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: It will all make sense in the end... I just needed to write some angry chapters right now :D
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 9
With both of their heads near the conference call device, the Colonel and Ducky were engrossed in their conversation with the senator from the Appropriations Committee and in no position to notice the scuttlebutt in the outer office. However, they were quickly made aware of it when the doors to her private office were violently thrown open. They both looked up to find Director Sheppard about to say something, the look on her face let them know it would be neither calm, nor quiet and so the Colonel made it a point to warn the woman about to whom they were speaking.
"Of course, Senator Eldard…" Fortunately for Jen, her anger was not so overriding that she was willing to risk her career in order to confront the Colonel. Senator Eldard was a very influential man in Washington, and could easily destroy any budget considerations she requested on a whim. She certainly did not need to give the man any ammunition.
"Well, I'd like to thank you for bringing that oversight to our attention, my dear Colonel."
"No, sir… Thank you for taking to time to go over the figures with us again. Dr. Mallard and I should have the next draft over to your office first thing in the morning, Sir." The Colonel worked to devote her full attention to the call, but Ducky continued to stare at Director Sheppard in disbelief and a tinge of fear.
"Very good… Colonel Cassidy… Dr. Mallard… Always a pleasure."
"Ah yes… Good day to you, Senator." Ducky fumbled with his parting words.
"Good afternoon, Sir." The Colonel reached over and broke the connection. "Is there something urgent you needed, Director Sheppard?" Her look was challenging and Jen did not like it one bit.
"I wanted to ask you what gives you the right to change MY security clearances!" Jen did not waste a moment before driving her anger, like a wedge, straight at the Colonel.
The woman actually had the gall to look surprised at the question. "I have not changed anyone's security clearances. I am not the security officer in this facility." She sat back in her chair, and Jen was certain there was a look of smugness there. "In fact, I believe protocol states that the security for this facility is handled by the DOD from the Pentagon Tech Center."
"Don't give me that crap… You have purposely locked me out of personnel files, and I know full well you have that kind of power." Jen sent the shot right back into her court, and all the while Ducky watched in horror at being caught in the crossfire.
"I might… If it was a necessary measure, but that's not the case." The Colonel reached into a drawer and withdrew a folder as she flipped through a few pages. "You received the same memoranda that I did last week, stating that the database would be split into the separate divisions, with case files being the only things remaining on the shared servers." She pulled one sheet of paper from the folder and passed it to Ducky, gesturing for him to pass it to Director Sheppard.
She snatched the paper and looked at it, realizing that it was another copy of a memo she had disregarded as another pointless exercise in bureaucracy. When she scanned through the contents of the memo, it was right there in black and white: personnel files would not be shared between divisions and all security privileges were being revised, due to take effect gradually over the next week. However, seeing the words did not relieve her anger, and still felt the need to lash out at the woman. "Are you going to tell me you didn't invite these changes?"
The woman seemed to reflect on that question a moment before she answered, "Had I been given the time? Yes, I probably would have asked for such a measure, but I have been somewhat preoccupied with slightly more urgent matters."
Jen was not letting her off the hook and she shot back with, "Like stirring up trouble between me and Agent Gibbs?"
"If the trouble exists… My fault is only in using Agent Gibbs' personal assistance in acquiring help for one of my people. I would have done the same for any of my people, and in this instance it happened to involve the Gunny." The Colonel was not backing down from any of it, and that only made Jen's anger boil hotter.
"What right do you have using any of MY people!"
"If this is a territorial thing, please understand, that I only requested for the Gunny to assist me in a personal capacity. He has a personal relationship with one of my people, and Dr. Mallard and I believed that he would be of the most help in dealing with our matter." Ducky was finally able to grasp exactly what was happening as the Colonel explained her actions.
He sat straighter in the chair, nodded at the Colonel and then turned to address Director Sheppard. "My dear, I am afraid the Colonel is correct. We were at an impasse, and felt that Jethro would be the only one to assist us in our dilemma. It was truly a vital matter, and could not wait for further scrutiny, and so I suggested that Gwendolyn enlist Jethro's assistance on the matter."
She scowled at Ducky and he actually appeared to shrink a little under her gaze. She returned her deadly glare at the Colonel and asked, "And you didn't even consider what the fallout over this was going to do to me? Never crossed your mind to warn me what was going on?"
The Colonel shook her head innocently, having no idea why she should have warned Jen about anything. "I wasn't aware there was a need for it."
"Puh-lease!"
"If there is some underlying factor involved in this matter, then I would be happy to address it, once I am made aware of its existence. Until that time, I am confident that my course of action was justified and appropriate."
That was when Jen's anger was quickly being replaced by embarrassment. This woman would have no idea why Jethro's anger being directed at me was a problem.
"Now." The Colonel took her silence as her cue to move things along, "If you don't mind, Director Sheppard? Dr. Mallard and I have a great deal of work to finish before my meeting this evening." The Colonel returned her folder to the desk and then began to go back to the paperwork upon her desk. "If you feel this bears further discussion… Then please consult with Lt. Tiner on your way out to schedule a time to review the matter."
Jen was able to reign it back in enough to nod her head and walk back out of the room. When she passed by the Lieutenant's desk, he stood and waited for her to speak, but she just walked out of the room without even looking at him. She had done enough damage already.