Albatross Chapter 2
Author's note: The poetry at the beginning and end of each chapter are from a poem titled "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. I didn't write it.
In mist or cloud, on mast or shroud,
It perched for vespers nine;
Whiles all the night, through fog-smoke white,
Glimmered the white Moon-shine.'
The moon shined in the window of Special Agent Nick Torres's kitchen window. The microwave clock shone 2:39. However, the occupant of the apartment was far from sleep. Nick Torres dressed in sweat pants and a grey tee- shirt doing push-ups in the middle of the night. He had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. He had only had this feeling three times before. Once the night before September 11, 2011. He awoke and couldn't sleep. Then when Sofia died, again he couldn't sleep. Finally five years ago in deep cover somewhere near Baja California, Nick has awoken late at night again. He got the call 3 hours later; his mother had passed away.
Nick jumped off the floor panting hard and turned on the tv. He watched as the new reported nothing amiss. Nick sent a text off to his sister and Gibbs. Then finally Ellie. He hadn't heard from her except a few shots she took with her phone of the sunset. It looked like she was having fun. Nick missed the spunky blond at work, more than he would like to admit. The feelings of warmth he had felt toward Eleanor Bishop scared him, but he was embracing it. However, mixed with the dread in his stomach made him nauseous. His phone chimed, and he grabbed his phone. Two texts one from Gibbs stating that he had not heard anything from Ellie. Another from his sister yelling at him for waking her up. He sent a quick apology.
Nick decided to shower and go into work.
Nick turned the corner into the bullpen and saw that his boss, Jethro Leroy Gibbs, sitting at his desk.
"Gibbs, what are you doing here this early?" Nick asked as he put his bag near his desk and switched on his computer.
Gibbs wore his reading glasses and glanced at the younger man. "I had a feeling. You haven't heard anything from Bishop?"
Nick held out his phone and responded "Nothing since two days ago. She sent me this picture." He showed Gibbs the picture of the sunset that Ellie sent. Gibbs looked at the image and then showed him the check in the text she sent him.
"Everything's fine. Enjoying the view and a winky face" Gibbs looked at Nick. "Did you have McGee ping her phone."
Nick walked over to his computer and pulled up Bishop's location. "Don't tell Bishop. She would be mad at me for the end of the world. At Nick's tone Gibbs looked at the younger man.
"Okay Torres, I am only going to ask this once? Do you love Bishop" Gibbs asked with some venom in his voice.
Torres without missing a beat "Yes Gibbs, with all my heart." Nick Torres never ran away from a fight. Moreover, if Gibbs were aching for a fight, he wouldn't back down.
Gibbs squared his jaw and squinted at the shorter man. Then he relaxed "Okay. Call McGee, and her hotel. We've got a lost agent to find." Gibbs ordered.
Nick went to his desk and picked up his phone to call in McGee and the hotel. He silently prayed that God would keep Ellie safe until he could rush in and rescue her.
Nor dim nor red, like God's own head,
The glorious Sun uprist:
Then all averred, I had killed the bird
That brought the fog and mist.
'Twas right, said they, such birds to slay,
That bring the fog and mist.