This is based off of cjb1990's Unlikely Friends (St ID 11101648). Tony Dinozzo has been friends with several White House Staff members since his days as a Philly beat cop. Outside of Tom Morrow, no one at NCIS is aware. This picks up at Yankee White, Season 1 Ep 1.

I'm not going to stay precisely canon in either NCIS or West Wing. I suggest reading Unlikely Friends as that shows the different back story. And NCIS took a couple of years to get really going.

In reality, NIS changed over to NCIS in 1992. The Cold Case Homicide unit was an NCIS creation (1995). So the NCIS TV show concentration on Cold Cases makes sense.

When NIS and NCIS was military and civilian, it would have been difficult to be the lead agency in crime solving as the Posse Comitatus Act prevents the military from engaging in police actions. In 2000, they were given the authority to execute warrants and make arrests. Before that, they worked mostly on military only, anti-terrorism, and directly on Navy issues only.

So, there was some justification for NCIS to be a bit underdeveloped. According to the timeline, NCIS would still be finding its legs as a law enforcement unit when Tony Dinozzo was hired. The two man team is a standard police detective formation. Two years later (in West Wing Canon, just about the time of the Bartlet re-election) would be just about the right time for the MCRT unit to start to be fleshed out as a Federal law enforcement operation, thus the addition of more agents per team. And more teams as time went.

Making the Mossad liaison a part of the lead investigative team (the Ziva David character) would have been strange. The MI 6 liaison from later seasons (the Duane Henry character) focused more on international security with occasional help to the lead team. But then again, NCIS, in reality, took several years to really flesh out so it might not have been as unrealistic as I originally thought.

Anyway. Like the story which inspired it, this is not necessarily an episode by episode story. It mostly concentrates on the relationship between the West Wing characters and Tony Dinozzo.

Leo McGarry listened to the report from Ron Butterfield, head of the President's protective detail.

"Okay. How long until the switch is made?" Leo listened to the answer. "Do we know why such a young, healthy Naval aviator just up and died?" Leo sighed as he listened. "Okay. So what's procedure here?" Leo listened and said, "Wait a second. The guy was Navy, right?" "Exactly. And don't we know someone in the agency which handles Navy?" "Yes. I'll inform the head of the FBI and NCIS. We'll want NCIS to take the lead." "Yeah. I don't care about interagency pissing matches. The dead guy's Navy and NCIS handles Navy." "Well, they can work together, but NCIS has lead. And if you asked the President, he'd say the same thing." "Right. Let me know if you need anything else."

Leo hung up the phone and called out, "Margaret!"

Margaret came to the door. "You need something?"

"Yeah. Get me the head of the FBI and NCIS on the line. ASAP. I've got to make a personal call and then I have to talk to them."

His assistant took in how serious he was and nodded. "Right away."

Leo watched her go and then pulled out his cell phone. Quickly scrolling through he found the number he was looking for and hit send.

It was Saturday early afternoon and Tony Dinozzo was finishing the paperwork for that week. His boss, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, was already home and likely already relaxing.

It was probably just as well – Tony felt much more comfortable about working with a relaxed Gibbs.

His phone rang and he absently answered it, "Dinozzo."

"Tony. I hope I'm not interrupting anything," the slightly acerbic and slightly amused voice sounded.

Tony immediately paid attention. "Leo," he said with some surprise. He had long ago been forced to call his mother's old friend Leo instead of Mr. McGarry – unless it was official. "I wasn't expecting a call. I thought everyone was out on a campaign tour."

"They are. But we've got a problem. Something you can help with."

Tony's eyes widened even as he glanced around to make certain he was not being overhead. "I take it this is a Mr. McGarry thing."

"Yep."

"Okay. What can I do?" Tony asked, changing to a fully professional tone.

"We've got a dead football carrier, a Navy guy. He dropped dead while eating with the President. I'm sure you can imagine how much trouble that stirred up."

"Oh, I can imagine."

"Right. Well, I'm about to inform your boss and the head of the FBI that you guys are taking lead."

"The Feebees are going to be pissed."

"Well," Leo's tone was slightly more acerbic, "that's not my problem. The guy's Navy and I made sure Ron knew that you guys are taking the lead. But we're going to need two things."

"I'm ready."

"One: We're going to need an answer as soon as possible so we know if this is just chance or an attack. And Two: we need to keep your relationship with us quiet, so no one cries 'nepotism.' So when you get out here, don't make a fuss about having been on Air Force One before." Tony had, on occasion, traveled with Sam when he had a few days free and he was well liked by the rest of the staff as well.

"Do you want to have a different team take care of this?" he asked.

"No. One is more important than Two, if you get my meaning. And we know you – and trust you. So that's priority."

"Will anyone be there who'll recognize me?" he asked.

"Everyone will be moving to the backup as soon as they land. Ron will leave a Secret Service agent to coordinate. But as soon as the President transfers, it leaves Secret Service jurisdiction and your boss will be lead. But play nice with the FBI. Please?"

Tony nodded ruefully. "I'll do my best to try to corral Gibbs. He gets touchy about other agencies running over NCIS. The FBI can be … well, I hope you understand."

"I do. But the FBI is also trying to convince the public that everything is handled. So we have to let them play the good guy usually."

Tony didn't like it but he understood. "Where will the plane land?" Tony asked.

"Witchita. In about twenty minutes. And it will be announced in about an hour over the wires. So start moving now."

"Just make sure no one touches or moves anything around where the meal was or the body. And keep the stewards who served the meal on board – and separate from each other. Gibbs will need to interrogate them. We'll get there, start bagging evidence, and probably ask for the plane to travel back to DC right away."

"That'll be the Secret Service's call." There was a pause. "Okay. I've got Tom and the head of the FBI waiting. Get to it."

"Yes, Sir."

Tony sighed. He started heading toward Director Morrow's office. He was going to need to figure out how they were traveling.

Gibbs was working on his boat when the call came in. "Yeah. This is Gibbs."

"Dead Navy Commander on Air Force One: The Football carrier died while dining with the President." Tony's voice was clear and professional.

Gibbs straightened up. "Where did they land?"

"Wichita, Kansas. I tried to get us on the FBI plane but they're a little pissy that we've been given the lead. So I booked us on a 1500 Continental flight out of Reagan. Stops in Dallas, and then on to Wichita."

"That the best you could do?" Gibbs asked as he absently cleaned the gouging tool before he put it away.

"It's Saturday. And it's Kansas. I really wish NCIS had their own jet."

"We don't."

"Call me when you're on the way?"

Tony hung up the phone and continued getting his things ready. Suddenly, he had a thought. He quickly called up to Tom Morrow to ask for his intervention.

Twenty minutes later, he was helping Ducky with the equipment he had to take when his cell phone rang.

"Dinozzo." He said. His listened to the phone and checked his watch. "Thank you, Director. We'll need to collect evidence. Can we bring more agents? Maybe a Marine MP or two? We don't have the extra agents in the office today and this needs to be fast." "Okay. I'll let Gibbs know." Gibbs was going to get annoyed having the FBI provide the additional agents.

Tony made a call to the motor pool first and then hung up and called Gibbs. "Gibbs," the voice sounded.

"Change in plan."

"Go."

"I asked Director Morrow for some help. As this is White House related, we got a Marine transport out of Patuxent. They're expecting us at 1500, and the drive is a little over an hour. But it's military so no TSA agents and they'll take us directly to Wichita. They have things to take out to San Diego and the Director got them to make the extra stop on the way."

Gibbs voice sounded satisfied. "Good. How are we getting there?"

"We've got an agent who'll drive us from Andrews, after we drop the Van there in preparation of the plane landing there. I figure that'll be quicker than making arrangements later. We're loading up the van right now."

"I'll be there in ten minutes." The line went dead.

"Okay, Ducky," he said to the ME. "We've got 10 minutes till Gibbs arrives."

Ducky nodded even as he started taking his things out of the car and to put them into the van. "This reminds me of a trip I took for a case …." Tony tuned him out as he quickly prepared for hurricane Gibbs.

As Gibbs and Tony entered the plane, Tony almost flinched when he saw who was waiting for them. He had run into Secret Service agent Kate Todd during a visit with his friends at the White House. During the visit, Doctor Bartlet had checked in on him to see how he had been doing since Roslyn and Kate was a part of her detail.

During a distraction (someone from the First Lady's office had interrupted the visit for something), Tony had tried to have a casual, slightly flirtatious conversation with the attractive female agent. Agent Todd had not been impressed. Abbey Bartlet had actually teased him about losing his touch.

He truly hoped that she had been briefed to keep their prior interaction quiet.

There was an FBI team and the local Coroner waiting with Agent Todd. Ducky had called his old friend (something he had a lot of) and made sure there was someone with the body in case the FBI tried to horn in.

Kate's first words relaxed him – slightly. "NCIS?" she asked.

Gibbs and Tony flashed their badges. "That's us. And this is Doctor Mallard, our ME."

The local ME said, "Ducky! I'm glad to see you got here. This is Agent Fornell, FBI, and Agent Todd, Secret Service. The've been getting' mighty impatient. They're fighting over the body like two hounds over a T-bone."

Ducky smiled. "Well, as this is a Naval aviator, I believe that makes this our T-bone."

The man smiled and said, "It's all yours, Ducky. You get those steaks I airlifted to you?"

"Delicious."

"Well, alright then."

Gibbs said with some asperity, "Too many LEOs might compromise the potential crime scene."

Ducky nodded. "That's correct. Everyone who came on at Wichita will have to deplane."

Fornell spoke up. "I'm not going anywhere. This is Air Force One, a Federal location. The FBI has jurisdiction."

Agent Todd spoke up. "Actually, it's Alpha Foxtrot 29000. Air Force One is the plane that the President is on now."

Gibbs was about to get annoyed so Tony interrupted. "According to Director Morrow, the NCIS was given lead from higher up as the death is Navy. Our lab is on standby as soon as everything arrives. The NCIS evidence van is waiting at Andrews. Agent Todd has to be here, as there is a question as to whether this was natural or not and the Secret Service needs to know ASAP. I was also told that the FBI was also called in by the same authority. So Agent Fornell and Agent Todd, along with myself and Ducky, will answer to Agent Gibbs. As the ME said, everyone else who wasn't on the plane when it landed needs to go."

The local Coroner spoke up. "Well, that's about as clear as a sunny day. But as I am the local Coroner and this is Wichita – what do you think Ducky?"

"There are no outward signs of trauma," Ducky commented as he inspected the body.

Agent Todd volunteered, "He was stricken after having lunch with the President."

There was a short conversation and the local Coroner was satisfied that Ducky was on it. "I'll be waiting for those crabs," he said with a slightly expectant tone.

Ducky said, "You'll have them in a few days."

The two men shook hands and Elmo left.

Later, after Gibbs had ordered Tony to do the sketches, Kate and Tony were alone. Tony spoke up first. "Thanks for not hinting that we've met. Leo McGarry wanted my familiarity with White House staff members to be kept quiet. And since it stops people from trying to use me for connections – I am in full agreement." He said it very quietly so Ducky couldn't hear.

Kate looked at Tony. "So I was informed. But I have a question." She wasn't quiet.

"Shoot," Tony said with a friendly grin.

"You already have photos. Why the sketches?" Her tone was curious.

Tony looked around and picked up the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition that was left behind. "What would you say her measurements were?"

Kate looked at him and said, "You're pathetic."

Tony answered. "No. I'm serious. Can you tell if she's 5'4 with a 34C or 5'7' with a 36D? You can't tell because photos lack perspective. That's why we also do sketches and take measurements."

Agent Gibbs was on the plane's comm. system. "You had to kick most of the FBI agents out?"

Gibbs answered his Director. "There were more of them than us."

"There's always more of them," Tom muttered.

"But according to Tony, NCIS was given the lead by someone up the food chain?"

Tom wanted to get annoyed. Gibbs was not in the know as to Tony's relationships. Leo McGarry must have made it clearer than when he had been called. He'd have to talk to his agent about that. But he left it alone for the moment. "With the FBI and Secret Service also involved."

"Well, I have the lead FBI agent and the Secret Service agent working under my direction. We left the Van at Andrews waiting for us to land. It's all going to our lab because if things went to the FBI we wouldn't get the details until after they were leaked."

Tom nodded. The FBI leaked like sieve on high profile cases. "Then make sure things are brought directly here."

Fornell was in a quiet place talking with Ron Butterfield. "NCIS has the lead, Tobias. And I'm not in your food chain for you to order me to change it."

"Damn it, Ron. NCIS is strictly bush league. We've got assets those cowboys can only salivate over." Agent Fornell was annoyed that the FBI had been pushed aside for the lead.

"Don't underestimate NCIS. Commander Trapp was a Naval Officer. They have every right to the do the autopsy. And those in charge have every confidence in the NCIS team." Ron's tone was implacable.

Agent Tobias Fornell knew there was something he was missing. Even as he tried to change Butterfield's mind, he recognized he was against a brick wall.

Finally, he steeled himself and went to play nice with NCIS.

Things had finally started to become clear. Gibbs obviously knew something was up. He was convincing Agent Todd to bring him with her back to the current Air Force One. As soon as they left, Tony brought out his cell phone.

He looked through his numbers and found the right one.

"This is Sam Seaborn," the voice answered.

"Sam. This is Tony."

"Tony! You have word on what happened with Commander Trapp?" the anxious voice came back.

"We're close. Agent Todd has the full briefing on what we have and I don't want to interfere with the chain of command. But I need to talk to Ron Butterfield and I don't have his direct number."

The was a pause. "Well, you visit enough that you should have it. Are you ready to write this down?"

Tony got his pen. "Okay."

Sam read off the phone number that all the Senior Staff had in their phone just in case.

"Thanks." There was a pause. "How's the trip, anyway?" Tony asked.

"Everything's looking good at the moment. Until the next problem that comes up of course." Sam's tone was wry.

"Yeah. Let's try to avoid that." Tony knew that Sam stressed out over every little thing during trips like this.

"From your lips to God's ear."

"Anyway. Thanks for the number. When you guys come back and once we've gotten things totally locked up, I'll give you what I can. And my boss is coming back there with Agent Todd. I'd appreciate if no one told him that you guys know me – I want to avoid anyone trying to use my friendship and I've avoided that by limiting who knows I'm friends with everyone there."

Sam sounded amused. "You're one of the few people I talk to who hides his ties to the White House."

"It's better for my job. Anyway. I look forward to having a beer with everyone when it's quiet."

"Me too. See you."

Josh Lyman looked at Sam. "Who was that?"

"That was Tony."

Josh's attention focused. "They know what happened to Commander Trapp?"

Sam shrugged. "They're close. Agent Todd is bringing all the details. Tony's calling Ron Butterfield."

Josh recognized that there were still issues and so he didn't try to get more. "Let me know when you've got more details."

Sam nodded. "Tony's boss is coming back with Agent Todd. He doesn't want the fact we know him broadcast – Tony doesn't want to be used for his friendship with us."

Josh considered that. "Yeah. I can put the word out. When does Agent Gibbs show up?" From Tony, they knew his boss's name.

"Sounds like he'll be here for the trip back to DC."

Josh nodded. "I'll pass the word to CJ and Donna, you talk to Toby." Josh paused. "But that won't stop us from questioning him about NCIS, right?"

Sam grinned in response and then the two split in different directions.

Agent Todd had made it back to Air Force One before it flew. She was there when the President came on the plane. "I was surprised that you allowed Agent Gibbs to ride back with us."

Ron said, "He's here because his gut is still churning, isn't he?"

Kate answered that thoughtfully. "I suppose you could put it that way, Sir."

Ron stopped and looked back. "So is mine."

It was getting late. Gibbs had brushed off a polite request to meet up with some White House staffers. He had claimed he was on duty but would have time later.

Gibbs stayed with Agent Todd. When he got the call through the comm system, they had finally gotten the details.

And Agent Gibbs had finally figured it out and killed the terrorist that was making an assassination attempt.

The attempt wouldn't have worked – Ron Butterfield knew his priorities and had made certain the President was secure when the distraction of another person starting to convulse happened.

But even he would have to admit that there would have been more casualties than the terrorist.

The White House Press Corp was in a furor and the Press Secretary had been hard pressed to keep them controlled.

But Ron was taking no chances. When President Bartlet had mentioned bringing Agent Gibbs back to meet him he immediately protested. "Until you are back at the White House, we're taking no chances. He will have to visit the White House later."

Jed Bartlet looked a bit mutinous, but finally conceded to the caution.

Agent Fornell and the FBI Director were waiting at Andrews along with the White House Chief of Staff. The Press Secretary was also present. Leo said, "With the election in a few weeks, we don't want to distract everyone with conspiracy theories," he said the FBI Director. "But it was on Air Force One. Your guy," he nodded to Fornell, "will do the briefing on this being resolved here."

"Thank you," the FBI Director said with satisfaction.

CJ interjected, "But we need to approve the wording."

The FBI Director had anticipated this and pulled out a sheet from the packet he was carrying.

Leo looked it over and then handed it to CJ. "You see what's missing?" he asked CJ.

CJ read it. "Yes. It says Federal Agents. And because the FBI is briefing they'll assume it was only the FBI."

Leo looked at the FBI Director. "You did share jurisdiction. But NCIS is the agency that had lead. They found the toxin. They found the terrorists and called you in to pick them up. Their guy killed the assassin, though that's need to know. Isn't it a bit petty to ignore their part in the statement?"

Ron Butterfield, who had been listening, said, "Agent Gibbs is not press friendly, and Agent Dinozzo was involved in too many undercover assignments in the past for him to be put in front of the press. We don't want it coming from the Director level, so Agent Fornell should do the briefing. But NCIS's part must be given its proper recognition. If I might guess, the President would insist." Leo nodded at that. The President had great respect for the NCIS agents.

Fornell really didn't want to do that, but he and his Director were being given direct orders. His Director answered, "That won't be necessary."

Leo said, "Good." He looked around and saw that Agent Gibbs had not waited around. "Where is Agent Gibbs?"

Agent Butterfield reported, "He accepted our thanks and returned to NCIS to complete the reports. The President wants to speak with the NCIS agents and thank them personally. Arrangements will have to be made."

Leo sighed. "Margaret will handle that." Ron nodded.

The FBI Director and his agent fumed but hid it. They really weren't overly fond of NCIS.

Gibbs was at home when the report aired. "Federal agents from the FBI and NCIS, working in conjunction with the Secret Service, were able to foil an assassination attempt on the President aboard Air Force One." Fornell went on to give more details.

Agent Gibbs was pleasantly surprised as he continued planning his boat.