THE PLAN

"I'm already beginning to dislike this," Faith commented as she waited impatiently for Tony to elaborate about the preemptive strike.

"A preemptive strike. We know two things. Someone is out to blackmail you and we don't know who and you can't afford that kind of money right?" Tony waited for Faith to nod affirmatively. "Then there's only one thing to do that will end this right now. Hold a JAG conference and tell them that you posed for pictures for GSM, a girly mag and how they were of a sexual nature," Tony suggested.

Faith pondered the idea. She hated to admit that Tony could be right. This was the only course of action that was now open. "Well that would put an end to the blackmail and maybe an end to my career at the same time. My family will never look at me the same," Faith said. She couldn't believe that she had just told Tony that.

"Maybe, maybe not," Tony responded. "Release the statement and let's see how JAG handles this," Tone said. He hoped things would go the right way. It could go either way if JAG couldn't handle this privately.

"I don't know," Faith said.

"Trust me, Faith," Tony said confidently and smiled. "Me and Gibbs will go to JAG in the morning," he told her.

"So you can have front row seats to the downfall of Lieutenant Commander Faith Coleman?" Faith rolled her eyes when Tony shrugged his shoulders. "Well either I let this blackmailer destroy my career or do that myself. Guess it's not much of a choice," Faith said.

"Have a little faith... Faith," Tony grinned at how it sounded.

The two walked back into the bullpen. Faith stood in its center and swallowed before speaking. She wasn't sure how the others were going to react to what she was about to say. Control was something she had always latched on to. "I appreciate all that you've done. Unfortunately, since nothing conclusive has come up at all... I believe that the only option is to hold a conference at JAG and publicly admit to my indiscretion and accept the consequences," Faith couldn't imagine what their response was going to be. She swallowed once more as she waited for them to say something.

"Alright," Gibbs responded flatly. He couldn't say with certainty if that was the wrong or right. Only time would tell.

"I said we'' be there at JAG when she issues the release," Tony nodded when McGee and Ziva agreed.

"Wouldn't want to miss this," McGee muttered under his breath.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

JAG FALLS CHURCH

News of a press release from one of their top lawyers spread. Almost everyone was there. Ziva and Tony walked around the podium seemingly unnoticed amongst the curious chatter from the audience. "Well I said we'll have front row seats," Tony winked at Ziva.

"Behind the podium is not front row," Ziva corrected quickly.

"Depends on which way you're facing, Zi," Tony said to her. He continued watching the other people. Of course they were curious. After all that was human nature. That was something he had counted on. "Good luck," Tony said to Faith as she took her position behind the podium. Ziva and Tony stood back like it was a choreographed move.

"Thank you for coming to this impromptu conference. I hadn't counted on so many of my colleagues being here. Also this is going to be televised on the local news," Faith began. Her hands rested palm down on each side of the podium. "As you all are aware of, I am the defense lawyer in the upcoming Jayson case. All in all, one of the most important attributes for a lawyer is reputation. I am here now because several years ago, in university, I posed for provocative pictures for a magazine called GSM. Why have I come out with this now? I must think about my client's interest first. This coming to light mid case may be damaging. That is all," Faith nodded.

There was loud murmuring in surprised tones coming from the audience. Everybody's reaction was the same. Tony knew what he was looking for and he continued to scan the room until that very thing was found. That didn't take long. "There," he got Ziva's attention and pointed to a man going through a door.

Tony didn't wait for the others to follow his lead. He thought about stopping to signal the others to follow but dismissed it. He nudged the door open as he ran through. There wasn't enough time to explain what was going on to curious onlookers.

"Stop!" Tony called out.

Of course the man wasn't obeying. Tony caught a glimpse of Ziva running just a couple of feet to his left. That was when an opportunity presented itself. Using a chair as a stepping stone, Tony managed to get on the counter top, he ignored a woman's protest as he ran over her paperwork. With an adrenaline assisted spring, Tony flew through the air and tackled the suspect to the floor. It took a moment for his stomach to catch up with his body.

"That was a good move," Ziva said as she pointed her sig at the suspect and waited for Tony to pick him up.

"Thanks... I think even Hannibal would've been proud," Tony chuckled.

"What are you doing, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked. He and McGee finally caught up with the action.

"Here's the blackmailer, Boss," Tony couldn't help but smirk. There was only one thing missing and that was the opportunity to rip off the mask and reveal the shocking twist.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

NCIS Bullpen

Tony, McGee and Ziva sat at their desks. "I wonder what JAG is going to do with Commander Coleman," Tony said as he put his hands behind his head. The Blackmailer, Adam Jones had confessed and frankly, Tony was proud that his plan had worked out.

"Don't know," McGee responded.

"Maybe you can ask her," Ziva suggested. She had just seen Faith entering the area.

Faith was dressed in her casual clothes once again. "I have personally come here to thank you all," Faith said.

"What's the verdict?" Tony asked.

Faith was surprised that he'd ask that question. "Haven't heard yet... Guess it's still under review," she answered. "I'm just relieved that I no longer have my past hanging over my head. Who would've thought I'd have NCIS to thank for that," Faith smiled out of relief. Her past had come back to bite her and she had muzzled it.

"I love it when a plan comes together," Tony's smile broadened and he chuckled at the reference.

"There's no way that you planned any of this," McGee said. Everything was too random.

"Oh yeah?" Tony said as he leaned back in his chair. "I suspected someone at JAG was responsible and knew that if that was the case... Commander Coleman here holding a press conference would attract everybody in JAG. I looked for someone who wasn't surprised about what she had to say. That person, Adam Jones was not surprised but in a hurry to get out of there," Tony explained.

"Adam Jones," Faith shook her head. "Didn't think he'd do anything like that," she added.

"Well he was sick of being at the bottom... He thought if he discredited a high-powered lawyer, that would help him up the ladder a bit. Apparently he was by the book and felt like he was getting nowhere and when he found out about your seedy past he saw the opportunity to take you down," Tony explained the man's reasoning. "Guess he saw no other way," he said.

"You guys never cease to amaze me," Faith said as she opened her briefcase. "I want to lay my past to rest for good... Here," Faith dropped an issue of GSM on Tony's desk.

Tony waited a moment to give Faith a slight window of opportunity to change her mind but she didn't say or do anything. Tony slid the magazine towards himself and opened the issue to the only marked page. "I know you'll dig and dig until you find that issue. Surprised you haven't already. So by my terms, you're seeing it. It's all about control," Faith waited for Tony's response.

Tony studied the full page picture. It was of a younger Faith dressed in dominatrix gear... Barely. She had a lot of flesh around the midsection and thighs showing. She held a cat-o nine tail whip with the handle in one hand and the other end resting loosely in the other. In front of her was nine lion cubs in perfect alignment. The caption at the bottom of page read... "Control is Power and Power is Sexy."

Tony closed the magazine and handed it back. "Let me have it," Faith said as she thought Tony was going to tease the hell of of her.

"Actually... You look really good," Tony thought that GSM was great at bring to life, peoples' personalities. They really showed the individual model in full life.

Faith wasn't sure how to respond. "Uh, thanks," she eventually said. Her cell interrupted the awkward moment. She held up her hand and answered her call, thankful for the interruption.

"That was worth the wait," Tony smiled at McGee and Ziva.

"Guess that has made your wee. You look as pleased as juice," Ziva observed.

"Punch... And yes, I'm as pleased as punch," Tony confirmed the fact. He watched Faith stand in front of him again.

"I don't have time to stand around all day. I have my job to do," Faith smiled. She felt fortunate that she was still working and still had the case to work on.

"Good," Tony was glad that everything worked out. NCIS and JAG had its happy ending. He wondered they'll ever again work together instead of butting heads at every turn. He gave Faith a little wave.

McGee was surprised when Faith dropped the GSM issue on his desk. "You might as well see it to," Faith said as she exited the bullpen.

McGee opened up the magazine and looked at the picture and began choking as his face turned bright red. "You act like you've never seen inside a GSM before," Tony said and Ziva chuckled. "You okay, Probie?" He laughed.

"Yeah I think I just swallowed something," McGee answered as he quickly closed the magazine.

"That's not exactly a good thing to say while you're reading a girly mag, McGee," Tony said as he hid his smile.

McGee was startled a bit when a hand reached down snatched the magazine from the desk. He winced when Gibbs used it to slap him across the head. "Your mother knows you read this?" Gibbs said as he walked back to desk. An unseen smile crept across his face as he binned the magazine and hoped that that would be the last they hear of this.