Chapter 4- Things don't go as planned

The two teams of agents, from the NCIS and the CIA, arrived in Egypt and each of them found their own people there. Those people told them where the criminal's base was, so they went straight there.

"We're going to pretend we're drug dealers." Gibbs told his two agents before the mission began.

"The CIA agents are going to do the same. Aren't the drug dealers going to suspect us if two teams of people offer to work for them the same day?" Dinozzo questioned the plan.

"No. This scientist has such a great love for money, so any offer that will bring him money is welcome."

Indeed, as soon as the criminals saw the three men approach their base, they were ready to accept any offer they had. The agents showed them some drugs and said there were more of them that they could bring. The criminal invited them to stay there for the night, without even recognizing them. Abby had done a very good job in helping her friends with their disguises.

Later that day, the head scientist called them all for dinner. The CIA and NCIS agents recognized each other but didn't speak. They had to pretend that they didn't know each other, and Gibbs really wished that was true. His life would have been way better if it was true.

"You know, I like all of you" the criminal said at some time. "Maybe you could work together. You know, maybe you could bring me better stuff if you cooperate."

The agents were shocked. Working together was the last thing they wanted, but it seemed that they had somehow ended up having to do it. They were supposed to be working for that guy, and doing what he thought would make them more efficient would hopefully earn his trust enough to give them the chance to catch him. Because if he wasn't satisfied, he wouldn't hesitate to harm them in ways they couldn't even imagine.

Cooperation worked pretty well, except for that part where Gibbs and Reese exchanged their usual death glares. They had started to earn their enemy's trust and, after being undercover at his hiding place for a week, the agents decided to put their plan into action.

They were supposed to bring a new supply of drugs to him. Gibbs picked only one agent, Reese did the same, and they left the rest of their teams behind. They returned with their cars supposedly being full of drugs, while in fact they were empty. When they were about to show the criminal what they had brought, Gibbs attacked him from behind.

They started fighting. During the battle, someone shot the tires of the car that was next to them, so the NCIS and CIA agents had to run through the whole yard and reach the other cars that were parked there. They passed next to dead bodies and at least twenty people that were willing to do anything in order to kill them, but they couldn't stop running.

Not very far from where the cars where and with a very few enemies left, Reese saw an enemy aim his gun at Gibbs' head. She wasn't at all sure if she could shoot him from her possition. With a deep breath, she abandoned her cover. She covered the short distance between her and Gibbs, pulling him to the ground while she shot the criminal three times on the head. Before she had the time to celebrate her victory, however, she felt a bullet penetrate her left leg.

Gibbs wrapped his arm around her shoulders and helped her get up. They ran as fast as they could to the cars, and both of them sat on the back seats.

Gibbs found a soft towel and pressed it on the wound to stop the bleeding. It almost made her think he cared. After all this time, maybe he still cared. Maybe both of them were breaking rule number 10.

The moment they got into the car, McGee and Dinozzo looked at some gas barrels, then at each other, and they realised they were thinking the same thing. When the car was at a safety distance, they shot the barrels and set the whole building on fire.

They went to an american military base nearby and found a plane to take them home. The plane landed in Washington and would then take off to take the rest of the agents to Langley. McGee, Gibbs and Dinozzo walked out and Reese followed them.

"Where are you going?" one of her agents asked her.

"I have something to do here, I'll meet you later." she answered without really caring to explain, and then headed straight to the hotel room she had booked while she was there for the case.

After taking some time to have a shower and wear a clean suit, she went to Gibbs' house. The door was unlocked, as always. She took a deep breath and walked down the stairs to the basement, which was painful to her due to her injury.

"What do you want here?" he asked with an abvious sound of hostility in his voice.

"I want to talk. I'm tired of hiding."

"Say it and leave, I have a job to do."

"Gibbs, you can't keep on denying it. I saw the way you treated my wound before. We think the same things! Can't you see it?"

"See what?"

"Why are you doing this to me? Why does it always have to be so hard?"

"Because they're after me! They'll destroy everything in their path to get to me!" the calm tone was replaced by an angry one, but also filled with pain.

"Look, I know people you cared about died and you blame yourself for that, but…"

"I blame myself because I am responsible!" The pain in his voice was now covered by complete rage.

"I'm the greatest spy in the world, I can protect myself! And if I die, I don't care! I just need to be with you!"

"This is getting too emotional. Leave. Get out of here, now!" he yelled.

"Don't you understand, our enemies want us to be separated, because together we're strong! When we are united, nothing can beat us!"

"Go. To. Hell. What is it that you don't understand?"

"Fine, I'm going. But you should know I love you. You used to, too."

Sara Reese went home that night, leaving Gibbs on his own. They thought they wouldn't have to see each other in their lives, but, well, sometimes things don't go as planned. Two days later, early in the morning, the director of the CIA got a phone call from Dinozzo.

"Our enemy is alive" the senior field agent announced. "And Gibbs has gone to Afghanistan in order to find him"