McGee and Ziva eagerly watched the Gibbs and the stranger enter the bullpen. The stranger carried his white hat beneath his armpit as he walked into the area. The official white uniform made him stand out and the fact that he was a few inches taller than Gibbs made him stand out even more.
"Oh no," McGee eyed him enter.
"What?" Ziva asked. "Who is that?"
"Lawyer…" McGee answered. "Navy Lawyer… JAG."
"They don't look too happy to see me Special Agent Gibbs," The man said as he extended the hand for Ziva and McGee to shake. He was reluctant to shake it but did.
"This is JAG's poster boy… Captain Harmon Rabb," Harm's expression didn't change when he looked at Gibbs for the term Poster Boy. "He's going to help us keep DiNozzo from going to prison," Gibbs ignored the look.
"Ziva David," Ziva introduced herself.
"Special Agent Timothy McGee," the decorated man made McGee suddenly feel the urge to be formal.
Harm put his hand down and waited before speaking. "So what have you got? Agent Gibbs here has told me you have been searching through surveillance looking for possible contacts," Harm said. "What you got?"
McGee looked over to Gibbs who nodded. "Well," McGee stuttered slightly. "Why don't you sit down?" Harm looked at the chair roll till it was next to him. McGee wanted or need to cut Harm's height. "We have three unidentified people and two unidentified cars that we have a BOLO on." McGee said.
"Everyone else was cleared," Harm noted, not quite questioning.
"Yes they were all agents and not acting like they were hiding anything," McGee answered. "We had Ziva here sitting in on our interviews,"
"You're a polygraph expert?" Harm asked.
"No, I am not a polygrid expert." Ziva replied.
"She means polygraph Sir," McGee noted the slightly confused look on his face and he just nodded.
"I am not a polygraph expert," Ziva said. "However Captain Rabb, I am trained as a Mossad Officer. We were taught to read body language and study changes in breathing to determine if that someone is lying," she explained.
"Doesn't sound very effective," Harm said. The others immediately turned their heads to face Ziva to see what she'd do.
"It is very effective in interrogations when one has to extract information," Ziva lowered her voice. "Perhaps when we have time I can show you my interrogation techniques," she continued on.
"I'd look forward to a demonstration," Harm said, not noticing the thin smile on Gibbs' face.
"Gear up," Gibbs said.
Harm was almost spun all around as McGee and Ziva rushed past him with their bags. "What?" Harm asked as he briskly walked to the elevator.
"So where's Agent Blackadder?" Harm asked as he held onto the door handle. He was making conversation to take the mind off the van swerving in and out through the traffic. It was impossible to believe someone drove like this while not in a military zone.
"She left the team shortly after we investigated you and Singer," Gibbs said.
"Do you have to drive so fast?" Harm asked, allowing a split second to think back to Singer and those awful circumstances. He was undeniably shocked when Gibbs turned up at his office door requesting that he represent his amnesiac senior field agent.
"Gibbs has slowed down considerably," McGee said. The only person who seemed to be relaxed was Ziva.
"Don't worry," Gibbs said. "I won't be doing the driving on the way back," he kept his attention focused on the road.
"Well, that's good," Harm replied. "You know I've flown Tomcats that was less turbulent than this."
"Ziva will be taking us back Captain Rabb," Gibbs almost smiled as they arrived.
Interrogation Room: FBI
"Have a seat," Harm said. They were almost at eye level. "I said sit down," he ordered the confused looking field agent. Tony did as he was told. Definitely not himself, that was for sure. Harm hadn't spent too much time with Tony but figured he had him pretty well pegged. "Do you know these three men," Harm showed them the somewhat blurry surveillance photograph of the three.
"They said they were NSA people," Tony replied.
"How do you know they were NSA?" Harm asked. "Agent Gibbs told me you had amnesia," he said.
"They showed me their ID," Tony answered quickly.
"You have amnesia… How do you know it was NSA ID?"
"Because they told me," Tony answered.
Harm stood up, walked around before stopping in front of the one way mirror. He knew the others were in there watching the interview process. "I've asked you some questions and yet you haven't even asked me who I am," Harm asked without turning around.
"Well I assumed you were another FBI guy… But you dress differently," Tony replied.
Fornell joined Gibbs, McGee and Ziva in the adjacent room to watch Harm interview Tony. His technique was similar to that when Gibbs interrogated a suspect, so antagonistic but he was supposed to be a lawyer. McGee laughed but quickly suppressed it with a forced cough.
"Something funny McGee?" Gibbs asked as everyone's attention was now focused on the Probie.
"Yes Boss," McGee's eyes widened in fear. "I mean not at all Boss," he corrected.
"Spit it out McGee!" Gibbs ordered him.
"You've spent most of your time trying to keep Tony out of harm's way but now you've willingly put him in Harm's way," McGee did his best to not to laugh this time and he was succeeding till Ziva squeaked in an attempt to suppress a giggle at that. Gibbs glared at them.
"I'm going to get some coffee," Gibbs said before leaving the room.
After Gibbs left, they started giggling until they were able to control themselves. Fornell shook his head, if his team ever acted like these he'd sack them on the spot.
Harm sat back down. "I need to know… Did you willingly hand over the dossiers to these men?" Harm asked.
"Yes." Tony answered flatly.
"Why?"
"Because they told me they were NSA," Tony felt like he was going around in circles. First the FBI and now this guy, how many times would he have to go through this. "These people that they keep calling FATO approached me saying they were NSA. I had no reason to disbelieve them. They said I was working for them, the FBI said I was working with them and people keep saying I'm NCIS. Frankly, I don't know what the hell your angle is," Tony's anxiety was growing and his fear induced anger was now being directed towards the only one in the room. "Well since we're on the subject… Who the hell are you anyway?"
"Captain Harmon Rabb junior," Harm introduced himself while extending his hand. "And you are?" He asked.
"Tony DiNozzo," Tony answered.
"You can come in now Special Agent Gibbs," Harm said towards the one way mirror completely satisfied that Tony's amnesia defense was indeed realistic and satisfactory. About a minute later Gibbs came in with a cup of coffee.
"Well Captain Rabb?" Gibbs asked.
"I'll be defending your Poster Child Special Agent Gibbs," Harm said. It was a deliberate poke at Gibbs the same way he'd been poked earlier. "But you lot are going to have to be totally open with me," Harm said to Gibbs. "First things first, I need to have a look at his personnel records," Harm declared, "We'll be back tomorrow."
Harm thought that Gibbs' driving was bumpy it was pretty tame compared to the maniac that was behind the wheel. He'd never seen a woman drive like this before and he didn't care to see it again soon. As the van turned another corner he wondered if it was just his imagination or if it went on two wheels. McGee was the only one of Gibbs' team who seemed somewhat fazed, Gibbs looked totally relaxed and Ziva was having the time of her life.
"You let her drive like this?" Harm asked. He actually wished he was landing planes on an aircraft carrier at night again, to hell with night blindness he thought, I'd be safer than in here.
"Not a lot," Gibbs said as he smirked at the JAG lawyer's reaction.
"So how is Agent DiNozzo as an Agent?" Harm asked. There was another swerve… Is this what being in the Indy 500 feels like?
"He's a damn good agent," Gibbs answered. "Sure he may be a little how should I say, not like a normal agent but the boy steps up when it counts," Gibbs added.
"How about as a person?" Harm said through gritted teeth. "They're going to attack his character," he told them.
"Well he has a lot of empathy for people and that makes him able to see all sides… He's been away from his real family forever but his caring for all people has kept him from becoming bitter," Gibbs said. Ziva and McGee nodded in agreement.
"Come on," Harm said. "Nobody's perfect… Not even Tony DiNozzo. Surely he has faults."
"He can be a bit too laid back," Ziva interjected as she swerved to miss another car.
"And he's not above teasing either," McGee added. "But when it comes to the fight, he backs you up a hundred and ten percent and not afraid to get in the line of fire," he said.
Harm's grip tightened on the handle as the van screeched to a halt. "If you guys make it to the stand, do not act like you're reading from a teleprompter," he said as he stood out of the van. His legs felt like he'd been at sea for a couple of months and found they felt unsteady.
"You alright there Captain Rabb?" Gibbs asked as he saw that Harm was an odd shade of green. "My driving isn't that bad now is it?"
Harm sighed and tilted his head slightly as he watched the others near the NCIS building. They were his new team, but had the same attitude problems as Blackadder and Tony DiNozzo. Of all the different cases he's been in, this sure would have to be a real tough case. Gibbs was the overprotective CO, Tony DiNozzo was his poster boy… Gibbs would curse the day he called Harmon Rabb the Poster Boy, Harm thought to himself. Tim McGee… Actually, he liked McGee, the younger agent reminded him of Bud a lot. He could be useful. Ziva David, he'd spent most of the time trying to figure her story out. Harm walked up to the others and entered the building. Yes… This case was going to be difficult.
A/N: Congrats to you who guessed that it was Captain Harmon Rabb I was bringing in. Well if anybody can defend Tony and get him through the trial on the legal side… JAG's Poster Boy can. Oh and the Poster Boy is a reference to what Gibbs said in Ice Queen/Meltdown. Slight poetic license, I made it so Gibbs and Harm had not exactly become friends but found some respect with each other. Hope you all liked this chapter.