AN: Thanks for all the comments! I know the last few updates have mostly been filler chapters, so thanks for hanging in! And Servant05, that was a good idea; I wasn't entirely happy with the division on some of the chapters. I might go back and fix them after I complete this story. Oh, and since it's been a little slow, I'm putting up two chapters!
McGee got out of the car and began walking to the footbridge. He didn't see anyone else at the location, no other visitors, which wasn't completely surprising as it was getting dark. A few minutes into his wait, someone walked out from the shadows. He stopped a short distance away from McGee, a hat covering the features on his face.
"Never thought I'd see the day Timothy McGee turned traitor."
McGee studied the man, knowing he was trying to disguise his voice. "You know my name. How about telling me yours?"
The man took a step back from McGee. "Not tonight."
Silence stretched between the two before the stranger broke it. "Give me a reason to trust you."
"I want in. I can get you the information you're looking for."
"That doesn't make me trust you."
McGee shrugged, "What do you want to know?"
"Why should I trust you? Why should my employer? What would make you turn your back on your team?"
Tim crossed his arms, hesitating before giving an answer. "Let's just say, I'm tired of being viewed as the weak link on my team, for my skills not being appreciated."
"So," the man tilted his head, "You want to use those skills to get back at them."
Tim dipped his head.
"That I can understand." The man paused for a few seconds, before continuing. "I've talked to my employer, and told him I may have someone who can get better information. He's intrigued. He wants us to have a session first, to see if you can deliver."
McGee's stomach twisted with nerves. "Where?"
The man looked around before pulling out a slip of paper from his pocket. Dropping it on the ground, he added, "Don't be late." And with that, he melted back into the shadows.
Tony watched the exchange from a distance, a strange mixture of confusion, unease, and anger building in him. This looked suspiciously like a meet, and Tim had no back-up. If this had been an undercover op, he should have had someone to watch his back, but there was no one. He would never have guessed Tim would do something illegal, but proof was starting to pile up against him.
His gaze narrowed as he watched McGee pick up what looked like a slip of paper and tucked it in his pocket. They needed to see what was on that paper. Since Tim wasn't talking, maybe it would shed some light on the situation. Tony started the car and drove away. Maybe McGee was being coerced into…this, whatever this was. He shook his head. "What the heck have you gotten yourself into, Probie?"
When Tim returned to the office, he knew the others were stealing looks at him. His mouth twisted as he started working again. He was starting to feel cut off his team and he really didn't like that. His thoughts turned to the meet. He really didn't like doing this without the team's support. McGee could feel someone staring at him. He looked over and met Tony's stare, surprised by the curiosity and…was that hostility? leaking from his expression. He sighed when Tony looked away. He had really been hoping his team wouldn't be disappointed that he was hiding this from them, but-and maybe this was just his guilty conscious-he could already feel a distance beginning to grow.
Ziva stood up suddenly. "McGee, come with me to get some coffee."
McGee gave a small head shake as he stood up. What would this be? Interrogation #3? First, Tony, then Gibbs; now it was Ziva's turn. The excitement he'd had when he'd started this operation was long gone. McGee was ready for this to be over so he could tell his team what he had been doing.