AN- Realy sorry for the delay, never meant to leave anyone hanging but RL has its own agenda. As compensation this chapter is somewhat longer and the final chapter will be up soon - as this weekned is a UK holiday.
Afterwards, McGee would remember the proceedings like a series of scenes from a movie. The general chain of events, how they shifted from one scenario to another would fade into oblivion. But each pivotal moment would remain burned into his mind's eye in glorious Technicolor. He remembered the dark, serious, look in Tony's eyes as he gave his orders.
"McGee, you stay down here and cover the lower stairwell. Ziva, go up and block his access to the roof. Dowling doesn't get out of this building except in handcuffs or a body bag. Both of you hide out on this side of the door unless you hear him coming. Last time Gibbs and I worked this case two-handed, let's let him think I've come alone for now."
"What are you going to do?" McGee couldn't help but ask.
"I'm going to tell him something he really doesn't want to hear." Tony admitted.
"You want him to run," Ziva realised, a hint of approval in her tone. "You are trying to separate him from the rest of the Hostages."
"That's the plan, Zee-vah," Tony agreed, his expression grim. "If we are really lucky he'll just take Gibbs along for the ride."
They had all looked at each other, knowing that the safety of the international delegates had to be their first priority, but hating the fact that to protect them, they had to put their own Boss in even more danger. McGee had no doubt that Gibbs would have made the same call if it had been him, or Ziva, or even Tony up there. Those kinds of risk came with the job. But that didn't make the choice any easier.
"You have no idea what it was like," Dowling's voice was tight with pain as he stood on the landing, the muzzle of his gun pressed into Gibbs' temple, hard enough to leave a mark, as he argued with Tony, the rest of the Hostages pressed against the wall behind him. "I came home from deployment and they were just gone, like they had never even existed."
"She left you a letter," Tony pointed out. "She wanted you to understand. She had to do this, for the children.
McGee pressed his lips together. His mind picturing the image of Tony, his regulation Sig kicked into a corner at Dowling's insistence. His expensive jacket discarded in a heart beat to prove his wasn't wearing a vest and the back up weapon in his ankle holster slid across to Dowling's feet, down on his knees, with his hands laced behind his head, giving up every personal advantage in order to keep Gibbs alive.
"I looked for them," Dowling's voice broke. "I quit the service and went into the security business. Made the contacts, called in markers, I only worked to make enough money to keep on looking for them. But I've never found them."
"Why now? Why after all these years?" Tony asked, as calmly as if he was in Interrogation back at the Navy Yard, rather than staring down the barrel of a gun, negotiating for the life of their Boss. "I mean, I know Gibbs isn't exactly known for his charming personality but people don't usually try to shoot him unless they are a criminal or a murder and you're neither of those Brian."
It was textbook stuff. McGee knew all the standard techniques. Establish a connection. Use their first name. Make them see the Hostage as a person not just a means to an end. Ensure they understand the consequences of their actions. Still, he couldn't help but admire the way in which DiNozzo did it. Like it was no big deal, as if the potential for an International incident and the lives of all the hostages not to mention his friend, mentor, almost father didn't rest in his hands.
The news that Brian Dowling was dying from cancer was a blow. It meant that the man had absolutely nothing to loose. That made him dangerous and totally unpredictable. McGee couldn't help but feel some sympathy for the ex-Special Forces soldier. His parents were dead, he had never married, his sister and her children had been his life. All he really wanted was to see his family one last time before he died. But there was no way Tony could make that happen, which meant that there was only one way that this could end.
Badly.
The only question was, for whom?
"If you come any closer I'll drop him where he stands." Brian Dowling's eyes darted frantically between McGee holding position on the lower landing with his weapon drawn and DiNozzo halfway down the stairs behind him, levelling a gun at his head. In all these years working with DiNozzo McGee had never suspected the ex-homicide detective carried two backups. Through his ear wig McGee could hear Ziva moving the remaining Hostages to safety,
"You know, Boss," Tony observed laconically, as if Dowling hadn't spoken. "Brown really isn't a good colour on you. If you were going to get held hostage in an International incident you really should have worn something blue. Bring out the colour of your eyes."
"You think I gave a damn about my shirt, DiNozzo?" Gibbs growled.
When he was a green Probie McGee might have been naïve enough to take that exchange at face value. His expression might well have matched the slightly mocking smile spreading across Dowling's face at the apparent non-sequitar and Gibbs seeming reprimand. Like Dowling he might even have relaxed his stance a little, deciding that the dark haired Agent was buckling under the pressure. But that would have been a mistake.
Now he understood that Tony had just asked for permission to shoot Gibbs if need be and their Boss had agreed. McGee swallowed hard the scientist in him knew that the shot was possible. He was perfectly capable of drawing a diagram that triangulated the perfect spot for the bullet to pass through Gibbs and into Dowling with the minimum amount of trauma to the ex-marine. His qualifying scores on the range proved that he was accurate enough to make the shot.
Shooting an actual person was different. And he hoped it always would be.
He could only imagine how he would feel if he was forced to shoot Gibbs. There was no question that the ex-marine was a demanding Boss, he wanted results and he expected his people to deliver. But he was also a surprisingly patient teacher and loyal to a fault. McGee knew there wasn't many Senior Special Agents who would have taken him on as a field Agent, even less who would have nursed him through numerous mistakes as he focused on his ultimate potential.
Although, if McGee was honest with himself, a lot of the time it had been Tony who had kicked his ass for his routine mistakes, and then covered for him with Gibbs.
"Brian," Tony tried once more. "You don't want to do this. You are a good man who served his country and loved his family. You don't want to be the reason that their lives are put in danger."
"You don't know what it's like," Dowling protested. "To go from having smiling faces to greet you, smothered in hugs and kisses, to coming home to an empty house, filled with nothing but memories and ghosts."
McGee had winced as he imagined how those words would resonate with Gibbs who still lived in the family home he had shared with his dead wife and daughter. But looking at his Boss' face he was surprised to see Gibbs' eyes narrow with concern as he focused on DiNozzo. Following his gaze, Tim could see that Tony's expression looked a little pale and pinched. But he had no idea why.
"You're right, I don't," Tony responded. "But I do know that this isn't the way to make things better."
"It's the only way I have."Dowling had responded bleakly.
"Yeah, I know," Tony said simply. "And I'm sorry."
Then he fired.
McGee had felt his jaw drop as Gibbs' body jerked convulsively as the bullet hit, a spot of red blossoming on his shoulder even as behind him, Dowling cried with pain as the bullet tore through him in its turn. Both men went down, legs buckling under the impact, Gibbs using his ebbing strength to throw himself forward out of Dowling's now weakening grip, giving DiNozzo the chance to acquire the killing shot, a single bullet through Dowling's forehead.
After that everything had happened very fast. Tony had ignored the outraged squawks and splutters of Fornell through his ear wig to check on Gibbs and call for Paramedics. Charged with calling Ducky and dealing with the removal of Dowling's remains to the Navy Yard, McGee could only stand and watch as Gibbs roused sufficiently to sit up against the advice of the medical professionals and pull at the oxygen mask they placed on his face.
"Hey!" McGee's eyes widened at the tone of reprimand in DiNozzo's voice. But there could be no doubt as he continued sharply. "Leave that alone."
McGee wasn't entirely surprised when Gibbs rolled his eyes, but the way he meekly complied with the order was rather more un-expected. DiNozzo's grunt of approval at his compliance was almost Gibbs-like. It was as if the two men had simply changed places without either of them noticing or realising any difference. Following them down the stairs so he could direct Ducky McGee saw how Tony stayed by Gibb's side as the Paramedic's strapped him to a gurney and carried him down to transport him to Bethesda.
"DiNozzo," Just as Gibbs was being loaded into the Ambulance, he made the supreme effort to raise his head and look his senior field Agent in the eye. "I ought to kick your ass."
Despite the stern words, his pride and affection shone through. McGee watched as Tony heard what his Boss hadn't said and a tinge of pink pleasure coloured his cheeks at the unequivocal; approval."Love you too, Boss," Tony had managed, giving Gibbs a bright joyful grin before the senior special Agent was whisked away. Only to re-arrange his features into a blank, neutral, mask as he caught sight of the current NCIS Director making his way towards him. Until that moment, McGee had never really appreciated how guarded DiNozzo was around Vance.
"That was good work Agent DiNozzo." Vance met Tony's gaze, letting his expression convey the full extend of his regard. "You may well have just saved several lives as well as avoiding a serious diplomatic embarrassment for the US Government."
McGee bit back his sigh, barely resisting the urge to roll his eyes. He supposed it had only been only a matter of time before Vance looked past Tony's frat boy attitude and began to appreciate his capabilities as an Agent. But was it really necessary to make it sound quiet so much like he had just saved civilised world single-handed? Even thought he knew Tony deserved the praise and he didn't really begrudge him it, the man was going to be insufferable.
"I just did what Special Agent Gibbs trained me to do, sir." Tony responded crisply.
His formality surprised McGee. It obviously hadn't been what Vance had expected either if the slight tilt of his head was any indication. The Director blinked and removed the toothpick from his mouth as he gave Tony a long, considering look.
"We both know you didn't make the best of first impressions, Special Agent DiNozzo."
"No sir." Tony was standing stiffly now, almost at attention.
McGee couldn't help but notice the way that Tony had almost flinched at the oblique reference to the protection detail, which had ended in Jenny's death. Surely he couldn't still think any of that was his fault? He had been following the Director's orders. She was the one who was hell bent on taking things into her own hands. Despite her own misgivings, even Ziva had admitted that going against Jenny's explicit instructions would have meant career suicide.
"Besides," She had reflected. "I think there was another reason Tony submitted so easily to her orders."
"You did look hot in that bikini." McGee spoke without thinking.
"And don't think I do not know that you still have those pictures on your hard drive," Ziva had responded in an aside that still managed to threaten dire retribution. "But that is not what I meant. Tony trusted Jenny because she was Gibbs protégé and for him that was enough for him to trust her implicitly."
"You think that's why? McGee had felt his jaw drop. "Why he took on the whole frog thing? Started dating Jeanne Benoit? Followed Director Shepherd's lead in LA like he was some green Probie instead of listening to his gut? Because he was relying on the fact that Gibbs trained her?"
"Gibbs' rule number one, never screw over your partner." Ziva pointed out. "Why do you think Gibbs was so quick to tell Tony Jenny's death was not his fault? Because he understood, after Gibbs left Tony did what Gibbs had trained him to do, He kept us together. He hugged Abby, he listened to Ducky's stories, he reminded me of my limits and he pushed you to rethink yours. But there was no-one left to keep Tony together, expect Jenny, who also knew what it was like to be Gibbs' senior field Agent."
"I never really thought about Tony as a person who really needed anyone," McGee had admitted. "I mean, his Mom died when he was ten, his Dad disowned him at twelve. He's always acted like nothing ever really affects him He used to date a different woman every week until Jeanne and that was an assignment."
"He needs Gibbs." Ziva had pointed out.
"Special Agent Coughlin's pending transfer overseas frees up a spot as the Supervisory Special Agent of the Major Crimes team in San Diego," Vance's words brought McGee sharply back to the present. "After today's performance I'll be expecting your application."
"Director?" Tony's eyes widened, as if he could not quite believe his ears.
"I'm offering you your own team, DiNozzo," Vance confirmed. "The position is yours, if you want it."