This follows on from Broken.
The house was quiet. Just the way she liked it, not that she didn't love Jethro being there to fix things when they broke, or to drink all her bourbon, or to make her crazy with want just by looking at her, but sometimes she needed her space. She was just a little pleased that he had a pile of paperwork a mile high and couldn't leave the office because she was planning to pour a large glass of red wine, slip into a hot bath and wallow, possibly until she dissolved.
The bathroom floor was cold under her feet as she padded through to turn on the taps. She poured in a generous amount of expensive smelling bath oil under the hot streams of water, preferring oil to bubbles, and sat on the edge of the bath, letting the steam and smell soothe her frayed nerves.
She shut off the taps and dropped her robe, stepping into the water and slipping down, letting it cover her body as a contended sigh escaped her and her eyes slid shut.
The tiny, almost imperceptible creak of a floorboard from downstairs broke through the blissful silence and her eyes snapped open. The house wasn't old enough to creak for no reason and Noemi had gone home. As quietly as she could she got out of the bath, wrapping her robe tightly around her, grabbing her weapon from the bathroom stool and opened the door. She could only hear her breathing but she crept down the stairs, pointing her weapon round towards the study.
She nearly heaved a sigh of relief when she heard glass clinking together until she realized that Jethro wasn't stupid enough to sneak into her house whilst she was there, unless he wanted to be shot, or castrated, or both. She pushed the door open, pointing her weapon at her drinks cabinet, and she felt a sharp pain in her neck. The smooth voice that spoke to her was the last thing she heard as darkness engulfed her.
"Long time no see…Director."
Gibbs sighed, god he hated paper work. Almost as much as Tony hated paperwork if his face was anything to go by. Tony mirrored his sigh and continued flicking bits of paper at Ziva to keep himself occupied, because actually doing his reports was out of the question.
"Would you stop that?" Ziva snapped, causing McGee to jump. Gibbs gave them both a withering look which they ignored.
"Or what? You gonna kill me with a piece of rolled up paper, Zee-vah?" Tony drawled. Ziva picked up a ball of paper and rolled it around in her fingers. She shot a death stare at Tony.
"I do not know if I can, but I might try." She threatened. Tony opened his mouth to taunt some more.
"Would both of you stop it? Or I'm gonna kill you both with this." Gibbs raised his voice a little and held up a pencil. Tony and Ziva had the grace to look chastised.
"Have problems controlling the kids Jethro?" Gibbs turned towards the elevators to see Tobias Fornell standing with an amused smirk on his face. Gibbs gave him a small nod and walked towards him.
"You know how it is Tobias, can't work with them, can't…work with them." Tobias chuckled as they walked towards the 'conference room'. The doors slid shut and Gibbs flicked the switch, bathing the elevator in an semi-light.
"Problem Tobias?" Gibbs asked. Tobias sighed, handing him a piece of gum, like he usually did. Gibbs took it warily, not liking the fact that Tobias was shifting uncomfortably and wasn't coming straight to the point.
"Surveillance on Kort has gone dark." He finally said. Gibbs immediately stiffened.
"Meaning?" He asked.
"Meaning Jethro, that he has slipped from our radar and has gone AWOL. After…" He trailed off not quite sure how to phrase it.
"After he tried to kill Jen." Gibbs put in. Tobias nodded and carried on.
"Yeah, well after that, we watched him even more closely. Two days ago, our surveillance went dark, we have been able to make contact since." Tobias watched Gibbs as his jaw muscles ripped in anger.
"Who's 'we' Tobias, you working for the CIA again?" He asked. Tobias shrugged.
"You could say that. But I thought it was best that you knew. Knowing Director Shepard, she probably knows where he is anyway; no doubt she has been doing her own surveillance." Tobias tried to lighten the mood, but Gibbs's hands were fisting at his sides. He slammed one into the side of the elevator.
"God damn it Tobias, how could you let him get away?" He cried.
"We didn't let him get away Jethro, and I wasn't even meant to tell you that he had." Tobias reminded him.
"He tried to kill Jen, or have you forgotten that?"
"Honestly Jethro, what are you more angry about? The fact that he tried to kill Director Shepard? Or that fact that he tried to kill Jen?" Tobias crossed his arms in front of him as Gibbs flicked the switch.
"Is there a difference Tobias?" The elevator doors opened and Gibbs walked out, ready to brief his team, glad that Jen's security detail had been doubled recently.
"To you, Jethro?...Yeah, I think there is."
dum dum duuuum...Kort is back and is playing nicely!
V!
xox