Rating: K+

Summary. NCIS. Set near the end of season six. This story is about a smart Tony. And how the other members of the team react when they discover how smart he really is.

Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS or any of the characters. No copyright infringement, or disrespect, to the people who have made NCIS such a success is intended. Thank you.

A/N: Here is the final chapter. I hope it lives up to expectations. I sincerely appreciate everybody who has read and left a review (and those who have read and not left a review too!) – your responses have been a joy and an inspiration. Thank you!

Higher Education

By: visions2share a.k.a. Vi

Chapter 08

The ride to the restaurant had been frustrating for Gibbs. Even he couldn't drive and beat the crap out of both Ziva and McGee. They were both still so unbelieving. They each needed a serious attitude adjustment. Neither had the courage to come right out and say that Gibbs was lying – but he could sense that they both thought he was. He knew that acting as the comic relief of the team sometimes left outsiders unaware of how vital a roll DiNozzo played. His teammates should not be so naive.

Gibbs reminded the two junior agents that they were expected to be on their best behavior at dinner. But beyond that he didn't know what to say. He didn't know how to convince them. DiNozzo would have to do that. DiNozzo would be responsible for the tone the team took from here forward. There was nobody else Gibbs would be more willing to follow.

The table that had been reserved for their party was a large round one set off in one corner of the room. Gibbs directed Ziva and McGee to sit with their backs to the room and moved around to sit facing them.

Gibbs drove faster than the agents assigned to the director. Or Ducky in his classic Morgan. Or even Abby in her hot rod. And Abby was supposed to be the last one there. She had planned to take the long way to the restaurant to give everybody else a chance to get there first. She and Ducky had thought it would be better if DiNozzo wasn't put in the position of playing host. Gibbs thought it would have been better not to have everybody staring at him when he came in – but he'd been out voted.

The director and his wife were the first to arrive. He took the seat next to McGee with his wife on his other side. Things were a little tense. Mrs. Vance kept trying to make small talk – and Gibbs honestly did try to help her – but he found he wasn't as indulgent with her as he would have been with Mrs. Mallard. Maybe it was too bad that Ducky had found a sitter for his mother – she would have livened up the party – and kept the focus on DiNozzo from becoming too intense. Gibbs smirked – it was just a funny notion.

Ducky and Palmer came in a few minutes later. Ducky would certainly help keep the conversation moving. He had Palmer sit next to Ziva and went around taking the seat next to Mrs. Vance for himself. That left one on either side of Gibbs open. Good. Just exactly what he'd wanted to happen.

"Where is Special Agent DiNozzo?" the director asked in the first available break in the conversation between Mrs. Vance and Ducky.

"Abby's bringing him. They should be here soon." Gibbs replied and prayed he was right. DiNozzo would have asked Abby for previews of everybody's individual reactions and she wouldn't have been able to hide – not from DiNozzo – how bad they had been. Then, the only problem would be convincing DiNozzo to sit through dinner with them. Gibbs was torn – on one hand he wished he'd had DiNozzo ride with him – on the other hand, if anybody could make DiNozzo feel better, it would be Abby.

Gibbs kept one ear tuned toward the conversation and one eye on the entrance. He knew the moment DiNozzo and Abby arrived. He saw the maitre d' lead them to the table. He made eye contact with DiNozzo first then shifted his gaze briefly to the chair to his left between himself and Ducky. Then he used the same method to indicate the other spot was for Abby. The first anybody else noticed the arrival of the final members of their party, they were already taking their seats.

All the conversation stopped. The director was obviously trying to swallow his pride to offer congratulations. McGee and Ziva both looked like they'd been sucking on lemons and Palmer looked like he wanted to say something but didn't think it would be appropriate for him to go first.

In all likelihood, the pause was probably barely noticeable – but Gibbs felt it – and he knew DiNozzo had too.

"Anthony, what is this about articles? And required reading? I don't seem to remember you mentioning any such thing in our conversation the other evening?" Ducky asked with one eyebrow raised, waiting for an explanation. It meant the conversation skipped right over the offering of congratulations which Abby, Ducky, and Gibbs himself had all offered numerous times and which the others seemed incapable of offering at the moment; but it was exactly the right thing for everyone. It moved the conversation forward, yet it was comfortable between Ducky and DiNozzo.

"Actually, Ducky – I don't think I did mention it. It didn't seem to be important."

"How many times have you been published?" Ducky asked, keeping the conversation friendly and easy, not turning the dinner table into an inquisition forum.

"I can't remember off the top of my head – somewhere around four dozen." There was an audible gasp from everyone at the table save Abby, who apparently already had this new information, and DiNozzo himself.

Ducky cleared his throat trying to find the question that had been sitting on his tongue before his unexpected inhalation. "And, are they required reading?"

"Some. Sure. Some places." DiNozzo answered, his eyes completely focused on Ducky. Almost as if he was trying to pretend they were alone – that there weren't another seven pairs of curious eyes staring at him.

Ducky didn't say anything. That was twice in the space of a week that Ducky had been rendered speechless. Definitely a week to be remembered.

When the silence had stretched to the breaking point, DiNozzo shifted slightly. He sat up just a little straighter. Gibbs would have missed it, he was so involved in his own thoughts, but when he felt DiNozzo stiffen he automatically scanned the room for a threat because that was exactly what the movement felt like. It felt like DiNozzo had spotted a threat he felt the need to defend himself against.

"You got that Psychology degree of yours about two years ago, right? From Georgetown?" DiNozzo asked Ducky.

"Yes." Ducky answered automatically.

"You took a class from Dr. Strongley called 'Placements: A View of Criminal Psychology' that focused on the roles cops play in a crime, didn't you?"

"Yes, it was most fascinating. Apparently because we are all influenced by outside factors for each and every decision we make to some degree. The predicted, or sometimes scripted, responses of the police have an influence on how, where, when, and even why any individual crime is committed. How a criminal responds to this very specific stimuli can be used to predict some of the delicate moves of a predator. Particularly someone as evolved as a serial killer – especially if they are communicating purposefully with the authorities. This same class posits that all criminals communicate with the authorities, it is a matter of reading the mindset of the crime to find the message. It was a fascinating class." Ducky got so involved in his answer he seemed to have forgotten the original conversation. Gibbs hadn't forgotten. Neither had Abby.

"I remember when you were taking that class. You talked about it for months. Even after you finished the class. You still talk about those ideas from time to time – depending on the case." Abby spoke to Ducky, then immediately changed to focus to DiNozzo. "Tony, are you saying that is the class that was built around your papers?"

Every eye at the table was focused on DiNozzo. He nodded. "One of them. But most of the others aren't required for a Master's in Psychology that Ducky has – just for Master's and Doctorate's in Criminal Psychology. That class actually uses three of my papers, and some of the field's reactions to them, as a text book."

Before DiNozzo could continue to explain – if indeed he was intending to continue his explanation, McGee said, "I had to take that class at FLETC. It was one of the hardest classes I was ever in." It was like the admission had been rung from him by shock alone. Everyone sat in silence; surprised that either he'd taken a class built on DiNozzo's theories or that he'd admitted it.

"Everybody who goes through FLETC has to take that class. It's required. I think it's required at the FBI's Quantico too." The director was the next to speak. "It has been a required class for eight or nine years, I think." The stunned silence seemed to thicken.

"Yeah, it's required at both FLETC and Quantico. Most police departments demand that officers bucking for promotion pass the class with a minimum grade of 3.0 before they are awarded their gold shields. Interpol's requirements for education are different, but they've been requiring their agents to have a basic understanding of the material for a decade now."

Could this silence last any longer?

Apparently a lot longer.

He shouldn't have said that – he shouldn't have said any of that. He shouldn't have volunteered information about the class to begin with. And, he certainly shouldn't have mentioned how many police agencies considered it a required philosophy.

At first he'd just been talking to Ducky. Then, when he'd felt the disbelief that he could write articles that would be required reading, when he'd felt that disbelief coming off his companions in waves, his anger had gotten the better of him. He thought he'd been prepared to face their reactions with a smile. Apparently he'd been mistaken. A mistake that gave his tongue the opportunity to take full reign.

Tony struggled now, in the silence, to get himself back under control. Generally he didn't lose it like this. He was very controlled – even, maybe especially, when he was pretending to be out of control. But, really, who did they think they were. Who did McGee think he was that he could judge another's potential? He was a junior agent. His sense of people they met on cases was, about eighty-five percent of the time, completely wrong. Biased by his own experiences to the point that he couldn't see the evidence of the subject's personality or nature with a magnifying glass if it stood in heels and danced the Macarena on his desk to loud music. The director was a different story. But he was acting like this was all a complete surprise. It said quite clearly in all the course information that Tony was the one responsible for the theories. Was it his fault that they apparently hadn't paid attention? And the director had had the opportunity to pay attention. Every year the curriculum at FLETC was reviewed by the various directors to make sure it was up to standard. Maybe Vance hadn't done his homework as carefully as he would like to think he had.

"Tell me, Agent DiNozzo – why did you hide this information? Why didn't you tell anyone about your qualifications?" Vance questioned in that superior tone of his, which did nothing to improve Tony's mood.

Vance, McGee, Ducky – all anybody had to do was notice. Nobody did. Except Gibbs. Eventually. Call it a test – one that everybody failed.

Tony so wished he could tell them all that. He could – he maybe even should – but he knew that no matter how mad he was, or how right he was to feel that way, he never would.

Tony, in turn, used his most respectful voice when he replied – respectful, but not submissive. "I didn't hide anything, Director Vance. The fact that I earned my Master's in Criminal Psychology at Georgetown while employed at NCIS is in my file. All anybody had to do was notice. Apparently nobody did." That bordered on insubordination but Tony didn't care.

The silence descended again. It was total – nobody moved, nobody spoke. Tony maintained eye contact with the director until Vance surrendered and shifted his focus to Gibbs. Tony took that opportunity to make a big show of settling in his chair and opening his menu.

The waiter came to take beverage orders before the conversation had been resuscitated. Everybody ordered something. Several of them ordered beers, or wine. Gibbs ordered bourbon. Abby tried to get Red Bull but they didn't have any so she had to settle for Cherry Pepsi. Tony fought the urge to order a Scotch. When he was angry he craved alcohol – just like his father – and it was when he craved it that he was most determined to avoid it. He ordered an iced tea. The waiter said he'd be back with drinks and to take their dinner orders in a few minutes.

"Guess we should all decide what we want, huh?" Abby asked timidly – testing the conversational waters.

"Yes." Gibbs tone made Abby's suggestion an order. One everybody followed.

They all directed their attention to their menus. It stayed that way for a few minutes. Tony was determined to keep his nose in his menu until there was a damn good reason to focus elsewhere. It took a few minutes but he did eventually get a good reason provided – surprisingly – by the director.

"Special Agent DiNozzo," Vance called for Tony's attention, and Tony folded his menu and made eye contact, "considering your accomplishments in your chosen field, and the curriculum requirements, you should consider guest lecturing at FLETC and Quantico. Allowances with your scheduled hours could be made – I'm sure. You should give it some thought. If you want."

"Thank you, Director," Tony nodded his acknowledgment of the unspoken apology contained within the offer, "I'll think about that. See what I can put together." The Director nodded in reply and Tony knew they were good. Their relationship would change – but there was no need for anger between them now – one more down, three more to go.

The waiter returned and started serving the drinks, Tony took the opportunity to start to fix things with Palmer.

"Jimmy – you ordered apple juice?"

"No, Tony, it's a Coors Light."

"You sure? It looks like juice to me."

"You're teasing me about my choice of beer, Tony? You ordered iced tea!" Jimmy was smiling – the patter of their teasing familiar and reassuring. Everything would be alright.

"Yeah, but at least it's a full bodied iced tea." Tony wiggled his eyebrows in true DiNozzo-the-Wolf fashion. Everybody laughed – except Ziva and McGee. Gibbs reached over and lightly cuffed Tony on the back of the head – he'd known it was coming – and he could have ducked, but he didn't bother, it felt good – it felt normal. He turned and grinned at Gibbs and got a genuine smile in return. Past Gibbs, Tony could see Abby was so pleased she was practically bouncing in her chair.

The waiter started with Mrs. Vance and worked his way around the table ending with Ducky. When the waiter had left them alone again, Ducky seemed to have regathered himself and turned back to Tony to continue the conversation.

"Anthony – I would like to read the rest of your papers – could I get copies from you?"

"Sure. I'll bring you copies when I bring Abby hers." Tony replied with a smile.

"Tony, I was going to ask you about that," all attention refocused on Abby, "is there a specific order to your papers? Like chronologically or by topic or does it not matter?"

"Well, reading them all together, probably better to read them chronologically. I'll have them stacked that way when I bring them to you."

"Yeah! You said that the text book for that class was three of your papers and some other professionals' reactions to them – I assume you mean commentary papers?"

"Yep."

"Can I get those too?"

"Sure – I'll bring all that kind of stuff over too – and you can pick and choose what you care enough about to read. Okay?"

"So totally cool!"

"Yes – very cool, Anthony. I, too, would like all those readings."

"Sure, Ducky – I'll bring you and Abby exactly the same thing – okay?"

"Certainly. I'll look forward to reading them – and your theses – as you promised. I did enjoy that class so much – I found it fascinating – I can't wait to see what other theories you will have come up with."

"Well, I'll look forward to hearing what you think about what you read. You will both tell me, right?"

"Certainly." Ducky said.

"Duh. Of course." Abby said before turning to Gibbs, "Gibbs, Gibbs, Gibbs are you going to read them too?"

"Yep."

Tony felt the shock run through him like a physical electrical shock. He sat up straighter and turned to look at Gibbs. Was he serious? He was going to read academic papers? Tony just raised an eyebrow in question.

"Well, since the class is required, I should probably have at least read the material."

Tony just nodded – he really didn't know what to say.

In the aftermath of this realization there was a stillness that was mostly calm and gentle. Like the battle was over and the war was very nearly won. But across the table a little scuffle broke out, decimating the perception of peace.

"I still don't believe this. It just can't be possible. I don't know why everybody is accepting this without question, it is silly. Completely unrealistic." McGee huffed – like he couldn't hold it in any longer.

Before any could reply, Ziva spoke up, "I agree – this is silly. I would have known had Tony really been taking classes or been a well-respected enough, published scholar to have classes designed based on his theories – that type of information would have come up in the background checks I ran for Mossod. I am not so easily led around by my teeth that I will believe this nonsense."

"Exactly. It would have come up in her background checks. This is nonsense…" then turning to Ziva and if he had just heard what had come out of his mouth, "Wait! You did background checks on us? Why? I don't understand."

Tony'd had it. He was going to deal with this now. He could feel Gibbs next to him ready to come to his defense. Could see the director ready to say something – although he didn't think even the director knew what. Could feel Abby and Ducky seething on his behalf. And he knew he could have let any one of them set the record straight – but at the end of the day it was his responsibility.

"Of course she ran background checks on us. She was Ari's control officer – remember? Even though I choose to give her the benefit of the doubt and believe that her control was damn near nonexistent, she still provided him with all his intelligence. The first time would have been before he broke into autopsy. She probably checked into Ducky, Gerald, Director Morrow, Gibbs, Kate, and I, oh, and Abby too. And would have done them all again before Ari kidnapped Kate. And by the time of his final mission, she would have done them all again – plus one on you, McGee."

"That is correct. I also did them again when…"

"When Director Shepherd invited you to take the liaison position with NCIS." Tony finished for her. He was done pretending that he didn't understand what, in reality, he found to be ridiculously obvious.

"How did you know that – all of that?" Ziva questioned.

"Because I'm not an idiot. Never have been." Tony answered.

Ziva merely rolled her eyes indicating what she thought about that. "With all those background checks I would have known if you had any significant level of education. You do not." She stated in a tone of superiority.

Gibbs leaned forward and took a deep breath. Everyone at the table, Tony was sure, could feel the storm coming. Tony reached out and put a restraining hand on Gibbs arm. He would handle this himself, his own way. It would, in long the run, he thought, prove to be a more effective lesson than having Gibbs yell.

"Ziva," Tony tone left no room for interpretation, his tone was as serious as it ever got. It was not a tone Ziva would have never heard before. It was a tone of pure command. One she would not be able to ignore. "You don't know everything, nobody does, and you never will. As much as I may tease you about your 'spooky' Massod training, it doesn't make you omniscient – merely observant. Awesome skills – but skills, only skills. There is always something more to learn. Use those skills to help you keep learning. First lesson, admit when you don't know something. Until you do, you'll never know what someone else may have to teach."

Ziva opened her mouth like she was going to respond, but seemed to have swallowed her tongue. When it became obvious that Ziva didn't have a response, McGee started to speak again.

"I tell you – I don't…"

"You don't believe it. We know McGee; you are like a broken record. Going around and around. I'm sick of it. McGee – I know you don't believe this is real – well it is – get used to it. Most things aren't going to change – one thing that is – you are going to think – use some of your much lauded brain power before you make assumptions. Rule number eight: never assume. Never assume that what you see is what you get. Use everyone you interact with as practice. This time, with me, what you didn't see was only a threat to your ego – next time, next person who fools you, it might be your life, yours or Ziva's, or Abby's, or Ducky's, or Palmer's, or Gibbs', or mine. Consider this a cheap life lesson – nobody died."

Tony turned to Gibbs to see if there was anything he wanted to add but the only response he got was a single definitive nod.

"I agree – it is a lesson we could all use to learn." The director stated – and now nobody would dare argue – with both Gibbs and the director on board.

"Indeed, it is an excellent lesson," Ducky began, "why, I remember one young soldier I served with many years ago. He was always completely oblivious to his surroundings. Had the most dreadful habit of walking into tent poles and collapsing the structures on top of all his friends. This one time in particular…" as Ducky continued, the waiter returned with their dinners. By the time the waiter had moved on to another table, Ducky had moved on to another story, and Tony felt the peace return. Hopefully nobody would chase it away this time.

It was good that Vance got to see DiNozzo in command mode. He was impressive when he was just being himself. He was effective when he played himself down – but he shouldn't have to always keep that mask in place around his friends and colleagues.

When dinner was done, Director and Mrs. Vance left to have a private dessert at home. Both offered congratulations to DiNozzo again before leaving. When they were gone, Gibbs could feel DiNozzo begin to relax.

"Abby," Tony leaned around Gibbs to get her attention, "what are we having for dessert?"

"Oooo – they have double death by chocolate cake here. It is so awesome. They also have crème brule, which is so good, too, but I'm going with the chocolate." Abby's pigtails swung seemingly in anticipation.

"You going to eat a whole piece by yourself?" Tony questioned.

"Yep. All by myself." She cocked her head to the side in consideration of Tony. "What about you?"

"I'm leaning toward an ice cream sundae – with sprinkles." Tony grinned – like a little kid. Gibbs couldn't help but smile at their excitement.

In the end everyone ordered something for dessert. From Abby's Double Death by Chocolate Cake and Tony's ice cream sundae down to Ducky's Crème Brule and Gibbs' own raspberry sherbet. They all got coffee or tea and sat back, relaxed enough to enjoy each other's company.

"Hey Tony – you know, right, there's a new Bond movie coming out?" Abby questioned.

"Of course – but it's having its American premier in Los Angeles – it won't get to the district for awhile yet." Tony replied.

"I know that. But it should be playing in the multiplexes the week you and I are at the forensic conference out there. We could go? Whatta ya think?" Abby grinned.

"Awesome. I love Bond, James Bond." Tony replied imitating Sean Connory's Scottish accent.

Everyone at least cracked a smile – even McGee and Ziva. Then McGee's brow furrowed.

"Wait. Abby you're letting Tony tag along with you to the national forensic scientists' convention in L.A.?" McGee's jaw dropped as he finished the question.

"Yep. That is, if he can get the time off. We're already registered. Tony, did you put in your leave request?"

"Sure did – it hit the boss' desk on Wednesday night." Tony raised one eyebrow in Gibbs direction, silently putting the ball in his court.

Gibbs didn't even try to hold in the tolerant smile. "And I okayed it and passed it upstairs to the director. It should be posted this week. You just make sure that you take care of Abby out there." Gibbs knew that Abby was a big girl – but that didn't stop him from worrying whenever she went away.

"Of course," came DiNozzo's steady reply – and Gibbs knew that he could trust him with this – as he did with everything else. Gibbs was so proud of DiNozzo, he had accomplished so much – and despite what appeared to be an attention seeking personality, he had done it all without any fanfare.

"You know, I saw the first Bond movie, 'Dr. No,' in London when it was first released," Ducky began dragging the conversation back onto safe ground, "I was courting this lovely young lady at that time and she was quite enamored of Sean Connery. Why, I remember that she actually…" Ducky kept going and Gibbs listened with one ear while he thought about those around him.

The conversation flowed nicely from that point without Gibbs needing to do any damage control. Abby, Ducky, Palmer, and DiNozzo talked movies. McGee and Ziva listened, commenting occasionally.

Talking movies with his friends, DiNozzo moved seamlessly back into a more familiar personality, putting everyone at ease and proving that, while their knowledge had changed, he hadn't. If his talk was less about babes in bikinis (not that he ignored that subject) and hot cars (or that one) and more about the cinematic event's impact on society and western behavior and if his vocabulary used slightly bigger words - - well it wasn't that nobody noticed (because they all did) but it was still mostly comforting – and the rest they would just have to get used to.

THE END

A/N: How were the reactions that everybody had been waiting for? I hope to hear from each of you and hope you'll let me know what you thought of those reactions. I am already working on my next NCIS story a prequel to this one about when Tony and Gibbs meet (I know everybody's done one – this will be mine). I hope to be ready to start posting near the middle or end of February 2016. I hope when that one is posted you will each give it a try. Thank you so much for taking the time to read! God bless you all!