"You don't take vacation time." Jen spouted, looking up from the paper work in her hand.
Gibbs shrugged. "People change."
"People…not you."
"Look Jen, I don't have to explain why I need this time. Just sign off and I'm out of your hair for two weeks."
She examined him for a few seconds; trying not to let her resentment cloud her judgment. "Where are you going?"
"Haven't decided."
"Haven't decided?"
"Is there an echo?"
With a small smile, she set her pen down. "And if I withhold?"
"I'd hate to have to shoot you."
Her smile faded as she leaned back in her chair. "What is going on Jethro? And don't feed me any bull about needing a mental vacation. Being at work is your mental vacation…."
"I need…" He stepped closer to her desk and gripped the edge with his hands. "A mental vacation…before I'm forced to be even more of a bastard than usual. And you do NOT want to see that happen."
She ignored his little rant. "You have no team; I need you here sitting in on interviews…I can give you the time when you're through."
He gestured towards a stack of files. "Are these the applicants?" He watched her nod before taking one off the top, middle and bottom, and then placed them in front of her. "I pick these three."
"Efficient."
Gibbs nodded. "I thought so. See you in a couple weeks."
She cleared her throat. "It is not that easy Agent Gibbs."
He threw his hands up. "You know Jen, I'm not gonna go off the handle, I'm not gonna yell…I'm not even gonna stare….I'm gonna make this real easy. In fact, it's something that's been done a hell of a lot around here lately…" He reached for his badge and weapon and set them down in front of her before grabbing another random file from the pile. "He can replace me."
Ziva knocked at McGee's apartment door rather harshly before he opened it. "Where is this evidence?"
"Well hello to you too." He handed her the photograph. "So I saw Tony get hit and go over the railing right?"
"You were there McGee, I was not."
"Lucky you. Anyway, what if it wasn't Tony?"
"McGee…" She sighed. "You have been over this possibility before. Even if were not Tony, he is still gone. The only inevitable conclusion is you are now seeing what you do not want to believe."
"Maybe…but what if I was wrong? I mean I was tired, it was dark and they were far enough away that I couldn't apprehend or get a clear shot."
"We have no bullets, no sign of Tony's weapon, no indication that anyone other than him was shot that night."
"There are just too many unanswered questions Ziva…where was his gun? Why did he back up towards the railing? Why didn't he wake me up before he got out? Or yell for help?"
She nodded. "Yes, these are all questions that have been racing through our minds for a month now with no answers McGee."
"There are answers…we just don't know them."
"That's because there were no leads…there are no leads…"
He pointed at the photograph. "Until now…"
"You're really doing this? You're really gonna leave?" Abby sat on a work bench and watched him pack a bag full of bare necessities.
Gibbs nodded. "I won't be gone for good Abs. If there's any chance he's out there; I gotta try."
"I know. But did you really have to quit? I mean, I thought for sure, you of all people would go against the grain…you know do something original, like ask for time off."
"I did Abs."
Abby stood up. "And she denied it? That's what we have unions for Gibbs, you didn't have to…"
"Then file a grievance and forge my name…" And with a smile he leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. "I'll call."
"Every hour right?"
He glanced back at her in silence.
"Every half hour?"
He managed a smile. "I'll check in every day Abs…hold down the fort."
She watched him leave. "Yeah, sure, piece of cake…"
Gibbs had a million thoughts running through his mind as he headed to his destination. What if he was wrong? Only kidding himself? Tony had missed death's call a number of times; but maybe this time it finally caught up with him. He was going off nothing more than a hunch; and only hoped his famous gut wouldn't let him down. Not this time. Not for Tony.
Ziva fastened her seat belt. "You do realize what you're asking me to do?"
Tim nodded as he turned the key in the ignition. "Have a little faith?"
"More like, believe that someone I have worked with for years; has betrayed us…me."
McGee pulled out before glancing at her. "All that matters now is finding Tony."
"And if we don't?"
She watched his eyes shift back to the road as she awaited an answer…that never came.
--
AN: Yes, you read it right. Betrayal. Threats welcome :)