Note: This is it! The last chapter! I am a little sad, but I am hoping to continue this. Thank you to everyone who read along the way and doubly so for those that commented.
Chapter Summary: Garcia’s fate is determined. One of the members of the BAU is struggling with the outcome. Tony ends up being the voice of reason.
About a month later, Tony was sitting at his desk staring at case reports slightly in disbelief. Not only had they all been processed on time, they were all thorough, and needed only a few minor corrections. Nothing in Hebrew. No technical reports in jargon so complex that it needed to be translated into English. No missing sections. He hadn’t had to do his own reports as well as someone else’s because they were too much of a dinosaur to keep up with the necessary forms to keep the team running efficiently. It was a little hard to believe, and he’d been trying not to compare the two teams for like the nine millionth time.
Hearing a knock on his door, he looked up and saw Derek standing there with a carefully blank expression on his face. It had been six months since the fiasco went down with Penelope Garcia, and Jason Gideon had been uncovered to be a psychopath. Unfortunately, he was a smart psychopath and they were still chasing him. Tony was willing to be patient though. Someone like Gideon wasn’t going to be caught easily, and he certainly wasn’t going to give up. They’d tried their best, but the bodies just kept on piling up.
Sitting back in his chair, Tony closed the file he’d been working on and waved the man in. He wasn’t really surprised to see him. Garcia’s sentencing had been finalized the day before thanks to the plea agreement the DA had proposed, and she had accepted. He’d spent many sleepless nights debating his own feelings, but by the time the evidence was turned over to the DA as a whole he’d felt confident in his recommendation.
He watched Derek come in and get settled in one of the chairs in front of his desk. The other man’s body was rigid, and it seemed to Tony that he was fighting with himself about something. Again, he wasn’t terribly surprised. He and Derek had become friends quickly once they realized how much the two of them had in common. They regularly met to play basketball, and Derek could be found quite regularly at the house he’d moved into with Aaron watching some college sports game. While Tony’s hot anger at the former technical analyst had cooled considerably, Derek’s had only built.
It probably helped that Will had also asked to speak on Penelope’s behalf and asked that they not send her to prison. Having been a victim of Jason’s, he was able to relay to the District Attorney just how unhinged the man had been. He also was able to advise how manipulative the man had been before he’d lost his marbles. Even for someone as skilled and trained to resist manipulation as he was. He’d deliberately pointed out to the judge that if a trained veteran CIA operative had problems resisting the man’s manipulations, then how could someone like Garcia.
There was something there that Tony knew he was missing. Some incident in Will’s past that involved Jason Gideon, but he hadn’t asked. If his friend and agent wanted him to know, then he’d tell him. So, while he wasn’t absolving her from any fault, he did believe that she’d in some way been a victim of Jason herself.
In the end, both Will and Tony had felt that Penelope would not be best served in jail. She still did too much good for the world. She was already trying to organize a program to teach former hackers like herself how to exist in a technological world without access to technology. While it sounded easy, Raven told Tony that for people like herself and Penelope it wasn’t quite the piece of cake that it should be. Garcia had also already begun her required therapy sessions, having been convinced by Emily and Reid that she needed to do it. Her taking responsibility and recognizing that she needed help had been another reason why Tony was willing to agree jail time wasn’t necessary.
Tony nodded without speaking. He wasn’t sure where this was going and wanted to know where his friend’s head was at before he commented.
“Why would you request leniency after what she’s done?” Derek snapped letting loose a little of that hidden emotion that he’d been trying to keep from them.
“Because it was the right thing to do,” Tony offered carefully.
“She’s responsible for people dying!” Derek snapped again, and Tony could see his hands clenching into fists.
“No, Derek,” Tony corrected calmly. He felt bad for his friend. He’d tried to get him to talk to one of the in-house shrinks and was beginning to think he’d have to suggest to Aaron that it be made mandatory. His anger was only building, and it wasn’t helping the situation or anyone involved.
Again, he spoke carefully making sure to choose his words with care. “Jason Gideon is responsible for people dying. Did she enable him? Yes, in some way she did. She provided him unauthorized access to the FBI’s systems that gave him the names to work off of. However, everyone involved, other than it seems you, agree that had he not had that access the only change would be the names. He still would be out there killing people. He’d just have a different target pool. Eventually, he’s going to go away from the team’s consults anyway.
“We’ve done our best to protect the people we believe that he’ll target. While we weren’t able to cover everyone, his ongoing killings making that obvious, he’s going to run out of people he can get his hands on. Do you really think that he’ll what… just stop? You’re the profiler here, Derek. You tell me what the chances are that Jason Gideon is going to just stop when he can’t get his hands on any more people the BAU have saved by determining them innocent.
When Derek just stared at him, Tony decided to shift tactics. “Let’s be honest here, huh? You aren’t upset about what she did that helped Gideon. You’re upset about how her actions affected you. She betrayed the team, and she betrayed the trust that you personally had in her. I understand, Derek. I swear on Aaron’s life that I do. Jesus, trust and believe that I understand. Neither the FBI nor the Federal Judicial System can punish her for that though. Letting down your friends is thankfully not a crime, or there would be a shitload of people in jail including you and I. Unless, you’re suddenly Mr. Perfect over there?
Tony was prepared for a fiery reply from the man. So, when he just stood and left, Tony was a little surprised. He just hoped that it had done some good.
Most of his team had gone home when Tony heard another knock on his door. Looking up, he was relieved to see Aaron there.
“I heard that you had a visitor,” Aaron began as he came in and settled into the chair Derek had inhabited earlier. Tony just lifted an eyebrow prompting Aaron to continue.
Tony nodded as he unconsciously played with a pen on his desk in front of him. He and Aaron had their one and only fight over Penelope Garcia, and what he should do. The ironic thing was that once they both calmed down and started listening to each other, they realized they were saying almost the exact same thing. They’d just each let their own insecurities build to the point where that was all they could focus on.
“They pretty much took the recommendation that Will and I wrote up. She’s got a lifetime ban from the use of anything that can connect to the internet. She’ll also be forced to wear an electronic monitor that will track where she goes. Mandated weekly therapy sessions for the next year minimum, because she obviously has some issues that she needs to get resolved.
“Batman, or Tony Stark?” Aaron asked grinning as he stood. His briefcase was sitting by the door. He’d pick it up on the way out.
“I am… Batman,” Tony replied dramatically, striking a pose before heading out. Aaron’s laughter followed him all the way to the elevator. Second chances were awesome. Penelope Garcia might be on her fourth or fifth chance, and she might not get anymore beyond this. He couldn’t help but believe that she wouldn’t need it though. He had faith that like him, she’d finally find her path.
Now, they just had to track down Jason Gideon. It would happen. He knew it because he and his team were not willing to stop until he was dead or behind bars. When the elevator doors opened, he stepped in and turned toward the front, with Aaron standing next to him. When the older man took his hand, Tony looked at him and smiled putting both Penelope and Gideon out of his mind. He had friends. He had a wonderful team. He had love. He was making the most of his second chances.
This one is truly awesome. Well done.
Re-reading for a second time and this is still really great. Love those other characters from other shows popping in. Gotta love a DiNozzo!