Disclaimer: no legal rights to NCIS, no money being made.

NOT BETA'D, EACH AND EVERY MISTAKE IS MINE, SORRY!

Warnings: same as Chapter One, also not for Ziva fans, nor Tiva fans. Therefore, read at your own risk you have been warned

Sorry for the long delay, I don't blame you if you've stopped reading this story

DETERMINED TO HOLD

CHAPTER TWENTY, Timothy McGee

Previously on NCIS

"McGee? Timothy McGee!? What in the hell are you doing here?"

NCIS NCIS NCIS

Some months ago the morning Tony left

Tim came to work that morning with several objectives in mind, probably just more unrealistic expectations than viable objectives but he needed some answers. For instance, Tony never showed up last night at Ducky's birthday party at that Italian restaurant he loved so much. Why not? Tony didn't answer his phone last night, how come? Tony didn't answer his door this morning, the reason?

Then again, Tony's car wasn't in the yard parking lot when he checked, so where was it and where was he? That was Tim's sole objective this morning; to find Tony and get some answers to those questions and a few others. He had thought that he and Tony had been working well together since his promotion to Senior Field Agent but maybe he had gotten it wrong and Tony didn't feel it was necessary to check in with him about, well, anything, maybe..and he didn't have to check in with him. But as a courtesy, he could have….

…could have what? Tim realized his inner inferiority complex was raising its ugly head again and stopped that thought before it fully matured. Tony had a good reason for not keeping in touch with him, he was sure and that was that.

But there were strange things going on, secrets being stored. Last night had been one of those strange times. For one thing, the birthday dinner for Ducky had been a flop that just limped along. Ducky invited a couple of his old codger friends who were always harping on about yesteryear. They had plenty to say and plenty more to drink, which made them prone to bathroom breaks every fifteen minutes or so, yeah, that kinda spoiled the mood for most.

Then, neither Gibbs nor Vance showed up with nary a text or phone call excuse. Tony was also a no-show even though he had seen Ziva writing him an invite and leaving it on his desk. The proprietors Mom and Pop were less than thrilled that Tony wasn't there and Mom kept giving Abby and Ziva dirty looks, which was a shame because it made them hesitate to eat the excellent veal and eggplant dishes. Tim was sure the wine they'd been served was not the highest quality since Tony wasn't there to enjoy it. Ziva and Abby were not the belles of the ball and all in all, everybody decided to call it an early night without even a dessert to mollify the gloom.

McGee, deeply thinking too much decided to see if Tony had seen and read that invite. After throwing his go-bag under his desk and in an obvious paranoid break, he sneakily meandered a few feet slowly over to Tony's desk in case anyone was hiding, watching him or taking notes. There was a crumpled piece of paper thrown carelessly on the desk. He opened it and read, 'you snooze, you lose,' in Ziva's distinctive handwriting. So, he was right. This was not an invite but a nasty snub.

"Tim, what is that?" In spite of all his careful recon and remaining on red alert, Tim honestly had not heard the elevator noises, her footsteps or her presence in the office so maybe he did jump at the sound of her voice so close to his ear. He could claim that's what happened because anyone would have had the same adrenal gland reaction to the threat of her voice. His nerves were tightly in his rigid control and made of steel like the Vulcan Superman Spock and he would not stutter.

Tim slowly turned to face Ziva. His face must have shown something because she took a slow step back.

"McGee, what is wrong?" There was real concern in her voice.

"This is the invitation you left for Tony, Ziva, but it's not an invitation, is it? Why? Why leave something like this?"

She didn't even look at the paper, she knew what it was. "That is what has you so upset, McGee, really?" She chided him with a smirk to show how ridiculous she thought he was, and how pathetic.

The awkward silence was broken by Gibbs' voice coming from above, "McGee, David, meet me in Vances' office in 15." Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Gibbs breezed by them quickly heading for Abby's lab.

Now pretending concern, Ziva questioned, "What is going on? Did you notice Gibbs did not ask where Tony was? He is obviously late. He must have done something wrong again, Tim. Perhaps he is tied up somewhere and needs rescuing," and her right eyebrow lifted at that scenario as though in deep thought but Tim saw the amusement in her eyes and knew she was 'twisting his leg' as she once had accused Tony of doing to her.

"Perhaps a session of the correct way to protect oneself should be considered a training requirement. I am sure I can set up an appointment with Mossad. And I know you agree with me but are too Willy-Nelly…" She looked puzzled for a moment then said playfully, "are those the right words, Tim, or is it wishy-washed? Yes, Willy-Nelly, I believe, to admit it," she blathered on.

This appeared to be her idea of small talk to McGee as though it was common practice for her but it just came off as drivel inferring more disparaging insults about Tony. And, to a silent Tim, was he hearing just that touch of edginess in her voice, a little panicky quiver?

"Do you know what this is about?" Ziva pressured again for more information, to know what he knew. She chose to stand seemingly unfocused behind her desk rather than sit, which gave McGee insight that her nerves weren't all that steady either.

"No, Ziva, I don't!" Tim inhales sharply, suspiciously. "What's the big deal anyway, we'll learn soon enough."

"Really, Tim. You are acting childish. First you do not answer me when I speak to you and then you accuse me of something, I do not know of what."

But actions speak louder than words as she applied lipstick and fluffed her hair. And Tim wondered who she thought she was primping for and why she acted as though she was relaxed and worry free when he knew she was far from it.

Many silent questions, no answers later, the elevator doors opened and Gibbs sped out with an unhappy Abby Sciuto in tow as though the need-to-know planned life-saving mission he was on had already started without him.

"You two still here? The Directors office, now!" Said an irritated Gibbs as he preceded Abby up the stairs.

"Ah, now we will get some answers. And you are wrong, Tim, I know nothing."

"I guess we'll find out those answers together then," he said, pointing to the stairs, "After you."

NCIS NCIS NCIS

Compared to Gibbs' behavior that morning, Vance's office atmosphere was calm. Earlier, Vance had sat at his desk while Danial Holt from Internal Affairs sat across from him. Holt would move to the outer office before the others arrived.

"When I discussed certain issues with Agent DiNozzo yesterday, I had no idea he was holding anything back," related Vance. "He had the perfect qualifications for this undercover job he was in line for. He could speak fluent Spanish, was a good singer and played the piano and guitar. The job was to infiltrate a gang of thieves who masqueraded as a popular local traveling band in Mexico but they were also involved in espionage and mercenary world terrorism, drug and human trafficking.

"DiNozzo was to pose as a musician and singer in that band. I offered him the undercover assignment and he accepted it. I'm afraid as an afterthought, which might have seemed I was not taking him seriously, I did emphasize the need for proof for any allegations he might bring up and I'm under the impression that Agent Gibbs told him the same thing. If so, he might have felt alone in this and had no recourse but to ask to be moved elsewhere if his concerns weren't taken seriously."

"I don't know Agent DiNozzo that well," said Holt. "Possibly what you're saying might have discouraged him from reporting his suspicions about this incident with Ziva or even coming to Internal Affairs about it but be that as it may, I've heard that he will stand his ground especially so with Gibbs as his immediate supervisor." And more the pity having to put up with that mule of a man, Mr Holt thought. He frowned tellingly at the thought of the former marine who he'd had dealings with in the past and was not impressed by his disrespectful abuse of IA related issues that he seemed to have an abundance of.

"But we won't know until we actually talk to him about it, I imagine. In the meantime, it's imperative that we find out what the rest of his team has to say. Rumors like the one brought up this morning, if true, could cause harm to an agent, damage this offices reputation and make it even harder to hire the right people for the kind of job an agent does here including putting his life on the line."

The guy was 'preaching to the choir," Vance mockingly thought but just nodded his head in agreement. He felt unsettled in his bones. Maybe he didn't know Tony DiNozzo that well either. It wasn't good that the man hadn't felt more at ease to more forcefully share his concerns but maybe he thought hitting the Director over the head with a bat to get his point across about his work related issues would not make his case. Maybe it's time for me to take a refresher course in being a better Boss, Vance thought.

"What a confounded mess, all I need this morning. Alright Mr Holt, please wait in the outer office as planned. I'll call you when we're done."

Holt left just as his secretary announced, "Director Vance, Agent Gibbs is here," over the intercom and shortly, the door opened and Agent Gibbs entered along with Officer David and Agent McGee and Dr Sciuto.

NCIS NCIS NCIS

Vance came around his desk with a manila folder in hand and indicated to the others to seat themselves at the table while he sat at the head, which was a great disappointment to Gibbs as the Director hadn't made a pit stop for coffee and invite him to have a cup.

"We have a serious problem that needs to be addressed an…"

"Does this concern Agent DiNozzo's absence from this meeting?" Ziva interrupted. She sat on Vances' right side, a seat down from him. Hands were clasped together on the table casually and her face was schooled into nothing but a look of curiosity so that she appeared unfazed by this unusual episode in her morning routine. But contrary to how she appeared, Ziva was not unfazed. Her training as a Mossad Agent and her father's influence had mostly taken care of her flawless outward facade.

The two disapproving looks she got from those in charge didn't stop her from continuing to ask her questions. " I am only concerned that he may need rescuing again and we are wasting time if that is so."

"Officer David, someone may need rescuing but it is not necessarily Agent DiNozzo. Now, if you'll let me finish?"

"Of course, Director."

"Thank you! Something has been reported to Internal Affairs about the MCRT that cannot be ignored. Whether it be true, malicious gossip, or someone's water cooler fantasy, it is serious enough that people could suffer immediate termination of their employment. Now, anybody have anything to say, or want to self exonerate, please speak up now. You won't get a second chance."

There were puzzled looks and maybe one guilty among the group assembled.

When there was no response, and Vance hadn't really expected one, he looked at the assembled group and took a deep breath. "Alright, I'm just going to lay it on the line then and hope we can get some answers." He pulled out a letter from the folder on the table and started reading from it.

Witness listening at a "water cooler" overheard Officer David mocking Agent DiNozzo about how he did not have any backup on their last case because she and Agent McGee had turned off all communication equipment and hadn't heard a word he'd "baby babbled" after the initial 10 minutes."

One run on sentence read by Director Vance in precise, straightforward detail later elicited a lack of response at first he contributed to guilt or surprise or the shock of the innocent. He was proven right when a barely audible gasp from McGee, who looked on in shocked dismay, was heard and he found his voice. "What?! No, never! Director, this has to be a mistake!"

And Ziva, also startled into silence for a different reason, put her hand to her mouth in disbelief before she quickly put it back down on the table to resume the disdainful persona perceived by the others.

Abby started crying whopping tears and spontaneously let the cat out of the bag. "It was a joke, Director Vance", she confessed. "Ziva told me it was a joke and that she would let Tony know at Ducky's party last night but Tony never showed up so she couldn't tell him," and the lab tech was reduced to shaking and making ghastly sobbing noises for which no one was inclined to give her comfort.

Director Vance gave a fleeting glance at Gibbs, surprised he had refrained from jumping in to save his precious Abby and trying to take over. The quiet Lead Agent actually sat tight-lipped and straight-backed, his piercing blue eyes focused directly on Ziva David.

Director Vance was not impressed with the stoicism, gasping, sobbing and staring from this group that was supposed to be the best. He wanted some answers. Vance barked out in a steely voice that surprised everyone and even banged his fist on the table once to wake them up. "I want to know what this joke was about! Somebody had better speak up."

Ziva had composed herself from that fleeting moment of panicked surprise earlier. Someone had eavesdropped on her conversation or rather her harassment of Tony and then indiscreetly revealed what she had said to others? She used that moment earlier of unwanted panic to fan the flames of her blame and anger on Tony DiNozzo.

"Yes, Director, there is a valid explanation for what has happened and I am sorry that Tony felt the need to make a complaint about it to you. As many pranks as he has forced on us, McGee and I and Abby and even the rest of personnel here, doubtless we are entitled to seek some sort of redress. And as Tony has never received penalty from those in charge for his actions, surely we are entitled to the same consideration."

Unbelievable. As one of 'those in charge', she was blaming him for this screwup? "Just to set the record straight, Officer David," Vance interrupted, "the person who heard you lying so egregiously to Agent DiNozzo thought everything you were telling him was the gospel truth. And because this person has a conscience they reported what they had heard to their boss who reported it to me. Agent DiNozzo 'did not feel the need', as you put it, to complain to me but I wish he had."

The rebuke was obvious as Vance stared her down. "DiNozzo has not spoken to me or reported to IA about this joke or prank you played on him and frankly and if he believed you, it could have undermined his ability to do his job without worrying there would be no one there to back him up."

Vance scowled deeply and asked on a hunch, "Is that what you wanted Officer David? For him not to be able to do his job?"

Ziva had found her safe place as she called it so could answer the Director calmly and coolly. "No, Director Vance. It was just a payback prank on Agent DiNozzo and when he finds out I am sure he will accept it as such."

"Hmm, perhaps," surmised Vance and nothing showed on his face that he didn't believe her.

Though nothing showed on Ziva's face either, she felt confident that her answer had satisfied Director Vance. She was glad she had kept her cunning and deceitful barbs thrown Tony's way out of the purview of listening ears. Until now. Where she had made her mistake must have been in the mens bathroom when she had followed him in there after he had refused to answer a simple query from her. Tony had been ignoring her as usual claiming he was resting his overworked voice box as though that organ of his body could be overworked. And every time she had gotten no response from him he had pointed to his throat and made a face. That had gotten on her third last nerve and she had had enough of it.

So she followed him into the bathroom for a little fun and just assumed all the stalls were empty, a fatal flaw to add to her resume of recent terminal flaws. But once she got out of this mess, she would rectify this mistake by tracking down the culprit who had been sitting on the toilet and stick a knife in his gut. Not to kill, no, this would not kill him but he probably would not need to actually sit on a toilet again to get rid of his waste, it would be carried around with him in a bag. And she knew exactly where to thrust the knife without him bleeding to death unless she had lost that skill also. The attack would be classified as a robbery gone bad and no one would know it had been Ziva David in disguise claiming her revenge. Ziva came out of her planning zone when Vance started to speak again.

"Which brings us back again to the question of what joke or prank are you talking about? You said a lot of words, Agent David, but you've told us nothing and my patience is getting mighty thin still waiting for that explanation," Vance could do patience for only so long.

"It is as Abby said, it was a joke. I told Tony that while McGee and I waited in the car during the time he was canvassing that neighborhood, we shortly got tired of his voice and we turned the listening equipment off and had not heard a word he said. Tony seemed to believe me but said that at least he thought McGee would not do that."

"And I wouldn't." Tim said sincerely and at this point, no one doubted him.

"Aye, what is the problem then, Tim?" she said, along with an annoyed glance his way. "I told him to check with Abby's autopsy of the equipment and that he would find evidence of what I was saying was true." She actually chuckled at the astonishment on the faces of her co-workers. "What is wrong, as I said, it was just an innocent prank. No harm was done."

"No harm was done? Really? Is Tony alright, Boss?" McGee asked quietly. "Is that why an IA Agent is waiting outside?" Gibbs turned his eyes off of Ziva to answer Tim's question "You'll have to ask Director Vance about that."

Vance frowned at his own minimizing of DiNozzo's stated concerns. If this was what he had been dealing with on a daily basis no wonder he didn't want to work with Ziva. Her cold callousness made him realize he should have taken the agent more seriously. He had taken him seriously but too little too late.

Instead of answering McGee's question right away, Vance turned to Abby. "Ms Sciuto, how do you fit into this idea of a prank better suited for a fifth grader?"

Abby had stopped crying and instead stared nastily at Ziva as she also proclaimed her innocence. "Ziva said I should just tell Tony that I didn't have the time to go over the equipment yesterday but I would do it first thing this morning. So I lied to him and said I didn't have time and he understood, said it was OK, just check it as soon as possible and he left. The thing is I had already checked the equipment and it was in perfect working order and Tony could be heard clearly throughout. But see, he didn't seem upset but now that I think about it, it wasn't a very nice thing to do and very unprofessional. But I thought it was just a prank and how could it harm any one and I was going to tell him at dinner that everything was okay that it was just a joke but he never showed up." She started sobbing again. "Tony's not alright, is he? Did he commit suicide or something?" she sobbed loudly.

Tim looked at her in astonishment. What! Suicide!? How had she jumped to that conclusion? Did she know something he didn't?

"Director?" Tim's face had blanched and his legs became weak for a moment as he had remained standing after his outburst. "Is Tony alright?" He seemed to have asked that question several dozen times already and no one had answered and he was starting to have an anxiety panic attack in his gut.

Vance looked around the table and was not happy at the worried faces, all holding their breath in fear of bad news. "Everyone just calm down," he said. He hadn't meant to appear holding anything back like he was a prophet of doom out to reign down judgement. "Tony… Agent DiNozzo is alive and well and has all his body parts as far as I know."

The collective sigh of relief was short and hardly heard but it was there. "Then where is he?" Gibbs finally spoke up.

"He's on an assignment need-to-know,Gibbs." Vance held up his hand to forestall any questions. "I'll fill you in later," he said, hoping to ease the worry until they got this sorted out. "Getting back to what brought this on, you're telling me that you outright lied to your partner about not backing him up and thought it was something to laugh about, am I correct, Officer David?

"As I have explained…" she attempted to minimize what she had done and even though she understood the fuss, the lack of protocol, the Director had said Tony was alright.

"Am I correct, Officer David?" Vance repeated sternly.

Ziva sat back in her chair with a huff proudly refusing to say anymore.

Vance waited a heartbeat, saw the position of her 'above the law' attitude, and realized she wasn't worth his further concern, then turned to Abby.

"Ms Sciuto? Is that correct?"

"Yes, but she said it was a joke. I'm glad Tony is alright and I'm so sorry..." Abby sat stiffly in her chair unable to continue.

Vance pursed his lips in disappointment as he contemplated the gathered group. This from MCRT, the best of NCIS, really? He rose from his chair and went to his desk where he used the comm to contact his secretary.

"Send IA Holt in please."

Shortly, Internal Affairs Rep Holt came in. He had been apprised earlier of what had been going on by Director Vance. The Director had Abby repeat her part in this debacle and assured him that the recordings in Abby's lab would verify that it was a joke perpetrated by Liaison Officer David and Dr Sciuto. With a frown, Rep Holt turned to pages in the manual he was carrying marked with different colored stickers and read about State codes, Penal codes and code 1,2,3 for NCIS and stated they were in place for a reason.

"Trust in our partners is essential and backup vital, without it, there is no agency. So I'm here because the scuttlebutt was brought to my attention that an Agent was left without backup by other agents, his partners, no less, for precisely two hours and thirty seven minutes but you maintain it was a prank with proof thereof, consequently I will mark the case as closed and your supervisors to determine, if any, your just punishment."

He looked around the table with disapproval written all over his stern face at their kindergarten shenanigans and requested to Vance that he be notified of any disciplinary actions taken. He then turned with a sarcastic "enjoy the rest of the day playing in the children's garden," parting salvo for having had him sitting there wasting his time on this group of mislabeled best agents, and left the room.

Director Vance was probably the only one or maybe Gibbs and definitely DiNozzo who would understand the ill-tempered IA Reps slur about children's gardens and the kindergarten activities of the MCRT but the Director had other things to deal with right now other than the opinion of a disgruntled glorified office police. And to be honest, the attack, and that was what it was by Ziva, was more than just a childish prank. There was motive behind her actions that weren't playful or even truthful. She had wanted DiNozzo to feel alone, isolated and had even enticed Sciuto to lie and insinuated that McGee had been directly involved too.

Vances' thoughts would have to wait. He picked up the file from the table and dropped it on his desk on the way to the coffee machine. Noises of chairs being pushed back from the table indicated the group was preparing to leave. Without turning around Vance said, "this meeting is not over, please retake your seats except for you Agent McGee. You may leave. I'm sure there's paperwork for you to do and please do not discuss this with anyone."

Even though Tim looked reluctant to leave, he followed the Director's order and grimly departed without saying a word to anyone.

"Officer David, Dr Sciuto, please wait in the outer office. Please do not discuss this with each other or anyone else."

He waited for them to leave before turning to Gibbs with a fresh cup of coffee.

NCIS NCIS NCIS

Timothy McGee sat at his desk staring at meaningless words on a cold case report. He figured he'd been staring at that report for hours but in reality just half of that time had elapsed when he heard Abby clonking down the stairs in her big boots.

She looked around suspiciously for spy's similar to the way he had done those innocent eons earlier. It looked like she had used the Director's bathroom to clean her face of tears and mascara and to be honest, she looked a whole lot better than he thought she would. She raised her hand when he started to speak and admitted, "I'm not supposed to talk about this to anyone but I'm already on Vance's bad list for the day so what does it matter? I've been given a formal reprimand which will be included in my personnel file permanently and I guess I deserve it for following Ziva's lead."

"You didn't know what she was up to, Abby, not really."

"And I still don't know, but that's not the point. I shouldn't have done it and I'm just glad Tony's ok. I'll talk to you later Tim." And she walked away without the usual bounce, sadder but wiser.

Sometime later, Ziva stormed down the stairs while he was not reading the report in front of him. She did not pause at his desk like Abby had done with some comforting words but went directly to her desk where she started throwing drawers open. His brain systematically recorded her actions like it was a witness interrogation because he was numb, didn't have anything else to do, and couldn't think of anything to say to her. So, she had her phone to her ear…she said words he recognized as Hebrew that sounded pretty sinister while she collected her belongings…her gun, badge and ID, and her NCIS phone went into her desk drawer while she still held her private phone to her ear. Finally done with her domesticity, she picked up her go bag and without the usual sashay, or even a goodbye word to him, she left. McGee started to breathe again.

NCIS NCIS NCIS

When Gibbs came down, Tim expected the unexpected, didn't know what he didn't know and didn't know what Gibbs would say or not say. So he sat with the same report in front of him that he'd been not reading all morning that had scattered bits and pieces of crumbs from the nutrition bar he had gagged down while he'd waited.

"Ziva's been suspended two weeks with no pay. Don't know what the final outcome will be that's up to Vance. She wasn't outright fired because it appears she was going to tell Tony at dinner that it was…"

"No she wasn't," Tim interrupted, "going to tell him, that is. Here's the note she left him." Tim let Gibbs read the crumpled self-explanatory note that he'd stuck in his pocket earlier without comment.

"Snooze you lose, huh? So she lied even about that." Disgusted, Gibbs berated himself for being an old gullible fool. He decided he was out of coffee and needed to go get some. "Come on Tim, let's walk." And they left the office together.

NCIS NCIS NCIS