A/N: Here's a new chapter for you folks! I do apologise for the delay, but RL! To my latest followers/favourites, welcome aboard! To my reviewers thank you so much! And sorry for not replying to your latest reviews, but i'm pretty busy & want to get this posted! I love reading your comments, they keep me inspired!

Without further ado, let's see where things are up to!

Tony wasn't quite sure how to approach this situation with his probie, Gibbs was right he couldn't go looking through computer systems, it was definitely a job for McGee! He'd done a few quick things that he needed to finalise & he knew that both Ziva & Tim wanted to know what was going on, he couldn't delay this any longer.

Tony looked between the pair "update time" he called to them motioning them over to his desk. He noticed that the Director had approached & looked to be joining in.

Tim moved to Tony instantly, he hoped he would now be told what was going on, because he really didn't like this not knowing. There was something going on and it was obviously majorly affecting Kelly, she seemed so worried about this Mike guy, who was he? Another friend? Something more? Just what was the connection?

"Tony" Jenn greeted, was this update about what she'd just heard about? "Perhaps you can tell me why calls were coming through MTAC to you at zero 1 hundred this morning? I thought I made it clear, once home, rest!" she asked approaching his desk.

"Had to connect with some people in Frankfurt & Manchester ma'am, I slept between calls" Tony answered "was just about to catch the team up, if you've like to join us"

Jenn just waited but she saw Lt Taylor approach as well "good morning Lieutenant"

"Director" Ted greeted before he looked at Tony "need Mike's service record & an update on Rooney please Tony"

Ziva had moved closer to Tony already but couldn't help but widen her eyes, Lt Taylor knew what was going on? Why were Tim & herself only being told now?

Tony had printed out a few copies of Lt Bond's service record just in case, he had a feeling he'd need a few & he was right "there's the file & I was just about to give the Director & team an update on everything"

Jenn watched as the file changed hands "whenever you're ready Tony" how did the SWAT Lieutenant know about the situation before she did?

"Last night Mrs Gibbs & Lt Atkins came to me with a matter that they believed MacDonald Fielding had well, screwed with." Tony began, he couldn't think of any other word for it really.

Ted realised that the Director as well as Ziva & Tim had no idea about any of this, he guessed listening to it all would help fill some of the blanks.

"What exactly did he 'screw' with?" Jenn asked, she didn't like the sound of this.

"Marine ROTC deployments Director" Tony answered "from what we know we think he had a hand in switching 2 specific marine deployment orders. He changed Lt Atkins orders & instead of him going to Frankfurt he was sent here. It was to switch with a fellow marine, a Lt Michael Bond who was in the same ROTC unit at Rice University, he was supposed to be assigned here but ended up in Frankfurt"

"Why would he do that?" Ziva asked, she wasn't sure what MacDonald would have to gain from that.

"He wanted to make sure Lt Bond was sent out of the country" Tony replied, he flashed a look to Tim to see if he'd picked up on anything, but thus far nothing, hmm.. how would he take this?

"Why would the man want Lt Bond out of the country?" Jenn asked

"Ahh.." Tony hummed, hmm, what to say "He & Kelly were close….. too close for the man's likings" he finished with a sweeping look around to the trio, he saw the Director & Ziva both raise their eyebrow's, Tim though, his eyes widened as realisation started to hit him.

"Lt Bond.." Ziva began "he was Kelly's boyfriend?" she asked, she wanted to double check if she understood correctly, she saw that Tim had been taken aback by it.

"Yea" Tony nodded "the pair went out during their time at college"

"What proof do you have of this Tony?" Jenn asked, while she certainly understood girl's dating, she couldn't help but be surprised that the girl had gone out with a marine!

"Well, to start with Lt Atkins identified the marine 2nd Lt Rooney that we think intercepted the orders at MacDonald's residence" Tony answered and continued to explain everything about both Rooney's and the pot shot someone took of the 2nd Lieutenant & that he'd be here in just a few hours.

Jenn had to admit.. "the pieces do fit, but there is no solid proof yet" while Lt Atkins seeing him at the residence was definitely a major part of it, it wasn't enough to call 'solid' enough for charging ability.

"I know, that's why Gibbs & I want McGee to see if he can find anything in the computer system between Major Rooney & the ROTC command at Rice University ma'am" Tony replied, he could see Tim was wasn't quite himself & knew that he'd have to speak to him after this session finished, but he had another thought "or you know, we could just interrogate him, I'm sure Gibbs could have him confessing in no time" he was damn sure he would have the guy spill his guts in no time!

Ted was really liking the cut of Tony, he smirked, he had no problem imaging the punk guy confessing all! Especially to Gibbs!

Jenn disagreed "Gibbs will not be going near the interrogation room on any of this"

"Excuse me Director?" Gibbs questioned coming into the bullpen. He'd gone to grab a coffee & tell his girls about the news on Mike, that didn't go down well! He said he'd try again as soon as possible & was about to start grabbing his paperwork to start the interrogations but what the hell was Jenn saying? He was damn sure he would be doing the interrogations!

Tony had to admit he was surprised, no shocked! How on earth could she think of keeping Gibbs out of the interrogations?

Jenn took a breath as she turned to him, she knew this wasn't going to be pretty "my office Agent Gibbs" she didn't even wait for the reply, because honestly she didn't know what it would be, better to act tough than show just how nervous she was about this!

Gibbs shook his head, he couldn't believe she wanted to ban him from doing the interrogations! And he couldn't believe she'd just walked off without even waiting for a response, but it wasn't like he couldn't not follow, he zoned into McGee quickly "get me that proof McGee!" he barked.

Ziva watched as Gibbs went to follow the Director, she didn't hear it but she saw him go close to Lt Taylor & saw the man let out smirk, Gibbs had obviously said something to him in passing. She watched as Gibbs walked up the stairs & Lt Taylor headed back down the hall.

She then let her gaze switch to her teammates, Tony, he was watching McGee, not staring, but out of the corner of his eye he was clearly trying to gauge how the young agent was taking the news about this boyfriend of Kelly's. She wasn't quite sure what to say herself so when Tony rose from his desk she breathed a sigh of relief.

Tony went & leaned against the shelve behind McGee's desk "McGee… Tim" he said quietly, he could see he probie's eyes were glazed over "Tim" he repeated

Tim shook his head & looked to Tony "yea?"

"You ok?" Tony asked

"Why wouldn't I be?" Tim asked a little unsure of himself.

Tony sighed "Tim, come on, I know you developed some kind of feelings for Kelly"

"I'm fine Tony" Tim answered, he really didn't want to talk about it but he couldn't help but start to feel really unsure of himself. Was this Mike guy going to go come back? She did desperately want to speak to him? Were they still ex's or not? Were they thinking of getting back together? How long ago had the guy left for Frankfurt? He had to admit & he knew it was selfish of himself, but he hoped they were nothing more than friends now. At least that's what he hoped but a small part of him had a feeling he wouldn't be so lucky, he was never that lucky with girls.

Tony could see that he wasn't going to talk about it "ok, I know this might be difficult, but I really need you to get us that proof, if you need help just get Abby to help, you don't have to do it alone" maybe sharing the burden with Abby would make it easier on him.

Tim nodded very much liking that suggestion, if he didn't have to do it alone it would be easier for him on so many levels! "good idea" he remarked standing up to go down to the lab.

Gibbs followed Jenn straight into her office & he didn't wait long "I'm doing the interrogations!"

Jenn had gone to stand behind her desk "no you are not Jethro! You are not even going into the viewing room" she remarked sternly.

Gibbs thought she was insane for even trying to suggest that! "Like hell!"

"Calm down & let me explain the reasoning Jethro" Jenn remarked eyeing him, she had to calm him down!

"Explain then!" Gibbs remarked, what ever her reasoning was, he'd find a way around it. But he heard Cynthia on the speaker say someone was here & then Jenn said to send him in, who could she possible want here for this conversation? He saw the door opened & was a little surprised.

"Director, Jethro" Michael greeted

"Michael" Gibbs greeted, he still had no clue what he was doing here right now.

"Thank you for coming straight in Mr Barnes" Jenn greeted, she hoped having him here for this conversation would keep Gibbs in line & make him understand the point a lot better.

"Not a problem" Michael replied, he'd chaired an intense management meeting at his office & shifted almost all of his & his wife's cases onto others. He'd then high-tailed it to NCIS after a discussion with the Director, he had to stop a situation before it started!

Jenn could Gibbs was now cautious with having Michael here, but that he'd also not be easy to convince "Jethro you cannot do the interrogations because you are the plaintiff in this case"

Gibbs couldn't help but blink at her in surprise, not really knowing what to say.

"The Director is right Jethro, the most sure fire way to ensure those men get off is for you to do the interviews. Any half decent lawyer could easily argue that the case is dismissed on the basis that it was you who undertook the interviews & I know you don't want that" Michael added, he couldn't let the man, no matter how much he wanted to, do the interviews or interrogations as they called it "they could even request dismissal if you were to be in the viewing room & there be the possibility of you feeding questions to the interviewer"

Gibbs definitely didn't want the men to get off but he had to do this! "I'm the lead agent, I'm the one most involved in everything! And those men…"

Michael had to interrupt him "Those men are the ones responsible for bringing the hurt & pain to your children, your your wife, to your family Jethro. They're the ones responsible for carrying out MacDonald's orders against your family and you. As such you can't be the one to interview them, it's a clear conflict of interest"

Jenn watched, she was extremely grateful that Michael was here to help speak to Jethro & well, he had basically taken the conversation over. She was watching curiously though because she knew Jethro had always hated lawyers, she wasn't sure if he'd relent, she was already considering having to put agents on duty in the hallway to stop him. What she could see though was how determined Michael was to not have him there & to make him understand why.

"Conflicts on interest can be dealt with" Gibbs remarked, trying to work out a way through this issue, he'd dealt with conflicts before & they'd talked their way around it, but maybe, just maybe he was starting to understand what Michael was saying & he hated it!

"I agree, some conflicts of interest can be, and we will certainly have a few to deal with" Michael agreed & continued "but if you were to go into those rooms it would be a legal slam dunk for them, if I was their lawyer, I'd have the entire case dismissed within 10 minutes of starting" he had to be blunt to drive his point home.

Gibbs let out a breath as he looked at the man, did he believe him & stay away? He never liked lawyers, but that was mainly because of MacDonald, but his girl was about to start working in the profession & this man who was now his daughter's boss was speaking with not only conviction but passion seemed very sure of himself.

"I'm not their lawyer but I am your lawyer Jethro & as such I cannot allow you to do this" Michael remarked calmly "I want to make sure that the other side gets no easy or otherwise way out of this, I want them locked up for the rest of their lives and will do what I can to make that happen" the more time he spent thinking & talking about this the more angry he got, nailing the men to the wall was something he was looking forward to!

Gibbs swallowed the lump in his throat, they'd only barely agreed to have him & wife come on as their lawyers, but he was already thinking about what he needed to do, court & everything was still weeks away! He closed his eyes & let out a long silent breath, he now realised the man was right. He opened his eyes again & saw both Michael & Jenn watching him cautiously "who would interrogate them then?"

Jenn breathed a sigh of relief "well, I was thinking Fornell & Tony would lead the interrogation team, Tripoli is also back on deck & wants to help" she remarked, hoping he would be ok for the pair to lead the team in his absence.

"Wouldn't there be a conflict of interest with them doing it too? They could claim that as my senior agent & friend, I convinced them to ask certain things" Gibbs remarked, the thought suddenly coming to him, maybe this could get him back into that room!

Jenn wondered if maybe he was right, but couldn't this point be argued for the entire agency?

"They could claim that Jethro, and they probably will try to, but it will one they will loose" Michael answered "a case like this, if we boil down to the fact that it involves an NCIS Agent & his dependant family, there will be agents apart of the case & legal proceeding from both within this agency & others. It's only natural for the agent to bring in help from fellow agents to deal with the situation. I am more than comfortable in managing that, what the judge would draw the line at though would be you directly involved in it, once it was over" Michael had no qualms in dealing with this conflict, but there was a line.

Jenn was glad for that answer, this whole thing was a completely new level of everything really, she'd have to manage this all on the fly! "Well Jethro, can they lead them team?"

Gibbs let out another sighed breath "fine" he couldn't really think of anything else to say to get himself in that room.

"Cynthia, please ask Agents DiNozzo & Fornell to come into my office now" Jenn said into her speaker.

Michael wanted to use this moment to mention something else "Jethro, it might be an idea to see if we can find anyone other than your family who would be willing to testify against MacDonald & those men's behaviours whilst they were in Houston"

A name came to Gibbs's mind instantly "Marine Lt Michael Bond will" he hoped the boy would offer it himself, otherwise he'd order him to!

"Lt Bond?" Michael queried

"There's something you probably need to be caught up on" Gibbs remarked "we're adding a court martial to the long list of things to get done"

"We need proof Jethro" Jenn remarked "solid proof" she added

"McGee's working on it" Gibbs remarked

"If I might ask what you're talking about?" Michael asked

"Long story short, that bastard somehow used some connection with a marine 2nd Lt Rooney to get rid of Kelly's boyfriend. He got Rooney to change his deployment orders to have him go overseas & make certain when Kelly left with Phoenix that she remained within the United States, so that she wouldn't go to him" Gibbs answered, he really didn't like talking about this in front of Jenn, it was hard enough as it was but in front of her, not the easiest thing!

Michael's eyes widened "let me bring someone else into this discussion if I may?" he asked looking between the pair, he drew a nod & dialled his phone "Jim, can you join me upstairs in the Director's office please"

Gibbs waited, he was curious as to who this Jim was & it only took another moment before the door opened revealing Tony, along with Fornell & another guy. This man he presumed was Jim, he looked maybe 5 years younger than himself, solid build with dark brown hair & eyes, he definitely had the law enforcement build.

"Supervisory Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, this is Jim Nelson my lead investigator" Michael said wanting to introduce the pair before everyone else.

"Agent Gibbs" Jim greeted shaking the man's hand, he couldn't believe what Michael had told him.

"Jim" Gibbs nodded, he wondered what the guy was doing here, they were the investigators.

"Director Sheppard, Jim Nelson" Michael said introducing the pair.

"Director" Jim greeted

"Mr Nelson" Jenn greeted

Michael flashed a look at Tony & Fornell before looking at Jim.

"Already met Agent DiNozzo & Agent Fornell" Jim remarked

Michael nodded before turning his gaze back to Jethro & the Director "Jim has worked with me for the last 10 years prior to that he was a detective both on the west coast & here on the east coast."

Tony waited wondering where Michael was headed with this.

"What you just told me about MacDonald and this 2nd Lt Rooney and the switch of orders" Michael remarked and continued "I can only presume he would have to have had substantial leverage over the man, going back a fair way & I know you're the investigators but you've all got a lot on your plates and Jim is an expert at finding even the smallest of connections between people, I'd like to suggest that he at least help look into that aspect"

Gibbs wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth "any help is appreciated" he nodded

Jenn was a little surprised that he'd agreed so quickly to the help, but she had another matter to deal with "yes the help would be appreciated" she said before turning her attention "Agent DiNozzo, Agent Fornell I'd like the pair of you to take the lead on all interrogations of all the assailants, Agent Tripoli should be arriving as we speak & he will give you a hand."

Tony shared a look with Fornell before looking to Gibbs "boss?" he was floored that he'd let her take him off the interrogations!

Gibbs let out a sigh "I can't do them"

Fornell was gobsmacked "you're not doing them?" he didn't think the almighty would keep him out of that room with those men!

"No he isn't" Jenn remarked "Gibbs can't do any of the interrogations nor will he be signing off on any of the reports, that Agent DiNozzo you will be doing."

Tony's eyes widened, he was signing everything off? Really? What the? He cast his eyes around the room and looked to Michael & that's when it hit him. Gibbs couldn't do it because he was well, the victim, at least him & his family were the victims, so he couldn't do the interrogations, nor could he sign off on any of the reports. All of it was now his responsibility, and Fornell's, but mainly his. He swallowed the lump in his throat, he was taking full responsibility & ownership of a case that would have such a huge impact on his boss, the man whom he looks up to immensely and had given him so much, so much so that he respected and valued his opinion like a father, much more than his own father. It was also going to have a major impact on his family, not to mention that every NCIS agent would know about this case and be looking for it done to perfection, yea no pressure! He drew himself to full height, he wouldn't let the men get out of anything! He'd make sure there was no chance of them getting away with anything! He'd do this for Gibbs, for his boss, he wouldn't let him & his family down! He'd worked so hard to make his boss proud thus far & he'd just keep going! He would make Gibbs proud!

A/N: Tony will definitely be stepping up! And that was definitely a hard sell to Gibbs! A really hard one, and he'll still struggle a bit with it, but i would say Michael is right, they don't want the men to get out of any of it! Tony won't let Gibbs down though!

Jack on his way, they're still trying to find Mike & Rooney is also going be there soon, Joanne is still in her coma.. so much going on!

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