His Mask Slips: Tony and Penelope Garcia, post the events of Dead Air and what should have happened to Ziva and McGee. Penelope is there to provide moral and emotional support and love. Have had this idea since the weekend and am just now getting it on paper. Kind of crossover but not sure just yet.

Tony walked into his apartment and tossed his gear bag in the corner of the living room. He looked at the bandage on his left elbow from where it had been cut after a fall chasing a suspect. Ducky had cleaned it with something that had burned like hell at the time and thrown in three stitches for good measure. He unbuttoned the shirt he had worn to work to reveal an olive green tank top underneath and tossed it in the corner as well. One of his favorite Ralph Lauren casual but dressy shirts and now it was ruined pretty much. He sighed and opened his bottle of Captain Morgan Spiced Rum and poured himself a glass with some ice. Then he took a swallow and sat back on the couch slowly with no intention of moving anytime soon.

Footsteps entered the doorway a few minutes later:

"I'm shitty company right now Gibbs but thanks for coming by."

Penelope Garcia walked over closer to him. "So you had one of those days hmm angelfish? Looks like a bad one since you're indulging in the Captain on a Wednesday."

He replied "Pen, I don't want to be nasty with you. I want to drink this and then fall asleep eventually and try and forget."

She said "Good thing I am used to your grumpy butt self then isn't it Tony? I am not going anywhere. Did you eat before you opened the bottle?"

He sighed. "No, meant to order something but well I didn't."

She touched his face. "What am I going to do with you? I'll call for a pizza for you for later after you shut down for a while."

Tony moved a little on his couch and drank more rum. "My friend who introduced me to this once would never have done well it doesn't matter."

Penelope said "Let me get you a pillow and blanket. Then you get some rest. I am sure that cut on your arm is sore and well maybe your heart is as well. "

Penelope found him a blanket that he liked and one of his pillows and placed it under his head gently. "Rest now."

He took one more drink. "Ok but I may want more rum later."

She nodded. "All right."

She went over and picked up his shirt off the floor and looked at the bloodstain on the left back of the sleeve. She could get that out with a little soaking. She sighed then, obviously he was upset about a lot more than a ruined shirt. He hadn't wanted to see Gibbs so something had happened at work. Well then she would ask the source after she ordered his pizza for him the way he liked it. He was like Derek sometimes, when he hurt he tried to put a wall up and he sometimes cracked a little in the process of doing it.

Penelope called Luigi's and ordered Tony's usual plus a small veggie pizza for herself and some salad. Then she moved around the apartment looking to see if he had any laundry he needed done while he was resting. She found a few things in his room and loaded his basket for the washing machine in the back of the apartment.

Then she picked up her cell phone and called Gibbs to find out what had happened to hurt him this way.

Gibbs answered even though the number was unfamiliar. "Yeah it's Gibbs."

She replied "Hi it's Penelope Garcia. I was wondering if you could tell me what upset Tony so much today that he was working on getting shit faced with some rum earlier tonight."

Gibbs sighed. "He fell chasing a suspect and took a chunk out of his left elbow. Got a couple stitches and a note from Ducky to take a day off. But I also know that a few weeks before when the team was working a case the radio was turned off on him. He was getting voice samples from some people in a gated residential community that were in a homegrown militia group for us to match with a suspect."

Penelope said "I remember he had a sore throat and lost his voice for a few days after that was over. I made him tea and honey for it. If someone turned the radio off on him, could that have put him in danger?"

Gibbs exhaled. "Yes it could have. I am going to find out what happened and why. He will talk about it with you when he's ready. For now he is lucky that you're there. He needs a friend right now. "

She said "I am here for him. I hope whoever was responsible for hurting him like that answers to someone for what they did."

Gibbs replied "I am going to make damn sure they do Penelope."

She hung up and thanked him then went to start on Tony's laundry.

Meanwhile Gibbs said "I will be down with Abby for a little while. I want those reports from the homegrown militia case on my desk when I get back."

Ziva said "That case was closed weeks ago Gibbs."

He replied "Agent David, when I give you an order as team leader you follow it. Understood?"

She blinked. "Yes Gibbs."

McGee was already going through his desk for his report for Gibbs and not saying anything.

Abby's lab: Gibbs said "Pull me the voice recordings from when Tony was on that militia case a few weeks ago Abby."

She raised an eyebrow. "Is something hinky or just bothering your gut?"

He said "Little of both right now, need something confirmed."

She started the recordings and Gibbs heard Tony talking and doing a steady stream of his Yabba Yabba. Then he said "Abs, on that disc notice how it goes quiet for a while and then you hear Tony again about what an hour or so later? Why would that happen?"

Abby looked at him. "Someone had to turn the radio off. That is the only possible reason for Tony's voice to be gone and then start back up an hour later. Oh Gibbs, no someone didn't do that to Tony did they? He could have been in trouble and nobody would have heard him call for help."

Gibbs said "Can I play that upstairs?"

Abby replied "Sure it will play on any computer or CD player. "

Gibbs kissed her head near her cheek. "Thanks Abs, you're the best."

She smiled as he left. Then wondered what was about to happen with the disc. Oh well back to work checking a tire track.

Gibbs dialed Vance on his cell phone. "Leon I have a problem that has to do with Dinozzo, McGee and David. I'll bring the evidence up to your office and then we need to talk."

Vance said "Thought Dinozzo went home early."

Gibbs replied "He did and I don't need him here right now, not for this."

Vance said "All right see you in a few minutes."

Gibbs went up to the Directors Office with the CD Abby had given him from evidence. He went in and said "There is something you need to hear or not hear Leon. Got a CD player?"

Vance nodded. "In the corner, let me get it." He brought the player over to the opposite side of his desk then.

Gibbs said "Remember that militia group case where Dinozzo lost his voice?"

Vance nodded. "Sure I do, he had half the women in the building giving him cough drops and hard candy for a few days why?"

Gibbs said "Just listen and tell me if you hear what I do." He played the CD and Tony was heard talking for a while and then it went quiet before it was picked up later.

Vance said "Why the gap in that recording Gibbs?"

He replied "Someone turned the radio off Leon, that is Abby's best and only explanation and it makes me sick. Dinozzo could have been hurt or worse and nobody would have heard he was in trouble."

Leon's eyes went hard for a moment. "Get McGee and David's asses up here now. Do you know that the FBI, and Homeland would love to have Tony? Wouldn't blame him if he leaves right now after this. I'll write him a letter of recommendation myself. He can't trust them to have his back in the field and that is just bullshit Gibbs."

Gibbs said "I am going to get the other two members of my team while you cool down Director."

Vance replied "I'm pissed Gibbs, this was clear dereliction of duty for one thing and they put one of my agents lives in jeopardy. " He took a deep breath.

Gibbs went to the top of the stairs and whistled. "McGee, David up here now. Bring the files on the militia group now."

McGee swallowed. "He is pissed Ziva, and we are both in trouble."

She replied "Man up. We will see what this is all about soon enough."

They went up the stairs with the folders in their hands and into the Directors Office.

Vance said "Have a seat both of you, I have something here that you will find interesting. "He pushed play on the CD player.

Ziva said "Do we not get enough of Tony's voice when he is here working and out in the field? "

Gibbs looked at her. "So you find it annoying to listen to Tony talk do you Ziva?"

She said "His movie references and his smart donkey comments never get on your nerves Gibbs?"

He said "its ass Ziva and no because underneath it all Tony gets his job done. You could have placed him in danger with that little stunt you pulled. Your partner was without radio contact for an hour. What if he had been hurt or in trouble. You wouldn't have known would you?"

McGee's face went pale. "I am sorry boss. We just thought it would be funny. "

Vance said "You thought this was funny? Well then let's see how funny you find repeating FLETC Agent McGee from the bottom up. I want your weapon and badge. You are now a probationary agent again until I decide otherwise. After you take a weeks' vacation to think about how you can possibly regain Agent Dinozzo's trust if he even stays here on this team."
" As for you Agent David, you are going to also repeat FLETC from the bottom up. I also want you to think about counter terrorism because that is where you are going after you finish training. You will have no contact with Agent Dinozzo during any of that or after hours. If I find out you do you will be going back to Tel Aviv on the first plane, have I made myself clear?"

She said "Fine, the class clown got his ego bruised and now I must pay. I will do this training and whatever."

Gibbs said "Get out of my face Ziva unless you want knocked on your ass."

The door banged as she left the room. McGee said "It was her idea. She turned the radio off boss, I didn't want to do it."

Gibbs sighed. "And to think he went to Somalia to rescue her ass and she does this? Think about who is the more loyal partner McGee and how you can repair the damage you did to him. "

Vance said "You're dismissed Agent McGee." He left the office too.

Gibbs looked at Vance "Ok what do I do to fix this? I may have lost one of the best agents I have ever worked with because of this. I didn't have his six when he has always had mine."