Flames Burn Out
- Chapter 7: Interrogation -
Jenny stared for a moment at the phone she had reached for. Apparently her arms worked again and she was beginning to feel her toes. I should feel better after all that puking. Her throat was soar but otherwise she was all right. Jethro had held her hair back and supported her limp body. She was angry with herself for needing him, but knew she wouldn't want anyone else in his place.
Gibbs watched her silently. His gaze was intense and focused on her as if he could see through her defense walls. He was glad Aurrilla was in custody, but he knew the man would not be there long. If there was no evidence he would walk, Gibbs swore that wouldn't happen. He'd take care of it, never would he see Jen suffer because of him.
"You should go, Ziva's not likely to last long without killing him," Jenny warned.
"Can't interview a suspect without my partner," he responded.
"Jethro I..."
"You can face him Jen, you need to. He's responsible not you," he retorted running his hand along her cheek again.
"Jethro, they aren't going to release me anytime soon."
"Can you stand?"
"I...I don't know," she confessed trying to move her legs a little more.
"Well one way to find out." He held out his hands for her and raised an eyebrow in challenge. I hate it when he does that. She shifted so her legs hung over the side and looked hesitantly at the ground. "Come on Jen, one step."
"So easy for you to say," she bit back before freezing, yea right, except he knows just how difficult that one step can be, Jen you are an insensitive bitch sometimes. "I'm sorry that was...way out of line," she apologized glancing at his knees. She knew the pain he went through learning to walk after the explosions.
"Apologizing is a sign of weakness."
"Then I'm weak," she said stubbornly.
"Not you," he assured holding his hand out again and she put her non-wired one into it. She pushed off the bed and found her legs seemed to support her, till she took a step. That one step sent her tumbling forward as her legs gave out, tumbling into a solid chest. She froze as she felt his arms holding her and wasn't sure where to go from there.
"Guess I'm still a little rusty," She sighed. Gibbs held her tighter.
"You are going to walk into NCIS and give him a piece of your mind and if I have to carry you the rest of the way, so be it."
"Your knees can't be too happy with that," she laughed lightly.
"Eh...nothing a good night's sleep won't fix,' Gibbs replied helping her sit again. "It's not like you weight anything."
"I think I'll take that as a compliment," Jenny answered. He simply nodded and rang for the nurse who entered a moment later.
"I think she's ready to be release," Gibbs hinted. The nurse shifted uneasily.
"I'll get the Doctor." The young nurse bolted from the room and went quickly down the hallway.
"Way to go Jethro, intimidating the nurses."
"You want to leave?" She rolled her eyes.
"I don't have normal clothes," she reminded.
"Naomi dropped off some stuff." He held up the duffel back and a garment bag. She hoped it wasn't something complicated or required lots of buttons.
"Director Shepard, I hear you want to leave?" Dr. Nell greeted.
"I need to go back to work," she said. "I feel fine."
"You can't be alone..."
"She won't be," Gibbs assured. "She'll be having a protective detail and a Field Agent will be with her at all times." The doctor saw Jenny make a face.
"Would that be acceptable?" Jenny inquired. The doctor watched the exchanged glares and nodded.
"That will be fine, you'll need to be checked out in forty eight hours and stay away from snakes."
"Of course Doctor," Jenny responded. The doctor left and Gibbs helped Jenny to her feet again.
"I could wait outside," he suggested. Though its not like I haven't seen it.
"I'll just change in the bathroom," she said. He helped her to the door and she assured him she could handle it.
It took a bit longer to get her fresh under clothes on but she felt much better. She unzipped the garment bag to find a simple grey dress with a belt. She ran a brush through her hair and then removed the dress from the bag. It was at the point she discovered the zipper on the dress. She prayed it wouldn't be a problem and yet knew somehow it would be. She stepped into the dress and slipped her arms through before going to pull the zipper up. She felt it catch half way up and cursed silently. She knew she would not be getting it up the rest of the way without help. I hate zippers.
"Uh Jethro," she called hesitantly. Not like he hasn't done this task before.
"Jen?"
"Could you help me? The zipper's stuck." There as a long silent pause and she could have kicked her self for asking but there wasn't any other options. She heard him enter the bathroom slowly, gauging the situation and watched him come up behind her in the mirror. She didn't need to see the color drain from his face to know something was wrong. "Please don't tell me I broke it."
"Uh no," he answered. She could see his eyes hadn't left her back and she tensed as she felt a finger lightly trace something. As if his touch didn't already wreak havoc on my composure. What's got him so interested? It dawned on her then that she had skipped an integral part of her routine. She had not covered up the scar that ran the length of her back. She had gone through great lengths to hide it from him right after it had happened; there hasn't exactly been another chance for him to see it.
"Jethro," she said softly trying to bring him out of his thoughts.
"Jen I..." She could hear the crack in his voice and did not need the reflection to reveal his pained expression. She spun around to face him and took his face in her hands.
"It. Was. Not. Your. Fault." She enunciated each word carefully keeping her green eyes locked on his blue ones. She could see he wasn't listening and she tried another tactic. Never failed before. She shifted her weight towards him tucking her head under his chin and holding him tightly. Jethro returned the hug, careful not to put to much pressure on her. He kept one arm wrapped around her and zipped up the dress with the other. The scar has been faint but noticeable on her creamy and otherwise unblemished skin, and the image was now engraved in his mind. He would tear Aurrilla to shreds if he thought it would help. He noticed the high heels that had been set out next to the duffle bag.
"You're not going to try and walk into those are you?" Gibbs inquired pointing at them. She was relieved he changed the subject.
"Only during the interrogation," she assured and ran her hand over his cheek for a second. "I'm going to be fine."
Gibbs nodded and let her go so she could buckle the belt and fix her hair slightly. He knew eventually they were going to have to talk about this, this new level to their already complicated relationship. Is it going back to something or moving to something even better? He grabbed the bag and led her out to a town car that was waiting in front of the hospital. She glanced at him in confusion as he helped her sit but smiled as he slid in beside her. The ride to NCIS was silent but Gibbs could see Jenny's increasing anxiety. He helped her out of the car and to the elevator, flipping the emergency stop just after the door closed.
"You don't have to do this." Which he knew was a total contradiction of his previous statements.
"Yes I do, Jethro. I need to know why," she stated and flipped the switch again. The elevator stopped at the squad room and he led Jenny over, his arm wrapped around her letting her support herself against him. They walked toward the desk only to find McGee and Abby walking towards them.
"Boss, Director," McGee greeted.
"Where is he, McGee?" Gibbs demanded.
"Interrogation, but Boss you need to know..."
"What?"
"When the other agents went to search the house for more evidence they found a sniper pointed at your house. It would have been the perfect shot," McGee explained.
"Collect the gun."
"Done. We just don't think it's a good idea for you to go home right now, Boss. We checked the Director's house just to be sure and its clear."
"A safe haven," Abby declared.
"She won't be alone," Gibbs snapped, no one commented. Abby looked as if she were trying to find a way to give Jenny a hug without hurting her. Gibbs watched Jenny pat Abby's hand and smiled toward her. Apparently Jenny had learned the intricacies of his team almost as well as he had. It was good to know, hopefully know when there was a stalker ex-boyfriend Abby would at least tell Jen.
"Tony is waiting and trying to hold Ziva back," McGee said breaking the small silence.
"Well we'd better make sure she doesn't do any harm," Jenny responded sliding her feet into her high heels and walking toward the interrogation rooms. Gibbs was quickly at her side, McGee and Abby right behind them. Tony and Ziva were in the viewing room, Tony with his hand in a death grip on Ziva's arm.
"Boss, I'm so happy to see you!" Tony began, Ziva cut him off.'
"I want a piece of him Gibbs!"
"Relax, you'll both have a shot, when I'm done," Gibbs informed. He watched Jenny silently turn down the sound to the other room and was glad she did. No one else needs to hear what's about to be said. After she was done Gibbs began to leave.
"Boss you want backup?" Tony asked.
"I'm his backup," Jenny answered following Gibbs. Tony and Ziva turned to glance at each other before focusing their attention on the window. The team watched Gibbs enter followed by Jenny. He took a chair across from Aurrilla and Jenny leaned against the table at Gibbs' right hand.
"How come we can't hear anything?" Tony questioned. McGee looked over the equipment.
"It all looks normal, I'll try and get it up."
"I would hold off on that," Abby warned glancing at Ziva, the Mossad officer nodded.
"Let's just watch," Ziva agreed. The show was rather spectacular already; even without the sound the team could tell Gibbs' voice was raised.
"You're in big trouble Aurrilla," Gibbs began.
"Special Agent Gibbs and Shepard, we meet again."
"It's Director Shepard, now," Jenny corrected sweetly.
"My apologies," Aurrilla said before glancing at Gibbs. "You let your woman move ahead of you Agent Gibbs."
"Like I told you earlier, three million is not nearly what she's worth."
"She is a woman."
"Who put a bullet through your thigh," Jen reminded.
"You betrayed my brother," Aurrilla accused.
"Your brother was a terrorist," Gibbs barked.
"He fought for freedom, is that not what your country is about?"
"He didn't fight for freedom," Jen argued. "He wanted power."
"Power our competition ending up with! Perhaps you've heard of him, he goes by the name La Grenouille."
"The Frog is dead," Gibbs bluffed.
"Oh yes, I know, my paychecks no longer come," Aurrilla replied sarcastically. "And I suppose your lovely lady is responsible for that."
"You worked for two terrorists, that makes you a terrorist," Jenny concluded ignoring the barb.
"So quick to judge," he muttered. "I am not sure Jane Cutler would appreciate that name."
"She'd call you a murderer," Jen answered confidently.
"Or a serial killer," Gibbs added.
"Pity you have no evidence."
"We were just getting to that," Gibbs responded. He pulled out pictures from a folder and watched Jen pull her façade around her. After placing the pictures in a line on the table he slid one hand off the table and gently squeezed her ankle. She didn't make any noticeable return but he could see her relax.
"See anyone you know?" Jen mocked.
"Beautiful women are something I collect."
"These part of your collection Maxie?" Gibbs inquired.
"It is so hard to tell," Aurrilla sighed. "It is a pity they are all dead."
"All?" Jen clarified and she watched Aurrilla pick up the picture of the Bethesda victim.
"She didn't have to die, but I enjoyed her the most. She had a new purpose, to serve as punishment to those who betray. She was only twenty-two, isn't that your daughter's age, Agent Gibbs?"
"You know Aurrilla, I heard your best bud was taken out by a snipe, you would think you might learn a lesson from that," Gibbs replied.
"He did not deserve to die!"
"Trust me, he did," Jen assured. "But you deserve some equally painful ending."
"I was thinking of letting Officer David in here," Gibbs told her.
"That sounds wonderful, she knows over two hundred ways to torture someone," Jen rattled off.
"You cannot do that! I have rights!"
"You're being treated as an enemy combatant, you've got nothing," Jen informed.
"I have made no threat..."
"I think these woman would disagree, killing nine people is a lot."
"I only killed eight of them, the first was worthy, but you betrayed me!" Aurrilla shouted. Gibbs leaned over the table and got right in Aurrilla's face.
"You murdered a child, you son of a bitch, and you attempted to murder a Federal officer, twice!"
"Such a pity you always come to her rescue," Aurrilla retorted. "You got your bitch pregnant, then perhaps I did get something from that little tryst." He paused and turned toward Jenny. "My condolences on your bastard child." Jenny took two steps closer and met his eyes.
"I should shoot you right between the eyes," She swore and then backed away. "You're not even worth the bullet, your brother at least put up a fight."
"You fucking bitch!" Aurrilla lunged across the table only to be met with Jenny's right hook.
"You have to drug women just so they won't fight back! You're a coward!"
"If you had come with me, none of this would have happened," Aurrilla announced. Gibbs could see Jenny's struggle not to listen and moved closer to Aurrilla.
"You never could have handled her," Gibbs whispered.
"You had to have everything, it's your fault. You should've sold her."
"I would have shoot him," Jenny returned snidely. "Have a nice flight to Guantanmo," she said walking out the door.
"If you live that long," Gibbs added as he followed slamming the door shut. Jenny was leaning against the wall and Gibbs stuck his head in the viewing room. "Ziva make sure he's comfortable, he only needs to survive to the brig."
"Of course Gibbs," She answered with a smile. Jenny glanced up worried as Ziva entered the room and closed the door. Oh what the hell if she kills him, he deserved it.
"She won't kill him," Gibbs assured noticing her expression. He guided her to the elevator and pushed the button for MTAC. The second the doors closed Gibbs threw the switch. Jenny looked up, merely waiting for whatever he had to say. "It's over Jen."
"I know."
"No one is going to know."
"He's still going to have a trail," Jenny reminded.
"There's more than enough evidence to convict him, no one will need to know the actual reasons." He tried to sound convincing and she nodded before letting a yawn escape. "Tired?"
"Exhausted."
"Side effect of the venom and the antibody," Gibbs informed.
"Guess I'll sleep on the couch and then do some more work," She reasoned.
"I can take you home," he suggested. "The team cleared the house."
"I have work to do."
"You can take two days off, work from home."
"Should I just agree now?" She inquired with a raised eyebrow.
"It'd be easier," he shot back.
"Fine, fine, I'll go home and sleep." She pressed the call cancel button and then the garage button and flipped the switch back on. The rest of the ride was silent and Jenny said nothing as a town car pulled round to get them. The car ride was just as silent as the elevator ride and Jenny watched the scenery feeling her eyes grow heavy. I'll just close them for a minute...