Chapter 20
Monday morning...
Tim woke up with a start, not knowing where he was for a full minute after opening his eyes. After he remembered that he was at Matt's house, he slunk back under the blankets, shutting out the world, hiding from everything that he wasn't going to think about.
In desperation, he tried to think about something else. Anything else. Then, he smiled. They should be seeing his parting gift soon. He wished that he could be there to see their faces, but that would defeat the purpose.
Instead, he relaxed and threw off the covers, laughing softly. They were in for a shock.
x.x.x.x.x.x.x
Ziva was cursing loudly in Hebrew as Tony came in.
"What's up?"
"Nothing is up!" Ziva said, fuming. "My computer will not let me log in!"
"Did you have a wild night and forget your password?" Tony asked, grinning.
"No. I did not. It is the same password I have been using. I did not change it over the weekend! It will not work!"
"Sucks to be you," Tony said and sat down at his computer. He typed in his username and password.
The rejection glowed redly on the screen.
Invalid username/password combination
"Hey!"
"You cannot logon either?" Ziva asked.
"I must have slipped while I was typing." He carefully put in each letter and number and then clicked the button.
Invalid username/password combination
"No! I know that's right!"
"Where is McGee? He will know how to fix it."
"We could call IT," Tony said, unsuccessfully trying to hide his reluctance to confront a possibly still-angry Tim.
"I do not want to wait for IT," Ziva said. "But I have not seen McGee yet this morning. His bag is not here and he has not come in."
"We could ask Abby."
"Ask Abby what?" Gibbs asked, walking off the elevator, coffee in hand.
"Hey, Boss. Have you tried to log in yet today?" Tony asked. "There's something screwy going on with Ziva's computer. Mine, too."
Gibbs sighed and walked over. He may not like the things but he did use them, and Tony knew he wouldn't forget his password.
"Invalid username/password combination," Gibbs read off his screen. "What does that mean?"
"It means the same thing it means on my computer...and Tony's computer," Ziva said, still frustrated. "It means that we cannot get to our work because the computer thinks that the username and password is wrong!"
"Do you think IT changed them as a joke?" Tony asked.
"It is not April Fool's Day, Tony. If they did, I will personally kill them all, one by one."
"Where's McGee?" Gibbs asked.
"Not in yet, Boss."
"Get Abby up here to see if she can fix it," Gibbs said.
Tony nodded and called to talk to Abby, explaining what was going on. Abby begged off, saying that she was just in the middle of running some samples for Lovitz but if Tony called and schmoozed Elaine who was currently on duty, they'd probably get quick service. Tony did as suggested and Elaine, the IT tech was upstairs in under five minutes.
"Hey, Tony," she said with a wide grin.
Tony smiled back. "You ready to work your magic, Elaine?"
"Always. Now, is it on your computers only?"
"It seems like that."
"What about Agent McGee's computer?" she asked, pointing to the still-unoccupied desk.
"I don't know," Tony admitted. "But then I don't know the Probie's username and password; so I wouldn't be able to check."
"Let me do that first. It's not with anyone else on this floor. Seems to be just here in this area. I can't think why that would be." She headed over to Tim's desk and sat down. As she typed, Tony began to wonder just where Tim was.
"Shouldn't McGee be in by now?"
"Yes, DiNozzo. He should. You forget what time the work day begins?" Gibbs asked.
"No, Boss...but why would he be late? McGee's never late."
"Yes, he is," Ziva said. "He has been late before."
"Because he didn't hear his phone on a Sunday and because his sister was accused of murder."
"It's not what you think it is," Elaine said.
"What is it, then?"
"Someone's grafted a new login screen over the real login screen. I just can't figure out how to get around it." Then, she blinked. "Oh! Neat! I wonder who did this. It's so cool!"
"What?" Tony asked and walked around to lean over her shoulder.
"There's a hint option, even!" She clicked on it. "'Who knows what evil lurks in the heart of man?'"
"The Shadow knows!" Tony replied.
"The Shadow?" Ziva asked.
"A comic book character. 1930s," Elaine said before Tony could answer. "Well, spaces aren't allowed. Not even numerics. Well...who wants to try The...and Shadow?"
"Is this how you always work?"
"Sure! That's what's so fun about being a tech. Why would we want a regulated job?" She typed in the words. "Wow! It worked! 'The' as the username and 'Shadow' as the password. Okay, let's look at everyone else's."
"Do mine first, please," Ziva said. "I have work to do and Tony will only goof off."
"Sure, Agent David." Elaine patted Tony on the cheek. "You'll have to wait."
"I can hardly contain my excitement," Tony said. He looked at Tim's computer. It seemed likely that Tim had done this himself. Who else would? And why? He looked at Gibbs and could tell he was thinking the same thing.
"Okay, the hint function isn't showing up," Elaine said, squinting at the screen. "It must be here. This looks like the same program. Let me try..." Her voice trailed off as she began clicking keys. "Aha! Here it is! 'Rhymes with..." She stopped and looked up at Ziva.
Ziva looked over her shoulder and actually flushed slightly.
"What, Ziva?" Tony asked.
"'Rhymes with 'tiny witch'."
"Uh...you want to guess what it's supposed to be?" Elaine asked tentatively.
"I will type it in," Ziva said and leaned over.
She guessed correctly and the original login screen popped up.
"Will I have to do this every time?"
"Probably not," Elaine said quickly. "When you're on break or something, I'll see if I can get rid of it. You want to be next, Tony?"
"Sure. I'm guessing this is going to be nasty."
Ziva didn't reply. She was staring at her computer screen.
"Let me at it," Elaine said and sat down.
She was much faster in finding where the hint function had been hidden on the page.
"You want to see it privately?" she asked.
"Nah. Bring it on," Tony said. "I'm a big tough guy."
Elaine clicked on the hint.
"Read it," Tony said.
"'Synonym: Stupid. Rhymes with plastered.'"
"Username and password?"
"I'd assume so."
"Okay. It doesn't take a genius...which I apparently am not...to figure this out." He sat down and tried a couple of different combinations before there was a ding sound. "I'm in."
"Last one," Elaine said, looking at Gibbs.
He gestured mutely and she hurried over. It took her longer than Tony had expected to figure out how to bring up the hint for Gibbs.
"Um...Agent Gibbs, does this mean anything to you?" she asked. "'You know everything. Figure it out yourself.'"
Gibbs shook his head mutely. Tony looked at Ziva who shook her head quickly and said nothing. The silence was very awkward.
"Whoa!" Elaine said suddenly.
"What?"
"A countdown just started up. Five...four...three...two..."
A voice began repeating two words over and over. Not loudly, but there was no pause. Just the same two words. Over. And over.
"Incompetent a–"
"Problems, Agent Gibbs?" Vance asked over the repeating mechanical voice, his own voice deceptively mild.
Tony jumped. He hadn't even noticed Vance arrive.
"I'm sorry, sir," Elaine said. "I'll just... Just give me a minute." She typed the two words into the fields and then another box came up. She winced and read aloud. "'I'm sorry. I didn't hear you. Please try again.'"
Vance looked on without speaking. Just waiting...for something.
"I'm sorry, Agent Gibbs. It's a bit more involved for your computer. I don't know why," Elaine said and typed in the same password. Another box. "'One more time. Let's have it really sink in.'"
She took a deep breath and typed it in again and finally the voice stopped and the regular login page popped up.
"I'll fix that when you have time for me."
"He has time right now," Vance said. "I need to speak with you and your team, Agent Gibbs."
"McGee isn't here yet, Director Vance," Tony said.
"Why would he be?" Vance asked, looking at him in surprise.
"What do you mean?" Ziva asked. "Is he ill?"
"Was he fired?"
"You changing my team again, Leon?" Gibbs asked.
Vance turned around. "Are you really as ignorant as you're all acting? Agent McGee resigned on Friday. He didn't tell you?"
"What? No!" Tony said. "That's impossible!"
"You had no idea?" Vance asked, his voice growing cold.
"No. He said nothing to intimate that he would quit," Ziva said.
"Gibbs?"
"No."
Vance looked at them all. "Should I be as disgusted with you all as McGee was? Or should I just be disappointed in your actions...or lack thereof for the past eight months?"
"You want to talk with us, Director?" Gibbs asked.
"Yes. I think it might be illustrative of what you didn't do." He turned and began walking toward the stairs.
Tony glanced at Ziva again. Neither of them moved. Nor did Gibbs. Vance stopped at the bottom of the stairs and looked back.
"Excuse me," he said, raising his voice for the first time. "Have you all failed to communicate for so long that you've forgotten what an order sounds like? That was not a request!"
Tony started to follow, aware of many sets of eyes on them...and aware that things had suddenly spiraled headlong into insanity when he wasn't looking.
"Ms. Morrison?"
"Yes, Director?"
"Come up to my office and give me a report on the origin of this...prank when you manage to fix these computers."
"Yes, Director."
Vance walked up the stairs without looking back. He didn't need to. What remained of the MCRT was hot on his heels. Vance stopped at the door to his office.
"Agent DiNozzo, Agent David, you will wait here," Vance said, pointing to the couch.
"They can hear whatever you have to say to me, Leon."
Tony had thought that Vance's expression couldn't get any colder. He was wrong.
"Do you really think you get to set the terms of this meeting, Agent Gibbs? Let me disabuse you of that notion right now. I am setting the terms. I will call them in when it is time. No sooner. In the meantime, you will come into my office."
Everyone knew that Gibbs generally got his way. No one was more stubborn...until now. Mount Everest was more likely to budge than Vance was. Tony could tell the moment that Gibbs came to the same conclusion. He followed Vance into his office and closed the door behind him.
"How could he have quit and not told us?" Ziva asked. "If it was just us, would he not have transferred elsewhere?"
Tony shrugged with feigned nonchalance. "Who knows? McGee is obviously missing a few screws at the moment. If he really quit, then that proves it. Even Sarah knows how much he loves NCIS."
"Then, why has he abandoned it? It must be because of being undercover. He could not handle it."
"Did it make him crazy? I don't think that's a normal side effect."
"McGee is not normal. He never has been. He is not as you and I. We perhaps forgot that."
"I never forgot that...and I still think that we wouldn't have done him any favors if we had treated him any differently."
"Are you saying that he would have quit no matter what?"
Tony shrugged. "I guess Vance shouldn't have put him into that position."
x.x.x.x.x.x.x
"Are you blaming us for McGee quitting, Leon?" Gibbs asked.
Vance sat down at his desk and looked at Gibbs for a long moment.
"Are you as incompetent as you seem, Agent Gibbs?"
Gibbs sat down and said nothing.
"Would you like to explain something to me?"
"I don't know why McGee quit."
Vance slammed his hand on his desk. "This is not the time to start saying meaningless sentences, Gibbs. You will listen and answer when I have questions." He took a deep breath. "Were you planning on telling me that Agent McGee aided in smuggling ammunition?"
"What?"
"You didn't know?"
"When did he do that?"
"Over five months ago. It was in his report which I read last night."
It was hard to say it. "I didn't know."
"He didn't tell you?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I'm not McGee."
"I'm well aware of that."
"Anything else?"
"Have you read his report?"
"No. He was still working on it on Friday."
"Are you sure of that? Were you even paying attention to him enough to know?"
A tentative knock on the door.
"Come!"
The door opened and Elaine came in.
"Director?"
"Yes, Ms. Morrison?"
"I found out who put that login page on their computers."
"Already?"
She nodded. "I...found the signature."
"Who was it?" Vance asked.
"Agent McGee."
Vance nodded, unsurprised. "Thank you, Ms. Morrison. Have you removed the offending programs from their computers?"
"Not quite. Agent Gibbs' computer is rather difficult."
"You can go back to that, then. Call up any help you might need. That will be all."
"Thank you, Director." Elaine left quickly, obviously grateful that she didn't have to stay.
"You didn't notice that he was working on a program rather than on his report?" Vance asked once the door had closed again.
"I'm not watching him every second of the day, Leon. That's not my job."
"No, it's your job to know what's going on with your team. If you're not paying attention, then we have a problem. Did you know that Agent McGee had taken ecstasy?"
"Yes."
"And you failed to report that?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"He promised it would be the one time. It was an acceptable risk."
"Acceptable risk? When we knew that there was danger of death from the laced pills?"
"Yes. He made a choice and I allowed it. I let him know that if he did it again the operation would be over."
"Anything else you failed to mention?"
"No."
"Did you know that Agent McGee personally helped assemble the drug line when they were falling behind?"
"No."
"Did you know that Agent McGee wrote a program for them that would enable them to process their drug money more efficiently?"
"No."
"Dang it, Gibbs! What were you three doing out there? You were supposed to be his backup, his support team! Where were you?"
"We couldn't always be watching him. We had to trust him to tell us what was necessary."
"And obviously he didn't feel the same." Vance stood up and stalked to the door. "DiNozzo, David, inside."
Tony and Ziva came in.
"Sit." He pointed to some chairs.
They sat without speaking.
"Now, I would like you to listen to something and tell me what you think about it."
He clicked his remote.
"Hello? Anyone there? Tony? Ziva?"
Tony and Ziva looked at each other in surprise. They clearly had no idea.
"I really don't want to be alone right now. Please?"
That sounded like Tim...someone they just now realized was very different from the person they'd been interacting with for the last few months.
"...I'm afraid."
Vance clicked the remote again.
"I never heard McGee make that request," Ziva said, instantly. "I would not have ignored it had I heard."
"Were you aware he felt that way?"
"No."
"DiNozzo?"
"No, Director."
"You had no concerns about Agent McGee's behavior during the entire seven months?"
Ziva looked at Gibbs. Vance noticed.
"This is not some exclusive club! You are members of the MCRT, not a fraternity! You do not keep secrets, particularly when the case at hand is so important."
"We had concerns," Tony said. "McGee seemed to get really invested in his persona."
Ziva nodded reluctantly. "He was often angry without cause. He resented us, although I do not know why."
Vance laughed, mostly out of disbelief. "You're all completely clueless, to the point that I wonder how it is that you could possibly have become members of the most successful MCRT in NCIS."
"We didn't have the benefit of seeing him after a long period of time," Gibbs said.
"And yet you all noticed his anger. You all noticed that he was having problems...and you did nothing about it! Why not?"
"I did not wish him to get into trouble...and he was doing his job well."
"Did you ever bother telling him that?"
"I'm sure we did," Tony said.
"And you never made the slightest mention of any concerns. You never suggested pulling him out, even for a short space of time. Not once."
"It was his first undercover mission. It was way more intense than it should have been," Tony said.
"So you hold me responsible?"
Tony had sense enough not to answer.
"You had no idea that Agent McGee harbored those kinds of feelings of fear and isolation?"
"No," Tony admitted. "But I don't see why he didn't say anything to us before!"
"Did you resent that I chose him and not you for this operation?"
"Uh..."
"Answer the question, Agent DiNozzo."
"Yes, sir."
"And you, Agent David?"
"Yes, Director. I felt you had made a mistake."
"And you, Agent Gibbs?"
"It's my team."
"And my agency," Vance said, but didn't linger on that point. "You are not supposed to be mind readers. That's not your job. It's to act as a support. However... Agent McGee knew of your jealousy, of your resentment from day one. He was nervous about this assignment. Yes, it was incredibly challenging as a first time undercover, but once the assignment had been made, whatever childish notions you had about what you deserved or what impressive skills you had should have been buried. Agent McGee should never have known that you resented him. He had to have someone to lean on, and the people assigned to help him thought they could do a better job of it. ...and didn't keep that a secret. That was a colossal failure on your part. ...and Agent Gibbs, the onus is on you."
"Sir..." Tony began.
"Quiet, Agent DiNozzo. It is not your turn to speak," Vance said. He looked back at Gibbs. "As you said moments ago, this is your team. Agent McGee is a part of that team, and you should have been treating him as such, not a pawn in some ridiculous power play. He didn't trust you. He didn't trust any of you and from the way you have acted...or not acted, I can see why."
"We did not say anything because we wanted to make sure he did not get into trouble," Ziva protested.
For the second time, Vance slammed his hand down on the desk. "That is the problem, Agent David! There are rules in place at this agency. There are rules about how investigations are run. There are rules about undercover operations. They are not in place for fun. They are not suggestions. They are not guidelines. They are rules! You people have continually placed your own judgment above that of everyone else. You think you did Agent McGee a favor by possibly ignoring something that has led to our current situation? Do you really think that ignoring the strictures imposed on when and how to pull someone out of an undercover assignment did him any good at all?"
Silence. Vance took a breath.
"And now he's left. He resigned. He let you all know what he thought of you. While I don't approve of his methods, nor of his actions...I can't say I blame him. Your decisions, first in broadcasting how much better a job you thought you could do than he, second in ignoring the warning signs, have indirectly caused Agent McGee's resignation. By rights, I should simply fire you all and start fresh with people who bother using their heads and not their egos...but you are good at your jobs. I expect that to continue, and whomever you choose to replace Agent McGee had better be treated well. I don't want your well-placed guilt, your anger at me or any misguided idea of getting Agent McGee back to affect how the MCRT performs."
"He's not coming back?" Tony asked, in surprise.
"I tried to call him this morning. His number is out of service. I spoke with Dr. Mallard who informed me of his concerns about Agent McGee's state of mind. He wanted nothing more than to be quit of NCIS and everyone here." Vance picked up three files. "Agent Gibbs, you can choose from one of these three agents to put on your team in Agent McGee's place. I expect a decision by the end of this week."
"Is that all, Director?" Gibbs asked, ever unreadable.
"Yes. Perhaps Ms. Morrison will have managed to erase the evidence of Agent McGee's feelings towards you. ...but I hope you don't forget it. Dismissed."
An awkward pause and then the three agents stood and walked out of the office. As soon as they were gone. Vance stopped pretending to work. He knew he bore a share of the blame himself...and that Tim wasn't blameless either, but that all this could have gone on... It was so clumsy, so callous...and it had led to the loss of a good agent.
That was inexcusable.
