In time for the weekend! Hope everyone enjoys the post! Thank you all for being such loyal readers…I am truly blessed.
Leon Vance couldn't help but wonder how much longer he would hold the title Director of NCIS. Hard work, determination, and the willingness to take a risk when necessary had allowed him to rise through the ranks quickly; now, thanks to Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo, he was about to lose everything. He recalled how after Jenny Shepard's death, the Director's chair had been pulled out for him with specific instructions to get his house in order. He had tried and he had failed. If only he could have kept DiNozzo assigned to a carrier, he wouldn't be sitting in Jackson Gibbs' living room, worrying about his future.
The last few hours had been exhausting. He had been forced to endure a barrage of questions as Greg Kincaid from Internal Affairs interviewed him; actually it had felt like a hard core interrogation reminiscent of the many he had conducted himself over the years. There had been allegations that he had abused his authority as Director, not only within the agency, but outside as well. He had tried to refute the accusations, but was finally forced to acknowledge some of the charges. Vance could almost see DiNozzo holding the nails to his coffin, waiting for the opportunity to start driving them in.
He was not going down without a fight. Vance made sure that Kincaid understood that he was simply following SecNav's order. Perhaps he was taking the cowardly way out, but there was too much at stake.
Fortunately, the questioning had been cut short when Kincaid had received what appeared to be an unexpected phone call. After just a minute, the young man began to quickly pack up everything, informing the Director that he would have to finish the interview at a later time. Vance had a feeling that the phone call that Kincaid had received was not necessarily good news.
His thoughts were interrupted the sound of shuffling footsteps. Vance immediately recognized the gait as belonging to none other than Jackson Gibbs. This man was becoming as much of a thorn in his side as his son. There was no doubt in his mind that Jethro Gibbs inherited his ability to irritate him to no end from his father. Vance acknowledged the other man's presence with a nod and a forced smile as Jack set a plate and glass of tea on the coffee table in front of him.
"Thought you might be hungry," Jack said. "Hope you like grilled ham and cheese."
"It's fine," he assured the older man. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
The Director took a bite of his sandwich in hopes that Jackson would leave him alone, but those hopes were dashed when the elder Gibbs sat down in a nearby chair. He felt those familiar, piercing blue eyes watching him, studying him as if he were some exhibit at a museum. Evidently Jethro had also learned his infamous glare from his father as well.
"Did you need something, Mr. Gibbs?" he asked.
"Just thought I'd keep you company. Ziva and Tim are minding the store."
"You have my agents watching your store?"
"They volunteered and the way things are looking, they won't be your agents for much longer," Jack pointed out.
"And what makes you think that?"
"These walls are pretty thin."
"You were eavesdropping?"
Jack grinned. "No, I was stocking the shelves next to the door there and you and Mr. Kincaid were talking rather loudly."
Vance took another bite of his sandwich. He wasn't in the mood to indulge in a battle of wits with Jackson Gibbs. The Director had too much on his mind and the intrusion on his privacy was unwelcome. At least when David and McGee were in here, they didn't try and strike up a conversation; they were content to talk with each other, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
"You know, Leon," Jack said. "You don't mind if I call you Leon, do you?"
"Not at all," he sighed. He knew that Jack Gibbs knew that he was going to do whatever he wanted to do.
"I was just thinking," the white haired man continued. "It must be mighty satisfying to sit in that big, fancy office and play God with other people's lives."
The Director placed his sandwich back on the plate and met Jack's steely gaze. "Did you just come in here to try and start an argument with me? I don't have to answer to you, Mr. Gibbs."
"No, but you have to answer to somebody. But of course, that somebody you answer to is in it as deep as you are. Where does it end, Leon? Where does all the lying and the deceitfulness end?"
Vance clenched his jaw, an action that aggravated the dull throbbing in his head. "Mr. Gibbs, I…"
"I'll tell you where it ends, Leon," Jack blurted out. "It ends when someone gets hurt or dies. This time, it's Tony who's been hurt; next time, it could be someone you care about. You have a lot to lose, Leon. I just wonder if putting Tony through all the hell you put him through was worth losing everything you have."
Vance pushed the unfinished sandwich and tea back from him. "Thank you for the sandwich," he coolly stated.
"You didn't finish it."
"I'm no longer hungry."
Jack shrugged and took the plate and glass. "Suit yourself. I'll send Ziva and Tim back in when they're done pricing the new inventory."
"They don't work for you," he forcibly repeated.
"Don't worry, I'm not paying them. They're just doing it because they want to help out an old man. It's called being neighborly; you ought to give it a try."
Leon Vance was fuming as he watched Jack head back into the store. That man was almost as infuriating as his son; truly Jethro Gibbs was a chip off the old block. His thoughts turned to his own family. If the allegations made against him were found to be true, it would destroy his family. Jackie loved him, but he wasn't sure that his marriage could survive the betrayal. His children would be devastated to know that their father had lied to them after all his lectures on the importance of honesty.
Jackson Gibbs was right. He had a lot to lose, but the lure of power had blinded him to the reality of the price he would have to pay. Vance cradled his head in his hands, silently cursing himself for his ignorance. How could he have been so foolish? How could he have been so willing to throw everything away? How could he have been willing to sacrifice an innocent man to cover up his mistakes?
Vance heard someone enter the room. Looking up, he saw McGee standing in the doorway, staring at him with a confused expression etched on his face. "Director? Is something wrong?" the young agent reluctantly inquired.
"I need to use your phone," requested the Director.
"Um…I'm not sure that I can…"
"I need to call my wife."
McGee must have sensed something different in his demeanor because the agent simply nodded and handed him his cell phone. "Thank you, Agent McGee."
"You're welcome, Director."
"May I have some privacy?"
He waited for McGee to decide what to do. After a few seconds of contemplation, McGee stepped back through the doorway to the store, leaving the Director alone to make his phone call.
Vance dialed the number he knew by heart and waited for Jackie to answer. There was so much that he needed to say, but yet, there was very little he could say until after the investigation. He started to hang up on the third ring when he heard her voice.
"Hello?"
"Jackie," he softly replied. He loved the sound of her name as it escaped from his lips.
"Leon? Hi baby!" she exclaimed. "Are you still in Stillwater?"
"Yeah."
"Well, how much longer are you going to be?"
"I don't know." This was going to be harder than he thought. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. The most important thing in his life was his family and now he was in danger of losing them because of his arrogance and selfishness. Taking another deep breath, he summoned the strength to finish what he started. "Jackie, there's something I need to talk to you about…"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Tony felt like he was going to be sick. His stomach was in knots and his head was pounding which only exacerbated the nausea. Gibbs had attempted to get him to eat something, but he had refused, insisting that he would just throw up. Thankfully, the team leader didn't push the issue and the two of them continued to prepare for the arrival of Secretary Holderman. He and Gibbs had spent the better part of the last hour going over the details of the case that he had made against Vance and Davenport.
The senior field agent couldn't help but wonder if they were wasting their time. For the Secretary of the Defense to travel from Washington to speak with him personally was an indication to him that he was going to be the sacrificial lamb led to slaughter. Despite Gibbs' reassurances that everything was going to work out, Tony had his doubts.
Gibbs had stepped out of the room to take a phone call, leaving him alone with his thoughts. He appreciated the few moments of solitude, but the silence gave him too much time to think. His mind was weighed down by a myriad of emotions; anger, regret, worry, and even a little self pity were vying for attention. Tony wasn't one to feel sorry for himself, but at the moment, he couldn't resist the need to indulge in his own sorrow for a little while; or at least until Gibbs came back.
He barely had the chance to wallow in his pit of despair before Gibbs stealthily reappeared. Tony easily sensed the team leader's anger, meaning that the phone call that Gibbs had received was more than likely bad news. He wasn't for sure if things could get any worse, but judging by the soured expression on the former Marine's face, fate had conspired against him and his current situation was now on the verge of becoming disastrous. Now he understood how the captain of the Titanic must have felt.
"You going to give it to me straight?" Tony asked, bitterness and exhaustion evident in his voice.
"Always have," Gibbs solemnly replied. "Don't see why I'd start beating around the bush now."
Tony wondered if Gibbs had forgotten about the Domino fiasco; that was certainly a time when the lead agent hadn't been willing to share information. He pushed these thoughts out of his mind, not having the energy or the desire to rehash the memories. They had moved on and where now walking the difficult path of renewed trust and friendship.
"So," he sighed. "What's wrong now?"
He could see a flicker of regret in Gibbs' steely blue eyes. "Katherine Marshall was found dead," the team leader stated. "Apparent suicide."
DiNozzo wasn't certain that he had heard Gibbs correctly. The woman who had saved his life and then turned around and tried to kill him was dead. The one person who could validate part of his testimony had taken her own life and now his chances of proving his case had quickly dwindled down to almost nothing.
The senior field agent wasn't exactly sure how he was supposed to feel. Angry? Hurt? Scared? He couldn't pinpoint a specific emotion that he was experiencing: they were all jumbled up and threatening to explode like a volcano. Tony knew he had to keep focused. He couldn't afford to fall apart now, not when the Secretary of Defense was going to be walking through his door at any time.
"That's pretty convenient, don't you think?" he finally managed to ask.
"Seems that way to me."
"Now what?"
"We wait for Holderman."
"Is anyone looking into this…suicide?"
"Yeah. Kincaid and Mason have it under control," Gibbs assured him.
Tony blew out a frustrated breath and gingerly massaged his temples. "Why Gibbs? She could have cut a deal, maybe even gotten away with a slap on the wrist! What kind of hold did Davenport have on her?"
Gibbs shrugged. "I don't know, Tony. But right now, you can't let this get you down. Too much is at stake. I would have waited to tell you, but you had a right to know."
"I appreciate it, Gibbs."
He laid his head back against the pillow, hoping that his headache would dissipate, but it wasn't meant to be. The pounding only intensified as he mulled over this latest development. Katherine Marshall's death almost had him giving in the urge to simply throw his hands up in defeat; but he wasn't a quitter. He would not give up; Tony was determined to see this through to the end.
"Can I get you anything?" Gibbs offered.
"No. I'm fine," he mumbled in response.
"You sure about that?"
"No, but right now I don't have a choice."
"I've got your six," the team leader vowed.
"I know, Boss." A tiny grin managed to escape from his lips. "I know."
Their companionable silence was interrupted by a knock on the door. Tony turned to see Secretary Holderman enter his room, escorted by his protection detail. He swallowed hard knowing that this was the moment of truth; this was the moment when his future would be decided.
The Secretary extended his hand. "Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo; I'm Alexander Holderman, Secretary of Defense. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Tony shook his hand. "I know who you are, sir."
"Then you know why I'm here," Holderman assumed.
"I think so." Tony sat up and looked Holderman square in the eye. "I think you're here to talk me into dropping the allegations against Director Vance and Secretary Davenport."
"No son, that's not why I'm here."
Tony's eyes narrowed, the sinking feeling in his gut began to intensify. "It's not?"
"No, it's not." Holderman motioned for his detail to wait outside the room. The Defense Secretary waited for Gibbs to excuse himself as well, but when the team leader didn't move, he quickly decided it was a battle not worth fighting. When the door was closed, the Secretary turned his attention back to Tony. "I'm here to order you to drop the allegations against Director Vance and the SecNav."
The agent was determined to remain strong in his convictions. "No sir. I can't do that. I'll take it as far as I need to."
Holderman smiled. "I figured that you would say that. I had to try."
"I'm not sure I understand."
"I figured that you wouldn't agree, but I had to at least try for the record."
"Then why are you here?" Tony wondered.
"Because there are a few things that I need to know and a few things that you need to realize."
Tony glance over at Gibbs, who merely nodded, silently telling DiNozzo to hear what Secretary Holderman had to say. "All right," he conceded.
"Would you like to talk in private?" the Secretary suggested.
"No. If it's all the same to you, I'd rather Agent Gibbs stay."
He watched as Holderman studied the ex-Marine. Gibbs nodded a silent greeting as he remained firmly planted by Tony's side.
"Agent Gibbs," Holderman began. "I've heard a lot of good things about you."
"Secretary Holderman," was all Gibbs said.
Tony had always been impressed by the way Gibbs could convey so much in just one or two words. By simply stating the Secretary's name, he had informed the man that he wouldn't be intimidated and that he was not leaving DiNozzo alone. The tension between the two men was suffocating.
Turning his attention back to the senior agent, Tony could feel Holderman's eyes boring into his soul. DiNozzo made sure that the walls he had erected around his emotions were still in tact as he returned the Secretary's bemused glare.
"You're very fortunate to work with a man like Agent Gibbs," Holderman informed him. "He's the best there is, but I guess you already know that. You've been with him for how long?"
"Eight years," Tony answered.
"That's commendable. I'm well aware of Gibbs' reputation as being a difficult man to work for."
"Are you fishing for something?" he wanted to know. "If you want to know something, just ask it."
"Direct, are you?"
"When I have to be."
"I've studied your findings as well as your allegations against Secretary Davenport and Director Vance. I want to begin by saying that I am not here to cast doubt on your findings. I'm certainly not here to tell you what to do, but to give you some other options."
"And what are those options?" Tony coolly inquired.
Holderman pulled up a chair and sat down. "If these charges you've made become public knowledge, then the consequences to the political world and national security would be catastrophic."
"I don't care," Tony boldly stated.
"I don't believe that," the Secretary challenged.
"Well, that's you're problem, Secretary Holderman!" he growled. "I am past caring. The past few months of my life have been pure hell and I'm ready for it to end. I'm tired of being Vance's and Davenport's punching bag! I'm tired of the lies and I'm tired of being the fall guy for something that I didn't do. I was following orders and when I stumbled on something I wasn't supposed to see, I became a target."
Tony felt Gibbs' strong grip on his shoulder, reminding him that the team leader was there supporting him as he continued his tirade. "I'm through wearing a target on my back and I'm through giving people a chance to hit the bull's eye. It's bad enough that my own agency tried to have me killed, but they involved my father and Ziva's father in on their scheme. Being popular sure sucks!"
"Agent DiNozzo, I understand your frustration, but…"
"No!" he roared. "You have no idea what I'm feeling! I want this over with! I want my freakin' life back!"
"That's why I'm here, Agent DiNozzo," Holderman attempted to reason. "To help you get your life back."
"I'm not sweeping this under the rug."
"Would you please just hear me out?"
"Not if you're going to tell me that nothing is going to be done about Vance and Davenport."
"Please, Agent DiNozzo," the Secretary pleaded. "Just calm down and let me explain the dilemma that I am facing."
Tony laughed. "Your dilemma? Since when did this become your dilemma?"
Holderman sat up in his chair. "It became my dilemma the moment the President told me to clean up Davenport's mess. I'm truly on your side, Agent DiNozzo; I want to help you."
DiNozzo pinched the bridge of his nose, his hands trembling from both rage and exhaustion. He wanted this nightmare to be over, but he wasn't prepared to compromise his standards. Tony was at a crossroads where there was no clear path for him to tread.
"Tony?" Gibbs softly called to him. "You okay?"
"No," he whispered. "I don't know what to do, Boss."
"What do you want to do?"
"Go get drunk on bourbon while I'm building a boat," Tony tiredly quipped.
"One problem with that, DiNozzo; you don't have a damn basement."
"Good point."
The brief banter between him and Gibbs was a welcome relief from the heated conversation he was having with Alexander Holderman. Forcing back another wave of nausea, Tony met the Secretary's stern gaze. "Make your case," he demanded. "Don't try and sugarcoat it. Tell me what it is you want from me."
Holderman smiled at him. "I think you'll find what I have to offer is an adequate solution to your troubles, Agent DiNozzo."
"I'm not promising anything," Tony vowed. "If I don't think that justice is being served and that you're simply trying to placate me, I'll take this as high as I can and if I get railroaded, I'll take it to the press."
"I never thought of you as the blackmailing type," the Secretary taunted.
"You'll be surprised what I'm capable of, Secretary Holderman."
"I don't think that your threats will be necessary."
Tony glanced up at Gibbs, whose mischievous grin contradicted the glint of pride in his eye. If nothing else good came out of this day, he had moved up another rung on the team leader's ladder of respect. He turned back to face Holderman, drawing from his inner reserves of strength. "Well, Secretary Holderman, let's hear what you have to say…"