a/n - here it is, the next chapter. I"m currently working on chapter 13 and just getting into the main story, so I will be posting daily for quite a while. There's going to be some major twists and turns along the way. Trust me, it's all part of a master plan and I guarantee you'll be happy with the end result. Thanks for all the wonderful comments.
Refusing to allow alcohol until the blood tests were done, Ducky made a pot of coffee and brought it downstairs when they all retreated to the basement. Instead of telling them his plans, Vance started out by questioning them. "McGee, are you dating anyone at the moment?"
"Me, sir?" McGee blinked in surprise as he stared at the Director. "Not at the moment. I've gone out for coffee a few times this month with Rebecca in the legal department but that's about it. Our schedule isn't really conducive to a real busy social schedule."
"And you, Gibbs?"
Gibbs narrowed his eyes as he studied the other man. He didn't like where this was headed. "I think I'm pretty much a confirmed bachelor at this point, Leon. Why are you asking us?"
Vance braced himself for the explosion he knew was about to occur. "You two need to come out of the closet. Tell people that you're a couple."
"What?"
"Are you nuts?"
He decided to address the senior agent first. "No, I'm not nuts, Agent Gibbs. By striking first, we eliminate all the firepower of his attack. You can't blackmail someone over common knowledge. We make it common knowledge, end of problem."
The use of his title didn't deter him. "No, that is just the beginning of the problems, Director Vance. I may be closer to the end of my career than to the beginning, and Lord knows I'm not political enough to move any further up the chain of command, but what about McGee? He's one of the rising stars of this agency, and you know it Leon. What is this going to do to his career prospects?"
"Don't worry, when it's over I'll take care of it. It will be treated as any other deep cover assignment. By the time I'm done, his successful undercover work will do wonders for his long term career goals. Trust me."
That was the gist of the problem, Gibbs wasn't sure if he did trust Vance. His own life and reputation was one thing, but trusting the man with Tim was another matter entirely.
The man in question finally spoke up. "Can we have some time to think about this?"
"Stay here tonight and talk it out. If no one has come up with option four by morning, then there is no other choice. The agency has spent too many years working on putting that bastard away to abandon the case now." He looked at the two exhausted men and behind them, the doctor who seemed ready to put his foot down with all of them. "I'll be back in the morning. Unless someone has had a breakthrough and has found Sutton's accomplice by then, I'll help McGee pack up and move in here."
"Actually sir, I need to go home tonight." McGee looked at Vance and held his ground. "If nothing else, I've got to go home and take care of Jethro. He's been there alone since the dog walker dropped him off this afternoon."
Vance had always wondered why McGee's dog had been named for the senior agent. "Fine, I'll drive you and we'll bring the dog back with us." McGee looked like he was going to argue for a moment before he nodded in agreement.
---NCIS---
Gibbs waited until he heard the upstairs door close before he turned to the remaining person in the basement with him. "You've been awfully quiet about all of this, Ducky."
"Yes, well I didn't think the questions I have for you should be asked in front of the Director or Timothy." Ducky leaned against the workbench and gave him a knowing look. "We've been friends for too long, Jethro. I know you."
"You've never pulled punches before, so don't start now." Gibbs spun a chair around and straddled it, crossing his arms and leaning against the backrest.
"Are you really worried about Timothy's reputation or are you worried about the temptation of pretending he is your lover? Unless I am very mistaken, you have been secretly lusting over that young man for a long time."
Gibbs hung his head. Ducky was right, Timothy McGee had been the subject of his fantasies and longings since that first day in Norfolk. "You're not mistaken, so what do I do, old man?"
Ducky smiled at him. "You're the only one that can answer that, I'm afraid. What I can tell you is that Tim idolizes you, he always has."
"That just makes it harder." Gibbs picked up the abandoned coffee mugs and walked up the stairs.
---NCIS---
Vance kept glancing over at his passenger as they made their way to Silver Spring. McGee was quiet, only speaking to direct him for the last few turns to reach his apartment complex. Once they were parked, he reached out and stopped McGee from getting out of the car. "You're very uncomfortable with all of this, aren't you?"
McGee looked around, his eyes darting back and forth as he struggled to explain. "I don't think anyone is considering the consequences of the Boss and me pretending to be a couple."
"Are you expecting trouble?" Vance had been surprised to find there were no openly gay employees at Headquarters when he had moved east. He assumed that the Eastern Seaboard was just more conservative, but perhaps there was something there he needed to worry about. "Have there been any incidents that you're aware of?"
"Sort of." McGee shrugged as he looked out the side window. "My first year at the Yard, DiNozzo told some of the ladies that work downstairs that I was gay. Apparently he thought I would be competition for dates with them. It took a while for the rumors to die out and they kinda spread before they did. I never got jumped but there were a few times I was glad I was armed."
"Did you report it?"
"You're joking, right?" McGee finally turned and looked at him. "I was the rookie geek. It just would have made it worse if people thought I couldn't handle some hazing."
Vance didn't like the sounds of that. "If we do this, my office will announce a zero tolerance policy right from the get-go. Any trouble at all, I want you to report it immediately. That's not just for your protection, but for any other personnel that may be afraid to come forward."
"I don't think too many folks would be stupid enough to try to bash someone they thought was Gibbs' lover." McGee gave a short laugh, then turned serious again when Vance continued to question him.
"Honestly, are you going to be able to handle this if we go through with it? Do you trust Gibbs enough to pull it off?"
"Honestly, Director?" He waited until he was sure he had the other man's full and undivided attention. "I think Gibbs is the only person in the world I do trust that much."