DISCLAIMER:- I do not own NCIS or its characters and no copyright infringement is intended.
A/N:- Thank you for your continued support, reviews, alerts and PM's, L
Tony and McGee sat at their respective desks. "If you have anyone to call, Probie, do it now. You have 10 minutes. Remember – don't give them any details and tell them you'll be away for another week."
"A week?" McGee replied. "The Director said we'd be home by 0300 tomorrow!"
"It's easier to tell people that the case wrapped up early than to explain why you didn't come home as scheduled. When you're finished, grab your gear and meet me downstairs in the armoury."
McGee nodded his head and quickly phoned his parents and then his sister to offer his apologies for missing tonight's family dinner. He then phoned his neighbour who was collecting his mail and taking care of his dog, Jethro while he was away. He noted with a small twang of guilt, that Tony didn't call anyone.
He met up with Tony in the armoury a few moments later. Tony had already signed out the equipment he thought they would need for the operation including an M-40A3 Marine sniper rifle with a night scope and 2 spare magazines, plus 4 additional clips for their Sigs and another 4 clips for the smaller calibre handguns they wore in their ankle holsters.
"Make sure you're carrying your spare," Tony was all business as he took McGee's backpack and emptied the contents on the table.
"Hey, what are you, my mother??" McGee objected. "I can pack my own bag you know, Tony, I'm not completely clueless about these things."
Tony offered no reply and no apology as he started to re-pack McGee's backpack with a first aid field kit, a flashlight, thermal blanket, an extra pair of handcuffs, a water bottle, several energy bars, a pair of night vision goggles and the additional ammunition. His own backpack contained identical items plus the magazines for the rifle.
"Come on, Tony, lighten up. You really think we'll need all that?" McGee asked.
Tony's body stiffened, not so much at the question but at the casual tone of McGee's voice.
"Make sure there's enough room for any equipment you may need to shut down the security system and gain entry to the house. I'll have the same in case we get separated," he answered abruptly. "And grab something warm to wear, it will be cold."
"Okay, that's it...you really need to know that your Gibbs impersonation is worse than your Tommy Lee Jones," McGee said and then groaned with the weight of the backpack as he lifted it to one shoulder. "You don't think you're overreacting just a little with all this stuff? The whole operation is only supposed to take 8 hours there and back."
Tony lifted his head sharply and looked at his partner. "Tell me again, McGee, how many of these operations have you been on?"
McGee dropped his gaze to his shoes as Tony continued.
"You may think this is some big adventure but I don't like it. I don't like the source of the intel, I don't like not having any back up and I sure as hell don't like the thought that this whole operation is going down without Gibbs being here," Tony hissed. "So, I'll pack your kit, check your weapons, impersonate Gibbs and head-slap you there and back if it keeps you safe and gets us back here in one piece."
McGee couldn't deny it; he was excited. This was something he'd dreamed about doing since before he became a federal agent. He felt he had worked hard and deserved the opportunity it presented. Even though he knew it was his computer skills that secured the assignment more so than his ability as a field agent, he welcomed the chance to prove himself to his colleagues and his superiors.
"Look, Tony, I appreciate that you think you need to look out for me," McGee said, trying to sound calmer and more confident than he felt, "but I think you're reading too much into this. It's a remote and vacant property. We disarm the security system, get inside, decrypt the information and send it to the secure email address at the DOD, and then we get out and come home. I'm ready for this and I couldn't have asked for an easier first up assignment."
Tony's eyes were unreadable as he looked at his younger partner.
"DiNozzo's rule number 4 – there's no such thing as an easy assignment." Sighing, he checked his watch, picked up his backpack and the rifle. "We're needed in MTAC, let's go," he said.
--oo00oo—oo00oo—oo00oo—oo00oo—oo00oo--
NCIS Special Agent Christopher Neville was the most skittish federal agent Gibbs and Ziva had ever met. Tall and beanpole slim, the redheaded agent was so edgy and flustered that even McGee in his nervous probational year looked calm and composed in comparison.
Neville was TAD at Parris Island and had only arrived last evening when the usual NCIS agent, Mike Holden, was granted urgent leave. Beads of sweat glistened on Neville's upper lip and he squirmed under the intense blue-eyed gaze of the silver-haired agent who was currently standing nose to nose and speaking in a low and threatening tone.
"Let me get this straight, Neville," Gibbs said. "After spending three long days investigating a murder case at Camp Lejeune, we get a message from the Director telling us to get to Parris Island to assist a fellow NCIS agent – you – with the interrogation of a suspect."
"Yes, Sir, Agent Gibbs," Neville answered tentatively. "That's right, Sir."
"Don't call me sir," Gibbs snapped, stepping back and pacing in front of the young agent. His eyes flicked quickly to Ziva, who was leaning casually against the wall of the office, barely hiding her mirth as she enjoyed watching Neville's discomfort.
Turning his attention back to Neville, Gibbs growled. "We were told that your suspect, Serkan Toros, spoke little English. Then, after a three hour drive, we arrive here to find that Toros was born and raised in Great Falls, Montana!!"
"Um...Agent Gibbs…in my defence, I was asked by…by Special Agent McGee, whether Toros had spoken any English," Neville stammered. "I replied that he had said a few words and that…that was true…he had only said a few words."
"But you failed to tell Special Agent McGee that Toros had chosen to only say a few words," Ziva added. "You did not tell him that Toros is an American citizen who, despite his Turkish name, does not speak a word of Turkish."
"I hadn't ascertained that information yet!!" Neville replied anxiously as Gibbs pinned him with a look that could kill. "I saw his name and assumed that…"
"A good agent never assumes," Gibbs growled.
Looking timidly in Gibbs' direction the young man added, "I appreciate your help in getting Toros to confess, Agent Gibbs. I guess he didn't find me very intimidating."
"Ya think?" Gibbs replied.
"Um…you'll be needing somewhere to stay for the night," Neville pointed to a closed door on the far side of the office. "Help yourself to some coffee in the meal room and I'll arrange your accommodation."
As Gibbs and Ziva entered the small room the aroma of freshly brewed coffee immediately drew Gibbs' attention and he helped himself to a cup. He was pleasantly surprised by the rich Jamaican blend and his mood improved - marginally. Gibbs had just poured his third cup of coffee when the door flew open in a flurry of movement.
"Agent Gibbs!" Neville said, bursting into the lounge area. "Sir… the Parris Island commanding officer, Brigadier General Knowles is meeting attending a conference with SecNav tomorrow in Washington. SecNav sent his Gulf Stream to collect him this evening." Neville said. "He's coming back tomorrow afternoon and that's when you and Officer David were supposed to fly back to Washington."
Gibbs and Ziva exchanged confused looks.
"Your point, Neville?" Gibbs asked.
"Oh, I made a few calls. The flight is leaving in 10 minutes and the General said that you're welcome to fly back with him tonight, if you'd like."
Gibbs finished the rest of his coffee in two scalding swallows. "Damn straight, we'd like," he said as he and Ziva picked up their backpacks.
"I kinda figured you'd be anxious to leave. A driver will be here, momentarily, to collect you from the front of the building," Neville said. "Once again, Agent Gibbs, I appreciate your help and it's was a pleasure meet….."
Gibbs and Ziva were already out the door, leaving Neville shaking his head and wondering if he should have joined the family plumbing business after all. The door swung open again and Gibbs' head appeared. "Neville, good job on the transport, …and the coffee," he said closing the door and the young man grinned with pride.
--oo00oo—oo00oo—oo00oo—oo00oo—oo00oo—
Tony and McGee carefully reviewed and memorised the schematics and blueprints of Khalil's property and security system for almost two hours in an eerily quiet and dimly lit MTAC. Even though the MTAC Control Officer and his team of 4 technicians had top-secret clearance, the agents seated themselves as far away from them as possible so they could concentrate without distraction.
They committed the layout of the surrounding area to memory, noting that the property was bordered on one side by a heavily wooded forest area with a disused ranger's cabin situated approximately 1 and a half miles east of Khalil's house. The persistent tightness in Tony's gut told him to look for any and every contingency.
Tony pointed to the plans of the safe house. "Have you memorised these, Probie?" Tony asked.
"I've already looked at them, Tony, anyway, we probably won't even go there," McGee replied.
"Where are the external doors?" Tony asked sharply.
McGee signed loudly, wondering why Tony was being such a hard-ass.
"Front door is positioned in the centre of the building and leads directly into the living room. Back door is in the kitchen and is situated 10 feet from the eastern side of the house and approximately 40 feet from the stand alone garage," his monotone reply signalled his exasperation.
"How many windows?"
"Tony! I don't see why we…"
"How many windows, McGee?" Tony asked more forcefully.
"Eight!" McGee answered angrily.
Tony picked up the plans and shoved them back at McGee. "There are nine. Check them again and do it properly this time," he said returning his own attention to the diagram of Khalil's security system and trying to devise the most effective and time efficient method of disarming it.
Several more minutes passed before Tony spoke again. "How long do you think you'll need to forward this email?"
"Depends on the security protocol and the encryption used but I would think it would take a couple of hours," McGee replied.
Tony baulked. "To send an email!! Even Gibbs can send an email faster than that!!"
"As a security precaution to protect the information contained in the email, they attached a program designed to allow the email to be forwarded only when it has been decrypted," McGee replied. "I have several decryption programs I can run but no way of knowing which one will work."
Tony nodded his head, not happy at the prospect of spending so much time in the house.
The door to MTAC opened and Director Vance entered, followed by Jason Brady.
"It's almost time," Vance said. "Are you ready?"
"Yes, Sir," Tony and McGee answered simultaneously.
"You'll need these," Vance said, handing a sat phone to Tony and one to McGee.
"They're clean and speed dial 1 will get Brady. You are to keep complete radio, or in this case, phone silence unless in dire need of assistance."
Brady looked at both agents. "You should know that speed dial 1, is the only number these sat phones will accept. Due to the highly classified nature of this operation, you have no need to make contact with anyone else and any attempt to do so, will have serious ramifications."
He ignored Tony's humourless laugh. "So, no calling Pizza Hut to order some take out?"
Before Brady could respond, 3 loud beeps sounded from McGee's backpack.
"Agent McGee?" the Director asked. "Do you have a cell phone in there?"
"No, Sir," McGee replied anxiously digging in his bag for the errant device and inadvertently knocking the backpack from the table, spilling the contents.
"Damn," he muttered, trying to conceal his nervous energy. Brady assisted him to collect the items from the floor and they placed them randomly into the backpack. He located the PDA and held it out to show the Director.
"It's my new PDA but don't worry, I've already disabled the phone, SMS and GPS capabilities."
"You removed the chips?" Vance asked.
"Yes, Sir," McGee said.
Vance took the PDA from McGee's grasp and looked at it appraisingly. "This is the new Addison 345XL. Been thinking of getting one of these myself."
"You won't be sorry, Sir," McGee enthused.
"What was that beeping for?" Brady asked.
"Well...er...it's just a reminder, Sir, I have an appointment with…er…a dermatologist tomorrow," McGee stuttered nervously. "You see, I have dry skin and… never mind, I can reschedule."
McGee grimaced as he recognised the look on Tony's face that promised unmerciful teasing at a later time.
"There'll be a car here to collect you from the loading area at the back of the building in 5 minutes," Director Vance told them. "You'll be taken to a private airfield where you'll board a Navy supply chopper. There'll be a 90-minute flight to another small airfield in Virginia. A black SUV will be parked there waiting for you. The registration number is on the key ring."
The Director handed the key ring to Tony, who nodded.
"It will take another 30 minutes to drive to Khalil's property by which time you will arrive under the cover of darkness," Brady said. "Get in, do what you have to do and get out."
"Once you leave Khalil's property, head back to the airfield. The Navy chopper has orders to wait until 0200," Vance continued. "If you don't make it back by then, the chopper will leave and you will have to find your own way back."
"Remember, if you have any trouble, head for the safe house," Brady added. "Are there any questions?"
"None that we'll get a straight answer to," Tony replied brusquely.
"McGee?" Vance asked.
"No, Sir, no questions," McGee replied.
"The car will be waiting out back. You know what to do and you know what's at stake here. Good luck," Vance said.
"Thank you, Sir," McGee replied as he and Tony gathered their things and left MTAC.
--oo00oo—oo00oo—oo00oo—oo00oo—oo00oo—
Ziva leaned back into the luxurious leather seats of SecNav's Gulf Stream. She smiled deviously to herself as she imagined Tony's envy and displeasure that she was enjoying this flight in his stead. She made sure to snaffle a packet of complimentary roasted peanuts and M&M's, both displaying SecNav's official seal. She would give them to Tony and playfully twist the knife a little more.
While Gibbs spoke quietly with Brigadier General Knowles, Ziva tried to contact Tony and McGee to arrange a lift from the airfield at Anacostia Naval Station back to the Navy yard. She frowned as, once again, Tony's cell diverted to voicemail and a recorded voice advised that McGee's phone was disconnected or switched off. She wondered whether her partners had taken advantage of Gibbs' absence to have an early night. She chuckled, 'They are in for a surprise!'
She dialled another number on the in-flight phone and Abby squealed with delight at the news that Gibbs and Ziva would soon be back. When Ziva asked whether Abby would have time to collect them from Anacostia, she was met with another euphoric peal. The call was disconnected and Abby was on her way before Ziva thought to ask the whereabouts of her missing colleagues.
Twenty minutes later, the plane had landed and Gibbs was pacing like a caged lion as he and Ziva waited at the pick-up area for Abby to arrive.
"Well??" Gibbs said, his expression and his tone clearly communicated his irritation.
Ziva closed her cell phone and looked apprehensively at Gibbs.
"Still diverting to voicemail," she replied. "Perhaps they have already been assigned a new case, yes? Or…maybe they have gone home to rest, it is nearly 2000."
"Rule number 3," Gibbs growled.
"Never be unreachable," Ziva muttered.
A car horn sounded, heralding the arrival of Abby's fire engine red 1931 Ford Model A Coupe. Abby parked the car and met Gibbs and Ziva with a bone-crushing hug. They stowed their bags in the rumble seat and climbed aboard, Abby chatting incessantly about how much she missed them.
"Abs, you see DiNozzo and McGee today?" Gibbs asked when Abby finally took a breath.
"Yes I did, I saw them earlier," Abby replied.
"About?"
"About the Fillet-o-'Fish," Abby replied. "See, McGee didn't check their order before they left the drive-thru and Tony got the Fillet-o-'Fish. Only, Tony didn't order the Fillet-o-'Fish 'cause he doesn't like them but McGee didn't know that and he offered to give Tony his McFeast but he had already taken two bites and Tony went, like, totally postal and gave his Fillet-o-'Fish to me, which was good for me but not for Tony 'cause then he had no lunch."
"Abby! I meant about what time did you see them?" Gibbs clarified.
"Oh…of course," Abby said. "Um…about 1300. They were gone when I came upstairs to see them again."
"About?" Gibbs asked again.
"Well, after I'd eaten the Fillet-o'-Fish, I remembered that I packed my lunch today," Abby told them. "So, I was taking my egg salad sandwich to Tony because he hadn't had lunch and we all know how cranky he gets if he doesn't eat."
"Abs! I meant about what time did you go back upstairs?"
"Oh…right…I don't know why I keep doing that," she said sheepishly. "It was about 1430. Wherever they went, it must have been important 'cause they didn't even say goodbye."
Gibbs felt a tightening of his famous gut. Something was definitely wrong and if his agents were involved, he would stop at nothing to find out what it was.
--oo00oo—oo00oo—oo00oo—oo00oo—oo00oo—
Their journey on the Navy supply chopper was noisy and draughty as they headed for a private airfield in Virginia. As it was too noisy to speak without the headsets, both agents spent the time mentally preparing for the assignment.
McGee thought of the countless number of times he had seen DiNozzo prepare for an undercover operation or an important assignment. Tony loved undercover work and always appeared so eager, relaxed and confident. McGee had been trying to emulate Tony's confidence, not wanting his Senior Field Agent to know how nervous and edgy he was actually feeling.
Tony was unusually tense and introspective as he psyched himself up for the task at hand. He felt the heavy burden of McGee's safety weighing on his mind. He knew McGee was a good agent who would do his best in any situation but he was unaccustomed to this sort of operation and didn't know how quickly things could go to hell. Tony was ill at ease with the intel and the fact that they had no back-up. He was used to Gibbs watching his six and felt particularly exposed and vulnerable. He wanted this thing to be over – he needed to get them both home safely.
On landing, they climbed from the chopper and found their SUV waiting for them just off the tarmac. Stowing their gear in the back they climbed in for the drive to Khalil's property.
"Well, Probie…as Acting Lead Agent it falls to me to say something inspiring and motivational on the occasion of your first big assignment," Tony said.
After a long and awkward moment of silence, McGee said. "Well?"
"Nope….I got nothin'," Tony answered while starting the engine of the SUV. " Come on, McGoo, let's get this done and go home."
--oo00oo—oo00oo—oo00oo—oo00oo—oo00oo—oo00oo—oo00oo—oo00oo—oo00oo--oo00oo--oo00oo--oo00oo--oo00oo--oo00oo--oo00oo--oo00oo--oo00oo--oo00oo--