The silvered doors slid shut in front of the two men. Gibbs reached out tiredly and flipped the switch that would stop the elevator, the change in lighting instantly throwing the faces of the two men into sharp relief.
You know, Jethro, you look like hell.
Gibbs gave the man a wry grin. Thanks. You don't look so great yourself. So, tell me, Tobias, just what the hell is going on here? He ran a hand over his face as he waited to hear what lie Fornell would come up with first.
Fornell stood with his hands in his pockets, his head bowed slightly and gave a small smile. Come on, Jethro. You know I can't do that. Especially not in light of Special Agent Todd's shooting.
The candor surprised him. He expected more of Fornell's usual prevarication than some straight out refusal to talk. And exactly why is that? Gibbs demanded, his tone growing cold as he folded his arms and leaned back against the steel wall.
Because this is an extremely delicate investigation we have going. It's bigger that just Ari, who may or may not be a rogue double agent. And we don't need someone with a vendetta out there to fuck it up for us!Oh, come off it, Tobias! Gibbs tossed out angrily. He was not going to allow the FBI or anyone else to cover-up Ari's deceit. Delicate, my ass! You know what happened. Don't give me this— Fornell cut in. But we don't know Ari's exact role in any of it. Including Kate's death. We haven't been able to pin anything down. And as I said, there's more at stake than just your personal grudge against one man and what he may or may not have done to your team.This is bullshit, Tobias, and you know it. Gibbs turned his back rigidly on the other man and flipped the switch to start the elevator moving again.
Fornell reached past Gibbs and flipped the switch to stop. It's not bullshit, damn you! he snapped. Have you thought about He took a breath and gave a muttered Staring in to the NCIS agent's eyes, he was clearly weighing his options before he began to speak in a tight voice. Have you thought about how Al Qaeda is getting men and some of the arms they need? Sighing, he continued, We've tightened security and still they're smuggling in experts and weaponry.
Gibbs stopped and looked at his friend for a moment, silent, waiting, and Fornell slowly went on. We've been investigating just how these people are getting in and it's not pretty. We don't know if Ari is tied up in this or not, be we don't need a rogue operation going in trying to take out one man, he finished in a hard voice.
Oh, come off it! My going after Ari is hardly going to jeopardize your investigation into something like that, Gibbs growled, knowing that the FBI would have quite a network in place for such an operation.
I'm serious, Gibbs. You're to leave Ari alone, Fornell bit out, the directive sounding like it had the weight of several authorities backing it. Gibbs wondered in that brief second just how many men had agreed to protect a murderer for the sake of some greater good'. Tobias was still speaking, though and he pulled his concentration back to the man in front of him. This operation is of the utmost importance and cannot be compromised under any circumstances.
Gibbs leaned back against the metal railing and studied the ceiling while he tried to piece together what the FBI could possibly have on Ari and the Hamas cell. Curiosity piqued and nearly hating himself for it, he asked quietly, What do you suspect? Not that he needed to know about Fornell's op, or even the whole Hamas cell right now. All he wanted was that bastard dead. The rest was the FBI's mess. End of story.
Oh, no, Gibbs. This is ours. You just stay out of it, the FBI agent admonished. If we find Ari, then maybe I'll deliver him to you. But I'm not going to risk having you screw up this entire operation. Fornell started the elevator.
This time Gibbs stopped it and stepped over to the corner where Fornell had retreated. You're forgetting, he whispered, I've already been poisoned by a man you're watching. Why do you suppose that is? He had the satisfaction of watching the other man's face blanch. Leaning ever so slightly into Fornell's personal space, Gibbs asked, What do I know that affects your investigation? Face it, Tobias, you need me.Ah, hell, Jethro! That's like telling a drowning man he needs a fifty-pound weight to hang onto. He rubbed his hand across his face.
Gibbs merely gave a shrug and a small smile. Fornell shook his head in return. If my director finds out I've told you this he began, and Gibbs hid his satisfaction with Tobias' inability to cut him out of the loop after all.
Yeah, there's a lot of that going around. Just ask DiNozzo.