Chapter Three
Going back to work was something Tony was not looking forward to. To sit and do what he always did. Except now, it wasn't to be done with Kate. He would have to sit and face her empty desk. It still remained as it was—Gibbs never allowed anyone to touch it. He couldn't sit across from her, catching her eye and making a face at her, or shoot spitballs when no one was looking. They couldn't email or instant messenger each other (even if they were in the same room) about Gibbs' foul mood so he would not know that they were talking about him. No one to annoy, no one to harass, no one to help him harass—but most of all, no one to secretly love.
He leaned against the elevator doors, and they finally opened. Stepping out, everything went quiet. Sympathetic glances were shot towards him. The whole office knew: it was not easy losing one of your own.
Agent Dinozzo flung his backpack on the floor, refusing to look at his partner's desk. Maybe it was better to avoid it all together.
Still, when the others had gone for lunch, he had made his way to Kate's desk. He sat in her chair, thinking to himself, when his eye caught on her sketchpad. Absent-mindedly, he flipped through the pages, until his finger stopped on a picture of himself. He was sitting at his own desk, feet propped up on it.
"She drew that the morning you came back."
It was McGee who spoke.
"She sketched it. And I didn't ask any questions about it, probie." Tony snapped, jumping up and returning to his chair.
"You don't look like you are working to hard, McGee!" That would be Gibbs.
McGee looked up. "Uh….boss….we just get a hot case or somethin'?"
Gibbs turned toward the youngest agent. "Lets see, we buried one of our agents yesterday. I'll say we have a hot case. Now go, see if Abbs has anything yet!"
About ten minutes later, Gibbs' phone rang. Tony could just hear one side of the conversation.
"Yeah…Gibbs."
"He did what?"
"You let him do that?"
"Okay, thanks Abbs. He'll hang for that."
Tony peered at Gibbs curiously.
"What did McGee do?"
"Nothing," Gibbs said tightly. "It just appears Agent Fornell does not understand the word 'jurisdiction.'"
Tony grimaced. "If Ari was smart, he would have shot Fornell," he muttered to himself.
"We had some blood samples for Abbs over this case, and the FBI comes storming in here demanding all evidence connected to the case."
"What are they so interested in this anyway?" asked Tony. "I mean, besides the fact they made the biggest mistake on their lives by trusting that piece of trash and letting him into our government."
Gibbs did not acknowledge him. Instead, he marched up the stairs towards M-TAC. However, he paused a few steps up, and turned to Tony.
"It should have been me, Dinozzo. It should have been me."
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
"Agent Fornell," growled Gibbs into the headset as he watched the Hoover boy on the plasma.
"Gibbs," the other agent acknowledged. "Let me begin by saying I'm very sorry about Agent Todd. She was a lovely young woman, so full of promise as an—"
"Kate's gone because of you, Tobias. If you have something important to say, spit it out. If not, I don't want to hear your guilt ridden consolements.
"Wait a minute, Gibbs. I wasn't the one who insisted on getting involved in a FBI case."
"It became my case when he held Kate and my M.E., as well as his assistant, captive.
"And," continued Fornell, "I was not the one who dragged my team to their fate whether they wanted it or not."
"We saved many lives there, Tobias. Although one was lost, we all willingly went, and would do it again."
"But would you, Gibbs? Knowing Todd would die, would you give her up for thousands of others you don't know?"
Gibbs remained silent.
"You know, Gibbs, it is not my fault Todd is dead. If anyone's, it is yours."
"I will not be blamed for her death-Kate was my agent, and a good one."
"And you were growing too attached to her. It hurt you to see her so close to Dinozzo. So you're directing your hurt towards me You cannot do that, Gibbs. You gotta face up. Kate would still be here if it weren't for you."
"Yeah, if it weren't for me. If I'd a shot that scum when I wanted—shot to kill."
Fornell paused. "Well, the reason I called in---"
"You have something for this case, Tobias." Gibbs interrupted. "What do you want?"
"To put it simple, Gibbs? Director wants you off this case."
"Whose director?"
"Yours and mine."
"What!"
"I can't tell you anymore. We already received some evidence from Ms. Sciuto. I'm sending my agent over for the rest right now."
"The FBI has not business in this case!"
"We do, now. All the evidence. Absolutely no Gibbs tricks, do you understand?"
……………………………………………………………………
Tony jumped, startled, as a highly disgruntled Gibbs slammed some files on his desk.
"Boss?"
No answer.
"Fornell?"
"Yeah, Dinozzo, Fornell."
"What happened?"
"FBI took all out evidence to this case."
Tony's heart sank. "We're off the case, then?"
"No, Tony, we are not off the case. You think I'm going to let them walk away with the case? Think again. We have no evidence, but there are other ways to solve a case, whether the directors like it or not."
Gibbs pulled his Sig, and tossed the keys to Tony.
"Get the sedan, Dinozzo."