A/N: New chapter folks! I have to admit that it's not often I run into minor writers block, but I did with this one. I've pushed through it, so I hope it came out ok! It's a situation that's confusing, I think that was part of my issue, but I assure you, everything will not only make sense, but the reasons will be revealed in due time.
To my latest followers/favourites, welcome aboard! Glad to have you with us! To my reviewers, I've said it before & I'll say it again, you rock! I love hearing your thoughts/comments, it spurs me on.
To guest reviewer Sue Dooley: Thanks! Glad you liked it!
Now, just what is going on? Let's find out!
"What do you mean?" Gibbs asked shocked.
Tristan was fuming "Neither of those men are INTERPOL agents, that's what I mean!"
Gibbs eyes widened "excuse me?"
"They aren't on the books of INTERPOL!" Tristan confirmed "This is more than concerning, how they got in, all the information they had..." this was very very wrong "We've got to get bodies working on this is, this is a major security breach!"
Gibbs suddenly tensed, he was not liking this one little bit, but he wondered how Tony would take it? Wanting to shield him from what was boiling to the surface, he looked down to the bullpen "DiNozzo!" he barked.
Tony's head shot up like a flash, that kinda sounded like his old boss.
"Get up here" Gibbs ordered, once he'd seen Tony look at him.
The whole team looked as Tony rushed up, they were concerned & saw that he clearly was too.
"Something wrong?" Tony asked, not really knowing what to make of Gibbs demeanour.
"Go wait in my office for me & send McGee only out here pronto" Gibbs ordered, he was also concerned with how his daughter would take the news.
Tony looked at his boss & saw his old boss looking back, though he was concerned he nodded "yes boss"
Tristan headed down not even waiting for Gibbs to finish his conversation with Tony, she understood though what he was doing & why,
"Something wrong ma'am?" Silva asked cautiously, she'd heard the raised voices but couldn't make out what was said.
Tristan was boiling, she need a moment to calm herself, she saw Gibbs had now joined her & McGee was rushing down the stairs towards them.
Ziva had never seen the woman look so angry, she shared worried looks with the others.
Gibbs whistled drawing the attention of the entire floor & not just Tony's team, this was something that would need a lot of attention "Listen up!" he called.
"Those 2 guests we had from INTERPOL, Moretti & Mandel, they are not INTERPOL Agents!" Tristan started.
Ziva was stunned, what was she talking about? She saw that she wasn't alone, Tim looked utterly shocked, as was Silva & Zuse, not to mention everyone else.
"I just got off the phone with the head of the Italian division of INTERPOL, their office knows of no operation in regards to locating a missing US Naval Officer & when he searched their employee database, he found no sign of anyone matching their names or descriptions." Tristan stated
Tim couldn't believe what he was hearing, this was getting better & better, he saw the shock over all the faces in the squad room, especially those of people who'd dealt with them, Kruse was looking ropable.
Gibbs took a breath, but he was utterly furious! "We have all just been played! I do not accept that! Kruse, you & Donnelly find the assholes! Contact reception, get copies of their cred's! I want them! Everything on them! I want them sitting in interrogation ready to shit themselves!"
"Yes boss" Kruse & Donnelly replied instantly while they were shocked at the news both were taken aback by the ferocity their boss was showing, they'd never seen it before.
Gibbs turned to Ziva & Tim "Clean slate, forget everything of what we've been told, locate Commander Kaplan, now!" he growled.
"yes boss" Ziva & Tim replied instantly flashing each other a look.
All eyes just watched as Gibbs stormed off back to his office, even Tristan who was angry herself couldn't help but be surprised at not only his changed demeanour, he was looking mad as hell & she thought that was putting lightly but the speed that he'd given the orders before taking off, without really getting into it.
Silva was downright shocked at what she had just witnessed, even though she was stunned at the latest news she had to ask, she turned to Tim "ahh, what was that?"
Tim shared another look with Ziva they both knew what that was "that was..."
"...the old Gibbs" Ziva finished.
Tristan saw that all eyes fell to Ziva, some looked shocked, others looked worried, some may have even looked intrigued. She'd crossed paths with Gibbs on numerous occasions during their careers. Given though she'd spent most of her time aboard, they'd never spent a lot of time together, but she had heard the stories of the man & his well, demeanour "I see... should be an experience, I would hate to be those men" she stated, she saw that all of the agents in the squad room still had their eyes fixed on Ziva "or any of you if you don't start doing your jobs! Those that don't have high priority assignments you're to back up Kruse, Donnelly & DiNozzo's teams. Get moving!"
"Yes ma'am" came the chorus reply from the squad room.
Tristan turned to McGee & David "as soon as you locate her, report to Gibbs & myself. We need to move fast..." she'd have continued but got interrupted.
"We're already on it ma'am, we'll locate her & dismiss everything we got told" Tim said interrupting her.
"I've already got calls into the Training Estate HQ's & her local area command, but we will call them again, we'll get to the bottom of it" Ziva added before asking her own question "Tony & Kelly? Have they been told?"
"They're in Gibbs's office, I'm presuming that's what he's doing now" Tristan replied before heading back towards her office. She'd already put the building on high alert, but she'd need to speak with Vance & maybe even put the whole base on alert? Plus she needed to ask how best to deal with the 'old' Gibbs?
"What's going on Tony?" Kelly asked as soon as he'd told Tim to get down to the squad room.
"No idea, but your dad... well" Tony said, not really knowing how to tell her he thought Gibbs had reverted to the 'old' Gibbs.
"Dad what?" Kelly asked, she couldn't work it out.
"He's... well, he's definitely pissed off about something..." Tony remarked, taking a breath "he's kinda acting..."
Kelly wasn't sure why he was stuttering, nor what he was trying to tell her about her dad "acting like what?"
"How he used to... you know, second b for..." Tony said trying to convey the message.
Kelly's eyes widened in surprise, she'd heard stories about her dad's prior demeanour, especially that he was knowns as Gibbs, second b for bastard. She only ever saw brief glimpses of it back when everything was going down, but she'd never think it would come to fore again, unless it was something really bad. That gave her major cause for concern.
Gibbs walked into the outer office area he shared with Tristan, it was where Alice was situated, he looked at her instantly "Alice, go & get the lunch order please. And put an order together for dinner, all agents will be working back"
Alice looked up from her desk, she knew her bosses were both angry, but as yet didn't know why, not wanting to anger him even more she rose promptly "yes boss"
Gibbs waited for Alice to leave & then using her desk he bent over, resting his hands on the edges he took a few deep breaths. He was beyond furious that they'd been played! That HE'D been played! Those two assholes had stood face to face with him & he didn't even realise they weren't the real deal! He could feel his blood pressure rising throughout his body, he was angry with the situation but also himself. He took some more deep breaths not wanting to go into his office & speak with his daughter & Tony in such a state.
Gibbs entered quietly, and remained silent as he heard his daughter on the phone.
"Sarò lì, felice di incontrare presto per discutere i requisiti" Kelly said as she saw her dad enter, he really didn't look good. (I will be there, happy to meet earlier to discuss the requirements)
Tony flashed a look at Gibbs, he could see he was brimming with what ever was going but that he was also curious "Tevez, Club's lawyer, appeal's set for tomorrow, she's seeing what help she can lend"
Gibbs nodded, this was extremely poor timing, he was going to have to do some juggling, he had to be at that appeal.
"Sì, posso fare stasera, 20:00 va bene, naturalmente, si prega di venire da" Kelly said before hanging up. (Yes, I can do tonight, 20:00 is fine, of course, please come by)
Kelly looked at her dad "Appeal is tomorrow 09:00 at the Italian Federation Headquarters, Tevez will come over tonight at 20:00, he wants to speak with Nix again & then we'll go through things, not exactly my area of expertise, but..."
"You're going to help anyway" Gibbs said, managing a smile he interrupted her.
"I am" Kelly agreed "is everything ok?" he looked... well, not like he usually did, even when he was annoyed, it was kind of off putting.
"Sit" Gibbs motioned the pair to sit down on the couch & took a breath "Tristan has just learnt something & it's not good".
Tony flashed a look at Kelly, this didn't sound good at all "what?" he was really worried now.
"Moretti & Mandel, the INTERPOL Agents" Gibbs said.
"What about them?" Kelly asked, where was he going with this.
"They aren't with INTERPOL" Gibbs answered.
"What do you mean Boss? They..." Tony really didn't know or like what was going on.
"They're not INTERPOL Agents, the head of the Italian office confirmed it when Tristan called them" Gibbs said.
Kelly was mortified "We saw their credentials, saw the information, everything looked legit!" she whispered.
"I know Kells, they got past us all, not just you" Gibbs soothed, his girl was looking mortified at being conned. Tony was looking both shocked & worried, this was not going to go unanswered.
"There's more, when Tristan spoke with the head of the Italian branch of INTERPOL she found out that not only are those 2 men not on their payroll, now or previously, they also have no details on the missing person investigation they were supposedly working on" Gibbs said gently.
"What the hell were they doing here then?" Tony asked he was now majorly pissed off & confused "is..." he couldn't even bring himself to say what he was thinking.
Gibbs could see what he was struggling with, he grabbed the file & pulled the picture out "this girl, look!" he commanded pointing at the photo "this is your female twin, you're dad confirmed you've got a sister & I believe this is her, so she does exist & we will find her!"
Kelly rose, she couldn't believe she'd been played! She was so incredibly angry with herself! "I need a minute" she said as she headed for the balcony that her dad shared with Tristan, she needed fresh air to think.
Gibbs wanted to go with her, he wanted to make sure she was ok, but he also wanted to respect her request, so he'd give her a moment before going out. Besides, he still had Tony to handle, he took a breath "None of us like this development but we are going to find them, we are going to find your sister. We will get to the bottom of why they came here & who they are really working for, they are going to be dealt with."
Tristan needed a moment to think, she realised as stepped out on the balcony that she wasn't alone, she saw Kelly standing out there too, leaning against the balustrade. By the look of it she'd been told the wonderful news.
Tristan approached her "Kelly?"
Kelly looked up, she really didn't know what to say "I'm sorry"
Tristan knew what she meant "Kelly, you weren't the only one played. Those 2 men played us all, so don't feel like it's your fault, there is nothing to apologise for. I saw their cred's just like you & they looked 100% legitimate to me. The way they carried themselves they were definitely in the mould of federal agent..." she was going to continue but was interrupted.
"Thank you ma'am for trying to make me feel better, but my job is to see through peoples lie's, I pride myself on being able to do that & I screwed up, it's that simple" Kelly replied, while she was glad Tristan was trying to reassure her, she knew she'd fucked up & would have to work damn hard in trying to fix it.
"We all did Kelly, the only question is, how we each respond to it" Tristan replied, speaking to her was actually helping her calm down & look at things in a better light.
"By nailing their ass's to the wall" Kelly replied "you get them back & I will make sure they don't see the light of day ever again"
"Sounds like a solid plan to me" Tristan replied, she'd never really dealt with Kelly in her 'lawyer' mode, but could see how pissed off she was & clearly was wanting to do whatever she could to nail them.
"Resisting arrest has a ring to it, don't you think?" Kelly smirked.
"I've always been fond of it, we just have to make sure they can still talk" Tristan replied with her own smirk, yea, this girl was a Gibbs! She saw her phone ring, it was Vance "Director" she answered.
Kelly headed back into her's dad's office, she was feeling a little better after her chat with Tristan, but she noticed Tony was gone "where's Tony?"
"In the squad room, he's helping the others try to find his sister" Gibbs replied, as he sat them both down "how you doing angel?" he asked.
"I'm ok, I just can't believe….. I'm sorry" Kelly finished in a whisper.
"Hey, look at me" Gibbs said using his finger to raise her head to him "do I even need to remind you about F9? This is not your fault, you aren't responsible for it one little bit. They fooled all of us, I'm not happy about it, and when we find them, they will feel just how much, but this, not your fault or responsibility."
Kelly just nodded.
"You know now I realise why they were so hell bent on trying to speak to Tony alone, they were obviously concerned about being found out & wanted to do whatever they had to without being found out. By the way they were acting when they were speaking with Tristan & I, you had obviously pushed hard enough to make them reveal things that they probably didn't want to." Gibbs added, though what their game was he had no idea.
"Everything they said though could just be a lie" Kelly retorted.
"It could" Gibbs agreed & continued "but it would be too easy for us to check on her status, and if she was ok, they'd be found out fairly quickly. I think they're right in that she's missing, why though is the question, because I would bet everything that either they're looking for her for a specific reason or know why she's missing & is trying to see if anyone out there is helping her"
Kelly thought made some sense "ok.. so now?"
Gibbs smiled "now, we wipe everything clean & start a fresh, we don't believe or make any assumptions on what they said & we verify everything. We find Patricia, we find them & get to the bottom of everything, so let's go see what the team have"
Alice saw Gibbs & Kelly come out his office "excuse me boss, you're needed in MTAC, the Director's on"
"Thanks Alice" Gibbs nodded before turning to Kelly "go on down & see where things are at, then maybe you & Tim can get back to what you were doing, something may be in her service record that could prove useful"
Kelly agreed & headed off, she was still majorly upset with herself about letting those men pull the wool over her eyes, she was even more determined now to help & get this mess sorted.
A/N: Me thinks Gibbs is pissed off? Not to mention everyone else! This isn't good at all! Just what were those 2 men up to?
How will the MTAC chat go? What will they learn? But an unexpected visitor drops by.. bringing a smile to not only Kelly, but her brother too, just who is he & how could he tie into things with Kaplan? That's up next!
You know I love hearing your thoughts, so review away! More up soon!