Gibbs was at his desk staring at his computer though he wasn't actually seeing what was on the screen. He was reflecting on the events of the last several days. It hadn't started out well. Dread gnawed at him during the search for his agents and when he'd seen the cold, limp, broken bodies of his agents lying on the floor of the cave he could hardly stomach the feeling of dread.
The situation improved, both men were both going to be fine, no long term damage and the case was quickly wrapped up. Things had gotten strange though, starting when Tony woke up and progressing from there.
When Gibbs got home that night after getting confessions out of the Bairds, Tony was already asleep. Gibbs only saw him a few minutes the next morning but he was the same as the night before. Apparently Ducky's visit didn't do anything for his attitude.
Tim was back at work that morning and spent much of his time trying to get Abby and even Ziva to stop fussing over him. Gibbs watched him carefully to make sure he didn't overdo it, but he seemed to be fine, typing away one handed. He was a little quiet, but Gibbs chalked that up to his near brush with death. He knew from experience how something like that could affect an agent. He set his mind to Ducky about it later.
Tony managed to convince Ducky to let him come back the day after McGee which Gibbs hoped would improve his disposition. It didn't. He barely spoke and worked quietly and diligently on his work for most of the morning making very little eye contact Gibbs.
Gibbs had also never seen Tony so…protective. He knew of course that Tony cared for Tim like a little brother but he usually showed it by teasing him. Today though, there was a glaring lack of joking going on around him.
Everyone seemed to be affected. Ducky was unusually quiet, declining his usual stories, observing with a keen eye. For two days Ziva shifted her almost imperceptible focus from Gibbs to McGee to Tony, then back around. They appeared to be uneasily watching each other like they had a secret but wouldn't talk about it.
Really when Gibbs thought about it, Tim was acting the most normal and even he seemed weary and edgy. He couldn't quite place his finger on the issue, it was nothing major or really even noticeable but still…it was driving him crazy.
Ducky had suggested they take it slow and easy and wait for the perfect opportunity. Both men were stubborn and like to see the evidence. It would be much better if they could figure out the problem and solution themselves. Obviously with nudges from three different directions.
This problem hadn't arisen overnight and would not be fixed overnight either. Ducky also reminded Tony that he had promised McGee he would keep this from Gibbs and he owed it to the younger man to keep that secret.
Tony wasn't sure he like that plan, but it was better than betraying Tim's trust or his own plan of making Gibbs angry. Angry Gibbs was never really a good idea. Still, Ducky's idea was much too passive for a DiNozzo. He had voiced his displeasure to Ducky on the morning of his physical and doctor had smiled as he reminded the younger man that he was in charge of clearing him for field duty and perhaps they should try his idea for a few days before they gave it up. Tony shook his head. The old man was much more devious and conniving than he was given credit for.
Ziva was also watching. She had talked to Tony briefly and he told her Ducky wanted to wait and see what would happen. She, like Tony, wanted to help Tim but Ducky's plan had the least likely hood of failure or an explosive confrontation. She was almost relieved, to see how much the situation preyed on Tony's mind. As much as she teased Tony, she knew Tim could not have had a better ally his is corner than their senior field agent. Tony would make this right if it was in his power to do so.
By three in the afternoon Gibbs was annoyed with himself. He knew the silence in the bullpen should have made him happy. They were getting a lot done without him having to act like a grade school teacher, but instead he was frustrated.
"Tony, with me." Tony froze, out of the corner of his eye he could see Tim stiffen slightly. Gibbs strode past his desk hitting the corner as he went. "Now DiNozzo!"
"On your six Boss." Tony said getting up slowly, mindful of his still healing ribs, and following Gibbs to the elevator, having a good idea what this discussion would be about.
Gibbs was already in the elevator and Tony stepped in right before the door closed. Gibbs only waited seconds before reaching over and flipping the switch to stop the elevator. He turned to face Tony.
"What's the problem?" He asked leaning back against the elevator walls.
"No problem Boss." Tony answered his face an emotionless mask. Gibbs frowned.
"Want to tell me what's going on out there? What's been going on with you for the past few days?"
"Just trying to catch up on my work." Tony said again, keeping his answers short.
"Tony you spend more time than anyone I've ever known trying to get out of paper work. Try again."
"I'm just kind of still tired."
"I'd buy that from McGee or Ziva, but you get louder the more tired and in pain you are."
Tony looked him in the eye seriously. "So if Ziva or McGee were acting like this you would pull them in here and interrogate them too."
Gibbs frowned and stepped closer. "You have been talking in riddles for the past three days and I want it to stop."
"It's not affecting my work and I haven't been insubordinate so…" Tony trailed off but didn't break eye contact.
Gibbs stared at him for a few more seconds before shaking his head and flipping the emergency switch back on. The elevator door opened immediately and Gibbs got out first, shaking his head. Although annoyed at his senior field agent he wasn't particularly worried. Tony would spill his guts when he was ready, he always did. It probably wouldn't be a week before he ended up in Gibbs basement. He could be patient.
Two hours later though, Gibbs decided he couldn't be patient. Waiting was not something Leroy Jethro Gibbs did well. He wouldn't force Tony to tell him, but Ducky usually had some idea of what was going on with his team and he was always willing to help.
The door to autopsy swished open. Gibbs looked around and spotted Ducky sitting at his desk working on some paper work. Jimmy wasn't around, which was just as well because Gibbs would just have to tell him to get lost.
"You got a minute to talk to me Duck?" He asked sitting on the edge of the desk. Ducky turned and smiled.
"Of course Jethro. I always have a moment for you, just let me finish this." He signed and filed a few more documents then took off his glasses and leaned back in his chair. "What is it you wish to discuss?"
"What's going on with my team?" Gibbs asked point blank. Surprise and an emotion Gibbs couldn't identify flickered through the doctors eyes briefly. He nodded thoughtfully.
"What do you mean exactly? They are working I assume?" He asked.
"Yeah." Gibbs leaned against the desk. "They're working but…"
"But what?" Ducky prompted.
"Tony's mad at me about something." He threw his hands up slightly. "McGee's quiet, Ziva's just watching everybody and you," he focused on the man sitting at his desk and his eyes narrowed, "I have a feeling you're in on it too, or at least know what this is about. So I want to know the secret, what is happening, or has happened, or is going to happen, cause I know you know." He finished frustrated.
Ducky took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "It seems to me that your problem lies with your three agents. Why don't you ask the people with whom the problems originated?" Gibbs frowned.
"I tried that, Tony's talking in circles. Now I'm asking you."
"Jethro, it doesn't sound like you've done your due diligence." Ducky scolded gently. "You have three agents who are giving you problems. This arose after events involving two of your agents. And yet, as of this moment, you've only talked to one before giving up and coming down here. I suggest you finish with the primary witnesses before you start interrogating those who've only heard scuttlebutt." With that he turned back to his work. Gibbs stared at him.
"This isn't like you Ducky." He said quietly. Ducky didn't say anything. "I come to you for answers when I can figure things out." Ducky could hear the frustration in his voice and felt twinge of guilt for being so deliberately elusive. He looked at his old friend compassionately.
"And I'm usually happy to give them Jethro, you know that, but, first of all, I've made a promise and second, I think it would be better for you and your team if you were able to figure out the problem for yourself. I will tell you this. You are very focused on Tony's actions and attitude when maybe another of your agents should be the subject of your scrutiny."
Gibbs brow furrowed in confusion. He stared at the ME until it was clear he was done talking. Gibbs sighed as he pushed himself off the desk.
"Thanks Duck." He said sarcastically as he left.
"You're very welcome." Ducky answered cheerily.
Gibbs got off the elevator upstairs and just stood for a moment thinking. He felt like he should know what was going on. Everyone certainly seemed to expect him to know what was going on. Tony had looked ready to burst earlier he thought, it probably wouldn't take him five minutes of staring in the elevator to get him to talk. It would probably take even less time for McGee to get it off his chest and Ducky did say in no uncertain terms that the real problem wasn't Tony.
He walked into the bullpen and sat down still trying to decide what he needed to do and the best way to go about it when his phone rang.
"Yeah Gibbs." He flipped his phone open as he sat down.
"Agent Gibbs." Came a smooth voice over the phone. "I'm glad I got a hold of you. I considered calling your director or the DA but since this whole mess started with your people, I settled upon you. Can we talk?"
"Maybe. Depends on what you wanna talk about."
"Josie Baird."
Gibbs frowned. He looked up at McGee typing and snapped his fingers to get his attention. When McGee looked up he signaled him to start a trace.
"What about her?" He asked into the phone.
"It's been brought to my attention that a misunderstanding has found herself in a disagreement with NCIS."
"Wasn't a misunderstanding." At this point Tony and Ziva were watching intently trying to draw clues from the one sided conversation they were hearing.
"Hmmm." He sounded skeptical, then tsked. "I'd rather not get involved. It would be best if you just forgot this…incident and let her go. Are you following me?"
"No, not exactly. Do you want to explain?"
"Things could get ugly Agent Gibbs. Why don't you just make this easy on yourself and forget all about this?"
"I don't think I can do that." He glanced over at McGee who was still typing. He was a little slower than usual since he only had one arm to use, but McGee with arm was just as fast as most agents with two.
The voice on the phone sighed. "I hoped you wouldn't take that route but since you have I can only hope you turn from it quickly. Now," he continued in a business-like tone. "Your phone trace should be done soon. I'll call you again after you finish running the slug. I hope that whoever is assigned the case after you will be more cooperative. I don't want to have to resort to violence."
McGee's brow furrowed in confusion as the trace finished. "Boss, he's-."
Gibbs stared at him, not really focusing because only one word stuck out. "What slug?"
Suddenly glass filled the air as the window outside the bullpen shattered!
Sorry it's been almost two weeks since I updated. I had a friend coming over so I was cleaning, then I didn't feel like writing, then my friend was here so…
This was harder to write because I prefer dialog to move the story along and most of this chapter wasn't. On a side note this is the action I was talking about two chapters ago. Lol, I always write more than I intend. :)
Thank you all for the reviews, and story alerts, and favorite alerts and just reading in general. I really appreciate it. Everyone, have a great week! :)