In This Land of Make Believe
Tim would have been happy to dive right into the operation the minute Callen mentioned Travis McGann, and dangled that dossier in front of him. But he knew there was more to going undercover than simply having a different name, he had to have a completely new identity.
As he carefully folded his clothes, Travis' clothes, and placed them neatly in his new suitcase he thought back to that day; was it really only three weeks ago?
"I think we have the perfect opening for a man of your unique talents."
Tim's heart sank, he knew what was coming, computers, he'd be stuck behind a computer somewhere. Just like Gibbs, Hetty and Callen had him pegged as the geek.
Callen clicked the remote and the monitor on Hetty's desk came to life with an image of a California driver's license; in the name of Neil Hallam.
"Hallam worked at Ferroman Enterprises; he contacted LAPD because he was convinced someone at the company was trying to sabotage their latest project. Because Ferroman is in the running for a huge grant from DARPA, the police contacted the DOD, and they were getting ready to start an investigation. Problem is, no one could get electronic surveillance set up; Ferroman's security systems look airtight. Then Hallam disappeared...Before we go any further Tim, I want you to know, you don't have to do this."
"Do what?"
Hetty gestured for Tim to sit beside her.
"We need to get someone inside, someone who understands the technology."
"Computers...I figured it would be computers."
"Not simply computers, as I said Timothy, this is tailor made for your talents. Were it simply computers I could just as easily ask Eric, though with his rather casual attitude to anything resembling a dress code, I am not sure he would fit in anywhere but here...No, this job requires someone who understands the workings of cyber technologies and how they are being applied to the creation of exoskeletons."
"Oh cool! We worked with DARPA when I was at..."
He saw the broad smiles on their faces, okay; maybe he was a geek after all. He laughed.
"You got me. What self-respecting comic book freak could pass up the chance to see real bionics in action?"
"I say again Tim, this is a voluntary operation, we have no idea what happened to Hallam; if they found out he suspected dirty dealing and took him out..."
"I understand G. But I want to do it, there are so many ways this technology could help our forces, and if this sabotage, or whatever it is that's happening could delay progress, then if I can help to put a stop to it, well, I'd like that chance. And maybe I can find out what happened to Hallam, he sounds like one of the good guys."
"He does indeed."
Hetty appeared her usual efficient self as she opened a new file on her computer, but inside she was glowing with pride. When Timothy had come to then that January day he had appeared so fragile, and not just because he was so thin. Her team had taken Timothy under its collective wing, and had worked wonders; but only because the object of their concern was made of stern stuff. His near death experience could have broken lesser men, yet here he was, full of excitement and anticipation ahead of the next phase of his OSP experience. She put her hand on Tim's arm.
"Now young man, we can't simply place you in Ferroman, we have no one to contact, no way of knowing who can be trusted, and therefore no way of getting you in by clandestine means. I am afraid you will have to do it the hard way."
She clicked again on the mouse and Ferroman's web page opened in her browser, she pointed to the screen.
"As you see, they have two vacancies at present; I think we can discount the janitorial position, but this one."
Tim leaned forward and read the details.
"Product Development Engineer...I'll need to do some serious reading to stand any chance of getting through an interview for a job like that."
Callen clapped him on the shoulder.
"Come on Tim! Time to put that mega brain to good use. I know you can do this, and don't forget we can give you a pretty good resume to back up your interview performance..."
"I'll give it my best shot."
"I know you will...I'll leave you with Hetty to put together a background dossier for Travis McGann, when you're done we'll have Eric work on embedding McGann's details in the relevant databases."
Tim and Hetty had worked together most of the morning discussing a background for Travis, fleshing out the details that were contained in Callen's flimsy dossier. She had guided him through a process that she had gone through many times, giving him the benefit of her hard won experience.
"It's best to keep the basic details as near as possible to the truth Timothy, that way if you ever have to take a polygraph your base line answers will be true, gives you time to get yourself together, get a steady rhythm to your heartbeat; ready for the trickier questions."
So Timothy McGee and Travis McGann shared the same date and place of birth, elementary and high school education, and a Navy officer for a dad. It was after high school graduation that their 'lives' started to take different courses...
"It might be worth our while giving you a reason to be disaffected with the Navy; should someone inside Ferroman be on the lookout for an ally, they may gravitate toward a person who feels they have a grudge to bear, How would it be if we had you falling out with your father because you didn't follow him into the service?"
"Great idea Hetty. And you know, there's a little bit of truth in that too; not the falling out part, but...well I think Dad...his dad was Navy too, so I guess we could have had a McGee family tradition going. But instead of Action Man Dad got the geek..."
"Who graduated high school at sixteen, has multiple degrees, finished top of his class at FLETC, and is a highly skilled Federal Agent. I think your father got a pretty good deal."
Tim couldn't help blushing, he still found it hard to accept praise; it wasn't something he had been accustomed to hearing in DC.
"Oh, don't get me wrong Hetty, Dad is really proud of what I've achieved, I know that, and I guess becoming a Navy cop didn't hurt."
"I'm certain that whatever you had chosen to do in life your parents would have supported you."
"They sure would...pity Travis wasn't so lucky. So, let's get that in. Estranged from his father...does he have contact with any of his family?"
"I think not.., let's make it easier, and reduce the risk of anyone digging too deeply for your 'family'. How would it be if they perished in a road accident?"
"Pretty brutal Hetty, but it would keep prying eyes away from that aspect of McGann's life."
He typed the amendments and saved them in the Travis McGann file.
Tim had emailed the file to Eric and had done some initial research on Ferroman Incorporated and their biomechanics programme. He was eager to see how his new identity was coming along so he grabbed a soda for Eric and headed to the control room.
Within minutes, he was regaling Eric with his new found knowledge.
"Ferroman seem to have a great operation, they've been working on soldier system technology with virtual prototyping. But they want to move away from virtual and get real; using sieve electrode technology, they're looking at the feasibility of melding exoskeletons with myolectric controls so that..."
"Told you he was the perfect man for the job."
The rest of the team had come to get a look at Travis McGann's profile and Callen was grinning as he witnessed Tim's puppy-like enthusiasm, Sam shook his head in bemusement.
"It sounds like English, I mean I get some of the words...but does anyone here, other than Eric, have any idea what he's talking about?"
Eric looked up from his keyboard.
"What do you mean other that Eric? I'm only getting about half of what Tim's telling me, he's way out of my league on this one!"
Kensi handed Tim a fresh cup of coffee.
"He's way out of most people's league where this stuff is concerned."
That may have been true, but Tim still had lots of homework to do before his interview, but the interview paid off and he was offered the job with a start date of May 24th. That had given him just ten days to get a new apartment, a new wardrobe, pack up his 'old' belongings, do yet more homework, and most important spend some time with Verity, try to explain to her why he couldn't see her...and he'd almost messed up that meeting, big-style.
He'd splashed out on a really classy restaurant for their final meal before he had to leave her.
After a wonderful meal, and a glass or two of wine, Tim had tried to explain to Verity, without actually telling her any details why he wouldn't be able to see her for a while. Verity could hardly believe it.
"No contact! You, who has every electronic gadget known to man; you're going to be unreachable…"
"It's true, where I'm going…well; let's just say I won't even be calling my parents."
She was suddenly all concern
"Tim, is this dangerous? Is that why you won't tell me where you're going?"
He took her hand in his, and gazed into those sapphire eyes.
"I can't tell you anything more Verity, but I do promise I'll be coming back, and we'll get together as soon as I do…that is, if you haven't met anyone else while I'm away."
She couldn't have looked more surprised if he'd slapped her across the face.
"Is that what this is all about? You want to end this? Is this your way of saying you don't want to see me anymore?"
"No! No, of course not. I…I love being with you…but Verity, I honestly don't know when I'll be back, it could be a while."
She smiled and gripped his hand tight.
"Then I'll wait awhile Tim."
Tim fastened the suitcase, and put it by the door. One more phone call to make and he was done here. He'd already called Abby, and she'd promised to let the others know what was happening, she had also warned him that she would be calling Eric on a daily basis to check on Tim's progress. Ducky's letter was already in the mail, and Tim felt better for having put down in writing some of his concerns about living a life divorced from everyone he cared for…but he knew what he had to do…and Hetty, Callen and Nate had prepared him well.
He packed the last of his own personal belongings in the carton that Nate would be collecting later, and glanced one last time at the brief profile that would form the basis of his life from here on in.
NAME: Travis McGann
BORN: 13 September 1979; Bethesda, Maryland
EDUCATION:
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD. Master of Science in Engineering in Bioengineering, Innovation and Design
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge MA. Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
Broadneck High School Annapolis, MD
Punahou School Honolulu, HI
Ruby Bridges Elementary School, Anaheim, CA
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Biomedical Engineering Team Lead: Polysciences Inc. Warrington, PA
Research Associate: Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston TX
FAMILY BACKGROUND: Parents and sister deceased two years previous in a car accident. Father was a Naval Commander, Mother a part-time teacher. Commander McGann was very strict; he and Travis had been estranged for some years.
Tim folded up the sheet of paper, he didn't really need to read it, he knew the contents by heart. He slipped it inside Timothy McGee's NCIS ID, and picked up his cell. Time for one last phone call before his cab arrived.
"Hi Dad."
"Tim! How are things out there in the Golden State?"
"Everything's great Dad, in fact, you know that undercover op I told you about? It's happening, I've already called Sarah...I...well I won't be able to call for a while...I have to become this guy, so no contact with my own family..."
"Son...are you having second thoughts?"
"No...it's not that, I still want to do it, I've waited so long for this chance. It's...well, the closer I get to going undercover, the more real it is...it's going to be tough not being able to talk to my family, and..."
"And Verity."
Tim laughed briefly.
"You know me too well Dad...Verity and I...seems like we're only just getting to know each other; I couldn't even tell her what I'm doing, or where I'm going..."
"Tim, if she cares for you, the way I think you care for her, she'll understand."
"Hope you're right, I should go now; I have to pack the rest of my new stuff. Give Mom a kiss from me, I'll speak to you when I can...I love you Dad."
In that instant an image flashed into Andrew McGee's mind, his son lying in Intensive Care as the medical staff fought to keep him alive; and he was suddenly frightened, as he had been back then. He didn't want to lose his son, but he couldn't burden Tim with his fears.
"I love you son, and I'm proud of you, this is another big step, and I know you're up to the job. Be careful Tim, and we'll speak to you soon."
"Don't worry Dad, I promise no late-night walks in the rain...good night."
As Andrew replaced the receiver, he gave a rueful shake of his head; he should have known Tim would know exactly what he was thinking. He looked up at the photograph of Tim on his graduation day at MIT; he'd grown up so much, and come so far since that day.
"Stay safe son, please, come home safe."
Tim put his cell phone in the carton, and left it on the table for Nate. It would be kept safe for him at headquarters…ready for him when he resumed his life as Timothy McGee. He locked his apartment for the last time and dropped the keys in his post box, as he walked down to the waiting cab Tim shook off his old persona; time to start living another life.
DARPA: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency