Disclaimer: See chapter 1
Chapter 5
Gibbs waited for her in the office, "Rule number three: Don't believe what you're told. Double-check."
With all the rules she was being told, Kate felt the need to ask, "Should I write these rules in my palm pilot, or crotchet them on pillows?" She suddenly saw Tony sitting in the President's desk, touching the phone. She groaned, "Oh no! I draw the line at him sitting in the President's chair."
"He's not using it." Tony argued back.
She complained to Gibbs who told Tony, "Fine. If you're finished taking pictures, start bagging and tagging."
"Just waiting for you boss." He said smiling and got off the chair.
Kate was confused, "Bagging and tagging what?" Gibbs told her to start with everything. Tony took an evidence bag out of his kit and gave it to his boss. Gibbs pointed to the other side of the desk and asked her if the President was sitting there. She replied with a 'duh' expression, "Well it is his desk."
He began showing her what to do, "Okay, maintain chain of custody. Take the item, in this case Commander Trapp's lunch. Place it in the evidence bag." He placed the entire plate in the bag and sealed it. "Seal it." Kate closed her eyes and rubbed her head as he continued and wrote on the bag, "Record all pertinent information. Initial across the seal." To Tony he instructed, "Keep in cold." He handed the completed bag to Tony, who gave him a fresh evidence bag. He opened the bag for Kate, "Okay, why don't you try it?" She took one look in the bag, and felt the urge to be sick, so covered her mouth and ran out of the room. "Woah wait a minute," Gibbs called after her. He and Tony chased her.
They catch up with her outside the lavatory door, "Hey wait a minute," Gibbs said and opened the evidence bag in front of her, "In here!" She threw up in the bag. When she finished, he sealed the bag.
"Could I rinse now that you got your evidence?" She asked covering her mouth. Gibbs nodded and gave the ok, so she slipped into the lavatory. Gibbs wrote on the evidence bag and handed it to Tony telling him to log it.
"You think she's got whatever killed the Commander?" Tony asked softly, trying not to let his worry show. He wanted nothing more then to go into the lavatory and comfort Kate, but he knew he had a job to do and needed to remain professional. He left to go and find Ducky as Gibbs sat in the chair outside the door waiting for Kate. He turned and looked out of the window.
Meanwhile, Agent Fornell, of the FBI, and Agent Baer, of the Secret Service, were conspiring to ensure that NCIS did not have control of the investigation. They agreed that they would share any information found. Agent Baer could order Kate to give the body to the FBI when they landed at Andrews, but they could not control NCIS.
"With us joined at the hip," Agent Fornell explained, "All they can do is watch and bitch."
Back on the plane, Kate was being looked over by Ducky. "No temperature. I think it's a stomach virus."
"I know it is," Kate argued. She looked warily at the thermometer used, "Did you use that thermometer on cadavers?"
He merely smiled, "Would you rather I use the liver probe?" She grimaced at the thought.
Gibbs sat on the couch armrest as he looked over Ducky's shoulder at Kate. "Why are you so sure it was the flu?" She sighed.
"It's the same symptoms Major Kerry had."
"Well, did you work together recently?" Ducky asked. She was quick to reply no. "Well if you didn't work with him then how…" It suddenly registered, "ah."
"Do I need to remind you that I was married to Tony, and we have a kid?" Ducky stood up and left. Gibbs and Kate stared at each other. "You gonna lecture me about sleeping with people you work with?"
"Nope"
A message came through for Kate telling her that Agent Baer was on a secure line for her. She sat up uneasily. Quietly Gibbs asked her if she preferred him taking the call. She stared at him before answering. "I'd have to be dead." She stood up ad left to take the call as Gibbs remained behind chuckling.
Tony was talking to the Chief Steward in the President's office. He asked how long he had worked on Air Force One. The Chief Steward replied, "Five years, sir. Two with President Clinton, three with President Bush." As Gibbs walked into office, he headed straight to the lavatory and Tony wrapped up his conversation.
Once the Chief Steward had left, Gibbs asked Tony what he got. Tony replied, "Well, food security is very tight. Incognito purchases. Randomly selected stores. No one knows they're buying for Air Force One." Ducky walked into the room and Tony motioned to him to be quiet because Gibbs was in the lavatory. He continued to talk as he handed the camera to Ducky. "The stewards usually, uh, prepare the food, but today the President had rib and coleslaw-" He posed as Ducky took a photo, "-flown in from a smokehouse in San Antonio." He switched places with Ducky, who sat down in the President's chair. "So they only reheated 'em and served 'em." Ducky stroke a dignified pose as Tony took a picture.
"Anyone else have ribs?" Gibbs asked from still in the lavatory. Tony replied no.
Ducky asked, "Gibbs if the ribs were poisoned, how come the President wasn't affected?"
"Maybe he's used to Papa Joes barbeque." Gibbs replied. The toilet flushed and he walked back into the office. "If you two are through taking pictures of each other, maybe we can move that body aft." Ducky and Tony exchanged surprised glances.
Meanwhile, Kate was on the phone talking to Agent Baer about handing over the investigation. "I made a deal with NCIS to share the investigation, sir."
"You're not senior enough to make deals, Agent Todd. We're working this with the FBI."
"Sir these NCIS agents are not just gonna turn the body and evidence over to the FBI."
"NCIS had no right to use the local coroner to delay your departure."
Frustrate, Kate tried to use another tactic, "You have to see it from their side-"
Unfortunately, she was interrupted by Agent Baer, "Agent Todd, shut up and listen! I'm giving you a direct order. That's our aircraft. Everything living and dead on board is under Secret Service control. Now don't think I'm not aware of your relationship with one NCIS agent."
"What do you mean?"
"Don't play innocent with me. I know that you were married to Special Agent DiNozzo. Do I look stupid to you?"
Kate had to restrain herself from laughing at the last comment, 'of course you do' she wanted to say. "May I ask how you found that out, considering I didn't know he worked for NCIS 'til a few hours ago."
"You know very well that act doesn't work on me, Agent Todd. Turn the body over to the FBI at Andrews or the only presidential detail you'll get will be walking spotty." He hung up.
Please R&R :D