I do apologize for the delay, but last week, I didn't get anything done!!!! Work was so crazy and by the time I got home and got everything else taken care of…I was pooped! LOL It wasn't until this weekend that I got to write, so here is the fruit of my labor. Thank you for your patience and I hope that it's been worth the wait. Although some not so good things happen in this chapter, believe it or not, there are only two or three more chapters to go! Thank you for reading and being such loyal readers…I'm truly blessed!

Greg Kincaid stood outside the door to the Stillwater General Store, gathering his thoughts before he had to face Director Leon Vance. He was not looking forward to this interrogation; the Director was a formidable man, known for getting what he wanted and Kincaid was a young investigator still trying to prove himself. Vance had risen through the ranks and had a reputation as a man of mystery, a mask that he seemed to enjoy wearing in the presence of his subordinates. However, Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo had gotten a glimpse of the man behind the mask and it had nearly cost him his life.

Taking a deep breath, he opened the door and walked into the store to find an elderly man sitting at a table, intently studying the newspaper in front of him, while sipping on a cup of coffee. Without looking up from his paper, the older man congenially asked, "Can I help you with something?"

Flashing his identification badge, Kincaid replied. "Yes sir. I was told that Director Vance was here."

The gray headed man placed his paper on the table and rose from his seat. "It's not everyday when a young whippersnapper like yourself shows respects to his elders. Sometimes my own boy forgets his manners; of course, I remind him that one of these days, he's going to get old and he'll know how I feel."

"Uh, yes sir," Kincaid answered. "I'm sorry, sir. I didn't catch your name."

"Jackson Gibbs. You can call me Jack."

He took Jackson's extended hand and shook it. "So, you're Agent Gibbs' father?"

"That I am," Jack proudly said.

There definitely was a family resemblance, but the elder Gibbs seemed much more accommodating than his son. Of course, with age comes wisdom or so he had been told, not only by his parents, but by his fellow investigators.

"Can I get you something to drink?" Jack offered. "Coffee or soda?"

The younger man shook his head. "No, thank you. I just really need to speak with Director Vance."

"Right. I remember Leroy telling me someone would be by to talk to the toothpick."

"Excuse me?"

"Vance," Jack corrected himself. "He's in the back room there with Ziva and Tim."

"Thank you."

Kincaid moved past the older man and headed to the back room. He heard Jackson mumble something about someone named Maude and her crazy cat, but quickly decided not to pursue the matter; he figured that he would end up spending at least an hour listening to Gibbs regale him with a story that had no bearing on his current investigation.

The agent shook his head in amusement, marveling at how Jackson Gibbs reminded him of his own grandfather. Making a mental note to call his "pawpaw" later, Kincaid entered what appeared to serve as the living room.

"Greg Kincaid from Internal Affairs," he announced.

An exotic looking woman approached him, her eyes spoke of mistrust and a certain amount of weariness as she examined his identification. "I assume you are here to speak to Director Vance."

"Yes, I am."

She motioned for the other agent to join her. "Come on, McGee. I think Jack may need our help in the store." Turning back to face him, she coyly smiled. "We will be in the other room should you need us."

He returned her smile. "Thank you, but I'm sure that Director Vance will cooperate fully."

Kincaid waited for the sound of the door closing before he made his way to over where Director Vance was sitting on the couch. He sat down in the nearest chair and began to set up his laptop. It was still hard to believe that he was about to interrogate the Director of NCIS. The knot in his stomach pulled tighter as he set up his computer, hoping that his attempts at stalling would go unnoticed by Vance. He could feel the Director's steely gaze follow his every move, but he refused to be intimidated.

"So, Director Vance," he began. "I have a few questions to ask you."

Vance sat tall in his seat, his mask firmly in place. "I have nothing to hide," he answered, his tone cool and distant.

The investigator smiled. "I find that hard to believe, Director Vance. It seems that you have been rather busy since you took over as Director of NCIS, and a lot of what you've been doing has managed to stay under the radar until now."

Kincaid continued to ignore the harsh glare as he sat back in his chair, making himself comfortable for the next several hours. "Well Director Vance, where shall we begin?"

"Like I said," Vance tersely repeated. "I have nothing to hide."

A tiny grin escaped his lips as Kincaid considered his first question. Getting the truth out of Vance was going to be a long, arduous process; one that he was not looking forward to. But, he had a job to do and he was determined to do that job to the best of his ability. Sighing, he met the hardened stare of the Director as he replied with authority, "We'll just have to see about that."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Walter Mason hung up the phone, his mind still reeling from the phone call that he had made to the Secretary of Defense, Alexander Holderman. The man had not been pleased to find out what had been going on right under his nose, but as the Secretary informed him, the consequences that would arise as a result of DiNozzo's allegations was something that he wasn't sure that he could risk. If the public gained knowledge of the underhanded dealings of the two powerful men as well as other influential figures, the fallout would be detrimental not only to NCIS, but to the government as a whole.

Mason was told to wait for further instructions, so he had yet to interview Dr. Katherine Marshall. He studied the transcripts of her interrogation by Gibbs and quickly deduced that her loyalty to Secretary Davenport was definitely misguided. He was disgusted at the thought of one man wielding that much power over an individual; how could she believe that she owed him so much that it would justify taking another man's life? Sometimes he didn't understand what motivated people.

He closed the file and sat back in his chair. Mason ran his hand through his thinning hair as he blew out a frustrated breath. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that he had done what he was supposed to do by informing the Defense Secretary of the contents of the flash drive DiNozzo had provided them with, but he had not expected that the investigation would be put on hold. He hadn't mentioned that his partner, Greg Kincaid was already interviewing Vance; if he was questioned as to why, Mason would just explain that the poor cellular reception prevented him from reaching the younger man. A lie, but at least it was a specific lie.

"Tony DiNozzo," he mumbled to himself. "You've opened a mighty big can of worms. I just hope you can catch some mighty big fish with them."

"This seat taken?"

Mason looked up to see Gibbs standing over him, two cups of coffee in hand. Glancing around, he saw that the cafeteria was still deserted save for the two of them, so he gestured for the team leader to join him. He gratefully took the cup of coffee and gingerly sipped as Gibbs took the seat across from him.

"I figured you'd still be with Agent DiNozzo," Mason stated, not bothering to hide the weariness in his voice.

"He's asleep and I needed some coffee," Gibbs quietly explained.

"It's good that he can get some rest. He looked exhausted."

Gibbs nodded. "All this has really taken a toll on him. I just hope that he can put it behind him and get on with his life."

"Yeah."

"So, what are you still doing here?" the former Marine inquired. "Figured you'd be out doing whatever it is you IA guys do."

"Kincaid went to talk to Vance. I…I had a phone call to make before I interviewed Dr. Marshall."

"And?"

"And what?"

"Did you make your phone call?"

"Yeah, I did. I'm just waiting."

Gibbs leaned forward slightly. "For what?"

"My orders."

"Orders?"

"I had to call the Secretary of Defense."

"And?"

He smiled, knowing that Gibbs was trying to pump him for information. "What is it you want to know, Gibbs?"

"I'm just looking out for Tony. I don't want him being the scapegoat so the U.S. Government can sweep yet another dirty secret under the rug. I've seen it happen too many times and I'm not going to let Tony go down the same road I went down."

Mason admired Gibbs' loyalty to DiNozzo; maybe if he had been able to work for someone like Jethro Gibbs, he would still be in the field, instead of sitting in an empty cafeteria waiting for a call that would determine the future of several men, including Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo.

"I can't tell you anything, Gibbs. You know that."

"I know. I just want you to know where I stand."

The investigator leaned forward and met Gibbs' hardened gaze. "There's not a doubt in my mind where you stand, Agent Gibbs. I hope Agent DiNozzo appreciates what you're doing for him."

"I'm not doing anything for him that he wouldn't do or hasn't done for me. He's had my six a hell of lot more than I've had his."

"Trying to repay a debt?"

"Nope. Just trying to do the right thing."

Mason took another drink of his coffee. "I know what you mean. Unfortunately, sometimes wrong prevails no matter how hard you try and do right."

"You think that…"

Holding his finger up, he silenced Gibbs as he answered his ringing phone. "Mason."

He tried to ignore the team leader's glare as he listened to Secretary Holderman give him instructions as to how to proceed with the investigation. "I understand. Yes sir. Yes sir. Yes sir. See you then."

A lump formed in his throat at the thought of informing Gibbs what the Secretary had said. Mason knew that Gibbs expected the truth and nothing less and he could appreciate that in a man.

"What's the word?" Gibbs finally asked.

"Secretary Holderman is coming here to talk to your boy."

Gibbs angrily smacked the table with his open palm. Pushing back from the table, the ex-Marine stood up and began to pace. "Don't tell me that he doesn't believe Tony! How he can he ignore all the evidence?"

"I think he does believe Tony," Mason countered. "I just think that he doesn't know what to do with the information."

"He doesn't know what to do? How about putting the blame where it belongs? How about making Vance and Davenport answer for the hell they've put DiNozzo through?"

"Just calm down. Maybe the Secretary will…"

"Will what?" Gibbs challenged. "You and I both know that he's probably coming here to ask Tony to drop the whole thing. That's really going to reinforce all those doubts that are still running through his mind. DiNozzo is already convinced that no one will believe him."

"Let's just wait and see what Holderman has to say," he tried to reason.

Gibbs picked up his coffee and headed out of the cafeteria and towards the corridor. "Guess I better go and let Tony know what's going on."

"Gibbs!" Mason called out. "Tell DiNozzo not to give up."

"Easier said than done, Walter," he replied as he stopped in front of the elevator. "You tell Holderman that if he's even considering asking Tony to drop the charges, he's going to have a fight on his hands."

Mason shook his head in frustration. He knew that Gibbs was furious with this new development and he had every right to be; he would probably feel the same way if he were in the team leader's shoes. Glancing at his watch, he realized that it would probably be a couple of hours before Holderman arrived, leaving him just enough time to talk to Dr. Katherine Marshall. Although the Secretary had instructed him not to interview anyone else until he had talked with DiNozzo, he figured that it wouldn't hurt to simply ask her a few questions.

His phone rang once again. Resisting the urge to sling it across the room, he answered. As he listened to the police officer on the other end of the line inform him of yet another unexpected complication, he leaned back in his chair and pinched the bridge of his nose, wondering if things could get any worse. He had just been informed that Katherine Marshall had been pronounced dead from an apparent suicide.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Gibbs stood in the doorway, watching the even rise and fall of Tony's chest as he continued to peacefully sleep, unaware that in a just a little while, he would be talking face to face with the Secretary of Defense. DiNozzo would not be happy to discover that once again, his word and integrity was being doubted; it wouldn't be the first time, but Gibbs certainly hoped it would be the last.

Tony would probably bring up the infamous DiNozzo curse. Sometimes, the team leader was beginning to wonder if DiNozzo had been right all those years ago in Baltimore when he informed Gibbs that he believed he was cursed. He couldn't help but smile as he recalled the conversation that particular night in DiNozzo's run down apartment as they were sharing a pizza and going over some files.

***flashback***

"Found anything useful yet?" Gibbs asked as he took another bite of pizza.

Tony shook his head. "Nope, but I'm not giving up yet."

"Didn't figure you would."

"You need to take a break," the agent insisted. "You've been at it for a while."

"I'm on a deadline, remember?"

Tony's captain had threatened to pull him off the case if he had not come up with a substantial lead by Friday afternoon. Gibbs looked at his watch: they had exactly twelve hours.

"Take five minutes, DiNozzo."

The young detective took a sip of his lukewarm soda and grabbed another piece of pizza. "I tell you Gibbs. You probably should've let someone else work this case with you; you probably would've already been back in D.C."

"I got who I wanted," Gibbs gruffly replied. "The rest of your department are idiots."

Tony laughed. "Better not let my Captain Wells hear you say that. According to him, I'm the only idiot in the department."

"Not from where I'm standing, DiNozzo."

"Uh, actually, you're sitting," Tony pointed out.

Gibbs' hand automatically found the back of DiNozzo's head. Tony's sarcastic remark had filled the team leader with the overwhelming urge to head slap the young detective; he had a feeling that this would be the first of many.

"Ow!" DiNozzo exclaimed. "What was that for?"

"You'll figure it out eventually."

He grinned as he watched DiNozzo rub the back of his head. "I'll have to take your word for it," Tony muttered.

"Good idea."

"Do you, uh, head slap everyone you work with? I mean, that could explain why you're working alone."

"I'm not working alone; I'm working with you," Gibbs reminded him.

Tony nodded and sighed, turning his attention back to the file in front of him. "Well, I guess we better get back to work and get you back home before you succumb to the DiNozzo curse."

The team leader's brow arched at DiNozzo's declaration. He couldn't help but wonder who had ultimately been responsible for destroying this man's self confidence. The younger man definitely hid his insecurities well; he hid behind a mask of false bravado, allowing those around him to think that he was some hot shot detective who didn't have a care in the world. Gibbs knew better. He had realized the first day they met that there was more depth to DiNozzo's character than Tony wanted to acknowledge.

"The DiNozzo curse, huh?" Gibbs asked, curious to hear what was sure to be an enlightening explanation.

"Yeah. I'm surprised you haven't heard of it."

"Why's that?"

He waited patiently for Tony to answer, watching as the dark haired man suddenly became interested in the file in front of him. Gibbs could sense DiNozzo adding another layer to the walls guarding his emotions, something that he had a tendency to do as well. Ducky had already pointed out to him several times how much he and DiNozzo were alike; maybe the ME was right.

"Don't mind me," Tony insisted. "I'm just rambling."

"No you're not. You're changing the subject."

"Gibbs, you've read my records. Three departments in almost 6 years; let's just say that I don't have the Midas touch. Pretty much everything I touch turns to dust. I eventually screw up and have to move on. Gets old after a while."

The former Marine had read Tony's record; in fact, he had all but memorized it. When he first arrived in Baltimore and learned that he would be working with Anthony DiNozzo, he had made it a point to learn all he could about the enigmatic young man. DiNozzo had gone against his captain's wishes to ensure that NCIS had at least shared jurisdiction and judging by the reaction of his superior, it wasn't the first time he had ever disagreed with Captain Wells.

"I've read you're record DiNozzo, and you know what I think?"

"You're going to tell me anyway."

"I think that you haven't found the right fit yet. Ever thought about D.C.?"

"Just give me time," Tony quipped. "I'll probably end up there."

"When you do, you look me up."

"Are you offering me a job?"

Gibbs grinned at the younger man. "I'll let you know after we're done with this case."

"You'd hire me? Curse and all?"

"DiNozzo, you're not cursed."

"But…"

"You're not cursed: do you understand me?"

Gibbs' eyes narrowed, silently daring Tony to challenge him. It would be difficult to retrain DiNozzo's way of thinking, teaching him to believe in himself, but the team leader would not let someone with so much potential be destroyed by the insecurities that had been drilled into him, probably since his youth.

"Whatever you say, Gibbs," Tony unconvincingly replied. "You better study my record a little closer."

"I know all I need to know, DiNozzo. You've got my six and I'll have yours, if you'll let me. It's got to be tiring always looking over your shoulder."

Tony smiled and extended his hand. "Thanks, Gibbs. I may take you up on that job, but first, we've got a job to do here. I can't leave with an unsolved case on my record. Wouldn't look good on my record."

Gibbs resisted the urge to head slap the young man once again. There would be plenty of more opportunities for that. Right now, they had a case to solve and with a renewed interest, they both began to study the files spread out between them. Barely a minute passed by before DiNozzo proudly announced, "I've got something…"

***end flashback***

"If you keep looking at me like that, people are going to talk, Boss."

Gibbs walked over and sat down in the chair next to Tony's bed. "Just thinking, DiNozzo."

"About what?"

"Baltimore."

"Oh. What about it?"

"Nothing in particular," he lied. "Just remembering."

"Having second thoughts about offering me that job?"

Gibbs smiled at his senior field agent. "That's probably one of the smartest things I've ever done, DiNozzo; next to divorcing my three wives."

"What's wrong?" Tony wanted to know.

"What do you mean?"

"You're doing the nice thing again. It really freaks me out."

Gibbs sighed. Tony was an expert at reading people and he very seldom could hide anything from DiNozzo; he had trained him too well. He owed his agent, his son, the truth. If their situations were reversed, he would expect Tony to be honest with him.

"You're getting a visitor," he began.

"Who?" Tony inquired, his expression guarded.

"The Secretary of Defense."

Tony raked his hands through his hair. "They're going to get off," the senior agent began to mumble. "Is that what he's coming here to tell me? That Vance and Davenport are going to get off? I don't believe this!"

"Take it easy, DiNozzo. They're not getting off. I promise."

"I already told you about making promises you can't keep," Tony warned.

Gibbs stood up and cupped Tony's face, forcing DiNozzo to look at him. "Listen to me! It's going to work out. Now, I'll be here the entire time that Holderman is in here; whatever he has to say, we'll face it together. You got it?"

Tony closed his eyes and nodded. "Got it, Boss."

"Good." The team leader sat back down. "You've got to remain calm and focused; can you do that?"

Tony met Gibbs' concerned gaze and nodded. "I won't let you down, Boss and I won't let myself down."

The ex-Marine patted Tony's arm. "Good man. Let's go over everything again before Holderman gets here; that way we'll be ready for him."

He listened as Tony began to recount the events of the past several months. Gibbs would interject questions designed to throw him off course, but DiNozzo remained unflappable. The team leader's pride in his senior agent increased as did his respect. Tony was grabbing the bull by the horns and hanging on for all he was worth; Holderman had no idea that he was stepping into the ring with a fighter who truly felt as if he had nothing to lose.