Fic - Fate Protects Fools - 2/4
Title: Fate Protects Fools (Small Children, and Ships Named Valor)
Author: sunryder
Artist: pyalgroundblz
Crossover: NCIS/Hawaii 5-0 fused with Star Trek
Type: Slash
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 21042
Characters/Pairings: Tony/Gibbs, Steve/Danny, Ducky, Abby, Tim, Jenny, Cait, Ziva, Morrow, Chin, Kono, Gracie, Jameson, Joe, Kamekona, Max
Warnings: I don't particularly like Jenny
Spoilers: None
Summary: The Federation Starship Valor was one of the crowning jewels of the Fleet. Her Tactical Chief was a Bajoran with a penchant for blowing things up and asking questions later, her Security Chief was a human who'd followed his daughter halfway across the galaxy and now was relegated to serving drinks in Ten Forward, her newest officer was a Trill with a bright smile who teased the Captain far too much, and her Captain... well let's just say Gibbs wasn't a happy man.
Author’s Notes: A thousand thanks to ellie_pierson for being my beta, and loving the story even when I decided I didn't like it anymore, which brought me back to the writing. And to beautiful, beautiful, pyalgroundblz who's art powered me through the last week of editing and is better than the fic itself.
Remember the art is HERE
Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
Steve paced back and forth in front of the force field that locked them in their cell while Tony muttered, "You're doing things to my blood pressure Steven."
"I hate waiting." Tony said nothing to Steve's comment, just kept staring up at the ceiling from his spot on the bench. "Why are you calm about this?" Steve asked.
"I've been locked up a few times before." Tony grinned.
"I can't imagine how you think that will make this situation better," a voice interrupted, and Captain Gibbs stepped around the corner and in to view.
Tony jumped to his feet and both men snapped off a salute. "Apologies for getting you involved in this, Captain." Steve said.
Ducky came around the corner behind Gibbs and tutted, "Nonsense Steven, this sort of thing is what a Captain is for."
Tony couldn't hold back his grin, "Captains are for bailing you out of prison?"
Gibbs raised an eyebrow at the Trill, communicating that he thought this wasn't the time for the man to think he could charm his way out of trouble, but Tony just grinned harder. Ducky had no compunction about replying and smiled, "You're going to be trouble young man, I can tell. Jethro, if you wouldn't mind?"
Gibbs huffed in irritation then tapped in the code the security officers had given him to release the force field and Ducky strode right in. "Now, you both take a seat here and let me have a look at you."
"Really Ducky," Steve interrupted, "we're both-"
"Now I'll have none of that young man, off to the bench with you so I can see for myself." Steve dropped to the bench beside a smirking Tony and let Ducky run soothing palms up and down his arms while keeping his mind out for Steve's reaction to the touch.
Gibbs stood behind Ducky, not interrupting the examination but not willing to wait for his questions. "You got in a bar fight."
"Yes sir."
"Why?"
"I heard some things while I was on leave Sir, things I knew he could verify. Tony and I went to the bar to ask him about it, then he insulted Bajor, and I decided asking wasn't going to be the best approach."
"But punching him was?"
Steve shrugged, "We got the information."
Gibbs turned to Tony, who seemed genuinely amused by the whole thing, and asked, "Who the hell are you?"
Tony launched off a jaunty salute while staying in his seat and said, "Lieutenant Tony Gard, one of DS9's Operations officers."
"And you got mixed up in this how?"
Steve intercepted Tony's answer and handled it himself. "We're old friends sir. We ran into one another on DS9 while everyone was on leave and I asked him if he wanted to come down to Bajor with me while I visited all my old haunts."
Ducky's head popped up at whatever he was sensing from Gibbs, and with a gentle pat to Steve's arm he slid out of the way and turned his attentions to Tony instead. Gibbs stepped into Steve's space, bracing both hands against the wall and leaned down to glower at his Tactical officer. "I'm going to pretend that you didn't just out and out lie to me, Steve. I'm going to assume you don't think I'm stupid enough that I would actually believe you'd pick up an old flame to spend you shore leave with them while Danny spent all his time on the ship missing his daughter."
"Danny?" Tony interrupted with a grin, "You haven't told me anything about Danny."
Ducky put a hand on Gibbs' arm to stop him from shouting at Tony, and Gibbs kept his attention on Steve while, in Tony's mind Ducky said, I know you mean to protect your friend, but I promise you, Gibbs won't do Steve any serious harm. Which he's terribly likely to do to you if you try to interfere.
With Tony distracted Gibbs said to Steve, "Now, why don't we try that again?"
Steve thumped his head against the wall behind him and said, “You know don't you?” Gibbs just snorted like that was a pathetically stupid question. "How long have you known I'm in Intelligence?"
Gibbs snorted, "You think there's anybody on the ship who doesn't know you did time in Intelligence?"
"Gaining my tactical experience there and still being Intelligence are two different things."
"Nope. Once you're Intelligence, you're always Intelligence." Steve tilted back up and gave Gibbs a long look, something about Gibbs' own history finally slotting in to place for Steve.
Steve gave Gibbs a smile then replied, "My handler told me he'd heard chatter about a terrorist threat, but nothing specific. While the rest of the crew went on shore leave I was supposed to try and track it down."
"Hence the civilian clothes and why someone has always been at Danny's side trying to distract him. But why Tony?"
"I had permission to take whatever supplies or personnel I needed from DS9, but you know how I feel about people I don't know." Gibbs grunted, not commenting since it was an opinion he shared. "Tony and I have worked a few ops together before and I brought him along to watch my back."
Gibbs turned his attention to Tony, who was watching with fascination while Steve confessed everything to Gibbs. Apparently Steve's trust changed whatever opinion Tony had of Gibbs, and his expression finally settled on something other than a smirk. Gibbs gave Tony a long look of his own, opening his mind to Ducky's commentary. He's a good boy Jethro. Reckless, and unflinchingly loyal, but good.
Gibbs gave a sharp nod and turned back to Steve to ask, ''Did you find what you were looking for?"
"I assume, considering they didn't tell me what I was looking for in the first place. The Federation has a meeting scheduled with the Klingon High Command." Implicit in the statement was Steve asking whether or not Gibbs knew about it, but Gibbs kept his face placid and didn't respond. "Somehow word got out and the Romulans know about it. They plan on doing something to ruin the meeting and probably send us to war."
"What?" Gibbs asked sharply.
"My contact had no clue. All he knew was that the perpetrator is supposed to be on one of the ships that the Federation is sending to the meet."
Gibbs turned his attention immediately away from Steve and asked, "How are they, Duck?"
"A few bruises but nothing a good dermal regenerator can't fix."
"Good. Time we got the hell out of here." The station's security officer, who was supposed to stop this sort of thing from happening ducked out of Gibbs' way as they left, and Steve and Tony exchanged a glance at what Gibbs must have said to the poor man. They were about four feet outside Security when over his shoulder Gibbs said to Tony, "Get your gear."
Tony stumbled to a stop, "What?"
"Get your gear. We'll be heading out inside the hour. Whatever you don't have on the ship by then is getting left behind."
"Sir, I'm an officer on Deep Space Nine."
"And now you're an officer on the Valor."
"But-"
Gibbs stopped abruptly and turned on Tony, "You telling me you don't want to serve on the Valor?"
"N-No, Sir."
"Then what the hell is the problem?"
"… can't think of one."
Gibbs rolled his eyes and smacked Tony upside the head, "Then get your gear!" Before turning and heading back towards the transporter bay. Tony just stood there for a moment, baffled by the whole of the morning before a smile broke across his face and he started took off for his quarters at a dash.
XXXXX
Lori met Gibbs and Ducky in the Valor's transporter bay, and despite her tendencies to think everything Gibbs did was wrong, Lori was intelligent enough to know that despite her orders to the contrary, some days it was best to just give Gibbs what he needed and then get out of his way. "Captain, Admirals Morrow, Jameson, and David are waiting for you on the comm." Gibbs waived Ducky off, back to the infirmary, and Ducky took Steve with him to take care of those bruises. Gibbs headed straight for the turbolift to the bridge, with Lori following close behind.
The moment the turbolift doors closed behind them Lori added, "You should know that the Admiralty commed around ten minutes ago and Commander Shepard explained why you were unable to take the call."
Gibbs grunted, "You now, you can actually say that Jen tried to force my hand by telling the Admiralty things she should've kept to herself until she'd talked to me."
"She is your default second in command, Sir."
"Actually, if we're going by rank, Ducky is second in command."
"Captain-"
Gibbs tapped the emergency stop button, bringing the turbolift to an immediate halt and turned to Lori, "You don't like the way I run my ship Weston, then you can request a transfer. But until you do, I'm your Captain, and you get your orders from me." Gibbs tapped the stop button and got the turbolift moving again.
"Gibbs-" Lori tried to interject, but Gibbs added, "I've got nothing else to say, Weston. Either get on board or be done with it."
Gibbs strode out on to the bridge, only to be faced with Jenny sitting in his Captain's chair chatting with the three Admirals who'd called for Gibbs. Jenny smiled at Gibbs, still in his seat and said, "There you are Jethro, we were wondering where you'd gotten off to."
"Considering you can't be bothered to do your job, I was doing it for you."
Jenny blushed, a strange shade of brown on her green skin, and with a combination of rage and mortification she smoothly rose from Gibbs' chair, shooting the Admirals a look that clearly said, 'You see what I have ego put up with?' before she gave Gibbs a polite smile and said, "My apologies Captain. I thought the matter was beneath your concern."
From the main viewing screen Admiral David interrupted, "I have to agree with Commander Shepard about that Gibbs. You ignored our call so you could bail one of your officers out of jail for a bar fight."
At the helm in front of him, Gibbs saw Kono flinch, though Gibbs was sure it was more at how angry Gibbs would be at Shepard sharing that information rather than Gibbs being cowed for his decision. Gibbs ignored the comment and fixed a glower on Jenny until she slunk away from Gibbs' chair. Gibbs didn't sit, just stood in front of his captain's chair with his arms crossed and gave the Admiralty a deadpan look like he wasn't really listening. Morrow, as always, was the Admiral who decided to play nice, trying to keep the peace between Gibbs and all his superiors and said, "We were told that you wanted to speak with us, Gibbs?"
"And I assume you're not calling us to make the black spot on your man's record go away." David snapped.
"There won't be a mark."
Jameson put a quelling hand on David's arm and asked, "And how did you manage that, Gibbs?"
"McGarrett was running an operation at the time. He was arrested in the line of duty following orders. You get medals for that."
"And what exactly was McGarrett's assignment?"
"Ask Admiral David."
David was one of the Admirals over Starfleet Intelligence and Jameson turned to him with a raised eyebrow, "Something you'd like to share with the class, Admiral David?"
"Intelligence operations are not to be shared-"
"There's an assassin going to the meeting you called to tell me to get my ship to. David wanted McGarrett to find out if the threat was real."
David looked fit to be tied, but when he opened his mouth to scold Gibbs for revealing that information, Morrow snapped, "Anything else we should know, Captain?"
"This conversation should not be held in front of Gibbs' crew!" David snapped. "Captain, remove yourself from the bridge!"
Gibbs dropped back into his chair with a smirk and completely ignored Admiral David while he asked, "Who are the other ships you're sending to this meeting?"
"Our intention was to have the Valor rendezvous with the Amsterdam and the Honolulu at Deep Space 7 in two days." Morrow replied, still keeping complete control over the conversation.
"According to the source the problem is on one of those ships."
David interrupted, "Then we'll change out the ships."
"No." Gibbs interrupted. "The target doesn't know that we're on to them. If you keep the ships the same and give me the personnel manifests for the other ships, I'll find who you're looking for."
David snorted, "The best Intelligence officers in the Federation have gotten nothing more than a whiff of this plot and you think you unravel it all in under two days?"
Gibbs raised an eyebrow at David like he was an idiot for asking the question. David huffed and said, "Your ship will still be permitted to attend, but you'll turn the matter over to your Chief of Security to handle. That's what Security is there for."
Jameson gave a slight nod, "Admiral David has a legitimate point, Captain. Perhaps Lieutenant Commander Weston should be heading the investigation."
"While we're on the subject of proper division of labor," David added, "Why don't you officially appoint Jenny as your First and let her spearhead this as her first assignment. She's got background in Intelligence; she should be excellent for this."
"No." Gibbs calmly interrupted.
"No?" Admiral David asked almost amused.
"No. To both."
Jameson stifled a sigh and said, "Perhaps you could clarify."
"No, I am not now nor am I ever appointing Shepard to be my XO. No, I am not turning this case over to Weston. After this morning both women have proven themselves unreliable on the issue. It's my ship and my investigation, and I'll situate my officers where I want to."
"That sounds ominous."
"I found Shepard's replacement today and had him transferred to the Valor." Half the bridge crew turned immediately to look at Jen, and the shock on her face made it clear she wasn't aware of this development. The shock quickly faded into fury as Gibbs went on, "I can't trust Commander Shepard to do what's best for the Valor when she's busy doing what's best for her. Either she can take the demotion, or she can request a transfer, but I don't want her as my Chief of Operations."
Gibbs was a hard commander, everyone knew it, but there was a difference between knowing Gibbs only wanted your best and watching him reprimand an officer in the middle of the bridge with everyone watching. Morrow ignored the tension of everyone around him, from Gibbs' crew to the way David looked ready to snap, and instead pulled up the Officer listings for the Federation base on Bajor and Deep Space 9, and one had been flagged for transfer inside the last hour. "Lieutenant Tony Gard, I presume?" Gibbs gave a nod, and Morrow briefed the other Admirals. "Trill. Graduated middle of his class with polarized recommendations. The same sort of reviews that seem to have haunted him his entire career. Apparently people either adore him or think he should be cashiered out of the Fleet."
Gibbs said nothing in reply, just leaned back and impatiently waited for their confirmation that Gibbs could have the officer rather than just abducting him. "You can't replace a Commander with a Lieutenant, Gibbs!" David snapped.
"I appointed Abby to my head of Science as an Ensign."
"You promoted her!" David shouted.
Gibbs just quirked an eyebrow like that was exactly what he intended to do. "Gibbs-" David started, but Morrow slammed his hand down on the table to cut him off and in a final tone declared, "Jethro, you will be in charge of this investigation, with the authority to handle it however you want, and with whomever you want. However, this is not the time to deal with your personnel issues. Keep Commander Shepard in her post and we'll deal with it all when the current situation is handled." Gibbs gave a sharp nod in reply then cut the transmission.
"Kalukaua." Gibbs said, and the girl quickly replied, "Coordinates for DS9 inputted, Captain. At warp factor 4 we should bet there in 46 hours, arriving one hour before the Amsterdam and three hours before the Honolulu."
"Head out, Kono. And tell the command crew I want them all in the conference room in five minutes."
XXXXXGibbs took three of those five minutes to officially file the paperwork for Tony's transfer and to log that he intended to file the paperwork for his promotion at the end of the mission. Then, despite the fact he was two minutes early to his own meeting, the entire command crew was already there waiting. Gibbs went straight to his chair at the head of the table without bothering with preliminaries, "We're being sent to rendezvous with the Amsterdam and the Honolulu at DS7 where we'll be vetted by Klingon Intelligence before we head to an as yet undisclosed location in Klingon space for treaty negotiations."
Gibbs dropped into his seat, giving the command crew a moment to wrap their heads around the mission before he moved on. Jenny was at his right hand, managing to look calm and composed despite the way Gibbs had lost his temper with her on the bridge. Jenny would let him have it later for his words, and Gibbs would be reaffirmed in his decision that he and Jenny weren't meant to work together in so close a capacity.
Next to Jenny was Lieutenant Ziva David, the Valor's Chief of Intelligence and Admiral David's daughter. Gibbs hated Starfleet intelligence, hated being lied to by his own officers, and had only allowed Ziva on board as part of a bargain to call David off his campaign to see Jenny promoted. Next to Ziva was Lieutenant Commander Lori Weston, who wisely seemed to be avoiding Gibbs' gaze this afternoon after failing to inform him of Steve's imprisonment and the reprimand in the turbolift. And next to them was Steve, who looked dangerously excited about this whole thing. On Gibbs' left was Ducky, who Gibbs could feel wanted to scold him for his blunt approach to things today. Next to Ducky was Abby, far more perky after mainlining caffeine not an hour ago, and beside her was Timothy McGee, the painfully young but brilliant Head Engineer. Cait took the spot next to Tim where she could could calmly observe how everyone was handling the day without adding to Gibbs' irritation.
Gibbs paused a little longer than necessary while he realized what was wrong with this situation and tapped his comm badge to demand, "Gard, where the hell are you?"
There was a slight pause on the other end of the line before Gard responded unsurely, "I'm in operations, Captain."
"Why in the hell are you there when you're supposed to be here?"
"I, uh. I'm not a command officer, Sir."
Gibbs just huffed, sure that despite only announcing it minutes ago most of the operations staff already knew Gibbs' plan for Tony and Tony knew it as well. "Get your ass in here, Gard."
Steve, good, dependable, Steve who never questioned Gibbs' orders no matter how strange they may seem (probably more because Gibbs usually let him make war on the galaxy since Gibbs wasn't supposed to that sort of thing anymore than out of any sense of loyalty) pulled out an extra chair from the conference room closet so when Tony stepped into the room thirty seconds later he already had a spot waiting. Tony dropped down at the end of the table between Cait and Steve and Gibbs snapped, "Don't assume things."
Tony should've flinched at Gibbs' tone, it's what any sane person would've done, but instead he stifled a smirk and replied, "Yes, Captain. No assuming."
Tim looked horrified, but judging from the stifled smiles of Abby and Ducky they'd just met their new favorite crewman. Gibbs ignored them all and continued, assuming Gard would be able to put the pieces together for himself. "We're to meet with the Amsterdam and the Honolulu at DS7 before we go together into Klingon space, probably Archanis IV just over the border. There we'll have a meet and greet with the Klingon emissaries, and if they decide the Federation is honorable enough to talk to then we'll go from there. As if that's not going to be dangerous enough, the Romulans have a spy in the game who plans on ruining the whole thing and sending us to war. This spy is somewhere on one of the three ships heading to this meeting. All this is to say nothing of the fact that the Klingons are trying to re-establish themselves as a conquering, warrior race, there's a good chance they might use this meeting as a chance to blow us out of the sky and declare war on the Federation. I've got next to no information about what the Klingons demands might be, what border security looks like, or how our fellow ships are faring. Cait."
Cait answered, anticipating what Gibbs would ask of her, "Review Klingon negotiating protocol and get everyone up to speed so we're not the ones who ruin this, then compile profiles on our fellow command crews and the Federation's ambassador to anticipate their blind spots in the negotiations."
"Abs."
"Run constant high depth sensor sweeps looking for tech so no one catches us with our pants down."
"I also want a lock on every member of this crew when they're not on board the ship. I want to be able to pick up and get the hell out of there at a moment's notice. Tim-"
"Help Abby with the scanning and try to expand our sensor net to cover everyone Federation, not just our crew."
"McGarrett."
"Get more complete information about this mess and ready the crew for everything about this situation to go wrong."
"Weston."
Lori looked genuinely surprised her name had been called, but she stumbled together quickly, "Go through every last person on all three crews and compile a list of people who look suspicious."
"Rely on Chin to help you go through the personnel files, and anyone who trips your warning sensor get Ducky to have a chat with them. Shepard-"
"I'll liaise with our fellow ships to go over security arrangements and protections if the worst does happen."
"No."
Everyone in the room froze, not wanting to draw Gibbs' ire. "Gard will liaise with the other ships and figure out what they know." He paused for a long moment, taking in the way Tony quickly hid his surprise and finished, "Shepard, you'll do what it is you usually do."
"Jethro-" Jen tried to object, but Gibbs went straight on, "You're nothing but basic operations for the next few days since Tony will be too busy with the others trying to handle this problem. If there's any slack in other departments while the others are dealing with the problem, you pick it up but stay out of their way."
Gibbs waited half a moment for anyone to pose a question, not that that had ever happened before, and Gibbs sent them all off with a nod.
Jenny serenely waited for the rest of the command staff to filter out of the room, leaving her to deal with Gibbs without an audience. Gibbs had to give that to her, Jenny always knew how to keep her game face on when she had to, but the second the door closed behind Ducky, who sent Gibbs an emotion torn between solidarity and irritation, Jenny grated out, "That display was unnecessary, Jethro."
"You're the one who's been making our fights more and more public Jen, how long did you think I was going to sit there and take it?"
"Taking it is entirely different than humiliating me on the in front of the Admiralty!"
"I humiliate you in from of the Admiralty; you humiliate me in front of the crew. Now we're both humiliated in front of the people we want to respect us."
"It was uncalled for, Jethro!" Jenny snapped.
"Jen, you can't call me out in front of my crew and expect me not to respond.” Jenny muttered something under her breath and Gibbs prodded, "What was that Commander? Speak up."
Jenny whirled on him like a fury and shouted, "I said you always have before! Whatever prodding I've done you've-"
"Prodding? You mean letting you re-arrange my crew, and question my orders, and mock the people I actually chose for their positions?"
"Yes! You've borne it all with no upset! I thought…"
"You thought I was just playing hard to get?"
Jenny gave him a coy smile, "That's the way you've always been with me. Playing difficult to disguise your wants."
Gibbs grunted, but didn't quite deny it. He'd met Jenny when he was assigned to mentor a younger student at the Academy. Gibbs had always prided himself on his self-restraint, and he'd somehow managed to keep himself from touching the pretty Orion co-ed until she was no longer in his care. They'd had a good weekend at the end of it, and then said nothing to one another until Jenny was appointed to the same ship as Gibbs a few years later; though thank heavens not in the same department. He'd held out for a few more months until he'd finally caved and they'd begun the affair anew until Gibbs transferred and ended it again. They'd started and stopped their relationship half a dozen times over the years, coming back together whenever fate or conniving brought them to the same ship. But this time Gibbs had been adamant in his refusal, and had stood against Jenny and her tempting Orion pheromones for almost two years. Jenny sauntered closer to Gibbs, "We always were good together Jethro."
"No Jen, we never were together, we just had good sex." Jenny went to put a hand on the back of Gibbs' neck, but he darted out a hand and caught her before she could touch him.
Jenny sniffed, "Admit it, I make you feel alive."
"Shouting at each other isn't the definition of alive, Jen."
She leaned forward, brushing her lips against Gibbs', "It is if you're an Orion."
Gibbs leaned in, accepting the pressure of one kiss before he pulled back and breathed, "We're done."
Jenny ran her fingers through his hair, "Oh Jethro, we'll never be done."
Gibbs caught her by the shoulders and pushed Jenny back, "No, This time we're done. I'm not doing this again."
"But Jethro, this time we don't have to stop."
"The hell we don't Jen. I don't want a war for a relationship."
Jenny all but slithered in to Gibbs' lap and muttered up against his lips, "Oh Jethro, I really think you do."
Gibbs caught Jen by her hips and hoisted her back to her feet, "Commander Shepard, I don't sleep with my crew."
Jen snorted, "You don't sleep with your crew, yet. I'm an Orion Jethro; you honestly think I didn't see the way you looked at that pretty little Trill you brought on board?"
"Is that what this is about? You're pissed because you think I've got a crush on someone else?'
"Not think, Jethro. All of sudden you just meet this stranger and trust him implicitly? That's not like you."
"No Jen, I didn't trust you implicitly, and Tony's got nothing to do with this."
"Tony. Jethro you don't like calling your crew by their first names, or have you forgotten that in the wake of Tony."
Gibbs rose from his seat and forcefully said, "He's a good officer with plenty of experience-"
"Experience," Jen scoffed, "He's been alive for a few hundred years, I'm sure he's got plenty of that."
Gibbs stared at Jen in disbelief, "Are you really impugning someone else's sexual history, Jen? Because I thought when you belonged to a species that's known to kill sexual partners with pheromone overloads you weren't allowed to scold other people for the amount of sex they might have had over a dozen lifetimes."
"I just assumed that since you used to get so angry at my romantic exploits-"
"I got angry because you were sleeping with other people when we were supposed to be in a relationship!"
Jen went to shout something back, but Gibbs threw up his hands and shouted, "This is why we have to stop! Because we always end up doing this! I can't have an officer who screams at me every decision I make."
"Not every decision Jethro, just the stupid ones."
Gibbs puffed out another breath, stopping himself before they descended into another argument and said, "I'll do what I can to get you a good transfer, maybe as someone else's First, but we can't keep going like this, Jen. We'll kill one another and break the ship between us. I'll get you transferred some place that's not a step back, and maybe even find you a spot as someone's first officer, but you can't stay here."
Jenny leaned over the table in a way that forced her cleavage forward in a way that used to make Gibbs smile and said, "I've spent two years on the Valor Jethro, I'm not leaving until I get what I came for."
Chapter Three
Author: sunryder
Artist: pyalgroundblz
Crossover: NCIS/Hawaii 5-0 fused with Star Trek
Type: Slash
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 21042
Characters/Pairings: Tony/Gibbs, Steve/Danny, Ducky, Abby, Tim, Jenny, Cait, Ziva, Morrow, Chin, Kono, Gracie, Jameson, Joe, Kamekona, Max
Warnings: I don't particularly like Jenny
Spoilers: None
Summary: The Federation Starship Valor was one of the crowning jewels of the Fleet. Her Tactical Chief was a Bajoran with a penchant for blowing things up and asking questions later, her Security Chief was a human who'd followed his daughter halfway across the galaxy and now was relegated to serving drinks in Ten Forward, her newest officer was a Trill with a bright smile who teased the Captain far too much, and her Captain... well let's just say Gibbs wasn't a happy man.
Author’s Notes: A thousand thanks to ellie_pierson for being my beta, and loving the story even when I decided I didn't like it anymore, which brought me back to the writing. And to beautiful, beautiful, pyalgroundblz who's art powered me through the last week of editing and is better than the fic itself.
Remember the art is HERE
Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
Steve paced back and forth in front of the force field that locked them in their cell while Tony muttered, "You're doing things to my blood pressure Steven."
"I hate waiting." Tony said nothing to Steve's comment, just kept staring up at the ceiling from his spot on the bench. "Why are you calm about this?" Steve asked.
"I've been locked up a few times before." Tony grinned.
"I can't imagine how you think that will make this situation better," a voice interrupted, and Captain Gibbs stepped around the corner and in to view.
Tony jumped to his feet and both men snapped off a salute. "Apologies for getting you involved in this, Captain." Steve said.
Ducky came around the corner behind Gibbs and tutted, "Nonsense Steven, this sort of thing is what a Captain is for."
Tony couldn't hold back his grin, "Captains are for bailing you out of prison?"
Gibbs raised an eyebrow at the Trill, communicating that he thought this wasn't the time for the man to think he could charm his way out of trouble, but Tony just grinned harder. Ducky had no compunction about replying and smiled, "You're going to be trouble young man, I can tell. Jethro, if you wouldn't mind?"
Gibbs huffed in irritation then tapped in the code the security officers had given him to release the force field and Ducky strode right in. "Now, you both take a seat here and let me have a look at you."
"Really Ducky," Steve interrupted, "we're both-"
"Now I'll have none of that young man, off to the bench with you so I can see for myself." Steve dropped to the bench beside a smirking Tony and let Ducky run soothing palms up and down his arms while keeping his mind out for Steve's reaction to the touch.
Gibbs stood behind Ducky, not interrupting the examination but not willing to wait for his questions. "You got in a bar fight."
"Yes sir."
"Why?"
"I heard some things while I was on leave Sir, things I knew he could verify. Tony and I went to the bar to ask him about it, then he insulted Bajor, and I decided asking wasn't going to be the best approach."
"But punching him was?"
Steve shrugged, "We got the information."
Gibbs turned to Tony, who seemed genuinely amused by the whole thing, and asked, "Who the hell are you?"
Tony launched off a jaunty salute while staying in his seat and said, "Lieutenant Tony Gard, one of DS9's Operations officers."
"And you got mixed up in this how?"
Steve intercepted Tony's answer and handled it himself. "We're old friends sir. We ran into one another on DS9 while everyone was on leave and I asked him if he wanted to come down to Bajor with me while I visited all my old haunts."
Ducky's head popped up at whatever he was sensing from Gibbs, and with a gentle pat to Steve's arm he slid out of the way and turned his attentions to Tony instead. Gibbs stepped into Steve's space, bracing both hands against the wall and leaned down to glower at his Tactical officer. "I'm going to pretend that you didn't just out and out lie to me, Steve. I'm going to assume you don't think I'm stupid enough that I would actually believe you'd pick up an old flame to spend you shore leave with them while Danny spent all his time on the ship missing his daughter."
"Danny?" Tony interrupted with a grin, "You haven't told me anything about Danny."
Ducky put a hand on Gibbs' arm to stop him from shouting at Tony, and Gibbs kept his attention on Steve while, in Tony's mind Ducky said, I know you mean to protect your friend, but I promise you, Gibbs won't do Steve any serious harm. Which he's terribly likely to do to you if you try to interfere.
With Tony distracted Gibbs said to Steve, "Now, why don't we try that again?"
Steve thumped his head against the wall behind him and said, “You know don't you?” Gibbs just snorted like that was a pathetically stupid question. "How long have you known I'm in Intelligence?"
Gibbs snorted, "You think there's anybody on the ship who doesn't know you did time in Intelligence?"
"Gaining my tactical experience there and still being Intelligence are two different things."
"Nope. Once you're Intelligence, you're always Intelligence." Steve tilted back up and gave Gibbs a long look, something about Gibbs' own history finally slotting in to place for Steve.
Steve gave Gibbs a smile then replied, "My handler told me he'd heard chatter about a terrorist threat, but nothing specific. While the rest of the crew went on shore leave I was supposed to try and track it down."
"Hence the civilian clothes and why someone has always been at Danny's side trying to distract him. But why Tony?"
"I had permission to take whatever supplies or personnel I needed from DS9, but you know how I feel about people I don't know." Gibbs grunted, not commenting since it was an opinion he shared. "Tony and I have worked a few ops together before and I brought him along to watch my back."
Gibbs turned his attention to Tony, who was watching with fascination while Steve confessed everything to Gibbs. Apparently Steve's trust changed whatever opinion Tony had of Gibbs, and his expression finally settled on something other than a smirk. Gibbs gave Tony a long look of his own, opening his mind to Ducky's commentary. He's a good boy Jethro. Reckless, and unflinchingly loyal, but good.
Gibbs gave a sharp nod and turned back to Steve to ask, ''Did you find what you were looking for?"
"I assume, considering they didn't tell me what I was looking for in the first place. The Federation has a meeting scheduled with the Klingon High Command." Implicit in the statement was Steve asking whether or not Gibbs knew about it, but Gibbs kept his face placid and didn't respond. "Somehow word got out and the Romulans know about it. They plan on doing something to ruin the meeting and probably send us to war."
"What?" Gibbs asked sharply.
"My contact had no clue. All he knew was that the perpetrator is supposed to be on one of the ships that the Federation is sending to the meet."
Gibbs turned his attention immediately away from Steve and asked, "How are they, Duck?"
"A few bruises but nothing a good dermal regenerator can't fix."
"Good. Time we got the hell out of here." The station's security officer, who was supposed to stop this sort of thing from happening ducked out of Gibbs' way as they left, and Steve and Tony exchanged a glance at what Gibbs must have said to the poor man. They were about four feet outside Security when over his shoulder Gibbs said to Tony, "Get your gear."
Tony stumbled to a stop, "What?"
"Get your gear. We'll be heading out inside the hour. Whatever you don't have on the ship by then is getting left behind."
"Sir, I'm an officer on Deep Space Nine."
"And now you're an officer on the Valor."
"But-"
Gibbs stopped abruptly and turned on Tony, "You telling me you don't want to serve on the Valor?"
"N-No, Sir."
"Then what the hell is the problem?"
"… can't think of one."
Gibbs rolled his eyes and smacked Tony upside the head, "Then get your gear!" Before turning and heading back towards the transporter bay. Tony just stood there for a moment, baffled by the whole of the morning before a smile broke across his face and he started took off for his quarters at a dash.
XXXXX
Lori met Gibbs and Ducky in the Valor's transporter bay, and despite her tendencies to think everything Gibbs did was wrong, Lori was intelligent enough to know that despite her orders to the contrary, some days it was best to just give Gibbs what he needed and then get out of his way. "Captain, Admirals Morrow, Jameson, and David are waiting for you on the comm." Gibbs waived Ducky off, back to the infirmary, and Ducky took Steve with him to take care of those bruises. Gibbs headed straight for the turbolift to the bridge, with Lori following close behind.
The moment the turbolift doors closed behind them Lori added, "You should know that the Admiralty commed around ten minutes ago and Commander Shepard explained why you were unable to take the call."
Gibbs grunted, "You now, you can actually say that Jen tried to force my hand by telling the Admiralty things she should've kept to herself until she'd talked to me."
"She is your default second in command, Sir."
"Actually, if we're going by rank, Ducky is second in command."
"Captain-"
Gibbs tapped the emergency stop button, bringing the turbolift to an immediate halt and turned to Lori, "You don't like the way I run my ship Weston, then you can request a transfer. But until you do, I'm your Captain, and you get your orders from me." Gibbs tapped the stop button and got the turbolift moving again.
"Gibbs-" Lori tried to interject, but Gibbs added, "I've got nothing else to say, Weston. Either get on board or be done with it."
Gibbs strode out on to the bridge, only to be faced with Jenny sitting in his Captain's chair chatting with the three Admirals who'd called for Gibbs. Jenny smiled at Gibbs, still in his seat and said, "There you are Jethro, we were wondering where you'd gotten off to."
"Considering you can't be bothered to do your job, I was doing it for you."
Jenny blushed, a strange shade of brown on her green skin, and with a combination of rage and mortification she smoothly rose from Gibbs' chair, shooting the Admirals a look that clearly said, 'You see what I have ego put up with?' before she gave Gibbs a polite smile and said, "My apologies Captain. I thought the matter was beneath your concern."
From the main viewing screen Admiral David interrupted, "I have to agree with Commander Shepard about that Gibbs. You ignored our call so you could bail one of your officers out of jail for a bar fight."
At the helm in front of him, Gibbs saw Kono flinch, though Gibbs was sure it was more at how angry Gibbs would be at Shepard sharing that information rather than Gibbs being cowed for his decision. Gibbs ignored the comment and fixed a glower on Jenny until she slunk away from Gibbs' chair. Gibbs didn't sit, just stood in front of his captain's chair with his arms crossed and gave the Admiralty a deadpan look like he wasn't really listening. Morrow, as always, was the Admiral who decided to play nice, trying to keep the peace between Gibbs and all his superiors and said, "We were told that you wanted to speak with us, Gibbs?"
"And I assume you're not calling us to make the black spot on your man's record go away." David snapped.
"There won't be a mark."
Jameson put a quelling hand on David's arm and asked, "And how did you manage that, Gibbs?"
"McGarrett was running an operation at the time. He was arrested in the line of duty following orders. You get medals for that."
"And what exactly was McGarrett's assignment?"
"Ask Admiral David."
David was one of the Admirals over Starfleet Intelligence and Jameson turned to him with a raised eyebrow, "Something you'd like to share with the class, Admiral David?"
"Intelligence operations are not to be shared-"
"There's an assassin going to the meeting you called to tell me to get my ship to. David wanted McGarrett to find out if the threat was real."
David looked fit to be tied, but when he opened his mouth to scold Gibbs for revealing that information, Morrow snapped, "Anything else we should know, Captain?"
"This conversation should not be held in front of Gibbs' crew!" David snapped. "Captain, remove yourself from the bridge!"
Gibbs dropped back into his chair with a smirk and completely ignored Admiral David while he asked, "Who are the other ships you're sending to this meeting?"
"Our intention was to have the Valor rendezvous with the Amsterdam and the Honolulu at Deep Space 7 in two days." Morrow replied, still keeping complete control over the conversation.
"According to the source the problem is on one of those ships."
David interrupted, "Then we'll change out the ships."
"No." Gibbs interrupted. "The target doesn't know that we're on to them. If you keep the ships the same and give me the personnel manifests for the other ships, I'll find who you're looking for."
David snorted, "The best Intelligence officers in the Federation have gotten nothing more than a whiff of this plot and you think you unravel it all in under two days?"
Gibbs raised an eyebrow at David like he was an idiot for asking the question. David huffed and said, "Your ship will still be permitted to attend, but you'll turn the matter over to your Chief of Security to handle. That's what Security is there for."
Jameson gave a slight nod, "Admiral David has a legitimate point, Captain. Perhaps Lieutenant Commander Weston should be heading the investigation."
"While we're on the subject of proper division of labor," David added, "Why don't you officially appoint Jenny as your First and let her spearhead this as her first assignment. She's got background in Intelligence; she should be excellent for this."
"No." Gibbs calmly interrupted.
"No?" Admiral David asked almost amused.
"No. To both."
Jameson stifled a sigh and said, "Perhaps you could clarify."
"No, I am not now nor am I ever appointing Shepard to be my XO. No, I am not turning this case over to Weston. After this morning both women have proven themselves unreliable on the issue. It's my ship and my investigation, and I'll situate my officers where I want to."
"That sounds ominous."
"I found Shepard's replacement today and had him transferred to the Valor." Half the bridge crew turned immediately to look at Jen, and the shock on her face made it clear she wasn't aware of this development. The shock quickly faded into fury as Gibbs went on, "I can't trust Commander Shepard to do what's best for the Valor when she's busy doing what's best for her. Either she can take the demotion, or she can request a transfer, but I don't want her as my Chief of Operations."
Gibbs was a hard commander, everyone knew it, but there was a difference between knowing Gibbs only wanted your best and watching him reprimand an officer in the middle of the bridge with everyone watching. Morrow ignored the tension of everyone around him, from Gibbs' crew to the way David looked ready to snap, and instead pulled up the Officer listings for the Federation base on Bajor and Deep Space 9, and one had been flagged for transfer inside the last hour. "Lieutenant Tony Gard, I presume?" Gibbs gave a nod, and Morrow briefed the other Admirals. "Trill. Graduated middle of his class with polarized recommendations. The same sort of reviews that seem to have haunted him his entire career. Apparently people either adore him or think he should be cashiered out of the Fleet."
Gibbs said nothing in reply, just leaned back and impatiently waited for their confirmation that Gibbs could have the officer rather than just abducting him. "You can't replace a Commander with a Lieutenant, Gibbs!" David snapped.
"I appointed Abby to my head of Science as an Ensign."
"You promoted her!" David shouted.
Gibbs just quirked an eyebrow like that was exactly what he intended to do. "Gibbs-" David started, but Morrow slammed his hand down on the table to cut him off and in a final tone declared, "Jethro, you will be in charge of this investigation, with the authority to handle it however you want, and with whomever you want. However, this is not the time to deal with your personnel issues. Keep Commander Shepard in her post and we'll deal with it all when the current situation is handled." Gibbs gave a sharp nod in reply then cut the transmission.
"Kalukaua." Gibbs said, and the girl quickly replied, "Coordinates for DS9 inputted, Captain. At warp factor 4 we should bet there in 46 hours, arriving one hour before the Amsterdam and three hours before the Honolulu."
"Head out, Kono. And tell the command crew I want them all in the conference room in five minutes."
XXXXXGibbs took three of those five minutes to officially file the paperwork for Tony's transfer and to log that he intended to file the paperwork for his promotion at the end of the mission. Then, despite the fact he was two minutes early to his own meeting, the entire command crew was already there waiting. Gibbs went straight to his chair at the head of the table without bothering with preliminaries, "We're being sent to rendezvous with the Amsterdam and the Honolulu at DS7 where we'll be vetted by Klingon Intelligence before we head to an as yet undisclosed location in Klingon space for treaty negotiations."
Gibbs dropped into his seat, giving the command crew a moment to wrap their heads around the mission before he moved on. Jenny was at his right hand, managing to look calm and composed despite the way Gibbs had lost his temper with her on the bridge. Jenny would let him have it later for his words, and Gibbs would be reaffirmed in his decision that he and Jenny weren't meant to work together in so close a capacity.
Next to Jenny was Lieutenant Ziva David, the Valor's Chief of Intelligence and Admiral David's daughter. Gibbs hated Starfleet intelligence, hated being lied to by his own officers, and had only allowed Ziva on board as part of a bargain to call David off his campaign to see Jenny promoted. Next to Ziva was Lieutenant Commander Lori Weston, who wisely seemed to be avoiding Gibbs' gaze this afternoon after failing to inform him of Steve's imprisonment and the reprimand in the turbolift. And next to them was Steve, who looked dangerously excited about this whole thing. On Gibbs' left was Ducky, who Gibbs could feel wanted to scold him for his blunt approach to things today. Next to Ducky was Abby, far more perky after mainlining caffeine not an hour ago, and beside her was Timothy McGee, the painfully young but brilliant Head Engineer. Cait took the spot next to Tim where she could could calmly observe how everyone was handling the day without adding to Gibbs' irritation.
Gibbs paused a little longer than necessary while he realized what was wrong with this situation and tapped his comm badge to demand, "Gard, where the hell are you?"
There was a slight pause on the other end of the line before Gard responded unsurely, "I'm in operations, Captain."
"Why in the hell are you there when you're supposed to be here?"
"I, uh. I'm not a command officer, Sir."
Gibbs just huffed, sure that despite only announcing it minutes ago most of the operations staff already knew Gibbs' plan for Tony and Tony knew it as well. "Get your ass in here, Gard."
Steve, good, dependable, Steve who never questioned Gibbs' orders no matter how strange they may seem (probably more because Gibbs usually let him make war on the galaxy since Gibbs wasn't supposed to that sort of thing anymore than out of any sense of loyalty) pulled out an extra chair from the conference room closet so when Tony stepped into the room thirty seconds later he already had a spot waiting. Tony dropped down at the end of the table between Cait and Steve and Gibbs snapped, "Don't assume things."
Tony should've flinched at Gibbs' tone, it's what any sane person would've done, but instead he stifled a smirk and replied, "Yes, Captain. No assuming."
Tim looked horrified, but judging from the stifled smiles of Abby and Ducky they'd just met their new favorite crewman. Gibbs ignored them all and continued, assuming Gard would be able to put the pieces together for himself. "We're to meet with the Amsterdam and the Honolulu at DS7 before we go together into Klingon space, probably Archanis IV just over the border. There we'll have a meet and greet with the Klingon emissaries, and if they decide the Federation is honorable enough to talk to then we'll go from there. As if that's not going to be dangerous enough, the Romulans have a spy in the game who plans on ruining the whole thing and sending us to war. This spy is somewhere on one of the three ships heading to this meeting. All this is to say nothing of the fact that the Klingons are trying to re-establish themselves as a conquering, warrior race, there's a good chance they might use this meeting as a chance to blow us out of the sky and declare war on the Federation. I've got next to no information about what the Klingons demands might be, what border security looks like, or how our fellow ships are faring. Cait."
Cait answered, anticipating what Gibbs would ask of her, "Review Klingon negotiating protocol and get everyone up to speed so we're not the ones who ruin this, then compile profiles on our fellow command crews and the Federation's ambassador to anticipate their blind spots in the negotiations."
"Abs."
"Run constant high depth sensor sweeps looking for tech so no one catches us with our pants down."
"I also want a lock on every member of this crew when they're not on board the ship. I want to be able to pick up and get the hell out of there at a moment's notice. Tim-"
"Help Abby with the scanning and try to expand our sensor net to cover everyone Federation, not just our crew."
"McGarrett."
"Get more complete information about this mess and ready the crew for everything about this situation to go wrong."
"Weston."
Lori looked genuinely surprised her name had been called, but she stumbled together quickly, "Go through every last person on all three crews and compile a list of people who look suspicious."
"Rely on Chin to help you go through the personnel files, and anyone who trips your warning sensor get Ducky to have a chat with them. Shepard-"
"I'll liaise with our fellow ships to go over security arrangements and protections if the worst does happen."
"No."
Everyone in the room froze, not wanting to draw Gibbs' ire. "Gard will liaise with the other ships and figure out what they know." He paused for a long moment, taking in the way Tony quickly hid his surprise and finished, "Shepard, you'll do what it is you usually do."
"Jethro-" Jen tried to object, but Gibbs went straight on, "You're nothing but basic operations for the next few days since Tony will be too busy with the others trying to handle this problem. If there's any slack in other departments while the others are dealing with the problem, you pick it up but stay out of their way."
Gibbs waited half a moment for anyone to pose a question, not that that had ever happened before, and Gibbs sent them all off with a nod.
Jenny serenely waited for the rest of the command staff to filter out of the room, leaving her to deal with Gibbs without an audience. Gibbs had to give that to her, Jenny always knew how to keep her game face on when she had to, but the second the door closed behind Ducky, who sent Gibbs an emotion torn between solidarity and irritation, Jenny grated out, "That display was unnecessary, Jethro."
"You're the one who's been making our fights more and more public Jen, how long did you think I was going to sit there and take it?"
"Taking it is entirely different than humiliating me on the in front of the Admiralty!"
"I humiliate you in from of the Admiralty; you humiliate me in front of the crew. Now we're both humiliated in front of the people we want to respect us."
"It was uncalled for, Jethro!" Jenny snapped.
"Jen, you can't call me out in front of my crew and expect me not to respond.” Jenny muttered something under her breath and Gibbs prodded, "What was that Commander? Speak up."
Jenny whirled on him like a fury and shouted, "I said you always have before! Whatever prodding I've done you've-"
"Prodding? You mean letting you re-arrange my crew, and question my orders, and mock the people I actually chose for their positions?"
"Yes! You've borne it all with no upset! I thought…"
"You thought I was just playing hard to get?"
Jenny gave him a coy smile, "That's the way you've always been with me. Playing difficult to disguise your wants."
Gibbs grunted, but didn't quite deny it. He'd met Jenny when he was assigned to mentor a younger student at the Academy. Gibbs had always prided himself on his self-restraint, and he'd somehow managed to keep himself from touching the pretty Orion co-ed until she was no longer in his care. They'd had a good weekend at the end of it, and then said nothing to one another until Jenny was appointed to the same ship as Gibbs a few years later; though thank heavens not in the same department. He'd held out for a few more months until he'd finally caved and they'd begun the affair anew until Gibbs transferred and ended it again. They'd started and stopped their relationship half a dozen times over the years, coming back together whenever fate or conniving brought them to the same ship. But this time Gibbs had been adamant in his refusal, and had stood against Jenny and her tempting Orion pheromones for almost two years. Jenny sauntered closer to Gibbs, "We always were good together Jethro."
"No Jen, we never were together, we just had good sex." Jenny went to put a hand on the back of Gibbs' neck, but he darted out a hand and caught her before she could touch him.
Jenny sniffed, "Admit it, I make you feel alive."
"Shouting at each other isn't the definition of alive, Jen."
She leaned forward, brushing her lips against Gibbs', "It is if you're an Orion."
Gibbs leaned in, accepting the pressure of one kiss before he pulled back and breathed, "We're done."
Jenny ran her fingers through his hair, "Oh Jethro, we'll never be done."
Gibbs caught her by the shoulders and pushed Jenny back, "No, This time we're done. I'm not doing this again."
"But Jethro, this time we don't have to stop."
"The hell we don't Jen. I don't want a war for a relationship."
Jenny all but slithered in to Gibbs' lap and muttered up against his lips, "Oh Jethro, I really think you do."
Gibbs caught Jen by her hips and hoisted her back to her feet, "Commander Shepard, I don't sleep with my crew."
Jen snorted, "You don't sleep with your crew, yet. I'm an Orion Jethro; you honestly think I didn't see the way you looked at that pretty little Trill you brought on board?"
"Is that what this is about? You're pissed because you think I've got a crush on someone else?'
"Not think, Jethro. All of sudden you just meet this stranger and trust him implicitly? That's not like you."
"No Jen, I didn't trust you implicitly, and Tony's got nothing to do with this."
"Tony. Jethro you don't like calling your crew by their first names, or have you forgotten that in the wake of Tony."
Gibbs rose from his seat and forcefully said, "He's a good officer with plenty of experience-"
"Experience," Jen scoffed, "He's been alive for a few hundred years, I'm sure he's got plenty of that."
Gibbs stared at Jen in disbelief, "Are you really impugning someone else's sexual history, Jen? Because I thought when you belonged to a species that's known to kill sexual partners with pheromone overloads you weren't allowed to scold other people for the amount of sex they might have had over a dozen lifetimes."
"I just assumed that since you used to get so angry at my romantic exploits-"
"I got angry because you were sleeping with other people when we were supposed to be in a relationship!"
Jen went to shout something back, but Gibbs threw up his hands and shouted, "This is why we have to stop! Because we always end up doing this! I can't have an officer who screams at me every decision I make."
"Not every decision Jethro, just the stupid ones."
Gibbs puffed out another breath, stopping himself before they descended into another argument and said, "I'll do what I can to get you a good transfer, maybe as someone else's First, but we can't keep going like this, Jen. We'll kill one another and break the ship between us. I'll get you transferred some place that's not a step back, and maybe even find you a spot as someone's first officer, but you can't stay here."
Jenny leaned over the table in a way that forced her cleavage forward in a way that used to make Gibbs smile and said, "I've spent two years on the Valor Jethro, I'm not leaving until I get what I came for."
Chapter Three