Chapter 7
AN: Have you ever written or read an idea that was just…delicious? That is the only way that I can describe this chapter. I had had n idea of including this character in this story in the beginning. No offense to the character or the actor, he just doesn't tend to make it into my stories a lot. But, this was just so much fun to rite. And it was delicious…a literary hot fudge sundae, with all the good feeling and taste and none of the calories. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. JL
FYI: DiNozzo is spelling wrong here intentionally to mimic how the character says it.
Two weeks had passed since Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo, Jr. had left Washington D.C. and the MCRT behind. And everybody in the office was feeling the change.
Gibbs had sent an unveiled threat out to the various people who had posted his 'freak-out' on the Internet. He said he was going to contact YouTube and have his videos removed. Of course, those in the agency who were knowledgeable of the Internet, which was basically EVERYBODY else in the agency, just chuckled. That only made Gibbs madder and more determined.
Gibbs had then gone directly over Vance's head to the Sec Nav. But, Gibbs got no sympathy there either. It seems Vance's secretary Caryn had been busy that morning emailing camera footage to people whom she thought might want to see it. People like: Honolulu MCRT Team Leader Anthony DiNozzo, Homeland Security Agent Tom Morrow, the SecNav, and FBI Agent Tobias Fornell. And, of course, she made copies for herself and for Director Vance.
The day after Tony found the video in his email, he called a couple of the local D.C. shops and had a dozen roses and a basket of muffins, doughnuts, and other assorted goodies delivered to Caryn, at the office. She set him a picture of her deliveries and a very appreciative email.
Tobias, being the smart FBI agent that he was, Steered clear of Gibbs as much as possible during this time. Tobias was angry, too. But, for a different reason, he had been trying to get Tony away from NCIS for years. Now, he knew that that was not possible. Tony was not going to leave Hawaii to come back to work for him in D.C. Tobias was taking his loss hard. He was angry at Tony for not staying long enough for him to make that amazing irresistible offer. He was angry at himself for not pushing harder when he had talked to DiNozzo. And he was angry at Gibbs for pushing the young, talented agent away.
"I don't think you want my opinion right now, Gibbs!" Tobias said, he had only come to the office to talk to Vance. But, now, Gibbs had trapped him in the elevator.
Gibbs opened his mouth to speak.
Fornell started again before Gibbs could. "You know that 'rule' you have? That rule about not wasting good?" He was getting angry, and he wanted Gibbs to know it. "You don't even know how to follow your own 'precious' rules you claim to care so much about. Because if you did, DiNoteso would still be here!"
"What…what are you so upset about? He wasn't your agent!" Gibbs replied.
"You are a Grade A moron sometimes, Gibbs." Fornell said. "Tony's been getting offers for years. All the alphabet agencies, Homeland Security…and others."
Gibbs seemed genuinely surprised. "He never…."
"No, of course, he never…. He would never leave you or D.C. before now. But you, being the bastard that you are, chased him away. Now that leaves none of us getting the chance to woo him. And you get to see what life if like without your faithful lap dog by your side."
Gibbs shook his head.
"He idolized you, Gibbs! You were his freakin' father figure." Tobias paused. "You know how screwed up his childhood was. And you…you treat him like something you scrap off the bottom of your shoe."
Gibbs started to shake his head again.
"No, oh no! Don't say that that is not true. We all saw how things changed after Shepard. We all saw it! Vance even said he saw in change in you. And he only knew you by reputation before that." Fornell explained. "You confused the kid! You TOLD him that it was okay. But, you stopped relying on him. You stopped seeking his advice. You stopped depending on him to do his job. And with the whole frog thing, and then Rivkin. Your coming back from Mexico and just taking over."
"Just taking over?" Gibbs said, latching onto the last statement. "It was my team, How did I…?"
Fornell put his hand up. "Not the point here, Gibbs!"
Gibbs huffed and puffed. But, he kept silent.
"You stopped relying on the wealth of knowledge and experience at your fingertips. You started sidelining Tony. You made him stay back and run computer searches. Really, Gibbs? You have a compute geek, and you pick Tony to run computer searches? Even I can see the problems with that logic."
"Tony has computer skills. He did all that stuff, before…."
"Again, Gibbs, not the point." Tobias sighed. "DiNoteso's title was not Senior Computer Geek. It was Senior FIELD Agent, Gibbs, FIELD Agent."
"I know that." Gibbs snapped, getting more irritated. He started to pus the button to resume elevator function.
"We're not done here, Gibbs!" Tobias practically growled. "You stopped the elevator to talk. Let's talk! It's not all about YOU! What YOU have to say! What YOU want!"
"Tony didn't…."
Tobias shook his head. "Now you're blaming Tony that you treated him like shit. That's rich."
"He left without giving me the chance to…." Gibbs started.
"To what? Treat him worse?" The FBI agent shook his head, again. "Nothing was going to change. You know it. I know it. And don't say Tony could have come and talked to you about it." He paused. "That was not going to happen, Gibbs. You have a very effective, pointed, vicious method of counter-attack that leaves your victims speechless, wounded, and bleeding. So, don't you dare tell me that that conversation would have gone well."
Fornell was right, Gibbs realized. Though he would not, could not admit it. Gibbs knew he would not have talked with Tony about it. He would have gotten angry at Tony for the mere suggestion. And in reality, Gibbs probably would have found a way to treat the SFA even worse for suggesting such a thing.
"You wanted good, Gibbs. You wasted it. And it was damn good. And then, you…you pissed it off so much that it left the continental United States!" Tobias told him. "Those rules that you claim mean so much to you, that you wanted all your agent to know and follow…!"
Tobias could tell that Gibbs was getting angrier and angrier.
"I don't care how angry you get, Gibbs!" Fornell paused. "Those rules don't mean jack! You can't tell Tony he's good and then just cast him aside because he doesn't do what YOU think he ought to be doing."
"We're done here, Fornell!" Gibbs said, pushing the resume button with far more force than necessary.
"Yes, we are!" Fornell stated.
The elevator doors opened and Fornell got off. He turned back and looked at Gibbs. "Go ahead, blame them. Blame us all, Jethro. But, this is you…some McGee and David. But, the vast majority…is you."
Gibbs made no effort to move for a moment. He was just glaring at Fornell and clenching and unclenching his fists.
TBC
