A/N: Disclaimer see chapter one… Thanks to ncislover1111, mamamia1964, poppaeasabina, katesari and Migalouch for reviewing. I'm sorry fort he delay!

Faces

"Alright everyone, we've got a code red – possible bio attack on the USS Iwo Jima – nearly a third of them came down with the following symptoms in the last 14 to 16 hours - constant upchucking, shortness of breath, diarrhea, fever and chill. This situation is a matter of national security and highly confidential." he could see them gulping.

"Tom," Tony ordered, looking at Christa's Senior Field Agent "-head down to the lab and inform Jeff to prepare the labs – he'll be swamped by samples within hours. Then you will call every lab tech we have and see if they are in close range – forget about Sciuto and Schmidt, they are too far off – then you get Bethesda on the line and inform them that we have a code red and possibly need a quarantine – get me the docs responsible for that triage unit here ASAP." The tall blond Agent nodded and rushed to the stairs.

"Christa, Frank, the two of you will write a program calculating a statistic, accessible by palm pilots, including every necessary question to the sick crew members to get to the source of this sickness. From when, where and what they ate last, down to any possible injury from a paper cut to flatulence and what their symptoms are. Get me a time frame and make one extra for the kitchen crew – if it came from them we might have a source as the crews are not eating their own cooking's." His geeky probie nodded and Christa grabbed a note pad and started writing down questions.

"Sam, retrace the ships route. Where did they dock, had shore leave, got loaded up with food and so on." nodding sharply the young Agent went to work.

"Drew, turn the bullpen into our own triage unit – get flipcharts, screens and whatever else to make all information accessible."

"Jayson, you are my eyes and ears down here for now and keep track of the orders I just made – put them up on screen and add new orders and tick them off if they are done. Get me something to access that screen." Jayson nodded and started preparing for his job.

"I'll be in MTAC. Jake," he told the Techie, as they stepped into MTAC "after I talk to Reed you get me every Agent Afloat on the line."

Without waiting for a reply Tony snapped his phone open and looked through his contacts. Finding the right number he dialed. Once the phone was answered he cut straight to the point.

"Peter, this is Tony. Call your team and prepare for standby. We got a big one and you are next in line."

"On it." with that the call ended.

Tony was about to call the Director, but before he could even press a key he was interrupted by Jake, "Agent DiNozzo, Captain Reed is on the line."

"Put him up." ordered Tony, donning a headset. Within seconds the picture of a harried looking, middle aged Captain, sitting behind his desk appeared. Leaning against the sideboard behind him was Agent Matthews.

"Good afternoon, Captain." greeted Tony cordially "I'm Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo, Agent in Charge at NCIS in DC."

"Afternoon, Agent DiNozzo. We have regrettably no updates for you."

"Agent Matthews informed me about your crew and let me assure you that we are doing everything possible to clear this up ASAP. What we need you to do now is remain calm and keep your crew calm as well. We have started posing a number of questions that the involved crew members need to answer and we need a blood sample of each. Our labs are prepared for that. Please close down the kitchen for now and keep your crew on sealed snacks and drinks. We know that this isn't ideal, but for now necessary. Also with a possible bio attack and contamination, I cannot allow you to dock in Norfolk or anywhere else. You will need to stay on board until we have eliminated the threat. You may travel no further than 60 nautical miles to the coast and close down all means of outside communication, except the necessary equipment. This situation is a matter of national security and highly confidential. No one leaves or enters the ship without our explicit approval."

"I may not like it Agent DiNozzo, but I understand the necessity."

"Thank you for your corporation. Now I have another favor to ask. Could you support us with a register of each aircraft or load from other ships or harbors setting down on your ship, say for the last six months?"

"Of course, we will do our best to cooperate. I'll have that report prepared ASAP"

"Great! We will transfer the program for questioning ASAP. Agent Matthews, please stay in communication range and take precautions for your health."

"Yes, sir."

"Please keep us informed. We will keep in touch."

Tony waited for the two men to nod before making the cutting motion to Jake.

"Jake, next call the Director."

Tony watched the number dialing on the screen.

"This is Vance." was the groggy reply.

"DiNozzo here." replied Tony all business. "We have a code red as of 1300 hundred today – possible bio attack on the Iwo Jima."

"It is 1320 now – why is there a delay in informing me?" the director asked sounding more alert.

"I'm sorry, Sir. I started the first response orders for the lab and Bethesda to be on high alert, triage doctors to report here, starting the investigation into the cause, retracing the ship and Captain Reed called before I was able to contact you. I told him to shut down communication, come no closer than 60 nautical miles, remain calm and start with the blood samples. Stand by team is informed."

"I see you have been busy. Good work, DiNozzo. Did you inform SecNav."

"Not yet, Sir. You come first in my chain of command."

"Very well. Please inform SecNav and the White House."

"Will do, Director. JAG as well?"

"Yes – please inform the Admiral. It sounds like you have everything under control. I will come to the yard ASAP. Keep me informed if there are any problems." With that the Director cut the communication off.

"Jake, get me a connection to SecNav and the White House."

Tony headed out of MTAC and rushed into the bullpen.

"Sit rep!" he called out.

"Give me another minute with the program please." Frank piped up, his eyes flying rapidly over the screen, double-checking.

Christa handed him the pad with her questions. He flew over the list, pulled a pen from his pocket and scribbled another question down.

"What did you add?" asked Christa

"If they have any family or friends with the same symptoms at home and got any mail recently."

"Good one." agreed Christa.

"Program is done." announced Frank, "Works a bit like doodle and can be connected to the medical records to cross check allergies and the like. The service number must be entered and the answers can be ticked off then. I can send it to the Agent Afloat and he can use his PDA or his iPad to collect the answers. I have a program running in the background and we can investigate from here. To speed it up we can run the program on the electronic data pads the medics use."

"Great work. Prepare everything so we can brief Matthews first thing."

"I am still retracing the ship – got the report from Matthews." Sam piped up and Drew went on "The bullpen is prepared and all systems are connected."

"Good. Help Sam."

"Christa, watch the program."

"Jay?"

"Got the screens connected with that iPad. I will screen through the information and check if anything sticks out."

"Good. The Director is on his way. I will inform all Agents Afloat to give inform us STAT if they have any of the symptoms on board. Then I'll brief SecNav, the White House and JAG. Frank, with me to brief Matthews."

Tony rushed up the stairs, Frank following close behind – laptop clutched in his hands.

15 Minutes later, Matthews was briefed and DiNozzo asked for a heads up from the Chief Hospital Corpsman, so they can confer with Bethesda and possibly evacuate the worst cases.

With that they finished the call.

"Heads-up, DiNozzo. SecNav and White House are online and waiting as of five minutes ago."

Tony squared his shoulders and straightened his tie and overcoat.

"Thanks. Get them on screen."

The screen split in half and Tony could see the annoyed look on SecNavs face on the right side and a pleasant look of the lady on the right.

"Ma'am, Sir. I'm sorry for the delay. I'm Special Agent DiNozzo. We have a code red – a possible biological attack on the USS Iwo Jima."

Before he could get another word out SecNav snarled out, "Where is Vance?"

"He's on his way, Sir. He is still on medical leave and recovering. I am the Agent in Charge right now."

"I don't care who you are – "

"Now Mr. Secretary, if we could keep this on the business side of things? We have a matter of national security and no time for pissing contests." interrupted the now stern and business like, dark haired women. Tony saw SacNav swallow the rest of his sentence.

"Now Agent DiNozzo, please report." she nodded to him.

"Thank you Colonel MacKenzie. We were informed by the Iwo Jima of an highly increasing number of crewmembers seeking out sickbay with the same symptoms - constant upchucking, shortness of breath, diarrhea, fever and chill. The Iwo Jima was supposed to dock in Norfolk in two days. I ordered Captain Reed to shut down all unnecessary communication and to stay at least 60 nautical miles away from the coast. Kitchen is closed down and we are currently investigating all possible sources on the ship as well as off ship. Crew members are questioned and blood samples connected. Bethesda is informed – we are waiting for the docs to arrive to get a status of the ship. Once we can shed some light on that we'll send a helicopter to fetch the samples. Our lab is prepared and Bethesda will be as well to work the samples. We hope it's just a case of food poisoning. Right now we're waiting for more information, but this case is top priority. We are keeping a close eye on terror threats as well."

"Sounds like you covered all the bases. I'll inform the President of the situation. Do you agree, Phillip?"

"Sounds like it's under control. Keep us informed." With that the right side darkened before showing the colored screen.

"We'll keep you in the loop ma'am and inform the JAG"

"I'll be waiting. Good luck."

"Thanks ma'am." With that the connection broke off.

"Well, it does look like you have everything under control." came the voice of Leon Vance from behind. "Good work, DiNozzo."

Tony didn't flinch. He heard the Director enter and take a seat when SecNav asked about him.

"Thank you, Director. Shall I inform JAG next, or do you want to take over?"

"No, that's okay." Vance slowly got up. "You are doing quite well so far. I'll be downstairs and check on the process there." The Director was nearly out of the room when he turned and added, "And DiNozzo, when in a pissing contest with another Agency, or SecNav, or anyone else - remember that you are in charge of NCIS as Agent in Charge. Do not let them undermine you."

"Yes, sir."

Then the door snapped close. Grinning at the Agent in Charge Jake announced, "JAG Office online, Sir. Commander Roberts for you!"

"Thanks." With a nod of his head, the face of the Commander materialized.

"Commander Roberts, it's nice to see you again. I wish the circumstances were better though."

"Agent DiNozzo, nice to see you again. How can I help you today?"

"We have a code red, a possible bio attack on the USS Iwo Jima. Nearly a third of the crew came down with the following symptoms in the last 14 to 16 hours - constant upchucking, shortness of breath, diarrhea, fever and chill. We have started our investigation and wanted to give you heads up. The Iwo Jima was supposed to dock in Norfolk in two days. I ordered the Captain to shut down all unnecessary communication and to stay at least 60 nautical miles away from the coast. The kitchen is closed down and we are currently investigating all possible sources on the ship as well as off ship. The crew is being questioned and blood samples connected right now."

"Damn." murmured Roberts, before straightening up. "I will inform General Cresswell right away and call you back, once he's issued orders."

"Very well, I will see you later Commander." Tony nodded to him and made the cutting motion.

He sank down in one of the chairs and rubbed his face with both hands. Taking a deep breath he nodded to Jake and left MTAC.

Time flew by and Tony later on had no idea how he managed to keep his Agents, two JAG officers, SecNav, two doctors, Vance and the White House at bay and investigate at the same time but the case was solved at 0400 hundred the next morning and whatever JAG did with Seaman Cotter wasn't his problem anymore.

Frank Cotter was the one not washing and disinfecting his hands after using the head and before returning to his duty station, distributing E. coli bacteria for free. Why he didn't work to the guidelines was beyond him and of course everyone makes mistakes, but that one was irresponsible and costs quite a few bucks and stirred up quite a lot people. Tony guessed that the guy's time in the Navy was over.

Leaving messages with SecNav, Colonel MacKenzie and JAG, he headed home for a shower and a short nap before he was needed for debriefing. He texted Vance in the elevator, that they caught the guy and the USS Iwo Jima set course to Norfolk.

Stumbling tiredly into his kitchen, he couldn't stop the broad smile on his face. Of course he felt bad for the crew, but he damn well kicked ass today. Grinning like a loon, he got ready for his two hour nap and immediately fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.