Catalyst 16/?

[emerald_green37]

   

 

 

Vance thought that years of being an agent, a father and now a director of a national agency prepared him for anything, but he found himself speechless. McGee had shot out of the elevator, Gibbs hot on his heels, the argument that had started upstairs obviously still continuing. Vance was equally proud of the younger man for standing up for himself against his stubborn boss and curious exactly how Gibbs was going to handle this near insubordination. Gibbs' handling of it was both unique and effective and becoming hands on - extremely hands-on. Mentally shaking himself from his stupor, Vance gave a yell.

 

"Hey! Get a room, you two, and not one of mine."

 

 

---NCIS---

 

 

Abby was furious, madder than she ever remembered, but before she could reach the object of her ire, McGee's arrival in the bullpen caught her attention. Gibbs was right behind him and they were arguing. As she watched, Gibbs pulled Tim close and kissed him. Abby stared in shock until Tim started kissing him back, then she smiled, squealing and clapping, as Gibbs' hands moved down to grip McGee's ass just as the Director shouted at them to get a room.

 

 

---NCIS---

 

 

Flying out of the elevator, Tim was mortified that he'd let slip to Gibbs his deepest secret. That their one night together was now the center of his world. That he'd rather face a maniac who wants to chop him into little pieces than to face the loneliness of sleeping alone in the same house as Gibbs. All he could think about was putting as much distance between himself and the object of all his dreams as possible, to run and hide and lick his wounds.

 

So intent on escaping, he didn't register Gibbs' confession at first. The repeat of the confession gave him hope, but it wasn't until he felt the familiar lips crushing against his that he knew it was real.

 

It was not until Vance yelled and Abby gave a shrill shriek that the two men broke apart, but only slightly as they rested their forehead against each other. Gibbs spoke too softly for anyone other than Vance to hear. "Let me protect you, please. I can't stand by and risk something happening to you."

 

Tim pulled back far enough to look at Gibbs and he saw a warmth and love that took his breath away. Unable to speak, he bit his lip as he nodded.

 

Vance broke in softly. "I know you want to protect DiNozzo's feelings, but your safety has to be our top priority now, McGee. We can't hide this any longer."

 

"Damn it." Tim closed his eyes for a second before sighing and turning to Vance. "Don't let him do anything stupid."

 

"I won't."

 

Tim couldn't look at the rest of the team, suddenly afraid of their anger, their condemnation. Tony and Ziva hadn't moved yet, but Abby came closer, stopping only inches from Gibbs and McGee. She studied them both, then smiled. "Be happy and keep him safe, okay?"

 

Gibbs pulled Tim closer again as he gave Abby a serious nod. "With my last breath."

 

Everyone was silent as Gibbs and McGee retrieved their weapons and left on the elevator. Once the door closed on them, Abby spun around to face Tony, her earlier anger back on her face. She stomped over to him, pulling her rings off as she went. With a now bare hand, she slapped him across the face, hard.

 

Tony didn't react, but Vance caught her hand before she could hit him a second time. "You did some hacking."

 

Abby didn't fight Vance and immediately dropped her hand. "There's enough unclassified files to put it together if you know where to look."

 

"My office, all of you, now." Vance didn't acknowledge any of them until they were gathering around the conference table. Then he pointed out the chair next to him. "DiNozzo, sit."

 

Once they were seated - Ziva next to Tony, with Abby at Vance's other side, Ducky and Palmer next to her - Vance looked at Abby. "Tell me what you found." When she hesitated, Vance pushed. "All of it and how you found it."

 

Ducky spoke up before Abby could say anything. "I am afraid much of this is my fault, Director Vance. Jethro was quite agitated and worried about something when he came to see me. He asked me if I knew about Patterson and McGee. I asked him if was referring to Jack Patterson and he told me no, but that the situation would be handled his way from now on and that he was done messing around. I, unfortunately, let that information slip to Abigail."

 

Not wanting Ducky to fall on his sword for her, Abby cut in. "Tony had already told me that he'd done something to hurt McGee, but he didn't know what he'd done. Just that it had put McGee into the hospital. Tony was so afraid that he'd hurt him again, but he wasn't going to invade McGee's privacy."

 

"So you decided to invade it for him?"

 

"No, well, sort of." Abby squirmed in her chair as she confessed what had seemed like such a good idea at the time. "I thought if I could make sure Tony didn't accidentally make the same mistake again, it would be okay, that McGee was maybe overreacting and it was an easy fix."

 

"Judging from that swing you took at DiNozzo, you changed your mind. What did you discover?" Vance knew the truth was going to have to come out now, but he wanted to make sure that it was the truth and not some wild assumptions.

 

"The NCIS file was sealed by Director Morrow, but one of the security guards here was arrested, a Ted Patterson. The public court documents showed that he was arrested for a hate crime. The victim's name was blacked out, but Tony already knew that McGee had been hospitalized. I found the payment authorization for a private hospital and the timing fit." Abby had been staring at the tabletop, but she finally looked up at Vance, then at Tony, before returning her gaze to the table. "I didn't try to get into McGee's medical records, but one file that was available was a confirmation from HR for a consultation for a specialist and I looked up what kind of a surgeon he was."

 

"And?" When Abby didn't say anything, Tony slammed his hands down on the table, making her jump. "Damn it, what kind of doctor did Probie need because of me?"

 

Abby was still clutching the ring she'd taken off to slap Tony, but now she slowly put it back on as she turned her full attention to him. "He specializes in genital reconstruction, Tony. Most of his patients are Marines that have extensive blast injuries to the groin. Patterson was arrested for an attack on McGee that was classified as a hate crime. He attacked McGee after your little joke about McGee being gay went through the entire Yard. Put the pieces together, Tony."

 

Tony turned white and looked like he was going to bolt, but Vance grabbed his arm, pressing it down onto the table. "DiNozzo, stay here. Everyone else, back to your duties and no further discussions on the subject. I will call you back when it's time to continue this meeting. Is that understood?"

 

 

---NCIS---

 

 

Gibbs stopped the elevator and pulled Tim close, the younger man going into his arms willingly. They stood there for a few long moments before Gibbs brushed his lips across Tim's face and pulled back. "It's going to be all right, you'll see." Tim nodded, having full faith in Gibbs and they walked out of the the elevator side by side. They went straight to Gibbs' car, not separating until Tim was seated in the passenger seat. Only then did Gibbs move away to circle around to the driver's side door. Once the car was in gear and moving, he reached over to squeeze Tim's hand. "Abby's happy for us. The rest of them will be after they get over the shock." To his surprise, Tim started chuckling. "Tim?"

 

"Vance dropped his toothpick." His chuckles became louder. "We have flapped the unflappable." By now he was laughing.

 

The slightly hysterical tinge to the laughter worried Gibbs a little, but he was laughing now, too. "That we did, Tim, that we did."

 

 

 

 

Comments

[merzibelle]

Oh, hell, guilt tripping Tony... loved "get a room and not one of mine" and Tim's reaction to Vance dropping his toothpick. Well done! Can't wait for more... especially Vance's talk with Tony.

[emerald_green37]

It's all hitting the fan at the same time, isn't it?

[merzibelle]

It is indeed.... poor guys!