Chapter 02

Jimmy stretched and yawned then turned his alarm off getting up and dressed, he headed out. He went running every morning at the same time. He loved it that early. The sun was rising and the small little town he lived a few miles away from was just waking up. He waved back as business owners opened their doors and yelled hello or wave as he ran past. This was his favorite part of the day. He'd run into town to get breakfast along with the local and world newspapers. After a relaxing breakfast and getting up to date on the happenings in the world. He'd head home to shower and get ready for his job, which he did in his office at home. He loved his job and he had literally stumbled on it by accident.

Jimmy grinned as he thought back. After ditching Tim and Tony. He got as far away as he could. However when he started feeling tired early the next morning. He found the smallest hotel he could and he paid cash for a room. He knew he had to be even more careful now but he needed to sleep and make plans. Not just fly by the seat of his pants that is what he figured almost got him caught. He hadn't thought it through and well between his brother and skilled Agents it didn't take much to find him. Now every move he made he needed at least to backups. Paranoid yes, but he had to be. Like the old saying goes. It's not paranoia if they really are out to get you.

After sleeping he went across the way and paid cash for gas, a map and some food. Then he went back to his room to make a plan. After eating he realized he was going through a lot of cash just with gas and food. So he started first by counting the cash he had on hand. Next he decided the amount he needed that he could live comfortably on. After that the amount he'd set aside just in case the car broke down or another emergency popped up. Keeping with his plan for California. He decided he could not risk going straight there. Besides he needed a job and soon. The cash he had would not last him long at this rate. He would need to eat and he literally had the clothes he had on, one change of clothes besides that, one pair of sneakers and a winter coat that had seen better days. First he decided that just like when he reach California. He'd stick to small towns as he traveled and he'd mostly travel at night. Less traffic and he'd always been a night person anyways. To do that he'd need some warm clothes and a better coat.

After a nap and a stop at Wal-Mart for some warm clothes and a coat, he found on a clearance rack that he loved instantly. He changed in the bathroom and with a plan in mind he set out briefly stopping at a favorite place for dinner not sure if he'd see it again in California and so far he hadn't. For the next few months he stuck to unskilled jobs in small towns that gave him the cash he needed and a little extra for splurges now and then. But he kept that to a minimum and stuck to his budget.

Jimmy smiled proud of himself that he stuck to the budget it had help him in the long run. After going town to town for a while it got old fast. He enjoyed interacting with people and helping them. At first he could only find jobs that lasted a few days to a week at most but he made enough to get by and had a nice sum for emergency money. As time went on he started thinking how he could make better money that lasted longer and help people at the same time. The only thing he could think of was starting his own business. The problem was he needed one that he could do anywhere as he couldn't settle anywhere just yet. But what kind of business. He spent several days thinking about it as he moved on from his last town enough money in his pocket to last him a while.

Jimmy smirked as he remembered a week later. He was in a corner store market in another small town. He had seen a sign in the window for temp help. When he overheard the owner say he needed to track down a part for his older model car and with his store and family he just didn't have the time. Jimmy offered to do it for a fee. He found it and was paid well for it. The next person asked him to do some research on a Book he was writing and again he met the request and was paid well for it. Word got around and he found he had a knack for it. He found things for people items or research that they didn't have time to do themselves.

From his days in medical school, he was use to research and he enjoyed it. He had kept it up at NCIS but his research projects became more varied after medical school. Often times Dr. Mallard would have him read through old autopsies of cold cases to broaden his knowledge. And he would end up doing research on this or that that he found interesting. A few times he ended up finding things others missed or deemed unimportant that broke the case. Often times surprising the older Doctor by what he found and more than a few had been solved that way.

He slowed down as he felt a catch in his throat as he thought of Dr. Mallard and the friends he made at NCIS. Abby, Tony, Tim and yeah even Gibbs with his gruff tough love. Memories flashed as he ran faster of times with them all. Until he had to stop running and rub his eyes clear of moisture. They might be after him but he still missed them. Hell he even missed his stupid brother. Although he wanted to deck him. He still missed the idiot.

Shaking his head, he pushed the painful memories aside. And brought himself back to reminiscing on his much loved job to cheer himself up as he started running again. He didn't use his full name and had started using JP. He had thought it was too obvious but he wanted to keep at least part of who he was. So while nervous he used JP and nothing came of it to his shock. He had traveled for a while finding this and that. Doing so he built his bank account and got a nice little list of regular clients. But as his client list grew and he kept trying his best to save every penny he could. More and more of his work was research. And he started developing a problem. As the research picked up he was able to travel less and less. The hotel bills where he stayed to do his research although as inexpensive as he could get away with and be safe and comfortable. They were still eating away at his savings. Not that he could complain he still made a nice living but still things add up fast.

Finally he decided he'd risk it all on a trip to Las Vegas to find a book a client wanted. He was there for two weeks and was scared the entire time that he'd be found being in such a high profile place. But eventually he found the book and won big time in the casino and decided that why luck was with him. That settling somewhere was worth the risk of being caught.

He pooled all the money he saved and won on the trip. Surprised at how much it was but pleased as well. He found a beautiful house that he paid cash for and settled here three months ago. He had been worried it would lead his brother and Gibbs right to his door but nope. He had his own little slice of heaven on earth and he was loving every minute of it.

Jimmy sighed for once happy and content with life. He thanked the woman when his number was called and picked up his breakfast. Puzzled when she patted his hand with a sad smile and told him. No charge dear. Heading over to an outside table to enjoy the summer sun and ocean breeze as he ate and read the papers. Opening his coffee to let it cool he opened the local paper and blinked at what he saw on the front page. Himself.

Reading the headline made him get moving. He told himself he still might have a chance if he hurried. Refolding it and taking it with him so he could read it later. He hightailed it home leaving his food and coffee on the table. Hoping he could be gone before they arrived. When he got there he knew it was too late. His driveway had a strange car parked in it but he knew it was them.

Dam it didn't they ever give up!

Swearing under his breath he quietly made his way into the trees that lined his house. Going up to one that was hidden from view. He grabbed the bag he hid in the tree for just this reason. Hidden by the trees he stripped and shoved his clothes in the bag with the paper then wrapped the bag around his waist and shifted. The bag was uncomfortable around his middle but didn't imped his running as a wolf and he'd need the clothes later. Going up and around to the back of his property with the trees as coverage he went to the one splurge that he allowed himself. Just like the bag, he hid it if anyone ever showed up and he was cornered. A tree house built well hidden in the trees on the back of his property so he'd have a place to hide. Shifting again at the base of the tree he quietly pulled the hidden rope and not really caring about modesty climbed up. Once inside he pulled the rope up and went inside. He dressed and sat down to read the paper.

Local Man is found by long lost Family!

He cursed at the pictures. In full color side by side there were pictures of him the day he graduated medical school and one of him running that he didn't know was taken. He read the article and began seething. His brother it seemed had declared him missing a week after he left DC and claimed he and his friends were ever so worried. It was a hard luck story made to pull at the heart strings of any who read it. They claimed he left after a misunderstanding and disappeared. Foul play wasn't suspected he left on his own and had remain gone. But they claimed with no contact, his family and friends were concerned about him. The search was being done by family and friends the authorities were not involved. Mostly his family and friends missed him and wanted him to let them know if he was alright and that they hoped to one day clear up the misunderstanding and have him back among them.

Jimmy threw the paper down in disgust. Nowhere did it mention that most of his supposed concerned friends were Agents themselves. At least that was something in his favor. But it also annoyed him what was written. Now everyone would be watching for him. The small town he lived by word traveled fast and was a close nit community. Everyone would want to help him reunite with his family and friends. Just like more than a few would just want to know all the juicy details to fuel the gossip in town. The women who he mainly bought breakfast from obviously knew. He fumed wondering how many more would know just by stopping in for breakfast this morning.

Fuming he paced not sure what to do. Even if they didn't catch him today. All his brother and the rest would have to is wait. And someone in town would eventually help them thinking they were doing the right thing. Dam-it to hell.

Jimmy sighed and realizing he was hungry because he left his breakfast behind. He went to see what food or water he had. Cursing when he realized he planned to put food up there but had forgotten to. He sighed at least he had bottled water. He grabbed one and sat in the corner to think. On the one hand he knew he was busted. He could leave and risk them catching him later. Or just go in the house where he knew they'd be waiting. 'His own house was a dam trap.' He rolled his eyes as he growled but pushed the anger aside as he pushed ahead with his thought. Which should he do? Walk into the trap they surely set or wait until they left and then wait for the ambush somewhere else. Growling deep in his throat. He was frustrated at his choices. He could leave and live as a wolf and start over. But how many times could he start over as they kept after him.

Getting up he went over and opened the window near the floor laying down and looked over the property. After his eyes adjusted to the brightness of the morning sun. Jimmy could see them moving around his house. His teeth gritted when he saw them going through his house. He settled in to watch them he could see them but couldn't be seen. Jimmy figured if he couldn't eat or sleep he might as well enjoy the show.

Jimmy smirked when that evening as the sun went down McGee was handed his laptop. They had checked the house over several times. Going through everything then putting things back. Which made him wonder why at first. Until he realized they probably didn't think he knew they were there and were trying to hide their search.

They spoke to his neighbors and gotten nothing but polite smiles and closed doors with no information. Jimmy smiled his neighbors were wary of new people and even more so of the authorities. Since Gibbs and his team all screamed cop. No one would talk to them. Most of his neighbors hadn't even met him until he had lived there a month and that was mostly by walking by and stopping to chat now and then. His neighbors weren't law breakers. Just mostly small families or retirees that like their quiet lives. They minded their own business and expected the same from the people around them.

Jimmy move slowly stretching his limbs and settled in to watch again. He saluted the geek and wished him luck. One of his friends turned client made McGee look like an amateur when it came to computers. Jimmy knew any computer he owned if found was a risk if McGee got his hands on it, double the risk if Abby helped him. So he waved her fee when he found her the book she wanted and promised her a discount on future things he found for her. If she protected and backed up his laptop and any future electronics he owned.

Early the next morning McGee was still trying to get into his laptop. He had gone from an amused smirk at the sarcastic prompts that popped up as he tried different things to crack it. To grumbling and cursing under his breath and glaring as everything he tried failed. Jimmy was smiling in amusement as he watched from the treehouse. He had thought about introducing the two computer geeks. Often wondering if the world would ever be the same if they teamed up. He shuddered at the thought and forced the image out of his head.

An hour later he wasn't smiling anymore. He was puzzled as to why they were leaving. They had been there since yesterday morning and now the sun was barely up and they were leaving. Something wasn't right, it had to be a trap.

Hours later Jimmy was tired and very grumpy. When they left this morning they hadn't returned and as far as he could tell left no surprises for him. He had left his breakfast on the table the day before. Then spent all day and that night watching them and now today watching afraid to sleep or turn away from the window in case they returned.

Jimmy was trying to decide if he should risk going into the house. He could eat, possibly shower or not risk it and stay put. An hour later he was fighting to stay awake and thinking up possible escape plans. He knew going in the house was a trap. Every fiber in his being said it was. But his own eyes watched them leave and not return, but he reasoned he was tired and it was possible he could have missed them. But then dismissed it as soon as he thought it as being paranoid. He had watched he didn't missed them. The house was empty.

But to be safe he could wait until dawn shift and leave his clothes. Wolves were common up here so locals wouldn't think twice if they saw him. He could hunt find a cave or a hollow tree and get some sleep. Then once he was fed and rested make his escape that way. He would have to live as his wolf for a while. Then when he was far enough away start over as a man. The first thing he'd have to find would be clothes. As the bag around a wolf would give him away. But it might work. But his inner voice argued. What if they were hunting themselves? He be caught and have no clothes if he was caught in wolf form. Nope not a good plan.

Dam, Dam and Double Dam. Ok now he felt like a child. Make a choice already he told himself. Ok he'd go down look around. If everything was clear he'd shift and sneak up on the house. If nobody was there he'd go inside grab food and more water then come back. Twenty minutes tops. As he climbed down he knew this was a mistake. His mind screamed trap and stupid, stupid idiot mistake. But two days without food and sleep. Right now of the two his stomach he could take care of, sleep would have to wait.

Seeing it all clear. Jimmy put his clothes in the bag and shifted sneaking up to the house. Getting dressed again he snuck up to the window he sniffed. He smelled no fresh scents and sensed no movement. He entered the house and made his way to the kitchen and decided to just eat standing in the kitchen. After he ate he was relieved and laughing at himself for being paranoid. They probably had to get back they all had jobs after all. He decided to take a shower before re-stocking the treehouse. After all he reasoned better safe than sorry. They could return at any time.

Shaking his head again he headed upstairs going over in his head what he needed to pack up. After a long shower he went back downstairs bag over his shoulder. After a stop in the kitchen to add the water and food to the backpack. He was busy figuring out things he could store safely in the treehouse. He had bought a few thing especially for that purpose but had forgotten to put them up there. Now he was considering what else in the house could he put up there? He had added a first aid kit to his bag and a flashlight.

Shaking his head at how comfortable he had gotten. Scolding himself on how it almost got him caught. He started to go out back intending on dropping the bag off and getting the paper from the tree house. He needed to see how he could spin this since they left and weren't coming back at least for now. As he showered he had started to consider moving on. Though he hated to do it he knew he had to, the team knew the house and probably his routine. The locals would buy the sob story and help them no matter what story he spun.

Distracted and going over his options mumbling under his breath. He didn't realize the scents were now stronger in the house until it was too late. He stopped and froze when he sensed movement behind him and then their scents hit him. Realizing they had mask their scents before and waited until either he tried to leave or the others returned. He tried to bolt towards the door and get away. But before he could take more than a step or two his arms were grabbed, his backpack taken and he was flipped around. A hand on each shoulder and his wrist held tightly in their other hand against his back as he was frog marched into the living room. Where his brother and Gibbs were waiting. That was the last thing he saw before the room went black as he fainted.