Tim was typing as fast as she could while trying to make as few mistakes as possible. 12:30 was growing nearer with every sentence she put a full stop to and she didn't want to keep her lunch companion waiting if she could help.

She had blocked out everything going on around her until Tony said something that had her looking to the elevator.

Tobias Fornell came striding onto the floor and headed straight for their section.

She sighed to herself. It looked like she wouldn't be getting this report finished after all. Gibbs who was sitting at his desk doing the same paperwork they had all been working through looked to his friend and she cringed at the frown he was wearing. Obviously he hadn't read the memo that had been sent to him through the director…she could have spoken to him she supposed…but it was hardly her fault he was a Luddite where his email was concerned and she was not putting herself in a position to receive the 'Gibbs glare'. It looked like she would be on the receiving end of it anyway before she could make her escape.

"Anything I can help you with, Tobias?" he asked.

She cringed again.

"Yeah, like sign a confession for a murder we didn't commit," Tony shot out, he still hadn't quite got over that.

Tony had never made a secret of his feeling towards the FBI – something before her time about being thrown out of a car in body bag, and of course the private plane thing – having been framed just gave him the chance to air his opinions a bit more freely. She was waiting for the day when Gibbs decided his free pass had lasted long enough.

"DiNozzo, a pleasure as always," Fornell smiled like a cat who got the cream and Tim knew that Tony probably wanted to punch it clean of the other man's face.

"Just came to collect my date, Gibbs,"

Tim blushed. Of course he would have to say that to get a rise out of the team.

"Date?"

Fornell nodded his head – the gleam in his eyes saying he knew fine that Gibbs had no idea what he was talking about.

He turned his head to her and smiled.

"How does that new place sound? I have the company credit card," he smiled conspiratorially at her.

"Sounds nice,"

Tim was aware of all eyes being on her and she felt her cheeks heat up even more. Anymore and she would catch light.

As calmly as she could she saved her work, shut down her computer and set her desk in order for tomorrow. After all, the director had given her the rest of the day of. And again, it wasn't he fault if Gibbs didn't look at his inbox.

She gulped.

You just keep telling yourself that, Tim, you might actually start to believe it.

So maybe she did feel a little bad for not telling Gibbs face to face. But he still scared her a little – ok, a lot – and…well...

She stood and straightened the wrinkles out of her dress trousers. She had dressed a little nicer than usual for her meeting today. She knew that Fornell had seen her in the middle of a case when her hair hadn't been washed in days and breakfast had missed her mouth and hit her top but that was then and this was a professional if useless meeting.

She forced herself to look at Gibbs who was looking at her with a blank expression. Tim thought she would prefer the glare over the blank face any day.

"I'll see you tomorrow, boss," she nearly whispered before making a beeline for the elevator, Fornell close behind her.

Gibbs watched the elevator door slide shut before standing and making straight for the director's office. He was aware of Ziva and Tony following close on his heals but he ignored him. He had to get to the bottom of this.

He strode passed Pam's desk, paying no attention to her calls for him to stop and stormed into the office.

Jen looked up at him, slipping her glasses from her face and appearing far too calm for his liking. Nothing seemed to get her flustered anymore. Always so collected. Which was why she was director and he was exactly where she had left him. But he'd be damned if she coolly got Timothy McGee involved in something she couldn't handle.

Jen looked behind him, taking in Ziva and Tony.

"How can I help you all?"

"Wait outside," he told his two agents, his tone brooking no argument.

The door shut at his back as Jen walked from behind her desk and leaned back against it.

"Yes, Jethro?"

"McGee?" he demanded.

"What about her?" Jen appeared confused by his question.

"Fornell?" he clarified.

"Yes, Agent Fornell of the FBI…" she trailed of and they stood in silence for a moment or two.

"Jethro I honestly have no idea what you are talking about. Now either speak in sentences longer than one word or leave,"

"Why did Fornell just leave with one of my agents?" there, more than one word and it had better get him an answer.

"You were notified, Jethro," she walked back around her desk and sat down, clicking and typing.

"Here we go," she announced, pointing at the screen, "This is the email-" she paused and laughed, "Ah yes, sorry, I forgot about your aversion to all things technical," she cleared her throat and began to read.

"This email is to notify you that on…well, today…Agent Timothy McGee is excused from her duties for the afternoon from 12:30 –"

"Why?" he ground out.

"Jethro," she sighed, "You may not have a clue just what that young woman is capable of with a computer but I assure you others are not so blind. She is in high demand and the FBI is only one of the organisations that has approached me,"

"Fornell is trying to poach, McGee?" he asked incredulously.

He knew that Tim was good at what she did…but was she that good?

It was bad enough that other agencies tried to steal Abby on a fairly regular basis. Was he going to have to start worrying about them making off with McGee now?

"Yes. She had been offered job opportunities in the past – I believe during her time at Norfolk – and now that she has proven herself to be a capable agent in the field the competition will be fierce," she smiled wickedly at him, "I would try harder to hold onto her if I were you, Agent Gibbs," her gaze hardened, "She is an asset to this agency and I will not be pleased should her resignation pass across my desk. Am I understood?"

Gibbs thought for a moment. Surprised slightly by this reaction. Reading between the lines she was telling him that she would have his head if Tim left.

"Yes, director," he walked to the door not saying anything else and opened it to find Ziva and Tony standing far too innocently a foot or so away from it.

He stalked passed them and heard them scuttle after him.

The FBI were not getting Timothy McGee!

Silly Gibbs. He doesn't realise that Tim is just where she wants to be. :)

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