Disclaimer: Not mine. Except for the names you don't recognize.
Everyone in the bullpen sat in silence, lost in their own thoughts. Gibbs had left to go get 'real coffee' from the outside world. Tony had taken the note from Reynolds and put the names into his computer. As he brought it up on the screen Tim and Daniel walked back in.
"Doctor Jackson, General O'Neill called just a minute ago. He would like you to call him back." Reynolds said as he stood up and handed Daniel his phone. Daniel absently took the phone while staring at the screen.
"Yeah, 'kay." He whispered, eye brows scrunched in thought.
"It sounded urgent Doctor Jackson." Reynolds fidgeted and thought to himself, 'no way am I getting my butt chewed by a certain General, just because his archeologist waits to call him back'.
Daniel flipped the phone around in his hand as he continued to ignore Reynolds. "He's just worried." Daniel said softly, then rolled his eyes upward as he sighed, "Not that he would ever admit that out loud."
Tim made a snorting sound as he tried not to laugh. By this time Reynolds was desperate, "Sir?"
"Oh chill out Reynolds, I'll call him. Otherwise he'll just keep calling me." Daniel said as he walked over to the window to call Jack. Reynolds sighed in relief as he sat back down.
Tony took the opportunity to slip over to Tim's desk and sat on the edge. "So McSecret, how long have you known Mr. Doctor?" Tony asked in his usual 'tell me what I want to know' way.
Tim looked at Tony as if trying to decide how much to tell him. They had become close over the years and knew Tony looked at him as a brother. All of them, Gibbs, Ziva, Tony, and Tim were a family, and Tim didn't want Tony to feel like someone was taking his place.
"I meet him when I was eight, he was ten. My parents fostered him for a little over a year. He's been my big brother ever since. We just don't get to see each other as often as we would like too."
"Big brother huh?" Tony tried to make it sound as if he was just curious, but Tim could hear the hurt in his voice.
"Don't worry Tony. Daniel may be my 'Big Brother' but you're my 'Best Friend' that hasn't changed." Tim said this with as much sincerity as he could so Tony would know he was telling the truth.
Tony looked into Tim's eyes and could tell he wasn't lying. Tony felt more relieved as he realized, Daniel wasn't taking his place, he had always been there. 'Plus there's enough of McGee to share' Tony thought. Smiling he clapped Tim on the shoulder as he said, "So, how much trouble did you two get into? Or, I should say, didn't get into? I mean you were both science geeks, right?"
"I wouldn't call Daniel a geek if I were you. Especially around Jack." Tim warned.
"How come?"
"Let's just say it's a phrase only a certain General is allowed to use." Tim stressed earnestly, hoping Tony would get the hint.
"Yeah, okay, no calling him a geek. Got it." Tony promised as he held up his hand in scouts honor. Daniel came back over as Tony stood and walked back to his desk.
Daniel sat and turned his chair so he could look at the names on the screen again.
"Hey, what Jack want?" Tim asked, seeing how Daniel was once again lost in thought.
"Oh, just wanted to see how I was. Also we have full access to whatever we need to find our guys."
"What do you mean by 'full access'? Tony asked.
"If we need anything to help with this case, be it equipment or people, Henry said all I have to do is ask." Daniel still hadn't taken his eyes off the screen in front of him.
"Henry?" Tony confusedly asked.
"President Henry Hayes. He told me to call him Henry, won't let me call him anything else." Daniel shrugged as he said this.
Tony looked at Ziva and saw her eyes widened in surprise. 'Wow' he mouthed to her. She just nodded in response.
"Danny, what are you trying to figure out?" Tim whispered. He couldn't wait any longer, he wanted to know what Daniel was thinking.
"Oh, umm, just trying to understand how this all fits together. It doesn't make any sense."
"Why don't you give us a little background info on these men while we're waiting for their files." Gibbs announced as he breezed back in. Everyone but Daniel was startled as Gibbs walked in.
"Alright. Lieutenant Colonel Collin Matthews joined the Marines right after graduating high school. He's been married to his wife Jennifer for twenty-five years, no kids. Staff Sergeant Benjamin Abrams joined the Army after graduating college. He has a degree in Astrophysics. He started dating his now girlfriend Alesha Monroe about six months ago." Daniel paused as Tony broke in.
"His 'now girlfriend'?" Tony asked.
"Yeah, he isn't the type to have a steady girlfriend, but I think Alesha was really good for him, started to settle him down. Anyway, First Lieutenant Marco Sanchez also joined up after college. He has a degree in Linguistics. He's in the Air Force and his Fiance is Zoe Martinez. They've been engaged for three months."
"Cutest couple ever!" Towen announced with a smile. "I have never seen two people more in love. It's actually quite sickening at times." He frowned as he said the last part.
Daniel snorted and told him, "Just don't say anything like that on base around the women. You'll get put in your place real quick." Taking a breath Daniel continued, "And lastly Major Adam Marks joined the Air Force while attending college. Has a degree in Archeology and his wife's name is Caitlyn. They've been married ten years and have four kids."
Gibbs broke the silence that fell upon them, "So what connects them?"
"I don't know." Daniel shook his head. "None of these men were on the same team. They all had different backgrounds and specialties. They all started working on Base at different times. Yes they all lived in the Colorado Springs area, but most of us do. I just don't get it. I'm not seeing a pattern."
Quiet once again descended upon the bullpen. Everyone trying to solve the puzzle in their own mind. After a few minutes the elevator dinged open and a man in uniform stepped off. He was followed by four more men, also in dress blues, who were each carrying a box. They were escorted by Agent Nielsen. As they got closer Gibbs stood and waved Agent Nielsen away. The Agent took off for the elevator as fast as he could.
Daniel had stood also and was smiling as he shook the mans hand who didn't have a box, "Paul, I didn't expect to see you. How are you? How'd you get dragged into this. And most importantly how'd you guys get the files so fast?"
Paul laughed as he answered, "Good to see you too Daniel. I'm alright. I was in Colorado in a meeting with General Landry when you called earlier. After recalling all personnel back to base, he really didn't want to send anyone out here. Wanted them right where he could see them. So I volunteered, seeing as I had to come back here anyway."
"Well thanks, but honestly, how did you get all this done so soon? It's only been an hour."
"One word."
"Walter." They both said in unison with a knowing smile.
"Paul I'd like to introduce you to Agent Gibbs, David, DiNozzo, and McGee. Everyone this is Major Paul Davis."
After everyone had said hello, Paul addressed Daniel again, "Daniel, have you found anything yet?"
"No, not yet. And adding more missing people just made it more confusing." Daniel said as he shoved his hands into his pockets.
"You'll figure it out. Somehow you always come up with an answer to everything." Paul said as he patted Daniel on the shoulder. Daniel just gave him a crooked grin and shook his head. "Well I have to get back to the Pentagon. If you need anything from me, just call okay?"
"Can do. Thanks Paul." Daniel said as he showed Paul's box helpers where to place the boxes.
"You're welcome. Good luck everyone." Paul and the four men left the bullpen and headed to the elevator.
"Alright Agent Gibbs, how would you like to split this up?" Daniel asked, letting him take charge.
"Tony take Lieutenant Sanchez's file and work with Major Towen, Ziva take Sergeant Abrams' file work with Colonel Reynolds, McGee, you and Daniel work on Major Marks' file. I'll take Colonel Matthews'." Gibbs announced and in a matter of moments everyone had their assigned box and was knee deep in papers.
A/N: Once again I hope you enjoyed this chapter. There's a lot of background work, but hopefully you're all liking it. There is still a whole lot left to go! As long as my english essay co-operates I should be able to work on both!