
"I wondered where she had been," Gibbs mused. "Usually when I'm at your place, she makes an appearance and makes sure that I clean up after myself; she obviously can't bear the thought of her Anthony coming home to a dirty apartment. She hasn't been by the past couple of days; I just figured that she had something else to do."
"She likes to stay busy and I think she's found her calling; the food here has been incredible since she started and everyone loves her. If I'm not careful, I'm going to have some competition from the other patients."
"You'll still be her favorite," Gibbs promised him. The old woman was completely taken with Tony and would do anything for him and the team leader knew that the feelings were completely mutual on DiNozzo's part.
"Yeah, you're probably right."
Gibbs maneuvered Tony out of his room and out into the corridor. "Lead the way," he insisted. DiNozzo had been working on strengthening his arms by driving his wheelchair; he was getting stronger everyday and Gibbs was more than pleased with his progress.
"Follow me."
As the two men headed down the corridor, side by side, Gibbs couldn't help but think how far DiNozzo had come. Although he would probably never understand the purpose behind Tony's paralysis, he knew that it had forced DiNozzo to reach down inside his soul and harness the inner strength that he had always possessed. There wasn't a doubt about it; Tony DiNozzo was the strongest man that he had ever met and it was an honor not only to call him friend, but to call him son.
A special thanks to AZGirl for her help with this! You're just awesome! Anyway, thank you to my loyal and patient readers; I hope that you enjoy the post and by the time you were done reading it, you were cheering Tony on!
We're almost done with this story! Can you guys believe it? Anyway, thanks again for your unwavering support and I hope that you have enjoyed the ride! Off to proof a chapter of 'From the Ashes!'