a/n - The plot thickens, amusement and worry ahead. Enjoy.
Knowing the travel time between two points has always been a requirement in Fornell's book. It came in handy as an agent and it had always annoyed Diane. Tonight he knew how long it would take McGee to reach Silver Spring and adding in a few minutes for the dog to water a bush or two, he was ready for when the phone rang. Caller ID confirmed it.
"You home and all tucked in?"
McGee went to sleep that night thinking about Supervisory Agents and how they always knew everything.
---NCIS---
The first meeting of the DOT task force was short one member; Sacks noted instantly when he walked into the new safehouse. "Where's McGee?"
Fornell turned from where he was tacking financial records up on the wall. "I'm not bringing him in until tonight." At the table behind him, Jason Myers and Hank Thompson were looking through the stacks of files leftover from the last attempts to take down the Dawn of Tomorrow. Myers frowned as he looked up.
"Is there a security issue with him being on the task force?"
"There wouldn't be a task force if it weren't for McGee." Fornell pinned up the last paper and moved to sit with the rest of his agents before bringing the two newcomers up to speed about his late night visit from McGee and the connection between Moore and the nursing home chain. Fornell leaned back and took a sip of his now cold coffee. "The kid is like a bulldog when he's on a case, but right now he's exhausted and sick. With any luck he's getting some rest while we bring the two of you up to speed. We'll want him at his peak when he starts breaking into Moore's encrypted network."
Thompson was a father to three and soon to be a grandfather to one and recognized Tobias in paternal mode. "Well, if we want him in top form, then he's going to need some of Mama Sacks' secret formula." The rest of the group laughed in agreement. Violet Sacks may have worked two jobs to make sure her son had the finest uptown education possible after her husband walked out, but deep down she was still a country woman with a homemade remedy for every ailment known to mankind.
Her son just gave a throaty laugh. Ron was used to the teasing from the group. Nonetheless, they were always the first to ask for some of his mom's secret formula if they were feeling under the weather. "Already on top of it." He pointed out the paper bags on the countertop next to his coat. Fornell's late night phone call had his mother up early and in the kitchen, eagerly accepting one more 'boy' into her brood. The senior agent gave a knowing smile to Sacks.
"We'll deliver his care package to him at NCIS and that'll guarantee that Gibbs will make him ride a desk for the next few days."
Myers and Thompson were amused, but didn't comment. There was a reason the agents on Fornell's team called him the Sly Fox. With such a simple and casual move, Fornell had guaranteed that McGee would be able to focus most of his energy on their case for at least the rest of the week.
As the meeting broke up, Fornell's cell phone rang. He listened for a few seconds before asking the caller to hold on and covering the mouthpiece with his hand. "Go ahead and make the delivery to McGee before Gibbs puts him out on the field. I'll catch up with you later." He was walking away deep in a conversation before Sacks could ask if there was a problem.
---NCIS---
Rushing because he was later than normal, Tony DiNozzo almost missed the familiar agent waiting for the elevator. Sacks was chatting up one of the young women from the research department and hadn't noticed him before he ducked behind one of the support columns. Curious and in the mood to cause mischief, DiNozzo eased back to take the stairs with the FBI agent apparently none the wiser.
The shiny stainless steel doors of the elevator acted like a mirror and Ron Sacks watched in amusement as DiNozzo tried to avoid his notice. Of all the things that annoyed Sacks about the other man, the one that was moving to the top of his list was the way he treated McGee. Grinning to himself as the doors closed behind him and DiNozzo made a dash for the stairs, Sacks decided to have a little fun showing DiNozzo how partners should take care of each other.
Sacks took a few moments to straighten his tie after he exited the elevator, giving DiNozzo time to catch up. Satisfied that he had an audience, he casually strolled to McGee's desk and propped his hip up on the edge. The kid didn't look too sick to work, but he certainly looked miserable. With DiNozzo, Gibbs and David all trying to covertly watch, he started pulling bottles and tubs out of the bags he carried. "Tobias sent you this. It's the official FBI sick agent care package."
As expected, it brought a wan smile to McGee's face. "Official care package?"
"Yep." Sacks pointed out the various items. "Zinc lozenges, vitamin C tablets, Echinacea and this is my mother's secret formula for the cold and flu." When McGee opened the bottle and took a sniff, Sacks grinned even wider. "Yes, I know what it smells like, but believe me, it works if you take it soon enough." He turned serious as he continued. "If you start feeling any worse, give Tobias a call and one of us will come get you. The last thing you need is for this to turn into bronchitis right now." He glared at DiNozzo before leaving.
The elevator doors had barely closed before Gibbs was on his feet and had the hand labeled bottle in his hand. One whiff and he handed it to DiNozzo. "Take that to Abby."
"Boss!"
The Gibbs glare sat McGee right back down. "I don't care who gave it to you. You are not taking anything we can't identify. After Abby and Ducky check it out, you can have it back. Until then, I don't want you to touch it."
McGee was determined not to whine; at least until he opened his mouth. "Can I at least have the vitamin C tablets?"
Instead of answering McGee, he started barking orders at Ziva. "Go downstairs and get him a bottle of orange juice. That's better than some manufactured vitamin. While you're at it, get him some chicken noodle soup."
Ziva glanced down at her watch as she stood. "Gibbs, it's not even 0900." One look at his expression and she decided McGee could have soup for breakfast.
---NCIS---
Fornell stood in the parking lot cursing as he closed his phone. It was too damn early in the case to have to worry about leaks. Parked nest to him, Myers and Thompson were still there and Myers rolled down the window. "Trouble?"
"Looks that way." He was already scrolling through the numbers in his phone. "We're going to have to bring in the Marshal's office for a protection detail."