Chapter 17

Gibbs stormed into the communication centre at one of NCIS's regional outposts. Brad Willard was being held here, and Gibbs had just finished interrogating the man. Ziva and Tony had been sent back to the hotel, but he'd stayed behind. He wanted some answers from the director.

"Here," one of the people working in the communication room said, handing Gibbs a set of speaker headphones. "And...we're on."

The face of Director Jenny Shepherd appeared on the large screen. She gave Gibbs a welcoming smile, but before she could even get a word in, Gibbs interrupted her.

"Michaelis Menden," he said, giving her the name which Willard had told him, while sobbing in fear with Ziva's unloaded gun (not that he'd known) pressed against his temple.

Jenny raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"

"He's the man in charge of the counter-intelligence ring in America. He's been on NCIS's most wanted list for two years after he tortured three marines to death for information on the naval base. And I know for a fact that the man was in Australia just a few months ago. Never mind how he got out of the country, how did he get back in?"

Jenny sighed, running a hand through her short hair. There was a short silence, almost as if she were debating with herself over whether or not to answer.

"The FBI want to use him as bait," she finally said, "They ordered that he be granted safe passage back into America."

"Did they have the right to do that?" Gibbs asked, his voice dangerously low.

"Menden was their problem first," Jenny replied rather sharply, silently warning the man to calm down, "As such, they have jurisdiction over anything and everything concerning him."

"If they have jurisdiction, why aren't they helping us with this case?" Gibbs sneered, rather unusually for him.

"It's the FBI. What did you expect?" Jenny asked. "And while we're on that note, why are you still working the case? Surely now that Willard's confessed, your original case is closed?"

Gibbs shook his head. "Some of the BZ Gas is still unaccounted for. Willard was definitely not given all of it – he thinks that it's in Menden's possession."

"Right." Jenny nodded. "And have you forgiven Ziva yet?"

The silence was pretty much the director's answer.

"Jethro. It wasn't Ziva's fault for disclosing such information to one of her closer Israeli friends. If you wanted someone to blame, pick on Ziva's father. He knew that Ziva and Olsen are friends. Probably why he sent Olsen out on this mission in the first place."

"So that if something went wrong, he'd have backup?" Gibbs asked, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

Jenny shrugged. "It's what I would do."

"Seems no agency in the world has a problem with playing on other's emotions for their benefit," Gibbs muttered darkly.

"On that note, how are you getting along with the AIS agents? Especially the girl; I think your personalities are too close not to clash," Jenny asked.

Gibbs gave the director a look that clearly said 'Really? You had to ask?'

"I thought that might be the case," Jenny sighed. "Jethro, I understand the reasons behind your mistrust of the AIS, but you need to remember that that girl is not her agency. Whatever wrongs the AIS have committed, it isn't because of her."

There was a brief pause before Gibbs shook his head. "When did you become so deep?"

"I've always been deep, Jethro. You've just never listened."

.

"Found anything, Alex?" Rose asked, plopping herself down onto the couch which Alex was leaning against.

"Yes...no...well, I don't know," Alex admitted. Around him was the mess of files he hadn't bothered to clean up.

It was a rather sunny morning. Gibbs had yet to return, and as a result the NCIS team were fidgeting nervously from their various positions around the room. Desiree and Matthew were shut in the adjourning room, and from the sounds of it they were reporting back to AIS headquarters. Ben Daniels and James Olsen were due to arrive that afternoon. The two apparently had "borrowed-without-intention-to-return" (ie – stole, but they wouldn't admit it) some of Brad Willard's things.

"There's too much conflicting intelligence," Alex went on, comparing two sheafs of paper in confusion.

"That's the problem with intelligence."

Both Alex and Rose jumped in their seats; Ziva David had managed to sneak up on them without their knowledge.

The Mossad agent held back an amused smile at their reactions. "What do you have, so far?"

Alex sighed. "A Ghost. They never mention him – at least, I'm assuming it's a 'him' – by name. He seems to be able to just flit through countries with ease, and where ever he goes, a new counter-intelligence ring starts up."

"I am assuming this is where the conflicting information comes in?" Ziva guessed.

"Yeah," Alex said with a tired smile, "See, the AIS have collected like approximate dates of when the Ghost is in which country, based on which intelligence rings have been discovered. But the problem is that, based on their calculations, he was in at least three different countries at once."

"Who says that he wasn't?" Ziva asked, taking a seat.

Alex and Rose exchanged glances. "Erm..."

Ziva laughed. "I don't mean literally. But a ghost is a ghost, and if this guy is as good as the AIS make him out to be, he'll have alibis, just in case he's caught."

"So how do I know what's real?"

"Find something that's so contradictory, it's impossible," Ziva shrugged, "And go from there."

Rose laughed. "So have fun finding the ghost," she grinned.

"But, there's like ten million names in here!" Alex groaned, "Any one of them could be him! Look, there's Garry O'Brian, Patrick Appopolies, Avant Vuta –"

"Michaelis Menten."

The entire room jumped in shock as Gibbs stormed into the room, a rather annoyed scowl adorning his face.

"For the record, that was the name I was going to say next," Alex whispered to Rose.

"Guess he read your mind," she laughed.

"Michaelis Menten," Gibbs repeated, "Mastermind behind twelve illegal spy rings, runs one of the most dangerous black markets, and is one of NCIS's most wanted persons."

"Not to mention, a ghost." Suddenly, Desiree was there, leaning against the doorframe, Matthew looking over her shoulder. "Virtually impossible to find, unless he's looking for you. And dangerous. Not many who cross him live to tell the tale; and only then, it's because he decided to spare their life."

Gibbs dismissed her with a wave of his hand, before turning back to those assembled before him. "What we need to do is locate the man. McGee –"

"– Going to try and trace the location of Menten through Willard's calls," Timothy McGee replied, moving towards his laptop as he spoke.

"David."

"Going to contact Mossad, see if they have anything," Ziva said, giving Gibbs a mock salute before pulling out her mobile.

"DiNozzo."

"On the phone with Abby to see if she can find stuff, on it, boss," Tony finished, leaping over the sofa to grab his mobile off the table.

Alex glanced around the room as Gibbs nodded at his team. Rose's mouth hung open in shock, while K-Unit were looking rather impressed by the NCIS's ability to read each other's minds. Matthew, standing behind Dessi, had an eyebrow raised, impressed. Alex himself was currently thanking all deities out there that Blunt didn't expect him to read his mind.

All eyes were on Gibbs as the man starting to speak again. "Allende, contact MI6 and see if they have anything. Rider, keep looking through those files. Lake, see if the AIS has anymore intelligence we can use. K-Unit –"

"I'm sorry," Desiree interrupted, "But what gave you the impression that you can order my team around?"

Gibbs looked slightly surprised that someone had cut him off. Behind him, the NCIS team were looking highly shocked. Timothy McGee even cringed.

"This is a joint mission," she continued, "Which means that you're not automatically leader."

"Menten has our BZ gas, which makes him our priority," Gibbs all but snarled.

"Maybe. Unfortunately, Menten's the one responsible for a whole lot more damage than just having some missing gas," Dessi sneered. "I've been working this case for two years. I know it inside out."

"And you've proved that very well so far, haven't you?" Gibbs said, his voice laced with sarcasm.

A dark look crossed Desiree's eyes, though she refrained from whatever retort she was going to spit back.

Gibbs smiled rather triumphantly. "And that is why I shall lead this...joint venture."

This time, it seem that Dessi couldn't help herself. "Based on what?" She scoffed. "Your experience, or your age?"

The entire room winced as Gibbs virtually bore holes into the much shorter girl, who was glaring back just as fiercely. It was almost like a challenge, a war. One side had nothing to lose; the other could not lose. The tension in the room was thick, palpable, tangible. It almost felt like no-one was breathing.

And then, for the first time in living memory, Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs looked away.

.