This chapter feels really really slow to me…but you know how it is when you've read something so many times—so it might be me getting bored with it. I'm trying to pick up the action a little.

Don't know how long it will be before I get more up—we got a dog, and he's requiring a lot more of my already filled up days then I realized! (but its well worth it!)

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Chapter Nineteen

"You're suggesting a joint operation, Tobias? When you weren't even prepared for a minor distraction? For some reason, it seems more plausible that NCIS should handle this case completely." Gibbs spoke sternly.

"Maybe so, but you can't deny you need our intel. Face it, Gibbs, without each other, nothing is going to happen."

Gibbs was silent for a few minutes. As much as he hated to admit it, Tobias was right. "Okay," he said slowly, "But we head up everything."

Fornell nodded. "That's the way it should be."

Gibbs reached to switch the elevator back on. The doors opened at the floor of the bullpen, and the men stepped out.

Bradshaw, Dinozzo, and McGee looked up immediately, obviously having been waiting impatiently for their respective bosses.

Gibbs could feel the tension-primarily between Agent Bradshaw and Agent Dinozzo. It hung over them like a full cloud—just waiting to rain. Gibbs knew it was only a matter of time before one of them burst. And it would probably Tony.

He knew Tony had a reason for being miffed with Eric. This wasn't just another agent they were talking about—it was Kate. And as much as he himself was angered at the FBI's not allowing him on a case that was rightfully his, right now, they could only concentrate on finding her.

There would be plenty of time for fistfights later.

"Dinozzo!" Gibbs barked. Not that that was unusual, of course.

"Yeah, boss?"

"Take Bradshaw back to the scene. I want all forensics to be handled by Abbs."

"I can provide some technicians, also." Fornell put in, but Gibbs stopped him.

"She can handle it."

Tony shot Bradshaw a dirty look. "Do I have to take him? Don't you think McGee would be a better—" Tony closed his mouth, knowing there was no use. He also knew his boss was placing him with the FBI agent purely so that Tony would discover the truth.

McGee, who had looked hopeful at the suggestion of going with Dinozzo, now looked to his boss for orders. Gibbs stared at Tim long and hard. Seeing the face of earnest, honesty, and the desire that drove them all—to bring their agent back—on his face, he spoke.

"Have I ever let you interrogate a terrorist before, McGee?"

Tony, who was grabbing his gear and the keys to the truck, glanced up sharply. "What did Probie do to get such honors, boss?" When there was no answer, but a hard look, he finished lamely, turning to Eric; "I'm driving—and no ifs, ands, or buts!"

Bradshaw nodded. Was Special Agent Dinozzo always like this, or was it just the fact that Tony really hated him?

……………………………..

"You know, we have ways of making people talk." McGee tried saying sternly and forebodingly, while practicing a stony Gibbs-like face in the reflection of the glass. He sighed—forget the bad cop thing. He was making himself look like an idiot.

"Are you done making faces at yourself, yet, McGee?" Tim hadn't heard Gibbs come in, but he now heard Fornell's muffled chuckling.

"Uh, boss….I really don't know if I can do….."

"Sure you can; now c'mon! Interrogation Number 1, first." Gibbs interrupted, clapping McGee lightly on the back.

McGee followed Gibbs into the small interrogation room, where a middle-aged man sat stiffly, handcuffed to the table. Gibbs leaned against the back wall, and nodded at McGee.

Gibbs smiled inwardly as he watched McGee move towards the table hesitatingly. They had really done a great job with the young man. Gibbs couldn't deny he was looking forward to this scene, no matter how worried Tim looked.

"Remember what you said. You were right all along." Gibbs whispered to McGee's back.

He saw it straighten, and caught a glimpse of the fire in McGee's eyes when he turned to face his prisoner.

…………………………

Tony gripped the wheel tightly.

Bradshaw shot him a side-glance. The stifling tension in the sedan was going to suffocate him.

Not that he didn't understand why Dinozzo remained this way towards him. He had felt the same way sometimes. He had harbored those same feelings when his Heather was lost. Only she hadn't come back to him. H e knew he had to make sure that didn't happen to Kate. Not only for herself, but for Tony and the rest of the team as well.

Bradshaw cleared his throat. Tony did not look at him, or, in fact, no way acknowledge the agent.

But Eric was brave enough to speak, even if Tony could be a terror when angered, in a silent but deep way. He was getting to be more and more like Gibbs everyday.

"You know Kate tried to call you once?"

Tony grunted, but Eric didn't know whether that was a yes or no. Bradshaw decided to try again. It could either soften Tony or make it worse. "She talked about you a lot."

Tony abruptly pulled the car onto the shoulder of the road.

Apparently, Special Agent Eric Bradshaw had just made things a whole lot worse.

Tony gripped the back of the seat and looked at Eric hard. His voice was quiet, but powerful—in an almost deadly kind of way. "Listen to me. I don't want anything to do with you. Don't try to use Kate to butter me up. I'm with you strictly because we need you. But I don't have to like you. Understood?"

Bradshaw nodded, and turned to his window. It was going to be a hard, long day.

…………………………………….

The man sat rigidly, as McGee questioned him. He had not yet spoken a word, and Timothy McGee was beginning to think that his first interrogation was going to be a waste of time. He should have gone with Dinozzo. At least he could be accomplishing something with him.

McGee shot a look at Gibbs. Surprisingly, Gibbs seemed to be enjoying himself, waiting patiently for results. Quitting now would not make his boss happy, McGee realized. His boss wanted, for whatever reason, to see this done.

Hopefully, he would get something out of this robotic person.

"What are your connections to Ari Haswari?" even as he spoke he saw Gibbs shake his head in the reflection in the glass. He was going about this the wrong way.

Time to pull out everything he had learned while observing Gibbs.

He approached the man calmly—but heart not so collected—and bent over him from behind. He placed his mouth above the man's ear and whispered. When he straightened up, he saw Gibbs' look of approval. Tim tired not to smile—but he could not help but feeling proud of himself when he, several minutes later, walked out of Interrogation Room Number One, with just the answers he needed.