AN: Im going to name this chapter "Death Warrant." You'll see why. :) Enjoy.
--
"Flights leaving in an hour…" Tim looked up from his computer but continued to type.
Mike stepped towards his desk. "You did get us first class right kid?"
McGee cringed at being called kid; but Gibbs interrupted before he could respond. "Good work Tim, we'll be in contact when we get on the ground…Ziva…"
She slipped on her side arm. "I will phone our contacts and have them meet us at the airport."
Gibbs gestured towards the elevator and looked behind him to see Ziva following; only Mike did not.
"You did get us first class right?
"I assure you Frederick; Anthony's presences alone will bring trouble you do not want. Send him back to the US."
"He has made me look like a fool Rene."
"Anthony has made a living out of making people look foolish. Including myself. Your best choice in the matter; is to let him return to NCIS in one piece. If you do not; you will have their entire agency after you."
"Are you are speaking from personal experience?"
He nodded and sipped the drink in his hand. "My people have researched his team members. A former marine who carries out vendettas like few I've ever seen. An Officer with Mossad who has been trained to do things even men like you or I could only imagine. Another who could find out more about you than you know about yourself. I assure you; that they are aware of his presence here…and it is only a matter of time before they bring havoc."
O'Shea eyed him curiously. "There is another option…I could kill him and ensure they never find him."
Le Grenioulle sat up straight and finished the contents of his glass. "And that option Frederick; would be signing your death warrant."
"He keeps babbling on and on about a Jeanne…must be the name of a woman in a James Bond film." He peered inside the room to see Tony still lying on the floor. "Would you like a go at him next?"
But before he could answer his phone rang; he set it down a moment later. "Boss said to leave him be. He'll be here in a few hours to set him loose."
It was less than five minutes before Timothy McGee realized he was alone. No one to stop him from doing what should've been done a long time ago. He took in few deep breaths before standing up and walking to the front of Tony's desk. He picked up the vase holding the wilted roses and started towards the stairs. He entered the Directors office without knocking.
"I was wondering how long it'd take for you to come through those doors."
Tim started towards her desk and dumped the remnants of the roses and water onto her desk. He watched her push away in her chair and stand up. "Agent McGee…"
He managed a smile; but it quickly faded when he threw the vase across her office to hear it shatter. "Why did you do this?"
"I don't have to explain myself to you."
He shook his head. "Oh please; spare me the melodramatic sob story. I want to know why you think avenging your Father's death is worth destroying people lives? Why was his life so sacred that it has the right to risk Tony's life and put me through hell?"
"Now you can spare me the melodramatic sob story. So you felt guilty for a month, it's not as if your family name was practically destroyed…and you buried your own Father. So you lost some sleep…experienced resentment from Gibbs…you're a Federal Agent…."
He threw his hands out. "All things aren't relative. You cannot dismiss what I went through because our experience wasn't the same. This is more than simple revenge; you're being irrational, illogical, deflecting blame…"
"What are you a psychiatrist?"
He shook his head. "No Director; like you said, I'm a Federal Agent…I look for answers where they aren't any…I try to understand the bigger picture…and that picture is coming in coming in loud and clear."
"Oh is it?"
"Yes, because my Father raised me to see that justice is served. And if Abby, Ducky or Tony doesn't come back…justice will be served Director…" He gestured towards the shattered glass across the room. "Cuz in the last three years I've learned to have confidence not only in my skills but in myself. So whatever warped sense of logic caused you to use me in your little plan is going to have a consequence…it's simple, every action has an equal or opposite reaction." He started towards the door. "And unfortunately for you, I aced physics."
"Do you think it was wise to leave McGee and the Director within 100 feet of each other unsupervised?" Ziva offered as she handed the attendant her ticket and boarded the plane.
Franks had to laugh. "The Probie never does anything without a purpose Officer David."
Ziva shrugged. "You are saying the reasons he gave were not the only reasons…"
Mike nodded. "Are the reasons he gives ever the only reasons?"
She dropped the question and followed behind a silent Gibbs. Mike took a seat beside her and it wasn't long before Gibbs nodded off. "So David, tell me more about the Probie and that forensic chick…"
Barclay approached his two cohorts and pulled them aside. "How is the ME?"
"He won't last much longer…but that's not the problem."
"What is?"
"Getting his dead body from that girl; she's clinging to him like a mother hen."
Barclay eyed her and managed a smile. "She is feisty isn't she?"
"I was gonna use the word spirited…but yeah, feisty works."
He started towards Abby and watched her tighten her grip on Ducky's chest. "You obviously care for him very much."
"What gave it away? My crying or the stare I'm giving you right now."
He gestured towards her eyes. "That is quite a stare…come to think of it. I believe I've seen it some where before."
"Yeah from the guy who's gonna kick your…"
"Now, now my dear. No need to get all worked up. If you let your friend go; we'll get him some medical help."
She shook her head. "Right…you just want me to let him go so you can get rid of the body…I'm not stupid. In fact, I'm pretty smart. For instance; as far as bad uys go you're pretty stupid."
"How so?"
"First of all; you don't conspire with the Director of a Federal Agency to catch an arms dealer who, by the way, is basically Waldo…only he's not in the picture…then you lied to Gibbs…doesn't get any stupider than that…actually it does…cuz you kidnapped us…okay even stupider was hurting him…" she looked down at Ducky and took in a breath. "If you think for one second that you're gonna live very much longer, you're dead wrong."
Barclay managed a wry smile. "Did it ever cross that smart brain of yours that I don't care whether I live or die?" He watched her grip get even tighter. "Now I suggest you let him go before I'm forced to break the first rule of the Gentleman's code."
"Always open their car door?"
He shook his head as he stifled a laugh. "Never hit a lady."
Mike was nudged awake four times before he finally opened his eyes. "We're here already?"
Gibbs took out his bag from the compartment and intentionally dropped it into Mikes lap. "Sorry boss, it slipped."
"Uh huh." He handed him his bag forcefully. "Drop another bag like that Probie and I'll head slap you back to Washington."
Ziva tried not to laugh at the exchange. "Our contacts are waiting."
Mike stood up and rubbed out the kink in his neck. "If your Agency wasn't so cheap I'd of slept like a baby…"
"Maybe you would've slept longer if you weren't up half the flight grilling David about my love life."
He had to smile. "I knew I should've pinched you to see if you were really asleep…"
O'Shea entered to find Tony sitting up. "I have good news Agent DiNozzo."
"You giving me a TV?"
He almost smiled. "I'll do you one better. You're going home."
Tony cocked his head sideways. "Home as in DC, or home as in the metaphorical spiritual sense?"
O'Shea removed the 45 from the small of his back and aimed it at Tony.
"I'm thinking the second one." He stood up. "At least un tie my hands, give a man a fighting chance."
O'Shea gestured for one of his men to do so. "You plan on stopping the bullets with your free hands?"
"Actually I was gonna go more for the matrix move."
He lifted the weapon up once more. "You're going home laddie; in a body bag."
Abby was curled up in a corner doing her best to get some rest. She wished she had Ducky to hold onto for comfort but was alone. Alone with her fears; her cries and her fury. But also alone with her hope. Hope that they'd be rescued, hope that the team would be back together again and hope that her blind faith in one man would make it all a reality.
"You're sure that O'Shea trusts you?"
La Grenioulle nodded with a smile. "Trent, would I lie to you?"
"He is letting DiNozzo go?"
"He is not a stupid man. He does not want a Federal Agency aimed at his head. Now, that being said; when is this soirée coming to a close?"
Trent looked at his watch. "In less than 48 hours."
"Why the time table?"
He managed a smile. "A friend of mine has some business to take care of first."
Jenny placed herself in the corner of the parking garage and dialed a familiar number. "What you did stepped over the line!"
Barclay shook his head. "Now, now...aren't you the pot calling the kettle black..."
"You do not need to hurt them."
"I'm afraid it's a bit late for that my dear."
She swallowed hard and peered around to ensure she was alone. "You didn't."
"The old man was trying to be a hero…he left me no other choice."
"You do realize you just signed your death warrant…"
He agreed. "If your Agent delivers. It will solve everyone's problems."
"Do you honestly think that Gibbs will just let this go…even if he delivers?"
"I would expect nothing less."
She sensed the phone call coming to an end. "Wait…how bad is he hurt?"
"Unfortunately as of two hours ago…it went from hurt to something much worse."