FORCED FINAL!

Tony: I think crockettsgirl's right… Fictionnaire's got a thing for Faith Coleman

Fictionnaire: Do not!

Tony: Sounds like it

Fictionnaire: This is ridiculous… You were the one obsessed with her pencils

Abby: That sounds really dirty when you say it like that.

Only a couple of weeks had passed since the case had been wrapped up. Tony was enjoying the role of team leader even though he wished that Gibbs was there. Of course Gibbs still had some sick time on his hands even though Gibbs and the doctor almost came over blows over that. Steve Borden had only agreed to release Gibbs into Ducky's custody and with the promise that the gruff Marine would take it east. Tony had a good laugh over that one.

The most shocking time was when he observed Gibbs entering the bullpen and not-so-quick-timing it up to the stairs. Tony wondered what on Earth was going on. Gibbs wasn't scheduled to be back.

"I wonder what he's doing here?" McGee looked over at Tony.

"Don't know McGee," Tony answered him. "Why don't you go and ask him why he's disobeying direct orders from the doc?" Tony challenged him.

"No way," McGee responded. He wouldn't dare do that.

"What is the matter McGee?" Ziva asked. "Are you a little cock?" She asked.

"I think you'll find it's…" Tony began to say. "Actually I think you got that Americanism right for McGee Ziva," Tony corrected himself.

McGee rolled his eyes. "It's chicken," he told her.

Tony shook his head and laughed. He thought he could have Ziva going with that for awhile. Too bad McGee had thought it best to correct her. "I wonder what he's going to see Lance Vance Dance about," he mumbled to himself.

Director Vance's Office

Gibbs was still somewhat sore but was adamant that he wanted to see Vance on a professional level. It was awhile before Gibbs even felt good enough to get to work. Sure things could have been said on the phone, but he wanted this face to face. Gibbs carefully sat down on the chair at the opposite side of the table where the Director was sitting.

"I'm glad you agreed to see me," Gibbs shifted uncomfortably until he found a position that was more comfortable.

"Well you sounded very forceful on the phone Agent Gibbs," Vance told him as he waited somewhat impatiently for Gibbs to finish moving around in the seat. "What did you wish to see me about?" Vance demanded an answer.

"Tony," Gibbs said simply.

"What about him?" Vance responded in his usual callous manner.

"Well he figured something was going on. He organized a two part operation and closed the investigation," Gibbs said. He was proud of his Senior Field Agent. He'd told him plenty of times over the last week.

"If you're suggesting I go and congratulate Agent DiNozzo on a job well done. I have, it's done. He did fine work but I don't need to keep telling him that," Vance replied. "I understand that you two have this father son thing going on," he added.

Gibbs shook his head. "That's not the reason I came to see you," Gibbs told him. "I think Tony DiNozzo is ready to lead his own team," he knew that Tony had a rough time of it but understood that Tony needed just to let it all out at the hospital. But what Tony would probably never brag about was that it was HIS team who saved the day.

"You're not thinking of resigning over this are you?" Vance asked.

"Not at all Leon," Gibbs answered. "I just think Tony's ready for his own team," he told him. "A couple of years ago he turned down a chance to lead his own team. Sure he cited different reasons but it was obvious Tony didn't believe he was ready. I didn't think he's ready… But he's ready now," Gibbs was a hundred percent positive about that. He watched Vance go to the filing cabinet before answering. It felt strange coming to Leon with something like this.

"I have been observing Agent DiNozzo in your absence," Vance confessed. "It's true that he hasn't really lost his juvenile ways… He's proven that he knows when to put away childish things," Vance added.

Gibbs raised an eyebrow. "You agree?" He asked skeptically.

Vance chuckled lightly. "I'm not always the villain that you think of me as Agent Gibbs," he said.

"I never thought you as a villain Leon," Gibbs said truthfully. Well, not a villain as such.

"Alright then… An asshole," Vance corrected himself. Gibbs shrugged in response since he couldn't argue with that. "Yes, I do agree with you a hundred percent. And it just so happens that there's a team out there that no longer has a team leader," Vance had pulled out their files and looked over them. "This isn't an easy team to begin with," he explained. A team that had lost their leader would never be easy for the next leader.

"Of course I don't expect it to run smoothly," Gibbs had no delusions about that. "But he will be able to know that he could always come to me for advice," he said. "But I know Tony will do great," Gibbs assured the director.

"You are proud of him aren't you?" Vance asked as he made his way to the phone.

"Of course I'm proud of my boy," Gibbs wasn't surprised at how easy the words came out.

Tony occasionally looked up at the landing to see if Gibbs was coming back down. He scrunched up a piece of paper and tossed it at Ziva. "Hey Ziva," Tony called to get her attention as if the paper balls weren't doing that. "They've been up there for a while," he pointed upstairs.

"Well after everything I am sure they have a lot to talk about," Ziva replied trying not to sound annoyed by the paper balls on her desk.

Tony thought for a moment and scrunched up another piece of paper. After the tough case he just wanted to let his hair down a bit. He drew his arm back and was prepared to throw it when the phone ringing caused him to almost fall off the chair and Tony dropped the paper.

McGee laughed as Tony struggled to keep the chair upright.

"Special Agent DiNozzo," Tony listened to the voice on the other end before hanging up. "I've been summoned," he said.

"Maybe Gibbs has heard about your co-operation with Fornell," Ziva smiled.

"Or using his office without asking," McGee chimed in.

"You guys… are nutty," Tony double timed it up the stairs and went into Vance's office.

Tony was surprised to see Gibbs and Vance sitting there in apparent silence. Tony rubbed his neck nervously. "You wanted to see me?" He asked Vance.

Vance and Gibbs looked at each other before turning their attention to Tony. "You handled yourself incredibly during the case," Vance said. Tony looked like he was going to fall over in shock. Vance had already told him that. "We have been talking and decided that it's about time you get your own team here at NCIS. You are aware that Agents Jack Landis, Brenda Nichols and Charles Peterson are without a team leader," Vance explained as he slid their files across the table.

"About that… I," Tony responded as he tried to find the words.

Gibbs observed this reaction and Tony's eyes kept darting to the senior agent. "Of course, you'll take the team after Agent Gibbs comes back. What do you say Agent DiNozzo?" Vance asked.

THE END

A/N: That is the end… Sequel? Or no Sequel that is the question.

Gibbs: You can't end it there

Fictionnaire: I can… It's a hanging cliffhanger.

Tony: A what?

Fictionnaire: Oh you probably know it as a last reel ending

Tony: Really? Great

A/N: Lance Vance Dance is a tribute to GTA Vice City. The line... "You guys... are nutty" is from Moving Violations.