Tim walked into MTAC and was immediately greeted with whom he guessed were Deputy Director Vance and Secretary Davenport. The rest of MTAC had been cleared, as ordered by SecNav.

"Special Agent Timothy McGee, I gather," Davenport greeted.

"Yes sir. It's an honor to meet you. You as well, Deputy Director Vance," Tim said respectfully. While he'd spoken to Vance once on the phone when he informed him of what happened, he never actually met him face to face. There had never been the need for him to, and of course, this was his first conversation with the Secretary of the Navy..

"First thing's first. Do you have an update on Director Shepard and Special Agent Gibbs?" Davenport asked.

"Yes sir. We received confirmation that they were both there during the attack at the director's home. Both fired weapons, and Director Shepard's blood was found at the scene," Tim said.

"Damn," Davenport muttered.

"How much blood, Agent McGee?" Vance asked.

"Enough, but we're still hopeful," Tim said. He assumed the deputy director was trying to gouge Jenny's chances.

"Anything else?" Davenport asked.

"No, but Metro found a body that might be related to our crime scene. Unfortunately, they won't give it to us without the director's permission," Tim said.

"That roadblock will be cleared with the conclusion of this conversation," Vance assured him.

"Vance has told me that he's ordered you to keep this under wraps. I want that to continue. No one that isn't already aware is to be told," Davenport said with authority.

"I understand. I've told a few people that Director Shepard and Agent Gibbs are left on an impromptu assignment for NCIS," Tim said. He hoped that he hadn't pissed SecNav off by doing that, but he'd had to tell people something.

Davenport nodded in approval. "Good thinking, Agent McGee. I can easily make it appear as though they've left on assignment should anyone look into it. I don't want anyone finding out the truth. Not only could it be leaked to the press, which would be a disaster, as would the panic that would hit NCIS, but there is also the fact that we don't know who is involved in this."

Tim frowned. "You think we have a leak?"

"Not necessarily, but we have to consider it. Very few knew where Director Shepard lived, for exactly this reason," Vance said.

"Yes. In fact, I'd like to know how you got the information, Agent McGee," Davenport said.

"I pinged her cellphone," Tim said. It was true, but that wasn't how he knew where she lived. Her house was once his grandfather's. He'd spent half his childhood there. "When she and Gibbs didn't come into work, we knew something was wrong."

"Again, good work, Agent McGee. If not for your team's actions, we might have lost more time, and time is definitely essential right now," Vance said impressed.

"Yes, your good work actually makes me feel a bit better with what we're about to tell you, Agent McGee. Not to sound callous, but this situation could not have come at a worse time," Davenport said.

Tim had to bite his lip. He wanted to snap and ask when it would be a good for Jenny and Gibbs to be subjected to a home invasion. God, he hated the term 'home invasion'. It just didn't do justice to what it was to have someone enter your home and terrorize you.

"Normally when the director is unable to perform his or her duties for an extended period of time, the deputy director takes over, but Deputy Director Vance is due to travel overseas for a mission that has been meticulously planned for weeks," Davenport explained.

"I mean no disrespect, sir, but shouldn't the need for a director be more important?" Tim asked.

"Agent McGee, I understand your concern, but this mission is extremely important. It could save many lives, and possibly preserve our national security. As I said, this has happened at a very bad time," Davenport said.

Tim sighed. He could understand SecNav's position. He was sure the mission was important. Any mission that needed a director's involvement had to be important, but so was the need for a director in Headquarters. While he didn't want to jeopardize an important mission, the need for a director was extreme. "Alright. Does that mean you'll be sending another director?"

"Under normal circumstances, that would the next move, but we're presented with a problem. I'm not willing to share the true nature of Shepard's disappearance with anyone else, at least not until we have more facts. I cannot place any other director in charge without them finding out. It would make it impossible for you to investigate to even try," he said.

"We can't exactly go without one, sir. We're already faced obstacles as we investigate, and that's with this case. There are many others in this building and others that require something from a director. NCIS will not survive without one," Tim said

"Yes, I know. This dilemma is why it took so long for us to get back to you, Agent McGee. I realized that I could not place anyone in charge who did not know about Director Shepard's and Agent Gibbs' disappearances, so I came to the conclusion that I had to appoint one of you who did know the truth. My choice was limited to two, since your third team member is not technically an NCIS agent," Davenport said.

Tim didn't like where this was going at all. Neither he or Tony had the skills or experience to be Director. Leading a case was one thing, but they were talking overseeing the entire agency. "Sir, again, I mean no disrespect, but there has to be an alternative. Neither myself nor Agent DiNozzo are in any position to be leading this agency."

"You wouldn't be responsible for the entire agency, McGee. Just Headquarters, and maybe the Norfolk office from time to time. The others could be delegated to assistant directors in their specific areas. This is very unusual, in fact it's first, but it's been deemed necessary. I'm sorry, but you will have to do this," Vance said.

"When you say 'you' is that generalization or have you made the decision that it's going to be me?" Tim asked, truly fearing the answer. He did not this, for many reasons. For one, he was not qualified for it. Neither was Tony, but he had at least been with the agency longer. He would also have to step back from the case. There was no way he could run the whole building while actively investigating Gibbs' and Jenny's disappearances. That was the last thing he wanted. He needed to be involved. He needed to help bring Gibbs and Jenny home.

"On the recommendation of Deputy Director Vance, I am declaring you Acting Director," Davenport said.

Tim supposed he shouldn't be quite as stunned as he was, with some agents already jumping to that conclusion, and then SecNav saying it was between him and Tony, but he was still completely flabbergasted by this entire conversation. "I…I'm a junior agent."

"It's not an ideal situation. As I said, all of this is happening in a very inconvenient time. Because of that, we have to work with what we have. Let me assure you, McGee, you will have some latitude here, as I understand the position we're putting you in. As long as you keep NCIS standing and follow protocols to the best or your ability, your career will not be negatively impacted. In fact, this assignment should help you quite a bit," Davenport said.

Tim was about to tell the man that he didn't give a damn about his career at the moment, but the Secretary of the Navy didn't give him the chance.

"You will not be completely on your own. You and I will have weekly conversations, both on the progression of the Shepard and Gibbs case, and NCIS itself. Deputy Director Vance has also agreed to spend the next several hours filling you in on as much as possible," Davenport said.

Tim didn't respond. He didn't have words at the moment. A part of him couldn't believe this was actually happening. In the past several hours, his aunt and mentor had gone missing, and he'd just become the director. Clearly this was a vivid nightmare someone forgot to wake him up from.

"I'll leave you to it, Gentlemen. Good luck, Director," Davenport told Tim before disappearing from the screen.

"Are you alright, McGee?" Vance asked.

"Why?" Tim asked after a moment of silence. "Why would you recommend me? Agent DiNozzo is the senior agent."

"I've read both your files. Agent DiNozzo is a promising agent, despite the juvenile behavior I've heard about. I have little doubt that he will make a great team leader one day, but he's not director material," Vance said.

"Neither am I," Tim said. He agreed that Tony was probably never going to be Director. Tony wouldn't even want that. He hated administrative work. He was much like Gibbs that way. But Tim was in no way better.

"That is where we completely disagree. It certainly wouldn't be happening now in any other circumstances, but you are definitely director material, both on paper and actions. Like I said, I read your file. You have an excellent background, and you've proven to be a great agent. You may not have as much field experience as your colleagues, which I do feel should be corrected, but you do have an excellent success rate in all the areas you have preformed in. Then there's the work I've actually observed thus far. In six hours, you've shown great leadership. You called me to figure out the next move. You showed initiative in coming up with a story to explain the director's and Gibbs' disappearance. The process has been sped up temporarily, but I have no doubt that you will be Director officially one day," Vance told him.

Tim was floored. No one at NCIS had spoken of his abilities like that before. Both Jenny and Gibbs told him he was a good agent, but most of the agency thought very little of his abilities, even members of his own team. No one had ever told him he was good enough to one day be the director. "I…I was only doing my job. I wasn't trying to be…"

"I know you weren't angling for this. I believe your only thought was helping your superiors. That's another reason I recommended you," he said.

"I don't want this."

"I know, but as you said, NCIS needs someone. For now, that's you," Vance said.

"I cannot run this building while also leading the investigation," Tim said. He'd been put in charge of sifting through Jenny's files, which also basically meant he was the lead agent, but he couldn't do that and be Acting Director. He knew he wasn't good enough for that.

"I wouldn't expect you to. It's your call now, Director," Vance said with a smirk.

Tim shuddered at the term. SecNav had said it too, but it had barely registered in Tim's brain yet. This time, it had, and it was a very overwhelming title.

"You will have all the powers that come with that title. You choose now who has access to what information. The only difference is that you cannot divulge anything regarding the case to anyone who doesn't already know. You do still have to follow SecNav's orders," he said.

Tim took a deep breath. He was slowly coming to terms with the fact that this was actually happening. He didn't want it to, but there was nothing he could do about it. "Alright, what now?"