NCIS

McGee stood frozen, looking down into Riley's fiery, manic eyes as he felt the pressure of the gun in Riley's hand press against his jacket and vest. Behind him, Cassandra Vianne knelt on the floor of her office, trembling with fear, clawing at the floor with one hand and clutching her navel with the other. Around them, Tony, Ziva, and Gibbs aimed rifles and shotguns at Riley, not knowing who would be the first to pull the trigger. The sun drifted down over the hills, letting the room darken with only the parking lot lights illuminating it. McGee wasn't sure if he was even breathing as he continued his staring match with Riley.

"Tim, what are you-"

Riley attempted to move forward around McGee and aim the gun away from him, but McGee quickly put his hands around Riley's wrists and kept the gun pressed against himself. Riley kept his finger off the trigger and tried to pull away, but McGee kept the gun in place against his lower torso. He could tell that Riley was following his instincts, and he hoped he could change Riley's mind before fear took over completely. Despite wearing a bulletproof vest, McGee didn't want to test the Glock 18's strength at point-blank range.

Tony took note of McGee's hand close to the gun and stepped closer.

McGee shot him a warning look. "Don't! Let me do this."

Riley frowned. "I'm not going to shoot you, Tim. Move, now."

"No," McGee refused and kept the gun aimed towards himself. "You'll have to shoot me to get to her."

Riley swallowed hard. "Tim, please don't… She's responsible for the deaths of so many people. Don't take her side."

"I'm not," McGee whispered. "I'm on yours. That's why I don't want you to do this. You don't want to, either, but I know you think it's the only way."

Riley pressed the gun harder as if trying to push McGee out of the way again, but McGee didn't budge. "She… is… lying!" He repeated through gritted teeth. "She's trying to play you, using a fake baby as a shield because she can't take what she's been dishing out to others."

McGee didn't break his stare from Riley, but he turned his head slightly to the side to speak back to Vianne. "Cassandra, make me believe you. You can't be both the Regional Director and be Amber."

Vianne took a shaky breath before looking up at him. "I am. I told you I was expendable because I didn't know if I could trust you, and I didn't want any rumors going around that a higher-up in OMNI was trying to leave."

"Leave?" Ziva asked suspiciously. "How is trying to have every single one of us killed multiple times considered 'leaving?'"

"You have no idea what being under OMNI is like!" she spat, her voice squeaking and her blue eyes watering with hot tears. "Everything about you is leverage. Everything. No matter how much I made my entire life about OMNI, no matter how I presented myself to the other Regional Directors, it was never enough to really be untouchable. I could've gone after the Originals whenever I wanted, but I needed something up my sleeve in case I got in trouble. Even after you all discovered that warehouse all because that stupid fucking dealer overdosed on his own fucking drugs, I still had a lot of power because I had a lot of connections, but I was on shaky ground with OMNI. By then, I was already screwing around with Jack."

"Corporal Halsted?" McGee asked, connecting the dots.

"Yes," Vianne breathed. "It was just a casual thing at first for me, a stress release. But then… I missed a period. OMNI's systems automatically analyze my card purchases, and I'm constantly under watch by guards when I'm out of the office, so me even thinking of buying a pregnancy test was out of the question. So, I looked at the FBI records from Agent Mathis' case, and I chose you, Agent McGee. I knew you'd help someone trying to get out after OMNI killed someone you cared about. You were my backup plan if I couldn't get out myself. I used the name 'Amber' because if someone else in OMNI even thought it was me, they could use it to threaten me, and I'd lose all control."

She sniffed again and her voice broke. "I… I thought I was high up enough that I would be able buy my way out of OMNI by getting rid of enough Originals, so I used Hall to get me a shipment of weapons, and I planned to have her take my place after I sent the Ridgebacks out. Then you came and told me that Jack was dead. I never even cared that he was dead, but I… I-I just knew then that there was no 'getting out' of OMNI, pregnant or not. So, I had to destroy it from the inside out, and I was ready to do that, but all of you just kept getting in the way. You kept fighting."

Riley growled. "She never once tried to really hurt OMNI except when it made her look better."

"I gave you Hall on a silver platter, you dumb fuck!" she screeched.

"TO SAVE YOURSELF!" Riley snarled and pushed against McGee again, but McGee kept him firmly at bay.

"Just everyone breathe for a second," Gibbs suggested commandingly, though he kept his weapon raised towards Riley. "What else?"

Vianne took another staggered breath. "I sent Hall's information to the Originals because she was a loose end and a good way to injure OMNI. Alyssa was a loose end, too. I couldn't risk either of them leading back to me once the Originals started fighting back. When King was killed, that made one less person who knew who I was and broke part of OMNI's link in the FBI. I just needed to make it to Sunday, then the baby and I could both disappear. I recoded the auction so that when it ends, all the money goes straight into one of my accounts and the entire platform will destroy itself. OMNI would fall apart, and we would disappear with over $300 Million." She looked up bitterly at Gibbs and McGee. "Do you really think a trained FBI Agent in her own office wouldn't be armed and ready the second that lockdown alarm sounded? I've been in enough firefights that I could've held my ground even against an assault rifle, but I didn't because I won't risk this baby's life."

Gibbs stared through her, analyzing every possible facet of her story and of her face while telling it. McGee also weighed her story, but he did not look away from Riley and he still kept the gun to his gut.

Gibbs squinted his eyes and softly called, "Riley… she's telling the truth."

Riley shook his head. "No."

"Riley," McGee breathed, staring softly but intensely back at Riley. "Think about this. I know you are terrified right now, but I also know that you want to go back to having a normal life. You could've changed the barrels in your rifle so we couldn't match you to the two crime scenes, but you didn't. You could've completely erased your trail from your flight to Texas to go after Hall, but you left the FAA log there. And you could've worn gloves to the hospital, but you wanted us to know you were there. You know how to get around all of this but you wanted a trail so you could come clean at the end and not have to be running anymore. You regretted running away before, and you're right there again. Please, don't leave me behind."

Riley's lip quivered and his face betrayed uncertainty. He whispered, "We can't just think about us. Taking her out will unravel OMNI's hold in the government and save hundreds if not thousands of people! There's no other way!"

"Yes there is," McGee whispered back. "You have to try to trust us."

"You can't trust her," Riley pressed, the quaking in his body beginning to show.

McGee could see Riley's defense cracking. He needed something else to get through to him. His brain sped through his list of possibilities, what he could do, and what Riley had told him. His heart felt heavy seeing Riley more afraid than he'd ever seen him before, and he knew Riley needed to feel safe. It wasn't about getting through to a man ready to commit murder, it was about saving Riley from his nightmares. With that in mind, he realized what he had to do.

"I'm not trusting her," McGee replied. His heart raced as he slowly reached up to his jacket's zipper and pulled it down.

"Wait," Riley started in confusion. "Wait, stop!"

"MCGEE!" Gibbs warned, aiming his rifle again.

Space opened between him and McGee, but his gun was still too close to McGee for the others to risk rushing at Riley. McGee pulled off his jacket, revealing his bulletproof vest and the t-shirt underneath. Keeping his hands visible, he slowly peeled off the Velcro straps from each side. Knowing there was no turning back, and realizing he didn't want to, he took off the vest. McGee then stepped forward, letting the gun press back against his shirt-covered torso.

"I'm trusting you," McGee continued with a look of complete honesty and care on his face.

"Tim, no!" he whimpered. "Put your vest back on! They're coming! She's dangerous!"

McGee shook his head. "Yes, she is. She's the reason there are still stiches on my back, she organized those people that came after you, and she's the reason why there's an armed convoy on its way here. Nothing you can do now will change any of that. But right now, she'd have to go through me to hurt you again. Not even a vest, just me. And I'm ready to let that happen if it means you won't pull this trigger."

Riley's mouth slacked open, and tears welled in his eyes. His voice weakened. "No… I have to stop her. All of it has to stop."

"And it will," McGee promised softly, his own voice starting to crack with emotion. "I swear. We can stop OMNI. Then you and I can go back to staying in and reading books, or going out to the movies, standing together in the rain, all of it, and she will get what's coming to her. But this… I know this isn't who you want to be. If you do this, if you kill her and her baby, you won't come back from that. So, I'm trusting you. Don't go where I can't be with you like we used to be."

Riley's hand shook as he looked from McGee's eyes down to where the gun pressed into his stomach, then back up to his eyes. A tear spilled over and down his cheek. "B-but how will we be safe? How c-can things be normal again if she's still out there?"

McGee gently raised his left hand to Riley's cheek and swiped away the tear, then let the hand travel down to take Riley's right hand. He stepped closer, Riley's elbow bending but the gun still at McGee's torso. With Riley's hand in his, he let it travel around to his back and under his shirt, then guided Riley's arm up so that Riley could feel the stitches on McGee's back. While doing that, McGee gently placed his other hand over Riley's on the Glock.

"We'll look after each other, and preferably not from a distance this time," McGee answered with a smart smile. "Do you think you could trust me to handle her?"

Riley's lips pressed together, and he finally nodded and dove into McGee's chest, quietly sobbing into his shirt as he released the gun. McGee felt a surge of relief, then let his left hand slide behind Riley's neck and up into his hair. He didn't pry the gun away from Riley, but rather let it slide from Riley's grip and took it in his right hand. Riley used his newly-freed hand to take a fistful of McGee's t-shirt and pull him closer as he had his own tearful emotional release. The other three observing agents exhaled and lowered their weapons after seeing Riley stand down. Riley was still heavily armed, but it was clear he wasn't going to reach for his rifle or other pistols.

McGee kissed Riley's forehead and held him close, then slowly turned to his right to get a better look at Vianne, who was still kneeling on the floor but now with an almost hopeful look on her face. McGee didn't raise the Glock to aim at her, but he brandished it to make it clear to her that he had it ready for use. He held Riley protectively and looked down at Vianne. A flare of anger rushed through his eyes, and he didn't try to hide it as he stared down at her.

"You are going to help us wipe the entire OMNI platform, tracking virus included. Then you'll use every ounce of power you have to help all of the people whose lives you destroyed."

Concern crept back onto Vianne's face as she noticed the gun, but she nodded and accepted the judgement. She slowly got to her feet and hesitantly stood, still recognizing that she was still surrounded by the others. "I can do better than that, but there won't be much time. The Kyoto Knights' armed convoy should be here in ten, maybe fifteen minutes. The only way to fully wipe the platform and the virus together in that time is by activating the self-destruct sequence across the entire Vault. But what you need is the entire list of OMNI operatives, Originals, and defectors. It will give you everything you need to take down OMNI, but it's in the sensitive files that will only be unlocked after the auction completes."

Gibbs frowned. "If you have access to the files, give it to us and we'll take the files first, then blow the Vault."

Vianne shook her head. "My access only lets you read the profile on the screen, and there are hundreds of profiles. The end of the auction opens up the security to allow the upload to the winner. You'll have a couple of minutes to upload the list before the server room explodes."

Tony grimaced worriedly. "Wait, but won't that still release the virus? We can't let that go."

"If it means wiping out the OMNI platform and letting the Originals come out of hiding, I'd say that's worth it," McGee reasoned, then turned back to Vianne. "What kind of self-destruct does the Vault have? A thermite mixture like the laptops?"

Vianne shook her head. "The server racks are lined with primer cord and small amounts of C4. You'll need to move fast after the auction if you plan to get out alive. All I want is for you to let me leave before the Knights' convoy get here."

"I don't like this," Ziva noted. "If we just blow the whole data center, the virus and the platform will still be destroyed. The Originals already know how to hide from OMNI. They'll be okay."

Riley took a breath and released McGee, then whispered up to him, "If you don't release the list, the programmers of the virus will still be out there. They'll be able to recreate the management program and the platform, and the only thing we will have gained is time."

McGee nodded and looked around at the others, still keeping close contact with Riley with his hand on Riley's shoulder. "I think he's right. Even more than destroying the platform, we need the list to arrest everyone involved. Once we have the programmers, we can figure out how to deactivate the virus and make it useless to the buyer."

Thinking it over, Gibbs raised his wrist mic. "Abby, Cal, get ready to reconnect the link. We'll be starting the auction and sending you data as soon as it's over, but you need to be ready to leave as soon as you have it."

"Yes sir!" Abby replied.

Gibbs continued, "Alyssa, are you in position?"

Alyssa answered, "Yes, out front in a black Nissan."

"Stand by to receive Riley and Vianne, and bring them back to base," Gibbs ordered.

"Check her for garter and ankle holsters," Alyssa added. "She always has something."

Gibbs looked over to Ziva and nodded. Ziva smiled curiously and moved swiftly behind Vianne. She quickly lifted Vianne's arms and frisked her for weapons, paying close attention as her hands scanned down the sides Vianne's skirt. Something caught her attention, and before Vianne could argue, Ziva quickly reached up her skirt and whipped down the elastic garter holster holding a compact 9mm pistol. McGee frowned at Vianne and cautiously put back on his bulletproof vest and jacket.

Riley looked back up to McGee. "I'm not going. I won't leave you here when there are 20 people on the way."

McGee opened his mouth to reply, but Gibbs interjected.

"No. You're compromised. I can't trust you here."

"You need me here," Riley argued. "If Tim's busy with the server, that leaves 3 of you against 20. I'm staying to keep Tim safe. Everything else, I'll… I'll defer to you," he conceded with a sigh.

Gibbs's eyes narrowed as he stared calculatingly into Riley's eyes, then his gaze darted over to McGee. "If he stays, he's your responsibility."

McGee looked from Gibbs to Riley and nodded. He released his gentle hold on Riley's shoulder. He echoed Riley's own question to him when he quietly asked, "You sure you're up for this?"

Riley glanced over to Vianne, who was still being held by Ziva. His eyes flickered with temptation, but he turned his back to her and looked up at McGee. "The only thing I'm sure about is being with you. I think I can handle being your personal security, but I guess I'll have to be trusting your gut instead of mine."

"Just for now." McGee smiled and handed the Glock 18 back to Riley, then started towards the stairs down. "Let's go."

NCIS

Director Shepard bolted upright out of her desk chair and shouted into her phone, "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR GODDAMN MIND?!"

Gibbs quickly moved his cell phone away from his ear as Shepard's enraged tirade blasted through the speaker. Her voice reverberated in the enclosed stairwell and drew the interest of the other agents following him down.

"-CLEAR THAT I WANTED CLANDESTINE OPERATIONS AND YOU GIVE ME A WARZONE!"

"Can you send backup or not?" he huffed impatiently.

"You couldn't give me any more notice than this, could you?" she fumed. "Alright, hold them off as long as you can. It won't be easy to make sure the wrong ears don't hear about this, but I'm sending support now."

Gibbs growled frustratedly. "They're going to hear about it soon enough anyway. Just keep my damn team alive!" He slapped his phone shut and shoved it into his pocket.

The team walked out into the hallway with Gibbs and Vianne leading the way, Tony and Ziva behind them, and McGee and Riley taking up the rear. A set of thick metal doors leading into the center of the building stood halfway down the hallway, just down from the elevator and stairway. Vianne reached into her purse and pulled out her keychain, which held her access card and a silver USB drive. She swiped the card over the sensor, then looked into the optical scanner until it chimed and unlocked the doors. Riley nodded to McGee and they both drew their pistols, then they quickly rushed through the doors.

The hum of busy electronics was temporarily drowned by the clicking of the door handles, but soon the quiet rush of ventilation fans and the buzz of thousands of server racks overwhelmed the stillness. A wide corridor split the width of the room in half between dozens of rows of 7-foot-tall server racks, each blinking with hundreds of tiny indicator lights. Riley looked down one aisle and counted twenty racks on one side of one row alone. Thick bundles of cables ran along the length of the ceiling supported by metal scaffolding. Tony and Ziva continued sweeping the Vault with their weapons also drawn while Gibbs led Vianne slowly through behind Riley and McGee.

They continued down the aisle until halfway down the Vault, where they turned to the left and over to smaller set of four racks stationed against the wall. In front of the four racks was a large desk with two computers and four monitors, each displaying various diagnostic and operational readings about the data center. To its left was a large panel holding several dials and buttons, the most prominent of which was a large red button labeled "Emergency Shut-Off" in bold print.

Tony looked to Ziva and waited for her confirming nod, then called out, "Clear!"

Vianne walked up to the desk and opened the silver USB drive on her keychain, then reached it out to the computer.

"Wait," McGee interrupted, before slipping into the chair in front of the desk and taking the USB drive from Vianne.

"It's my authentication key," she explained. "Surely you've seen them before."

McGee raised an eyebrow suspiciously. "Yes, and they've destroyed the computers we've worked on."

Vianne put one hand on her hip and frowned down at him. "Right, because I keep all my fake OMNI keys on the keychain with my real badge and my car keys? You're wasting time."

He realized that they didn't have much choice, so he begrudgingly inserted the drive. After a moment, all of the diagnostic windows minimized to a small corner and were replaced by a box asking for a password. Vianne slowly recited the ten-digit pin while McGee typed each number, then he repeated the sequence to himself to commit it to memory before hitting Enter.

The screen then loaded to a black desktop similar to the one he had seen on the OMNI laptop they dissected. Vianne began guiding him through, telling him which folders and programs to open to access the auction platform. While he clicked through the system, Riley opened the clear door to one of the server racks and inspected the inside. He pulled out his flashlight to shine around the frame, then he saw what he was looking for – a yellow-and-silver cord snaked along the corners of the rack, each running through small dollops of a white clay-like substance. He backed slowly away from the rack and rather gingerly closed the door.

Riley looked grimly over to Gibbs. "RDX and C4, as she said. One server self-destructing won't set off a chain reaction, but the shrapnel from it could kill. I wouldn't want to be fifty feet from even one of these when they go off."

Gibbs narrowed his eyes, then walked up to Vianne. "What's to stop OMNI from detonating the servers once we open up the connection?"

She kept her stare at the computer screens. "When Zero had me update the auction time, I used that update to change the terminal security codes. Now any of you that memorized my security code can set it off from one of the computers. Otherwise, OMNI will have to manually set the destruct code on those dials," she pointed to the wall panel.

"So, we could stop it?" he inferred. "Preserve the evidence?"

She shrugged, then looked sternly at him. "If you can get around the security to modify the auction program, go for it. But I've lived up to my end of the bargain, and I want to leave. Right now."

Gibbs scanned her once again for any signs of deception, and though it went against his instinct to simply arrest her, he nodded. "McGee, you all set?"

McGee's mouth was slowly growing to a smirk as he navigated the OMNI operating system. "Almost, Boss. Linking up to the Originals server now."

Gibbs nodded. "DiNozzo, stay here. Mathis, David, with me." He waved them forward and gestured Vianne to follow.

The Vault doors were fitted with motion sensors for the inside to ensure that anyone could get out after they had been let in by someone with access. As Gibbs led Riley and Ziva out of the Vault, Abby and Cal were gasping over the radio.

"My god, look at all of the files!" Abby squeaked in awe. "We're starting the upload to ZNN. The news is going to go crazy tomorrow."

Cal opened a window on the screen and scrolled through the folders. "Completed assassinations, bank records, and this isn't even the heavily protected stuff. I don't know if we even have room for it all!"

"Take what you can now, but we need that internet link up and fast," McGee cautioned. "I don't want to be in this room any longer than we have to."

After Ziva, Gibbs, and Vianne were through the lobby security doors, Riley propped the right-side door open and followed as Gibbs led Vianne across the floor of shattered bulletproof glass. Ziva checked on the receptionist, who still seemed unconscious but alive, and motioned for Riley to help pick her up. The two carried the girl out to the curb where Alyssa waited in a black Nissan sedan with the passenger window down. Alyssa leaned over the seat to speak to Gibbs but winced and grabbed her chest.

Gibbs frowned with concern. "Get them back to the office and get yourself checked out before you evacuate. And make sure no one messes with her, especially," he nodded over to Vianne, who was getting into the back seat while Riley put the unconscious receptionist in on the other side.

Alyssa threw him a dubious look. "You know they'll want to tear her limb-from-limb, right? I thought she was your ticket out."

"She's pregnant," Gibbs replied.

Alyssa looked back at Vianne, then thudded her head against the steering wheel. "Goddammit. Fine. I'll do my best. Good luck."

"Hold on," Gibbs quickly halted her, then looked over the car and motioned for Riley to come closer.

Riley nodded and quickly rounded the car while Ziva walked back to the building.

Gibbs studied Riley for a moment, then exhaled apprehensively. "Last chance. I gotta know that you're not going to break down again. I'm trying to trust you, but you're making it very hard."

Riley raised his eyebrow dubiously but paused to consider Gibbs' request. "I don't think there's anything I can say that will change your mind right now. I don't blame you, but you have to know that I didn't plan this before we got here. I don't know if I can make you understand because this fight isn't personal to you and that's one of your Rules, but it's entirely personal to me."

"You are personal to me, though," Gibbs corrected. "The whole team is. I will always care about what happens to you, Riley, which is why I'm concerned when I see a side of you that I don't know. I'm trying to give you a way out. You've been through enough, and I want you there for Tim when this is over."

"Hmmm," Riley hummed knowingly. "I appreciate that, but I need to see this through and make sure it really will be over. I won't get in the way and I'll just be here to protect."

Gibbs gently stared him down for another moment, then tapped twice on the car and stepped back as Alyssa floored the gas pedal, shooting the sedan off towards the parking lot exit with abruptness that could only have been enjoyable at Vianne's expense. Ziva trailed back to the building but stopped to look inside the truck for anything useful. The laptop had been thrown from its shelf and its screen had a corner broken off, but two of the cameras were still visible on the other half of the cracked screen. Moving up to the cab, she picked up one of the cameras they had mounted facing out of the windows and took it with her into the lobby. Riley and Gibbs followed behind, each picking up any spare ammunition they could carry. Ziva propped up the camera on the receptionist's desk, then checked the laptop to make sure the reception picture still came through clearly.

Riley thudded his fist against the door and listened to its sturdiness. "These should withstand a few shots. We could take out the card sensors so they can't unlock the doors. That'll buy us some time."

"No," Ziva objected. "We need them to funnel through the doors, otherwise they may try to blast straight through the wall behind the desk to the hallway if they have the weapons for it. We position ourselves behind each door and maximize our cover while having a clear view of the lobby."

Riley frowned as he scanned the lobby, then reached for the grenades in his belt. "Well, then I think you'll need these more than I will." He handed each of them a grenade, then proceeded back through the security door.

In the Vault, McGee dove through the servers looking for any useful information until he finally found the auction program, which then led him to the virus management program. Riley observed over his shoulder as they took in the various interfaces popping up on the monitors.

"You know," Tony pondered, "you may not be able to edit the virus with Vianne's credentials, but do you think we could run the program and divert the incoming troops with a new target?"

McGee considered the idea. "We can try, but they may not be accepting orders. Abby, Cal, is that internet link ready?"

"Just another minute!" Abby called over the radio. "We've got some really good stuff here!"

McGee breathed nervously, wondering how close OMNI's backup was. He hadn't had any time to really talk to Tony in a few days, and he was almost worried that this could be the last time. "So, you and Ziva finally got together?" he asked, completely discarding any subtlety.

Tony groaned. "Really? You're bringing that up now?"

McGee shrugged. "I'm waiting for Abby! Spill!"

"Fine," Tony scoffed, but smiled and shook his head. "I don't really know what it is. We haven't really talked, just… kinda let things happen. I wanted to see her there when I went to sleep and woke up, and she didn't kick me out. Then she barged in on me in the shower and kissed me really fast, but then stole the shampoo on her way back out. Then I kissed her when we were getting suited up for the mission and teased her while we were in the truck."

McGee's lips were pursed in odd confusion as he tried to take in, but not visualize, the exchanges. "O…kay? I would've expected you to try something in the shower and get punched in the face-"

"Oh, shut up," Tony quipped.

"I'm happy for you!" McGee defended with a victorious grin. "I'm just waiting to see how Gibbs will come down on you in the office for it."

Tony rolled his eyes, but then he reached down to his belt and switched off his radio microphone. "Speaking of Gibbs, do you know why Riley keeps calling him 'Jethro?' I know they don't work together, but did I miss something? I don't think I could ever call him that. Even Fornell calls him Gibbs, at least most of the time."

McGee grimaced and didn't know what to say, not wanting to lie but also knowing it wasn't his business to tell Tony about their past.

Tony's jaw dropped as he noticed McGee's reaction. "WHAT?!" he shouted loud enough to echo through the Vault.

"Shh!" McGee hissed, quickly shoving his hand under his coat to turn off his own radio. "Tony, I didn't even say anything!"

"Your face said everything!" Tony countered. He stepped back and slapped both hands to his forehead in shock. Disassembled thoughts tumbled out of his mouth as he paced in circles. "So that means they… That means Gibbs is… Oh god… Wait but that was… But you already knew… Wait, you said you had a thing for… OH MY GOD! That's why you wanted to transfer because you found out about Riley and Gibbs?!"

McGee groaned and gritted his teeth. "Tony, that's not… Just leave it."

Tony stared at him with his eyes nearly shooting out of their sockets. "Um, NO! This is kind of a really big deal! Bigger than me and Ziva. And now I know you know, so we've gotta talk this out before the shooting starts."

"I…" McGee paused as he couldn't find the words to describe what happened in that moment. He tried to find the most diplomatic way to explain, though Tony staring at him didn't help his concentration. "I… Gibbs figured out I had feelings for him, and he did some stuff to make sure I worked with Riley and would get drawn to him. Riley and I had a huge fight when he found out I had feelings for Gibbs before, and he wanted to tell me what happened, but Gibbs made him promise not to. After I figured out what happened between them, Gibbs admitted everything, and I was pissed off that he manipulated me. But then when the FBI was investigating you, Gibbs took the fall for me hacking them, so I forgave him. Then Riley and I made up, but right after that, we thought he was killed."

"Jesus," Tony breathed. "So, these last two days have been the only time you've had together after all that?"

McGee nodded and sighed.

Tony snorted and looked around. "No offense, but he could've picked a better make-up date than him holding a gun to your balls in an OMNI data center."

McGee frowned sternly up at Tony, which quickly stifled the other man's joking mood.

"Well, in all seriousness," Tony began with a back-pedaling and apologetic grimace, "I am very proud of how you handled that up there. Talking him off a ledge like that… I've never seen him so… intense."

"Me either," McGee agreed. "I think we'll all need more sessions with that shrink when this is over, but he will especially."

"Well, like I said, well done," Tony proudly admitted and clapped him on the shoulder.

McGee smirked genuinely. "Thanks."

A loud set of knocks echoed from the front Vault doors. McGee turned back to the screens while Tony quickly ran from the server desk to the doors where the other three were waiting. Gibbs was the first through, with Riley and Ziva behind him as the four of them walked back down the long server room.

"Did you find everything?" Gibbs asked.

"McGee found both the auction and virus programs," Tony reported. "Right now, we're waiting for Abby and Cal to reconnect us so we can go live."

Riley sprinted ahead to reach the desk just ahead of the others, then leaned on the desk next to McGee as he rapidly scanned the screens. "Did you manage to find the OMNI operative list?"

"I think so, but it's all encrypted," McGee answered anxiously and switched back on his radio. "I'll keep trying once I have the auction running. Abby!"

"Okay! Okay!" she yelled. "Sending the signal now, should just be a few minutes."

"Alright." McGee clicked over to one of the other screens and loaded the virus management program. He took a moment to familiarize himself with the layout, then opened a map with the area of Manassas surrounding the data center. He found buttons to display Targets, Inactive Assets, and Active Assets, and the map began populating with two grey Inactive Asset icons that stayed still.

"Just two?" Riley asked in confusion. "That doesn't seem right."

A box appeared in the center with the OMNI symbol spinning around, while text read, "CONNECTION ESTABLISHED, RECEIVING INFORMATION."

The team watched with apprehension as nothing changed on the screen, then the box disappeared. The map zoomed out as it updated with dozens upon dozens of blue Active Asset icons. Then, five red Target icons appeared clustered together in one spot as the right side of the screen populated profiles one-by-one, listing Gibbs, Tony, Ziva, Riley, and McGee. A large cluster of Asset icons blinked as it updated its progress towards the data center, appearing to be only one mile away.

"They know we're here," Tony observed grimly. "The lockdown probably alerted them, and Zero called in the cavalry."

Riley noticed another icon blinking towards the top left of the map, then it too drew closer to the data center. "Tim, zoom out a little more, then check the Assets tab on the right," he instructed.

McGee did as he was instructed, but then watched in awe and horror as the profiles box on the right populated rapidly with Asset profiles while the map added more and more icons. "That's… more than twenty."

46 Active Asset icons blinked as they updated, each moving slowly in the general direction of the data center on the map.

"Oh god," Riley gasped. He put his hand on McGee's shoulder and squeezed. "Even if we start the auction now and leave, they'll find a way into the Vault before it's done and blow the whole place."

The team became quiet for a moment, then all eyes turned to Gibbs. Gibbs studied the screens for another moment. The odds against them had more than doubled, but what was at stake remained just as important. The entire Vault seemed to be silent as it waited for him to make his decision. He finally looked down at McGee.

"Start the auction."