Threads And Spindles
- Chapter 3 -
"So, what do you think of the woman?" Tony's voice floated from underneath Commander Anderson's bed. Ziva rolled her eyes at his backside.
"Which woman would that be Tony, you have so many, it is a wonder you remember them all." Ziva turned back to the bedside cabinet. Tony hauled himself out from under the bed and put his hands on his hips.
"I wasn't talking about my women Ziva, although I do have a lot, I was talking about Jennifer Sheppard. She's a red head."
"So I noticed, is that important?" Ziva asked. Tony laughed, causing McGee to stick his head around the door frame.
"What's so funny?" He asked. Ziva and Tony both turned to look at him.
"Ziva here, was wondering what was so important about the fact that Jennifer Sheppard is a red head. Care to enlighten her McGiggle?" He asked. Ziva looked expectantly at him.
"Well, the boss has a habit of marrying red heads. Feisty ones at that. One of them hit him with a golf club." Ziva chuckled.
"McGee," She said, gently slappnig his cheek, "I know a lot about all of you. You forget I did backgrounds on all of you. I know about Gibbs's preference for red heads. But he has just met the woman." Tony and McGee looked at each other.
"That's the point Ziva." Tony said, walking out in to the hallway. Ziva followed.
"I do not get it."
---
Abby squealed as Gibbs appeared in her doorway and she threw herself into his arms.
"I thought you were avoiding me Gibbs, you haven't been down here all day. Don't you love me anymore?" She asked. Gibbs smiled and handed her a Caf-Pow. It was then that she noticed the woman standing behind him.
"Oh hi." Abby said through a mouthful of caffeine loaded juice. The woman stepped forward and held out her hand.
"Hi, Jennifer Sheppard." She said. Abby glanced at Gibbs and took her hand. She looked into the green eyes of the older woman and saw pain. She pulled her into a hug.
Jen's breath was forced out as she was pulled into a bone crushing hug. She glanced at Gibbs over the shoulder of the strange young woman who was currently trying to squeeze the very life out of her and he shook his head with a smile.
"Abby, she can't breathe." Gibbs tapped Abby on the shoulder. Abby let go abruptely.
"Oh sorry. I just thought you needed a hug. I have a habit of doing inappropriate things like that. Please tell me if it upsets you cos no one ever tells me, then I just carry on doing them, with people talking behind my back, which is not a very nice thing to do...I also talk to much so tell me to..."
"Abby..." Gibbs interrupted her tirade of words with a smile. "Found anything on Commander Anderson's computer yet?" He asked. Jen was staring at Abby in disbelief and Gibbs let out a small chuckle.
"Well, funny you should mention that Gibbs, oh great one, but Timmy only just bought it down to me so I haven't had a chance to look yet, but I promise..."
"How long Abby?" Gibbs interrupted again, Abby thought for a second, her lips pursed.
"Um...couple of hours?" She suggested. Gibbs nodded once and took Jen's arm, guiding her out of the lab.
"You have one." He shot Abby a parting comment.
---
"Is she always so..." Jen trailed off, unable to think of an appropriate word to describe the contradiction she had just met.
"Hyper? Yes, she is. Sorry about the hug, she hugs everyone." Gibbs said as the elevator doors opened. He gestured for Jen to step in.
"That's ok, I actually needed one." Jen said with a smile. Gibbs smiled back, and for a second she felt that world had stopped. Oh for goodness sack Jennifer, get yourself together. Your friend has just died and you are lusting after some man you barely know. She mentally slapped herself.
"So, are you sure you are feeling up to this?" He asked, "We have other ways of making an ID." She was grateful for his concern, but something in her stomach was telling her to go, she had to say goodbye to Rachel, she felt like she had failed her and no amount of sweet talking or comforting words for this blue eyed Adonis in front of her was going to stop her. Ok, Jennifer, you need to sleep, you are calling strangers Adonis's now, she shook herself.
"No...I need to do this. She said swallowing down the lump that formed in her throat and Gibbs placed a gentle but comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Go home, pick up your son, get some rest. This can wait." Jen looked at him and she felt herself wanting to do anything he asked of her.
"Thank you, but no. I failed her Agent Gibbs, the least I can do for her now, is help you out with this."
"Jen...you didn't fail her. And it's Jethro."
---
"So you think she knows?" The dark hair man spoke to his colleague.
"Does it matter? Anderson spoke to her, we don't need to be sure, we need to get rid of all the evidence." The blond man started the dark SUV and drove away from the Naval Yard.
"She works for the State Department, it's going to be tough, she'll have security." The dark hair man said, suddenly worried about their lack of plan.
"Do you think the boss is going to care if its 'tough'? She needs to be disposed."
---
"That's Rachel." Jen's hands shook as she angrily brushed a tear from her cheek. Ducky and Gibbs took a step back, giving Jen some time.
"Oh I am so sorry Rachel." Jen whispered and she stroked her friend's cheek. She placed the sheet back over her face and turned back to the two men.
"I am sorry my Dear." The old ME comforted. She nodded with a sad smile and walked out of Autopsy. Gibbs turned to Ducky.
"Anything you can tell me Duck?" He asked. Ducky shut the autopsy drawer.
"Well, the poor woman wasn't only beaten, she was restrained and stabbed...a few times. Not fatally. But she also had a few finger nails missing. She was tortured Jethro." Gibbs sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. The bastards had left her face almost intact. Just a livid bruise blooming across her cheekbone. They had gone for the body. If Jen knew anything, she was in danger. He clapped Ducky on the shoulder and swept out of Autopsy.
---
Jen bit back a sob and lowered herself onto the floor. What the hell had Rachel gotten herself into? She felt so helpless. Her oldest friend had come to her for help and she had dismissed it, put it down to Rachel's over active imagination. She drew in shaky breath as the doors to Autopsy hissed open. She stood up quickly and brushed at her face.
"You ok?" Gibbs asked. She looked up into his face, it was worried. How could she feel so comfortable with a man she didn't know? All she wanted to do was throw herself into those arms and stay there, until this nightmare had ended.
"Fine." She answered shortly. Gibbs raised an eyebrow.
"I need to check out your Security Jen." He said, Jen furrowed her brow in confusion.
"Any particular reason?" She asked.
"I think you may be in danger from whoever did this to your friend, and it is my job to make sure you stay out of danger."
"Can it wait? I need to pick up my son." She glanced at her watch again and pushed the button to call the elevator.
"I'll give you a lift."