Point of a Needle, Head of a Pin

Hangman prize for Shinju90. Multi-chapter.

NCIS/Supernatural Crossover

Chapter 5

Tim resumed reading and tried to concentrate on the words in front of him, but he was worried about the people he had left behind at the Yard. He could just imagine Gibbs' reaction when couldn't find his agent and he hoped his boss would not think he had voluntarily walked out on a case. The rest of his team would be annoyed, then worried, and he hated to think that he was the cause of their anxiety. He really did need to find a way to tell Gibbs. He only hoped the lead agent wouldn't automatically think Tim had lost his mind.

He heard footsteps and looked up to see Sam and Dean walk back into the living room. Dean walked over to him and dropped a small flat box in his lap. He read the label and looked up at the elder brother with a frown.

"Ex-Lax?"

"You've been riding the angel express. Trust me, you'll need it."

Tim glanced at Bobby, who just shook his head. The agent decided that he really didn't want to know and set the box aside.

"So what exactly did Zachariah want with you?" asked Sam.

"I'm not completely sure, but one thing I do know is that he wanted me to find Michael's vessel. He said they needed a direct visual to do that…why do they need a visual to find you?"

"Those protection sigils Cas carved into your ribs, he also carved into ours to take us off the angel radar. We're invisible to them. How would you have found us?"

"I have…er, had access to databases, surveillance cameras and satellites. I guess he would have had me search for you using those. Although, come to think of it, I would have needed a good reason to search for you. I'm not sure how I would have worked around that."

"Well, considering that we were on the FBI's most wanted list for awhile, that would have been a place to start."

"You were? What for?"

"Long story. Basically we were in the right place at the wrong time."

"Oh."

"So… Zachariah was going to trust you to do this job?"

"Well, no. He said I'd have a co-pilot."

"Did he say who?"

"No. Just that it wasn't an archangel."

"Lucky you. I've seen what those bastards do to their vessels."

"How?"

"Cas and I needed to have a little chat with Raphael… and I'm not talking about the ninja turtle."

Tim rolled his eyes. It was almost like having Tony around. "So Raphael's on our side?"

"Not exactly, no."

"Great…" He studied the two men. "So…how exactly does one get to be a vessel?"

"It's hereditary. Certain bloodlines can provide hosts," Sam explained and Tim immediately felt a twist of fear.

"I have a sister. Could she…would they try to recruit her? What about my parents?"

"No."

The three men jumped slightly in surprise and turned to face the new arrival.

"A little warning would be nice, Cas," Dean groused. "And what did you mean, 'no'?"

"Tim is a vessel for one of the Galearii. Only certain members of a bloodline would be chosen by them, and Tim is the only one in his line currently under consideration."

"What are Galearii?"

"The lowest rank of angels. They are Heaven's foot-soldiers, and many of the higher level angels see them as… disposable."

"Great," Tim muttered. "I'm a Red-Shirt."

Dean chuckled. "You know, I think I might like this guy."

Tim saw the annoyed glare Sam sent his brother and managed a chuckle of his own as he rolled his eyes again.

Cas just tilted his head and studied the men, obviously missing a few key nuances in their conversation, but not terribly concerned about it. Tim suddenly remembered his major concern.

"I need to talk to Gibbs, my boss. He's going to be, uh, irate if he doesn't know what happened to me."

"Unfortunately, Gibbs and most of your team are being watched. I cannot allow you to be seen with them until the angels have moved on. As soon as it is safe I will arrange a meeting."

"But what about…" Tim realized that, considering the situation, it was rather ridiculous to be worrying about his duties at NCIS. Still, force of habit… "How are we going to explain my absence? NCIS will send out a BOLO and if anyone else sees me…"

"I have taken care of it. Your absence had been justified to the person in power, and he will provide an excuse for you. No one will question him."

"You told Gibbs?"

"No."

"Director Vance?"

"No. The man I spoke to is named Phillip Davenport." Castiel reached into his pocket and withdrew an oversized coin, which he handed to Tim. "He said I should give you this."

Tim glanced at the coin in his hand, although he had already figured out the significance of the name. "Oh, crap… Gibbs is going to kill me…"

Dean glanced between the distraught agent and the unperturbed angel, obviously wondering just what he had missed.

"Who the hell is Phillip Davenport?"

XXX

"Tony!"

He immediately raised his head from where it had been resting on his desk and sat up when the hiss of his name reached his ears. "What, Ziva?"

"Look!" she hissed again.

He turned in the direction she was pointing and froze as he saw a familiar figure striding purposefully along the catwalk towards the director's office. He had only met this man a couple of times, and none of those encounters had been pleasant. Tony glanced over towards Gibbs' desk and when he saw the expression on the lead agent's face, his heart leapt into his throat. This was not good.

Gibbs immediately stood and headed up the stairs to the upper level without a backward glance at his agents. Ziva and Tony both moved to the center of the bullpen and watched as their boss disappeared within the office before they turned to each other.

"Do you think him being here has something to do with McGee?"

"I wish I could say no, Ziva, but…this might be worse than we thought."

"I do not think that is possible, Tony."

The remaining members of the team had been searching for some sign of their teammate all night and hadn't caught a single break. Vance had reported that none of the known groups had claimed responsibility for his disappearance, and none of the 'chatter' had provided any clues as to who might have taken him. Vance had contacted every agency within the federal 'alphabet soup' and none knew anything about McGee's disappearance, at least not that they would admit to the director of NCIS. The appearance of the SECNAV did not bode well for any of them at this point, especially McGee.

After about ten minutes, Davenport emerged from Vance's office and quickly made his way to the elevator. Tony was surprised to note that the smug expression that he had come to associate with the man was missing. Davenport looked a little shell- shocked, to be honest, but that expression was soon hidden under the man's normal façade.

"DiNozzo, David. My office, now."

Vance had followed the SECNAV out of the office and now had his attention focused on the bullpen. He wore an expression of thinly controlled anger, although Tony thought he could detect worry as well. He and Ziva both rushed up the stairs and followed Vance into his office. Gibbs was already there and obviously fuming.

"Boss? What's going on?"

Gibbs just waved at hand at Vance, indicating that the man should explain.

"Agent McGee is alive, and currently in protective custody. He has been chosen to work on a project that is vital to national security, and…yesterday his handlers became aware that he was in jeopardy. They removed him from the building and transferred him to a secure location."

Tony tried to take in everything he had just heard. The relief he had felt upon hearing that his teammate was safe had been quickly negated by the rest of the information Tony had just received. "What is this project? And why was McGee chosen?"

"That I can't tell you. The SECNAV has informed me of McGee's involvement in this project, but he would not reveal the nature of the assignment. As for why McGee was chosen, he would not reveal that either."

"I cannot believe McGee would have agreed to take the assignment without telling us at least something."

"Neither can I, Ziva," Gibbs growled, finally breaking his silence. "I want to know what in the hell the SECNAV has gotten him involved in, Leon."

"You heard what the man said, Gibbs."

"Yeah, I did, and it didn't make a damn bit of sense to me. McGee is my agent. He knows the rules, and he wouldn't have taken a job like this without—"

"Consulting you? I really don't think he had a choice in the matter, Gibbs. If he hadn't agreed to take the project…"

"They threatened him?" Fury erupted in Tony's voice. "What in the hell for?"

"As I have already told you, Agent DiNozzo, it's classified. I don't even know."

"So that is it? You are just going to let whoever has taken McGee keep him?"

"It is for his own safety, Agent David."

"But what about-?"

"Everything is being handled. When the threat has passed, Agent McGee will be returned to your team. In the meantime, you will not try to find him. Understood?"

"But—"

"Is that clear, Agents DiNozzo and David?

"Director—"

"Is. That. Clear?"

Vance's tone left no room for arguments.

"Yes, Director," the agents replied.

"Agent Gibbs?"

"I'm not happy about this, Leon."

"Noted. Now I suggest you return to your current case: Lieutenant Pruitt. Is there anything else?"

Gibbs said nothing before leaving the office without a backwards glance. Tony and Ziva exchange looks and then shook their heads.

"No, Director."

"Good. Dismissed."

The agents returned to the bullpen, only slightly surprised to find Gibbs gone.

"Guess he went to tell Abby," said Tony as he reached his desk and sat down.

"I do not understand this," said Ziva. "How did they get him out of the building and into 'protective custody'?"

"No idea, Ziva. This is one for the record books."

She shook her head. "Something is definitely hinky."

"Yeah, it is. But unfortunately, we can't do anything about it. Guess we just better get back to work." He pulled up Pruitt's case file on his computer. After a few moments of silence, he saw Ziva do the same.

Tony tried to keep his attention on the case in front of him, but his gaze kept drifting to the desk to his right, its normal occupant, and what the man might be doing that was important enough to separate him from his team.

XXX

Gibbs set the half-pint jar of bourbon on his workbench and sighed. It had been nearly a week since McGee had vanished…been taken, supposedly, by those wanting to protect him. Gibbs had not been an agent for as long as he had without getting a sense that he was being lied to and during the meeting with the SECNAV, he definitely had that feeling. What he couldn't figure out was why. He was pretty damn sure the whole 'special assignment' story was a crock, some sort of CYA move on the part of the SECNAV to deal with an op that had gone wrong, but he still didn't know why his agent had been involved in the first place.

A soft rustle drew his attention to the corner of his basement and he immediately reached for his gun when he saw the strange man standing there.

"Who the hell are you? And how did you get in here?" Gibbs had started locking his door and was fairly sure he had locked it before he came downstairs. Hadn't he?

"I am here on behalf of Tim McGee. He would like to speak with you."

"Where is he?"

"I will take you to him." Before Gibbs could react the man appeared in front of him and placed two fingers on his forehead. Darkness swirled around him and soon he landed on a cold, hard surface with a thump.

"Boss?"

He looked up to see his missing agent standing over him.

"Are you OK?"

"McGee? What in the hell…?" He looked around and saw what looked like the interior of a large storage barn with strange symbols painted all over the walls and floor. "Where are we?"

"Uh, somewhere near Pontiac, Illinois." McGee reached down and offered a hand to Gibbs, who cautiously took a hold of it and hauled himself to his feet with a little help from his agent.

"What…Where have you been, McGee. And how did I get here?" He looked around and saw the man who had appeared in his basement. "Who is he?"

"That's Castiel. He, uh, provided the transportation."

Gibbs finally turned to take a good look at his wayward agent. Tim looked tired, but calmer than he would have expected given the circumstances.

"'Transportation'?' Illinois is hell and gone from Alexandria, McGee. Where are we, really?"

"Tim spoke the truth. We are where he says," Castiel replied.

Gibbs looked at his watch and held it up to his ear. It was still ticking, but only a few minutes had passed since he had last looked at it in his basement.

"What'd he do, teleport me?"

Tim chuckled softly. "Yeah, Boss, pretty much." He looked up and met Gibbs' gaze. "He can do that, you know, since he's an…angel."

"A what?" Gibbs looked at 'Castiel', who solemnly nodded. "Tell me you're kidding."

"Tim is speaking the truth. I am an angel of the Lord."

Before Gibbs could protest, there was thunder, followed by flashes of lightning, and in the flickering light Gibbs saw the shadows of two huge wings expand from the man's shoulders. The light faded and the wings vanished, but Gibbs could only stare in shock at the figure in front of him. Castiel stared back, and Gibbs thought he could almost see a smile on the…angel's face as his own knees gave out and he slowly sank to the ground.

"Leroy Jethro Gibbs, you and Tim have much to discuss. I will leave you for now." There was a faint rustle of wings and Castiel vanished. Finally Gibbs managed to look up at Tim, who immediately crouched down next to him.

"Are you OK, Boss?"

"No," Gibbs replied. "What…what's going on, Tim?"

Tim sighed. "It's been an interesting week, Boss."

Gibbs sat and listened as Tim explained everything: how Zachariah had taken Tim from the Yard and what he had wanted the agent to do; how Castiel had rescued Tim and hidden him from the other angels; the group that Tim was now with, and what they were trying to do.

"So let me get this straight," Gibbs said when Tim had finished. "Angels are real, they need humans as 'vessels', you're one of them, and so are two of the people you're working with to try and kill the Devil and save the world."

"Uh…yeah."

Gibbs managed a weak chuckle. "Always knew you'd move on to bigger things one day, McGee, but stopping the Apocalypse wasn't even on the list."

Tim laughed softly and shook his head. "Wasn't on my list either, Boss." His expression sobered. "I wanted to tell you about this sooner, but…"

"I was under surveillance."

"Yeah. I'm glad it didn't take longer, though. I guess angels have a short attention span."

"Or they moved on to someone else who could do what they needed."

"Maybe…"

"So now what?"

"I guess Castiel will take you back home, and I…I'm going to do what I can to make sure everyone is safe."

"Who's going to keep you safe, Tim? These men that you're working with now?"

"I hope so."

"Just remember—."

"I don't have permission to die. Got it, Boss."

Gibbs smirked. He studied his agent for a moment before he reached out and put a hand on his shoulder.

"You're doing the right thing, Tim."

"Thanks, Boss." He smiled weakly. "Gotta admit, though…this is a hell of a lot scarier than…anything I've ever done."

"Even riding in the car with me or Ziva driving?"

"I think I'll plead the fifth on that one."

Suddenly they heard the rustle of wings and turned to see Castiel watching them intently.

"It is time to return Gibbs to his home. Certain people are becoming concerned with his absence."

Gibbs smirked again. "Looks like I'm breaking one of my own rules, McGee. Now if you ever need to reach me…"

"I'll figure it out, Boss. Thanks for…everything."

Gibbs reached up and patted Tim's cheek. "Good luck, Tim. And thank you." He walked over to Castiel and the angel touched his forehead. Soon he found himself back in his basement, alone, and his cell phone was ringing. He sighed and reached for it.

"Yeah, Gibbs. I'm fine, DiNozzo, just had to step out for a minute. What? Yeah, I'll be there as soon as I can."

He snapped his phone shut and paused to think about what he had just learned…

Finally he shook his head and started up the stairs.

XXX

Tim stumbled a little as he arrived back at Bobby's. The men were all gathered in the study and they looked up as he entered the doorway.

"You get everything straightened out with your boss?"

"Yeah. We're good."

"Awesome. Glad to have you back, Tim." Dean grinned and handed Tim a stack of books, causing the agent to groan. "We've got work to do."

The End

(for now)

I imagine I will return to this 'verse at some point, either in a multi-chapter story or as a series of one-shots. Not sure when that will be, though. Maybe the next time I have to write this recipient a hangman prize :)