"Gibbs." Vance said strongly as he entered the squad room.
"Do you have anything new to report to me?" Vance asked with a determined look.
"Not yet. I am having DiNozzo run this investigation. I'll have a talk with him soon. We already have a suspect." Vance nodded in slight irritation but gave a slight smile acknowledging Gibbs' efforts. Gibbs continued to sit at his desk, as his team ran the investigation. McGee and Ziva had just returned from interviewing the families.
"We have a family member that saved a bunch of threatening letters from the suspect. Abby said there was blood that matched the suspect at the crime scene. And, we have a witness that reported suspicious behavior. Did Tony secure the arrest warrant?" McGee said as he sat down at his desk. "Where is Tony?" McGee looked over at Gibbs, who was once again trying to read all of his emails.
"Uh, yeah. He put the warrant on Ziva's desk. Ducky called him down to autopsy." Gibbs finally answered after cursing at his computer.
"Let's go then." Ziva quickly turned and saw the envelope on her desk. McGee stood up and followed her to the elevator. Gibbs watched as the elevator doors closed. He then got up and went down to autopsy. As Gibbs entered, he could hear the long explanation that Ducky was giving Tony on the lieutenant's death.
". . .and this would indicate the time of death." Ducky finished as Gibbs entered. Gibbs smiled inwardly as he saw how quietly Tony was and how intently he was listening.
"Tony?" Gibbs finally said behind him. Tony turned quickly. He was surprised that his "Gibbs is approaching" radar did not go off. Gibbs pointed his head in the direction of the door, so Tony followed him into the elevator. Gibbs allowed for the doors to close than he quickly pulled the emergency stop.
"Boss?" Tony said nervously watching Gibbs. Gibbs watched as Tony's whole body tensed up.
"We need to talk." Gibbs said seriously as he closed the gap between them.
"I knew this was coming at some point." Tony said nervously as he looked down and tried to unsuccessfully regain some space between them.
"Mmm. Why is that?" Gibbs asked surprised by the comment.
"Well, you haven't exactly been yourself today, Boss." Tony said with an uncomfortable laugh. His eyes filled with worry.
"Something was brought to my attention this morning that caused some concern." Gibbs started to explain.
"Oh yeah, really? What does this have to do with me?" Tony asked, somewhat defensively.
"It actually has everything to do with you." Gibbs said, watching as Tony swallowed hard.
"Yeah?" Tony responded, as he was forced to keep eye contact with Gibbs.
"Why don't you want to lead your own team?" Gibbs asked. Tony squinted in confusion to that question. "You demonstrated today and before —that you are very capable."
"You have been offered your own team four times now. And, you are considered to have the most potential to become a new team leader—they have you on top of the list. What is the problem, Tony?" Gibbs asked. Tony gave another uncomfortable laugh to that comment.
"Most potential. Where did you hear that? I don't even believe that myself." Tony said with a laugh. Gibbs just stood there in silence watching Tony, until he stopped joking. When Tony's uncomfortable look returned, Gibbs asked again.
"Can I have an answer?" Gibbs tilted his head to the other side and watched Tony.
"I am not interested." Tony finally said.
"How come?" Gibbs asked.
"I want to stay in the D.C. area." Tony finally answered, feeling confident about his response. "And, I can't leave you guys."
"You have been offered the D.C. area." Gibbs retorted softly, noticing how Tony's body tensed again. Tony just nodded at Gibbs' last statement.
"Can I have a real answer? Why are you turning these promotions down?" Gibbs asked forcefully.
"Are you trying to get rid of me, Boss?" Tony asked, as he tried to redirect Gibbs.
"Nope. Answer my question." Gibbs said not allowing the comment to change his position.
"I am just not interested in playing "Boss"." Tony answered, hoping that Gibbs would accept that answer. Gibbs sighed and tilted his head back in frustration.
"You just want to remain my senior field agent, forever, then." Gibbs asked slowly and softly, which made Tony even more uncomfortable.
"Are you planning to order me into taking it?" Tony defiantly did not answer Gibbs' question again. Gibbs finally stepped away from Tony, allowing space between them. He took a deep breath, trying to avoid the heated confrontation that Tony seemed to want.
"You are trying to distract me, DiNozzo. You are trying to annoy me, so I'll restart this elevator." Gibbs kept his voice in the soft tone that seemed to make Tony so uncomfortable.
"I just got back from being an agent afloat. I have no interest in changing jobs again." Tony stated looking down.
"Okay. Then how about the other three offers, huh?" Gibbs asked. ". . .because I had a mustache? That was a legitimate reason." Gibbs repeated with an irritated look. Tony looked up at Gibbs with a betrayed expression, wondering if Jenny Shepard had told him after-all.
"Vance told me that this morning. All of it, I didn't know until this morning. Vance wants to know why you keep rejecting these offers." Gibbs explained.
"So you are just going to turn around and tell Vance everything that I say in here?" Tony asked, still feeling betrayed.
"Noooo." Gibbs answered with some traces of worry. "I just want to know, if this is my doing." Gibbs finally offered. Gibbs watched as Tony's whole demeanor changed.
"Oh, Boss. Nothing you have done ever influenced my decision. Well, I guess it has because you taught me everything. However, . . .what do exactly think you did?" Gibbs listened as Tony tried to reassure Gibbs.
"I promoted you to team leader. You did an incredible job, during my leave. Then, I wanted my job back. I returned, and I demoted you." Gibbs said with the same traces of worry.
"You gave me an order, to run the team in your absence. I did the best I could. Then you returned, and you have no idea how grateful I was about that, but then I went back to being your superb senior field agent." Tony gave his version. Gibbs gave a partial laugh.
"Is that the truth?" Gibbs asked. "Is that really how you feel about it?"
"Yep." Tony answered with a confident smile, which made Gibbs feel much better.
Gibbs then tried to redirect the discussion again.
"Are you ever going to be interested in leading your own team?" Gibbs asked.
"I really don't want to play "boss"." Tony answered. Gibbs looked suspiciously at Tony. Tony could sense that his boss was still not satisfied.
"All right. I'll give you something here, if you promise not to tell Vance or anyone else for that matter." Tony said, but Gibbs just continued to give his hard, suspicious stare.
"The reason that I behave the way I do. You know, like a goof, a complete idiot, and lazy." Tony offered, which caused a light laugh from Gibbs. "Every decision I make and how I act is the complete opposite of what my father would do. I am in no way comparing you to my father, Boss, EVER."
"My dad is a manipulative, power-hungry, uncaring, ruthless, authoritative bastard, who got sued by every wife he had. I have devoted my life to just not becoming him and not acting as he would--no matter how I am perceived." Tony confessed in a way that was so sincere. Gibbs had never seen this side of Tony before. They shared a moment of silence, after their long discussion. Gibbs nodded at him and offered a smile.
"And, I still don't want to leave you guys."
"You still did good today." Gibbs finally offered.
"Thanks." Tony acknowledged.
"Jethro! I know you are in there." Ducky yelled, which caused both Gibbs and Tony to laugh as they stood in the elevator. "Come on Jethro. I need to use the elevator!" Gibbs released the emergency stop and punched autopsy on the control panel. The elevator doors opened. Ducky stood there pacing with stern look on his face.
"I am having a talk with Director Vance today about getting you a real office, Gibbs." Ducky yelled. Tony stepped back as Ducky joined them in the elevator.
"Top floor then, huh, Duck?" Gibbs said with a laugh.
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