AN- I am humbled by the reaction to this story which I think sadly reflects a strong feeling not against McGee but the direction the writers have taken all our characters this year. I am holding out the last four episodes wil not only address this but give us back the family feeling and team dynamic that drew me in at the beginning and has kept me watching for six seasons. And I know I said three chapters - but I wanted to do this justice so there will be at least one more.

"Tony," McGee pressed his lips together. He didn't actually think Tony would make good on his threat to kick him to the kerb but their Boss had certainly made his feelings perfectly clear. Even so, he still wasn't sure that this was the time or the place to get into any of this. "It's not that simple."

"It's not that hard either," Tony corrected tersely. "You've been pretty vocal in your opinions of late. Extrapolate."

"Extrapolate?" McGee blinked.

"It means..," Tony began with an exaggerated sigh.

"I know what it means, I just didn't think..," McGee began, only to bite his tongue when he realised how his words might sound. "That is .."

"You think you are smarter than me." Tony stated flatly.

"I do have .. certain advantages .. in some areas," McGee saw no point in denying that.

"Like having a bio-medical engineering degree from John Hopkins

McGee shot the senior Agent a sharp glance but Tony was staring straight ahead his face completely expressionless. Even after all this time McGee was never sure when to take the man seriously and when he was just yanking his chain. He didn't think he would ever understand how he and Gibbs managed to have entire non-verbal conversations using little more than a sardonic look and a raised eye-brow.

"I might have been a little over zealous on that occasion," McGee hated the heat he could feel reddening his cheeks. "But even putting that aside I've been on Gibbs' team for more than five years now. That's even longer than Stan Burghley. Its longer than anyone .."

"Except me." Tony supplied.

"Except you," McGee agreed. "Which kinds of proves my point."

"Oh?" Tony asked dangerously quietly.

It had a long time since McGee had been truly awed (he refused to admit to frightened) by DiNozzo. The days when a look from the senior field Agent had him hastening to 'add a sir' were long past. Tony had gone from being an almost mythical figure, who actually seemed to thrive on working for the mythical Leroy Jethro Gibbs, through a being part-time tormentor and sometime mentor to becoming a real friend and partner. He had begun to take him for granted, perhaps was even a little complacent.

Perhaps he should re-consider his approach.

"All I'm saying," He backtracked a little. "Is that most Agents of your seniority already have their own teams. You seem pretty accepting of the status quo," As far as Tim was concerned ambition was as natural as breathing. Straight As, outstanding SATs, brilliant College transcripts, he had always strived to be the very best. That DiNozzo would settle for second place seemed a lot like failure to him. "Don't you want your own team?"

"Not especially." Tony's voice was devoid of emotion.

McGee couldn't understand that. If he was honest his respect for DiNozzo had begun to erode at the point when when the man had meekly accepted Gibbs' abrupt return from Mexico, slipping back into his role as senior field Agent like a loyal pup just grateful for his bowl of water and daily supply of Alpro, pushing McGee back down the chain of command in the process.

"I suppose some people are just more Commander Riker than Captain Picard." He shrugged.

He caught the way DiNozzo's eyes narrowed fractionally. The former detective might not have caught the exact nature of the sci-fi reference but he was smart enough to recognise that it wasn't exactly a compliment.

It had been frustrating watching the number of Agents being promoted over DiNozzo's head. Jeff Dawson had got that prestigious posting to Rota, which seemed like the kind of thing DiNozzo should have at least considered. Paula Cassidy had got her own team at the Pentagon, despite her actions at Gitmo, although admittedly that one hadn't turned out so well. But even when Director Vance had made him an "Agent Afloat" a posting that most Agents at NCIS would consider the high point of their career, DiNozzo had treated it like a punishment and actually badgered Gibbs to get him re-assigned to DC.

McGee still wasn't entirely sure why Gibbs had been so obliging about that. It wasn't as if the ex-marine was particularly known for being especially indulgent towards his people's whims. And yet McGee knew for a fact that Gibbs hadn't even glanced at the files Vance had given him. Not only that, but he had skirted close to insubordination when he had allowed DiNozzo to ride his own collar back to DC from the Seahawk as he tried to 'bounce' the Director into a decision. So, Tony had stayed, Abby had been delighted, Ziva had been inscrutable, Gibbs had mellowed and McGee had felt like he had taken one step forward and two steps back.

"We are here." Ziva announced.

"Bring the cool gadgets, time to make like James Bond," DiNozzo instructed, his voice distant, as he jumped down out of the truck, his eyes picking over the small crowd of LEOs, FBI, MI6 and other international enforcement agencies. "I'm going to talk to the enemy."

"The gun man?" Ziva hazarded.

"Fornell." Tony clarified.

Adjusting the fit of his bullet proof vest with a sharp tug, Tony's features hardened as he contemplated the task ahead. Gibbs was in there somewhere and knowing his Boss he would be in the thick of things. He tried not to let his concern to show in his eyes as he came up behind Fornell.

"Any word from Gibbs?"

"Not now DiNutso," Fornell dismissed him. "We have a situation here."

"C'mon, Toby, we're all on the same side here. Well, except for Sacks, I've always thought he was after your job. But apart from you and Diane, who knows more about the way Gibbs mind works than I do. I'll bet his boat he was first in line for getting shot."

The FBI Agent gave him a level look. He had his own reasons for disliking DiNozzo but over the years the brash young man had proved himself as a worthy second to Gibbs and the ex-Marine's faith in him had never wavered. Tobias figured that had to count for something.

"See for yourself."

Fornell stepped aside so that DiNozzo could view the live CCTV feed. Two gunmen dressed in suit and tie but sporting black balaclavas had moved a small knot of hostages into the fire escape. DiNozzo observed the images on screen for a long moment his face expressionless. If he were honest he hadn't expected anything less. Even so, the sight of his Boss, his mentor, the man he loved more than his own father, standing there with a gun to his head made him sick to his stomach.

"Read me in."

"This is an FBI operation," Fornell warned. "NCIS has no jurisdiction here."

"Sure," Tony pasted on a bright grin. "I'm just curious."

"Guy's name is Brian Dowling. Ex-special forces, he was attending the conference as a legitimate delegate, representing a security company that does out source work for the government. As far as we know he sat through two seminars this morning, grabbed some lunch and then something set him off."

"How did he get a weapon?" Tony asked, as Ziva arrived with McGee. "I thought all delegates to the conference had to check their weapons at the door?"

"He took out one of the security guards when they were in the bathroom. Talk about being caught with your pants down," Fornell made a face. "Then he used that weapon to kill five other guards and took their weapons. Granted he only has a limited supply of firepower but when five of your hostages are leading figures in our allies' governments that's not really an issue. The death of any one of then would be an enormous embarrassment to the US Government."

"If he simply wanted to execute the hostages he could have done that already," Ziva pointed out.

"He hasn't made any demands," Fornell shrugged. "So far we have no idea what his next move will be. All we know is he threatened to start shooting the hostages if we try to enter the stairwell again. I already have a man in the Hospital from the last time we tried. Don't go doing anything stupid, DiNutso, it might get your Boss killed."

"Wasn't planning on it. Only thing worse than having Gibbs kick my ass would be him haunting me for all eternity." Tony assured him, as he squinted at the screen."You manage to talk to Gibbs at all?"

"Not yet," Fornell admitted. "We've been trying to establish a line of communication but this guy doesn't seem to want to play ball. And he starts shooting whenever we get too close."

"McGee," Tony took a moment to fix an ear wick. "How would you establish communication in a situation like this?"

"There are a variety of ways," McGee replied confidently. "We could send a message via Gibbs cell. We could send in a probe. We might try using the PA system in the Hotel. We could bring in a professional negotiator to open a dialogue. Or find a family member to talk with him."

"Gee, why didn't the FBI think of any of that?" Tony wondered.

Fornell scowled but it was Ziva who answered.

"I expect they did, but none of those scenarios will be effective if he is not choosing to speak with us. You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make it drunk, yes?"

"Close enough," Tony agreed. "This is why we are going to do this the old-fashioned way. McGee you position yourself here in the hallway on the 23rd floor. Do not enter the stairwell unless I give the order. Ziva, you're with me."

"Hey," Fornell barked. "Who died and put you in charge?"

"Relax Toby, I'm just going to have "a little chat."" Tony assured him, waggling his eyebrows as he made like Sean Connery. "I promise to invite you to the party if things get interesting."

"What makes you think he will talk to you?" McGee scoffed.

"Because I've met him before," Tony responded, his eyes darkening "And I know exactly what he wants."