Chapter 9
Mike stormed over to DiNozzo, poking him hard in the chest. “What are ya, useless? While you two are sitting out here, Abby was printing him in there alone. What the hell ya thinking, both of ya?”
He turned his fury on McGee now. “Don’t you think you wormed your way out of this because you’re the probie, McGee. Tell me why I shouldn’t fire both your sorry asses?”
“Boss?” McGee asked confused. Standing up, he tried to take in the situation. “You mean, Abby went to him, alone? What was she thinking? Is she okay?” Tim had rarely ever seen Mike this angry, which made his alarms go off in worry for Abby.
Tony blinked a few times in absolute shock, edging closer to McGee and standing slightly in front of him, even though he knew he couldn’t protect either of them from Mike’s wrath.
“Because we’re doing our best work, Boss. Probie’s running like twelve different searches and I’ve been in contact with a couple of agencies. We’re doing our best.”
Mike got right in their personal space. “Yeah, Abby went to him, alone! You were supposed to watch her, DiNozzo. And McGee, I don’t know what the hell use you are beside the computer work.”
A bit shocked at Tony defending him, Tim moved alongside of him, intending on standing ground as equals. “Boss, she’s not a child to babysit. She knew she was supposed to come get Tony when it was time for the interrogation. If she went to him alone, it wasn’t because we weren’t doing our job.”
“She isn’t clear headed,” Mike shot back. “And you two are supposed to look out for all the team! What if he raped her in interrogation? What then, McGee?”
He hadn’t, Tony knew that. Mike had some kind of agenda with the guy and was trying to rally the troops for his side. “Then he’d be dead, Mike,” Tony shot back evenly. “Isn’t Ziva with him there?” Suspects were always guarded so that they didn’t leave interrogation.
“We were doing our jobs, Mike, what you asked us to do. Abby knows how to protect herself. And if Ziva is there, she wasn’t in danger. Ziva is more observant than any of us.” Despite Tim’s dislike of the suspect, he finally realized that Abby hadn’t been in any danger, at least physically.
“And she’s under the dirtbag’s spell too,” Mike growled. “They put all the old case files onto the computers, McGee? I’ve dealt with Brooks before. Think it was a drug running case in California. Fifteen maybe twenty years ago. People died, woman, kid, couple guys. Killed one of our agents. Find me the answers. Wanna know who we’re dealing with”
That was all that Mike could remember about the case and it pissed him off.
“Maybe he is involved in the drugs ring,” Tony replied quietly. If he’d killed an NIS agent, all bets were off and Tony could see why Mike was completely out of control.
Finding it incredibly difficult to believe that Ziva could be under anyone’s spell, Tim went back to his desk with an, “On it, Boss.” Seeing a few of his searches had returned nothing, Tim closed them out to give him the space he needed to pull up old case files.
“If he’s that dirtbag, Mike, we’ll nail him,” Tony promised, sighing when Mike just grunted and walked to the window, looking out over the Anacostia. Tony perched on the edge of McGee’s desk. “Intense, Probie…intense.”
“My reaction seems pale in comparison to that now, huh? But it does put some things in perspective. What is it about this guy that sets us off?”
Tony squeezed Tim’s shoulder. “Maybe because we know he took down one of our own,” Tony said faintly. If that was the case, they might have sensed it. “Or maybe because he’s an arrogant SOB who screwed with Abbs somehow, Probie. We’re all overprotective of her.”
“Do you really think that the man in interrogation is really the drug dealer we’re after? I mean, I guess there’s still a possibility. But it just doesn’t seem feasible now. Abby’s got bad taste, but she usually figures out when a guy she’s attracted to doesn’t have all the crayons in his box.”
“I don’t know.” Tony admitted as honestly as he could. “I think he’s someone to be concerned and wary about, especially when you consider that he was packing those knives. But I don’t know where that leaves any of us. Who he is, what he wants from Abbs…I just don’t know, McGee. We need answers. Now.”
“Yeah, but if we panicked at everyone who was packing, we’d be freaked about Ziva all the time. Who knows, really, how many weapons she has on her? And I know we need answers, Tony. I’m just waiting on my searches to kick up something.”
“But McGee, who packs knives like that for a black tie benefit. It’s very True Lies or Mission Impossible, or Bond, and I don’t want Abbs wrapped up in an action movie. We have enough danger around us to begin with.”
“Any one of us. Ziva, You, Someone” Tim countered, finding it ironic that they had switched positions on the issue. “I’d rather have her in an action movie than the freaky, Halloween murder movies she’s been in lately.”
Tony nodded. “But he isn’t us, McGee. He’s not an agent on an op. He’s a predator with two military-grade ceramic knives. He’s more Bolfeld than Bond.” That was the difference. If he’d been an agent and flashed a shield…well…
Tony gave McGee a little smirk. “Bet you didn’t expect to be defending him.” It was all a part of making McGee see all sides. Even though he knew that Mike was the training agent, Tony couldn’t help but try to move things along for the probie. Some day, he’d be team leader and wanted McGee as his senior field agent.
“Humpf,” was all Tim would say, knowing Tony had done that on purpose. “Playing devil’s advocate, Tony? Okay, how ‘bout this? What if he’s not a predator? What if he…nah, that’s too farfetched.”
“What if he what. McGee? He’s not one of us. If he was, he would have flashed a badge. Even an undercover guy would have done that before landing in interrogation. So, what? What are you thinking?” But Tony knew if someone was far under, they wouldn’t even carry a shield.
This was what Tony lived for. Debating ideas and theories was one of his favorite things to do and in this case, it had been all figuring out about his relationship with Abby and no figuring out the ins and outs of who he was and why he was at the party in the first place.
“What if he’s undercover? Or maybe he really is a dirtbag, but with an agency too? I don’t know, Tony. It just all seems really hinky. What do you think?”
“I think he would have told us, don’t you?” Tony asked, swallowing hard. Problem was that McGee’s theory made too much sense. “He would have asked to call someone, McGee. Not let himself be pulled in. Unless they were investigating us, which would make no sense.”
But the more Tony thought about it, the more sense it made. “Hope he’s not an agent,” he said quietly. “I bashed his head against the wall.”
“Yeah, and I shoved a gun into his gut. If he is investigating us, we’re screwed, Tony.” They could both be in a lot of trouble and soon. And all for Abby. But he’d do it again. It was Abby.
“Hell, Tim. I wasn’t even thinking that.” Tony squeezed McGee’s shoulder. “It’ll be okay, Probie. I’ll take the fall if it comes to that. We can make a case for defending Abby. Anyone who knows us and the agency will understand. And Morrow thinks of her as a daughter or a little sister. He would understand even if he doesn’t approve.”
“I wouldn’t let you do that, Tony. But thank you for the thought. If it goes down that way, it’s all or nothing. No one’ll take the fall for the others. It’s wrong, isn’t it, that I hope he is the scumbag we pegged him originally? Would kinda make things simpler all around, though maybe not for Abby.” In reality, Tim would hate having a man imprisoned for the wrong crime. But he would also hate to see him and his friends endure disciplinary actions.
“No, I hope so too, Tim,” Tony said, uncharacteristically quiet now. “Let’s get back to work.”
~*~
There was some sort of commotion going on at McGee’s desk and Ducky moved beyond it. He’d had Cynthia ring Abby’s lab and there was no answer. She’d also tried Autopsy at his insistence, but nobody had picked up there. Ducky had a sneaking suspicion that he needed to check the interrogation areas. He walked into the observation room and looked inside the first room, seeing Abby and Ziva and a cuffed suspect. He turned on the microphone. “Ladies? Anything I can assist you with?” Feeling they needed him, he moved out of the observation room and into the doorway of the interrogation room.
“Ducky!” Abby exclaimed, running to him. Hugging him tightly, she asked, “Can you check Jet out? Ducky…Franks attacked him, a restrained man in our custody.” Abby still couldn’t bring herself to say Mike’s first name. “Can you please make sure he’s okay?” she asked, as she pulled her friend closer. “Jet, this is Doctor Mallard. Ducky this is Jet Brooks.”
Ducky looked between Abby and Ziva. “Tell me what happened, ladies.” He was concerned that they might implicate Mike in front of the suspect.
“Doctor,” Jet said quietly.
“Check him out first, Ducky. Then we’ll tell you what happened.”
Very aware that he was the suspect in some event, Ducky didn’t extend a hand. “Sit still for me, Mr. Brooks,” he said brusquely. “Might I assume, Abigail, that this unfortunate mess has something to do with the sudden and unexpected removal of your tattoo?”
Ducky slipped on some gloves and tilted the man’s face to and fro, gently palpating the swelling skin and then looking into his eyes, fingers brushing over a bruise at his temple as well. “You’ve struck your head, haven’t you? I think you may have a slight concussion. Nothing to be concerned about in most cases. Someone must keep an eye on him at all times, though. Watch for altered states of consciousness, dizziness, sudden drowsiness, lack of inhibitions. And if you have a sudden or severe headache, you must alert someone immediately.”
Ducky stripped off the gloves and looked from Abby to Ziva. “This quite reminds me of a time when I was a lad, working with…” The two women weren’t at all indulgent at the present time and he nodded. “Ah, very well then… Explain to me the circumstances behind this.”
Leaving Abby to fuss over Jet, Ziva pulled Ducky to the side and gave a brief description of the events. “Abby had her spiderweb tattoo removed from her neck at Mike’s request. He put her in an undercover investigation. There are many aspects of the op that I cannot go into details about yet. Needless to say, Abby got caught up in it, met him, Jet Brooks, and now has some sort of connection with him, an attraction you could say. I am unsure of all the parts leading up to the events just now.
“What I do know is that Abby came to interrogation, alone, to take his prints. I was standing guard outside. When Mike came to begin the interrogation, I assume, he became overcome with rage and attacked Brooks, who was restrained sitting at the table.” As far as Ziva knew, he had removed the cuffs, but appeared to have redone them before Franks burst in.
“He struck Brooks twice, knocking him to the floor, unconscious. When Abby tried to protect the suspect, Mike threatened her, threatened to have her transferred, threatened the suspect. He was quite out of control, Ducky. I went to protect Abby by standing by her side, which only seemed to enrage him further.”
“Attraction,” Ducky said, milling over the term. It explained why Abigail was hovering over the man, taking his hand in hers. “Mike attacked him just like that? Ziva, have you any idea what might have provoked him?”
Taking a deep breath, Ziva admitted, “Ducky, I do not know what to do now. Franks was unstable, his anger making him irrational and violent. There was something else that drove him, and I do not understand what.”
Mike was a bit high strung at times, could be a bit of a loose cannon but Ducky had never in their many years working together seen Franks strike out at a suspect unless the suspect struck first.
“The suspect was cuffed, Ducky. When Mike barged into the room, Brooks was cuffed and seated quietly with Abby putting her fingerprinting equipment away. Other than being upset with Abby alone with him, there was no provocation.”
Ducky nodded, sighing. “Could Franks have perhaps gotten some information that ties him into another case? Could he have been reacting because of some information that he hasn’t yet shared perhaps?”
“If he did, he has yet to share the information with the team, Ducky. At least with this part of the team. He kept calling out for the suspect’s blood, almost as if Brooks had raped Abby. Which you can tell is not the case.”
“No…no, definitely not that. She seems quite relaxed and content to be in his presence, Ziva.” Ducky had to admit that. Abby looked calmer with the silver-haired stranger. “And what are your impressions of both the man and this development, my dear?”
“Ducky, I cannot understand the connection between Abby and Brooks. I have no basis of experience to compare with it. However, he appears to be an honorable man, who wants to protect Abby, even perhaps from herself. Other than the unexplainable connection and a bit of a smart mouth, he has done nothing to warrant the treatment he has received.”
Ducky nodded, pulling in a deep breath. What he had to say would likely cause even more problems for the dear girl in the short term. “Ziva, as a witness to this event, you need to speak to the director immediately. Mike may have completely compromised your case against Abigail’s new friend.”
“I will not leave Abby’s side, Ducky. Not after Mike threatened her like that. The director will have to come down here. Could you bring him, Ducky?”
“Of course I can, my dear,” Ducky said, kissing Ziva’s cheek. “Back in a jiffy then. Abigail, I trust you and Mr. Brooks will not come to any harm if I’m gone for a few minutes?”
“Not at all. I have my Mossad assassin to protect us,” she tried for some levity to lighten the worrisome mood that had settled over them.
Ducky nodded. “Very well, then. Mr. Brooks, please tell the ladies if you feel poorly. I’ll be back shortly.”
Jet gave the older man a slight nod, unwilling to thank him verbally.
“Thank you, Ducky,” Abby said, smiling at him. A thought suddenly popped into her mind just then. “Ducky, is he going to need ice or aspirin or something?”
“Well, ice or an anti-inflammatory won’t hurt, my dear. I’ll bring both back when I return. I need to duck out for a moment.” He gave Abby a tender, almost paternal smile. “You’ll be all right while I’m gone, won’t you?”
“Yes, Ducky. We’ll be fine.” Getting up, she ran to him to give her old friend a tight hug. “Thanks, Duckman.” Holding him away from her, she smiled in thanks and went back to Jet.
“Most welcome, Abigail. Ziva…” Ducky nodded, knowing he didn’t need to ask her to hold down the fort. It was what Ziva did astoundingly well. With that said, he left the interrogation room, knowing his might was about to get much more complicated and unpleasant.
~*~
Mike was pacing the floor when the elevator dinged and out walked three men in suits that may have been cheap but were nicer than the clothes Mike wore. “Oh look, boys, our friends from the FBI.”
Tony gave McGee a look and shrugged. “Slacks, Fornell.” Tony didn’t know the third guy.
“What brings you boys over here from the Hoover building?” Mike asked. “You tryin’ to crash our party?”
Coolly, unruffled by the unwelcoming greeting from the NCIS agent, Fornell replied, “I see you’re still trying to keep up with the big boys, Franks. It’s not your party. Seems you’re trying to conduct an investigation into an FBI case. That makes it our party.”
Mike smirked slightly. “Oh, you want Brooks. Not happening, boys. He may have assaulted one of my agents and we’re running searches on him regarding an old drug case, NIS agent murdered. Woman and kid killed too.” Mike just wished he could remember more. “Get your own dirtbag. This one is ours.”
“Dirtbag? Ha! You need some new words. Jet Brooks is not a murderer, nor is he a criminal. You haven’t been read in on our case, Franks, so don’t assume you know anything.”
“Then read me in, Tobias,” Mike growled with a jerk of his head toward the alcove by the stairs. “Entertain our guests, DiNozzo, McGee.” Mike strode over to the alcove and waited for the shorter man to join him.
“Not giving him up, Fornell. He hurt my forensic scientist and he and I have met before. McGee’s running the searches and as soon as I can, I’m nailing the dirtbag. You can throw charges on him when I’m done. If there’s anything left for ya afterward.”
Mike eyed the other man, a clear challenge gleaming in both their eyes. “Brooks is mine, Fornell. You don’t get to sweep in and steal the glory again. Let it happen too many times but this is my op, this is my collar.”
He leaned in close, going nose to nose with Fornell. “My dirtbag, Tobias. Get your own.”
Rolling his eyes as Franks tried to muscle his way into an FBI investigation, Fornell shot back, “I don’t have to do a thing, least of all read you in. And I seriously doubt he did anything to your scientist. Abby, right? Yeah, if this is my man, I can guarantee he didn’t harm a black hair on her gothic head. I want to see Brooks, now, Franks. No stalling.”
“Brooks has a history here. Think he might have killed a NIS agent.” Mike didn’t like sharing any information but he was keeping a handle on this one. No matter what the short-term cost was.
He glanced over at Sacks and the other man and conceded a small point. “You and you alone. And I’m there when you ID him. He doesn’t leave NCIS custody unless my director says so.”
Mike didn’t like it but he didn’t see any other way to make Fornell and his bulldogs leave them in peace to figure this out.
“You think? Think that’s gonna fly with the FBI, that you think. Not bloody likely, Franks.” Nodding in acceptance, Fornell bit out, “I don’t need anyone else with me. I can handle a simple interrogation on my own. But if you wanna be there…” He let the implication of Franks’ desperation to peter off. Besides, his boys had other jobs they needed to keep track of.
“Don’t much care, Tobias. He’s our collar and our guy. Tryin’ to be accommodatin’ to ya, but if that isn’t enough, you march your happy ass right back to the Hoover building.” Mike chuckled. “And take your sissie boys with ya. The FBI breeding those metrosexual boys nowadays? McGee could take Sacks in a fair fight. Or an unfair one.”
“He won’t be your collar for much longer, Mike. You must really be in a bind on this one, to start insulting my guys.
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