Prologue
Leroy Jethro Gibbs reached out and caressed her frame. It was a calming experience, a far cry from his job as lead NCIS investigator; solving crimes involving naval and marine personnel and their families. He practically lived in his basement. Every moment he got, he spent it with her. She hadn't a name yet, but apart from the wife and daughter he had once lost, he loved nothing more than being with her. Gibbs picked up a sanding block and eased it up and down her third rib, going with the grain. He had thought long and hard about choosing a name for his boat; things like 'Alimony' (after his three ex-wives). Another option had been 'Kate'. Kate Todd was the only agent he had ever lost on his team at NCIS. She had dived in front of him, taking a sniper's bullet. Her Kevlar jacket had protected her from any serious injury and he owed her his life. Unfortunately, the sniper, Ari Haswari, was not so grateful, and repaid her valour with a bullet through the skull.
Instead, he had settled upon 'Shelly' as a name. A contraction of the two names that had meant so much in his life, Shannon, his first wife, and Kelly, his eight year old daughter. He had lost them too to a sniper's vengeance. The marine who had been protecting both of them had been shot dead whilst driving, and the resulting car crash had killed Gibbs' family whilst he was a marine serving in Kuwait during 'Desert Storm'.
A shrill ringing tore Gibbs away from his painful reverie. He flicked open his cell and was greeted by a woman's voice.
"Did you purposefully want to make me look a fool in front of the SecNav, Jethro?" came the irate blast.
"Oh, hello Jen," Gibbs smiled. He knew he should be at the award presentation and that he was to receive a commendation, but he hated those black tie events.
"I have been waiting for you to pick me up for the last twenty minutes. I don't suppose you have even changed out of your sweats and runners yet, have you?" Again Gibbs smiled as he looked down at his attire. Jen knew him so well; it was as if they were in video conferencing. "You should see me… This dress cost me a fortune and I intend wearing it, and you are going to be the one whose arm I am on!"
It wasn't an order. Director Sheppard just had an uncanny way of getting Gibbs to conform, although it was not always quite the way she'd like.
"I'll take you to dinner at 'Ristorante Tosca', downtown," she pleaded.
Gibbs caved. "I'll pick you up in fifteen minutes."
Director Jennifer Sheppard had once been his partner and now she was his superior, a situation that could and does lead to some intriguing differences of opinion, which are usually concluded by Gibbs getting or doing what he wanted without the director losing face.
Gibbs quickly showered and put on his white shirt and black tuxedo. He looked smart. Even he had to admit it. He just wished that he didn't have to wear this stupid tie. It took him five minutes alone to tie it so it didn't look like a complete novice had tied it! At last, he was ready. He picked up his keys and his cell and moved toward his front door. He was, however, somewhat startled to be confronted by a pale and sweaty man clasping his stomach.
"Agent Gibbs…help me!" the man stammered.
The mystery man collapsed forward onto his knees. As Gibbs reached out to save his fall, the man subversively slipped something into Gibbs' breast pocket.
Blood coated the victim's hands and Gibbs could feel the warm sticky liquid ooze through his fingers as he held the dying man in his arms. A shot rang out in the quiet street like a clap of thunder from a fierce storm. Gibbs ducked back inside his front door, his sidearm raised ready for a fire fight. The next few seconds ticked by without incident. Cautiously, Gibbs returned to the man on his door step. He reached out and placed two fingers against the side of the man's neck; there was no pulse. The man was dead…
