AN: This takes place after Bury Your Dead; ignoring what we know happens in Internal Affairs/Judgment Day. Thanks :)
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Thirty three days ago; Gibbs sent his team home for the night. What happened between then and now, is mostly a blur. Ever since he got that call in the middle of the night; life hasn't been the same. And he's almost convinced it may never be again. As he raced up the stair well; it was as if the last thirty three days were flying by in snippets through his mind. All of them had been deceived; not one was spared. And hell hath no fury like Leroy Jethro Gibbs scorned.
He stormed back into the Directors office; his eyes burning. "Where are they?!" The decibel of his voice scaring every occupant in the room, including Jenny.
"Who?"
He stormed towards her but before he had a chance; Ziva stepped in and pinned her up against the wall. It was then Mike calmly closed her office door. "You know damn well who!"
She soon decided that fighting back wasn't an option. "No, I don't."
"We want answers Jenny…and we want them now!"
Gibbs was standing to Ziva's left; not all that surprised at her outburst. McGee took to sifting through her desk as it continued.
"You already know what's in the file. I can't tell you anymore than that."
Gibbs was breathing hard; his teeth visibly clenched. "Do you want me to shoot you?"
"You wouldn't."
Mike chimed in. "If he won't, I sure as hell will."
Ziva was now centimeters from her face, her arms still pinned to the wall. She leaned towards her left ear as her voice softened a bit. "Jen, I do not want to hurt you…you know that…but you must tell us everything…" She let her arms down as she slowly nodded and escorted her to the conference table. "Everything."
She took a few short breaths. "Barclay came to me two months ago. Said he knew I had a vendetta against La Grenioulle and offered to help bring him in. We devised a plan to coerce DiNozzo undercover. Ducky's son was a lie; but we had to give Tony a story that would keep him in the game. We knew if we told him Ducky's son was in danger that he would cooperate. We didn't count on his cover getting blown."
"Well from what I hear, the last time you put him undercover…it was blown…literally." Mike cracked his knuckles as he listened to her continue.
She tried to ignore the comment. "The last contact DiNozzo had; he informed us that he was close to an arrest."
Gibbs placed both hands on the table and towered over her. "Barclay has Abby and Ducky…why?"
She leaned back as if unaware of the news. "He has to be doing it for leverage…he'll use it to keep you from going after Tony and lousing up the operation."
Gibbs shook his head. "He wants the Frog bad…"
"Probably more badly than I do." She stopped and peered around at all of them; her gaze finally landing on Gibbs. "He's responsible for the death of his wife and daughter."
Gibbs stood straight up and his eyes shifted; feeling an ounce of remorse for Barclay. But it quickly faded as his mind returned to Abby and Ducky. "Will he hurt them?"
"I don't know."
"How can you not know? You're conspiring with the bastard…"
"Conspiring yes. Getting to know the intimate details of his character, no."
He shook his head. "You never did have good judgment…"
"And what is that suppose to mean?" She stood up; but was quickly sat back down by Franks.
"You sit down lady. This isn't calisthenics."
McGee stepped forward. "Boss, our flight leaves in forty five minutes…"
And there it was; the statement that would force Gibbs to choose between his Senior Agent, or Abby and Ducky. As a leader you want these types of decisions on your shoulders; but this was one time he wished he didn't have to choose. He stared at his team and his eyes eventually fell on Mike. "What would you do boss?"
Franks took a few stepped towards him and met his eyes. "Your team, your decision Probie."
McGee and Ziva stood by ready to carry out whatever he asked. Gibbs glared at Jenny a final time before making his choice.
"We stay…bring down this bastard, and get Ducky and Abby back safe. Then we go after DiNozzo." He gauged his team's response and realized it never wavered. He then motioned back towards Jen. "Call Barclay."
"And say what?"
"Gee, I don't know Jen…ask him about the weather…" Gibbs began, then turned to McGee. "Work a trace when he picks up."
"He's not stupid." Jen pointed out harshly.
Gibbs almost smiled. "Oh believe me, he is." He gestured towards the phone. "Call him."
Jen did as he asked and it wasn't long before he picked up; his Scottish accent loud and clear. "I was wondering how long it would be, before you called my dear."
"What do you think this will accomplish?" She replied; sensing the surrounding eyes burning into her.
"If what I heard about Agent Gibbs is true, it's already accomplished what I hoped. He is still there, is he not?" He listened to a few seconds of silence. "Please, put him on."
Jen handed him the phone and he didn't hesitate placing it on his ear. "How's the leg?"
"Very funny for a man who's not holding any cards."
"Then deal me in."
"Clever. Well, it's very simple. Bring me La Grenioulle's head on a platter…and I return your friends."
Gibbs stifled a laugh. "That's all huh?"
"That's all."
"And what makes you think I'm able to do that?"
"I've been told you are the best. And know you stop at nothing when one of your team members is in peril."
"What makes you think you know me so well?"
Barclay shuffled through a few files. "Caitlin Todd…she was beautiful, such a pity."
Gibbs swallowed hard. "Did you happen to read what happened to her killer?"
"I did rather. Bullet to the head, rather ironic I must say." He cleared his throat. "But back to the offer at hand…do we have a deal?"
Gibbs looked toward McGee; and watched him shake his head. "How much time do I have to deliver?"
"I'm a reasonable man…how's forty eight hours sound?"
Gibbs shook his head. "He may not even be in the country, I may need more time."
"You have forty eight hours."
"Let me talk to my people."
"I'm afraid they're indisposed at the moment."
He clenched his fist. "Maybe I wasn't clear…let me talk to my people…now!"
"I'm afraid you're not in a position to be giving orders."
Gibbs clenched his teeth and softened his voice. "Please."
It was then everyone in the office stopped what they were doing.
Barclay managed a smile. "Give me a moment."
Gibbs listened to some shuffling and it wasn't long before her voice came on the line. "Gibbs?"
"Abby, are you hurt?"
"No…not really…but Ducky…" But before she could finish Barclay took back the phone.
"Satisfied, Agent Gibbs?"
"Far from it…put Doctor Mallard on."
He stifled a laugh. "You're through making demands. I'll be in touch."
As soon as the call ended Gibbs snapped his head towards McGee.
"Couldn't trace it boss."
"You couldn't trace it?"
"Um, I could go into the technological details…but I get the feeling you won't want to hear it."
"You thought right!" He slammed his hand down. "Alright, get downstairs, I want a lead on the Frog's last known where abouts…I don't care if you have to hack into the CIA, FBI, hell hack into the KGB if you have to…we need a lead." He turned around. "David…"
"Put pressure on my contacts. On it."
Franks eyes had been fixated on the Director throughout the entire conversation; his hands resting on his chin. "So tell me Madam Director….how's it feel to be a traitor?"
"I was doing my job."
Gibbs slammed both his hands on the conference table; scaring Mike a bit. "DiNozzo…Ducky…Abby…" He came inches from her face. "They could die because you were doing your job…" She remained speechless and all she could feel was his warm breath on her face before he stormed out without another word.
Franks leaned back in his chair as Gibbs stormed out without another word. "You know, I've been thinking…something you haven't had much experience with lately...that being said…any chance you're two cans short of a six pack?"
"Because I'll do whatever it takes to catch him?"
He shook his head and stood up. "Because you messed with the Probie's team…anyone that stupid is either sick in the head or down right suicidal."
"McGee!" Gibbs practically yelled towards him as he entered the bull pen.
Tim didnt look up and contineud to punch away at his computer. "Starting off from the day we lost him on his boat boss…nothing yet."
Gibbs turned to Ziva and she threw her hand over the phone receiver. "It has been two minutes…contacts cannot be coerced as fast as typing on a keyboard."
He went and stood over Tim's shoulder for a few minutes before Mike met him in the middle of the bull pen. "That woman is hiding something Probie."
"Yeah…you just figuring that out now Mike?"
"Something else. Something she's afraid to tell us."
He threw his hands up. "What do you want me to do? Lock in her up in my basement and go all Jack Bauer on her…till she cracks..."
"Jack who?"
"Ah hell if I know, ask DiNozzo…" He stopped himself and took a long hard glance at the now wilted black roses at Tony's desk. "You two call me once you have something…"
"Where you headed boss?"
He reached for his jacket. "To think."
Mike then took a seat at Gibbs desk for the second time that day and stared at the blank computer screen. "How do you turn this damn thing on?"
Gibbs found himself alone in the empty elevator, his forehead leaning against one of the steel walls. He wanted nothing more than to slam both his fists into it; but knew it would only be a temporary distraction from the rage welling up inside him. He contemplated hitting floor three and breaking the second rule his Father had taught him. Never hit a woman. But instead he hit floor number 1, and arrived at the entrance of Abby's lab. He stepped in and his eyes fixated on the Caf Pow stained floor. "Damnit…" He spoke out loud to himself, tormented for not putting the pieces together sooner. And for not recognizing the lies. How could he not realize Barclay was lying to him? How could he not know Ducky was hiding something? It was then he realized that the loss of one Anthony DiNozzo had caused something inside him to change…and it wasn't for the better. He needed to bring him back or that something that made him Leroy Jethro Gibbs would be gone for good.
"Sean Connery…clearly the best James Bond ever!" He peered through the bars then started to pace. "Oh come on guys, you have to agree with me there…he's from your native land…"
The four men shook their heads as they stood guard outside his cell. "Is there anything we can do to get him to be quiet?"
"O'Shea said we cannot harm him."
"He has been going on and on for days…James Bond this…James Bond that…perhaps if we get him a TV he will shut up."
It was then a familiar face appeared before them; causing the four of them to stand up. "Open his door." He entered to see Tony stop his pacing.
"Hiya Fred…glad you're here, you'll definitely agree with me about Connery…"
O'Shea put his hand up to quiet him. "Brought you a visitor to keep you company, I believe he's an old acquaintance of yours…" He stepped aside to allow the man to enter.
"Hello Anthony…"
Tony slipped his hands into his pockets and covered his fear with his usual charm. "René…what a nice surprise, although I get the distinct feeling you're more of a Pierce Brosnan fan?"
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AN: For those of you questioning your NCIS memory...Rene is in fact, La Grenioulle himself.
