Chapter 17

The morning came much too quickly for his liking. He was currently wondering if going home to sleep for a couple of hours was just a dream, and that he had actually been here at his desk all night. But he looked down and confirmed that he was wearing a different suit from yesterday, so he must have gone home. He heard the elevator doors, and waited to see if it was one of his team members coming in.

"Where's Gibbs?"

"I haven't seen him yet, Ziva."

"What? Why not?"

"Not my turn to watch him."

"You're picking up some of Tony's bad habits. I'd be careful, if I were you, McGee."

"Whatever."

"What are you doing? Are we on a case already?"

"No just running a program for Gibbs."

"Oh. What kind of program?"

"He had me set up a program to watch for someone outside the agency fishing for our personnel backgrounds."

"Why?"

"Haven't a clue."

"Why now?"

"If I didn't have a clue about your first question, do you think I'd have one for this one?"

"Watch it McGee." She looked across the office rather thoughtfully, and then turned back to McGee. "I'm betting that there has been something added to someone's dossier and they want to know if someone is looking for it."

"Why would something be added to anyone's records? And for whom? The background checks are pretty thorough around here."

"Why don't you look to see?" She said, coming up around the young agent. "Your program would work better if you knew what it was you were trying to protect, yes?"

"It's already working." He said as he made a decision.

As McGee's hands started flying across the keyboard, Ziva noticed that it hadn't taken much to convince him. He must have been curious, but just needed the right motivation to go the final step.

"Hmmm."

"What is it, McGee?"

"Yes, McGee. What have you found?" Gibbs voice was hard.

"Uhhh."

Ziva spoke up since she had put him up to it. "I was just helping McGee think of better ways to protect the information you wanted protected, Gibbs. What is so important anyway?"

"Why don't we ask McGee?" He said, staring hard at his young agent.

"Is this for real, boss?" Asked McGee, not sure he wanted the answer.

"Is what for real?" Ziva asked, curiosity getting the better of her.

"You two, follow me. Now!" Gibbs said as he walked towards the interrogation rooms.

"What is it, McGee? I should know what we're about to get in hot water for." She asked as they both jumped in behind the stride of their boss.

"I don't want to mention it where it could be over heard."

"That big, huh?"

"You could say that."

They were both a little surprised that they had followed Gibbs in to MTAC.

When the door was shut behind them, Gibbs spoke out loud. "Clear the room, please." The three team members stood in the center of the room quietly until everyone else had left and the door was shut behind them.

"What you are about to hear is privileged information. I would not be telling you now if not for your curiosity, and lack of professionalism. Remember that jogger that you bumped into at lunch a few weeks ago, McGee?" Both subordinates realized it was a retorical question and stayed silent. "Her name is Beth Batisata, daughter-in-law of Joseph Batista. That brief encounter lead to a lot of investigation on the part of her family. And they discovered that Anthony Michael DiNozzo is really Anthony Matteo Batista. Tony informed both the director and myself as soon as he found out, and we felt it was necessary to update his files, but not to make this information public. That's why I wanted you to set up that program, Tim."

"You want to protect Tony from other agencies that may want to use Tony, or his family history against him." Ziva said quietly.

"Exactly. The director has also dictated that it is in Tony's best interest that he will no longer be given any undercover ops that deal with the mob."

"That makes sense."

"Thanks, McGee."

"Sorry, Boss, I only meant that...never mind." Tim said lowering his eyes to the floor.

"Good. Now I don't want you talking about this out side this room. Got it?"

Both Ziva and Tim replied with a firm "No sir."

"Good. I will let Tony know that you know about this."

"Does Abby know? Is that why she was busy? She was helping Tony to deal with some of this stuff?"

"Yes." Was Gibbs' only reply to McGee's question, as he walked to the door, opened it and walked through it.

The two younger agents stayed behind another few moments and tried to digest this new information. "Wow." said McGee.

"Don't even think about using this type of thing for your book, McGee."

"What? I would never..."

"Ah! That's what you said about modeling the characters after us. It's too easily seen through."

"Fine." He said again looking downtrodden.