Section 17

As Gibbs took another sip of coffee he automatically checked work status. To his lift, McGee was clicking away at his keyboard alternating his gaze between to screens. To his right, Tony…no…DiNozzo sat in an armchair with a file on his lap; his laptop on the table next to him. He wasn't even pretending to work. He was looking towards the fireplace deep in thought.

"DiNozzo." Gibbs called but it had no effect. "DiNozzo," he said louder. Still no response. Crumpling up a page of his writing pad he launched it at Tony hitting him right on the side of the head. He smirked when Tony jumped. "You with us, DiNozzo?"

Rather than be embarrassed at being caught daydreaming, Tony tossed the file down in frustration. "This is…" He jumped to his feet and moved to the fireplace using his arms against the mantle to stretch his back.

"What's going on, DiNozzo?" Gibbs closed his own file and laid it beside him on the couch.

"This whole thing doesn't make sense." Tony raked his hand through his hair.

"Why?"

"I don't know it just…" Tony's was aggravated at being unable to express himself.

"Talk it out." Gibbs encouraged.

McGee turned slightly; the only sign that he was paying attention to the conversation. Though he had made fun of Tony's campfires he couldn't deny the success Tony usually had when talking cases through. He had a knack for finding loose threads.

"Okay. Let's take the theory that Jeanne is behind this. She's living in Lourdes, France. Who does she know that would have the clout? How does she move Sacks?" Tony began pacing back and front of the fireplace. "How did she find out I wasn't a citizen? Ok, yeah, I mean, my dad disappearing in Lourdes is worrisome, but I doubt he knew. Besides, she would have had to know well before he disappeared to set this all in motion. It doesn't fit. Does it?"

"I don't know. Once we catch her, we'll get our answers."

"Gibbs. Tony." McGee interrupted his tone urgent. "We may have that chance sooner rather than later. Abby just messaged me. Our agents in France apprehended Benoit and your father last night and immediately put them on a military flight to DC. They'll be there later this afternoon."

Section 18

Leon shook his head as he looked at his cellphone. It was too much to hope that Ms. Scuito would sit on the news just a couple more hours. One day without Gibbs. Would it have been too much to ask? He reach in his jacket pocket retrieved a pack of Aspirin™ and tossed them back before answering. Gibbs was a guaranteed headache. He knew he was right when he didn't even get to say hello.

"Leon."

"Gibbs."

"When did you plan to tell us that you had Benoit and Senior in custody?"

Just once, Leon wondered what Gibbs would say if he answered "Never." Taking a deep breath he let it out slowly. "How far out are you?"

"We're in the bullpen."

"Damn." Leon hit a button on his desk and the TV switched to Gibbs and company just exiting the elevator. Benoit and Senior were due any minute and he had hoped to get the interviews accomplished without bloodshed or law suits.

"Director," his secretary's voice called over the intercom.

With another muttered curse, he punched the intercom. "Yes, I'm aware that Gibbs and DiNozzo are in the bullpen."

"Uh, yes, but you asked me to let you know when we heard from security. The team bringing Ms. Benoit and Mr. DiNozzo were just cleared by security."

"Son of a…" Leon slammed his hands on his desk and headed for the door. Some days you just couldn't catch a break. With a last longing thought for the bottle in his bottom drawer, he started down the stairs. "Gibbs, DiNozzo, my…" He was cut off when the elevator dinged. He cursed fate; but the elevator was only exited by a clerk from legal. It didn't buy much time, but he'd take what he could get.

"Leon." Gibbs slung his jacket on the back of his chair and met the director at the foot of the stairs. DiNozzo and McGee put their things and settled at their desks bringing up their computers. "Guess we made it."

"Look, Gibbs, you can't…"

"No, you look, Leon…" Gibbs fired back.

"We don't have time for this." Vance didn't back down. "Benoit and Senior are on their way up now. This has to be done strictly by the book. If you remember, it's more than yours and DiNozzo's careers on the line."

"It's Tony's life." Gibbs shot back. "Whoever set this in motion has put his career and his life in jeopardy. He almost ended up in GITMO. He has a right to confront..."

The elevator dinged again. This time, Leon was out of luck and time. A team of three agents led their suspects off the elevator. Both men walked through the bullpen and stood waiting for the group to approach. Senior had an agent on both sides. They could catch glimpses of the third agent and Benoit bringing up the rear.

"I said to let go." Senior was saying arrogantly. "You're wrinkling the Armani."

"It's not Armani. It's Tom Ford and a few years old at that." Tony said flatly from his desk.

"Junior." Senior went to step forward but was stopped by the agent. "Maybe you can explain to these gentlemen that they have made some type of mistake. Arresting us and putting us on that…that…" He shuddered at the thought of the military transport flight.

"You haven't been arrested, Mr. DiNozzo. As I'm certain my agents have informed you, you were returned for questioning as a material witness. Once our questions have been answered to our satisfaction, you will be released."

"Surely this could have waited."

"Hasn't it waited long enough, Senior?"

"I figured you were involved somehow, Agent Gibbs. What have you thought up to harass me about now?"

"Posturing, Senior? Or afraid I do know something?" Gibbs took a long, slow drink of coffee.

"I must insist that you release me at once."

"And I must insist on knowing why you never filed my birth certificate." Tony stood up unable to stay seated any longer.

"What are you talking about?"

"When you brought me home, you never filed my birth certificate with the state of New York."

"This is what this is all about. You drug me halfway around the world over a technicality? Don't you have important things to work on?"

"It's actually pretty important to me." Tony replied. "I was almost fired over that technicality for being an illegal alien."

"Look your mother handled that stuff. You know what she was like."

"So did you, so why not check on it?" Gibbs interjected.

"This is a family matter, Agent Gibbs. I'd appreciate you keeping your opinions to yourself."

"He has a good point, dad. Why didn't you check on it?"

"Look, your mother wanted you, I told her it was her responsibility."

"You never could be bothered, you took the first opportunity to ship me off."

"You are well aware of why you were enrolled in military school," Senior said coldly. "Don't try to make that my fault."

"Darling, let's don't fight." Ignored long enough, Jeanne pulled her arm from the agent's and pushed her way next to Senior. "This is a celebration, remember. Didn't you have something you wanted to share with dear Antonio? "

Senior took her hand, raising it to his lips. "Of course, my dear. Forgive me. Old wounds." Tucking her into his side, Senior smiled broadly while Jeanne smiled at Tony with ill-concealed animosity in her eyes. "As I said we were on an extended vacation; which you interrupted. May I present my new bride, the lovely Mrs. Jeanne DiNozzo?"

"You married her?" Tony exclaimed in shock.

"Junior, I know about your infatuation. Jeanne explained it all to me. But now that she's your step-mother, you'll have to…"

Gibbs couldn't help but notice the almost satisfaction in Senior's eyes. This was definitely revenge for Benoit, but why for Senior?

"Are you crazy?" Tony snorted. "I wasn't infatuated. I was on a job. My boss assigned me to get close to her so we could get her father? Jeanne looked at him in pure hatred as Tony faced her. "And you, this is your grand revenge. I mean, I gave you points for trying to frame me, but this is all you could come up with?"

"Jeanne is…"

"Oh, I know what Jeanne is. Been there. Done that." Tony looked at her contemptuously. "If I'd know you were so interested in my leavings, I'd have given you a list. I've dated some sexy, smart and beautiful women. You didn't have to settle for something leftover from one of my jobs."

"You bastard…" Jeanne lunged at him but was caught by the agents.

"Put her in Interrogation 3." Vance said bluntly. "Now." For a minute, Vance thought he had a chance at salvaging the situation. That hope was vanished when another senior agent entered the bullpen. Fate could be a bitch.

"Gibbs. DiNozzo. I thought you were on your honeymoon. Congratulations to you both." He stopped noticing the glare in the Director's eyes. "I'll catch you later." He threw over his shoulder as he quickly retreated.

"You're married? To him?"

"What? Are you upset you missed the ceremony? Oh, wait, maybe you wanted a double honeymoon. We could have done that, couldn't we, Jethro?"

The agents were too late to catch Senior and he managed one good punch to Tony's face before the wrestled him back. "You're a disgrace. You were never fit to be a DiNozzo. I should never have allowed your mother to bring you here from Italy. I thought I'd settled this years ago, but I should have drowned you like the unnatural, filthy mongrel, you are." Gone was the polished, aristocratic façade as Senior spewed his loathing in a bitter, vitriolic rant.

"Interrogation 2."

The agents were immediately dragging the man away as he continued to yell. "You're not my son. You were never my son. You are an abomination…unnatural…" They could still hear his raised voice but Senior's rant was cut off by the door closing.

Gibbs looked at Tony in concern. His nose was bleeding and running unheeded down his face. "Come on, DiNozzo. Let's get that cleaned up." Tony shuddered back to awareness but went docilely as Gibbs guided him to the men's room."

"Uh, Director…"

"Agent McGee."

"I happened to have an app open that caught the exchange. Would you like me to transcribe the … uh…" McGee was unsure what to call the meeting.

"That would be fine, agent. When you're finished, make a copy of the security footage. We'll use them in the interview." Vance gestured to a passing security officer. "We have people in interrogation 2 & 3. I want a guard on each door. No one enters without my authority. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Agent McGee, when Gibbs and DiNozzo are through. I want the three of you in my office."

"Yes, sir."