It had been almost sixteen hours since they arrived in Afghanistan. Except for a few hours in which Tim managed to eat a sandwich and get a few hours of sleep, he had been at the computer. He found what appeared to be a glitch in the tactical program they were using. If it was what he thought, many lives were in extreme danger. Not sure who to trust, he continued his search alone, not telling anyone what he had found. Right now he wished he had Abby’s help but was thankful she was safe back in her lab.

Tim sat back in his chair and stretched his arms out. He heard the bones in his neck pop. “Mmm,” he said then noticed the sergeant looking at him. “Sorry ‘bout that,” he said smiling. “How many other men have access to these computers?”

“Well, besides me, there’s SSgt. Frank Davenport; he’s been temporarily assigned to a unit in Baghdad just yesterday as a matter of fact. The other person is SSgt. Irma Ortega. She’ll be back on duty at midnight. Of course there’s also our computer techs and Lt Jasper who’s in charge of our little cyber kingdom. Are you thinking one of us is responsible for…for killing our own men?”

“I’m not sure what to think just yet.” It took another hour to find the code he was looking for. He made sure not to let on that he had found anything, for what he did find was, well, not good.  Casually standing and stretching his back to get the kinks out, he spoke to the tech seated at the next console. “I’m taking a short break, Brown.”

“No problem, Agent. You’ve been at it for awhile. Oh, I saw your friend at the headquarters building a little while ago. She asked if you were making any progress.”

“Thanks. I’ll see if I can find her. I need to contact my team leader anyway. We haven’t been able to get an update to them since we arrived. The communications here aren’t the best, are they?”

“No, Sir, I mean Agent. It comes and goes unless you can get satellite time.”

“I’ll be back in thirty minutes.”

Tim found Ziva still at headquarters talking with Lt. Jasper. “McGee, have you found anything yet?”

“I need to see the Major if he’s available. It’s important, Lt.”

“He said you have primary access to him no matter what time it is. He’s on the phone with Command, but I’ll let him know you’re here.” With that he got out of his chair and knocked on the Major’s door. He announced the Agent and indicated that McGee and Ziva should enter.

Major O’Hara ended his call and stood. “Agent McGee, you have something for me?”

“Yes sir. I found a glitch, if you will, in the program used for the tactical maneuvers of certain Marine units. I also think I know who altered the program. Is there some way I can go to where the targeted units are? It may be the only way to confirm my suspicions.”

“Agent, your safety is my job. I don’t think that would be wise. Those units are in strategic zones. Can’t you tell us where you think the problem is and let us take care of it or fix the problem from here?”

“Sir, I was asked to do a job. I’m a trained agent and I know how to use a gun. Agent David and I are well capable of completing the job we were sent to do. Now, when can we leave? Sooner is better than later.”

Major O’Hara took a deep breath. This agent had bigger balls than he had been given credit for and figured the same could be said for Agent David. “Okay, but my men will be with you at all times. You will do as they say and go where they say; only where they say. Am I clear?”

“Yes, Major,” the two agents said at the same time.

“I’ll need to know your exact destination before you leave,” he said to McGee. He turned to his aide. “Lt. Jasper, see to it that Agent McGee gets to a secure link to contact the NCIS office and have a security patrol and vehicle ready to take them where they need to go.”

“Aye, Sir,” the Lt said. He turned to leave. “Agents, if you’ll come with me, I’ll take you to the Com Room so you can make your call.”

 ***

It was late but Gibbs and DiNozzo were still at their desks. Tony looked at his watch and sat back in his chair, closing his eyes for a few seconds. He heard a noise at his desk and opened his eyes to see his boss with two cups of coffee in his hands.

“You look like you could use this,” Gibbs said as he set one cup in front of his agent.

“Thanks, Boss.” He took a sip of the surprisingly still hot liquid.

“Vance called a few minutes ago.”

“Vance? I thought he would have gone home hours ago.”

“He has two people in a potentially hazardous area. No matter what else, he’ll be here as long as he’s needed. He wants us in MTAC in ten minutes.”

Tony gave him a questioning look. “McGee and Ziva?” he asked.

Gibbs shrugged his shoulders. “That would be my guess.”

Tony had a hard time hiding his smile and Gibbs pretended not to see it.

Nine minutes later the three men were in MTAC waiting for the transmission to come through.

The tech put his earphones on and signaled to the Director. Within seconds the screen came alive, revealing the two agents in Afghanistan.

“Director, hello; Boss, Tony.” Tim greeted the three men. “I know it’s late there, it’s really early here.” He smiled. “I’m surprised you are all there, but this is the first chance we’ve had to get through to you.”

“McGee, David, what do you have for us?”

Tony searched his lover’s face, willing him to know what he wanted to say to him.  He saw Tim glance in his direction even as he talked with Vance. He saw the slight curve at the corner of his mouth. Yes, Tim knew.

“… going to the unit’s location,” McGee was saying.  

“Agent McGee, are you sure that’s a wise idea? You can’t do anything from where you are?”

“Damn,” Tony thought, not quite sure what he missed while he was thinking of his lover. That can’t happen at work.  He didn’t like the situation; even Vance was concerned. 

“Sir, going to the unit’s location is the only way of confirming my theory. Major O’Hara already signed off on it and is setting up a security detail for us.”

“We should be perfectly safe, Sir,” Ziva added.

 “Boss, can you have Abby run a few names for me. They’re all computer analysts here;  SSgt Evan Brown, SSgt Irma Ortega and SSgt Frank Davenport. Davenport left yesterday for TDY to Baghdad. Also have her run Lt. Malcolm Jasper. He’s the XO of the cyber unit as well as Major O’Hara’s aide.

“This Davenport went to Baghdad just yesterday? That’s a little convenient, don’t you think?” Gibbs said. They knew it wasn’t really a question.

Tim turned to talk to someone at his side. “Have to go,” Tim said, again looking into the camera. “They’re ready for us. We’ll get back to you as soon as we return.” There was a short pause. “Oh, DiNozzo, I have a message for you.”

“What’s that, McGI?” He felt his heartbeat increase.

“The score is Two-two.”

“Understood,” Tony responded, trying hard not to smile. “Hope to hear from you again soon. Be careful over there.”

“Will do, Tony. Director, Boss, we’ll talk later.” The transmission ended. Tim had so much more he wanted to say, but anything else would have to wait until he and Tony were together again.

***

The large screen in the MTAC auditorium displayed the colored test pattern that signified the transmission was over. Tony continued to stare at the screen, thankful that Tim was okay. And, of course, that Ziva was okay, too.

“Okay, gentlemen, you’ve seen that your team is fine and they’ve made up their minds about what to do next. Go home, both of you. There’s nothing more you can do here tonight.”

Gibbs and Tony turned to walk out, but Gibbs turned back. “You’ll let me know if anything comes up.”

“I’ll let you know as soon as I do. Good night, men; get some sleep.”

Back at his desk, Gibbs shut down his computer and turned off the desk lamp.  He noticed that Tony was still standing by his chair.  He sighed. “DiNozzo, you heard the Director; time to go home.”

“Yea, Boss.” It was half-hearted. He knew he should go home, but he didn’t want to miss any more transmissions from Afghanistan, no matter what Vance said. He put the folders in the locked drawer of his desk, shut down his computer and turned off the light on his desk. Grabbing his back pack, he followed Gibbs to the elevator.

“The offer of pizza and beer still stands.”

“Thanks, Boss, but I’m not really in the mood.”

Gibbs studied his friend’s face. “You’re sure?”

“Yeah, I’m sure.”

“If you want to talk…”

“There’s nothing to talk about, Boss.”

The elevator stopped at the parking garage and the men exited into the almost empty space. Tony drove home and once again let himself into the empty apartment. This time he was prepared for the feelings that overpowered him in the darkness. He couldn’t stay here just now and turned and left his home. He got into his Mustang and drove, not totally surprised when he ended up outside of Gibbs’ home. The porch light was still on and he was willing to bet the door was unlocked, too.

Gibbs had changed into sweats and an old, comfortable NCIS t-shirt. Despite the hour, he took a cold beer from the fridge and headed downstairs. He loved the smell of the shaved wood that permeated the air. It had a calming effect on him, a fact that he discovered when he was just a teenager back home in Stillwater, PA. He took a long pull from the bottle and picked up a sheet of very fine sandpaper. He wasn’t sure how long he had been working when he heard the basement door open and hesitant footsteps on the wooden stairs.

“Grab a beer from the kitchen and come on down, Tony.”

“Already got one,” Tony said, holding the bottle up, even though his boss wasn‘t looking at him.  “How did you know it was me?”

“Who else would it be this time of night?”

Tony didn’t apologize for the time. “I know it’s late; just wanted to talk if that’s okay.” He was already down the stairs. He hauled himself up to sit on the workbench across from where Gibbs was still working. He swung his legs a few times as they dangled off the floor. The sweat from the cold bottle made his hands wet as he took a drink of the beer.

There was silence for several minutes before Gibbs turned and sat between the rib beams of the boat. “For someone who wants to talk you’re very quiet.”

Tony set his bottle on the top of the workbench and jumped off, pacing around the boat.

The older man watched him, but didn’t say anything. He finished his beer and set the empty bottle on the bench top next to the one Tony had just abandoned.

“You don’t like the idea of T…McGee and Ziva leaving the relative safety of Kabul and going into a combat zone, do you?” Tony finally asked.

“That’s their decision. I don’t know everything they know and if they think it’s the best thing, I have to take their word for it.”

“I know and I trust their decision, it’s just that…”

“You’re worried.”

“It shows, huh?”

“It shows, Tony. What’s really going on? I’ve seen you worry about the team before, but never like this.”

“Boss, Jethro, there’s something I think you need to know. Rule number 12, well, I’ve broken it.”

“Never date a co-worker, okay. Obviously you weren’t the only one who’s broken it. It takes two.”

Tony stopped pacing and looked at his boss, someone he trusted with his life. He also knew that Gibbs trusted him to always have his six.

“How long have you and McGee been together?”

“McGee, Tim, and I have been together for several months now, as a couple…” he stopped talking, realizing what Gibbs had asked. “You knew?”

“I just sort of figured it out over the past few days. I knew you’d talk when you were ready.”

 Tony visibly relaxed and nodded. “We live together although he still has his own apartment. It hasn’t gotten in the way of work or you would have noticed sooner.”

“Are you happy?”

“I am. I love him more than I thought I could love anyone. He’s so amazingly smart and just, well, good. All he has to do is look at me with those puppy dog eyes and I…you know. I’d do anything for him.” Gibbs noticed the slight red tinge that crept into Tony’s cheeks.

“The message this evening, about the score being two-two, has some special significance? I assume it’s not related to baseball. You don’t have to answer that; it’s none of my business.”

Tony smiled a really big smile. “It’s okay. February second is the first time we told each other how we felt. Corny, I know, but we couldn’t really say ‘I love you’ over a military satellite transmission.”

Gibbs smirked, “No, I guess you couldn’t.”

Tony suddenly turned very serious. “I worry about him being over there. I can’t shake this feeling in here,” he said, indicating his heart. “Even when Tim was taken hostage in the women’s prison and one of the guards was killed and another injured, I didn’t feel like this. I don’t know what to do.”

“You’re going to stay strong. If anything bad does happen, Tim will need your strength. But you have to believe that he will remain safe. It’s late, Tony. Go home and get some rest. Vance said he’d let me know as soon as he heard anything and I’ll be sure to let you know.”

Tony nodded and stood to leave. “Thanks, Boss.”

“There’s nothing to thank me for, DiNozzo, but thank you for telling me about you and McGee. No one else will know unless you two are ready to tell. By the way, does anyone else know, like Abby or Ducky?”

“We haven’t told anyone except Sara, but I think Ducky suspects there’s something going on. Nothing much gets past him, does it?”

“No, not much, he’s very observant.”

Tony was halfway up the stairs. “See ya first thing in the a.m., Boss,” he said as he reached the top step.

Gibbs continued the work on his boat for a while longer. He had some things to think about. Tony’s admission could cause problems for him and McGee. Problems not necessarily work related as such, although they were federal employees, but more on a personal level as people found out about them.