Beyond The Oath

Truth Is Out There

Jack: "What the hell happened?"
McGee: "FOB was attacked, all we know is RPG's, heavy artillery, grenades and automatic weapons fire was reported, took 10 lives and injured 20. The rest of the Marines were still an hour out on patrol."

Ziva: "Why was he there in the first place?"
Ducky: "An honorable man believes in doing the right thing, he was sent there."

Tony: "Why? He's not exactly...young?"
Vance: "I'm being stonewalled by SecDef."

Tony: "Director, because he's right behind you."

SecDef: "Down to autopsy, please."

They all go down to autopsy to see the reasoning behind sending Gibbs to Iraq, when SecDef should have damn well known it was too risky. The team loses it cool and blows up.

Vance: "What the hell do you have to say for yourself!"
SecDef: "I don't have to explain myself."

Vance: "You son of a bitch-"

(Palmer holds him back from hitting SecDef)

Palmer: "We just lost Gibbs, don't do something stupid and get yourself fired."

Ducky: "I can be."

Ducky takes a swing at SecDef landing a crushing blow to the walking idiot's jaw breaking it in two places.

SecDef: "AGH!"

SecDef: "I'm here to tell you what happened."

All: 'We're listening."
SecDef: "2 months ago we received word of a threat to national security."
Bishop: "Meaning?"

SecDef: "A terror group known as his-bal-shahid was hired to take out POTUS, A United States Senator, SecNav and you Director Vance."
Jack: "Why the hell are we just hearing about this now!?"
SecDef: "We sent Gibbs in to take care of it."

Vance: "Why Gibbs?"
SecDef: "He's the best and-"
Jack: "He doesn't have a family."

SecDef: (Sharp exhale) "Yeah."

The team repulsed by this answer suggested that he leave.

Tony: "Ducky I can't believe you did that."
Ducky: "My fist sure does."
Jack: "Here Dr. Mallard."

Ducky: "Thank you Jacqueline."

Jack: "No problem."

The team goes back up to the bullpen when Jack notices something on Gibbs' desk that brings a slight smile to her teary eyed face.

Abby: "What's that?"
Jack: "It's from Gibbs."
Bishop: "Why didn't we notice this before?"
Abby: "Read it."

Dear Team,

I know it's too late to say "I got this' ' but don't cry and more importantly don't feel guilty, it only makes things worse, trust me. McGee, you're in charge of the team. DiNozzo, don't screw it up with Ziva. Ziver, if that jackass does, kick his ass. Duck, don't worry. Leon, just don't. And Abbs, I'm sorry.

-L.J Gibbs

Ziva: "I think he's trying to tell you something Tony."
Tony: "What!"

Abby: (Tearing up) "He broke his rule."

Jack: "There is one here for Ellie and Nick as well."

Torres quit being a chicken and just ask Bishop already and Bishop say yes, because as you like to say Torres, I know you two "Have a thing."

-L.J Gibbs

Jack: "Ever the romantic."

Torres: "Damn."

Bishop: "Oh Gibbs."
Abby: "I think Gibbs shipped all of us."

McGee: "I don't think so."
Abby: "I mean look, when dated someone in the office he didn't like it unless-"
McGee: "Tony and Ziva."
Abby: "And there is no way he didn't know about those two, and look at Nick and Ellie."
Tony: "He was playing matchmaker."

Jack looks on the desk and sees one more letter. A letter addressed to her, she decides to read it to herself.

Dear Jack,

I know how we left things and things, I didn't want it to end like that and I'm sorry if I hurt you or anything. I'm sorry I didn't admit it before, but I just wanted to say, I do care for you and I do love you. I would have liked having a "thing" with you.

Love, Your Cowboy

Jack: (Crying) "Oh-oh-oh."
Bishop: "What did he say?"
Torres: (Whispers) "I told you they had a thing."

McGee: "They did not have a thing."
Torres: "Are you sure? Look at Sloane."

Tony: "Who's going to tell me about Gibbs and Agent Sloane."

Torres: "Even he sees it-who are you by the way."

Tony: "Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo, you can call me Tony."

Torres: "Come on Tim, Tony's been here for 30 minutes and already knew they had a thing."

McGee: "Okay I'm not admitting anything, but if they did have a thing it ended when she stayed in Afghanistan."

In the midst of their theories of Gibbs and Jack's "Thing" the elevator door dings open and walking is an angry Fornell.

Fornell: "WHOS THE SON OF BITCH THAT DIDN'T TELL ME!"

Bishop: "He's pissed."

McGee: "Who told Fornell about Gibbs?"
All: "Not me."

Fornell: "Give me some answers now!"

Vance: "Mr. Fornell, please quit making a scene and make your way up to my office."

Torres: "I feel him."

Ducky: "I agree Nicholas."

Bishop: "You should or do we have to remind you how you broke your wrist."

Torres: "He got to him before I did."

McGee: "Good thing he did because I don't he would have been so forgiving about that if it was one of us."

Meanwhile in Vances office, Jack is trying to calm down Fornell while dealing with her own emotions.

Jack: "Tobias!"
Jack: "TOBIAS!"
Fornell: "WHAT!"
Jack: "Calm down and let Leon talk."

Fornell: "Why did I have to find out by Jack, A WHOLE DAY AFTER!?"

Vance: "In case you haven't noticed, we've had a hard time Tobias, I'm sorry you didn't know sooner, but everything doesn't revolve around you!"
Fornell: "WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY!"
Vance: "YOU HEARD ME!"

Fornell: "LISTEN HERE YOU LITTLE-"

Jack: "BOYS ENOUGH!"

Vance: "WHAT!"
Jack: "Both of you are hurt and I know that, but right now we need to be here for each other, not tear eachother apart."

Fornell: "She's right."

Vance: "I agree."

Fornell: "I'm sorry."

Vance: "I understand, hell last night I got so pissed I yelled at my son, for no reason, it was like I need someone to be mad at."

Fornell: "I know the feeling well."
Vance: "Yeah."

Jack: "Now why don't we go be with the others."

Fornell: "I agree. Hey, what happened to Ducky's hand?"
Jack: "I'll tell you later."

They all reunite and decide to go out for dinner to catch it. There were laughs and there were tears as they remembered their fallen family member.