FREEZE FRAME 2 – Room Service
Summary: Freeze Frame Episode Two: The team must protect Marley and Abby over a long weekend. Encouraging Marley to act like a kid seemed a good idea at the time. This is an intermittent episode, with a little romance for Gibbs, thrown in.
Warning: language, one F word and a couple of swats.
A big shout out to Harliquinn, not only for the edit, but also the positive comments and inspiration.
Chapter 7
DUMB WAITERS AND HOUSE KEEPING
FREEZE FRAME: Mid Shot to close up, Marley on Gibbs lap. Gibbs rests his chin on her head as she snuggles into his chest.
CA to Indoor pool.
McGee was still on the phone to Gibbs when Tony and Ziva, realizing that there was no immediate and realistic threat had returned their guns to the bags laying on the pool lounge. Pulling out dry sweats and t shirts, they quickly dressed. Before they could return to the café area to surmise the situation, Marley came back from the vicinity of the restrooms and stood next to Tim and a towel clad Abby. Tim had lowered the phone from his ear but had not disconnected the line. Gibbs could hear the entire conversation through the phone. However the rest of the team was too busy trying to figure out what was going on and could not hear him speaking.
"Marley, where were you?"
"In the restroom, Ziva."
"No, you were not. I looked for you in there, you were not there," scowled Ziva.
Gibbs barked into his phone, "Try again, Marley."
Marley heard the muffled and static command. It spooked her a little, and she wondered if it was the voice of her conscience, you know like you see in those cartoons where a devil sits on one shoulder and an angel sits on the other. She was quickly pulled from her daydream when…
"Try again Marley," demanded Tony.
That IS spooky, she thought, but it was that little devil on her shoulder that motivated her next response.
"I went to that restroom, honest, that one over there."
"That's the men's rest room," said Ziva.
"Yeah, so, it was the closest. I was in a hurry. So what's all the fuss?"
"That was a mistake, Marley. One! " counted Gibbs.
Marley glanced at her left shoulder, then her right. Gosh, there's that voice again. It's creeping me out.
"So what's all the fuss?" Hmmm game on, thought Tony. His instincts told him that somehow Marley was omitting information and that she was connected to the event out on the terrace. "Well, Ziva and I are going to go and check out all the fuss. McGee, why don't you and Abby take Marley upstairs? We'll let you know what's going on. Looks like some harmless kid's prank," said Tony, giving Marley a damning glare.
Marley got a little nervous, but, hey, it should be alright. It was a harmless prank and besides they had no idea who the girl was. Surely, they wouldn't be able to figure out it was her. To Marley's thinking, it was partly Rye's fault anyway. Sure, she had sneaked a look at Rye's file and got a little peeved that the girl was moving into the home and that she had to move out of, and all. And, sure Marley had texted Rye Friday night to arrange a meeting with Gill. Marley just wanted to check the chick out. But, she wasn't really thinking straight and Gill found out about the file, and all, and she forgot to tell Gill that she had texted her, and all, but, Rye wasn't supposed to be here not yet any way. Marley had arranged the meeting for Monday, in the lobby. That would have given her enough time to text Rye back, JM, (just messin), and cancel the meeting. Gill had told her that she was to give Rye a fair go and Marley was, honestly, especially after she had to write all those lines. But, noooo, Rye had to turn up early, looking like some valley girl in her high heels. Okay, so she was pretty and dressed not so much like a valley girl but kind of an edgy valley girl, which was kinda cool, like Abby. But, hey, it was her t shirt, her favorite Paramore t-shirt, her "waiting for a MIRACLE" t-shirt. Rye sure had a lot of nerve. Hopefully, she was dumb and couldn't implicate Marley in any way. Sure, if they don't make the connection, and why would they? Only Gill knows Rye. It shouldn't be a problem. Marley felt her conscience clear.
"Hey, don't look at me," said Marley.
"That's TWO, Marley, bellowed Gibbs at his cell phone's mic. Gibbs looking at the screen began to smirk at the expressions on Marley's face as she heard his words without any idea where they were coming from. Her befuddled look suddenly changed to alarm as her eyes followed a hand that held a phone. She watched it slowly rise. Marley's face paled as the phone was cupped against Tim's ear.
"Hey, Boss, you still there?"
"I'm here, McGee."
"Oh, good, Marley's here, Boss. She just went to the restroom. Ziva and Tony are checking out the ruckus out on the terrace."
"Yeah, I know. I've been watching and listening to the whole situation from up here.
"You know?"
Marley gulped. She slowly started to step back. But McGee caught her by the back of her Lycra crop top, then reeled her back in close like a human yo-yo.
"Yep. You and Abby get up here, and drag Marley up with you. Has Ziva got her cell phone with her?"
"Yes, Boss." Tim hung up. Abby and Marley started to pack their gear. They could see Tony and Ziva out on the terrace talking to the young girl, who was being helped by one the waiters. They saw Ziva flip open her cell. Ziva listened, then glanced at the girl, then back over at Marley, who now looked like a deer caught in the headlights.
"Shit, Gibbs knows," whispered the Devil. "Wonder why he was counting?" mused the Angel.
Pan to close up of Ziva talking to Gibbs on her cell.
Ziva turned back to face an irate teenager being attended to by one of the hotel's waiters.
"What the fuck?" cursed Rye. "Some useless crazy idiot just dumped milk all over me."
Tony stepped up to the young girl, while Ziva went and picked up the evidence of the water balloons that were now in pieces on the ground.
Tony turned to Rye, "Hey, language. Calm down. What's your name and what are you doing here?"
"What are you cops or something? I haven't done anything wrong."
"We didn't say you had. We're just trying to help," said Tony.
"Okay, not that it's any of your business. My name's Rye Burton. I'm here to meet with my counselor, Gillian Riggs, and I've ended up absolutely saturated. My shoes, oh my shoes, they're soaked and slippery. They're ruined."
The waiter interjected, "we are sorry for the inconvenience. I really can't explain what happened. Maybe they fell off the service trolley on the balcony, be careful there might be glass. Miss Burton, the hotel will be happy to pay for the cleaning. In actual fact, we can send them to housekeeping straight away. I'm sure they will be able to dry off those shoes, as well."
"They better!" demanded Rye, "or you'll be paying for new ones."
While the waiter and Rye continued to discuss the arrangements, Ziva pulled Tony aside.
"Tony, Gibbs was just on the phone, he recognized Rye as one of Gill's kids in the program. Gill is still out shopping, and Gibbs wants us to bring Rye up."
"Why would Gill would contact this kid and have her meet here. Surely she wouldn't risk our cover being blown and Marley and Abby's security. Gibbs is gonna be pissed."
"Tony, I don't think Gill has arranged any of this. And, she sure didn't drop water bombs on the girl. Look these aren't water bombs these are our evidence gloves. If Gill did contact Rye for whatever reason, it's obvious our little Marley has taken the opportunity to play the prank."
"I sorta guessed that part of it, Ziva. Marley had 'bad conscience' written all over her face. She was too quick to ask what was going on. Clever though, I've got to admit, never thought of using the latex gloves as water bombs. They need too much liquid."
"Yes, well where there is a way there is a will. Look, she has tied the fingers in knots."
"Close Ziva, it's where there is a will there is a way. Ingenious and the milk was a good touch. Water dries fast, but milk stains and leaves a sickly smell."
"We can sort all this out upstairs."
Ziva and Tony approached the waiter and interrupted the conversation.
"It's okay…ahh," Tony checked the waiters name tag, "...Sam. We're probably best to sort this out. Miss Burton is with us."
"No, I'm not. I don't even know you," protested Rye.
"Yes, but we know you. Gillian is with us and we can take you to her." Turning to the waiter again Tony said, "Sam, we will be in the executive suite. We are Mr. Stillwater's bodyguards."
"Yeah, right" said Rye, I'm still not going with you. Where's your ID? Bodyguards, my ass. I don't know what's going on here, but I'm not stupid enough to go up to some hotel room with a couple of strangers. You could be some psycho sicko perverted couple for all I know.
"Very wise, Rye," said Ziva, My name is Ziva David and this is Tony DiNozzo. But I can assure you, even though Mr DiNozzo here looks a little strange, he is of no real threat, to any woman anyway. You know what I mean; he plays croquet for the other side."
"I think you mean he bats for the other side." Rye looked Tony up and down, "Doesn't make me feel any better. I'm still not going with you. Look just forget it, I'll catch up with Gill another time, my lifts waiting for me in the lobby." Turning to the waiter, she asked, "Sam would you take me back to the lobby please?"
Tony gave Ziva "a not helping here" glare, then snickered, "You'll will take any opportunity to rib me, won't you, Ziva?"
"Oh, but, Tony you are right, it was too a good opportunity to piss up. Besides the girl is smart, she should not just take us at our word."
"It's PASS up, Ziva! She has a smart mouth, I'll give her that," grumbled Tony.
"Oh, relax; she's just a kid, Tony."
Turning back to Sam and Rye, a very indignant Tony responded, "very well. Why don't we all go to the lobby? I'm sure we will be able to page Miss Riggs and she can meet us there."
"Sounds good," said Sam. "That way, while you're waiting, I can arrange a change of clothes if you like and send your wet ones down to housekeeping. They will have them done in about half an hour. You can wait in the staff lounge if you want. I'll even shout you a cup of coffee."
Rye smiled at the young waiter. "Thank you, Sam I might just take you up on that."
Tony rolled his eyes at the obvious flirtatious nature of the young waiter. Surely this kid, Rye, could see through that smarmy pick up. Ziva stifled a giggle with her hand, still she couldn't resist another dig, "Smooth isn't he? You should take notes, Tony."
All four headed off to the lobby. Rye, squelching in her heels, followed the waiter, while Tony and Ziva walked behind. Ziva flipped her phone open and dialed Gibbs.
"Gibbs?"
"What's happening, Ziva?"
"We are accompanying Rye back to the lobby. She says she has someone waiting for her there. Rye isn't just going to come with us. Is Gill back there yet, can she meet us down here?"
"Gill's not here, I'll try and get a message to her to meet you there.. Check out Rye's lift. If it looks like she's going to bolt you may need to show her your ID's. She's a navy brat so she will probably know who NCIS are."
"But what about our cover, stories."
"My gut tells me it hasn't been blown. If it is, her knowing who we are isn't going to make it any worse. Just keep the front up with any of the hotel staff. Hopefully this is no more than a minor breach of security, with no one the wiser.
Make sure, she wasn't followed. I'd also like to get some details of how she was contacted."
"I'd say Marley knows that, Gibbs."
"Oh, I'm positive Marley has orchestrated this whole thing."
"Are Tim, Abby and Marley there yet?"
"Just arrived."
Ziva closed her cell. "Looks like Marley is in trouble again." Announced Ziva.
CA to Executive Suite's hall way.
Tim, Marley, and Abby arrived at their suite. Before Tim had time to ring the buzzer, Gibbs opened the door.
"Thanks, McGee, can you take over the surveillance watch?"
"Sure, Boss."
"Abbs, why don't you go change? Oh, and, Abbs dress for dinner."
"Dinner! Gibbs, you mean I get to get out of here. Nanny's night off. Oh, Oh, what will I wear? I mean, Gibbs, I didn't bring a lot of stuff. Maybe Gill will lend me her new dress. It will be a little short on me, but you know I could like edge it up a bit, boots, chains, my dog collar, I bought my dog collar…"
"Abbs, I'm sure that won't be a problem; Gill will be back any minute."
"Great, so where are we eating?"
"You, Tony, Ziva and Tim can decide that. You can all have the night off, though you're still under their protection, Abbs, so don't leave their sight. Gill and I will stay here with Marley."
"Oohhh….Gibbs, a nice cozy night in."
"Hope so, Abbs," smirked Gibbs.
Marley and Abbs were all smiles, until Abby skipped off and Gibbs's smile morphed into THE GLARE. Marley's smile faded and she attempted to move off and go change out of her bathing suit.
"Ah uh, you stay here," said Gibbs.
Marley closed her eyes before she turned around to face Gibbs. She stood there chewing on the corner of the towel she was wrapped in. When she finally opened her eyes Gibbs was sitting on the large sofa, arms crossed and looking her square in the eye. No one spoke.
Marley was the first to break the standoff by deciding to cast her eyes down and play nervously with a loose thread on the towel. Still no one spoke. Marley didn't have to be looking to know Gibbs was still just coldly staring at her.
"He's goooood - ," said the Angel. "Don't break, don't break," said the Devil, "redeploy, stall, change the subject."
Marley popped her hand out from behind the towel and raised her arm. "Can I be excused, please? I need to go to the bathroom."
"You just went."
"Oh,… yeah, but I need to go again. I must have swallowed too much water, or something."
"Or something? Tell me about the "something", Marley?"
Before Marley could answer, Gibbs, in full intimidation mode and enjoying it, held up his hand , "wait." With eyes still on Marley, he shouted over to Tim, "McGee, you got eyes on the pool area?"
"Yep. Perfect, Boss, the pool interior and exterior terrace. Got an empty pool area.
"Good. Check out the lobby area and promenade, anything suspicious? Any unusual looking characters?" With his eyes still on Marley he continued. "Anybody doing anything out of the ordinary?"
"Nope, Boss, everything looks kind of normal. Shops are closing on the promenade and people are leaving. There are a few people in the lobby; Tony and Ziva are at the concierge's desk. They are with one of the waiters and a young girl. There are another couple getting their car from valet. And there are a few people sitting on the lounges, no one suspicious, at this point anyway, Boss."
"Can you see Gill anywhere?"
Tim scanned the surveillance camera's live feed screens. "Nope."
Marley was still standing in front of Gibbs and jiggling one leg, which increased in rhythm with every word spoken by Tim. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Gibbs got up to answer it, but not before giving Marley a directive, "Stay there, Marley."
"Just come clean"," said the Angel. "Yeah, how bad can it be?"asked the Devil. "Piss off!" said Marley.
"Marley!"
"Huh, no, Gibbs, not you," stuttered Marley, then jiggled her leg faster.
"Go!" pointed Gibbs.
He shook his head and chuckled as soon as Marley took off for the bathroom. The kid was really panicking. The harmless prank really wasn't a real concern, though he thought he had made it clear that he didn't want any pranks played this weekend. Even so, the fact that Rye had turned up was a problem. Why she was here and how had she been contacted? Was she followed and who else knew that Gill and possibly Marley were here? Gibbs's gut pretty much told him that Marley was behind the whole thing. So making her squirm was a little was a bit of payback for the hell of a weekend she'd given them so far. He was pretty sure she was ready to spill the beans. Persuasion was his speciality. He was pulled back from his speculative thoughts, by another bang on the door.
"Jethro, are you there?"
"Gill? Sorry, come in. Oaky, let me take them for you," said Gibbs as grabbed the shopping bags.
"Jethro, thanks, I've been knocking for ages. What's wrong?"
"Lot's, but nothing bad, I hope. Listen, you have to go down to the lobby. Rye is here. She says she has a meeting arranged with you today."
"What? Rye is at her grandmothers."
"Not any more. Have you got your phone?"
"Yes, here, but I haven't even turned it on. You told me not to use it this weekend. Why is Rye here? What's going on?"
"I'm not sure, but believe me I'll get to the bottom of it. I'd like Rye up here, until I can be sure she hasn't been followed. You need to go and get her. She wouldn't come up with Tony and Ziva. Not without ID.
"Good, obviously, she knows better than to go off with strangers. Where's Marley?"
"Bathroom."
"You know, I bet she is behind all this." She snarled.
"And you're probably right, Mom. Your instincts are kicking in." Gibbs gave her a quick peck before urging her out the door. "Oh and Gill, you're Mrs Stillwater to the staff here, remember."
"How could I, Mr Stillwater." She laughed.
Marley returned from the bathroom, stopping briefly to grab a t shirt and sweats to put on over her bathing suit. She quickly put the t shirt on and was trying to put on the sweats while hopping back to Gibbs.
Gibbs grabbed the pants off her, "Don't bother, you won't need them…yet!" He said, as he laid them over the arm of the sofa. "So, you ready to tell me about the 'or something' that happened at the pool, Marley?"
"Ahh? Can I plead the fifth?"
"Nope, I'll consider that an omission, that makes, THREE!" declared Gibbs. He grabbed Marley's arm and pulled her over his knee. "You have had three chances now to tell the truth, little girl." He then gave her bottom three sharp smacks.
"Ouch! Gibbs!" Marley yelped and tried to get up. "Please Gibbs, my shorts are still wet, it stings."
Gibbs held Marley in place. "You can decide, Marley, right now, whether you stay here or start telling me what's going on. Three lies so far, you really want to keep going?"
"Noooo, Gibbs, I'll talk. I'll talk."
Gibbs let her up. Marley pulled at her wet Lycra swimming shorts, trying to get some cool air to her burning backside.
"I thought you didn't interrogate kids," she quipped.
"You wanna be funny?" He dared.
"Intimidation then?"
"Persuasion, he warned, slapping her hands down, "Start from when you didn't go to the restroom."
Marley didn't take breath as she explained, "I saw Rye out on the terrace area. I got peeved when I saw she was wearing my t-shirt, my favorite t-shirt, Gibbs. She had no right just helping herself to my things. So I grabbed my towel and noticed Ziva's latex gloves in her bag along with her gun, badge and other stuff. But I didn't touch any of that stuff, honest. I just figured I make some water bombs out of the gloves. So, I filled them up with milk that was left on a trolley on the terrace and I dropped one over the side, trying to hit Rye. But the first one missed. They were pretty tight and full and I was sort off my aim a little, but I adjusted with the second drop and well, bullseye. She was covered in milk from head to toe. It's unbelievable how much liquid those gloves hold, Gibbs. I thought, you know it would only be a drop, but noooo, there was heaps. So you know, I didn't need to drop another one. Besides, I only had two. Anyway, she screamed and the rest is history, I guess."
"Not quite, Marley. Tony and Ziva heard the scream and ran with their guns drawn, thinking you were in danger."
"Oh, well, I didn't see that, Gibbs. I didn't know that! Ziva and Tony were with Tim when I came back."
"And, Ziva asked you where you had been."
"Yes , so that was one lie, huh?"
"Yup. Why is Rye here, Marley?"
"I don't kn…." Marley stopped as Gibbs flipped open Gills phone, "Ah, well she could have got a text Friday night, you know, when I wasn't well and wasn't really thinking all that straight."
"Straight enough to text her. Go on, the whole story, Marley?"
"I found Rye's file in mom's brief case and then I texted her Friday night and made out I was Gill. I told her that I was away for the weekend with my family and that I would like to meet her for lunch on Monday. Monday, Gibbs, she wasn't supposed to be here till Monday. And, after Gill had a talk with me, I was going to text her back and cancel it, but I hadn't had time yet. Plus I couldn't find the phone. It was just a dumb prank, Gibbs. No one got hurt, I wasn't in any danger. I'm stupid, I admit, I didn't think about what Tony and Ziva might do, or the security thing. I didn't figure out all the angles, it was just really a spur of the moment thing, honest. It was just a prank."
"You're not stupid, Marley, just the opposite in fact. However, young lady, you've been a royal pain in the ass."
"Yeah, well, my ass hasn't fared too well either."
Gibbs raised an eyebrow at her wisecrack.
Marley ignored Gibbs's silent yet mild reprimand and bravely continued, "Besides, kids are a pain in the ass, Gibbs, don't ya know that? You wanted me to be more of a kid, and a pain in the ass comes with the territory. Dad's just have to suck that one up. Oops, I mean, if you ever have a kid, Gibbs, you'll find out; they are a real pain in the ass."
Gibbs pulled Marley closer and sat her down next to him. He put her arm around her shoulders and squeezed her into an embrace, "I did have a kid, Marley, a little girl. She was only eight years old when she died, so she didn't really have time to be too much of a big pain in the ass. She could be naughty, don't get me wrong, but I would give anything to have her back and being a bigger pain in the butt than you. I wish I could have protected her, I should have protected her."
Marley, mesmerized by Gibbs's declaration and unaware of her own tears, subconsciously caught a tear with her forefinger as it escaped the corner of Gibbs's eye. She crawled up into his arms.
"Just like me, Gibbs; I should have protected Rose."
"You couldn't have, Marley."
"Why, because I'm not an adult?"
"No, Marley, because you weren't there." He kissed her on the forehead…. "Can't change that."
"Not ever, Gibbs…" she whispered.
They sat there in silence, in comfort, thinking about some of the nicer memories they had of those they loved, and a little bit more acceptance.
FREEZE FRAME: Mid Shot to close up, Marley on Gibbs lap. Gibbs rests his chin on her head as she snuggles into his chest.
TBC
Chapter 8: Please Do Not Disturb
A.N. A shorter chapter than usual, but this was too nice a moment. I hope it's not too boring in the begining. Should I change the rating? Both girls will use a bit of bad language in the next Chapter. Rye's tough, but not uncouth, I hope that comes across.
P.S. Happy Australia Day to all the Aussie Readers. And to all the Aussie mum's, Happy Back to School week. YAY! Don't know about you but I need the break from my loveable yet pain in The A, brood.