-3-
When she arrived at her destination she was breathing so heavily that she thought she was going to hyperventilate. She desperately wanted a drink or a smoke.
She parked the car, took a good three minutes in order to get out of the damn thing, another forty five seconds to close the car door softly, and a few more minutes to take her first step. Without thinking, she pressed the button to lock her car and it beeped three times breaking the absolute silence. Her heart skipped a beat and she almost screamed.
The walk to his front door felt like a death march. She reached the threshold, lifted her hand to knock on his door and froze.
What if he's mid stride? OMIGOD, I cant do this! BAIL! BAIL! She thought, turning to walk away when the front door opened. Shit.
She contemplated jumping into the shrubbery in the front lawn. She also contemplated trying to run away. Could she get to her car in time?
"Felix?" Gibbs said, sounding appalled, but not tired. Maybe a creepy lurker skulking around your front yard woke you up real fast...
"Shit!" She whispered again, her back still to him. "I'm sorry sir, this is so inappropriate." She hit herself on the back of her head.
"Felix, what are you doing?" He asked more urgently. "Will you turn around dammit?"
"Yes sir." It almost came out as a whimper, but she didn't turn around immediately. It took her about 95 seconds. She turned on her heel and walked up to his front door, staying a minimum of two feet away from him. She held out his wallet with only two fingers, treating it like it was contaminated. "I found this, sir. It was by your desk." She saw the questioning look on his face and her eyes widened, "I wasn't snooping, I swear!" She said nervously, "I was leaving, your light was on, I went to turn it off, and it was lying on the floor." She was speaking rapidly, her heart pounding in her chest. Her motor speech paths couldn't keep up with what her brain was trying to formulate. "I should have called, but I thought you might be in bed, asleep...or busy." Her eyes widened further, "SHIT!" She screeched, "Take it, please." She shook it at him, "So I can leave now and ask for a transfer first thing tomorrow."
Gibbs took the wallet slowly, his face blank, hers a mask of horror. Once his fingers completely grasped the wallet, Felix let go of it and tried to run.
"Felix!" Gibbs yelled, still on his porch.
She was frozen, only two steps away from his porch. "Yes sir?" She whimpered.
"Turn around." He said coldly.
Felix was internally cursing herself, "Yes sir." She said quietly taking another forty five seconds.
"Come here." He growled. She took her steps carefully and stood about a foot from him. He stared at her, but her head was down, looking pitiful. "Get in here." He growled, grabbing the front of her sweatshirt and yanking her inside.
"Boss," She whimpered as he dragged her through his house, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude." He wouldn't say anything, he just kept dragging her through the front room, through the hallway, into the kitchen. Oh my god, he's going to cut me up into little bits. There was a door in the kitchen that he tugged her to, which had a padlock on it. "OMIGOD, sir are you going to kill me?" She whimpered.
Gibbs kept a hold of her shirt and pulled her face to his, a look of stone cold death in his eyes. Felix was holding onto his hand for dear life, which was gripping her shirt. She was strong, but a cold fear gripped her gut, and he was tossing her around like a rag doll.
"I think I have whiplash." She whispered.
Gibbs broke out into a smile, "You good with your hands?"
Felix's throat went dry and her body felt like curling in on itself, "S-scuse me?"
Gibbs let go of her shirt, opened the door, and went inside the dim, musty room. Felix took a deep breath and peaked into the doorway, seeing old rickety stairs leading down. She didn't want to step in. She feared she'd be swallowed whole. Perhaps made into a lamp.
"Rainier!" Gibbs shouted from the dimness. Felix jumped about two feet off the ground. "Are you coming or what?" She looked towards the backdoor, her only escape, and then down into the dungeon which was lorded over by Gibbs.
But it was Homminus Gibbus in his natural habitat...
...Definitely worth being a lamp.
She made her way down the old stairs and found herself in a huge basement. It smelled like sawdust, bourbon, and sweat, which tickled her senses. She found Gibbs in the center of the room hand sanding a large wooden ribcage.
"Its a boat hull!" Felix said excitedly. Gibbs stopped sanding and looked up at her, a look of wonder in his eyes. "Hello?" She walked up to it, running her hand gently along the grain, "I grew up in an all male household. I was a marine. My father was a marine. My -," She stopped. He looked at her curiously, but she just did the shy smile. When she looked up, she was more animated, "All by hand?" He nodded his head. "An ocean rider?" Another nod. "A name?" He shook his head. "Am I talking too much?" He just looked at her, grinning in his sly way.
They were silent for a few moments while he worked, "C-can I help?" Why did she feel like such a child around him? She was nervous, when he stopped his work, she feared she'd crossed another line.
He nodded, "Grab the other sander over there on the work table. Use it on the opposite side, make it smooth."
Felix nodded, "Yea boss." She said, walking to the table and grabbing the sander. It was warm in the dungeon, so she stripped off her sweatshirt, rolled up her pants, and tied them in place. Her tank top was skin tight, meant for wearing underneath other shirts or to bed, but she wasn't planning on this, so it was just the skin tight tank top and no bra. Regrettable, but unavoidable.
"Felix?" Gibbs said. She was already sanding away but she looked up at him.
"Yes boss?" She smiled.
"This is my home." He smiled, nodding. "Call me Jethro."
Felix smiled, "Sure Jethro."
They sanded for a while on either side of the hull. The sound of the sandpaper against the wood guided them into a rhythm, lulling them into relaxation. Before he realized it, they had half of the hull done. The work relaxed her, just as it did for him.
He stood up straight, stretching his back. He looked up and saw Felix, sanding away at one of the ribs. He smiled as he watched her work, her hands moving over the wood, her muscles moving smoothly beneath her beautifully pale skin. The aforementioned skin was bathed in a thin layer of sweat, her short black hair matted to her face and neck. She was concentrating hard, biting the inside of her lower lip. She finally glanced up at him, doing her shy smile, which made Gibbs's senses buzz.
She stood up straight as well, reaching her hands far above her head and arching her back towards him. Her breasts were perky and round, a perfect palm-size, and her tank top, which was already tight, was now tighter, wet with sweat. She relaxed into a normal position and smiled at Gibbs, unhindered. She was completely relaxed, something he'd never seen before. He walked over to her side and inspected her work, running his thumb over the wood. He smiled.
"Nice work." He said.
"Thank you." She smiled back, wiping her bangs out of her face.
He walked closer to her, placing his hand above her shoulder, where she was leaning on one of the ribs. "Ready for a break?" She nodded. "Do you drink bourbon?" He asked, walking towards his work table.
"Does it have alcohol in it?" She smiled, following him. He dumped out two juice glasses full of screws and poured two large glasses of bourbon, handing one to Felix. "Thanks."
He went to grab his glass and when he turned around Felix was gone. He looked further and found her sitting in the center of his hull, or rather, lying there, with the juice glass in hand, staring up through the beams at the ceiling.
"What are you doing Felix?" Gibbs asked, he couldn't help the smile as he went back to the ribs and leaned against one.
Felix was still smiling as she laid in the center of the hull, breathing heavily, but comfortably. "I'm lying down."
"Obviously." He chuckled. "But why?"
She sighed, leaned up and took a large sip of her bourbon, "I feel like I'm in the belly of a beast." She smiled, "Like Pinocchio inside Monstro." He crawled inside with her and sat down, his leg pressed up against her side.
"You are so odd." He muttered.
Felix just smiled, "It helps me put a grip on reality."
"How so?" Gibbs asked, sipping his bourbon.
"Well," Felix said, taking another large gulp, "It puts me in a perspective that I understand. Being small. Being controlled. Being..."
"Eaten alive?" Gibbs asked, sipping the bourbon again.
Felix nodded, "More than once." Gibbs nodded, as if he understood. Felix sat up sharply, looking up at Gibbs. She took a swig of bourbon again, "This tastes like shit."
Gibbs laughed, "Its supposed to taste like shit." He smiled, "If it tastes good it wont get you drunk."
Felix smiled back, taking another large sip, "Depends on how much you drink of it."
"True." He nodded. "Cheers." He extended his glass and she clinked hers against it. "Tell me about Special Ops."
Felix scrunched her face in distaste, "I'm not supposed to." She took a sip of the bourbon and it straightened out her face, "Bad places, hunting worse people." Gibbs nodded.
"Dark things for your mind to wrap around."
Felix sighed, "My mind has no problems wrapping around dark things. It knows dark things best. Its the light things that cause confusion."
"Light things?" Gibbs asked.
"Love. Fun. Happiness." She smiled.
"You've never had any of those things?" Gibbs asked.
Felix sighed, "Only in small doses."
"Like what?"
She shrugged, "Love? Dexter. Fun? Abby. Happiness? Work..." She smiled, "Friends. What about you?"
"Fun?" He gestured to the boat. "Happiness," He shrugged. "Love..." He said, almost longingly. "I haven't found the other two just yet."
She looked up at him, "Yes you did." She touched his hand, gently, "But you lost it." She saw his jaw tighten but she squeezed his hand, "Its okay. I understand." She said softly. "I'm not prying. Just stating a fact."
He looked at her, his eyes cold, his jaw locked shut. "I-,"
She put a hand up, "Shut up," She said jokingly, "I know that look. I see it in the mirror all the time. Misery loves company." She raised her glass.
"And booze." He clinked it. "What have you lost?"
She looked up at him, "I'm not that drunk." She held up her empty glass. Gibbs chuckled, grabbing her glass and taking it with him to fill up his own. "Fuck I'm really dirty."
Gibbs was at the table, filling up their glasses. "Isn't that the fun part?"
She sighed heavily, smiling, "Yes, it is." She stood up and walked over to him, "You've got me talking about emotions now. I need shots." He smiled at her.
"You shouldn't shoot this stuff." Gibbs gestured towards the bottle. "It's dangerous."
She rolled her eyes, "Oh big deal," She said sarcastically, "140 proof? I drink Bacardi 151 on a nightly basis." He lifted an eyebrow. She just laughed, "More of my darkness."
He nodded, "Explain. Drinking away your sorrows is something I understand."
"I take a shot for every man I've lost." She sighed. "Every time I drink."
"How many is that?" Gibbs asked. Felix looked at him, hesitantly. "All right. We'll wait for that." He poured her another large drink.
"I need a cigarette." She smiled, grabbing the drink.
"You smoke?"
Felix smiled, "Not in front of most people and usually only when I drink."
"So, in front of Abby, McGee, DiNozzo." It was a statement.
She shrugged, "You never asked me out for a drink."
He stepped closer to her, "Until tonight."
She flipped open her cell phone, "This morning." She corrected.
Gibbs smiled, "This morning." She looked up at him, her large eyes shining in the dim light. "So what have you been trained in?"
Felix smiled, "Why do you ask questions to which you already know the answers?"
"Because a file is easy to read. People are harder. There are a lot of blanks to fill in." He looked at her, watching her features.
"Which blanks?" She said, downing her drink when Gibbs still had half a cup to go. He nodded to her cup, grabbed it out of her hand and refilled it, giving himself twice as much more. "Hey, what's with that?"
"What?" Gibbs smiled.
"The booze." She glared.
"Cant let a small girl like you out drink me." He smiled. Felix just laughed.
"What blanks?" She smiled, "Old man?"
He chuckled, "Well now I have two: where did you learn how to dance and where did you learn how to drink?"
She smiled, "Learned how to drink at my dad's knee. A good old fashioned Irishman with a drinking problem - not abusive or anything, just the unflinching ability to finish a bottle of Buschmills without being phased. He was a great man, loved his children. Also I was a Marine for the past ten years what Marine doesn't drink? Learned how to dance because when my dad found me cleaning his gun when I was seven years old he decided I need some feminine lessons. I took jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop, salsa...anything I could get my hands on. All of this," She sorta picked at her clothing, gestured towards her body, "This shell is just a barrier for what's inside of me. I wanted to be a different person, but it just so happens I'm really good at killing people...and not feeling a thing."
He sipped his bourbon, "You never feel a thing?"
She shook her head. "I did once upon a time. You know the training. And I was trained by the best. I took karate, defense training, kick boxing, whatever it is, I've trained in it. My father was just as adamant about that as he was dancing. He knew I'd be small, he didn't want me to be taken advantage of."
"That's a noble wish for your only daughter." He said solemnly.
"Yes, it is." Felix nodded. "Gunnery Sergeant?"
"Marine Sniper." He smiled, "But you already knew that."
She nodded again, sipping her drink, "I have many good contacts. I had to know if the people I would be working with could be trusted."
"And?" Gibbs asked.
"And thats why I'm here today." She smiled, the bourbon starting to warm her limbs. "I interviewed. Did some research and accepted immediately. I heard great things about your team, about you, and I wanted in."
"You are odd." He smiled.
"How so?"
"You come in here, cuss me out before you even start your first day, end up charming the pants off of my team, my lab tech, my M.E..." He sipped his bourbon.
"...But?" She said, looking at him intently.
"But?" He asked, confused.
"It sounded like a 'but' statement. All these things are so great, buuuuut..." She smiled.
"No 'but.' I was just going to say, and me." He said seriously.
"Well, I am equally charmed." She smiled, "I love it here." She started walking towards the stairs.
"Where are you going?" He asked.
She grabbed her sweatshirt, "Going outside for a smoke."
"Go out back." He said, standing up and following her out.
He found her outside, smoking and sipping the bourbon, staring up at the sky. "Stars are my favorite, the sky really: clouds, rain, rainbows, stars." She sighed, looking over at Gibbs who was leaning against the wall next to her watching her. "I know its a disgusting habit, but it clears my mind for a few moments." They stood in silence for a few moments, the only real sound was the burning paper on her cigarette.
"We all have our vices." He finally said, smiled and went back inside.
"Yes, we do." She chuckled and stomped out her cigarette.
Felix walked back inside but Gibbs was not in the kitchen so she went back into the basement and found him at his work bench, fooling around with one of his tools.
"Tired, old man?" She chuckled, leaning on the rib cage.
"You know I'm getting a little sick of the 'old man' comments." He growled, standing up and moving towards her.
"Oh," She rolled her eyes, "What'cha gonna do grandpa? Hit me with your walker?" She said sarcastically. Before she could let out the chuckle, Gibbs shot out, grabbed her and pinned her to the floor of his workshop. She yelped once but she was already on the ground with Gibbs straddling her.
"I must be drunk." She chuckled, "You move pretty fast for an old guy. You get your hips replaced?" She smiled, rolling her hips slightly into his, his weight pressing comfortably into her body. He was holding her hands above her head with one of his. She was chuckling softly, he was grinning, as his hand slid down her arm, gently brushing the side of her breast, making her take a slow inhale.
His lips were mere centimeters away from hers, and she could smell the bourbon on his breath and the sweat that evaporated from his skin. All she had to do was lift her head less than an inch and she could kiss him again. But this was not an operation. This was on the floor of his basement after half a bottle of bourbon. This was feeling his muscular body pressing down on hers in the most pleasing way, his hand dragging down her body, stopping on her ribs.
"Wait!" She said, finally realizing what his fingers were doing. "No! Stop!" She squealed.
"Sorry honey, this old man's ears don't work too well." He smiled and dug his fingertips into her ribcage causing her to writhe underneath him, laughing hysterically, begging him to stop. "What's that?" He feigned deafness, "I cant hear you." He chuckled, continuing to tickle her.
"No!" She pleaded, laughing. "Ah!" She lifted her legs up, and jabbed her knees into his sides. She felt the air whoosh our of him and used the moment to throw him off balance, rolling him onto his back and she rolled on top of him. She pressed her knees down, pinning his elbows to the ground, her toes pressing into his femoral artery, her hands pinning down his wrists.
"Impressive move." He smiled and tried shifting her weight, but it was perfectly distributed. "You better get off of me before someone gets hurt."
She smiled wickedly, "Why Gibbs, are you being a bigot?" She dug her toe into the artery causing minimal discomfort, but making his legs relatively useless. He grimaced and chuckled. "Bring it on." She growled.
"You got it." He said.
What ensued after that was about thirty minutes of the most rigorous physical combat session either of them had engaged in quite some time. There was plenty of rolling around, soft jabs, squeezing hands in odd places, hair pulling, mounting and pinning, and ripping clothes.
Felix rolled onto her back, her chest heaving, a satisfied smile on her face.
Gibbs plopped face down next to her, breathing just as heavily, with a similar smile.
"Jesus." She smiled laying on her back and stretching her throbbing limbs. She reached for her cell phone, which had flown out of her pocket, and checked the time. "Shit. I need to call Abby." Felix yawned.
Gibbs rolled onto his side, propping himself up on his elbow and looking down at her. "Why Abby?" He asked.
Felix looked up at him and her eyes widened and she sat up, "Jesus sir!" She said, her hands going to his face, his lip was puffy. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry. Are you all right?"
He just smiled, sitting up gingerly, brushing the back of his fingers against her lightly bruised cheek, "I'm fine. Invigorated. Are you all right?" She nodded. "You're pretty bruised up."
She looked down and saw hand-sized impressions on her upper arms and little abrasions littering the rest. She realized her shirt was torn halfway up her side and she had lost one shoe. Her pants were also broken, at some point the button had popped off and was mysteriously rolling around Gibbs's boat room. She laughed at herself and looked up at him.
He was smiling wide with a bruise on his lip. He had scratches on his arms, stomach, and chest, as well as small scrapes littering any open skin. The entire front of his shirt was torn in half and his hair was tousled.
"You're trying to change the subject." He smiled, "Why do you need to call Abby?"
She sighed, blowing the hair out of her face and lying back down on Gibbs's floor. He laid down next to her, up on his elbow, looking down at her. She had her eyes closed and she was faintly smiling, looking very peaceful. Her breathing returned to normal. He had a desire to lay his hand on her chest to feel her heart beat and her breathing rate.
Gibbs cleared his throat forcefully and Felix just smiled, "Right. Abby." She sighed, "I'm staying with her until I find a place."
"I thought you said you had an apartment." Gibbs stated. Felix's eyes were fluttering shut again, she rolled onto her side to face Gibbs, placing one arm underneath her head.
"I lied." She yawned and then smiled, her eyes still closed.
"Don't lie to your team." Gibbs said, "You could have told us." He saw the smile on her face lessen for just a moment, "You don't need to feel embarrassed around us."
She sighed, "I'm not. Not around everyone." She said sleepily. "Abby knows, just no one else knows. I don't want people to know I sleep in a coffin and live out of my trunk and the bottom drawer of my desk."
"Why?" He asked, brushing some of her stray black hair out of her face.
"Pity." She yawned. "I don't want pity. I hate pity."
"I can understand that." He said, gently touching her lips. She was so beautiful.
"Who pities you?" She said slowly.
"People try." He said softly.
"But you don't let them?" She said, sounding faintly interested.
"No." He said simply. "I don't let them."
"Why?" She yawned again.
"Because I don't want it either." He said softly, his thumb brushing against her cheek. She sighed and leaned into his touch. "Where's your dog then?"
"Dexter is in West Virginia with my cousin Mary." Felix said, her smile faded, "I miss him." She said sadly. "But basically," Another big yawn, "I cant have him back until I find a place that will accept a dog over one hundred pounds and about three feet tall." Gibbs just chuckled and laid down on his side, using his arm as a pillow.
He stared at Felix with uncertainty. There was something different about her, something different from all of the woman he'd been with. Even Shannon, but being with her was in a separate era in his life. He couldn't compare anyone to his life with Shannon because he was a different person then. But Felix was an entirely different experience all together. She was mature, smart, seasoned, funny, and caring.
The attraction between them was obvious, but it was innocent. Most of the women he had been with he'd respected at one point or another. They all tried to be tough on the outside, but the first instance of something going wrong they start crying and throwing things and being so female. They were good for some things, but as of lately, companionship was not one of them.
Felix, however, was tough. He respected her. He might even venture enough to say that he could fear her in the right situation. But she wouldn't let emotions get in the way like most females do. That must have been because of life in the Marine Corps, with a Marine daddy and...That was another thing they needed to talk about.
Felix stirred, her internal clock was telling her to wake up, but she was very warm and comfortable. She felt lips kissing her neck and snuggled into the warmth behind her, she felt the arms around her roll her over. They were kissing now, their hands groping all over each other, her finger tips grazing the searing skin. Hands slid up her shirt and she felt fingertips graze her nipple. She moaned and thats when she realized she wasn't dreaming.
She gasped, opening her eyes and coming face to face with Gibbs. His eyes opened and it was obvious he was groggy. She, however, was completely awake, her body reacting naturally to a man's lips on her neck and a hand up her shirt.
Gibbs stopped, wiping his eyes and looking at Nora. "Ugh, coffee." He simply said, sitting up, groaning. He stood up quickly, leaving Felix on the floor confused and disoriented. "You want coffee Felix?" He asked, making his way up the stairs.
She sat up, finally feeling the bruises and aches from the night before. She followed Gibbs up to the kitchen. He was leaning against the counter, the coffee was already brewing. His lip was bruising nicely, his shirt was on the floor in a heap. He had one of those working man's bodies. It was all lean muscles and worn skin, tanned, and tough, covered with a few scars. He wasn't like the young men she'd been with before who spent hours just lifting weights and drinking protein shakes. He earned his muscles the good old fashioned way.
"Morning." She said, nervously, wringing her hands.
"Morning Felix." He said looking up at her and sighing, "Don't make this worse than it has to be." He was afraid his initial perception of her was incorrect. This is when the throwing starts and he knew she had really good aim.
Felix just laughed, "Sir, we didn't sleep together." She smiled, "I remember last night completely. I think it was the shock of waking up with my boss's tongue down my throat and his hand up my shirt that did it."
Gibbs laughed as well, "You want to shower?"
Felix shook her head, "I think I'll steal some of your coffee and then head to the gym at work. I can shower there."
He nodded and grabbed two coffee mugs from his cabinets. "Felix..." He started.
"Gibbs," She said, putting up her hand, "Don't make this weirder than it has to be." She smiled. He turned and looked at her, he was obviously conflicted.
"I have rules." He said pouring out the cups of coffee.
She rolled her eyes, "So do I Gibbs. Nothing. Happened." She chuckled, "I can see you may have to do this often."
He got defensive, "I never mess arou-,"
"I didn't mean you were a NCIS man whore, I was implying that you are usually the one to break things off." Felix walked up to him and put a hand on his bare chest, "Jethro, we're adults. You're a man, I'm a woman, we're attracted to each other. Nothing happened. And I'm not like other women. Your shit is yours to deal with. Mine is mine." She stepped closer and kissed him on the cheek, "I trust you. I like you. You're a great leader and I need that in my life." She held his shoulders, "So breathe. Relax. I'm not here to start drama."
Gibbs smiled and kissed her cheek, "That may have been the single most sexiest thing anyone has ever said to me."
Felix just laughed and grabbed her cup of coffee, "You know what would be even sexier?" She said, sipping the coffee, grimacing, "If you had cream and sugar for this shit. Ugh, its awful."
Gibbs smiled, going into his fridge and pulling out milk. He reached into another cabinet and grabbed a canister of sugar, handing them off to Felix. She nodded and fixed up her coffee.
"I have a great brew you'd love. Its like high octane jet fuel." She smiled, sipping her coffee.
"I'm interested." He smiled.
"Its a Vietnamese coffee. One of my childhood friend's grandma used to make it all the time. We drank it in high school together." Felix smiled, swirling her coffee cup.
"What happened to her?" Gibbs asked.
"She died." Felix said soberly. "Our Junior year in high school. Car accident."
"I'm sorry." Gibbs said.
She smiled weakly, "You didn't kill her." Felix smiled, "Don't apologize."
Gibbs walked up to her and hugged her with one arm. He kissed her forehead gently, "I'll see you at work. I need to shower. Don't want to be late."
"See you Gibbs." She smiled and left his house. When she got into her car her hands were shaking. It was easy for her to stave off the nerves for long periods of time, however, once she let her guard down, her adrenaline would pump and her body would go into overdrive. She didn't want to think of her feelings for Gibbs or the fact that she enjoyed her time with him far too much. She was attracted to him, just like she knew he was attracted to her. She felt very drawn to him in an intimate way, not just sexually, and it scared her. She was afraid of the concept of hero worship. She was afraid of seeming like a little girl with a crush. She just took deep breaths, put on her sweatshirt, and started her car.
When she got to work, she grabbed her swim suit, towel and shower stuff and got ready to go to the gym. Thats when she remembered Abby.
"Shit!" Felix screeched and then ran to the stairway, taking two at a time to get down to her lab. "Abby!" Felix said tearing around the corner, finding Abby in her lab.
Abby looked totally pissed off. "What the hell were you thinking?"
"Jesus Abby, I'm so fucking sorry, you have no idea!" Felix said, dropping her bathing suit and other crap and running up to Abby. Abby turned sharply but Felix wrapped her arms around her shoulders anyway, squeezing her tightly. "Abby, I will do whatever it takes to make it up to you. You can dress me like gothic Barbie, we can go get new tattoos and I'll let you choose one," She said desperately.
Abby chuckled squeezing Felix's arms, "I was just worried. But now that you mention all of that," Abby took a big inhale and then froze. She spun in Felix's arms until they were face to face, only a few inches from each other. "You smell different." She glared at Felix.
Felix chuckled, "I didn't get to shower this morning. I was just heading to the gym when I realized I needed to apologize to you."
"Where did you stay?" Abby said, smelling her still.
"Abby!" Felix laughed, batting her off, "I fell asleep in my car, I was waiting for a meet for some information but the guy didn't show up."
Abby looked at her suspiciously, "You don't smell like car..." Abby took another big inhale. "I know the smell. I just cant place it."
Felix was starting to sweat a little, she smelled exactly like Gibbs did: Bourbon, sweat, and sawdust. She was praying Abby's sensory memory wouldn't be working today. "I gotta go work out and get showered before Gibbs shows up."
Abby glared at her, "Ok. But I will find out what you are hiding from me."
Felix smiled, "I'm sure you will. That's what you're paid to do." Abby laughed and Felix ran off to the gym.
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"What do you have for me Abbs?" Gibbs said, carrying the Holy Caff-Pow as he made his was into the lab.
"Oh good morning Gibbs," Abby smiled turning and seeing his bruised lip, "Oh my god, your face!?"
"I'm fine Abby. Boating issues last night." Gibbs smiled.
"Does it hurt?" Abby said, grimacing. "Why are you still smiling if you had an accident?"
Gibbs smiled, "I had a good morning. You?"
"Gibbs you sly dog, why are you smiling like that?" Abby said, curious.
"I said I had a good morning." He smiled.
"Caff-Pow?" She held her hand out a little desperately.
"What do you got for me?" He smiled, holding it back and shaking it.
Her shoulders slumped, "Ok, fine." She sighed. Then she perked up automatically and pranced over to her computer and starting typing, "Well the most interesting discovery I've had today was during the investigation of the money you guys found in the abandoned house. I checked out the money and for one thing," She looked back at Gibbs, "It's real. Secondly, the first stack of bills had traces of DNA recoverable from the surface."
"DNA on money?" Gibbs said.
"Yes. Specifically, saliva." Abby smiled. "Morales licked the bills when he counted them! We have his DNA tying him to the drug money."
"Is it conclusive?" Gibbs asked.
"Well do you consider conclusive to be, say, Morales's DNA on one hundred bills from each stack?" She smiled wide. Gibbs held out her Caff-Pow and she snatched it, taking a deep sip from it. "Thank you!" She set it down and threw her arms around him, inhaling deeply. Her eyes shot open, she gasped and held Gibbs at arms length, staring at him.
"What?" Gibbs laughed.
"Why are you so happy?" Abby said, very suspicious.
"I told you," Gibbs smiled and kissed her cheek, "I had a good morning." And he was gone to go get a warrant for Morales's arrest.
"Omigod, omigod, omigod, omigod..." Abby said running for her phone. She clicked on Felix's number and sent an urgent text: Come here NOW.
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Felix had just finished her work out, shower, and blow drying session and was heading back up to the squad room. She had on a simple pair of black cargos and a t shirt that had 3/4 length sleeves to hide all of her bruises. She put on some make up to cover up her reddish cheek bone, but otherwise the rest of the bruises and cuts were hidden.
She'd taken a little bit longer than she thought and was trying to rush. She'd gotten up to the squad room floor and when the elevator door dinged open she shot out through them and directly into Gibbs, knocking both of them down, Felix on top, her hands pressed against his chest and her legs on either side of him.
"Shit boss I'm so sorry!" She said, sitting up, distraughtly grabbing at the papers that he dropped and grabbing her purse.
"Felix?" Gibbs said. She was still frantically apologizing, grabbing at the papers, "Felix!" He growled.
Felix looked down at him, confused. His eyes were tracking around them and Felix followed his line of vision and saw that everyone was peaking above their cubicles, watching them. Except of course for Tony and McGee who were standing about three feet away, smiling foolishly.
"Fuck." She growled and climbed off of Gibbs and stood up. He jumped up quickly smiling the entire time.
"Your morning just keeps getting better and better." DiNozzo smiled and Felix shot him a scathing look.
"Grab your gear Felix, we're on our way out." Gibbs said, "Hurry." He motioned towards her desk. Felix sprinted, grabbed her gear and ran back into the elevator skidding into Gibbs and DiNozzo.
"Sorry." Felix muttered, "I'm off my game..."
Gibbs turned to her, his glare stone cold, "Get on your game. We're going after Morales and I cant take any screw ups."
"Yes boss." She said coldly and punched the button for the garage.
She rode with DiNozzo on this one, "You okay?" He said once they were in the car.
Felix shook herself, "Yes, I'm fine. I had my routine thrown off this morning. I'm a little off."
"Can you handle this?" He said, seriously.
She looked at DiNozzo and smiled at him, he smiled back, "I'm okay Tony. I promise. Just trying to get my bearings back. If I wasn't okay I would not risk the lives of my team on it. I don't have that much pride."
He smiled, "Absolutely."
They drove in silence for the rest of the way. Felix slid on her bullet proof vest and NCIS jacket. She clipped her gun to her belt and slid on a hat. She spent the rest of her time preparing herself for the task at hand, mentally and physically. She was alert, awake, but her mind was preoccupied. She shook thoughts of a shirtless Gibbs away and focused on the task at hand. She needed a steady hand, a sharp eye, and keen reflexes. She would not allow the people she trusted, her friends, to be put in harms way because of her inability to focus.
Morales.
Focus.
She sighed as they pulled up to Morales's house. They parked the cars and got out, all them adjusting their ear pieces and mics to make sure they could communicate effectively.
"DiNozzo, Felix, through the back. McGee and I have the front." Gibbs said. Felix and Tony drew their guns and ran around to the back entrance of the small house. They checked the back yard quickly, ensuring there were no lurkers in the bushes. They got to the back door.
She nodded to Tony and he nodded back, "In position boss." Felix whispered.
"NCIS FEDERAL AGENTS! OPEN UP MORALES!" Gibbs yelled pounding on the door. When there was no answer, Felix heard the door splinter as it was kicked in and her and Tony entered through the back, sweeping the house and clearing the rooms.
The front room was littered with dime bags of cocaine as well as a few more piles of money. It wasn't the bust they were hoping for, especially since their suspect was not at home. "Get the kits. Bag it and Tag it." Gibbs growled ripping out his ear piece along with everyone else.
"On it." Felix said with Tony and McGee following her.
Gibbs pulled on some gloves and started snooping around the front room, looking for any easy access hiding places where a larger stash may be concealed. Unfortunately it was only about one brick of product in his front room. That could be pleaded down to a misdemeanor. Gibbs wanted this guy's head.
He heard the loud footsteps behind him, "God dammit Tony, you walk like a fucking buffalo - ," He turned and came face to face with a gun barrel. "Petty Officer Morales."
"Who the fuck are you?" He rasped. He was bathed in sweat and his eyes were red rimmed. He did not look good. This must have been one of the older houses with open attics. He must have climbed up there and hid while they searched the house. No one would have thought to check the attic, not even Gibbs.
"I'm Special Agent Gibbs. I'm with NCIS." He said slowly.
"Put your hands up. Put your fucking hands up!" He raised his voice slightly.
"Morales, put the gun down." Gibbs said calmly raising his arms.
"Shut up!" Morales snarled.
"Okay, okay." Gibbs said and remained quiet. Morales opened his mouth to say something, when he heard DiNozzo and McGee bantering. He heard Felix closer. Morales moved to the side of the hallway entrance into the den. He held out his pistol, waiting for someone to walk into his line of fire. He looked at Gibbs and with a shaky finger made the "shush" sign on his lips.
Thats when he saw Felix walk in, smiling wide. "Hey boss, get any good id -," She was silenced by a gun butt to her head.
"FELIX!" Gibbs shouted, making a movement towards Morales, but the man put the gun muzzle to her. His hand was shaking so Gibbs froze. Usually its the nervous ones that are the worst. They cant stop shaking and BANG! one involuntary reflex later and someone has a hole in their gut.
Felix had crumpled into Morales's arms. He was holding her up by her hair, her legs barely supporting her. Her eyes were fluttering and it seemed like she wasn't coherent, she wasn't even trying to fight back - and that wasn't Felix.
"Felix!" Gibbs said again. "Stay with me."
Felix heard Gibbs yell, but it sounded like he was miles away. She caught glimpses of his face through the blood dripping into her eyes, but all she could see was fear and anger. Gibbs never got scared. She figured she must be dreaming.
"Shut up!" Morales rasped. "Just shut up!"
"Morales, you need to let her go." Gibbs said, his voice ice cold.
"No, she's my hostage." He said shakily, "I need to get out of here." He pointed the gun at Gibbs, which helped him relax. He didn't want that psycho pointing a gun at Felix. "I-I-I want a car. And a jet to Mexico. I need to get the fuck out of here!" He said frantically. Gibbs saw Felix's eyes rolling in her head with blood streaming down the side of her face.
"Ok, we can get you that, just let her go." Gibbs said evenly.
"NO!" Morales yelled, "NO! I WONT LET HER GO UNTIL I GET THE MONEY." He was being incoherent.
"All right Morales, okay." Gibbs said.
"So I told her-," Tony was saying to McGee as they walked through the hallway. They saw Gibbs first and then turned on Morales dropping the gear loudly and pointing their guns.
"Put it down!" Tony yelled.
"Drop the gun!" McGee chimed in.
"Put the gun down or I kill this bitch!" Morales yelled, putting the muzzle to her temple and digging it into her wound. They heard Felix whimper softly.
"Morales, put the gun down." Tony said coldly.
"Fuck you!" Morales yelled and extended his arm, aiming for Tony. McGee had a good enough shot to take, but he was afraid of hitting Felix who was slumped against Morales's body. He took aim and went to squeeze the trigger.
Morales went to squeeze the trigger and thats when Gibbs moved. He shot out, impossibly fast and knocked the gun away from Morales. Tony kicked it away and then went to help Gibbs who punched Morales in the throat.
He instantly dropped Felix, putting his hands to his throat and Felix went down fast. DiNozzo dove and grabbed her, laying her on the ground and checking her vitals.
"Boss, she's okay!" Tony yelled, smiling. "McGee call the ambulance." He looked up and McGee was frozen in shock. "MCGEE!" Tony yelled.
He followed McGee's line of vision and saw Gibbs laying into Morales. Morales was on his back, his face a mask of blood and gore, which Gibbs pounded into, punch after punch. Despite the fact that Morales was not putting up a fight, let alone even moving, Gibbs was not letting up. The man was perfectly composed as he repeatedly laid his fists into the mush that was now Morales's face.
"McGee! Get Gibbs!" Tony yelled, applying pressure to Felix's head wound. McGee looked stunned as he watched Gibbs wreak havoc. "MCGEE GET FELIX!" Tony yelled. Finally McGee snapped out of it and knelt down to watch Felix and call an ambulance.
Once Felix was being watched, DiNozzo leapt on Gibbs, tackling him painfully into a side table. DiNozzo wrapped his arms around the struggling Gibbs, shouting in his ear that Felix was okay.
"Gibbs?" Felix whispered, the sounds and blurry sights vague and disorienting.
"He's here Felix. Stay with me." McGee said, holding his shirt to her head which was bleeding profusely. "We're here. You're okay." He whispered and looked over at the other scene. DiNozzo had Gibbs in a body lock. Gibbs was stiff with rage even though his face was perfectly cold. DiNozzo was whispering something into his ear which seemed to be helping, but only minimally. McGee felt the bile rise in his throat when he saw what Gibbs had done to Morales.
The EMTs finally arrived with McGee calling them in. They got Felix stabilized and took her to the emergency room to run some tests and make sure her brain wasn't damaged by the blow.
They tried to dress Gibbs's wounds but he was adamant about traveling with Felix to the hospital. McGee and Tony nodded towards what used to be Morales and advised the EMTs to not get in Gibbs's way.
Gibbs ended up in the back of the ambulance, holding Felix's hand while people attempted to clean them both up.
