Flames Burn Out
- Chapter 5: Surprises -
Jenny shifted slightly and found herself trapped. She tensed slightly and heard the heavy breathing by her ear. She was in her bed, but couldn't understand how she'd gotten there. Last thing I remember is reading a case report in my study... how did I? She felt a hand on her stomach press slightly and looked down. Still clothed, that's good. So then what... oh God, Jethro! She began to panic again, there was no way he would have let anyone near her. She tilted her head up slightly and what met her eyes was quite a surprise. Jethro? Did I...I don't remember drinking last night. She was beyond confused. She was under the covers, he was on top, making it next to impossible for her to shift to far and he had his arm around her. It was how he had always held her when they slept those many years ago, his was to protect her and let her know she was safe and not alone. She also knew it was next to impossible to slip out without waking him. Well no sense in starting a fight this early in the morning, she thought and closed her eyes falling back asleep quickly, her hand falling to rest over his.
The faint warmth on his hand startled him. He opened his eyes and looked over the room, nothing was out of place. He glanced down at Jen; she was still asleep and appeared not to have noticed his presence. When he'd woken up to a sound on the first floor, he'd been furious with himself. He'd fallen asleep while he was supposed to be protecting her; still he had moved to investigate it. He'd found Jen asleep at her desk in her study, case reports all around her. He couldn't understand what she was doing downstairs again and so he brought her back to bed as he had just hours before. He then made sure she wasn't going anywhere. He told himself it was to protect her, but his heart in his throat told him he was laying. He ignored his feelings more worried about how she might react if she woke up to him there.
He was glad she was still asleep now but as he looked her over again he found the source of warmth on his hand, it was hers. He hoped that is was just an instinct and not deliberate. If it were otherwise there would be explanations and that would be difficult, especially with her not wanting to see him. He got up quietly and slid out going downstairs. He found some supplies and made batter for pancakes. He searched the cabinets one more time and withheld a laugh as he found a stash of chocolate. He found some chocolate chips and threw them in the batter. If he was going to attempt a bribe he may as well go all out. He heard the faint click of the door and then the click of a gun and froze.
"I could shoot you for trespassing."
"You could, but then you won't get breakfast," he replied. She lowered the gun and uncocked it.
"I don't eat breakfast."
"You should." He placed the pancakes on a plate along with a cup of coffee and set it on the table. "Madame Director."
"I could shoot you for the too," she remarked. She cut a piece of the pancake and took a bite. Impressive, they're not bad. She watched as he moved around her kitchen, he was very domesticated and she nearly laughed till she noticed the newspaper on the table with an Iris flower beside it. Steak, cereal, pancakes and now a flower? Is he... groveling? She smirked slightly as Gibbs eyed her gun. Even when they'd fought he'd only brought her dinner, never flowers. She knew the flower had come from an arrangement in the hall but she supposed it was the thought that counted.
"Jen..." He paused as if unsure.
"Jethro?"
"Uh...I'll drive you to work."
"Uh huh," she mumbled. Forty minutes later she slid into the car as he started the engine. The drive was silent as was the arrival in the squad room. Jen moved to the stairs with Ziva on her heels. The rest of the team was surprised as Jenny turned back to her and gave a slight nod. Ziva returned down the stairs and Jenny continued on her way.
"Officer David," Gibbs called. Ziva looked over slightly irritated and Tony and McGee just watched.
"I believe I may have located a friend of this Maxwell Aurrilla."
"Where is he?" DiNozzo asked, she hadn't mentioned anything earlier.
"Dead."
"And how does that help?" Gibbs demanded.
"He was shot in Mexico in 1992, the case is unsolved."
"Relevance? He was dead before any of the victims."
"He was thought to have been uh...terminated by some sort of sniper," Ziva revealed. Gibbs glanced over at her.
"Suspects?"
"None."
"How would Aurrilla have known him?" McGee questioned.
"His mother was the daughter of a drug lord, this friend took the drug lord's place. They would have grown up together."
"Do you think he found out who killed his friend?"
"I believe he may have been an almost victim of the same gun, the shooter naturally being someone known to both Aurrilla and the first victim."
"And so these two coincidences just happen?" Tony remarked.
"I don't believe in coincidences."
"In this case Gibbs, it is one. I believe that Aurrilla had no knowledge of this before taking his first victim, however a contact I have said Aurrilla may have gained the knowledge about a year ago, sometime around the second DC victim," she explained.
"I know this contact?" Gibbs inquired watching Tony and McGee gulp.
"Not likely," She answered. "I have talked to Ducky, he thinks the previous victims all revolved around the first one, but based on this and the two bodies in one night he is in it for vengeance now. Ducky is concerned he may go after the first victim in a similar manner as his best friend was killed."
Ziva didn't get the chance to continue as Gibbs brushed past her and nearly bolted up the stairs. He was fairly certain Ziva knew who this shooter of snipers might be and he knew she wouldn't have brought it up if she wasn't the least bit concerned. He was already having nightmares about this case; he did not need to know that his one act of vengeance would cost Jen. He moved straight past Cynthia ignoring her outbursts. The door to the office closed behind and it was Jenny who forced him stop in place. She was sitting in her chair facing the window and hadn't moved. He didn't say anything but exhaled as she turned the chair to face him.
"Something you needed Jethro?" She asked irritated but caught site of his gaze. He was looking at her the way he had when he'd first come out of the coma. "Jethro!" That seemed to snap him out of it.
"Get your stuff," he ordered. She looked at him curiously. "Now Jen!"
"Jethro, I'm not going anywhere and I doubt anyone is getting into this office."
"You're going to MTAC."
"Now you're being ridiculous. You weren't this bad when I was kidnapped," she remarked idly. That apparently wasn't the right response; before she could blink he was at her side pulling her from her chair.
"Damnit Jen, those brothers didn't have a sniper!" His pull forced her toe to toe with him.
"Jethro, you're..." It was useless to say his grip was hurting her wrist; he wasn't about to let go.
"You're going to MTAC," he snapped turning toward the door and keeping hold of her forcing her to follow. She had no choice to follow now but at least managed to keep pace. They entered MTAC and Jenny noticed the few technicians.
"Out!" She ordered. The few quickly moved out of the room, fully aware that Gibbs was going to make sure that no one saw or heard anything. Gibbs let go of Jenny's arm and handed her his coffee.
"I'll send Ziva up." He made to leave. Oh no you don't. She grabbed his arm forcing him to stop.
"Don't even think about it," she warned. "You don't just storm in my office, tell me there's some sniper trained on me and expect get away with me calmly accepting it!"
"Jen this..."
"Aurrilla is your bad guy, fine, I get it, but last time I checked he didn't know how to shoot a sniper and on top of that he's after me, he's going to do it in person."
"Jen do you know what a KATE is?"
"Kate? Agent Todd?" She guessed, how exactly does this fit in?
"Ari killed Kate with a KATE."
"So it's a gun," she paused and noticed his saddened expression. 'Ari is a chauvinist, he's going after the women I work with before me!' ... 'Why did he only shoot at your side?' "Your gun."
"Yes."
"So Aurrilla has a KATE and..." she drifted off. Well that can't be a pleasant ending.
"We don't know if he does, we haven't found him...yet."
"So this sniper?" Then why the panic Jethro?
"Ziva spoke with a contact, Aurrilla's childhood friend was shoot and killed by a sniper, probably a KATE, in 1992. He found out last year who most likely killed his friend, right around the second DC victim, the one near Bethesda."
"I fail to see how this is relevant," she replied.
"His friend was a drug dealer, a drug lord, murdered in Mexico," Gibbs began. Jen sat down in the front. This cannot be what I think it is. "A drug lord shot by a KATE." She looked up at this and found it was now him who could not meet her eyes. The world sure is a small place, she sighed. As if this case was not emotional enough...
"Ducky told me to close the case, you got your revenge," she whispered. "Jethro, no one knows, no one besides Ducky and me."
"He knows Jen."
"But that doesn't explain anything," she protested.
"Before it was just about the first victim. I don't think he would have ever gone after you again but now, he knows and has one more reason to well..."
"This is his revenge against the both of us, two birds, one stone," she sighed. He sat down next to her and dropped his head. "Jethro, none of this is your fault, we'll figure it out."
"I'm going to kill him," Jethro swore. Jen moved to kneel in front of him.
"Look at me, Jethro," she said sternly. She placed her hands on his forearms. "Look at me." He did, her eyes held the compassion he had always seen, the one he knew meant she understood what he'd done, and that she didn't blame him.
"Jen..."
"I'm not dead, and yes I would love to kill him but I can't imagine he's simply been following me around the world. He has to have been doing some thing more, you told me yourself he wanted what his brother had."
"Jen..."
"Jethro, three million dollars is a lot of money for anything and we both know the Captain favored you. Most likely Aurrilla felt you were getting more than you deserved and he wanted his brother's good opinion," she explained. "Why else would you turn down three mill?" He raised an eyebrow at her, I thought that was rather obvious myself, he thought, but dismissed it; she was taking this threat far to lightly.
"You're not even considering..."
"Jethro, I've watched you fire a gun and if his aim is half as good I don't think there's really going to be an option," she replied. Oh no, there will be an option. He won't have the chance to fire.
"That's why you're staying in MTAC, no windows," he declared. She tightened her grip on his arms.
"I'm going home tonight," she replied stubbornly.
"We'll see." She stood leaning over him.
"I'm the Director and I get to decide if I go home," she told him. She moved to sit back in her own seat. He studied her for a moment; does this mean I'm forgiven? "This would be the time for a 'Yes Director' and you to leave to go and do... work."
"Madame Director," he responded getting up and leaving. Maybe not completely forgiven, but no more silent treatment.
"And I could keelhaul you for that!" She called out.
"Think I'm more scared of the right hook," he muttered. He heard her faint laugh as the door closed behind him. He stopped by Cynthia's desk and told her the Director needed her in MTAC. He then returned to the squad room and sat back at his desk.
"Boss we can't find this Aurrilla guy," Tony spoke up. I hate drawing the short straw.
"He's got no travel hits or anything," McGee added.
"We'll he's still alive, bank account in the Caribbean," Ziva informed.
"Statements have to go somewhere," Gibbs said.
"Email Boss, using free-net," McGee clarified.
"He has to be in DC," Ziva stated.
"I did it!" came the squeal as Abby came rushing in. "I did it!"
"What Abby?" Gibbs demanded. He didn't have time for this.
"I got the DNA sample to match this classified one and the Director cleared it and it came back to a..."
"Maxwell Aurrilla," Gibbs finished.
"How'd you know?"
"He's a suspect," Ziva answered.
"Can you find him?" Tony asked. "Cause that would be helpful."
"Isn't that your job?" Abby threw back. Not now, when do children grow up?
"To your corners!" Gibbs stepped in. "I want to know where Aurrilla is now!"
"I'm not done, I found your snake," Abby said.
"And?"
"It was confiscated in an exotic animal snatch found drained of venom. There were thirty-seven other snakes found but one tank was empty."
"Empty?" Tony echoed.
"Maybe he was buying a new one?" McGee suggested.
"Talked to the dealers, Probie, they don't have any venom ones for sale."
"So there's a venomness snake on the loose," Gibbs snapped. "Ziva..."
"Back to the dealers and question harder."
"Tony go with her, McGee get the team who found the snakes on the phone." Tony and Ziva grabbed their gear while McGee grabbed the phone. Gibbs followed Abby back to the lab. Jenny watched from the catwalk.
She understood his need to protect her, that for a split second he had seen his wife dead in her place and his old Agent Kate Todd. She'd never truly doubted him in anything and knew that if he was worried she should be as well. He might be overprotective of his team, but it was usually worth it and she was glad she still had Gibbs on her side.
She walked into her office glancing at the window. Nothing. There was however a square package on her desk addressed to her. Probably case files or a budget report, she thought. She grabbed her knife and opened the package. I hate packing supplies, she cursed silently. She shifted her hand in the box till it came in contact with something slimy.
"Gross, what the hell..." She faded off hearing a hissing. "Oh God!" She felt the piercing of her skin and did the only thing she could think of. Scream.
---
Gibbs was waiting with Abby when he got the sickening feeling in his stomach. It was seconds later that the faint scream reached his ears. He didn't need to identify it, he just knew. God damnit!
"Abby stay with McGee! Seal the building," he ordered running. He took the stairs three a time to find Cynthia coming out of MTAC. "Where is she?"
"She just went to her office..." Gibbs cursed again running to the room. He froze as he found Jenny collapsed on the floor.
"Jen?" He glanced quickly around. The window hadn't been shattered and there was no blood. Not a gunshot. He heard the hissing sound and glanced at the desk, snake? He didn't think simply aiming and firing, killing the snake instantly. He then fell to his knees searching for her pulse. He found one but it was faint. "Jen, come on stay with me!"
"Jethro..." He heard her faint whisper but nothing else. Cynthia was calling for an ambulance and he just held Jenny tightly trying to remember the first aid for snakebites. She cannot die from one snakebite, but he knew that wasn't true. He looked at her wrists and found the puncture marks. The consuming rage he'd felt whenever someone on his team was hurt suddenly came through him, doubling in its intensity. Maxwell Aurrilla would die, he'd see to that.
The Medics arrived and quickly tended to her talking about antidotes and asking what kind of snake. Gibbs tried to answer but found he couldn't. Abby answered and he realized she must have come up and gotten the snake for evidence. He rode with Jen to the hospital and stayed beside her while they drew blood and gave her a shot. Ducky and Tony forcibly removed him while Ziva remained to help the nurses. They must have not been able to leave when the building was sealed. A minute after Ziva had gone in the room she come out in the hallway looking as if she'd seen a ghost. It was Abby who hugged her and received a whispered message. Gibbs watched as Ziva led Abby back in the room and thirty seconds later both returned Abby looking sick. Ducky was watching as well and saw Gibbs frequent glances between them and the room.
"You know she didn't leave your side while you were in a coma, never gave up hope. Ziva had to taunt her into eating and Tony tried to cheer her up. She would never leave for longer then ten minutes, told me she wanted to make sure you weren't alone when you woke up," Ducky said quietly. Gibbs glanced at him, some kind of pep talk.
"I have a murderer to catch," he responded. And Jen would understand.
"Jethro, I can't imagine you abandoning her had you known in Paris, perhaps now might be a good time to make amends." Gibbs turned to the good doctor a look of surprise and anger in place.
"Ducky you don't know half of what happened."
"Not then I didn't, but it's not terribly difficult to add and I have seen her medical file." Gibbs was silent and watched the nurses leave again. "Think about it Jethro."
"Gibbs, Tony and I will go back and process, Abby will take samples," Ziva said controlling her emotions to focus on what needed to be done.
"I think I'll join you, never performed an autopsy on a snake before."
"I think I'll go with them Boss," McGee piped up.
"Officer David," Gibbs called stopping them. Ziva stood in front of him. "When you find him, make sure he has a bumpy ride and leave him in interrogation."
"Of course Gibbs," Ziva answered. She would ensure that Maxwell Aurrilla would regret ever going after her friend. "I would stay, but it's not me she's calling for."
Gibbs watched his team leave and found himself standing in the doorway of her room. She was hooked up to all sorts of monitors and had an IV dripping into her. He noticed her wrists were bandaged and found he needed to be sure she was breathing. He entered the room and moved to the bedside his eyes never leaving her figure. The hospital gown was not the most attractive thing she'd ever worn but he knew that her figure was bare underneath it.
"Agent Gibbs," a voice said and he turned his hands automatically moving to his gun.
"Yes?"
"I apologize for startling you. I'm Dr. Nell, I'll be Director Shepard's doctor for this," the elder man introduced.
"Is she going to be alright?" If she's not Aurrilla is going to die more than one death.
"Yes, the antidote appears to have been successful, but I also believe this isn't her first exposure to snake venom."
"No she...she had a little get into her, years ago."
"Fortunate, it had been in her system long enough to create some antibodies. She should be waking up shortly, however she'll be very sick for the next few hours and most likely suffer fatigue for a few more days. Is there anyone I should notify?"
"Uh, no, we'll take care of that," Gibbs answered. The doctor nodded and left. Gibbs stood next to the bed simply watching. He noticed the medical chart hanging and picked it up. He committed the treatment to memory just in case there were side effects, he reasoned. Gibbs then began to read the previous injuries box. Some of them he recognized, the scar on her thigh from a bullet in the Czech Republic, a few scars on her wrists that she'd had long before he'd known her, and the last one listed. Patient has a deep scar the length of her back, most likely caused by a knife. Oh Jen... how could I not have noticed? He was startled from his thoughts by the increase in the beeping of her heart monitor.