Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS or its characters, my life would be much more easier if I did.
A/N: This idea got stuck in my head while Implicit rule was on hold forcing me to write it down. My beta liked it so I decided to publish it.
I'm gonna use the same OCs that in Implicit rule but you don't have to read it to understand this story [even if I advise you to ;-)].
It starts during "Ex-File" 5x03 so spoilers for that episode.
English isn't my first language but I have an amazing beta.
Chapter 1: Gut feeling
October 10, 2007 4:00 am
Georgetown, Washington D.C
Driiiiiing
Jenny Shepard frowned in her sleep; why was a telephone ringing on the beach she was resting on? You weren't supposed to find phones on a deserted island with only tropical birds as living company. She had made sure there weren't any phones before going there, so where did this damn ringing come from?
Driiiiing
Her eyes snapped open and it took her a few blinks to get rid of the images of white sand, turquoise blue water and palm trees and a few more moments to realize that the ringing phone was actually on her bedside table and not in her dream.
"Shepard," she said while picking up, trying to hide the annoyance she felt at being woken up at 4 a.m. from a very pleasant dream.
No one talked back and she was about to repeat her greeting when she heard some kind of heavy breathing. She focused on it; it wasn't like Jethro's breathing, no, more like someone growling lowly.
"Hello, who is this?" she asked when the person still didn't talk. The growl only intensified and after a minute she heard the dial tone.
She looked at the phone in askance and then placed it back on its cradle. Some kid's joke, she thought, shaking her head.
"Everything alright?" Someone said from her bedroom door, making her jump. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you," Nathan said.
"No, it's okay, I should be used to it by now," Jenny answered, brushing it off.
"Who was it?" he asked, nodding towards the phone.
Jenny shrugged. "No idea, probably a kid's idea of fun or something. The one time I was actually sleeping," she sighed and Nathan smirked.
"Well, you know, I could help you with that." The only answer he got was a glare and a pillow thrown his way as he hastily left the room.
Jenny groaned as she flopped back against her remaining pillows. She considered the idea of calling in, she could pretend she was sick or something until the MCRT solved their case. This way she could avoid Gibbs, Colonel Mann and ex-wife number 3.
Yeah, that was a good plan, except she had a ton of paperwork, a thousand phone calls to make and operations in MTAC to oversee. She sighed again; the prospect of going to work was not an enjoyable one.
October 10, 2007 1:00 pm
Navy Yard, Washington D.C
Again, she realized how good her plan to call in sick had been as she sat across from Stephanie Flynn, Gibbs's fourth wife, listening to her rant about Gibbs' conflict of interest in this case.
"There's a serious conflict here. Jethro shouldn't be leading this investigation," Stephanie said.
"He's not. Colonel Mann is," Jenny replied, almost smirking at the mild glare the other woman sent her way, and added, "You pick up that look from Gibbs?"
"I picked up a lot of bad habits from Gibbs," Stephanie answered, almost resigned.
"I understand your concern," Jenny stated, trying to placate her.
"Then take him off the case." Apparently, Stephanie had no intention of backing down anytime soon.
"I've known Agent Gibbs a long time. I trust and respect his judgment." Jenny was getting impatient, she rarely appreciated having to justify her decision as Director of a federal agency to a layman.
"My boyfriend didn't kill anyone," Stephanie insisted, almost desperate.
"Then I'm sure the investigation will bear that out." She kept her tone even, trying for the second time of the day to hide her annoyance at her interlocutor.
"Maybe not before damaging Eric's military career." For her part, Stephanie was making no effort to keep the annoyance away from her tone.
"If Major Sweigart wasn't involved, I'll personally see to it that he suffers no career repercussions," Jenny said, and it seemed to do the trick.
Stephanie thought about it and finally said."Thank you." Jenny smiled faintly, while internally sighing in relief. However, it seemed Stephanie wasn't finished.
"Can I ask you a personal question?" she asked and, having an idea where this was going, Jenny considered it for a second before giving her a fake smile that felt more like a grimace.
"I don't quite know how to put this, but I always had the feeling that, before our marriage, there was something between you and Jethro," Stephanie stated more than asked.
Jenny knew the woman wasn't stupid and, no matter what, she knew that the NCIS Director couldn't give another answer that this: "It has always been strictly professional between us."
Jenny could see that Stephanie didn't believe her but it didn't matter; she had appearances to maintain. She had negated her relationship with Gibbs for three years, she would be damned if she revealed it to the woman he had married just a few months after her own departure. Those wounds had taken time to heal and she had no intention to reopen them now.
As she got up and accompanied Miss Flynn to the bullpen, she felt the need to check her phone. Since she had left her place this morning she had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, as if she was dreading some horrible event. She had no idea what it was but it was there and strong.
In the meantime, Ziva David and Tony DiNozzo were about to inform their boss and temporary boss of their findings at the victim's house. They had found their victim's wife cleaning meticulously the crime scene and they had brought her to headquarters for interrogation.
"She's got something to hide. Why else would she clean so thoroughly?" Ziva said, as they were walking to their desks.
At this very moment, they noticed that the Director was descending the stairs with Gibbs' ex-wife and was looking over at Gibbs and Colonel Mann in the bullpen.
"Train wreck," Tony said just as Colonel Mann and Gibbs noticed him and Ziva and were heading towards them. "I want to look away but I can't," Tony said, joyfully, already knowing he would enjoy what was about to take place.
"Agent Gibbs? " the Director called, getting Gibbs' attention.
"Director," he replied back after having studied the two women.
"Colonel," Jenny said, turning towards Mann. "I was just reassuring Gibbs' -" she started but then thought better of it, "- your witness, that Agent Gibbs could separate himself from the personal aspects of this investigation," she explained.
"Well, I'll monitor him closely, Director," Mann assured the two women.
"I'm sure you will," Jenny said, after a slight pause, making Gibbs smirk and look away, which Stephanie noticed.
"Is that the look you' re talking about?" she asked, pointing at him, to which Gibbs replied with a glare.
"Yeah, that's it," Jenny confirmed, she hadn't missed it either
"Yup, we've all seen that one," Mann said, needing to add her two cents.
From where they were standing, it seemed to Tony and Ziva that Gibbs was surrounded by three exes or future exes with no way out and he appeared to be extremely uncomfortable with the situation.
"Well, Ms. Flynn was just leaving…" Jenny had barely started her next sentence when her phone rang. "Excuse me," she said, as she pulled it out of her pants' pocket. She looked at the caller ID and, even from their distance, they could see her go pale. She cleared her throat and answered, walking towards the window.
Gibbs was about to show Stephanie to the elevators when they heard Jenny raise her voice sharply.
"What?" The switch had been so unexpected it took a second for Ziva to realize Jenny had said it in Hebrew.
"How could that happen? You're not supposed to leave the house without telling me first so how did he get shot OUTSIDE? And what about … how is she?" Jenny was getting agitated but she had caught herself before saying any name.
The bullpen had become silent as everyone tried to understand what was going on with their boss.
Having recognized the language but not understanding it, Gibbs and Tony turned towards Ziva. She was about to answer their unasked question when Jenny's next words shocked her into silence again.
"Abba, where is she? You know I'm gonna tear it out of you at some point, so save us both some time and tell me." It wasn't the sentence in itself that shocked Ziva, she herself had said far worse things to get information from someone. No, it was the 'Abba' at the beginning of it. 'Abba' meant 'father' and it made no sense since they knew Jenny's father was dead. Of course, 'Abba' could also be the short for Abraham but it didn't help Ziva to understand what was going on.
"How is that possible? Where were you? What were you doing instead of watching her? No, come to think of it, save your excuses for later, I'm on my way. The hell I'm gonna wait until you know more. You are in no position to tell me what to do! I'm on my way." With that she put her phone back in her pocket and entered the elevator Gibbs had called for Stephanie without looking back or saying a word to anyone.
The fact that she had left without her IDs or her sidearm didn't escape anyone except her it seemed.
"What the hell just happened?" Tony asked, stunned, and even if Gibbs hadn't said the words, the same question was visible on his face.
A/N: So what did you think?