The Embassy Incident
Summary: A function at an embassy doesn't go to plan. Sequel to NonExistent Numbers.
Spoilers: For my previous story NonExistent Numbers. It might be useful to read that one first.
A/N The usual thanks goes to Kristen, especially as I dumped the entire story on her as she was dealing with her finals.
Please review, you will make my day! And on with the sequel...
Chapter 1: At The Embassy
Leroy Jethro Gibbs wasn't sure why he had such an uneasy feeling in his gut. He had been put in charge of coordinating security at a function held in the Nepali Embassy. Various Congressmen and lobbyists had been invited, as well as the Director of NCIS. He hadn't a clue how Jenny had ended up on the guest list, worrying instead about protecting her.
The place had been lavishly decorated. Chandeliers seemed to hang everywhere, floral arrangements were every five feet, and candles were on every surface. There was a twenty-man orchestra, and enough food to feed everyone in DC several times over. Waiters were everywhere, offering champagne to those they passed.
Gibbs searched for his team. Tony and Ziva were shadowing the Director, both determined not to let her out of their sight, especially since the last time that had happened the CIA had faked her death. McGee had been disguised as a waiter, causing Tony to tease him that he should take up the job full-time.
He finally located the Director. She was deep in conversation with a Senator, seemingly oblivious to the bustle around her. She was wearing a long dark blue dress that clung in all the right places, and her auburn hair was pinned up. She had a loose gold bracelet around her wrist instead of her usual watch, and she was toying with it unconsciously. He thought he'd never seen her look more beautiful.
Except she wasn't Jenny.
Gibbs wondered briefly how many people in the room knew that the Director of NCIS wasn't present. He suspected that he was the only one; generally Jenny didn't mention her sister.
He knew where she really was; trying to avoid sunburn in the Caribbean. Jenny disliked having to take a protection detail with her when she went on vacation, while Lily disliked enforced breaks between CIA missions. Since Jenny had become Director, the sisters had simply swapped passports and Lily had taken her sister's job whenever necessary.
It had taken him two such vacations before he had realized what was going on. He had stormed into the Director's office one day to discover rap music playing quietly instead of jazz. While the sisters looked identical, and acted surprisingly identical, on some things they were poles apart. One such subject was taste in music.
Since that day he had insisted on knowing when they swapped. He doubted that Lily ever bothered to go on vacation, especially as she travelled a lot when she was working. The opportunity to sit in an office for a week and charm politicians was probably relaxing for her.
"Agent Gibbs," she greeted him.
He resisted the urge to jump; he had been so wrapped up in his thoughts that he hadn't noticed her arrival.
"I thought you were supposed to be protecting me," she teased.
"Since when do you need protecting?" he growled back.
She grinned in response. "Open bar. Care to join me for two minutes?"
He followed her as she made her way across the room with ease.
"Two bourbons," she informed the barman, before leaning back against the bar.
He watched as she scanned the room. "It's fine," he told her.
"The CIA definition of 'fine' is different to that of NCIS," she murmured softly, not wanting to be overheard.
"Anything bugging you?"
"I haven't felt like this since the last time I was shot," she confessed, sipping the newly arrived bourbon.
"My gut's complaining," he shared.
"The tacos you had for lunch?"
"How do you know what I had…" He glared at her.
She grinned again. "I think they call it a clue when your team shows up in MTAC and DiNozzo stinks of burritos."
Gibbs made a mental note to head-slap his senior field agent the minute he could.
"Seriously, anything in particular?"
He reflected on it. "I thought it might have been because I'm watching you instead of her. But now…"
"You're not sure," she finished for him.
"Something's going to happen."
Tony appeared out of nowhere. He held out a cell phone to the redhead. "A Mr. Dickens for you," he told her.
"Thanks." She took it from him and moved away from the bar for some privacy. "Shepard."
"Hey, boss," Tony offered.
"Yes," she continued, walking past one of the buffet tables.
Gibbs head-slapped his agent.
"Yes," she repeated.
"Ow! Boss! What was that for?"
"Of course."
Gibbs glared at the younger man.
"Okay," she continued.
"Honestly boss?" Tony pleaded.
"I can arrange that," she said as she moved out of audible range.
"Please?"
"Personal hygiene," Gibbs told him.
Tony groaned and took up the redhead's former position.
"Anything suspicious?" Gibbs inquired.
"Unless you count guys hitting on the Director left, right and center as suspicious behavior boss, then no. Although I think anyone not hitting on her would be suspicious; that dress really suits her – OW!" He rubbed his head again.
They watched as the redhead approached the quietest corner in the room, Ziva a short distance behind.
"What's wrong boss?"
"My gut."
Gibbs crossed the room, and nodded to the Israeli that she could leave for a short while. She moved towards Tony, as Gibbs waited a few feet from their target.
He took a moment to observe the yellow roses in the vase next to Lily, and suppressed a smile as she leant over and sniffed them, still listening to the person on the other end of the call.
"Lil," he hissed, trying to attract her attention.
She didn't move. He didn't want to call her name any louder, for fear of being overheard. And although she answered to Jenny, he needed her attention urgently.
"Lil," he tried again.
BOOM
The room exploded. The last thought on Gibbs' mind as he lost consciousness was that Lily had been closer to the bomb than he had.