How Could You?

No, no, no, no, this can't be happening. Not a chance. Ellie couldn't believe what Vance had just said. There was absolutely no way she would have leaked those files. Even the mere idea caused her to recoil in horror; though a lot had changed in the years she'd been at NCIS, there was no way she could ever do such a thing. Especially 10 years ago when she was still a young, quirky analyst with hardly any field experience. Her skillset had changed and improved over time, but deep down she was still the same person at her core.

Now she just had to find out who had actually framed her for leaking the classified documents and clear her name before the NSA decided to arrest her. Someone obviously posed under her name to release them and draw attention to her but who, and why?

"Director, with all due respect, we both know there is no way I could have ever willingly betrayed my country, be it presently or years ago. These are false claims, and I mean to prove that and catch whoever the real culprit is." Ellie stared levelly at Vance and shifted her feet on his carpeted office floor, her pulse thrumming anxiously and her mind churning with theories. She had to prove she was innocent. All her growth as an NCIS federal agent couldn't be extinguished by these erroneous claims.

Ellie tried not to think about the possibility of never walking through these orange hallways again, of being forced to leave her found family inside these walls. The people who had forged their way through the walls around her heart, and whom she had learned to trust with her life.

Director Vance met her stare, "Agent Bishop I know you are innocent and we will find the evidence to demonstrate that to the NSA. However, you cannot work on this case as it is a conflict of interest. You know the drill. Go home for a few days and let our team handle it. You know they will work as hard as they can and I will do everything in my power to support them."

"I understand, sir. I just hate being sidelined, especially when something that could determine my future and major parts of my life is taken out of my control," Ellie frowned and sighed in annoyance, "Does everyone else know yet?"

Just then there was the sound of knuckles rapping on the large metal door to Vance's office.

"Come in," the director acknowledged and moved from his seat behind his desk to stand near the conference table.

Nick and McGee walked in, looks of concern and confusion mirrored on both their faces, although Nick's expression was slightly more so as Ellie felt saw his eyes flick back and forth from her and Vance to settle on her. She knew his mind was working overtime trying to figure out what was going on and just how worried he should be. About their most recently solved case and the new development of course. A part of Ellie's brain whispered that he's a lot more worried about her well-being than the problem at hand for reasons, but she pushed that thought down and silenced it. Now was not the time for these things, she had to keep her brain strictly analytical of information that would help prove her innocence. Once everything was back to normal, she could further examine those other emotional things she was feeling and thinking as that task was long overdue.

They all sat around the conference table; Ellie looked at Nick and McGee on one side while her and Vance were on the other.

"Classified documents have been leaked from the NSA," Vance stated, "They appear to have originated from Agent Bishop's account 10 years ago when she was still an analyst there."

McGee's brows furrowed in shock and concern. Nick tensed and Ellie felt his eyes studying her face, "That can't be possible, Ellie would never do that. She's innocent."

Ellie stared at Nick, silently communicating that she appreciated his defensiveness and he was correct; she also verbally reassured the fact for everyone else, "Of course I would never betray my country. We all know that. We just have to prove to the NSA that's true and find whoever did do this. But Vance has taken me off the case, so it's up to you two to clear my name."