Thanks again for all the attention this story has received. Sorry for the delay, but here's another long chapter to make up for the wait (I hope).

Title: Slow Burn

Story: NCIS crossover with Firestarter; AU for both

Rating: T/Gen

Summary: McGee's heritage catches up with him, and DiNozzo is caught in the crossfire.

Set in: mid season 6

Disclaimer: Don't own, just playing, yadda yadda

It's exposition time...

Chapter 5

"It looks like Agent DiNozzo was successful in following Agent McGee last night. It also appears that he managed to get both himself and your other agent killed."

Gibbs stared at Vance in shock, barely able to comprehend what the director had just said. Before Gibbs was able to form a coherent question, Vance picked up his phone and dialed.

"Mr. Palmer? Tell Dr. Mallard that I need to see him in my office, immediately. And Mr. Palmer? I need you to pull Agent DiNozzo's and Agent McGee's medical records. Yes, you heard me correctly." Vance hung up the phone and after a few moments of silence, slammed his fist on the desk.

The director's uncharacteristic display of anger startled Gibbs from his stunned silence.

"What the hell happened, Leon?" he managed to ask.

"The Virginia Highway Patrol found McGee's vehicle at a scenic outlook near the GW National Forrest. It had been torched, and there was a body in the driver's seat. They also found what appear to be human remains near the car, also badly burned. A few miles down the road, while investigating a possible accident where the car had gone off the road and into the river, they found DiNozzo's vehicle at the bank below the falls. It was a thirty foot drop, and the vehicle was totaled. No body recovered, but they are still searching. The local sheriff gave me a courtesy call and everything will be sent here for analysis. I will need to tell Ms. Sciuto... I hope she can handle it."

"Why was McGee even there in the first place?"

Vance sighed. "He was there to meet someone to exchange information. We have been trying to fly under the radar with this project, and the meetings seemed to be the best way to do that. Until DiNozzo got too curious for his own good."

"You are not blaming Tony for this! Why the cloak and dagger act? And who was McGee meeting?"

"Trent Kort."

"WHAT?"

"Kindly keep your voice down, Gibbs. Trent Kort is one of the major players in the op. The others are…were myself and Agent McGee."

"You sent him to work with Kort? That conniving bastard? What the hell were you thinking, Leon?"

"I did not send him anywhere, Gibbs. McGee volunteered for this op. He was well aware of the risks. All of them. Officially, were working on an anti-terrorist project and Kort had the access were needed. I cut through the red tape, and McGee…did what he does best."

"I can't believe McGee would volunteer for anything after what happened the last time someone in this office used one of my agents for an 'op'. What the hell was so important? And what do you mean by 'officially'?"

Any further explanation was interrupted by the arrival of Ducky.

"You wished to see me, Director?" he asked as he was let into the office by Vance's secretary. He took one look at the expression on Gibbs' face and paled slightly. "I take it this has something to do with the task you gave Mr. Palmer."

"It does. The VHP will be bringing in two bodies for identification. We need to get it done as quickly as possible, and with complete discretion."

"I see. Can you tell me, Director, what sort of condition these bodies are in so that I may prepare the correct equipment for analysis?"

"They're burned, Dr. Mallard; one in a car fire and the other by unknown means."

"Understood. Would you also like me to inform Ms. Sciuto of any other evidence?"

"I'll take care of it, Dr. Mallard. Every resource we have will be available for this case, but it must be contained. No one outside this agency must know what has happened until we are certain of the cause."

"Of course, Director. The…case will receive my utmost attention and my best work."

"I would not have expected otherwise, Doctor. You are dismissed."

Ducky turned to Gibbs. "I am so sorry, Jethro. You have my deepest condolences. This…is a great loss for us all."

Gibbs barely managed a nod and Ducky left, looking ten years older than he had when he had entered the office. Gibbs turned his attention back to Vance.

"Well? What was the op?"

"The official project was a cover. What we were working on was potentially much more dangerous, particularly to those involved in the investigation."

"So why were you involved? What could be so important that you would take such a risk? That McGee would give up everything he's been taught?"

Vance turned and opened one of the cabinet doors to reveal a safe. He opened it and withdrew a thick folder which did not have any official insignia. "I think you will have to see this to understand, Gibbs. This folder cannot leave this room, and you cannot mention to anyone that you have seen it. Given the circumstances, I don't have the power to protect you if that should happen."

"You mean I'll end up like McGee and DiNozzo, because of what's in that file?"

"Very likely, I'm afraid. But since you feel you need to know, it's the best I can do."

Gibbs accepted the folder and carried it over to the table. After receiving a final nod from Vance, he opened it and began to read.

"So, this evil organization? What was it called?"

"It was called The Shop, and the drug was known as Lot Six."

McGee had lapsed into silence after that last revelation and Tony started to go over what he had said. The idea that some government organization would murder kids for the sake of some crazy experiment sickened him and, knowing how much family meant to McGee, understood why he wanted to stop the group, especially if they were planning on doing it again. But there was something that was missing…

"McGee?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm guessing there was more to this than just one experiment."

McGee met his gaze and sighed. "Yeah, there was more to it. A lot more."

"You want to tell me about it?"

"Not…not really, but I since you're kind of caught in the middle of all this, I guess I owe you."

Tony chuckled. "I think it's me that owes you right now, Probie, but yeah, I want to know the whole story."

"Okay…" McGee got up to put a couple of logs on the fire. He then refilled both of their mugs and helped Tony drink some more tea before he sat back down next to the older agent.

"I told you that all the people in the test group died as a result. Not all of them died right away, though. The ones who survived the longest were Vicki Tomlinson and…Andy McGee."

Tony nodded. Probie's relative. Got it.

"They, uh, started seeing each other after the experiment. Dating. Eventually it became serious and they got married. What they didn't know right away was that The Shop was keeping an eye on them, mainly to monitor the effects of the drug, but the fact that they got married, and might have children, interested the scientists even more."

"Did they have…sorry. Were there any after affects?"

"Yes. Vicki developed mild telekinesis. She could do little things like turn off light switches from across the room, shut windows and doors, stuff like that. It gave her a headache if she used the abilities, though."

"What about Andy?"

"His ability was a lot stronger, and a little harder to explain. Apparently he referred to it as 'The Push'. He could influence peoples' thoughts and, uh, cause them to do something just by telling them to do it. His ability caused him severe headaches and nosebleeds if he used it too much."

"Did they know what each other could do?"

"Yes, and they did figure out the reason for it. They were very careful to avoid bringing attention to themselves and lived normally. Well, until their daughter was born."

"So they did have kids. What happened? Was she like them?"

"Charlene, 'Charlie' for short, had her own ability. She did have some of her mother's telekinesis, but her main ability was much stronger than either of her parents', with no ill affects. At least, not to her, usually…"

"What could she do?"

"She had pyrokinesis."

"Pyro…she was a firestarter?"

McGee chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "Yeah, she was. Her ability started to manifest when she was just seven months old and she set her own hair on fire. Her parents were terrified, not knowing for sure what had happened, but as she grew older it became more evident. When she was two, she set her mother's hands on fire, and Vicki was only saved because they were in the kitchen at the time and she had a sink full of water to put them out. After that, they seriously started training their daughter to not use her ability."

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Eventually they did teach her control. What they didn't know was that The Shop knew about her and was planning on taking her away from them eventually.

"In the meantime, they continued on with their lives, and everything was fine until Vicki got pregnant again. They seriously considered not having the second child, but eventually decided to go through with it. When Charlie was just a little over five years old, Vicki gave birth to their second child, a son they named Adam."

"I'm almost afraid to ask."

McGee smiled weakly. "He appeared to be completely normal. He showed no sign of any ability, certainly not as obvious as Charlie's, and by the time he was almost three they thought they could relax. They had worried how Charlie would react, but she loved her brother and doted on him."

"So what happened?"

"The Shop decided it was time to take Charlie and Adam away from their parents. They…found Vicki at home, alone, while Charlie and Adam were at a friend's house and Andy was at work. They…tortured her to find out where the children were. Andy came home from work early and found her bound and gagged, stuffed into the laundry room closest. Some of her fingernails had been pulled out, and she was dead." McGee paused, obviously struggling to continue. "It might have been an accident, but…Andy went to find the children and encountered the men from The Shop. He…'pushed' them, and managed to get the kids back, but he had to leave everything behind and he ran."

"Oh God…" Tony had seen torture victims and he felt a surge of anger that someone would do that to a young, innocent mother.

"When The Shop finally did manage to catch up to them about six months later, it was only Andy and Charlie. Andy told them that Adam was dead – drowned while they were going through one of the national parks. They checked, and they found the body where Andy said he had buried Adam."

"I'm sensing a 'but'…"

"The Shop has never known that the child they found was not Adam. His father placed him with another family, and he escaped what his sister and father experienced at the hands of The Shop."

"Wait…how did he manage that one?"

McGee was silent, the look on his face uncharacteristically unreadable. Finally he continued. "I'm not condoning what he did, not at all, but I think…I think I understand it. When they were in the park, Andy ran across another couple who had just lost their child; he had managed to wander away from the campsite. Andy helped the couple search, and he was the one who found the boy's body. He was about the same age as Adam, and apparently they looked enough alike…I guess he was still a bit crazy after losing his wife, and he knew he'd never be able to stay ahead of The Shop with two kids. He knew he couldn't abandon Charlie…but he apparently decided that his normal child could have a chance. He took Adam to the couple and made them believe he was their own child, and he buried their son in Adam's place. The Shop never found out what he had done."

Tony felt sick. On one hand, he was horrified that a father had abandoned his own son and manipulated another family, but on the other...

"What did The Shop do to them when they caught them?"

"They separated them, and kept Andy drugged so he wouldn't pose a danger. They knew that her father's influence was what kept Charlie from using her ability, so they removed that influence. Then they hired someone to trick her into using her pyrokinesis so they could run tests. The man, John Rainbird, posed as a janitor and…conned a terrified and lonely little girl into allowing The Shop to use her as a lab rat."

"And I hope that bastard burns in Hell," muttered Tony.

"Close," said McGee, and Tony's eyes widened.

"What happened?"

"The Shop became afraid of their creation; she was way more powerful than they had ever imagined. They believed that she was too dangerous and had the ability to destroy the entire planet. They were planning on eliminating her and her father. In the mean time, Andy was able to stop taking the drugs without them realizing, and he planned their escape. He manipulated the head of the project into letting Charlie see him, but Rainbird figured it out and killed Andy. Shot him. Charlie then turned her ability on Rainbird and basically immolated him. Before Andy died, he told her everything, and made her promise to make them pay. She destroyed the entire compound, burned it to the ground."

"Jesus…"

"Her father had told her that people needed to know what had happened. She went to the press, the story received national attention, and The Shop was officially disbanded. Charlie went into hiding and has not officially been seen since. The government believes that she is dead."

"But she's not, is she?" McGee shook his head. "She's your contact." He nodded. "Damn, Probie…"

"She told me the whole story. I'm one of the few in a select group of people she trusts."

"And that's why you were warning me, back at the overlook. You were afraid she would see me threatening you, and-?"

"Yeah. She, uh, still has a bit of a temper."

"A bit?"

McGee chuckled again, this time with a hint of humor.

"So what now?"

"The Shop is starting back up. We have some proof, but not enough, and not enough of the details. We don't know where their new facility is located, or exactly how many people are involved. I guess I…well, Charlie and I, are on our own now. I'll get you back home, Tony, but from here on out-."

"No."

"What?"

"You're not on your own. I'm helping, and that's that. Well, as soon as I can actually stand up, count me in."

"Tony…"

"Hey, they wrecked my car! That's worth an ass-kicking right there."

McGee shook his head at first and after a pause, smiled and finally nodded. "Thanks, man. Now get some sleep. We'll figure out our next move after you're feeling better."

"You still don't look so hot yourself, Tim." McGee looked up in surprise at the concern in Tony's voice. "You need to rest, too."

"Got it. And Tony…thanks."

"Hey, we'll be like Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts in Conspiracy Theory."

"Yeah, sure, whatever you say, Tony." McGee crawled over to his sleeping bag and lay down.

Tony closed his eyes and tried to relax, but everything he had been told buzzed through his mind. It was horrible, the things that had been done, innocents murdered, almost a whole family destroyed…

Eventually something started to nag at him, some missing piece. Finally he realized what it was. He opened his eyes and looked at McGee, who appeared to be asleep.

"Probie?"

"Yeah?" he asked sleepily without even opening his eyes.

"Whatever happened to Adam?"

McGee's eyes snapped open. "What do you mean?"

"I mean…well, you said The Shop never found him. Did anyone? We could probably use another ally in this, and…does he even know?"

McGee didn't answer immediately and after several moments had passed, Tony thought he had fallen asleep. Finally he answered.

"Charlie tracked him down. She found him when he was twelve years old, almost thirteen. She managed to talk to him alone and told him the whole story. So yeah, he knows."

"How did he react? Would he help us?"

"He, uh, wanted to help, but Charlie convinced him to stay with his adopted family and try to live a normal life."

"Did he? Do you even know where he is now?"

"Yeah, he did, for the most part. He went to college and eventually decided to get into law enforcement. He graduated from FLETC and went on to get a job with a federal agency."

"FBI? CIA?"

"No, NCIS."

"Seriously? Which office?"

"The Navy Yard."

"You're kidding…do I know him? I'm guessing he doesn't go by 'Adam'."

"Yes, you know him, and no, only his sister calls him 'Adam'."

"Well Probie, don't keep me in suspense! What's his name?"

"Timothy McGee."

I'm guessing some of you were expecting that… ;)

Please let me know what you think.