Author's Note: So here is chapter three. I felt I should put it up now since I have been working on it since I got home this morning from school. Long story short, the power went out and never came back on, as far as we know. We were sent home and now I have to go back soon for a band competition. Moral of the story: I had lots of time.
Last Time on Past Meets Present
"The case," Gibbs said as soon as she closed the door. Gibbs and Sarah sat on the bed while Fornell stood off to the side.
"Which one?"
"You know which one," Fornell said.
"Oh yeah, that one." She got up and stood, looking out the window. "It's not one I like to talk about."
Gibbs said to her, "We need to hear it from you."
"Ok. What do you want to know?"
"For starters, where is Jessica?" Fornell asked.
"You won't find her."
"Why not?" he asked her.
Sarah turned around and looked at them. "She's dead. She's been dead since the stakeout." She closed her eyes and watched every detail flash through her mind like they just happened. She sighed and began the story. "The stakeout was going as planned; we watched them receive another shipment and were planning on taking them into custody soon. We were spotted. Gregg had a gun, but we didn't. He found two loaded nearby and slid them over to us. Shots began to appear around us and we fired back. Some fell. Jess leaned out to shoot them but got hit and fell to the ground. Gregg went after them." She opened her eyes and sat down on the bed beside Gibbs. "I tried everything I could to save her. The bullet had entered her chest and she was bleeding so much. Paramedics eventually came and took us both to the nearest hospital." She started to cry. "Jess died in surgery. She was my best friend."
Gibbs pulled her close and rocked her, trying to sooth her. He took one look at Fornell. Fornell took the hint and walked out of the room.
Tony stood up as soon as he saw Fornell walk out of the room, but not Gibbs. "What's going on in there?"
"Nothing at the moment. I got everything I needed. There is no way she would have killed Agent Mortor. Not in the state she would be in without his help. I would think she would still be in danger and she is in no shape to take care of herself," he said, trying not to go into too much detail. He figured Sarah kept it to herself for a reason.
"I should probably stay then. She should probably be around someone she is comfortable with."
"That would be a good idea, DiNozzo," Gibbs said when he and Sarah stepped out of the room. He was still holding onto Sarah and her eyes were red. "Make sure she goes to sleep tonight." Gibbs turned to the two agents assigned to watch her. "Give her some space, alright?"
"Yes sir," They both said.
"Good." Gibbs turned to Fornell. "Tobias, I think it's time we go."
"I think so too. We'll be back in the morning to check up." Tony took Sarah to her room to change while Gibbs and Fornell left the house.
"Is everything alright?" Tony asked her while she changed in the closet out of his sight.
"Everything is fine." Sarah walked out of the closet and lied on the bed beside where Tony was sitting.
"You don't look alright."
Sarah turned around so she was looking at Tony. "I'm fine and I am going to sleep." She pulled the blankets closer to her and closed her eyes.
Tony tried to break the awkward silence that had formed. "You know, this reminds me of this movie I saw where…"
Without moving, she mumbled, "No one wants to hear about the movies you've seen, Tony." Tony sat there until he knew she was asleep. He silently slipped out of her room and into the main seating area.
"I'm guessing she's asleep," Meade said when he saw Tony.
Tony sarcastically remarked, "Yeah, like a baby."
"Just being sure, if she has been proven innocent, that means we have to protect her."
Again, Tony sarcastically remarked, "I don't know, Johnson, I think that is your job."
"Look Agent DiNozzo, we're on the same side. Can you at least act like you like us?" Meade said to him.
"I could try. Just watch her well; we all think of her as a little sister. If anything happens to her, you won't get any sympathy from me." Johnson was about to open her notebook when Tony said, "What did I tell you?" He grabbed the book without spilling the loose papers he knew Sarah always left inside it.
"I didn't think you were serious."
"Well I am, so leave it be." They didn't talk much after that. Soon Ziva came and sent Tony home, promising to watch her. Meade and Johnson took one look and decided not to test her. Ziva spent the most time in the room Sarah had claimed. She felt a need to watch her. Tony had warned her of what Gibbs said before he left so she knew he would be coming.
Next morning arrived and Gibbs and Fornell were waiting in the kitchen. Sarah was still asleep and they didn't want to bug her. The agents assigned to protect her went on break since Gibbs and Fornell showed up and Ziva was still in the bedroom. When Sarah did wake up, she and Ziva joined them in the kitchen. Gibbs had to admit she looked better.
"How're you feeling this morning?" Gibbs asked her.
Sarah grabbed her breakfast sandwich of ham, cheese and eggs she made and took it over to where they were sitting. "Better, I guess. It doesn't help much that I have to stay here all day. I want to go out!" She took a quick bite.
Ok, so she is a lot better, already complaining about boredom, he thought.
Ziva had an idea. "Why don't I take her to the gym? It could help her take her mind off of it and she could get the exercise she probably needs."
"And to be on the safe side, you could bug me or something like that," she added.
Fornell began to look uncertain. The girls noticed it right away. "We already did."
He got many different stares from the three other people. Sarah looked almost mad, Ziva questioning and Gibbs was giving him the Don't-You-Trust-Me-at-All? look.
"I don't know if you knew this but a long time ago I gave McGee the access number to the GPS tracker in my watch, just in case." Gibbs remembered when while Ziva had only heard about the story. It had saved her life. Sarah continued to explain her watch to Fornell. "Since you didn't check, you wouldn't know that."
"Knowing your background I probably should've but that's good to know."
"Get it from McGee. He has it saved," she answered the unspoken question.
"Come on, Tobias; let the girl get out of the house. It would do her some good."
He thought for a second. "As long as David stays with her," Fornell agreed.
"I'll go get ready!" Sarah said excitedly. She ran off to her room and shut the door.
Ziva pulled a photo out of her pocket and showed it to Gibbs and Fornell. "I found this in her room while she was asleep. The back says, 'Best friends for life.'" They looked at the picture of two young girls, one was definitely Sarah and the other girl Gibbs and Fornell guessed was Jess. They each looked about ten and had huge grins on their faces. The photo was taken near a pool and they looked like they had just gotten out.
"I wonder why she has never taken this out and showed us this," Ziva said.
"I'm not sure," Gibbs lied. He was certain why she didn't pull it out.
Sarah came out of her room in capris and a tank top with a small gym bag. "I'm ready."
Gibbs hid the photo. Ziva turned to Sarah and the girls quickly left the house.
Gibbs pulled out the photo again and said, "I see how close they were."
Fornell nodded. "It's too bad. The girls looked truly happy in this and, now one is dead and the other is still dealing with the guilt thinking it's her fault."
Gibbs thought for a second then had to agree with what Fornell had said. Sarah thought she was guilty of not saving her friend. He got out his phone and made a quick call. Then he took the photo and set it in her room with a note.
AN 2: This was more of an explanation chapter than anything. I hope this doesn't make anyone stop reading. Please review!
~This is BellaWriterChic signing off
