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The Next Day – 0700
NCIS Headquarters – Director's Office
Cynthia stepped into her boss's office to put the morning's security briefings on her desk, and was surprised to see that Jennifer Shepard wasn't in her office, asleep or otherwise.
Cynthia looked around and noticed nothing out of place, except Jenny's car keys in their usual spot on her desk.
The secretary smiled to herself; she had obviously gone home with Special Agent Gibbs the night before. This pleased her immensely; Cynthia knew many details about the couple's past, including Serbia and Paris.
Cynthia smiled happily as she returned to her desk, her hopes rising slightly that her bet with the major case team was closer to winning.
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Safe House – 0730
Tony walked into the kitchen in his boxers, surprised to see Kate and Ziva sitting at the breakfast bar together, talking and drinking coffee.
"Morning, ladies," he said cheerfully, trying to hide the pain he was in but attempting his most charming grin.
The girls looked at him, each other, then back to him again.
"Tony, put some pants on before you embarrass yourself in front of the team," Kate said, trying hard not to laugh.
"Too late," Gibbs said, appearing in the kitchen with Jenny behind him. "DiNozzo, where's your clothes?" he asked, slapping the back of his head.
He winced at the contact. "Morning boss, morning Jen."
Jenny nodded in greeting, though normally only Gibbs could get away with shortening her name that way, and took the last available stool next to Kate. She smiled at her. "I don't believe we've met. Jenny Shepard," she offered her hand.
"Kate Morris; you might have known me as Kate Todd."
Jenny nodded. "I thought you looked familiar. How have you been?"
Gibbs sighed, leaving the ladies to gossip, and went off looking for DiNozzo.
He found him in the bedroom, sitting on the unmade bed, staring at a spot on the wall.
"Tony?" he said, trying to gage the injured man's mood. "Are you okay?"
He nodded silently but didn't move. Gibbs took it as a sign and sat down next to him. "Want to talk about it?"
Tony shook his head, then nodded seconds later. "Yeah."
Gibbs offered him a coffee. He accepted.
"I love her, Dad," Tony said softly. Jethro was initially taken back at the comment, but didn't let his surprise show. "Yeah?"
Tony nodded. "When I was in hospital, I could hear her, feel her. She was so scared for me she as crying. I now she barely let go of my hand the whole time she was there. I know I saved her life when the bullet hit me. She's been hurt so many times before; I had to save her the pain just this once." He paused momentarily. "I love her."
Gibbs nodded, taking the confession in stride. "You really love her then?"
Tony nodded. "I want to marry her one day."
"If you hurt her…" Jethro trailed off.
The younger man nodded again. "I know; you'll find numerous ways to prolong my long, painful death."
"That's right."
The pair sat in silence again.
"What about rule number 12?" Tony asked a minute later.
Gibbs sighed. "That rule has been well and truly smashed."
Tony looked at his boss. "Really?"
"Yeah," he nodded, taking another long swig from his coffee cup. "You and Ziva; Tim and Abby; me and…"
"Jen?" Tony smirked. Gibbs looked at him. "Good for you."
"Thanks."
They sat in silence again, father and son moment nearly over.
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NCIS Headquarters – 0900
McGee sat at his desk, trying to help out Agent Cassidy's team with the tracking of El Mohabi's paper trail. The relief team had been working most of the morning, but weren't making as much progress as he, Tony and Ziva would have on a normal day.
"McGee, anything I can help you with?" Paula Cassidy asked, noticing his lapse in concentration.
"What?" he asked. He saw her standing in front of his desk. "Oh, no, I'm fine."
Suddenly, his computer beeped loudly. "Found something!"
Cassidy turned back to him. "What?"
"El Mohabi has been purchasing weapons in local areas surrounding the Quantico base, and significantly more in the Little Creek area."
Cassidy grabbed her gear, motioning for the others to follow her. "We got an address?"
"1014 Nelson Road, Little Creek," McGee called, standing up to follow them.
"Tim, sit down, the address is fake."
Gibbs walked into the bullpen and sat at his desk, raising his eyebrows at Agent Cassidy. She promptly removed her belongings and placed them at the desk behind McGee's; the one she was given the first time she as placed on Gibbs' team.
"How do you know that, boss?"
Gibbs looked at McGee. "1014 Nelson Road, Little Creek, is the police station and sheriff's office, McGee."
"Right," he nodded, sitting back down at his desk.
Gibbs sighed. "Okay, with DiNozzo and David out, it's understandable that I want this bastard caught. Any questions?"
McGee and Cassidy's team returned to what they were doing, the replacement team occupying Tony and Ziva's desks. Paula Cassidy stood in front of Gibbs, hands on her hips. He looked up at her, noted the look in her eyes, and motioned for the elevator.
Once safely inside the metal box, emergency stop on, he looked at her expectantly.
"Gibbs, what are we doing?"
"Catching this bastard so I can have my team back," he replied.
"I know that," she sighed. "But how? My agents are nothing like yours. They don't know what you want done, or how to finish your sentences like they do. McGee's the only one who's actually accomplished something this morning."
"That's because he knows what to look for," Gibbs answered. "And you should too. You worked on my team once, so tell your boys what needs to be done. The sooner we kill this bastard, the sooner everything can go back to normal."
Cassidy nodded in understanding. Gibbs flicked the switch, and they returned to the squad room, Paula with a renewed bounce in her step.