A Dare, Or Something More Sinister?
Rating: T
Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS... I'm just taking the characters for a spin!
Author's Notes: Thank-you all for the reviews, I'm glad you all like it... as always a few more wouldn't go unnoticed! Please!
And of course, again a humungous thank-you to Kate for her terrific work and inspiration!
Kate closed the hood of the car and sat on it as Tony put the bottle of water away. Tony came back and leaned against it next to her. As one, they looked to where Gibbs had sat down in the dirt where Kate had left him. Tony looked back at Kate and raised his eyebrows, who had the same expression on her face. She looked up at Tony and shrugged. They stood in silence for a while, taking in the mid-morning sun and looking out at the shimmering horizon, where there nemesis was hiding.
"So, does he know?" Kate asked, breaking the silence. When Tony gave her a blank look, she added, "Smith, does he know?"
Tony shook his head and looked out to the distance, "I don't even know if he's…um, if he likes guys"
"Why don't you ask him?" Kate asked
Tony gave a small laugh, "And how would I do that? Agent Todd?"
"Just go up to him and ask if he's gay" Kate replied
Tony winced, "Not very subtle"
"Who's gay?" McGee asked, coming around from the back of the car to join them
"Nobody you know, Probie. Just a friend of mine" Tony replied, giving Kate a warning glance as she glared at him
McGee looked slightly surprised, "Didn't really think you'd hang around with somebody who was gay, Tony"
"Why not?" Tony asked, raising his eyebrow and standing up
"Because, well, ever since you kissed Voss when we were chasing…" McGee began
Kate stopped McGee by glaring at him; she looked back to Tony who had gone red
"I didn't know that was a guy, Probie! I am not gay!" Tony snapped
"I wasn't implying you were gay," McGee said quickly, "I was saying…"
"Yeah, what were you saying, Probie?" Tony asked, moving closer to the younger agent
"Nothing" McGee replied
"Good" Tony responded, sitting back on the hood of the car again and looking back into the distance
McGee let out a breath and looked at Kate who looked concerned.
"So, what's up with Gibbs?" McGee asked, looking out to Gibbs who had just thrown his cell into a tree. McGee frowned and sighed, knowing he would have to try and 'fix it' later
"Do you want the long or abridged version?" Tony asked
Before McGee had the chance to reply, Tony's cell rang, interrupting the conversation. He picked it out of his pocket and answered, "DiNozzo"
"Anthony, it's Ducky. Do you know how Jethro is?" Ducky asked
Tony looked back to their boss who was still sitting down, "Um, he's okay, I suppose, a bit pissed off…"
"Yes, I gathered that." Ducky replied, "Any idea how long he slept for last night? Abigail informed me that you rang in the early hours this morning with a lead. I assumed that you are all out somewhere as I didn't see any of you this morning"
"Ah…" Tony replied and looked at Kate, "You know how much sleep Gibbs got last night?"
Kate glared at him, "Why do you think I would know?"
"Because, you two arrived together this morning" Tony replied
McGee raised his eyebrows and looked between the two agents
"He was working on his boat when I got there, we didn't go to sleep, so…" Kate replied, blushing as she realised what it sounded like, "But we didn't…"
Tony wriggled his eyebrows as he replied to Ducky, "He didn't get any sleep, Duck"
He heard the older man sigh, "What about food?"
"Does coffee count?" Tony asked, hopefully
"No it doesn't. Anthony, after the torment his body has gone through over the last few days, the lack of sleep and nutrition may make him act strangely, maybe see or hear things that aren't there, believe things that aren't happening, especially after his head wound. I suggest that he doesn't do anymore driving and should get some rest and sustenance as soon as he can" Ducky explained
"Right, thanks Duck" Tony responded and flipped the cell closed
Tony looked at Kate who had a look on her face that was a cross between worried and pissed off. The speaker on Tony's cell was loud enough for them all to hear the conversation.
"So, I guess we have to go get him" McGee said to nobody in-particular
"You volunteering, Probie?" Tony asked
"No" McGee answered
"Maybe we should all get him, he won't listen to anybody on their own, they'd be doomed" Tony stated
"Yeah, well I say we just leave him here" Kate said
"Leave who, where?" a voice asked from behind them. In their conversation, they hadn't seen Gibbs get up and come back to the car. They turned around to face him.
"Nobody, boss" Tony replied
Gibbs glared at him, "So, that was your plan all along, to bring us out here and leave me behind. Nice, subtle. And the emotional crap, just to top it off, the icing on the cake, yeah, very nice. But it didn't work;" Gibbs said, taking a step forward and pointing at Tony, "I'm onto you and your little plan"
Tony took a step back, hitting the car, "I don't know what you're talking about, boss"
"We don't have a plan, only to catch Brown" McGee said
Gibbs rounded on the younger agent, "And McGee, when were you planning on handing in your resignation as well?" he turned and pointed at Kate and Tony, "They seem to be a step ahead of you. Both in the same day, that has to be a track record. I'm aiming for the highest number in a day, think I'll achieve it? I do, seeing as everybody is only waiting for the right time to leave"
McGee looked in shock at Kate and Tony, "You both handed in your resignations?"
"Don't act as if you didn't know!" Gibbs shouted, bringing McGee's attention back to his furious boss
"But I didn't" McGee responded, still in shock
Gibbs grabbed the front of McGee shirt and pushed him against the car, "Don't give me that crap! What was your excuse gonna be? Were you even gonna give me an excuse? Or were you just gonna leave and expect me to understand? Because I don't! Or were you waiting for me to fire you! Because I can! You're fired! There, easier?"
Tony and Kate hauled their boss off McGee. Gibbs made their job harder by struggling to get out of their grip, randomly punching at them. They tackled him to the ground and tried to restrain him as he continued to lash out at them and began yelling at them to get off him.
"Only if you calm down" Tony shouted at him over his yells
"I am calm! Get off me!" Gibbs yelled in reply
McGee stepped back from the car, and looked on in shock at the scene playing out in front of him.
"Let me go! Get off me!" Gibbs continued yelling
"Gibbs, you need to calm down" Kate shouted as he continued to struggle
"Argghh! Get off me!"
Gibbs freed one of his hands and punched at Tony, when he pulled back; Gibbs took advantage and raised his knee hard into Tony's stomach, making the younger man double over. Kate struggled to keep Gibbs under control.
"McGee, get here now!" she shouted
McGee rushed over and tried to restrain the struggling, yelling man who was his boss.
"Let me go!"
"Tony?" Kate asked, quickly glancing at him
Tony nodded, "I'm okay"
"Get off me now!"
Kate looked back at Gibbs as he got his hand free and knocked Kate in her face.
"Get off me!" Gibbs yelled, now taking deep panting breaths
Tony watched as Kate continued to try to restrain him, "Gibbs, calm down!" Tony shouted. When Gibbs didn't do as he was asked, Tony punched Gibbs in his face, effectively knocking him out. Tony stepped back and leaned over, putting his hands on his knees, still trying to regain his breath.
Kate let go of Gibbs, pulling back and rolling over onto the ground, breathing heavily. She reached up to her mouth and found it was bleeding; she swore and wiped away the blood. McGee sat back and looked to Tony, "I don't think that was a good idea, Tony"
"You prefer being beaten to a pulp?" Tony asked, straightening up and frowning
"No, I just think, with his head injury…" McGee left the sentence hanging
"Yeah, well I didn't see any sedatives lying around and I definitely didn't see him calming down anytime soon" Tony replied, "You okay, Kate?"
Kate nodded, "Bastard" she said under her breath
They gathered their thoughts for a few minutes whilst they collected their breaths.
"So, you guys are leaving?" McGee finally asked
"Yeah," Tony replied distractedly, "But look on the bright side, you'll be the senior field agent"
McGee nodded, eyes downcast. "You'll be okay, McGee." Kate said "We're leaving because of personal issues" she explained
"Yeah, too hard to work there anymore" Tony added
McGee frowned, "You guys are seeing each other?"
Both agents laughed. "I don't think so, Probie" Tony said
"Me either" Kate said
"But it won't be the same without you" McGee insisted, "Everyday I work there…" he stopped, his eyes darting backwards and forwards as he realised something, "Right, so when are we throwing a party?"
"Party?" Kate asked
"We?" Tony asked
"Yeah, Gibbs fired me" McGee replied as he looked back at his former-boss, "We should probably get him in the car"
They loaded him into the car and Tony headed for the driver's side, starting the engine on the first turn. "Everyone in?" he asked
That's it for chapter 33... I hope you like it! Please review, please!