CHAPTER 1
Two brothers, one a marine and the younger one a civilian. A car explosion during a Metro DC police chase and everyone assumed the older sibling was killed in the explosion. What they didn't expect was to discover evidence that linked the supposedly dead marine to an obscure terrorist cell in Peru. The boys had been born there, but had immigrated to the United States when they were small children and had no family ties back there. So why had this marine been making trips back there? Why was he being photographed with known South American drug lords? Why was he apparently running a DC based terrorist cell and making dirty bombs? And even more important, why had M. Allison Hart shown up insisting that both brothers were her clients?
Gibbs didn't believe in coincidence. He didn't believe people who believed in coincidence. So when M. Allison Hart, high powered, and even higher paid, DC attorney showed up at NCIS for the third time in the past year to intervene in one of his cases, Gibbs' gut began to churn. Why was she here? And why was she representing a couple of kids who would never be able to pay her fees? Sure, she said she had taken on the case pro-bono, not charging the brothers anything to represent them... but why? This was by no means a high profile case, it wasn't likely to gain Ms. Hart any status, recognition or media attention. So why had she agreed to represent these two? And how the hell had she managed to get Director Vance to grant her a 'temporary employee pass'?
The pass didn't give her access to all of NCIS, but it gave her enough so that no matter where Gibbs went, she seemed to constantly be bumping in to him. His team had picked up on his tension, as he would expect them to do... and had started running interference for him. He never expected them to lie, but they had gotten creative in their excuses as to where Gibbs was when she came looking for him. Yes, he was avoiding her, because every time they were in the same space, she managed to touch his arm, stand a bit too close, lower her voice to that secretive, husky whisper, even when there was nothing secretive about their conversations. Something was wrong and his gut told him Ms. Hart wanted something... and it had to do with him.
Gibbs discreetly met with Director Vance when he knew Ms. Hart was out of the building. He put his concerns on the table and was surprised when his usually contrary boss agreed with him. Neither had any illusions that Ms. Hart was here for solely personal reasons; namely Gibbs. She was too cold, calculating and focused on money to keep donating her time to these cases on a pro-bono basis. She had an agenda and Gibbs was sure it had something to do with her wealthiest client, retired colonel Merton Bell, who operated a large and powerful private defense company. Bell hated Gibbs for exposing his fraudulent contracts with the US Military... and the fact that Gibbs had sent him to a Mexican Prison. The two NCIS men decide there isn't enough information right now to prove a case against her, but Vance wanted to kick her out of the building anyway. Gibbs persuaded him to hold off, let Hart maintain her temporary access and let his team just... watch her to see what she was up to. Reluctantly Vance went along; putting the responsibility on Gibbs to ensure she didn't use that access for the benefit of the recently released Bell.
At the end of the case involving the two brothers, Gibbs had proven that they had simply been pawns in another defense contractor who tried to create a panic on Capitol Hill right before a bill was to be voted on that would award his company millions in defense contracts. In hindsight, Gibbs was surprised Ms. Hart hadn't stepped in to say she was also representing this guy. But then he realized, she was still working for Bell. She was taking a subtle approach by representing the innocent brothers while working to ensure one of Bell's competitors was taken out.
Gibbs sighs as he gets out of his car, having just arrived home after a long and tiring week. He hoped the closing of that case would mean the end of being stalked by Ms. Hart, but he suddenly realized that wasn't going to happen the moment he stepped inside his front door. With the house dark, he turns to see a shadowy figure seated on his sofa in the living room. He instantly knows who it is and just stands there, tense and alert for danger, as he waits for her to make a move.
"Hello, Mr. Gibbs."
"What are you doing here?"
"The door was unlocked. I came in to wait." Her voice is calm, confident and Gibbs feels his gut twisting.
"Well, that's gonna change." He takes a couple of steps closer, stopping in the arch between the front hall and the living room. With a slow hand, he reaches over to flip on the light switch; quickly scanning the room, but finding her alone.
"We need to talk."
"So, call me at work, Ms. Hart. I'm sure your afterhours fees are double."
She ignores his subtle digs at her excessive rate and keeps a confident smile on her face as she stands up. She can see he is angry and doesn't want to be in a position of disadvantage, having him look down at her on the sofa. "You've been avoiding me. I had to do something."
"YOU'RE... IN... MY... HOUSE!" His anger was quickly controlled and she wonders now at the decision to come here. Even though he kept his door unlocked, as Bell had told her he would, he obviously guarded his privacy well.
"And... we're finally talking." She tries to hide her nervousness at his anger, turning it back on him.
"You want to talk? Let's talk about your pro-bono clients. I'd bet it was Bell, and his money that bought you those five hundred dollar shoes."
She takes a moment to smile, lifting her foot to glance down at her shoe and drawing his eyes down her shapely leg once more. She keeps the smile on her face as she fends off his latest attack. "I'm disappointed in you... these are two thousand dollar shoes and I do a lot of pro-bono cases."
"I know your office gets a lot of requests for pro-bono cases, Ms. Hart, but you hand pick the cases that will bring you across my path. Why is that?" He has taken a couple of steps closer, sensing her nervousness at his revelation.
When Gibbs stops only a step in front of her, Hart forces herself not to step back. After all, she was one of the most feared attorney's in DC and she'd made far more powerful men than Gibbs back down. However, none of them ever had that icy blue glare that was making her pulse trip through her veins nervously... and none of them were snipers or assassins like the man before her. She decides to take another route of attack and momentarily lowers her eyes to his chest, feigning a blush before she lowers her voice to that husky secretive whisper that has Gibbs on high alert.
"Don't flatter yourself, Mr. Gibbs..." Her words are cut short when Gibbs takes that last step, coming in so close their noses are only inches apart. He leans in closer, invading her space and causing her to lean back to keep him in focus.
"It's Special Agent Gibbs... or Gibbs. And I'm not flattered... just curious...why you're going to such lengths to get close to me?" He has lowered his voice to match her tone and it sends chills down her spine.
His eyes glitter as he holds her gaze and she realizes what a dangerous man she is playing with for the first time. Forcing herself to remain still, Hart watches as Gibbs' eyes drop to her lips as if contemplating their softness before coming back up to hers. His head dips another inch, almost bringing his mouth to hers, but then he stops; causing her breath to catch in her throat. A long, tense moment passes between them and she knows if she doesn't do this, she will have lost all ground she's been able to gain with this infuriating man.
She slowly leans in, dropping her eyes to his mouth as she presses a slow kiss to his lips. Gibbs lets her kiss him, barely registering a response to the impersonal kiss before she pulls back far enough to look up into his eyes again. She tries to speak normally, but can't hide the breathless sigh of her words, "You're a smart man, Agent Gibbs... why do you think I'm here?"
Gibbs pulls back a bit further, not touching her, but remaining close enough to intimidate her as he smirks at her question. "That's what I was wondering? But..." He steps back a few paces, severing the intimate moment as he casually shrugs and then finishes, "...it'll have to wait. I'm late and you gotta go."
He leaves her standing there stunned at how he had drawn her into that situation so easily and then just stepped away, leaving her hanging there like some desperate groupie! Her anger flares and she fights hard to keep it hidden from him. She watches as Gibbs goes into his kitchen, grabs a six pack of beer from the fridge and then returns. He stops on his way to his front door and gives her a look that demands to know why she is still there. "Now!?"
She pulls herself together and snatches her purse up off the coffee table before heading for the front door. Gibbs follows her, ensuring she doesn't try another tactic to remain in his home. He wants her out of there as fast as possible. His mind is racing at what just happened between them and he knows one thing for sure; M. Allison Hart isn't interested in him on a personal level. She was following orders... probably from Bell, and she was obviously willing do anything to get close to him. Her eyes told him the last thing she wanted to do was kiss him... and considering that Gibbs had done his homework on her too, he knew why.
He holds the door open until she has stepped out onto his porch, but as she hesitates and turns to look back at him, he simply closes the door. Severing all contact with her with the gentle click of the lock, Hart grits her teeth to contain her anger at basically being thrown out of his house after she subjected herself like that! She would do whatever was necessary to follow her client's instructions, but there were limits... or in the very least, there would be additional fees! She stomps off as elegantly as possible in her two thousand dollar heels, pulling her cell phone out as soon as she flops down in her Mercedes. Before she has even pulled away from the curb, Hart has stabbed the speed dial and put the phone to her ear.
"You were right. He is suspicious... but then he's suspicious of everything... everyone." She listens for a moment then replies, "You know I don't... All right! Okay... but this is going to cost you!" She ends the call with another vicious stab of her finger.
Gibbs waits inside, standing in the shadows until he is sure she is gone. Then he scans the street to ensure no one else is watching his house before he moves. He heads back into his living room, snapping off the light before sitting down on the sofa to open one of the beers in his hand. He contemplates his situation and realizes he has to do something drastic in order to force Hart's hand and crack her. He still didn't know why Bell was pulling her strings in regards to him, but he was certain Bell was behind it. He snaps open his phone and dials a now familiar number.
"Hey, you free for lunch tomorrow? Good, meet me at my office around noon and dress up. Yep, see you then." He snaps his phone shut and then sits there in the dark and smiles as his plan comes together in his head.
The next morning Gibbs is sitting in Vance's office watching the news when he comes in. Vance hesitates a moment, then continues on to his desk with a sigh, "Anything I can get you, Agent Gibbs?"
"Nope. Just waiting for you to get in." He spins his chair around to face the director and continues, "We need to talk... about Ms. Hart."
Vance glances over to ensure the door is closed and then sits down to give Gibbs his full attention. "Okay, talk."
"She was in my house when I got home last night, Leon."
"Doing what?"
"Waiting for me... so she said, but who knows what she was doing before I got there. She's up to something and I know damned well, Bell is pulling her strings."
"We already discussed that possibility... and I agree with you. The question is, what's his interest in having Hart get close to you?"
"Don't know... but she's trying her hardest to get close to me. She even kissed me last night."
"But, isn't she...?" Vance leans forward in his chair, perplexed by Hart's actions.
"Yea, she is... which makes it that much more suspicious that she's trying. I blew her off and kicked her out, but she's not done yet."
"What do you want to do?" Vance could tell Gibbs already had a plan or he wouldn't have asked.
"You're not gonna like it, Leon."
"That goes without saying... but tell me anyway." He leans back in his chair and steeples his fingertips in front of him. Prepared to hear the latest plan from Gibbs that would likely give him more ulcers than he already had.
"I want to use Holly Snow... set her up as my girlfriend." Gibbs sees Vance's mouth drop open and holds up a hand to stop his immediate refusal. "And before you pop a vein, hear me out... I want to lead Ms. Hart down the path a bit. Just enough to let her think she's getting inside, then I'll introduce Holly and frustrate her attempts."
"And... in the meantime, force her to do something unplanned in order to get Ms. Snow out of the way, right? That sounds risky."
"You're tellin' me..." Gibbs chuckles at the idea of putting himself between the two high powered DC women, knowing they were both capable of single handedly starting World War III.
Vance chuckles, but keeps his thoughts to himself. He envies his agent, having those two vying for his attention... even if he could come out of it scarred for life. Their eyes hold for a few moments, and then Vance nods and gives his approval. "Okay, Gibbs. You want to be the match standing between the gasoline and the tinderbox, you got it. Just make sure you don't start any sparks."
"Gonna be hard not to, Leon... but I'll do my best." He gives him his half smirk before standing up and heading out of the Director's office. He knows his plan could backfire, but that's why he was going to put his best people on it. His team was sharp and it wouldn't take them long to figure out Gibbs was acting different when he started flirting with two different women at work. He needed to ensure his team knew the reason... he also needed their help in finding out what Bell was up to before it was too late.
Gibbs heads back to the bullpen and doesn't even slow down as he heads straight for his desk, grabs a file and calls out to his team, "Come on... we got a meeting in Abby's lab."
They all jump up and follow after him, exchanging questioning glances and shrugs between them. They were not currently working a case so there was no reason to converge on Abby's lab. That is unless Gibbs' meeting with the Director this morning brought another case across their desks. They hurry to catch up to Gibbs before the elevator doors close and he just smirks as they all rush through the doors before they close.
Once in Abby's lab, they stop to watch her dancing around to a loud, heavy metal CD. It takes her a moment to realize she has an audience and she turns around to see Tim and Tony grinning at her, Ziva looking a bit uncomfortable and Gibbs definitely not amused. She grabs the remote and quickly turns off the music, bringing the room into a sudden tense silence.
"Wow. Is this like déjà vu? I have a dream just like this, except I'm dancing naked and you're all..." She suddenly stops as she realizes what she was about to say. She quickly puts her finger and thumb to her lips and makes a motion like turning a key.
Gibbs just shakes his head and walks further into the room, tossing the folder down on the freshly disinfected table and waits for his team to move around for the briefing. When they have all found a space around the table, he looks to Abby, "Abs, this is need to know only. Shut it down."
Abby's eyes widen a bit, but she immediately raises her remote control and pushes another button. The door slams shut with a resounding snap and the blinds over the windows turn to close out any onlookers from outside. When she turns back, Gibbs is once again touching the file, spinning it around on the table with two fingers as he waits for the first comment.
"We catch another case, boss?" McGee isn't usually the one to dig for information, but one look at DiNozzo and he catches his prodding nudge.
"Not a case... yet. Got a bit of an internal problem... and I'm gonna need all of you working on it. This is need-to-know only... not Ducky, not Palmer, no one except us... is that clear?"
When they all nod, Gibbs opens the file and exposes the drivers license photo of one Margaret Allison Hart. The others glance down, recognizing her immediately, but it is Tony who comments first, "Margaret? No wonder she goes by M. Allison."
"Tony, I am sure that is not the point of this top secret meeting... to know her real first name." Ziva was all business, as usual and Gibbs can't hide his smile at the way she keeps her partner in line.
"No... that's not the reason. But she is the focus... along with the man paying her." He moves Hart's photo to uncover a photo of Colonel Merton Bell. The others begin to understand now, but Abby raises her hand.
"But, I thought he was in a Mexican Prison... compliments of you?"
"He was... for the last two years. But Hart somehow worked a deal with the Mexican authorities and got him released on parole early. Don't know how, but I'm sure some serious money changed hands down there." He leans his hands on the table, staring down at the two photos before he continues, "I'm sure you've all noticed that Ms. Hart has suddenly taken an interest in taking on pro-bono cases... that happen to involve our cases. And as much as that woman likes money, you can bet she isn't doing it out of the goodness of her heart. She's going out of her way to put herself in my path... I just don't know why."
"And you think Colonel Bell is paying her to do this? To get close to you?"
"Ziva, just because she's taken on a few cases that were NCIS jurisdiction, that doesn't mean she's trying to get close to Gibbs, right boss?" Tim's innocence never ceases to frustrate Gibbs.
"Actually it does, McGee. Last night when I got home, Hart was inside my house waiting for me."
"Waiting for you? Why?" DiNozzo's eyes have narrowed and he now sees this new information as much more threatening. No one went into Gibbs' house unless he wanted them there. Sure, he kept his door unlocked, but that didn't mean he welcomed uninvited visitors.
"Said she wanted to talk... because I've been avoiding her. In a way she was right. She's been popping up where ever I go lately, acting like it's purely coincidence. Then when we caught that case last week with the two brothers, she takes on both brothers as clients and somehow convinced SECNAV to grant her a 'temporary pass' to NCIS. It gives her access to certain areas of the building, but I found her in areas she isn't allowed three times. She's up to something... and I need you all to help me find out what it is while I'm busy keeping her off guard."
There is a moment of confused silence and then it dawns on them what Gibbs is hinting at. He stands up and lays out the rest of the plan, making it perfectly clear to each and every one of them what he intends to do. It isn't until he mentions using Holly Snow, the infamous DC Madam as his girlfriend that mouths drop open. Abby is the first to object.
"Holly Snow?! Gibbs! You know who she is... what people will say!"
"I know who she was, Abs... and I know her personally now. She'll be hired to do this just like we've hired her to do other stings in the last few months. Aside from her reputation, she's proven to be a valuable asset to this office and a damned professional person to work with." He glares from one to the next, making sure they understand he will not allow any derogatory comments from any of them about Holly Snow. "We treat this like any other operation, understood?"
"Sure boss, but does that go for you too? I mean, playing house with Holly Snow? You sure you can...Aagghh!" DiNozzo's words stop abruptly as a hard head slap from Gibbs and Ziva hit him at the same time. He ducks and then turns to glare at his partner to let her know she has not earned the right to head slaps.
Gibbs ignores him and turns back to the rest of the group, handing out their assigned tasks to be done with the utmost secrecy, especially since Hart will be roaming around the building for a while. He explains that they don't want to revoke her pass until they know what she's up to so they will all have to take part in keeping track of her... when she wasn't shadowing Gibbs that was. With the briefing done, Gibbs looks at them each again, knowing he can rely on his team to pull this off, but feeling the need to tell them anyway.
"I know this is a lot to ask of you... and I have no doubt you'll do your best, but until we know what Hart is up to... or Bell, for that matter, this is top secret. I'll keep Vance briefed and you all answer to me... only. Bell is too dangerous to ignore so, let's get to it and we'll see where she leads us."
They all nod solemnly and turn to leave as Abby pushes the button to open up the room once more. Gibbs hangs back, wanting a private word with Abby and once the others are gone, he turns to face her. "Abs, I know you have... doubts about Holly, and what she used to do."
"I... yes... and no, Gibbs. I mean, I respect the hell out of her because she's such a powerful woman in this town. But on the other hand, what she used to get to that position is what I have a problem with... you know what I mean?"
"Yeah, I do... and I felt the same way... until I got to know her. She's not a bad person, Abby and I want you to keep an open mind, all right?"
"Okay... since it's all just an illusion anyway, right? I mean her being your girlfriend... even though she is beautiful... and she is a redhead... and you like red hair." She stops when she sees him grinning at her. He just kisses her cheek and turns to leave with the smile still on his face.
