Chapter Twenty Six: Scrambling

Jen had watched Gibbs work on his boat most of the morning. She had pretended to watch the television but her attention was most definitely captured by the man sanding away. She suspected he knew she was watching him, but he said nothing, just harbored the slightest of smiles on his lips.

The morning moved along and she saw a difference in him. He was more relaxed, seeming to enjoy the moment. Neither one spoke, they didn't need words to fill the air; the backdrop of the television was enough to be comforting. The day continued.

It was early afternoon when Jen went upstairs to shower, being in the constant sawdust in had made her feel gritty. She left Gibbs in the basement and was gone no more than half an hour. When she returned she couldn't help but smile, as Gibbs had finally tired out after his sleepless night. She found the man on his back under this boat, sound asleep. She watched him for a while, savoring this moment as she processed the feelings that had surfaced in her mind.

She left him in the basement to sleep then, heading upstairs, she made herself a light lunch and sat in the kitchen eating it. The afternoon was passing when she heard a phone ring on the kitchen counter. She grabbed it and looked at the ID screen; it was a call from DiNozzo. She flipped his phone open placing it to her ear.

"You're late with your update," she said in a flat voice. Tony heard the director's voice in his ear and nearly dropped the phone.

"I…I thought I called Agent Gibbs," Tony stammered after regaining his composure.

"You did, he's asleep," Jen replied. Tony grinned on the other end and Jen could feel it. Tony had thoughts running through his mind now and he had trouble concentrating on why he had called Gibbs phone. "DiNozzo?"

"Uh, yeah?" Tony said being drawn from his thoughts.

"You do have something to report right?"

"I, uh, really think I should speak to Gibbs first," Tony said hesitantly. This was new information that the boss hadn't received yet. Tony was weary of giving it straight to the director first.

"This saves us the step of him having to tell me then," she replied with a sigh.

"But I will have to deal with the consequences of you telling him information on his case," Tony countered.

"In his current state I don't think he'll mind, DiNozzo," she replied.

"Reeeeaallly," Tony said his grin growing, his interest peaked.

"I'd stop right now, Special Agent DiNozzo, if you want to have a job to come to tomorrow."

"Yes, Mad…ma'am," Tony stumbled. Jen smiled.

"Report or no report? I could tell Gibbs you got nothing all day," she said with a smile.

"Fine, but when he beats me over the head I'm asking for workman's comp."

"Report, DiNozzo," she continued.

"We got some new breaks in the case," Tony started. He went on to explain everything they had figured out in the last two days and how they had tied together three of the men so far. She countered asking if he had questioned any of the men involved yet. He had to tell her no but they were working on getting back out to California.

"Send McGee, the whole team doesn't have to go," she said.

"I'd be the better," Tony protested.

"McGee goes," she said with finality. Tony slumped in his chair defeated.

"Fine," he said dejectedly. "We'll have the MPs on base pull Rogers and Deeves into holding until McGee can get there to question them."

"Good. What about Powell?"

"He's in Iraq, we're working on getting him detained and having an agent over there conduct the interrogation."

"I'll let Gibbs know," she said nodding slightly and closed the phone. She set it down on the counter again and started to clean up her lunch. She made her way to the steps and was heading down when she saw Gibbs rounding them at the bottom rubbing his neck. He looked up and saw her and stopped.

"Thought you left," he said sluggishly. His mouth was dry, he needed coffee. Jen backed up and stood aside as he came up the stairs and headed to the kitchen. He pocketed his cell phone and frowned when he checked the clock.

"Tony called," she said as he started the coffee machine. He turned around and leaned against the counter staring at her.

"When?"

"Just now," she replied.

"You should have got me," he said as he closed his eyes and stretched the kink in his neck.

"You should try sleeping in a bed," Jen said with concern. Gibbs allowed a small smile to show on his face.

"What'd he have to say?"

"Who?"

"Tony," Gibbs said shaking his head.

"Oh, they made some progress on the case. They have a Commander Powell in Iraq they are interrogating, and McGee is going back to San Diego to interview two men at the base they suspect are also involved in a weapons trafficking ring," she explained.

"Weapons trafficking?"

"Your team believes that Lt. Commander Conrad stumbled onto a weapons trafficking ring operating out of the San Diego base when she investigated a case against an Ensign Patrick Deeves. The official report was there was insufficient evidence to convict the ensign of any wrong doing, but apparently Commander Conrad continued to dig."

"Where did this angle come from?" Gibbs asked.

"Abby found a file in short hand and they had Commander Conrad's second chair assist them in translating it. It was a list of surplus with columns of reported numbers and what they think is true numbers. These people are forging paperwork and siphoning off munitions here and there and they assume selling it on the black market."

"How sound is the lead?"

"Tony seems to think it's solid. Powell is over seas right now in Iraq working weapons stocking and ordering. He sends the needs back to Captain Rogers who ships weapons and ammunition out. Those two are part of it and they think Ensign Deeves is too."

"I should be at work," Gibbs said with a sigh, feeling the burden of this case once again. "I need to be working this one."

"Take some time, Jethro, you've already been through a lot on this one," Jen said softly.

"No, it's time to work on this first hand. I'm going to the office," he said as the coffee machine sounded it was done. He poured himself a cup and offered one to Jen who turned it down. He finished his cup and headed for the bathroom where he took a quick shower. It wasn't long before he was ready to leave.

"Don't push yourself too hard," Jen said as they were walking out. He looked at her.

"I'm fine, Jen," he said.

"I'll meet you there, I need to run home and change first," she said as she got into her car. Gibbs watched as she drove away before getting in his own car and heading to the office. When the elevator dinged and he walked off he found Tony shooting rubber bands at McGee while he and Ziva worked on their computers. He came up behind Tony quietly and smacked him on the head making the younger man yelp.

"Jeez, Bossman, didn't expect you today," Tony said with surprise. Ziva bit back a snicker while McGee hid his grin.

"I've had enough down time, run it by me," Gibbs said as he walked to the plasma screen and studied what they already had up there. The three agents took turns filling Gibbs in on everything they had learned on the case and how each step brought them closer to Powell, Rogers, and Deeves. Gibbs was quiet when they were finished. They all stared at him expectantly as Tony noticed the director walk in and head to her office. He had a small smile on his face as his attention came back to Gibbs. He was greeted with another swift smack to the back of the head.

"Ow," he mumbled as he rubbed the spot.

"Something's missing," Gibbs said as he looked at the screen.

"We think there are three additional men we need to identify and one is most likely a high ranking officer," McGee added. Gibbs looked at the young agent and nodded his approval.

"They'd have to have someone high up to cover the large equipment moving," Gibbs said as he went to his desk. "When do you leave for San Diego, McGee?"

"In three hours, Boss, I was just about to head to the airport."

"Go," Gibbs said waving a hand as McGee nodded and scrambled for his bag before leaving for the elevator. Tony sat down at his own desk, with grin still plastered in place. "Something wrong, DiNozzo?"

"Uh, no, Boss, nothing wrong," DiNozzo said quickly as Gibbs looked at him.

"Thought I smacked that grin off," Gibbs said his voice low. Tony's grin faltered and he nodded ducking his head behind his computer monitor. Ziva stood up and walked up to Gibbs desk.

"You really think McGee was the right choice to send to San Diego?" Ziva asked as Gibbs punched some keys on his keyboard. He was silent a while before looking up at her and smiling.

"Yes, because you are going to Norfolk to pick up Captain Rogers," Gibbs said. Ziva stood a moment confused before her mouth worked again.

"Captain Rogers is in San Diego," she said slowly.

"Nope he's in Norfolk. You couldn't reach him could you, when you were trying," Gibbs said.

"No one seemed to know where he was," Tony said as he peeked out from the safety of his monitor.

"That's because he was a special addition to the team of Marines sent to Norfolk to train for a stint in Iraq."

"But he works shipping," Tony said confused.

"Captain Rogers is a Marine, Tony, it doesn't matter what you're doing now, when they say jump you jump," Gibbs said a little annoyed. Tony shrugged and sat back in his chair. Ziva was still standing in front of Gibbs. "Why are you still here?"

"Uh, I, uh…I'm leaving," Ziva said finally and hurried to her desk to collect what she needed.

"Tony, go with her," he barked, and Tony jumped up and scurried to the elevator with Ziva.

"Good to have you back, Boss," Tony tossed over his shoulder as they pushed into the elevator and the doors closed. Gibbs smiled to himself as he went to work looking up information on the names they had given him. It was going to be another long night, but he was ready. Once Ziva and Tony got back from Norfolk he would talk with Captain Rogers, hopefully McGee would talk to Ensign Deeves tonight yet and they could have the three other names by morning.

As he sat in the quiet he read up on the men that his team had tracked. He tried to find the link to the top of the ring but he failed to see a connection. He had come up with four names that could be but none of them seemed to fit into the scenario. He was getting frustrated and was continually watching the clock waiting for his team to return. He had downed more coffee than he could remember and was feeling the fatigue of the last few days catch up with him. Jen came down the stairs on her way out and saw him sitting at his desk staring at the monitor.

"Go home, Jethro," she said drawing him from his stupor. He nodded but didn't move.

"Not yet, Tony and Ziva will be back soon with Captain Rogers," Gibbs replied.

"You're going to interrogate him yourself?"

"Yes," Gibbs said as if there was no other answer to her question. She nodded and turned to move away.

"Don't forget to get some rest tonight," she said as she disappeared from his sight. He knew she meant well, but he also knew he would get no sleep tonight. The case was too hot right now and he knew he would pursue it through morning if need be.

TBC…