I DO NOT OWN THE RIGHT TO THE NCIS OR NCIS:LA CHARACTERS, ONLY MY OWN...
LCDR Lawrence stood back and listened as Gibbs' team found a handful of Marines who'd served with Sgt. Wenslow and just happened to be stationed locally or could be sent for and arrive within a couple day's time. CDR Roberts sat at one of the empty desks near-by and aided in the search as well. As the hours passed, she could look out over the shipyard and see traffic beginning to bog the freeway. After looking at her watch one last time, Gibbs touched her elbow, her frayed nerves caused her to jump.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I know you've got kids to get home to, I'll let you know what we find." He said softly, the warm smile softened his eyes.
She nodded and looked at the horizon. "Yes and judging by the look of the traffic heading in my way, it could take a while."
Gibbs turned to his team, "I'm going to walk LCDR Lawrence out and grab a cup of coffee."
With her bag slung over her shoulder, LCDR Lawrence assured Gibbs that she'd have her formal report to him within a few days. Instead of leading her towards the parking lot, he walked her over to the coffee kiosk and bought two cups of coffee, handing her one. They talked briefly about the weather before he asked if she was worried about the threats Sgt. Wenslow made or if she thought he was all talk. Only pausing for a moment, she answered. In spite of the fact that she tried to control her fear, it must have been evident in her eyes. Gibbs pulled a card from his wallet and a pen from his pocket and scribbled several numbers on the back.
His parting words scared her more than anything else. "If anything happens or you start feeling like you're being followed, call any of the numbers there and someone will get to you as soon as we can."
Speechless, horrible scenarios running through her mind, she took the card and clutched it to her chest as she got in her car. Gibbs watched until she pulled out of the parking lot before he headed back into the office. Within minutes, Tony and Ellie were headed out to pick-up the first batch of Marines. They all knew they were in for a long night. As Gibbs took his seat, to go over the background information Tim and Ellie had found on the Marines being brought in, the director caught his eye and motioned for him.
Leon met him at the top of the stairs just outside MTAC. "Is she alright?"
Gibbs sighed deeply, mentally evaluating her demeanor before she pulled out of the parking lot. "She's tough, but I know she's scared as hell."
"Is it because she's got kids or because he could make good on his threats?" Leon asked.
"Let's see what the first of his fellow Marines think and go from there. It wouldn't hurt to get a team lined up in the event he tries something." Gibbs suggested.
It had taken nearly two and a half hours to get back to Bethesda to pick-up some notes she needed for routine sessions with patients the following day. Sitting in traffic only made her mood and mindset worse. Giving her imagination the time to run with the possibilities. No matter how much she tried to calm herself, she had that feeling in the pit of her stomach. The kind of feeling that could not and should not be ignored. Several times, she looked at the numbers on the card Gibbs had given her and committed them to memory. Finally, she arrived at her office and sat at her desk with the card in her hand debating on whether or not to call Gibbs and tell him how scared she truly was. She shot out of her chair when her assistant walked past on his way home for the day, the fear and thought gone.
"Petty Officer, I'll walk out with you, I've got your daughter's violin." She called after him.
Petty officer Aaron turned and smiled. "Wow, already, I just brought it to you yesterday."
"I told you it'd be an easy fix. I re-glued the pieces before dinner and it was dry this morning. Just promise you'll get your son a guitar so he leaves the violin alone." She laughed as they stepped onto the elevator.
Gibbs sat with his third Marine of the evening. The previous two said the same thing. Wenslow was dangerous. All three had admitted to knowing about his activities on previous deployments, but abstained from saying anything after Wenslow threatened not just the Marines themselves, but their families. If they were single Marines, Wenslow vowed to wipe out parents, siblings and in one Marine's case grandparents. Gibbs asked what made Wenslow's threats stick with them; all said it was the crazy, dark and almost malevolent look in his eyes. Gibbs knew the look all too well, recalling the eerie depravity in the callous look as he screamed at LCDR Lawrence and CDR Roberts.
He dropped into the chair behind his desk, exhausted and alone in the bullpen. He was both thankful and worried that it was a Friday evening and he had nothing planned but to tinker in his basement. One by one, Tim, Tony and Ellie trickled in and plopped into their chairs. Gibbs looked around at the pathetic bunch and turned them lose for the night after asking how many more they had to interview.
"For now, we're done." Tim yawned and stretched. "The rest are due in Sunday or Monday. Most of the rest are coming in on a MAG flight from Okinawa or Iwakuni and a couple from California, Arizona and Florida."
"Alright I'll let you guys know if anyone comes in early or shows up unexpected." Gibbs said pulling his badge from his belt, tossing it in his drawer.
"What about CDR Roberts and LCDR Lawrence, are we going to take the threats against them seriously?" Ellie asked.
"I've arranged for a team to watch the two of them over the weekend and contact Gibbs if something happens. Rest up, but make sure if you're called you go immediately." Leon told them as he strolled into the bullpen.
