This is a story I wrote last year about NCIS. It is more personal for the characters, what they do off duty. I wanted to delve into some more behind the scenes for the characters. Hope you enjoy and will take a journey with me. I do love reviews, it lets me know if I'm on the right track and if it is worth reading, so take a moment and leave a few words for me.
NC
Chapter 1
Annie pushed the hair from her eyes with a shaky hand as she glanced back over her shoulder to see if she had been seen slipping down the alley. Her breath came in gasps as she moved in the shadows. Fear coursed thru her veins as she tried to decide which way to go glancing right and left down the deserted street.
She pulled her sweater over her blood soaked blouse so as not to attract attention to herself. Marshall Simpson was such a nice person, he did not deserve to die protecting her. This was the third person who had been killed because of her. No more, she thought, there was only one person who could help her, if he would, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, a name she had not thought about in a very long time.
She would come across some high school memos or see something that would trigger old memories and his face would pop up in her mind. She wondered many times what had happened to him. She knew he had gone into the Marines and was now working in Washington.
Annie was under witness protection after escaping from a kidnapping ring in Virginia. She was the only witness alive to turn state's evidence. Her testimony would put some very powerful people behind bars, if she could stay alive long enough to give her statement.
Bright lights of an all night diner drew her toward the corner ahead. Annie pushed open the door and looked around for a phone. "Excuse me is there a phone I could use, my car broke down and I need to call for a tow?"
"Over by the bathrooms." the waitress replied while pouring a cup of coffee.
"Thank you." Annie mumbled ducking her head. She searched her pockets for some change and put in the coins. Dialing a number from memory, she waited for someone to answer.
"Hello" a gruff, gravely male voice answered.
"Mr. Gibbs, it's Annie Mayor I used to live down the street from you years ago. I went to school with Jethro. I'm sorry to call so late but I need to get in touch with him, it's an emergency." Annie said.
"Annie, Sophie's kid?" he asked surprised to even remember her. "Are you in town?"
"No, please Jethro's number." she pleaded.
"OK just a second, his cell is 877-314-7878." he answered.
"877-314-7878, thank you Mr. Gibbs." Annie said hanging up the phone and dialing the number.
After five rings another gruff voice mumbled "This had better be good to wake me at 1:47 AM."
"Jethro, this is Annie, Annie Mayor, I don't know if you remember me, please, I need your help. Someone is trying to kill me. I'm in town can you come and get me?" she whispered as someone pushed by her to get to the bathroom.
"Watch it." a male voice said in the background.
"Where are you?" he asked fully awake. "Are you safe now?"
"In a diner at the corner of White and Cypress Street, I think it's called Harry's" she replied. "Please hurry!" she pleaded.
"I am on my way, stay put and around people." Jethro instructed.
Annie found a seat at the end of the counter and ordered hot tea to go as she watched out the window. She was not sure how long it would take him to get there. The waitress set the cup of hot tea in front of her and walked away. Annie put some sugar in the cup and stirred. She cupped her cold hands around the cup and lifted it to blow softly across the top, then shivered as she sipped the hot liquid. She hunched her shoulders as she continued to watch out the window for signs of Gibbs.
Gibbs rolled off the couch and wiped the sleep from his eyes while grabbing his coat. He picked up his gun and checked the ammo clip. The call was a voice from the past he had not thought of in more years than he cared to count. Picking up his keys, he flipped the switch on the lights and was out the door in under 10 minutes.
"Where are you Gibbs?" she whispered under her breath as she sipped the tea. Annie glanced at the customers in the diner briefly to be sure none were looking at her. She kept watching out the window looking for his car.
Twenty minutes later she saw a car pull up in front of the diner and recognized the profile in the driver's seat. She laid down money and walked quickly toward the door.
Once outside she quickly hurried toward the car missing the curve and twisting her right ankle. She caught herself on the hood of the car and limped around it. Lights on a car went on across the street as she got into the passenger seat.
"Gibbs, I'm in trouble and I didn't know anyone else to call" she winced touching her right ankle. She leaned back in the seat and let out a long breath. "I don't know if I was followed or not."
"Ok," Gibbs answered pulling away from the curve. He noticed the car from across the street pulling out behind them. Keeping one eye on the car behind him, he maneuvered thru the traffic as a leisurely pace.
"People are after me, powerful people. Three good men died trying to protect me. I can not have anyone else die." she rambled trying to catch her breath.
"How about starting from the beginning?" he asked as he watched the car turn as he turned. "You may want to put on your seat belt, we have company."
"How did they find me so fast!" she moaned buckling her belt.
Gibbs increased his speed and pulled away from the car following them. He switched lanes and took the next exit cutting a car off as he sped away.
"Were they close enough to get your license? They can trace it, we need to change cars and hide somewhere." Annie rushed looking behind her.
"No worry this is registered to NCIS, they won't get anything from them," he said taking a side street and another right then left and left again.
"You don't know these people, they will find out." she cried trying to control the fear in her voice.
Gibbs pulled into his driveway and cut the engine. "Come on, I need to get a few things and make a phone call. Can you make it?" he asked as he got out of the car"
"I think I twisted it." she said leaning on the car as she tried to follow him into the house limping badly.
"Sit. I'll grab some ice for it before we leave." he motioned as he went into the hall and pulled a backpack out of the closet. He grabbed clothes from the dresser, extra ammo from the closet and the extra money from the night stand.
"Bathroom?" she asked standing on one leg and holding on the door jam.
"Down the hall on left, need help?" he asked.
"I'll make it, you finish up we need to leave." she said over her shoulder as she used the wall for support.
Gibbs pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and speed dialed a number. After seven rings a sleepy "Boss?" was heard as other items were heard falling to the floor.
"Rule 44, Rule 41, jeep 4 wheel, position 14." he said and hung up. He went into the kitchen and grabbed a plastic bag and threw some ice into it. "I'm ready." he called down the hall.
"Coming," she called as she slowly came down the hall trying to not favor her right ankle.
"Aw hell," Gibbs said picking her up and carrying her out of the house.
He noticed how light she felt in his arms. He frowned as he put her in the passenger seat. He had not seen Annie since high school, a life time ago. She had been a looker then, but now something was off. He remembered a beautiful, strong-willed, sensitive, girl who blew him away the first time they met. The looks were still there, but something had overshadowed them, her face was gaunt and drawn, her spirit had changed.
"Where are we going?" she finally asked looking around the area.
"Meeting someone to get a new car and then we'll go someplace no one will find us." Gibbs explained.
"I'm sorry to involve you, but you are the only one I knew who could help me, someone I could trust, you were always there even when I pushed you away." she said with head bowed. Gibbs noticed the dark stains on her blouse as she pulled her sweater around her. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she turned her head and wiped them away.
Gibbs pulled into a store parking lot and slowly rolled down the row of cars looking for someone. From the back corner of the parking lot lights flashed once. Gibbs pulled in beside an older model four-wheel drive Jeep.
"Boss." Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo said trying to suppress a yawn.
"DiNozzo, has it got a full tank?" he asked taking the keys being held out.
"Yes Boss, I even checked the tire pressure and this is all the money I could get this early." he said glancing in the car as he handed Gibbs an envelope. "Here's a clean phone you asked for too."
"You get the girl, I'll get the other things. She hurt her ankle." Gibbs said pulling the backpack and another bag from the car. He pocketed the money and phone.
"Ma'am" DiNozzo said opening the car door to help her out.
"I'm ok." Annie told him trying to stand up.
"Boss said to put you in the Jeep." he replied picking her up and moving her to the Jeep.
"Take the car to NCIS. If anyone asks, I decided to take a short vacation." Gibbs instructed his agent.
"Is there anything else I need to know Boss?" he asked eyeing Annie.
"Yeah, have McGee run an Annie Mayor and find out if anything strange has happened to her." he said softly.
"How do I get in touch with you about this?" he asked.
"Rule 28." he said handing over his phone, getting rid of the only other way he could be traced. "I'll be in touch to see what you have."
"Got it Boss" he saluted getting into Gibbs car and driving off.
"Annie I'm going to get a few things from the store, I want you to stay down low so no one sees you. I'll lock the doors and won't be long." he told her without waiting for an answer. He locked the doors and motioned her to get down. Annie slid down in the seat and tried to put the ice back on her ankle which was throbbing.
Gibbs entered the discount store and grabbed a cart. He went thru the women's clothes and picked out some sweats, underwear, socks, nightgown, heavy jacket, tee shirts, gloves and a hat. He went over and picked up toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, deodorant, brush and comb. He tossed in a couple of ace bandages and ankle braces in the cart.
Camping section gave him freeze-dried food packets. He decided on some canned tuna, chicken, assortment of vegetables, powdered milk, coffee, tea, coco, soups, peanut butter, eggs, crackers, bread and bananas. Satisfied with purchases, he made his way to the check out and paid for the purchases.
Annie jumped as Gibbs loaded the supplies into the Jeep.
"Here take your clothes off and put these on." he said handing her some sweats and clean underwear.
"Everything?" she questioned.
"Even the shoes. You could be bugged. Do you have a cell phone or anything electric?"
he continued as he turned to give her privacy.
"No." she said slipping out of her clothes quickly and putting on what he had given her. As she was pulling the shirt over her head Gibbs noticed what looked like scars on her back. He said nothing as she handed him her old clothes. He tossed them in a dumpster.
"Any jewelry?" he continued.
"No." she said pulling her hair back.
He slid into the Jeep and started the engine heading for the entrance.
"Where are we going?" Annie asked still staying low.
"A place no one can find us and then you can tell me what is going on with you." he said pulling onto the highway. "Get some sleep, it will be awhile."
"I don't sleep much anymore Jethro." she replied looking out the window.
He did not question her any further as he concentrated on the road. Many questions spun around in his head as his brow creased at her remark. He picked up the interstate and headed out of the city. He was going to put as many miles as he could between him and the city before anyone knew he was gone.
Annie stared out the window as the scenery blurred past them. He wanted to question her, but knew it would be better to wait until they got to the cabin. Annie glanced at Gibbs for a moment, noticing the changes time had made to his face. He was still handsome, but he had a hardness to him now.
Agent DiNozzo pulled Gibbs' car into the garage and left it in his parking spot. He glanced around to be sure no one saw him get out. He sauntered into NCIS and slid on the elevator as the doors were closing.
As the doors opened on the elevator, Ziva David was standing nearby. "Late again Tony?" she asked. "You know Gibbs doesn't like us being late."
"Early morning," he yawned as he walked over to his desk and dropped into his chair.
"Where's McGeeky?"
"In MTAC." she replied. "Why?"
"Need him to do what he does best, some snooping." he replied.
"Snooping? For who, what, why?" she quipped. "Why so mysterious?"
"McGeeky!" Tony smirked as Tim McGee came down the steps. "I need you to do some snooping behind the scenes without getting caught."
"What are you talking about, where's Gibbs, he's never late." he asked settling down in his chair and looking over at an empty desk.
"Rule 44 and 41." Tony said. "Now are you going to help or do I have to do all the work?"
"Wait!" Ziva questioned. " What is this Rule 44 and 41?"
"Boss has gone off the radar." Tony said. "Rule 44-First things first-hide the women and children, Rule 41-If you get in a dangerous situation, go underground. Ziva remember I told you about Gibbs's rules, are you not keeping up?"
Ziva gave him a quizzical look and then said "Yes the 'RULES', no I did not get that book and what women and children?"
"No book, it is all from memory." Tony replied taping his head. "Now McGee, Boss wants anything you can find on an Annie Mayor, but be discrete."
"Annie Mayor," McGee typed into his computer. "Anything else you know about her?"
"Red hair, green eyes, five foot seven, hundred and five pounds or so, kind of skinny, a little younger than Boss I would say." Tony spouted.
Gibbs glanced at Annie as she tried her best to keep awake. Her head nodded down on her chest and she jerked back up. They had been driving for nearly three hours and the sun was starting to peek out over the horizon. He was nearing the exit that he would be taking and slowed down slightly glancing at all traffic.
"Do you need a bathroom break?" he asked her as he slowed the car down on the exit.
There was a gas station to the right and he pulled into it. He stopped at the pumps and went inside to prepay. Annie got out of the car and stretched looking for a sign for the bathroom. "Inside," Gibbs nodded as he started pumping gas. He noted her limp was worse and made a note to get her something for the pain when he got his change. She came back out and got back into the car.
"Would you like something to drink or eat?" he asked thru the driver's door.
"Maybe some ginger ale or orange juice." she replied.
"Anything to eat?" he asked.
"No, that will do." she said sinking deeper in the seat.
"Be right back" he said locking the door. Gibbs got her both drinks and some coffee for himself. He also picked up some crackers and nuts. "I got both and a couple of snacks." he said handing her a paper bag.
"Thanks." she mumbled trying to decide on a drink.
"Tony, you may want to see this." McGee said slowly as he scrolled thru some police reports.
"What's got you in a twitter?" Tony asked coming around his desk to look over McGee's shoulder.
"Where's Gibbs?" Director Vance asked as he walked to Tony's desk.
"He's-he's taking an unexpected vacation, sir." Tony stuttered.
"Vacation? Gibbs? I was not aware he requested any leave. He didn't let me know."
Vance said going back up the steps. "Any idea where?"
"Not a clue, sir." Tony answered going over to McGee's desk. "What did you find?" he said softly.
"This." he said showing him the screen.
"Print everything out you can find, Boss is not even going to like this." Tony said reading over his shoulder.
"How much farther is this place?" Annie questioned after another hour.
"Couple of more hours, try to sleep." he told her.
"Not going to happen." she yawned trying to resist the sleep that was overtaking her.
"You might feel better, here's some Aleve for the pain." he said handling her a bottle of pills.
"Thanks, the ice has helped some." she said taking the pills. She moved her foot slightly and felt the pain run up her leg. Wincing, she adjusted her foot to relieve the pain. Opening the bottle of pills, she shook two out and popped them in her mouth washing them down with a sip of ginger ale.
The last chance for gas was less than a mile ahead and Gibbs decided to fill the Jeep if they needed to get away fast. He pumped the gas and went in to pay. He asked if they had a phone he could use and was pointed to the back of the store. He dropped in some coins and dialed a number which transferred him to another number and another exchange.
"Code 5842." he said into the handset.
"DiNozzo." Tony answered the burner phone he had in his desk drawer.
"Find anything interesting?" he asked bluntly.
"Lots Boss and none of it good. How do I get the info to you?" he asked him.
"Send it to PO Box 78, Stillwater, PA 32560." Gibbs instructed and hung up.
"Got ya Boss, Boss." he repeated. "Hung up." he told McGee and Ziva as he took the battery out of the burner phone, removed the sim card, crushed it, and broke the cell phone into.
"Where is he?" Ziva asked watching Tony's actions with suspicion. "Why did you do that and where did that phone come from?"
"Rule 28, always have a burner phone charged and ready."
"Again with these rules, how do you learn them?"
"One at a time as you go alone." McGee said. "You don't get them until they are needed. I think there are around forty-five or so."
"No idea to answer your question. Only he wants what we found sent to a PO Box." he said taking the sheets of paper from McGee and inserting them into an envelope. "Hope he knows what he is doing."
Her eyes finally lost their battle with sleep as her head rested on the window. Gibbs watched her eyes twitch under the lids and she jerked slightly. Slowly the movements became more intense as she mumbled softly in her sleep. Suddenly she cried out and jerked upright. Gibbs slammed on the brakes and looked at her. "Are you OK?"
"Bad dream." she said trying to control the fright in her voice and slow her breathing.
He looked at her and said "It's not much farther."
The road turned into gravel and then only dirt as he steered the Jeep thru the woods. They had been off the main road for 30 minutes. He turned right and guided the Jeep down a weed filled driveway and finally around to a log cabin.
