Here is the next instalment for I'll Never Let You Go Again.
From now on, I have decided to give you one piece of story related trivia, and one piece of non-story related trivia each update, just to keep it fun.
So, did you know that you have a 30% chance of survival if you are stuck on a sunken submarine? Until today, I didn't even know that submarines could sink, so there you go.
And, just in case anyone was wondering, this story has got me 28 reviews, 64 Story Alerts, 3 Author alerts, 1 favourite Author and 22 Favourite Story notifications.
To me that is amazing, so thank all you all, and keep the love coming.
Jess x
P.S. I know it's Saturday, but please forgive me.
Chapter 5
The parking lot of DiNozzos apartment received an influx of cars in a five minute period. First was Abby in her hearse, followed by Ducky in his Morgan, Tim drove his Volvo while Palmer busses and Ziva walked the 6 blocks between their abodes. However, everyone was there before 1830. Not bad for a seven o'clock dinner.
Once every one was settles in the lounge with a drink, Tony decided he might as well get it over with. Especially if it was going to be half as painful as he thought it was going to be.
"OK, hands up if you know that something turned to shit over the weekend between me and Gibbs"
Tony wasn't at all surprised that all that every hand in the room went up. Not surprised at all with the way he was being treated.
"I thought so, now keep your hand up if you know what happened."
He was surprised however to see Palmer and Ziva's hands stay up. He figured Ducky would know, someone would have gone to him. And there it was a slightly worried but definitely guilty look on Abby's face. She wouldn't have told Ziva though, would she?
Walking around the room to the shape huddled as far into the couch cushions as she could go, Tony reached his 'sister' and enveloped her in his arms.
"Oh, Abs. No I'm not angry, you needed someone to talk to, and I'm assuming that Palmer was there. And very surprised I wager."
At the giggle from the girl in his arms, a deep chuckle from Ducky and an undignified squeak from Palmer himself, Tony knew he was right.
"Ziva, you, you what? You guessed?"
Tony was on the receiving end of a patented David glare.
"I do not 'guess' Tony, I make educated assumptions based on the interactions of the people around me."
After a 'That's right' nod in support from the rest of family, now came the first of the awkward explanations.
"Ok, now for Probie, sorry, Tim's benefit, I went to Gibbs' basement Friday night after being a douche to him. Ended up telling him I was in love with him. He then yelled at me, angry for being gay and for lying to him, though in my defence I never lied, just didn't volunteer any information. Anyhow, long story short, I am no longer welcome in his house, and judging by todays' actions, I am also no longer welcome in his team. So as of now, I have two weeks leave before I officially start my new job under the supervision of the one, the only, Tobias Fornell."
Glancing around the room, Tony was surprised at the lack of response from his friends, but then that was explained by the confused expressions and dropped jaws.
"While you guys think about that, I will order dinner. I would ask if you minded Chinese, but no-one obviously wants to talk."
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While Tony was breaking the news to the people in his life who mattered, Gibbs was alone in his basement, working out a lot of aggression on his latest unfinished boat. He was so entranced in his thoughts that he didn't notice that where he had been sanding for the past hour was now a hollow. He also didn't notice the heavy steps descend the basement stairs, until he lifted his eyes to see his friend looking at him contritely.
"DiNozzo got the job."
Gibbs barely glanced up as he grunted.
"I don't know why you want someone like that the work for you, and I certainly don't know why you are telling me."
Starting to visibly lose control of his anger, Fornell stood up and began to stalk towards Gibbs.
"I want someone like him because he is a damn good agent. I'm hoping that having him on my team will lift my solve rates, bring back some of that dry, inappropriate humour and movies references that left when Sacks did. And I'm hoping that he still wants to be an agent badly enough that he will bring the rest of my people together as a team, since that is the only way to solve cases."
'Damn, I fucking know that Gibbs is off his nut over this, but to be taking it this harsh, wow. Just wow.' Fornell procrastinated on how to answer the rest of Gibbs' question, knowing that an answer must be given if he was fond of his reputation the way it was. He finally decided on just blurting the truth.
"He's a damn good agent, Gibbs, and you know it."
A sigh coming from both agents broke the heavy silence.
"I know I should leave him to tell you because it's his news, but I'm telling you as my friend. I talked to you when Sacks went to the Secret Service. You even helped me ick his replace. Maybe I can even blame my shoddy team leader, team dynamics and solve rate on you."
At the look on his friends face, and the large swallow of bourbon that followed, Fornell decided to changing the direction of the conversation, and wrap it up ASAP.
"The point, Jethro is that you are my friend, and I am trying to treat DiNozzo as if he is just another agent, not someone who officially still works for you, is in love with you and has made you a better person. At the moment, as he is on both our payrolls, it's even footing, so let's just talk about him like he's just another agent, huh?"
Obviously that wasn't the answer that Gibbs wanted to hear.
"I don't want to talk about him at all. Fornell, if this all you came here to say, to tell me that DiNozzo is now your property then I don't want to you here. Get out, please."
It was that please. That one simple word, but spoken with such heartfelt emotion, told Tobias he had pushed his friend just that little bit to far. But before he left, he had one parting comment.
"I just thought you should know, I know about Stillwater. Don't deny you don't know what I'm talking about; just know you can come to me. I won't judge you."
Glancing away from his worn sneakers, to the top of the basement stairs, Gibbs looked lost.
"You'll be welcome in this house again tomorrow night, and you will be here then, and not before."
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The next morning in the bullpen, two agents were sitting at their desks, gazing forlornly at a third. Ignoring everyone who walked past to gawk, pretending to fill in all their paper work and avoiding the rampaging Boss at the same time however, just made the morning even worse.
As Gibbs' attitude got even worse, the ex-Mossad agent noticed that little things, little changes in the Boss' rotine were having a big impact on his work.
"McGee, where is Gibbs' coffee? Does he not normally have a coffee delivered to his desk every hour when he visits Ducky?"
McGee walked over to his boss' desk, and sure enough, they had been at work for over 4 hours, yet there were only 2 empty cups in his rubbish bin.
"Ziva, you don't think this was something Tony did, do you?"
"I believe that would be the only explanation McGee. And his mail is always on his desk when we get back from our breakfast run at 0700, whether we have a case or not, but yet it is not here."
McGee stared across the room thoughtfully before picking up the phone.
"Hey Probie, hows it going? Need my help already?"
"Tony, the Boss is already being worse than normal. I just have to ask, what do I need to do to keep him sane. I'm his senior field agent now, but I never got a transition period, so can you tell me now?"
"Oh God, I forgot about you guys didn't I. I was trying to make him suffer, but that backfired. Ok McSenior Field Agent, get ready to take notes."
After checking his friend was ready, he started bullet pointing.
"OK, number one; every morning you need to call the coffee shop, as let them know if we are out in the field or in the office. If we are in the office then they will deliver every hour, on the sly and have a Caff-Pow ready every 90 minutes for Abs.
What happens with that on the pay forms is half Vance pays personally and the rest gets charged to us as 'Resources'. Although you might want to go today in person and let them know what is happening. Amanda is the only person who makes Gibbs' coffee, so if she's not there one day you go to Starbucks on 3rd and ask for Jim.
Number two; at 0645 head down to the mailroom and collect the mail for the team, Abby and Ducky. Give Abby hers first, then Duckys' goes to Palmers and the teams on Gibbs desk so he can check it all first.
You have a meeting at 1300 every Monday, Wednesday and Friday with the Director if we are in the bullpen. Gibbs is not to know about those meetings, and you don't need anything prepared in advance for those tomorrow.
Security will call every Monday to check new threats and changes to the building entrance lists. Every fortnight you will get a call from maintenance complaining about Gibbs use of the elevators, but there is nothing you can do about that.
Rebecca from accounts probably won't come around while now I'm gone, as long as you fill out all 9 weekly forms and 16 monthly forms correctly. Always include Ducky and Abby in on these, especially regarding supply order forms.
MTAC might start harassing you, but they are just blowing steam. Remember to take me off the access list for MTAC and put yourself on, using protocol McHacker, instead of through the back.
I think that's all, but if I think of anything else, I'll email you. And when you are out in the field, don't et him get shot, but most importantly, don't let him near the LEO's"
Without letting his friend get a word in, Tony hung up and left them all to sink or swim.
Another interesting fact for you guys, the events in this chapter were planned to happen in chapter 3, so the story is going to be longer than the 10 chapters I originally planned. Also a lot of extra is being added in as well.
Jess x