Notes: From the response I got from chapter 1 on the NFA site and on , I decided to go ahead and write chapter two. I hope everyone enjoys!
"Jethro, you're being one-sided on this. You can't suspend Agent McGee, and just let Agent DiNozzo off with a slap on the wrist! He's as much at fault for what happened downstairs as Agent McGee was."
Jethro stood stoically, eyeing Jenny.
"McGee hit a co-worker. That isn't excusable."
"And according to you, Agent Gibbs, the fact that Agent DiNozzo abandoned his partner while chasing a suspect is something you can just throw over your shoulder? From what you've told me, Agent McGee fell into a ravine and was injured. You're going to stand there and tell me that Agent McGee deserved the suspension, but Agent DiNozzo does not?"
Jethro's silence was all Jenny needed to know.
"Tell Agent DiNozzo I'd like to see him, Agent Gibbs."
Jethro turned on his heel and left. He knew better than to argue with Jenny Shepard. He wouldn't win. He walked out onto the balcony and looked down at the squad room. Tony was typing a report, and Ziva was on the phone.
"DiNozzo!" he shouted. Tony stopped and looked up. "Get up here, now."
Tony silently got up from his desk and met Gibbs at the top of the stairs. Gibbs led him into Director Shepard's office.
"Have a seat, Agent DiNozzo," the Director said.
"Yes ma'am," he said, sitting in the chair across from her.
"I'd like to hear about what happened downstairs between you and Agent McGee."
If Tony could make himself invisible, he'd have loved to do it right then.
"We'd just gotten back from trying to bring in a suspect. Tim was upset that we didn't catch him. I—I guess I was a little upset at Tim, and I lashed out at him for his attitude."
"So you instigated the altercation?"
"Yes ma'am, I guess I did."
"Agent DiNozzo, tell me about your assignment in the field with Agent McGee."
"We went to pick up Corporal Hayes on a murder charge. When we got there, he shot at Tim with a rifle, and knocked me down. He ran across the yard toward the woods. Before I could get up, Tim was halfway across the yard."
He paused and glanced at Gibbs, who was glaring at him.
"I did run after Tim, but I stopped at the edge of the woods. I wasn't sure which way they went."
"So you waited there for Agent McGee, rather than go into the woods and try to find him?" Jenny questioned.
Tony dropped his head.
"Yeah. It was pretty stupid of me not to go in after him, Director. I had no idea he'd fall down that hill."
"The fact here, Agent DiNozzo, is that you did not provide proper backup to your partner, and it resulted in his injury. He could have been in grave peril, but instead, you chose to wait it out. And when you came back to NCIS, you proceeded to berate Agent McGee for his attitude toward you. This is not excusable behavior for an NCIS agent. Effective immediately, you are on suspension for one week. Following your suspension, you will report to FLETC for retraining."
"FLETC? But Director..."
"You don't get to argue this, Agent DiNozzo. You are very lucky I did not fire your over this incident. You will complete one week of training at FLETC before returning to active duty. Am I understood, Agent DiNozzo?
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good. I hope this will be a learning experience for both you and Agent McGee. You are dismissed."
Tony handed Gibbs his gun and badge, and left the Director's office without protest. Gibbs looked down at the items in his possession.
"Agent Gibbs, I'm taking this case away from you, and handing it over to Agent Balboa's team. You and Agent David are assigned to cold cases until Agents DiNozzo and McGee return from suspension."
"You can't do that, Jenny," Jethro pleaded.
"I just did. Your assignment is to keep your team intact, or I WILL separate you. Dismissed, Agent Gibbs."
Jethro left the office in a huff and returned to his desk. In the matter of an hour, half of his team was on suspension, and he'd lost his case to Agent Balboa. This rivalry between Tony and Tim would be put to an end, and he would see to it.
NCISNCISNCISNCISNCIS
Tim drove himself to the ER before he went home, to make sure his injuries weren't more severe than he thought. He turned out to have a slight concussion, and his bumps and bruises were minor. He was very lucky it wasn't too steep a hill that he'd fallen down.
When he finally arrived home, Tim was exhausted. It was only seven o'clock, but all he wanted to do was lie down. Taking a coule of ibuprofen, Tim changed into sweats and crawled into bed. If he could spend all of his time in bed, he wouldn't mind it at all.
Monday Morning
Tim was surprised to not see Tony at his desk when he came in on Monday. He was actually kind of glad Tony wasn't there. After the crap he'd pulled on Wednesday, Tim would be grateful to never speak to Tony again.
As he set down his gear, Gibbs came into the squad room through the opposite elevator, holding a cup of coffee.
"Good morning, McGee," he said as he sat at his desk.
"Good Morning Boss," he said, powering on his computer. This isn't awkward at all. Not in the slightest.
"McGee," Gibbs said suddenly as he put down his desk phone. "The Director would like to see you in her office."
"Yes Boss."
Tim made his way to Director Shepard's office. Her secretary nodded his admittance, and he politely knocked on her door.
"Come in, Agent McGee."
Tim shyly entered the Director's office and closed the door behind him.
"Have a seat."
He meekly sat down.
"I want to discuss what happened between you and Agent DiNozzo last Wednesday afternoon."
"Yes ma'am."
"Can you explain what happened?"
Tim started to relay the story of how they'd gone to pick up Corporal Hayes for questioning, and how he'd run into the woods.
"When I chased him into the woods, I thought Tony would have been right behind me. I didn't realize he wasn't until I tripped and fell. Thankfully the hill wasn't that steep or high. It could have been a lot worse—"
"Agent McGee, I'm more concerned about what happened when you got back to the squad room."
"Oh, sorry ma'am. Tony was still getting on my nerves when we got back. He demanded some sort of attitude adjustment from me. I was frustrated because he'd distracted me from writing my report for Agent Gibbs. I—I overreacted and grabbed him by the collar and yelled at him. After that I tried to sit back down, but Tony had a hold of my arm, and he said he wasn't letting go until we talked about what happened. From there, rage took over, and I punched him."
"Do you think Agent Gibbs was right to suspend you?"
"Yes, ma'am I do. I deserved it. My behavior was unacceptable."
"Agent McGee, you are officially back on active duty with Agent Gibbs. I am, however, recommending you sit with a counselor for a few days, to work out any issues you may have as a result of this incident. Is that understood?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Good. I will schedule you and let you know when and where to go for your first appointment."
"Thank you, Director."
"You are dismissed."
Tim got up and went back downstairs. Gibbs was at his desk, smacking his computer.
"Whoa, Boss! Let me fix that for you!" Tim said. Gibbs got up from his seat and let his Junior Agent work his magic. "I'm not sure how this keeps happening to your e-mail, Boss. There, it's fixed. Don't delete these things anymore," he instructed, pointing to an item in the inbox.
"Thanks, McGee."
"No problem, Boss."
Tim went to his desk and started to type up the backlog of reports that had been piling up. He glanced over at Tony's desk and realized the Senior Agent was still not here. He looked over at Gibbs.
"Boss, where's Tony?"
"Agent DiNozzo is on suspension. He won't be back for a couple of weeks. We will go on without him," Gibbs stated, a hint of sarcasm in his last phrase. Tim simply nodded and returned to his reports. He didn't have time to worry about Tony. He had other things on his mind, specifically seeing the counselor about what happened. Something told him today would be the longest day of his life.
TBC…