Mind Games 2 : Level Up

20. Sailed

|Walter Reed Hospital|

It's just feels like yesterday but Allison is actually been down for about 2 days. So when she's finally open her eyes, it feels like there's a super glue attaching her eyelids. "Hey there sleepyhead. Feel better?" Tony tuck a strain of hair on her face as she tries to sit. "Uh..what happened?"
"They think you had some type of epilepsy. You collapsed at the office and everyone freaked out."
"Really? Epilepsy?"
"Yeah, the doctor said it could be an old injury, like when someone having a car accident and hit their head. Well, if only they knew a mad doctor had scrambled your brain, they might wanna reconsider their theory. You don't remember?"
"I remember being questioned with internal affair and everyone.....wait, talking about being questioned....did I do well?"
"Yeah about that...." Tony bites his lips but Allison can tell something happened, "What is it? They found me liable? Am I under arrest?"
"Nope."
"Fired?"
"Uh...I would not say fired, but...they asked you to resign. Gibbs had things to do with the result. They really wanted to blame you for something, but I think Gibbs pulled his card or else and they still wanted to fire you. Don't get me wrong, we're all want you to stay but we're also agree to not jeopardize either our work and your well-being."
"And what Gibbs said?"
"He said... That your condition makes it difficult to keep working as an agent. He was agreed on your medical discharge."
"Because of my messy head, huh?"
"Yeah, that's pretty much it." To be honest, she kind of sad, but she knew well this is gonna happen.
"Tell me what happened at the office when they brought me here."

*NCIS Office 2 days ago*

After Gibbs dropped Allison at the hospital, he got a call from Vance that requires him to attending the remaining questioning.

"So, Special Agent Gibbs. Most of us found what happened to be several critical mistakes with how Agent Grant proceeded in the past. That's including failure to mention her medical condition and also prevent the plane accident. We are thinking of charging her." A man from internal affairs pulls a list of event from the early interview with Allison. Gibbs read them all carefully and admit that there are mistakes but mostly on her medical condition.
"Yes. But I don't think the plane accident is her fault. She warned them. Why would you charge her?"
"Because she failed to disclose her name in order for authorities to take action to the threat."
"That's ridiculous. If there's anyone should be charged, it should be the one who took the threat as a joke. She did what she could at that time. Let me ask you this, and don't give me some moral high ground crap...."
"Agent Gibbs.." Director Vance tries to keep the conversation civil.
"Fine! Let me put it like this, realistically. If anyone of you, is in her shoes, what would you do? No...what can you do? Tell them your name and then you got caught, possibly are about to be killed on your way back? Or just report it and hoping they would listen? And don't play saint with me, we both know none of us are saint."

"Okay.." He sighs, "What are you proposing, agent Gibbs? Fire her?"
"Fire her? No. Medical, honorable discharge."
"We can't do that. She broke rules..."
"She BROKE rules for a job. She did a lot of off-books jobs for all of you who doesn't want to get your hands dirty. She put herself on the line and get the bad guys. Now all of you want to start to play clean? Do you have no shame? Why do you think she got that condition? From doing her job. I can even list every single thing that she had done that significant for your career. Every one of you. If you think she did a wrong thing, all of you contribute to that and therefore should be fired too.  She's a damn great agent. Give her some appreciation. That's the least we can do for all that she did for us. For you."

*Present day*

"Wow, I didn't know Gibbs would say that though. He makes it sounds like I'm a hero or something." She chuckles but still Tony can see a hint of frown on the corner of her lips.
"You're sad, aren't you?" Tony gets her hand and hold it tightly. "You are so much more than an agent Al...you need to know that."
"That's all I know, my whole life Tony. I mean, I get it...it's inevitable, but still...I don't know how would I live without that."
"Hey don't say that, you still got me....also everyone. We are with you." She gives him a little smile, "Talking about everyone, how are they?"
"They're good. McGee was thinking of bringing you some s'mores. He's nuts."
"I hate s'mores."
"I know, that's what I told him. Probie probably got a dead wish." His words makes her chuckle and feels that she took him for granted all this time.

"I don't know if I said this enough or not...but...I love you Tony."
"I know. You're crazy about me."
"Oh shut up." She then smacks the back of his head. "Ouch. What was that for?"
"Because you're pathetic." For a moment, she remember something that she was meant to ask 2 days ago after the hearing. "Anyway...the house you bought...by any chance....you didn't sold it back, right?"
"No, why?"
"Nothing...just thinking that the place might need some work done. And since I got plenty times not being an agent, I might be perfect for the job."
"Come on, you're not Gibbs."
"Well, you don't know me that well then, DiNozzo. I built my own treehouse at 12."
"Reaaally?"
"Oh yeah. I think I can work a house."
"Okay then. It settled."
"Oh and one more..about what you asked me that night, you know...to move in with you...I'm considering it."
"Yeah, I kind of figured that when you asked me if I sold the house."
"That obvious huh? Haha."
"It is..." Tony got his hand on her cheeks and then gives her a kiss, "...I meant it, when I said to you that you got me. And it doesn't matter what you think about yourself...you're always a brain-gamer to me. Cut yourself some slacks."

|NCIS Office, 2 Days Later|

Although she knows everything isn't over, but this chapter of her life is. Looking back at her ambition, she can't say she regrets it. She's proud of it. There are a lot of those ambitions written all over her desk. Dreams, untold journey that she keep for herself. And putting those memorabilia is such a different experience for her. All these times she jumps back from one agency to another, always with awaiting adventures ahead. But this time she's done for good. She's going home. These mind games are over.

"Don't forget to call any of us okay?" McGee and Abby are standing there as Allison put her stuff in a box. "Of course. Also Tony is still here. Consider my half is here as well. He's my messenger." She gives them the smile and Abby suddenly hug her, "I'm gonna miss you." Allison hug her back and whispers to her, "Me too Abbs, me too. Thank you for being my truly girl friend for years. Sometimes it could be lonely in this boys club."

She walks past them and to Tony who's ready to take her home, "Found him?"
"He's not coming to work today Al."
"Oh...." She pauses, "Can we make a stop at his house. Before you take me home?"
"Sure."

|Gibbs' House|

The room is filled with sawdust and a flash of light from the tiny windows. And Gibbs is there, working on another boats. "I couldn't find you at the office today." Allison walks down the stairs into the basement.

"It's a slow case day. McGee can reach me if there's any work though." Gibbs won't even look at her and it baffles her because she doesn't know what she did wrong. "You're disappointed..."
"No. I'm reflecting."
"About what?"
"Doesn't matter." She can see his pain from his eyes. Clearly he's upset about something.

"Gibbs... I never got a taste of having a father. And you were there filling the gap. And I know I can't thank you enough for everything that you did for..." Gibbs then cut her words, "You know how I feel about apology. You haven't say it, but you're going to."
"I know...but still. I did a lot of mistakes in the past. And I think we lost enough people in our life that directly or not are caused by those mistakes."
"Allison...stop."
"Gibbs..."
"Allison....stop thinking about people. You had the worse case of hero complex, you know that? Stop putting the burden on your shoulder. You've done enough, time for you to start thinking about you and your family."
"Speak for yourself Gibbs. You too carried a lot."
"Every day. Every time. Whenever you, Tony, or McGee went out there, I can't stop thinking that I could lose any of you anytime. But don't you dare to tell both DiNozzo and McGee." She chuckles, "Yeah...they're gonna make a big deal of that."

"Anyway... Gibbs... I think this is it, I just want to say how much I appreciate your trust in me." Gibbs goes for a handshake but Allison gives him a hug instead. It brings tears on both of their eyes. For Gibbs, it's like she hug a daughter that he lost. There are a certain familiar embrace that Kelly was once gave him.
"Take care of yourself and Kayla, Allison."
"Sure thing."

After parting ways with Gibbs, she goes upstairs into the front door where Tony is waiting inside the car, "You were crying."
"Nope. Don't know what you're talking about."
"Gibbs crying."
"Nonsense."
"Come on, I'm an investigator. Your eyes are wet."
"Yeah? Or maybe I allergic to sawdust." She smirks and then hop into the car.

"Alright Mrs. Grant. Where's the next stop? Home?"
"Yeah, home."