Change of Pace
Rifiuto: Non Miriena
Summary: Jo leaves on her walkabout and runs into an old family friend- who offers her a job working with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. How will the Eureka crew react to her leaving GD, and how will the NCIS team react to her joining the team? My first NCIS- Eureka crossover. Season 6 NCIS, Season 4 Eureka.
She left the only place she'd every really called home with Zane's kiss on her lips, Carter's arms and scent around her body, and Allison and Fargo's warm smiles in her mind. She left to find herself, to let the universe guide her.
"Hi Mama."
The silence of the cemetery filled her, wrapping its comfort around her, and she knelt before the stone, removing the wilted roses from the ground, replacing them with the fresh ones she'd bought at the florist. Once she was satisfied, she brushed her hands and sat back on her haunches. A moment passed, before she reached out and traced the beautifully carved 'C' of her mother's name. She'd died too young, and taken her husband, James, with her. He'd never gotten over Cassandra's death, and had relived it, day after day until the day he himself died. Buried in Arlington, a marker bearing his name had been placed beside his wife's. Quickly, Jo wiped at the tears running down her cheeks. "I miss you, Mama." She sniffled. "I miss you and Daddy so much."
The soft footsteps caused her to pause, and her head snapped around. An older man stood feet behind her, giving her privacy. A moment passed, before she slowly climbed to her feet. "Can I help you?" The man held up his hands.
"Just came to pay my respects, Josefina." Her dark eyes narrowed suspiciously, as she looked the man up and down, gauging the threat he posed. "I try to stop and visit Cassie once a week. I see James a bit more often, in Arlington."
"How do you-" She started, turning back to her mother's grave. She then turned back to him, taking in his appearance for the first time. The silvery-gray hair, the solemn blue eyes, the familiar stance. She'd grown up around military men and women her entire life- hell, her first real memory was a military funeral at Arlington; the gun salute, the casket, the American flag, removed from its place on the casket and being folded before being presented to the family of the fallen. Men and women in uniform, saluting their fallen colleague before approaching the family. Military was in her blood; all branches, Army to Navy to Marines to Air Force. She'd bounced around all four, before settling into the Army officially... and then had found herself retired to a small-town deputy- granted, the smartest, most dangerous small town in America- but still, it was one step away from a desk job, in Jo's eyes, as was being Head of Security. Dealing with those crazy eggheads every day wasn't the same as facing combat, as being around actual soldiers and naval commanders, generals, majors... she missed it.
"I... I'm sorry, do I know you?" The man shrugged.
"You probably don't remember me. It's been a long time since we've seen each other. Last time was James's funeral- a week before you turned eighteen." She thought a moment, trying to remember the day she'd blocked out of her mind for years.
"I fought in Desert Storm with your father, Josefina. Both Marine snipers, both came home about the same time. I... gave you that bracelet, after we'd returned. Picked it up for you in Maine, on our way back to Jersey." She glanced down at the green, blue and red sea-glass bracelet she always wore. Her fingers gently traced the stones, her mind going back to that day-
Only one man had ever given her this bracelet, knowing how much she loved the sea; besides her father-
"Uncle Jethro?" She whispered, meeting his gaze. He nodded, holding out a hand.
"It's good to see you again, Jo-" He stumbled back as Jo threw her arms around the older man. She'd grown up around Jethro and his family; he was her father's best friend, mentor, and she and her brothers had often called him 'Uncle Gibbs', which he really didn't mind. Her family had been there for him when Shannon and Kelly were killed, just as they'd been there for the Lupos after Cassie died. Taking a deep breath, Gibbs wrapped her in a hug, glancing towards Cassie's stone as they stood in the cemetery.
He'd searched for her, for years. He'd promised James on his deathbed that he'd look out for his baby girl, but after she'd come home from war, torn and nearly destroyed, she'd vanished off the face of the earth, and Gibbs had spent the last decade or so searching for her, intent on keeping his promise to the man who'd looked on him as family, who'd kept close watch on him after his family was killed... and now, after all these years, he'd finally found James's elusive baby girl.
They now sat in a small diner, catching up over burgers and fries and hot coffee as the sky broke overhead and drenched the world in cooling rain. Slyly, Jo reached over, snagging a fry from his plate, and he returned the gesture. She giggled, and Gibbs was suddenly reminded of the little girl with the pigtails and pink tutu, putting on shows for them in the living room. Yes, Jo was much older than Kelly- nine years older- but that hadn't stopped the dark-haired girl from taking Kelly under her wing when after the girl was born in eighty-eight. Jo had delighted in Kelly- being the only girl in her family, after Cassie died, and had taken it particularly hard after the murders.
"So, what have you been up to these last few years, Josie Fi?" Gibbs asked, leaning back in his chair. Jo raised and eyebrow, mid-sip. She set her cup down and cleard her throat.
"I'm... working security detail. Head of Security actually." She replied, crossing her arms on the counter.
"Presidental?" He asked, picking up his cup. She shook her head.
"No," She cleared her throat again and glanced at him. "Top... secret company in... Oregon. Nothing major, just... watching over a bunch of egghead scientists, mainly." She replied, her tone making it perfectly clear that she either wouldn't- or couldn't- discuss the details of her job. He nodded, not liking the feeling in his gut. "So, how about you?" He chuckled, noticing her quick change of subject, but refusing to call her on it. Yes, you and Ziva will get along just fine.
"Working NCIS, as usual. Been looking for you the last few years." Her head snapped up.
"What? Why? Did you put a bolo out for me? Or... or..." Gibbs held up a hand, seeing the look of panic flash across her face.
"Nothing like that, Josefina. But, when your father died, he asked me to watch out for you- and for the last, few years, I haven't been able to because I couldn't find you. Now, I know you probably can't say because of your job," He added, seeing the look of panic on her face. "But I made a promise, to James, that I would watch over you, and I intend to keep it." Her eyes darkened, hiding something she refused to let him see, before she pushed her plate away with a soft,
"Well, you found me, and I'm fine. So, next time you visit Daddy, you can tell him that you kept your promise."
"That's not what he meant, Jo." She stopped, looking up at him. A moment passed, before she gave him a small smile and got up.
"Look, Uncle Jethro, it was good to see you again, but, I gotta get goin'. Thanks for lunch." And she rushed from the diner. Gibbs sighed, dropping his half of the check on the table and rushing after her.
"She's just as stubborn as her daddy. And you wondered why it took me nearly twenty years to find her, James..." He muttered, chasing after her. "Jo! Josefina!" She stopped, on the way to her car, and taking a deep breath, turned to him. He gestured at her, and after a moment, she followed, joining him at his car. "When your father asked me to look out for you, it wasn't just to make sure you were alive and healthy, it was because of something else." She swallowed, glancing around, unease in her stomach.
"What? Uncle Jethro, what are you talking about?" After rummaging around in his car for several minutes, Gibbs stood again, turning to Jo. He held out a manilla folder. Quickly, Jo opened the folder, flipping through the files. "NCIS?" Gibbs reached up, gently brushing a strand of hair off her cheek.
"Your father wanted me to watch out for you, Jo. And that's exactly what I intend to do- even if it means I have to put you on my team." And then, with a quick kiss to her forehead, he moved around and climbed into the driver's side of his car. "Let me know when you make up your mind." Jo watched him drive off before glancing down at the folder in her hands.