This is my first fanfic so, to make it easier for me I left Ziva and McGee out. I am use to writing about my own - personally created characters and wanted to not kill myself trying to get everyone right. So, I added Julie to make my life a little easier. I hope everyone enjoys and please review. I welcome all suggestions!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything from NCIS (wish I did once in awhile). They all belong to CBS (sniff sniff). If I owned them, I would be rich and married.
Warning: Contains violence and bad words and hard topics like rape and domestic violence.
Julie starred into the mirror. Her brown hair was matted with blood. Her lip was split and she knew that the bruises under her clothes would cause more pain in the morning. She wanted to call off, but that wasn't an option for her. She loved her work, and it provided a much-needed break from being at home. Home. What a word. Could she even call this place home? Her fiancé wasn't the loving kind. In fact, he was down right abusive but she was trapped. Her love had made her blind, and getting out of this situation was proving harder than getting into it.
It wasn't like she didn't know how she'd got here. She could see the moments of her stupidity very clearly, looking back. What was that- she thought. Hindsight is twenty- twenty. She pulled a washcloth from the closet and wetted it with warm water. She wiped her face off and winced with the pain. She wanted to get out. She needed to get out, but the how was as elusive to her as good relationships.
He should have been different. He started out different than others she had dated. He was romantic, kind, and soft-spoken. They dated for a year and then moved in together. Marriage was a frightening concept to her. She had seen her parents' relationship turn deadly and end tragically. She had vowed to never repeat that part of her life. Now, she was doing just that. He had suggested combining accounts to pay the bills. She agreed. He had suggested combining this and that and all along, she was stupid enough agree. He slowly had taken control of her money and then her friends.
Then almost two years into the relationship, he cracked. She had left that night, but had nowhere to go and spent the night at a shelter. He had shoved her into a wall and slammed his fist right next to her head, leaving a hole. He was sorry in the morning. He admitted his temper had gotten the best of him, and he would never do it again. She fell for it. Now, he had control of everything and she was scarred. How does a federal agent be scarred inside their own home? Scarred of their own partner? She had to be pretty dumb to be here.
Gingerly, she stepped into the shower and turned on the warm water. She let it wash over her, knowing that to do it now was better than in the morning. Finishing her shower, she dried off, and then she slipped into oversized pjs to go to bed. Ryan was still out, having let after their fight. He would come home drunk, she knew, and insist that they make up.
NCIS HQ next day
Julie came in early and sat down before anyone could see her. She knew that Gibbs could see through his agents like they were a clear day. If she could make it past him, oh hell, who was she fooling. Tony wouldn't leave her alone. All the makeup in the world could not hide the bruises around her neck and the split lip. It was only 6 am. She could slip out before anyone knew she had come in. Gibbs would never know, and she could call off. Ziva and McGee were not an issue as they had been on assignment for the last several months. They were not due back for a few more months. Maybe she could get her transfer in before then. She knew that if they all put the pieces together she would have to face up to something. Maybe just today, just until the lip healed. She had worn a turtleneck sweater, to hid the bruises on her neck, under her office suit. She just needed to hide her lip.
Julie made a mad dash to turn everything off and grab her bag. If she took the stairs, she would avoid everyone. She grabbed her bag from under her desk, shut the light off, and stood up.
"Going somewhere Julie," Gibbs asked coming around the corner.
She sighed and winced to herself. Damn it, why does he come in so early? She had to think of a reason to turn everything off like she was leaving. "I forgot my glasses at home. I had come in early to finish some paperwork boss. I thought I could get through without them, but I am starting to get a headache."
Gibbs took a sip of his coffee and starred at her hard. "What happened to your lip?"
"Gym accident. I was sparring with someone and I missed blocking a well aimed punch."
Gibbs raised and eye. "Who?"
Julie's heart stopped and her stomach turned inside out. Who? Why was who important? Could he NOT just let it go? Who to blame? Anyone at work, and he would certainly have something to say to that person. She couldn't do that to anyone.
"At my gym. Just some guy."
Gibbs nodded. "Perhaps we can brush up on your skills," he said while turning his own computer on. "It is not like you to miss a block. Unless your partner was being a little rougher than you thought he was going to be."
Julie nodded her agreement. She had actually fought back a few times, but in the end it hadn't done her any good. Ryan had just beaten her more in the back and stomach, and other places where he could ensure that the bruises would be hidden. She pulled her bag off the floor and put it on the desk. Grabbing her coat, she eyed her boss.
"I will be back soon. I just-"
"Yeah, go. Be back ASAP!"
Julie jumped at his tone. It wasn't like she wasn't use to it. He used that tone on both of them everyday, but today she just couldn't take much more. Trying to put her coat on without looking like she was in pain, her glass case fell out of her pocket. It made the loudest sound Julie had ever heard. She knew what it was before she looked. How could she not?
Gibbs looked at it and back at Julie. He waited. Something was wrong, but he could not put his finger on it yet. However, before he could give it much thought his phone rang.
"Gibbs," he snapped his usually greeting into his desk phone.
Julie breathed a sigh of relief and bent down to pick up her glass case. Then she put her bag and coat back, knowing her excuse to leave and just got dumped back into her lap. She turned on her light and computer, then sat down.
"Come on Agent Greene. We have a body."
"Already," Julie said standing back up. "Day is not starting well."
"Nope. Dead marine in an alley. We can call Ducky and DiNozzo from the car."
Julie grabbed her coat and bag. While heading for the elevator she dialed Tony's number. She knew that Gibbs would call Ducky. The normal forty-minute drive was done in twenty. Record time, but then again Gibbs was driving. He always could get through morning rush hour without much difficulty.
"Want me to sketch," she offered. It would be easier than photographing.
"You doing assignments now Agent Greene?"
"No boss, just offering."
Gibbs smiled, slightly. He harassed her, but truthfully, he found her company pleasant. It had taken him a year to get her to stop apologizing when she believed she had wronged someone on the team. And her idea of wronged and theirs was two different ideas. She would start with I am sorry for bothering you or I am sorry for taking too long in the bathroom. He kept telling her to stop apologizing that it was a sign of weakness. That it was one of his rules to NOT apologize. Now she left out the "I'm sorry" and put the rest in. It was a compromise.
She always offered to do things for people. Drop a pin on the floor; she would pick it up for you. Forget your coffee, she go to the bathroom and come back with a cup. God knew she refused to eat around anyone and not offer some food. He'd had to smack DiNozzo a hundred times to get him to leave her lunch alone. She comes in with sandwich, peanuts, and fruit. By lunch, Tony could get half of everything she had. There was more than one day where he bought her lunch to make up for hers was being eaten by her teammates. She didn't care. She was too kind. He knew that Ziva now carried extra food to replace what Tony would swindle her out of.
There were days he didn't understand how she went into law enforcement. But, she did her job, and she did it well. Things were never late. She had your six. She could look at things and just tell where something was going. If you'd watch her, she looked dazed for a minute and those who knew her knew that she was puzzling something out in her mind. Truly, she was an asset to her team.
"Sketch Julie. I will start talking with he LEOs and hopefully DiNozzo will show."
Julie sketched, and then started to dust. Tony arrived to the crime scene almost an hour after they did.
"What took you," Gibbs snapped.
"Well you know boss," Tony started, flashing his ever cute grin. "I was being fashionably late."
"How about fashionably fired? Start the photographs. Julie has the dusting and sketching done."
"Yes boss."
Tony jumped to start working. Getting on Gibbs' bad side on a Monday morning would make for a bad workweek. Tony walked around photographing everything. When Julie had finished, she looked up and smiled at Tony.
"My God Julie! What door did you run into?"
Julie turned four shades of red. The result only made her lip stand out more. Gibbs turned around along with Ducky. Ducky whistled when he saw Julie. She had been nowhere near him when he arrived, but now...
"I had an accident while sparring. Some guy at my gym punched a little harder than I expected. I didn't get out of the way fast enough," she finished the story and looked down at the things in her hands hoping the attention would leave her alone. She had almost finished loading some of the supplies when she found Ducky standing next to her.
"Julia," the Scottish ME said softly. "You should let me take a look at that lip. He could have hit you harder than you realize."
Julie nodded. This kind of attention she could do without. "Maybe... Maybe Ducky. When we get back and things are sorted. I can come down when I have a moment."
Ducky nodded. "Don't wait too long. Jethro said this happened last night."
Julie nodded. "I will be as quick as I can."
She watched Ducky nod and then walk back over to where Gerald was loading the dead marine's body into their van. She and Tony started to gather and bag evidence once the photos were done. It wasn't long before they were packed up and ready to leave. Gibbs tossed the van keys to Tony.
"Take it back and start processing the evidence. I will be there soon. Julie your with me."
Julie's head came up in an instant. She grabbed her bag and head towards the sedan that Tony had brought from HQ. Slipping into the passenger seat, Julie winced, but was able to not let anything audible come out. She heard the driver's door open and her boss sit down behind the wheel. She looked out her own window. Her stomach was knotting, again. She worried that the wrong question, or the wrong answer would give her and her home life away. She worried that they would think it was truly her fault. That she was supposed to know what to do in domestic abuse situations and just do it. She worried they would see her as weak.
"Where we going boss," she asked quietly.
"I got an address for next of kin."
Julie nodded. They drove in silence for the next thirty minutes. Julie kept her eyes pointed outside the car. When the car came to a stop outside a small base house, she knew that this must be where the marine lived. They walked up to the small cookie cut house that doubled as base housing and knocked. A tiny woman, just about Julie's size answered.
"Mrs. Taylor," Gibbs started. "I am Special Agent Gibbs and this is Special Agent Julie Greene. Can we please talk with you about your husband?"
Julie saw the color drain from the woman's face. She was younger than Julie and wore make up. She had beautiful thick, long blonde hair and blue eyes. However, she knew what was coming. Her legs gave out and Gibbs swooped forward grabbing her to ensure she didn't collapse in front on them in the doorway. Gibbs helped her inside the house while Julie searched for the bathroom and grabbed a cloth and then the kitchen. She found the teakettle quickly and put some on. In the other room she could hear the sobs from the woman. Gibbs hadn't spoken anything yet, that she could hear. Returning to the woman she handed her the cloth and guided her hand to her face so that that she could wipe her face. The woman, continued to cry. Several minutes passed with the woman sitting on the couch clutching to Julie. Gibbs had heard the teakettle howl and went off to make the tea.
"What happened," the woman finally whispered.
"We don't know much yet ma'am," Julie said quietly. She wasn't sure how much Gibbs wanted to tell her. "He was found this morning about even miles away from here. He was still dressed in his uniform and-"
"Did he have an accident?"
"No, Mrs. Taylor." Gibbs had come back into the room with the tea and handed it too her, ensuring that she had a good grasp before letting go. "We think that someone attacked him. He was stabbed."
Mrs. Taylor went silent, the look of utter shock on her face. "Why would anyone hurt Nate? He wouldn't hurt anyone."
"We don't know that yet, Mrs. Taylor. But, I promise you that we will find out."
Gibbs and Julie finished with some more questions and then called a friend to sit with Mrs. Taylor. As they walked back to the car Julie could sense the turn in Gibbs mood. He had gotten quieter, more direct. There was no humor to his voice at all. The drive back to HQ went quickly. Once there, Gibbs began to bark at DiNozzo and Julie both. He wanted to know who, what, when... everything. Just tell him everything and maybe he will be happier. Happier when he finds out who did this to Nathan Taylor. Cases with marines always chipped at his mood.
Julie had turned off her light. She had managed to stay longer than Tony and Gibbs and told her a while ago to head off to home. She waited until he was away from his desk to make the grab for her belongings. She wondered what mood Ryan would be in. She was tired and she hurt. The Tylenol could only be taken so often, and it was wearing off. Stiff movements would have been caught by Gibbs in an instance. She shrugged her coat on and moved to the elevators. As the door opened she found Ducky standing there.
"Good evening Julia. I thought we had an agreement."
Julie smiled. "I'm sorry Ducky. I lost track of time working the case."
"Well, my dear. We can do it now. Just a quick look at that lip and bruise."
"Really Ducky, I think that I am ok."
"Nonsense Julia. If you are "ok" then it should only take me a moment."
Julie nodded and was led off back to her desk. She was silently praying that Gibbs stayed away. Ducky prodded around the jaw and her bruise making her gasp once.
"Anything Ducky," she asked after a couple minutes had passed.
Ducky shook his head. "No my dear. It appears you got off with just the cut and bruise. You should really be more careful whom you spar with. Our own men try to not leave such marks on each other let alone the girls."
"I know Ducky. He was around and I thought it wouldn't hurt."
"Well, my dear. You will heal. Don't dwell on what happened. It is now water under the bridge."
"Thank you Ducky," Julie said as she slipped on the edge of the desk she had taken a seat on. She tried to hide the wince as Ducky helped her back into her coat, but Ducky had seen it. He had simply made her think he hadn't. She walked back to the elevator and disappeared.
The smile on Ducky's face faded as the elevator began its descent with Julie. He looked around to find Jethro, but didn't spot him right away.
"What's on your mind Ducky," Gibbs asked walking towards him.
Ducky pushed his glasses back to the correct spot on his nose. "I dare say the same thing that is on yours Jethro."
"Julie's lip." It wasn't a question. It was a statement. A fact. It was a concern that the older men shared between just between the two of them.
"She was a little more than stiff today, Jethro. That lip is not the first bruise that our Julia has explained away at the gym."
"There's been more?" Ducky set his lips. He was considering something ethical, and Gibbs could tell. "What," Gibbs demanded.
"A few months ago there was another bruise. It was up by her hair on her cheekbone. Do you remember?" Gibbs thought back but couldn't pinpoint the example. "Our Julia wore her hair down for a couple weeks. Everyone commented on how pretty her hair was. It was rare for her not to have it pinned up out of the way. I asked for her help in autopsy. She gave it to me willingly enough, but never pulled the sleeves up on her shirt, even when Gerald prompted her too. The math problem is not adding up Jethro."
Gibbs nodded. He remembered now. Julie had hair that was layered but was full and thick. It came to her bra strap, a fact Tony had pointed out. She had worn it down and Gibbs had even commented on it at a couple of scenes, but she would stuff it into a NCIS cap and keep her distance.
"What was her excuse for that?"
"I am afraid that it, also, was a gym accident."
"You don't believe her?" Gibbs asked the question more as a fact.
"I am concern for her Jethro. If she needs someone, you and I both know that cornering her is not the way to do it. She needs support. But, jumping to conclusions could only push her away. Perhaps if Ziva was here to help."
Gibbs nodded. "I will keep an eye on her."
"That would be best Jethro. Go easy on her until we know something. If there is something going on at home this is her safe haven right now."
Gibbs nodded and said goodnight as Ducky walked towards the elevators. Gibbs starred after him and though over what he had had to say. He admitted to himself that Julie had not been herself today. The other bruise that Ducky mentioned could be just that. Another accident. Julie had them, as many as Tony did. However, Tony's accidents and injuries were always more serious in injury. Julie always seemed to get off lightly- just bruises or sprains. Never broken bones, torn ligaments, things like that. But, he knew something was bothering Ducky. And truth be told, his gut was uneasy.
Julie's Apartment three days later.
Julie put the two bags of groceries on the counter. She was tired. Ryan would be home in a couple of hours and she really wanted to get dinner on for the two of them. He hated it when he had to wait long for dinner, so this time she wanted to be ready. A knock sounded at her door and she jumped wondering who it would be. Looking out the eyehole she found her boss waiting. She opened the door and smiled.
"Boss, what are you doing here," she asked softly.
He held out her glass case. "You left this at work, and seeing how it has your regular glasses, I assumed that you put your sun glasses on before you left. Thought you might need them."
Julie smiled, "I would have needed them. Thank you. You want some coffee," she asked hoping he would decline. Gibbs nodded and stepped inside the apartment.
"This is a nice place," he said shedding his coat.
Julie nodded. "We signed the lease last spring. Been a year, and I still like it. Ryan seems to also. The neighbors are not bothersome."
The apartment plus a loft- he knew it probably took both their salaries to pay for it. Places like this and in such a nice area did not come cheap around D.C. He looked around the living room while Julie put on the coffee. The walls were chocolate brown and one was beige. It came the room and more spacious feel. The furniture was nice and the place was cozy, but something was missing. There was hardly any mess. It was clean. Too clean.
Gibbs spotted the bags and picked them up and carried them around to the other side.
Julie smiled as he deposited them next to the stove. "Thank you."
"So how are you and Ryan doing?"
Julie stilled her movements for the slightest moment, but Gibbs noticed. "We are doing ok I guess. He works a lot but so do I."
"What does he do?"
"He works as a attorney. We met at the coffee shop near the courthouse. Remember? We had that case where that woman killed her brother for the insurance. He was a sailor."
Gibbs nodded. "Yeah, I remember." I remember you use to wear more short-sleeved shirts and tops last spring he thought to himself. He could remember her wardrobe. Many v-shaped blouses. As a matter of fact, she wore blouses almost everyday. Said that she preferred them over wearing sweaters. He could remember the last time she wore a blouse or skirt. "Can I use your bathroom?"
The question was innocent enough. "Sure. Second door on the right. Just down the hall."
"Thanks." He walked off around the corner and down the hall a directed. He eyed everything. In the dark hall he slipped the light and looked in the two bedrooms and one office on his way. Once in the bathroom he shut the door. The hamper was sitting between the toilet and sink. He opened the lid and pulled out the towels- some purple and some teal colored. Two of them, at the bottom had blood all over them. He put the washcloths and replaced the other clothes before using the toilet and washing his hands.
"Here's your coffee," Julie said as he reappeared. "Black."
Gibbs smiled. He took the mug and sipped at the coffee. "This is good."
She smiled again. "Thanks. I like to buy the better coffee even though it costs more. I just don't drink it as fast. Makes it last a little longer. I pick it up every payday at the coffee shop on my way in."
"You make a pot in the mornings. I recognize it."
Julie nodded. "So, I don't suppose you'll take any gas money for bringing my glasses all the way out here."
"You just supposed correctly, Agent Greene. The coffee and bathroom are payment enough."
"Yeah, but you went out of your way."
"It's not out of my way if I am helping a friend."
Julie blushed. The lip was healing nicely. She danced, no swayed, from foot to foot. She wasn't in the habit of being a nervous person. Nor was she a person who needed constant motion. Not like Tony who was always moving. She was always calm. This was out of character for her. She was nervous. But what was causing that nervousness, Gibbs was unsure of. Perhaps it was him, but it could very well be the idea that she needed to get something done. Or she could be afraid of someone. Someone who was suppose to be home sooner rather than later.
"Well, I will see you Monday then. I am going to head home."
Julie nodded. She put her own cup down and walked her boss to the door. Grabbing his coat off the telephone chair, she offered it too him. They said their goodbyes and then she shut the door and breathed a big sigh of relief. If Ryan had come home while he was here there would have been a disaster. Quickly, she ran to the kitchen and washed and dried the cup. She threw the fish in the oven and the potatoes on to boil so that she could make homemade mashed potatoes. She put the food away, set the table, and turned on some music.
While waiting for the food to cook she went to her bedroom to change out of her clothes. The bruises she looked at in the mirror. The ones on her arms and wrists were changing color. There were others on her shoulders and back that was black, yellow, purple, blues and greens. It truly reminded her of a rainbow. The ones on her hips and thighs were more bothersome as they hurt when she sat and walked while at work and she had to hide the pain.
She pulled out some cargo pants and a lose sweatshirt and slipped it over her head. She quickly pulled her hair back into a ponytail and secured it with a holder. Then she slipped on some sock and her black flats. Then she headed back out to the kitchen. She heard the key in the door and then it swung open.
"Julie," Ryan called out.
Julie took a calming breath. "In the kitchen honey. I am fixing dinner."
Ryan hung his coat on the chair at the island and put his bag on the floor. "How was your day?"
Julie shrugged. "It went ok. A lot of paperwork today. So, I stayed at the office mostly." It was a lie, but he hated it when she was in the field with Tony. "How was yours? Didn't you have court today?"
Ryan nodded. "Yeah. I think it went well. We have to be in court again on Monday. What's for dinner?"
"Salmon, potatoes, and peas."
"Sounds good. I'm gonna change."
Julie wasn't sure when the night had gone from good to bad. One moment they were having dinner and the next... Julie curled into a ball as Ryan came back around the couch and grabbed her hair. He pulled her up to her feet and slammed her back into the wall.
"I work too damn hard for you to speak to me like that! What do you think- that I should just work all day and then come home to clean and cook? Are you telling me that you can't do something as simple as load a dishwasher!" He punctuated the statement by slamming Julie back into the wall several times.
Crying, Julie tried to calm him down. "I didn't mean you had to do it honey. I thought you wouldn't mind-"
The next hit fell hard across her face. Blood trailed from the cut on her cheek. Julie pulled free of his grip and tried to put space between them. It didn't work. He grabbed her and threw her onto the ground with a solid kick the ribs.
"You move when I saw so bitch! It's time you learn that this shit isn't going to be tolerated once we are married. Think I am going to work while you sit on your ass? No, that is not happening. You need to learn your duties. Who would want a woman you couldn't do things as simple as load a dishwasher? Tell me that?"
"I will get better Ryan. I promise," she whispered.
"You bet you will," Ryan's voice had come down a couple octaves. Julie knew he was calming down. Then she felt him running his hands up her shirt. She didn't want to have sex with him.
"Ryan stop," she cried.
"Why? Am I not your partner? Or are you having sex with other men?"
"You know that is not true. I am just not in the mood."
Julie tried to get up but Ryan out weighed her 115-pound frame by 100 pounds. "
He grabbed her shirt and pulled it roughly over her head. "You'll get in the mood baby." He kissed her roughly on the mouth and undid her bra and pants. Then he undressed himself as he kept her pushed on the floor.
Monday NCIS HQ
Julie came in just before seven. She wore her hair down today. She didn't know what else to do to cover her bruised cheek. She had picked a long grey turtle neck sweater to wear with her black pants and jacket. Most of the bruises she could hide under her clothes. She was exhausted in ways she had never been. Getting dressed was horrid, and a lesson in pain. It had taken her nearly a hour get her clothes on. The beating on Friday had been followed with another one on Sunday after he got home from watching the baseball game. Apparently, he had expected the house to be cleaner than what it was for his friends.
For the first time in her life, she wore her sunglasses into the building. Tony wasn't there yet. However, Gibbs computer was on which let her know that he was. She pulled off her plum purple coat and hung it on its hook. Then sat down at her desk and turned on her computer and lamp. Gibbs walked in and looked at her. He had his coffee in one and then set a cup from Starbucks down in front of her.
Julie jumped and then she smiled slightly. "For me?"
"Well I don't drink cinnamon lattes or whatever that is that the girls knew you drank."
"Thanks boss," she whispered.
Gibbs nodded, and took in her appearance. She was clothed head to toe, and the weather was suppose to be nice today. Most people were opting to wear lighter weight clothing to work now. "Have a hangover Agent Greene?"
"No boss. Why?"
"The sun is on the outside of the building not in here."
"Oh, they are scripted and I forgot I had them on." Julie pulled them off and put her other pair on. She placed the sunglasses in the case and laid them next to her gun in her drawer.
Gibbs watched her from his desk. She had taken up Ziva's old desk when she joined the team and a new desk had been put in on the other side of McGee. Ziva had wanted that one so Julie had gotten the old one. It gave him a decent view of her as she worked. Her moments were stiff and slow. Her dark hair was down and the one side was pulled back behind her hair but the other was covering her face. She seemed paler than usual.
Tony came in closer to eight with his carefree mood. "So, did anyone have crazy sex over the weekend?"
Julie kept her had down. "DiNozzo, that's enough." Gibbs words left Tony with no doubt that he wasn't being serious.
"Got ya boss." He sat and put his things away. He could feel some tension. There were no cases being called in and they had just about solved the murder of Corporal Taylor. They were waiting for DNA to come back. After finishing his first cup of office coffee, Gibbs stood up an announced he was going for another.
"Julie," Tony said while crossing over to her desk. "Why is he- Julie what happened to your cheek?"
Tony could see a cut and reached out to brush back the dark hair that was covering it. Julie jumped away from Tony spilling her coffee on the desk and papers and Tony. Then without word she took off for the bathroom. Tony was finishing the cleaning process when Gibbs got back.
"What did you do DiNozzo?" He asked the question as smacked the back of his second's head.
"Why do you think that I did something? Actually, I think- I think"
"Spit it out." Gibbs said in his gruff voice.
"I don't know what to think boss."
"Somehow I don't believe that. You have something going on in your head. What is it?"
"Julie. I went to touch her and she jumped a mile. She had some kind of bruise on her face or a cut."
Gibbs frowned. "Which was it a cut or bruise?"
"I don't know. I didn't get a good look before she freaked out on me. She over turned the coffee cup and then headed towards the bathroom."
"Okay," was all Gibbs said as he started to leave.
"Boss-"
"Yeah, I know."
"Boss, I think-"
"I know DiNozzo. You don't have to say it."
Tony fell silent as Gibbs walked towards the women's restroom. He cursed himself silently. Years in law enforcement and he had missed the signs. How could he, of all people, miss those. Hadn't he endured such treatment growing up. He knew what it looked like. He knew what hiding it looked liked. The gym accidents, the clothing changes. It all rushed through his head and he was able in a single moment to put all the pieces together.
Gibbs had to search all of them before he found Julie. She had gone down to the restroom by autopsy. Probably because women seldom used that restroom. He found her crying, curled into a ball on her side. He walked across the mirrored side of the room softly and sat down next to her. He watched her sob and shake, not knowing if she even realized that he was there. He touched her shoulder and she screamed while pulling herself away. She hadn't realized anyone had come into the bathroom with her.
"Boss-"
"Why don't you and I go somewhere and talk," he said softly. He kept his voice calm and it held concern.
"I'll be okay," she said through the tears and shudders. "I will be back in a minute."
Gibbs shook his head. "No I don't think your "okay" Julie. I think you are far from it."
Julie froze at the statement. Her stomach turned into knots. For the first time in awhile, she looked at Gibbs in the eye. She knew that he knew what was going on at home, and then she looked away, ashamed at what that truth meant. She pulled her knees up to her chest, letting a small gasp escape her lips. Her hair still fell down over her face to
hide her cut and bruise.
Gibbs waited in silence. He knew that his normally gruff and tough ways was not what was needed here. He used the tone now that he kept reserved for old women and children. Julie needed understanding, not judgment. Moving slowly, he stretched an arm around her shoulders. They last thing he wanted to do was frighten her with sudden movements. She jumped slightly, but allowed his arm to fall around her thin shoulders. He could feel her tense, but didn't want to remove his arm. He wasn't threatening to her, and he hoped that she would allow the tactile comfort that he was offering. There was more here then he could put his finger on yet.
"When did this start," he whispered.
There was a long silence. "Right after we moved into the new apartment," she said after some hesitation. "He snapped one day and shoved me while we were unpacking. I let but there was nowhere to go and he apologized. I thought once and no more. I don't know." She gave a small shrug of her shoulders and a soft menacing laugh. "I watched this growing up and I never wanted it. Now look how stupid-"
"You are NOT stupid Julie," Gibbs said softly, but firmly. "I have no one on my team that is stupid. You need," he wondered which word would fit best. "You need support Julie, and you have it." He felt her shiver on the cold tiled floor. Releasing her just long enough to get his sport coat off, he draped it over her legs.
"I don't know what to do," she whispered.
Gibbs nodded. He was confused also. No he was pissed. "Come on," he said standing up and stretching both hands down to her to help her up.
"Where?"
"Someplace safe, besides here."
"Boss, I don't have anywhere to go. I don't want to go back to my place right now. My mother and father are both dead. I have nowhere to go. Not that I could go to either of them to begin with."
She allowed her boss to pull her up. She held onto his jacket, and stood looking down. Gibbs touched a single finger under her chin, gently. "I am going to say this once, and I want you to file it away and remember it Julie." He kept his finger in place. He wanted to her to look at him and not be ashamed. "You have at least five places to go that you are safe. Always. We are you family, as much as you are our family. Would you not take in McGee or Abby or anyone of us, if that is what they needed?" She nodded. "You never have to hide from us." She nodded again.
"What am I going to do?"
"Trust me." Gibbs led her out of the bathroom and out of the building to his car. He put her in the passenger seat, and closed the door. He pulled out his cell phone and called Tony to let him know they were stepping out and he'd explain later. He would eventually have to explain it too Jenny, but she'd understand.
He drove to his house, taking the turns and speed gently. He was certain that the cut cheek was not the only bruise. Julie had fallen asleep along the way, and he took that moment of her unknowing, to call Ducky.
"Ducky."
"Yes Jethro?"
"Can you stop by my house this afternoon. I need you to look Julie over."
"Oh dear," the elderly ME said quietly. "Somehow I don't think I am going to like this."
"Probably not Ducky. I think she cracked today. I know she has to be hurting, but I am not sure she can do a hospital right now. She's too much like Tony."
"Who happens to be a lot like you Jethro. I'll swing by. I have some reports, but they can be finished up tomorrow."
"Thanks Ducky." Gibbs closed the phone and pulled into his driveway.
He unbuckled his belt and walked around to the passenger side of the car. Lifting he handle he opened the door. Julie startled awake.
"Sorry," she whispered.
He smiled, "never apologize Julie."
She sighed. "I don't feel very strong, boss."
"You are stronger than you give yourself credit for right now. Come on." Again, he offered her his hand, but she hesitated to take. Finally, she reached up and let him helped her out of the car. Inside he put her on the couch and went into the kitchen to make so coffee.
She hadn't expected the smaller well-kept house to belong to her boss. She had always pictured him a bachelor. However, there was no large screen television or any toys that most men had like computers, DVDs, game consoles. His living room was clean, but smelled comforting. It smelled like him, sawdust, coffee, and old spice. She could hear him in the kitchen and could smell the coffee starting to brew.
She pulled her feet up and under her and leaned her head onto the arm of the couch. Letting her eyes close for only a moment. She was tired. God was she tired. She hadn't slept well in awhile, her body ached. It wasn't long before she drifted off to sleep.
Gibbs came around the corner from the kitchen and saw Julie asleep. He took the afghan off the back of the couch and used it to cover her. She needed some rest. He couldn't see the circles that covered her eyes, but he knew that they were there. She had done a good job with her make up. He walked back towards the kitchen again and pulled his cell phone out, he dialed Tony's number and waited for him to answer.
"Yeah Boss?"
"I want you to find out everything you can about Ryan. This stops now."
"How is she doing?"
"I don't know Tony. She has only the bruise on her cheek, but I am sure there are more. She is also far more jumpy than she has ever been with me. Having me close to her causes her to tense up. The girl that usually hugs everyone doesn't want touched. It's odd. She said this has been going on for about a year. I have never seen her act like this."
"I'll get on it boss," Tony said. Gibbs could hear the coldness in his voice.
"Tony?"
"Yeah boss?"
"For now, leave everyone else out of this. I'll explain to Jenny later. I am sure something else is going on and I don't want others coming around upsetting her. She needs some security."
"Got it boss."
Gibbs hung up the phone. Then he walked over to the kitchen chair, sat down, and waited. It was just after four when he heard his door open. He knew it would be Ducky, so he wasn't at all surprised when the elderly ME walked into his kitchen. Ducky was holding his black medical bag that he carried for the living. He had a small group of patients and NCIS headquarters that preferred him as their physician. So, he was able to keep his skills up.
"Tea Ducky?"
"A spot if you don't mind. How has our dear Julia been?"
"Sleeping. She fell asleep just after we got here. Been like that since."
"She tell you anything?"
"Just when it started. You know, a push while they were moving into their apartment last spring. Not much else. She isn't herself Ducky."
"I would imagine not Jethro. She is scared and hurt. Her world is falling apart around her, and for someone who likes to have control, she has none. Remember she is the agent who came to us with more experience in leading than others we had known. She respected you authority, but could tell Timothy what to do, even though he'd been here longer. Even Ziva follows her train of thoughts and usually found it safe to follow along.
You are the only person she has never really challenged. Her and Anthony have even had words about how to do something. She is very much use to control. She rolls well, but always her mind is working on the next step. Her suggestions are even used with her, and most of the time you go along with them giving her the idea she has control. Oh, I think she knows but it is an unspoken trust of knowledge."
Gibbs nodded. "I know. That is why I hired her. She made a wonderful ATF agent. And she makes a wonderful NCIS agent."
"She is lost Jethro. Her life has probably been very different from what she was use too."
Ducky finished his tea and sighed. "You going to go in there?" Gibbs asked hearing the front door open again. Both men turned and watch Tony shut the door quietly and head towards the kitchen.
"Sleeping, huh?"
"For awhile my dear boy. I imagine she is tired. Jethro says this started about a year ago. Who knows how serious her injuries have been over time. She is in need of support and safety right now." The elderly ME stood up and picked up his bag. "Why don't the two of you stay in here while I go in there. Too many of us, may make her uncomfortable."
Both the agents nodded and watched the ME disappear around the corner. Tony only looked at Gibbs. Neither one needed to say anything. Tony followed Gibbs down the basement. They needed to talk, but didn't want to risk being overheard by Julie. They knew what the other was thinking. Each one was blaming himself for not seeing the signs. Each knowing that she had endured something that they would have stopped along time ago, if they had known. But they hadn't. Their sweet, intelligent, soft spoken, never demanding Julie had kept a harsh secret to herself.
It was Julie screaming that brought them booth running up the stairs and through the kitchen doorway, into the living room. Gibbs took in the situation with one look. Ducky had taken several steps back from Julie's position. Julie, however, had climbed over the side of the couch and was curled into a ball on the floor in the corner.
"Jethro- I woke her-"
Gibbs nodded. Gibbs walked over slowly and knelt down in front of her. "Julie," he said softly.
She didn't respond to him, just kept her head buried in her knees. She was tense, almost like she would be if she felt trapped. Her knuckles were white from squeezing her knees so hard. Gibbs stomach turned. The investigator in him was putting these pieces together and not liking the picture that it painted.
"Julie," he said again softly, gently. More gentle than even Tony believed he had ever heard. Ducky slowly retreated farther away, along with Tony. The ME remembered enough psychology to know that something more than simple abuse was going on. Tony, however, had seen this reaction before. This wasn't the first woman he'd seen retreat from the touch of a man. Even men that they trusted found it hard to touch a woman after she had been raped. His blood was boiling in his veins and they both made their way back into the kitchen. Ducky was shocked, with look of disbelief on his face. Tony's face, however, had iced over. His green eyes looked almost black and very dangerous.
Gibbs pulled the afghan off the couch and wrapped it around her. "Julie," he said quietly. He reached out a finger to put under her chin, and she jerked away. "Hey, I am not going to hurt you."
She was crying hard, and tears were pouring down her face, which had turned red from embarrassment. She had taken her hands and ran them through her hair letting them rest just behind her ears. Gibbs, for the first time, clearly saw the cut on her cheekbone and the bruise. It looked a couple days old, but that was it. "I'm sorry- I didn't mean for all this to happen- I am so sorry-" Her words were slurred together.
"Julie look at me, please."
She hesitated but looked up finally. "This. Is. Not. Your. Fault. Do you hear me? Nothing you could have done would justify anyone hitting you."
"I asked him- I asked him to load the dishwasher. This is all my fault Gibbs! He wouldn't have gotten mad if I would have just done it. Why didn't I just do it? He wouldn't have hit me and he certainly wouldn't have-" She stopped not finishing the sentence.
Anger was coursing through is veins. He was almost certain he knew the word that was should have been there. Rape. He certainly wouldn't have raped me. Oh he was certain Ryan would call it sex. However, Gibbs didn't. No was no. It didn't matter what kind of a relationship you were in. If you were dating or married- no means that the person didn't want to have sex. Just because you were in a relationship didn't mean you get to force them.
All he was starting to see was red. "Julie-" he let the sentence fall off. There were few words for what she was going through and he was not the most sensitive person in the world. "Julie, you haven't done anything. This is not your fault, and whatever he tells you, it will never be your fault. This is not how a relationship works. You don't hurt your partner like he has you. You never do that."
"What- what is wrong with me?"
Gibbs had to look up to keep Julie from seeing the anger that was not meant to be directed at her. He reached out slowly and wrapped his arms around her. He pulled her into his chest and held her when the last of her defenses fell. The sobbing was violent. This man had taken any sense of safety and security away from her. He had broken her in a way no woman deserved. When she stopped, after what seemed like an million years to the men in the house, she was exhausted again. Gibbs stooped and slipped his arm under knees a put one behind her back. Then he climbed the stairs and laid her down in the bed and covered her with a couple of blankets. He closed the door and then went back down stairs.
The two men waited for him. Gibbs poured himself another cup of coffee and took a drink.
It was Ducky who broke the silence. "She should go to the hospital."
"She won't Ducky," Gibbs said quietly. "You know that. I know that. Besides, what are they going to say? That she had rough sex with her fiancé? A rape charge would never hold up in court and she would never live down the rumors and looks."
"Jethro, you can not expect her not to be looked at."
"I don't. But, I think this happened on Friday. She has already had three days of from whatever happened that night. What do you think they would say? She's showered, rested, taken Tylenol. There is no evidence. We have her bruising, but that will go away and if she won't testify, then Ryan may pass it off as another gym accident. Hell, we don't even make good witnesses."
"What do you want us to do then Jethro?"
"Wait. Let her rest and then we- I will go and wake her up. I think you startled her. Check over her bruises. Tony did you find anything?"
"Just the basics right now. I have someone running his online life. He is clean boss. Nothing, not even a parking ticket. Works for the law firm, Howard and Campbell. He is a junior partner. Made it pretty young, but I hear daddy is a senior partner. They have the apartment, but it's in his and her name. The checking accounts are joint but he probably controls that."
Gibbs nodded. "Order some pizza Tony. I'm going to check on her."
Gibbs herd Tony and Ducky talking as he walked out. "Ducky, you know he is right. Sometimes hospitals are good, but I don't think it would be good for her."
"She needs a female doctor Anthony. Female nurses. People she can feel safe around."
"Ducky- she hates being around too many women. Says that they are a pain to get along with and has no close girls. She likes Abby but I don't think she would open up to her. She would protect her. She would shot someone for her. Even die for her, but can't have it the other way. Maybe if Ziva was here. But, just because she is a woman doesn't mean that is her support staff. Truth be told- I think her parents were a lot like my father."
The rest of the conversation fell away. Gibbs opened the door and found Julie sitting on the side of the bed.
"You woke up?"
Julie nodded. He took in the fact that she had wrapped her arms around herself. She was pale, scared, and in desperate need of some semblance of normalcy. "What do I do now?"
Gibbs crossed to her and knelt down in front of her. "Do you trust me?"
"Yeah boss."
"Then trust me when I say, we will pull you through this. You just need to lean on us for now. I know you are use to having control, but right now Julie... Right now you need more than just that. We will make this better. I can't erase it, but I can make it better from here on out."
"Okay boss," she whispered. She wasn't sure what else to do. She just felt like the nightmare would never end.
"Can Ducky come in and look you over?"
Julie was silent for a moment. "I will stay if you want or go. Tony's here and the same thing applies."
"They know?"
Gibbs nodded. "Julie we knew a few days ago. Or at least we suspected. Honestly, we were going to talk to you this week. We wanted you to know that we were here for you. All of us."
"You guys must think I am really stupid."
Gibbs shook his head. "I thought we had this conversation. No. No one. Thinks. You. Are. Stupid. We think that you found yourself in a hard spot and got confused. We want to ensure that you get out ok now. We don't want you hurt. We might want to hurt him. Julie," Gibbs said softly. "I am going to ask a question, and you don't have to answer."
Julie froze. She knew. She had let too much slip.
"Jules," Gibbs said using her rarely used nickname. "Did he rape you?"
Julie kept her head down, but her tears were clear. She nodded once, just barely.
"Do you want to go to the hospital to get checked out. Ducky doesn't have to do it?"
"No," she said softly. "I don't want them to take reports and the exam is what? Termed rough sex. They'll look at me like I am crazy."
"I wouldn't let them," Gibbs said.
"I don't want to go back there. I just don't know where to go."
"You can stay here Julie. As long as you need too. We can go and get your stuff. You don't need to do this by yourself."
She smiled slightly at that. "We have to work."
"Everyone has some vacation days. Not like the three of us have called off in awhile."
"You guys would do that?"
"Hell yeah we would do that Julie," the answer came not from Gibbs but from Tony who was standing in the doorway.
She smiled again. "Tony. I'm-"
Tony crossed into the room before she could finish and put a finger on her lip. "Bossman's rule. Never apologize. I cleaned it up and I understand. The only person who lost out was you. You spilled a perfectly good Starbucks coffee purchased by our leader. Something, I say, he doesn't do often."
Julie nodded. "Thank you."
"Well, my dear. It looks like we are having a small gathering. I have pizza downstairs waiting. One, I hear, has just sausage on it. I would assume that was yours. But seeing how Tony will eat anything on a pizza I would get your share first while he is eating his entire one." Ducky was smiling.
"Ducky," she said still leaning into Gibbs shoulder.
"We not have to do this if you don't want, my dear. I understand this can be uncomfortable."
Julie shook her head. "Would you two just wait outside for a moment? I do have a couple of questions for Julia that are more personal."
Gibbs and Tony left, closing the door behind them. Gibbs crossed the hall to his bedroom and pulled out a pair of sweats from his dresser and a long sleeved shirt. Out of the linen closet he pulled out a couple dark sheets. When the door opened, Ducky stuck his head out. "Jethro would you step in please."
Tony understood. She didn't need an audience and he smiled and went downstairs.
"Here," Gibbs said handing her the clothes. "I brought something to use as a cover Julie, in case you guys need it."
Ducky unfolded one sheet and handed it to Gibbs. "Just hold it up while I help our Julia out of her work clothes."
Gibbs did as asked- making sure he kept his head down. Ducky helped her out of her clothes and to put the others on. The clothes were loose on her and made her examine much easier. Gibbs took one of her hands in his own and bit down on his tongue as the saw the bruises she had been hiding. There were more than he had thought possible, and in every stage of healing. The ones around her neck told of how he'd strangled her, more than once. She had bruises on her stomach, back, and arms. More distressing were the ones along her legs. Ducky had simply pushed up the pant legs to check her knees and ensure there were no cuts. The shirt had carefully been placed to keep her breasts covered as Ducky moved the material this way and that to look at her back, shoulders, arms, and stomach.
When Ducky was finished he put his bag away and looked Julia in her eyes, kneeling to get on her level. "You did very well my dear girl. You are very strong."
She nodded, trying to hide tears that both men could clearly see. Ducky left with a single look at Gibbs, that Julie did not see. "Come on, Tony's probably got the pizza eaten by now. I promised to shot him if he took a slice out of yours."
She followed his led down the stairs and into the kitchen. Surprisingly, none of the pizza was gone. Tony had passed out plates and set the table while the others had been upstairs. The conversation was tense at times, but eased back into comfortable each time. Julie was quieter than normal, and everyone noticed, but Tony did a lot of talking to keep the silence from up setting her mental balance. He knew she needed as little stress as possible.
She tired easily, and Gibbs helped her back up the stairs. Pulled out an extra toothbrush and when she was finished ensured she was comfortably settled in bed.
Then, he pulled the door and went downstairs again.
"Ducky?"
"Some of those bruises Jethro are hard to look at. He beat her pretty well."
"Yeah, I saw some of them."
"I think physically she will heal. There appeared to be no internal trauma that would be life threatening. The bruises will fade and heal in time. She didn't want any kind of vaginal exam. However, while helping her dress I saw the fact that she had some kind of liner. She may be well on her-"
"She isn't Ducky," Tony said.
"DiNozzo! How would you know?" Gibbs asked, his eyes- clear blue and looking dangerous.
"Two weeks ago we were late getting back to the office from doing an interview on the Cullens case. On our way back she started and had to stop at a store. The bag was open when she got in the car. Most girls don't open them if they don't need them."
"Then I am sure there is some trauma Jethro." Ducky finished his tea. "She is very sore. I am not sure how she got dressed this morning. She needed help reaching down to put pants on and to get her shirt off over her head. She would certainly be unable to function in the field for a few more days. She needs time to heal."
"Ok. I'm going to call the director and let her know that Julie and I will not be in tomorrow."
"If you're going over there then I am going with you," Tony said sharply. "We don't need anymore problems yet."
"Thanks Ducky," Gibbs said walking off towards the living room to make his call. It was just before nine.
Jenny Sheppard gasped once as Gibbs told her what was going on. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, and yet knew it was the truth. She was shocked. She was pissed. Julie Greene was an excellent person. A wonderful, hard working agent. She was a friend to everyone.
"This is personal Jethro," she said over the phone. "I want his balls."
"You and me both. However, our first priority is Julie. I want to get her stuff out of there and get her safely settled for a while. I'm not sure how he is going to react."
"Frankly, I hope he throws a punch."
"Not tomorrow. Tomorrow I need things to go off without a hitch. She is too fragile to endure much."
"You want me to arrange for the local LEOs to met you there. I have friends. You have friends. They could deal with any issues and that would leave you and Tony to help her."
"Let me think about it Jenny. I will let you know in the morning."
"Ok. Keep me updated. If she needs a couple days off just say the word. I can't tell you the last time she called off."
"I will and I can. She hasn't ever called off."
"Thank you Jethro."
"Your welcome." Gibbs hung up and went back in the kitchen. Ducky had left, leaving Tony and Gibbs. Tony had put things away and washed the few dishes that had been created.
"Mind if I take the couch?"
"Have I ever?"
"I just want her to know she has people here for her. Just in case."
Gibbs nodded. They were both very protective on their fellow teammates. Julie may have been the latest addition, but they loved her just the same. She had been unwelcome at first by Tony. However, it didn't take long before she had proved herself a valuable asset. That and she shared his mask of hiding and Gibbs was sure two kindred souls had found each other. They knew the signs even if they didn't know they did.
Gibbs opened the basement door and walked downstairs. Tony followed and took his normal seat on the stool next to the bench. "For all my father did- he never hurt my mother. He never would have."
Gibbs looked at his second. "No, just his son. That was a better option." There was sarcasm there and anger.
"You know what I mean."
"Yeah Tony. I know. But abuse is still abuse. Doesn't matter if it is a mother or a ten-year-old boy. I never once thought of raising a hand to Shannon or Kelly. Never would have. Put a hole in a wall once or twice. Never them."
"How bad were the bruises?"
Gibbs stopped sanding. "Bad. All over. Back, stomach, arms. He would have had to punch and kick her for some of those bruises. Others you can tell were from being held. She had several around her neck. Her thighs and knees-" Gibbs didn't finish. He didn't have too. Tony knew.
They let the silence be for a while and Gibbs worked while Tony watched. It was nearly midnight when they heard the soft footfalls upstairs. The basement door opened and Julie's feet appear first. Tony was up in an instance and at her side before she could make it down the second step.
She smiled. "You really are building a boat down here."
"Yep."
"How do you get it out when you're done?"
"You'll see when I am done. You didn't sleep much."
"My phone went off."
"Ryan," Tony said as a statement.
"I told him I was on a case. I didn't want any trouble."
"Tell him the truth tomorrow once we have everything done. You have a lot to do tomorrow," Gibbs said. "We'll go to your bank first and then your apartment. You can have your deposit stopped at work on Wednesday."
"Did you think of everything?" She smiled in appreciation.
"Yes. You don't want to have to go back and forth. It wouldn't be good for you," Gibbs said as a matter of fact.
"Probably not. He is not going to like it when I leave, you know. I don't know how he is going to react."
"It doesn't matter how he reacts as long as he is not doing anything to you. We should get your stuff out tomorrow and take care of as much as we can. You'll feel better once it is done."
Julie nodded. "I don't think I have thank you guys for all this. I think I would be lost without everyone."
Gibbs stopped working on his sanding. He put it down and crossed over to where she had sat on the stool that Tony had given up to her. "You don't have to thank us. We will always take care of each other."
Julie nodded and slid off the stool. "I'm gonna go lay down some more."
Gibbs and Tony both nodded. Once she was gone, the agents looked at each other. She was certainly broken this time and neither knew what to do to fix it. It was a helpless feeling that neither one was use to having. Tony looked at his boss and then said, "I'm gonna go visit my couch."
"Yeah, time to turn in. Tomorrow sounds like it is going to be pretty busy. Maybe even eventful." They turned off the lights and climbed the stairs to their perspective sleeping areas.
Morning dawned more quickly than they thought possible. The sleeping occupants inside Gibbs house rose quietly. Their boss woke at his usual time at 5:30 and made coffee, then went for his morning run. Tony followed around 5:45, but opted to stay behind in case Julie woke up. Besides, he didn't mind working out at night and was planning on it tonight. He honestly hoped that she would wake up while Gibbs was gone so he could talk with her alone. Not that Gibbs wasn't doing a great job, but he understood the abuse. He wanted to let her know that she could talk with him.
He didn't get such luck. Gibbs was back by 6:30, and Julie didn't wake up until after eight. It didn't matter to them. They needed time for Ryan to get dressed and out of the apartment. She was still in the sweatpants and shirt that Gibbs had given her the night before. Her hair was messed and she tried to run her fingers through it.
"How much do you need to pack," Tony asked while the three agents ate the pancakes that Gibbs had made that morning for breakfast.
Julie smiled slightly. "Not a lot actually. The furniture is his. I put all mine in storage when we moved in together- just in case. I just need things like my clothes and the few pictures I have there. The dvds that are mine are in on the shelves in my office along with my notebook and iPod."
"That sounds easy enough," Tony said smiling.
"Yeah." She looked at Gibbs. "Are you sure we can't go to the apartment first. Packing would only take a little while. All I have to wear are my clothes from yesterday."
"Best to get the small stuff done first. That way if anything happens he doesn't have access to your money," Gibbs said. "Tony brought your extra clothes and bag. Their in the living room."
Julie smiled. "That works then. At least I have clean clothes now, and I don't have to look like a monster."
Tony laughed, "You never look like a monster, just the boss without his coffee."
The head slap was delivered softer than normal, and very much expected.
Julie slipped out of her chair, wincing slightly and preying they hadn't noticed. The two male agents just kept talking and waited for her to exit the kitchen. Gibbs trailed behind her and stood in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room. She picked up the bag with her left hand and moved towards the stairs. The stairs she took slowly, leaning on the railing, and never realizing that she was being watched by her boss. When he heard the door shut at the top, he turned back to his second and a cold hard stare.
"Yeah," he said putting his mug of coffee onto the table. "I'll be back."
Gibbs turned and headed towards his living room and then up the stairs. Tony put the breakfast items away, and started to wash the few dishes. Gibbs stood outside the guest room door listening. He decided to give her some time and crossed into his own bedroom to get dressed. When he was finished he came back to the guest bedroom and knocked softly.
"Julie, you need anything?"
Inside the room the female agent sat on the bed and looked at the stuff in her bag. Her head came up at the question, but her door was still closed. She wanted help. She hurt all over, and hadn't had anything to ease the pain in awhile. She really just wanted to curl into a ball and forget she had to live. Having her home life fall apart and then having her co-workers see it, was almost too much for her to endure. She had to endure such issues as a child. Growing up her mother would pick her up from school with bruises all over her face. People would stare at her. No one did anything, but everyone talked. The kids teased her. As she got older she found ways to hide from others. This time, she couldn't hide. This time she was just too tired.
Leaving was going to be hard. Not because she loved him, but because she thought she'd failed. Really, how many times do you become exactly what you didn't want to be? She had turned into her mother. The woman who allows herself to be kicked around like a whipped dog. She should have done more. She shouldn't have allowed this to happen.
The door cracked open, "Julie?"
"I'm decent," she said softly being pulled from her thoughts. Gibbs was dressed. She had one a pair of black dress pants and a blue button down shirt. His badge was fixed to his belt along with his gun.
Gibbs looked at her and smiled. "Need any help? Ducky said you were sore yesterday evening when he helped you."
Julie looked down at her lap. It wouldn't hurt. Getting her shirt off was going to be hard. The help would probably make things go better.
"Here," Gibbs said wrapping the sheet used yesterday around her. He wiggled her left arm out and pulled on the sleeve leaving the rest of her body covered. They repeated the motion with her right arm and he slipped the shirt over her head while she held onto the sheet that was wrapped around her. Then, like dressing a child, he pulled out her sweatshirt and put it over her head and worked first one arm through and then the other. He turned his back when finished and she dropped the sheet and pulled her shirt down over herself. They worked the pants off and her jeans on in the same fashion. Him just starting things, and her finishing them so she would expend too much energy just getting dressed.
Then she simply pulled her hair up and put it into a bun. She didn't have the strength to really comb and style it. It hadn't been washed in two days, and was getting dirty. Perhaps she'd call and make an appointment to have it washed at her hair salon. She splashed cold water on her face in the bathroom, brushed her teeth, and grabbed her flats out of the bag in the bedroom and slipped them on. Then she headed downstairs where the other two agents waited.
Tony smiled, "you look good Julie." Gibbs smacked his head.
"What? I've had my ass kicked and I have never looked that good afterwards."
Julie smiled. She knew that he was trying to lighten her mood. "Thanks."
Gibbs shook his head. "Lets go. Ducky is meeting up with us in two hours to help get your clothes out of your place. He said he has some boxes we can use, and some stuff to wrap your breakables in."
Julie nodded then headed first out the door that Gibbs opened. For the first time in awhile he locked the door. It was easier to be around them this morning, Julie found. The drive to the bank wasn't bad, and the branch manager was sweet. Gibbs had stayed in the waiting area while Julie and the manager pulled her half of the money out of the saving account and checking account. Then, after pulling Julie's information off Ryan's account, they opened her a new savings account. Her checking account she had never closed, and had simply been used to pay for some odd ball things so that made it easier. The manager also put a note on the account to ensure that no one gave out any information about Julie. They also changed her address and contact information to Gibbs' house and home phone. At least for now, he had insisted, until she found her own place.
It was almost eleven when they arrived to her place. True to what Gibbs had told her, Ducky was there with the NCIS van. Stepping out of the passenger side, to Julie's shock, was Jenny Sheppard. Julie paled, visibly. Jenny walked up to her and said quietly enough so that no one else heard, "I don't judge you sweetheart. He's the asshole. You have nothing to be worried about or ashamed about. Your job is fine. I just want to get you out safely, and maybe shot him." She hugged Julie to her, and Julie hugged her back, smiling.
"Thanks. It's nice to have people around that I can trust."
Jenny nodded, "I know."
The packing went off without a hitch. Jenny and Julie decided to pack her clothes and personals while the boys made short work of the office and living room. Julie had been right. It didn't take that long, and within a few hours Julie's possessions had been neatly packed away into boxes and loaded onto the van. Silently, she was grateful that she had never gotten rid of her things in storage. Ryan and tried to insist many times, but she would always just nod and forget to do it. She never brought it up herself.
By four, she was pulling the key off her ring and leaving it there on the table with a note,
Dear Ryan,
I don't think that we are going to work out. I have gotten my stuff today. Here is your key for the apartment and the ring.
Julie
She kept it short and sweet. There was no sense in drawing this out. He was going to be pissed no matter what she put on that note. The got in to the cars and headed back to Gibbs house to unload her things. She had suggested that they could put them in her storage garage, but Gibbs had vetoed the idea. He said it was pointless because most of the boxes were clothes and she needed those for work. Her television, DVD player, and DVDs would not take up that much room and until she found a place, she might want to watch them once in awhile.
Ducky and Jenny left after the unloading was done. Tony departed shortly after them. They'd all have to be at work tomorrow, so he was going back to his place for a shower and workout. Gibbs pulled out the few clothes he kept in the spare closet and told Julie to make herself at home and put her things away. Truthfully, he hoped to keep her there for a little while until they knew how Ryan was going to react. Then, she could try and find a place where he didn't know. Most people knew that abusive people rarely gave up. It usually took them awhile.
Julie unpacked a few of the boxes and then went downstairs. Gibbs was in the kitchen fixing something on the stove, probably dinner.
"I would have done that," she said.
"Rest. You can do it over the weekend when your feeling a little better. You get everything unpacked?"
Julie shook her head. "I got tired, a little."
"So, you thought fixing dinner wasn't going to be trying on your energy," he smiled at her. "Just go relax. It will be ready after bit."
Julie sat own at the table and watched her boss move around her kitchen. He had changed into jeans and a NCIS t-shirt. She still had on her clothes from the day. She stretched her left arm and laid her head on it, just intending to clothes her eyes for a moment. The next thing she knew Gibbs was shaking her gently to wake her. However, her reaction was anything but gentle and she yelled out jumping and knocking her chair over. To her relief, memory came back just as someone grabbed her to keep her from hitting the floor.
"Dinner," he said standing up and holding her weight in his arms.
"Sorry. I must have-"
"Fallen asleep. Yeah, I saw."
He picked the chair up and she flushed red with embarrassment. "Guess, we should keep breakables away from me for awhile."
"Nope. Just coffee. That way it survives and you can still drink it."
She laughed. She actually laughed. Gibbs smiled, since it had been awhile since he'd heard that sound.
"What ya make?"
"Corn, potatoes, and steak. I had those on the grill," he pointed to the steaks and he set the plates down on the table.
They ate with pleasant conversation and cleaned up afterwards. Gibbs told her that Tony had set up her television and DVD player. She had laughed and went into the living room to look. Sure enough, Gibbs old television wasn't there and hers was- DVD player already to go. She slipped in a DVD and curled up on the couch. Gibbs wondered down to his basement to work a little on his boat.
The movie had just ended when her phone rang. She let it ring; knowing who it was in her heart. After the third ring, Gibbs stuck walked in the living room.
"Want me too?"
Before she could answer it stopped. "Think I can just get a new number?"
"Take care of it tomorrow. We'll get the director to authorize a new number."
The phone rang again. "I'm gonna have to deal with this eventually."
Gibbs nodded. She took a deep breath and hit the answer button.
"You fucking bitch! What does this mean your leaving?"
"Ryan-"
"Shut-up! If you ass isn't back here tonight-"
She didn't hear the rest, as Gibbs grabbed the phone from her hand. "Ryan- you need to shut-up."
There was a silence on the phone. "Who the hell is this?"
"This is agent Gibbs, Julie's boss. She said everything in the letter. This is her work phone, and you had best take the hint. She broke everything off. Don't go near her, don't call her, and if you lay a hand on her again I will ensure you pay."
"Are you threatening me?"
"Nope. Just telling you the facts."
"Where is she?"
"None of your business and this conversation is over." With that Gibbs flipped the phone shut.
Gibbs powered the phone off and laid it down on the coffee table. Julie had her head down, eyes locked on her hands in her lap. She was dragging them down this road with her, and none of her co-workers had enough sense not to go.
Please let me know how you liked it. I hope its ok. This is my first attempt, so if it's horrible or you have suggestions please let me know.
This is part one. There will be an ending, I promise.