Tony walked into autopsy a few hours later. He found Ducky working on the body of the man that Metro had found. They had not IDed him so far. He was hoping Ducky would be able to help with that.
Ducky looked up when he heard the elevator. "Hello, Anthony. I'm afraid I don't have anything just yet. My companion just arrived."
"Where's Palmer?" Tony wondered.
"Oh, I sent the lad to get something to eat. It's getting late, and it seems that it will be a late night," Ducky said. No part of him was willing to go home anytime soon, and Mr. Palmer had agreed, so he insisted that his assistant take a dinner break before they began the autopsy.
"Can you tell me anything, Ducky?" Tony asked.
"Well, I'd guess that the two bullet wounds are what killed him, and I would also say that time of death was between Eight and ten last night," Ducky said.
Tony nodded. "Well, at least we have a better idea of exactly when Gibbs and the director were attacked. I wish we knew why they were meeting. It might tell us why they were attacked."
"Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to answer that one for you. How about their files? Is there anything new there?" Ducky asked.
Tony shook his head sadly. "Ziva and I are going through them, but we've barely made a dent, and so far, we have no real hits. It's taking a while. It's only the two of us. Did you get the email about McGee?"
"Yes. I was quite surprised to learn that he would be acting in Jennifer's stead," Ducky said. While he knew Timothy would be more than capable one day, it surprised Ducky that he would be put in such a role now. A field agent with Timothy status had never been made director, even temporarily, to Ducky's knowledge.
"Yes, thank you! I'm not the only one who thinks it's shocking and ridiculous that McGee got bumped up to freaking Director," Tony said.
"I wouldn't say ridiculous. It's no more ridiculous than it being given to any other agent. Usually, this sort of thing would go to another Director, or in very short-term cases, to a supervisory agent, such as Jethro. However, I suppose I can understand it. They are obviously trying to keep the truth under wraps, and in order to do so, they would have to promote someone who already knows," Ducky said. He understood the logic, even if it surprised him.
"Well, it didn't have to be McGee," Tony said resentfully.
"Ah, I see. Your ego is a bit bruised because your former probie was chosen over you. Anthony, I hope you don't take offense because what I'm about to say isn't meant that way, but I don't think your built to be Director. You are a remarkable agent, and I have no doubt that you will have Jethro's job one day, or at least one like it, but I just don't think you're meant to go all the way to the top, anymore than Jethro is. I don't think you're meant to because I don't think you want to. Am I wrong?"
"No," Tony admitted. As Ziva and McGee both pointed out a well, he didn't want to be director. He was an active guy. He wanted to keep being active until he retired. That was just how he was. "But McGee's no more built for it than I am. In fact, he's less so. Plus, he outranks me."
"You're wrong. Timothy is built for the director's chair, and I'm pretty certain he will be there permanently one day, so you should get used to the idea of an agent you currently outrank surpassing you if you plan to stay with NCIS until you retire," Ducky said. He may not be an agent, but he'd been around long enough to see quite a few directors, and Timothy had the characteristics of all of them.
"How can you think that, Ducky. I mean he's great with technology and the administrative side of things, but he has no backbone. He can't lead," Tony said. Today was the first time he'd seen even the slightest backbone from McGee, when he put Agent Hall in his place, but that was hardly enough.
"He's never been put in the position to have to lead. He hasn't been in a supervisory position, other than when he acted as your senior field agent. If he'd had that position longer, I think it's likely that he would've gained some of what he needed to be an effective leader. And he's shown at least some leadership skills lately. He took a lot of initiative with this case. Again, that's not meant to be an offense to you, Lad," Ducky said.
"You really think he could be the director for real one day?" Tony asked, still really skeptical.
"I do, and I think you should support him. Are you not his friend?" Ducky asked.
"I just don't think he should be the one in charge right now, even if you're right about him being right for it later," Tony said.
"And you still feel slighted."
"Okay, yes, a little. I should've at least been offered the position," Tony said.
"I think you're where you need to be, Anthony, and I think you'd be very unhappy if you had been made to take the director's seat. You wouldn't be able to lead this case if you had. You would be on the sidelines. I guarantee you that Timothy is not happy about being in that position either," Ducky said. Timothy was helping the case by keeping NCIS running, but he was sure the young man didn't see it that way. He would see it more as being unable to actively help.
"Okay, you're right. I'd hate that. I guess it just unnerves me. I mean he's my boss now. That's strange. Plus, if he fails, we're screwed," Tony said.
"Then help him. Have faith in him. Support helps," he said.
Tony nodded. "Let me know when you're done, Ducky."
Ducky nodded and went back to his newest patient.
Xxxxxxxxxx
Tim was in Jenny's office going through the open NCIS cases. He decided that if he was going to be the director, no matter how temporarily, he should know everything that was going in the agency, like all the open investigations. It was also keeping him levelheaded, which he needed. Otherwise, he would go insane thinking of all the terrible things that might be happening, or have already happened, to his aunt and Gibbs.
Tim soon heard the door open. He sighed unhappily when he looked up and saw who it was. It was Abby. "Abby, I'm busy."
Abby looked angry as she stomped over to his desk. "I told you on the phone to come down to my lab."
"Yes, and you said you had no new information on the case, and as I explained, I don't have time for anything else," Tim said. He knew why she wanted to see him. He knew she, like most others, had something to say about his temporary promotion. He didn't have time for that. Neither did she for that matter. There was a lot of work to be done.
"Why? Because you're the new director?" Abby asked in an annoyed tone.
"Temporarily, yes," Tim said.
"I'm guessing it wasn't too hard to get a position your nowhere near qualified for given your relationship to the actual director," Abby said.
Tim leaned back in his chair and glared at her. "You would really take it there? The only two people in this entire agency who know about my relationship to Jenny are in this room right now. Exactly how would I pull that off?"
"I only have your word that no one else knows. How do I know you didn't lie?" Abby asked.
"You should know because you know me! You should also know that I would never use my family to get anything! I worked damn hard to get as far as I did! That's how you should know!" Tim yelled furiously.
"But I don't know you. You've been lying to us all for years," Abby said.
"Anything I've kept from you was none of your business! Despite the fact that you don't seem to think so, I am entitled to some privacy," Tim said.
"The director is your family. That's everyone's business, especially now."
Tim laughed bitterly. "You know, this is something I'd expect from members of this agency that barely know me, but I would think you'd know better. I would think you'd have just a little more respect for me. Although, I don't know why I'd think that. You've never had any respect for me in the past."
Abby immediately opened her mouth to protest, but was cut off.
"No! This conversation is over. I've wasted enough time on it. I need to get back to work, and so do you. Get out," Tim told her coldly before turning back to his case files.
Abby huffed angrily before storming out of the room.
