"Are you insane?" Sam asked when he heard Tim's plan. "You wanna trust that bastard to save G?"
"I don't see any other choice, Sam. We can't investigate ourselves without getting ourselves arrested, and if we don't do something, Callen is screwed. They don't need definitive proof to imprison for terrorism. All they have to do is cite the Patriot Act. Look, we don't have another option here. Yes, he is a bastard, but he was also a damn good agent. Even I can't deny that," Tim said.
"And what are we supposed to do? Just sit here on our hands while someone that none of us like or trust does our job for us?" Sam asked clearly unhappy about the situation.
"No, not all of us. It occurs to me that I haven't used any of my vacation time this year. I really should take it," Tim said.
Sam immediately realized what Tim was planning. "Whoa, no way. I'm not gonna let you go off alone and commit career suicide. G would kill me."
"Well, he won't have the chance to kill you if he spends the rest of his life in a federal prison. Besides, I won't be alone," Tim said.
Sam snorted. "No, you'll be with the king of all jackasses. That's worse than alone."
"Once again I ask what choice do we have? We're not just talking about keeping a team member with us. We're talking about his life. We all know that being labeled a terrorist will eventually be a death sentence. Even if I get caught, I'm in a better position than he is. One of us has to make a potential sacrifice, Sam. You know that," Tim said.
Sam did know that. He knew that at least one of them had to take the risk. His only problem was who was doing the risking. He didn't feel right letting someone else do what he felt was his job. "I'll do it. G's my partner. It's up to me to have his back.
"But don't you see, that's exactly why it can't be you. You and Callen are closer than almost anyone I know. You're like brothers. Everyone who knows either of you knows that. The CIA will be watching you ten times as hard as they watch the rest of you. And you know you'd be saying the same thing to me if it were Kensi," Tim said. He did understand Sam's position. He would feel the same way if it were Kensi's life on the line.
"He's right. But that doesn't mean I want you doing this either, Tim. Callen may be Sam's partner, but you're mine. I already lost one partner. I don't want to lose another," Kensi said.
"Kensi, Callen is the reason I am who I am today. Don't get me wrong, all of you have been a major influence for me since I got here, but he was the one that gave me the courage to move on from Gibbs. He's the one who taught me how to be an agent. I owe him this much. And I'm in the best position to do it. I haven't been here that long. There are still those outside of this team that underestimate me. I can use that to my advantage. Besides, I don't plan to do any hacking or anything like that. I'll leave that to someone less likely to get caught than I am right now. You know this is the only way, Sam," he said.
Sam sighed. "That don't mean I gotta like it. Alright, I won't stop you. But you still gotta get by Hetty."
Xxxxxxxxxxx
"So you expect me to believe that on the day we find out Mr. Callen has been arrested by the CIA, you want take a vacation to visit your sister?" Hetty asked more than a little bit skeptically from her desk.
"Well, it has been a while since I've seen Sarah. I think I'm due," Tim said. He knew of course that Hetty wasn't buying any of this, but he wanted to give her plausible deniability, so he would stick to his story.
"Mr. McGee, are you under the impression that I took stupid pills this morning?" Hetty asked.
Tim smiled. "Of course not, Hetty. But really, I'm just heading to DC to see Sarah."
"Oh, I have no doubt that half of that statement is true. Your going to Washington DC doesn't' surprise me in the least, as that is probably where Mr. Callen is being held," Hetty said.
"You think so?" Tim asked in mock surprise.
"Let's cut the stupid act, shall we? It doesn't suit you. Now you're insane if you think if you think I'm going to let you go across country to get yourself fired and arrested. Mr. Callen would ready to smack you until you saw sense if he were here," Hetty said.
Tim sighed. He decided to end the charade. "Someone has to do something, Hetty. And I know that you don't want to let this go any more than the rest of us. I also know that you know that your hands are tied. They'll be watching you even more than they would Sam. I'm in the best position to do something."
"And if I don't?" Hetty asked.
Tim smirked. "Well, then I guess I'm just going to have to take a page out of your playbook. You were willing to resign your position not too long ago and flee to Romania to protect Callen. I'm prepared to do the same."
"It's a suicide mission," Hetty said.
"It's one I'm willing to take," Tim said.
Hetty looked at him for a minute before signing his request for leave. "I sincerely hope I don't regret this. But If I do, rest assured, I will make sure you regret it as well."
Tim chuckled. "I have no doubt of that."
"Bring him back," she said before giving him the form.
Tim took the form. "I will. One way or another."
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Tim quickly packed the things he would need to take with him from his desk before going over to Sam and Kensi who were standing a few feet away. "I'm not going to be able to call. You both know that."
Sam nodded. "It's okay. You I trust. I don't trust the idiots you're asking for help, but I trust you. You'll bring him back. Just make sure to bring yourself back too."
"I'll do my best," Tim promised. The two men then clasped hands before sharing a one armed hug.
Kensi crossed her arms when Tim finished with Sam and turned to her. "If you make me break in another partner, I'm gonna kill you."
Tim chuckled and then hugged her. "I'm gonna miss you too, Kens."
Kensi hugged him back quickly and then let go. "Be careful. I don't want to get Callen back just to lose you."
"I'm always careful. I'll see you guys later," Tim said before walking away.