Discharge from the hospital was a happy milestone as McGee was more than ready to leave. Even the surprising news that he would be staying at Gibbs' house until he was more recovered couldn't dampen his spirits.
Knowing the way his boss's mind works, it was not a surprise when the car ended up at NCIS. The standing ovation he received in MTAC was a surprise, however. An even bigger surprise was the message standing by for him. Direct from Afghanistan, Staff Sergeant Keith Jacobs, the grateful father of Kevin and Kyle waiting to personally thank the NCIS agent who had saved his sons.
The one thing that was not a surprise was the announcement that the other agencies all wanted to hear about how he had discovered what JBM Medical Research what up to. Rather than allow her recovering agent to be dragged from federal building to federal building, the best scientists and team leaders throughout what was lovingly called the alphabet soup were summoned to NCIS by the director to be briefed together. Any nervousness McGee might have felt disappeared when he saw his team standing in the back row. DiNozzo making bunny ears behind one of the FBI's deputy directors gave him a smile and a confidence to stand tall and impress them.
Hand shakes were certainly out of the question, but the departing geeks and their handlers all stopped to personally speak to McGee on their way out. Gibbs smiled as he overheard several invites for lunch once the young man fully recovered. McGee may belong to him now but there was no reason for him to turn down a few nice meals on another agency's dime. Speaking of which…
"DiNozzo!"
"Yeah, Boss."
"You and David get McGee fed and settled in at my place. Swing by and get his phone replaced while your out."
"On it, Boss." Tony grabbed both his backpack and McGee's while Ziva took the keys to the sedan. Once the three of them were in the elevator Tony snagged the keys from her.
"We just got the Probie back; let's not give him a heart attack today."
"My driving is not that bad," she turned to McGee, "is it?"
After standing on his own against the swarm of other agencies he was feeling brave.
"Well, if you have to ask…"
At least the elbow to the ribs was gentler than it would have been a week ago.
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He watched the elevator door close on the bickering threesome before joining the director at her favorite perch overlooking the bullpen. She smiled as he stood next to her. "Our boy did good today, Jethro. His work on this impressed a lot of people; should we be worried?"
"Nah, he's exactly where he wants to be." Gibbs bumped her shoulder with his. "He'll get a few good steaks out of it and a boost to his ego, but this is his home." He waited a few seconds. "I hear you spoke to his mother again."
"I just wish I had gotten through to her." Jenny was a good director and hated to see anything hurt her people, especially their own family.
Gibbs laid a hand on her shoulder and leaned against her, speaking directly into her ear. "I think maybe you did."
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At the Rosemont Retirement Estate just north of Angel Fire, New Mexico, retired agent Marty Evans was interrupted during his putting practice by the UPS delivery. He signed for the overnight package before taking it inside. His wife joined him as he studied the box.
"What would the Director of NCIS be sending you, honey?"
"I'm not sure." He opened the box and stared at the crystal decanter of cognac nestled inside the blue velvet lining. The card inside simply stated 'Thank you' with the personal signature of Director Jenny Shepard.
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"So, McGee, where do you want to go for lunch?"
The sun through the sedan window was making him sleepy. "Anyplace near a park. It's such a beautiful day out and I just want to enjoy it."
Tony grinned at Ziva as they both watched the other man. "I know just the place."
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Again with an empty coffee cup in his hand, Gibbs glared at the ringing phone before answering it. If it was going to be an ongoing thing with McGee's mother, he was going to have to have words with somebody.
"Gibbs."
"Harrison here."
"Major, how's it going?" He had been impressed with the officer the night of the kidnapping. Of course the man's concern for their injured agent hadn't hurt his impression of him either. The major came straight to the point.
"I spoke to Kevin and Kyle again today. Now that they've had some time to calm down they've remembered something Wilson said to them that has me worried."
"What?" Gibbs sat up straight as he listened.
"The boys both remembered him saying 'we're going to give him Timmy'. They didn't know who Timmy was, but I am worried that Wilson may have planned on using the boys to trap Agent McGee somehow for Maycap. It's probably nothing, but I wanted you to know."
"You're right, it's probably nothing, but we'll check it out just to be safe." Even as he said the words, his gut was telling him otherwise as he disconnected and searched his desk for the prison and hospital information on Maycap. The prison confirmed today was the day for his monthly treatment. The hospital reluctantly admitted that they had misplaced the man, but they were sure it was just a mix-up. They had been treating him for over a year without a single problem, after all.
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Gibbs took the stairs two at a time as he rushed up to the director's office, dialing his cell phone at the same time. Jen could listen to his half of the conversation to save time.
"DiNozzo, where are you? Is McGee still with you?" Next to him, Jenny straightened in alarm as his tone set off alarms in her head. Over the phone, DiNozzo was a little slower.
"Yeah, well sort of. He's holding down a park bench while we order his…"
"Maycap's escaped! Do you have a visual on McGee?"
"Crap, no."
He could hear the sound of running as DiNozzo and David shoved past people in the crowded lunch bar and rushed outside.
"He's not here, Boss, McGee's not here."
"Where are you?"
'Nato Parkway and M Street – the park next to the fountains."
He repeated the location for Jenny's benefit as she called in reinforcements. "We're on our way, DiNozzo."
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