SUMMARY: Sequel to "The SecDef Cheats." Lt. Col Cassidy moves in to NCIS and this will mean for Abby in the long run. McAbby, Drama/Romance/Angst
RATING: T - Adult subject matter, rare mild language, killer smooching.
A/N: Yeah, so between getting caught up in mapping out another fic and my trip this weekend,it kind of took the wind out of my sails. :( But, I should have another chapter for you folks tomorrow. :) I just ran out of time tonight.
REVIEWS: I am always trying to improve my writing, so all constructive criticism is welcome. I would also like to thank you in advance for any reviews you might wish to leave. They really are a great boon to a writer's ego and gives you a huge incentive to live up to your expectations.
Chapter 8
Director Sheppard had to move quickly to avoid spilling her coffee when yet another construction worker maneuvered through the administrative level on her way to her office. With the all the construction going on in that level, she was seriously beginning to feel irritated by this new division and the trouble it was causing around NCIS headquarters. But if she was angered by the construction, then the newest development awaiting her attention in the office was going to send her over the edge.
"Good morning, Cynthia… Are there any urgent calls yet?" She called to her personal assistant as she rounded the corner into her office.
"Ah, Director Sheppard you should k-…"
When she stopped cold inside her inner office door, it was because of the presence of one very angry Jethro Gibbs. "We need to talk… Now." His tone let her know that he was dead serious, and so she closed the door, before continuing on to her seat behind the desk.
"What is it now, Jethro?" She tried to sound annoyed, but not too annoyed.
"Why the hell didn't you tell me about this crap with Abby?!" She was completely confused by his question, because she was not aware of any recent trouble with the quirky forensics expert.
She shook her head and relayed her puzzlement to him, "I have no idea what you'r-…"
"Don't patronize me… You buried her dismissal paperwork yourself, and you're gonna try and tell me you don't know anything about it!" She could watch his anger boiling to the surface, and he had yet to take a seat, so she knew he was serious.
"If you're referring to the recommendation from personnel, then yes, because I didn't give it any merit. I know all about the bad blood between them, so I ju-…"
"Did you even look at the damn report!" His fists were thrust into the top of her desk with his accusation.
"I don't see where that has any bearing on the matter… But the fact that you apparently have seen it causes me to wonder what the hell you've been doing." Her own anger was starting to bubble a little by that point. "How did you get into the personnel files?"
"Thankfully…" His words had the bitter tinge of pain on them, "her current boss saw fit to show some concern and asked for my help." He stood up again and shook his head, "Ya know, Jen… I've known you to pull some petty stuff in the name of self-interest, but this takes the cake. I don't know how you can live with that… with yourself." His words were resigned, and left her puzzled and angry, but before she could unleash any of that anger, he was walking out of the door.
She decided that she was not about to go after him with both barrels until she had all her ducks in a row, but she was going to take him down a peg for his bald faced accusations. She keyed in the sequence to pull up the personnel reports, and when she reached the folder containing the report on Abigail Scuito she was welcomed with an "Access Denied" warning, which informed her that she did not have the proper clearance to view the folder in question. She re-keyed her access code, assuming she had only mis-keyed it the first time. When she received the second "Access Denied" warning, it informed her that she did not have sufficient clearance to access the file and that any further attempts would be sent to the administrator for review.
The words that escaped her throat were not ones typically heard in the vicinity of any church or child, but she spoke them with sincerity and passion. When she emerged from her inner office, Cynthia knew from the outburst that hell had been brought down from the heavens with those words.
"Cynthia! Where the hell is that woman?!" At that moment, Cynthia was certain her boss' face actually matched her hair when she was truly angry.
"Which one?" She asked timidly, hoping she would not incur any of the wrath she had just witnessed.
"The Colonel." The word, as she spoke it, sounded like a curse and something no one would ever want to be called.
Cynthia quickly fumbled for the daily itinerary the Colonel's assistant had been sending her every morning and she read down the schedule saying in her smallest voice. "Ah, she should be in her office, but she has the time bloc-…"
"Fine!" Director Sheppard stormed from the office.
"…ked out for a meeting until 1730, ma'am." She sighed as she heard the woman's heavy footfalls heading down the hallway. "This is not good." Cynthia picked up her phone dialed the intercom. "Yes, Tiner, you're about to have an unwelcome-…" She heard the woman bellow as she entered the room and just whispered, "Sorry, Tiner," before hanging up.