Tap8


This morning, he had watched McGee's arrival, as he came in by his usual time. A spring in his step and he seemed somewhat lighter, too. That had made him feeling guilty. If Gibbs could see such a remarkable change in his subordinate's demeanour and behaviour, then clearly he hadn't been paying him enough attention.

Gibbs had watched as Tim had began systematically and methodically cleaning out his desk. He smiled to himself as he saw Tim tuck the caricature of him that Kate had drawn away, safely in his bag, not the box.

"DiNozzo, Conference room two. Vance is waiting for you, let's go." Gibbs said strolling into the bull pen, in his usual fashion. "Ziva cold cases, McGee, you're with me."

Tim hastily and wordlessly got up and followed Gibbs into conference room one. He had Tim take a seat, which unnerved the younger man a little. But Gibbs watched on as he braced himself for what was coming. The realisation from Saturday night was still fresh in his mind. This was all on him "I am sorry, McGee."

McGee looked sceptical at Gibbs and why shouldn't he? He had just heard Gibbs break that infamous rule six that they had all heard so much about. One of the man's precious rules. "Excuse me?" Tim asked Gibbs, confused. No one would believe him if he gave someone a blow by blow of how this conversation went down. It is common knowledge that Gibbs is a person who rarely breaks his own rules.

"Your resignation." Gibbs supplied, succinctly. "The reason you're resigning, its on me and I am sorry." Gibbs admitted. He had to. After speaking with Tim's neighbour, he realised that he had truly failed the young man that sat before him.

"You're not going to call me a Deserter or a Traitor?!" Tim snapped, he had been expecting some push back from Gibbs about his resignation. Actually he had been expecting a lot of push back. He had expected, yelling and name-calling. Some nasty seething comments and a rough five days ahead of him, before he finished up with the MCRT and with the agency.

"I'll admit it, when Vance stopped by Saturday with your letter, I was angry." Gibbs smirked at him. Gibbs hadn't realised until that very moment that the probie he thought he once knew, was gone, and the man that stood before him was a capable, competent agent. A man who no longer needed his guidance. A man who no had outgrown his position of Junior Field Agent on his team and had to look elsewhere for his next challenge. "I was furious. But you should have come to me, not Vance."

"And that worked out so well last time, didn't it?" Tim retorted and Gibbs was taken aback that the snarky attitude of Tim's had returned. "Gibbs, do you recall the conversation we had in your living room?"

"McGee." Gibbs greeted him in the living room, handing him a mug of coffee. "Look, about earlier..."

"Forget it." Tim dismissed him, not allowing the man to apologise and break one of his cardinal rules. "You asked what was bothering me on Monday. I wasn't ready to talk about it then, I'm not really now. But I know it needs to be discussed too, I have to be ready now. So, here we are."

"What is it, Tim?" Gibbs asked. He had been really surprised by how much the man had grown since he first met him in the last three or four years, he had kept noticing the changes in him. At first, they were small, inconsequential changes, but recently, they've become bigger and more prominent. Like Tim having the uncanny ability to know when he was being followed. He had overheard Ziva and Tony discuss it in the bullpen two weeks ago when Tony had confessed, he was curious about who their probie met every Wednesday for dinner and had tried to follow him, only to have Tim give him the slip. He knew that Ziva had attempted to track him, only to come up empty handed, also. Which surprised the team leader because she was like a bloodhound when she was on someone's tail. Gibbs had chuckled to himself at that, but wasn't chuckling when Tim had called him out on it, too.

"First, I want you to see this." Tim cued up his laptop and showed Gibbs the video of Tony snooping around his apartment, helping himself to his cereal and nosing through his belongings. "I want you to rein Tony in or I will be forced to take this to Vance and possibly follow up with legal actions."

Tim was angry and justifiably so, Gibbs was also livid. "When was this taken?" Gibbs demanded; his voice angry. Tim flinched internally, hoping that anger wouldn't be directed at him.

"Last Friday night, after I had been away from work on Thursday." Tim snapped. "There are eleven other instances where he has broken into my home. I shouldn't have to install cameras in my own apartment to catch my co-worker breaking in."

"How many times do you think he has broken in?" Gibbs asked Tim and Tim felt like he was being blamed for the illegal actions of DiNozzo.

"I know of at least two more times, that I don't have footage of." Tim admitted. "Once, the first time with Kate and I was home at the time. Another time, with Ziva, I was not home on that occasion, but Ziva had at least looked like she knew it was wrong. For a minute, before joining DiNozzo on his scavenger hunt through my belongings. It was after that first attempt with Kate that I installed the cameras in my apartment."

"I see." Gibbs said, emotionless. "McGee, did you know it's against the law to have cameras in your home like that? It's an invasion of your guest's privacy."

"One, which is more illegal? My cameras or Tony breaking into my house? Invading my privacy!" Tim asked, beginning to rant. "Two, the cameras are motion activated and I always tell my guests in advance. They are only turned on when I am sleeping alone in my apartment, or if I am leaving. Three, what makes DiNozzo think that he is above the law? Four, what makes you think that this behaviour is OK? Five, how would you feel if it was your things he was trifling through?! What am I saying? He wouldn't dare go through your things. He actually respects you."

"What would you like me to do with this?!" Gibbs asked, he had been surprised by what he saw. Surprised Tim had cameras on the inside of his apartment, but he wasn't surprised by what Tony had done. DiNozzo seemed to know way too much about their youngest agent.

"Rein him in, or I will be going to Vance and the police." Tim snapped, harshly snatching his laptop off the table and stowing it in his bag, not bothering to shut it down. "If he breaks in one more time, I will have no other choice, Gibbs. I will go to the police and Vance. I won't care what Tony has to lose, either. Or if you fire me. I am done being kind and trampled all over. I deserve to be respected by my colleagues."

"McGee?" Gibbs tried to plead. Yes, Tim had a right to be angry, but after all this time, he should know what Tony was really like. He didn't even know that McGee was capable of exerting a back bone like this. Tim had ignored Gibbs, as he called out to him, as he stormed out of Gibbs' house, tearing out of the team leader's driveway and down his street. Gibbs had followed him, but it had been no use. McGee had left. When Gibbs returned inside, he saw that McGee hadn't touched the coffee he had made for the young man. Too angry to drink it.

"Yeah." Gibbs sighed out loud, frustrated. He remembered the conversation crystal clear. He had been surprised by McGee's bravado in standing up to him. The way he threatened Gibbs, that had caught him off-guard. "So you went to the FBI? Instead of the police? Do you hate Tony that much? Or is this all a ploy to make Tony lose his job so you can take it? Because those aren't the qualities I look for in a Senior Field Agent and quite frankly, I don't think you're ready."

"I didn't set out to get Tony fired or to make him lose his job. He did that all on his own." Tim replied, with the same amount of hostility that Gibbs was giving him. despite the token apology Gibbs had just given him. "Your job, as team lead, is to rein him in. You didn't and that's your failing. I'll have you know, I was all prepared to go to Vance and metro. However the last time that Tony broke into my apartment, when he left the offensive pornographic material on the kitchen bench for me, Agent Tom Stewart was visiting his mother, my elderly next door neighbour, Rita. He witnessed and filmed the whole thing and approached me. I had already verbally accepted my new position and was in contract negotiations with them."

"So you're making a unilateral move to the FBI?" Gibbs asked Tim, directly. He had suspected and Leon hadn't come out and said exactly what McGee had lined up for his next job, just that he had something in the works. "Tell me, is it Fornell? Did Fornell steal you from us?" Gibbs was angry. He knew in his bones that it would have been Fornell. The man had been too defensive of McGee in recent times.

"I went to him. I asked him for the transfer. He didn't say yes, or no." Tim answered truthfully. "He took it to his superiors and his superior made the offer of employment. Fornell's name isn't on the offer at all." Which was the absolute truth. Fornell's name wasn't on the offer. It was signed by Director Thomasson of the FBI. The fact that Tobias have paved the way and had sorted the job out for him on the end of the FBI was irrelevant.

"Well, it's done now. Finish out the week with us and leave without a fuss or fanfare." Gibbs said in an all but demanding tone of voice. "But should we cross one another in a professional capacity, I will not go easy on you because we once worked together."

"I expect nothing less." Tim said, leaving a stunned Gibbs in his wake.


"I've called you all here because there is some major personnel changes being made to the MCRT." Leon announced looking around the room. The room was full of agents, analysts, forensic staff, interpreters and medical personnel. "There is two vacant positions available for the MCRT. One is a temporary position with a strong possibility to become permanent. That position is for a senior agent. The other is for a junior agent. That position is permanent. Agent Gibbs and Mossad Liaison Officer David have a stringent set of criteria as to what they need fulfilled. Please put your recommendations through to Human resources, marking it attention to Agent Gibbs by close of business Friday."

"Where's DiNozzo and McGee moving to?" Agent Renee Carson called out. Vance saw many people nod their head in agreement with her. "I mean, it's just strange because naturally one would think that McGee would have been chosen as DiNozzo's successor."

"Agent DiNozzo has been stood down, pending an investigation." Vance said, succinctly. He had no desire to protect DiNozzo from the scuttlebutt. "I will be perfectly clear, even though we are all adults and I shouldn't have to be. Bullying, hazing and harassment is not tolerated in this agency, do I make myself clear?"

Murmurs muttered of agreement were heard throughout the room. Gibbs was glaring at McGee, the whole time Vance was speaking. "Where is Agent McGee going then?" Carson persisted. Carson was a good agent, an undercover extraordinaire. But she also didn't like people who weren't forthcoming with answers to her questions.

"Thank you, Carson." Vance said, as he looked around the room. Leon Vance prayed that the announcement he was about to make, would go over better than the announcement he had made in private to the MCRT and the auxiliary staff. Abby Sciuto and Tony DiNozzo had not taken the news well, Ziva David had been upset too, but not to the extent that the other two had been. "Agent McGee has been offered, and accepted a promotion and position within the FBI. On behalf of our entire agency, we wish him the best of luck with his future endeavours."

You could have heard a pin drop as the news sank in for everyone who knew who McGee. Slowly, one by one, starting with Carson, the NCIS staff began clapping and congratulating McGee on his promotion. As a general rule, there was very little animosity between the FBI and NCIS. The MCRT were the exception to the rule, however.


"You're probably wondering why we are meeting here, if when in less than hour's time, we will be having an agency wide meeting." Vance said, as he looked around the conference room table at the scattered MCRT agents and the auxiliary team consisting of Ducky, Jimmy and Abby. "There is some personnel changes coming. DiNozzo; do you wish to explain your part first? Or shall I?"

"McGeek ran to the FBI and I have been stood down while they investigate claims against me, made by a backstabbing traitor!" DiNozzo sneered at Tim. He was still so angry, his anger was reverberating in waves and could clearly be felt throughout the room.

"NO! MCGEE! HOW DARE YOU? I AM GOING TO KILL YOU AND LEAVE NO FORENSIC TRACE. YOU ASSHOLE." Abby cried. She was ropeable and she lunged at him. Ziva the only one to intervene and settle the goth down. "YOU'RE GOING TO DIE, MCGEE! YOU BETTER SLEEP WITH ONE EYE OPEN! I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE."

"If you are finished with the theatrics, Miss Sciuto." Vance chastised her. "We understand your feelings on the subject, however threatening someone's life is unacceptable workplace behaviour. Agent McGee?"

"It's OK, Director. I expect nothing less from Miss Sciuto." Tim said coolly, schooling his features. "After Friday, I will no longer be employed by NCIS."

"Yes!" Abby cheered, punching her fist in the air, in victory. "I can't say that I am surprised, McGee. You've been skirting by on my affection for so long, it was only a matter of time before you were fired. You were never cut out to be a field agent. You only became a field agent because I love you like puppies and Gibbs will do anything to make me happy. you should have kissed my feet in thanks."

Vance was surprised by Abby's outburst and even more surprised that no one defended Agent McGee. No wonder why McGee felt he had no other choice but to leave the agency. "If you had of allowed Agent McGee to continue, Miss Sciuto. You would have known that Agent McGee has accepted a promotion with the FBI and is making a unilateral move to their agency, from ours."

"Well, congratulations my dear lad." Ducky said, as he let the news sink in. "You shall be missed terribly." Ducky looked around the room. It was obvious that no one was happy for the youngest member of their team.

"Yeah, congrats man!" Jimmy chimed in, happy for his friend. Ducky and Jimmy's well wishes were warm and genuine. Tim was touched that they were truly happy for him.

Finally Ziva spoke up. "Although I am sad that you are leaving. I wish you well, McGee." Her words did not sound as sincere as she had meant them to be, her tone came across as cold and clinical.

"Thank you." Tim said, humbly. He hadn't expected even one congratulations, with the exception of Jimmy, whom he sometimes socialised with away from work. So Ducky's congratulations had been a pleasant bonus for him.

"Yeah, you're gonna make a great FBI agent, you'll get your whole team killed because you don't have me or the ninja watching your back." Tony snarled at him. "I'll take the plea and they can save my cell, inside the prison for you because you will need it, more than me."

"This meeting is over. Dismissed!" Vance said hastily. "Agent Gibbs, may I have a word?" He asked as everyone else filed out. Leon Vance couldn't believe the nerve of his team leader. Gibbs had just sat there and let his team hurl abuse and innuendos at McGee, despite the man admitting that it was his fault that McGee was transferring to the FBI.


"Alright, alright. Settle down." Vance warned them when the cacophony of noise reached an ear-piercing level. "I know we all wish Agent McGee the best, but there is still work awaiting us all at our desks. Applications for the vacant MCRT positions to HR, attention Agent Gibbs by close of business Friday. Dismissed."

Abby made a rude and what was supposed to be, intimidating gesture at Tim, but he just ignored her and fobbed it off. Many of the agents and analysts that he knew or who he had helped out, over his tenure at NCIS, had stopped by to wish him well in his new job. A few of them even made comments within earshot of Tony, Ziva and Gibbs that they weren't surprised he had decided to leave the team, but were surprised he had chosen to leave the agency, as well.

The end of the day couldn't come fast enough for Tim and he was happy to be going home. What once was an uneasy, awkward working environment within the MCRT bullpen in the past, had become cold and hostile. It was as if they were at war with one another and he was exiled. The team caught a case at 1600 and Gibbs made a point of telling McGee that they wouldn't need his help, since he was no longer a part of their team.

Tony's suspension wasn't effective until the end of the day and Gibbs took advantage of that, having the senior agent tag along to the crime scene. "We'll talk about this later, McGeek." DiNozzo hissed loudly, as he exited the bullpen, following Gibbs and Ziva to the lift. "Don't think you can hide from me, I know where you live." Tim just smiled at him.

That's what Tony thought. Vance had been watching the hostile display unfold from the mezzanine level up above. If that's how Gibbs and his team wanted to treat McGee, then so be it. As soon as the MCRT minus Tim were clear of the bullpen, the Director made his way down the staircase to Tim's desk. "If that's the way that Gibbs wants it then so be it, McGee." He said to the genius agent. "You finish up any outstanding files, clean up your workstation and work cold cases. Then you're free to go, every day. By 1700 hours, at the latest."

"Fine by me." Tim grinned at Vance. He couldn't believe his luck. If Gibbs wanted to be a cold-hearted bastard, then so be it. "Director? You do understand the predicament I am in, right? Taking another position within the agency, it would look like a demotion and be a blemish on my spotless record and I am not the one in the wrong here. Why should my career suffer because Gibbs is an incompetent team leader and DiNozzo is unable to rein himself in?"

"And Miss Scuito's behaviour?" Leon Vance asked him. Vance was curious because although Abby's behaviour seemed to indicate that they held an affection for one another, McGee's behaviour didn't indicate that all.

"Any affection I once held for her is long gone, Director." Tim said softly. "Her treatment and behaviour has left a lot to be desired. If I wanted to be treated like a child, like I am stupid or adored by someone who loves me like puppies, I would find someone who doesn't manipulate and gaslight me at every turn. I would find someone whose sole purpose isn't to degrade me or speak down to me. This is a chance for me to have a fresh start. To be respected among my colleagues."

"Relax McGee," Vance told him with a reassuring smile. "I understand that you made this decision under duress, as a last resort decision. I hope that today's public reaction to the announcement, reassured you that, with the exception of your former team, you are respected and well-liked by your peers. In spite of Agent DiNozzo and Miss Scuito's repeated attempts to bully and harass you."

"Thank you Director Vance." Tim said, sincerely. He had been beginning to feel like Leon Vance had been sticking up for him and wanting what was best for him for a while. That maybe he should have gone to Vance instead of Gibbs. But he didn't regret his decision to leave. As soon as he made the decision, he knew he had made the right call.

"I meant what I said too, Agent McGee." Vance added, as he went to walk away. "This agency is sorry to lose you. You are a valuable asset to us. I look forward to hearing only good things from your endeavors at the FBI." Tim gave Vance a nod.

It felt satisfying to Tim, to pack up and leave, knowing his former team were at a crime scene and didn't want his help. Hearing and seeing how salty they were had upset him, before he realised something; his former team were the exception, not the norm.

As he waited for the elevator, Tim texted both Tobias and Pete to see if they were still on for dinner. He, Pete and Tobias had made plans to grab a beer and watch the Monday night football game, down at their local watering hole. Pete replied apologetic, his sister had arrived in town, unexpectedly and regrettably couldn't make it. Tobias texted back that they had just caught a case and he was unlikely to make it too. After the day he had, Tim felt quite disappointed and opted to grab some take out and head home. He felt safe in the knowledge that Tony DiNozzo or Abby Sciuto didn't know where he lived now. Which was a relief and somewhat satisfying, too.

He arrived at his beloved Porsche to find four slashed tyres and the words 'traitorous fag' written in red paint across the windscreen of his Porsche. He was angry and immediately pulled out his cell and dialed the number for the Director's office. Upon closer inspection, Tim was livid to see that the perpetrator of this malicious act had also destroyed his paint job by spraying brake fluid over the paint work on the hood, trunk, doors and back panels. Tim was ready to explode!

Originally, he had felt a little melancholic about leaving, that feeling had disappeared the moment he saw his beloved Porsche. "Director Vance, please." He said into the phone line when the man's PA answered the phone. "Tell him it's Agent McGee and I need him in the parking lot immediately."

Pam, Vance's PA and right hand lady had Leon Vance headed for the staff parking lot immediately. When he reached the parking lot, he was shocked to see McGee standing in front of his vehicle. "McGee?" he asked, as he approached the younger man. When Vance came face to face with the young man's beloved Porsche, he almost blew a gasket himself. "What the hell?! This is despicable!"

"I'm done with this agency, Director!" Tim seethed. "Today was my last day! Dock my leave if you have to, but I am done!"

"We will investigate, mark my words!" Leon tried to soothe the younger man. He could see that McGee was becoming more and more irate. Any last minute chance they had to change his mind had just flown out the window. "Name the agent you want investigating this, I'll make it happen."

"Agent Tom Stewart, FBI." Tim answered, succinctly. He was furious and his voice slightly intimidated the Director. "I have no doubt that DiNozzo is behind this. Only three people called me that word today and vandalising someone's car isn't Agent Gibbs' style."

Unfortunately for Vance, he agreed with McGee's assessment of the situation. Agent DiNozzo was already steamed about being stood down, pending the investigation, combined with the senior field agent's actions the last time he broke into Agent McGee's apartment. It was easy to see how McGee could suspect DiNozzo first. "Consider it done." Vance said and pulled out his cell, calling his counterpart at the FBI. He made sure to follow the chain of command and protocol. This had obviously now escalated into a hate crime against an agent.

Tim snapped his own photos of his vehicle for his personal use. There was no way he was going to let anyone get away with this. When he was done snapping photos, he sent the best one to Pete and Tobias, in their group text and immediately his phone was blowing up with replies. Tim also sent an additional message to Pete, warning him to watch his back, just in case the perpetrator knew about their relationship and he was the next target.

"Agent Tom Stewart is on his way." Vance announced as he disconnected the call. "The agency will of course pay to have your car cleaned and the paintwork repaired."

"So you should!" Tim snapped as his cell phone rang. "Yeah McGee!" He turned his back to the Director and calmed down, hearing that it was Tobias on the other end. He had called to tell him that he was on his way with Tom to the Navy Yard and heads were going to do more than roll.

Vance snapped some photos of his own and before he was finished taking photos the FBI had arrived, with their truck and a full crime scene team. "Tim? Are you OK?" Tobias asked, coming over to see his friend as he barked orders at his team to get to work processing Tim's car. "We're taking your car into evidence. Director, you should expect a phone call from Director Thomasson regarding this incident!"

"Agent Tom Stewart, Director Vance. I'd say it was a pleasure to meet you, but, as you can see, this is no pleasure." Tom Stewart introduced himself, offering the Director of NCIS a handshake. "You can get me the surveillance footage from the cameras in the parking garage. Be sure to include that camera, as well as those two by the pole and that one by the elevator."

"You can expect NCIS to co-operate fully with the FBI." Vance told Agent Stewart, but keeping his eyes fairly square on Fornell and McGee, as he and Tim spoke to one another in low hushed tones. "This is a malicious and uncalled for act. We, as an agency and myself, personally, do not condone this in any way, shape or form."