Thursday was the day. The gang had discussed it on the weekend and they decided that they wanted it as close to the end of the week as possible so that there was less school time to look for the culprits but they wanted it done before Friday so that CJ could have it all looked after by the time she met Abby after school.
Using their information that was gathered from Atti and Avery's earlier reconnaissance mission CJ and the rest of the gang entered the tech wing. Quickly they began to place a small black cat firecracker in the ventilation slot of the closest row of lockers. CJ had tied each of the fuses together so that they only had to light one and each would blow one at a time as the fuse burnt away. Once all ten were placed the gang backed out of the hall and left CJ the final honors of actually lighting the fuse.
Chaos reigned immediately. Once the first firecracker blew the echo reverberated through the metal locker and down the hall. A student and teacher still in one of the classrooms though they heard gun fire. The second firecracker blew. Now the two were sure that it was a gun they had heard. The teacher initiated lock down procedures and things went from bad to really bad.
The firecrackers continued at regular intervals to explode confirming for those in the area that they really were under attack. The entire school was in lock down. The problem was CJ had nowhere to go. The rest of the gang had been on the way to the cafeteria and were quickly ushered into the closest classrooms. CJ's only escape was a bathroom just outside the tech wing. Far too close to the action as far as she was concerned. She was alone and starting to panic.
Police sirens could be heard within minutes, the announcements on the loud speaker told everyone to stay where they were. CJ couldn't decide if finding a different location to hide was the best choice but she didn't want to be found in the hallways. Panic had truly taken over and there was no longer the possibility of rational thought on CJ's part. With her back against the far wall she slid down until she was sitting wrapped her arms around her knees and began crying.
It felt like she was there forever. And when the police officer finally found her she had been in the bathroom for over 20 minutes alone. The school was still in lock down but they had discovered that it was not likely a gunman but a stupid prank. They had found the remnants of the black cats and a book of matches lying on the floor in front of the set of lockers. The officer was trying to console her explaining that all was well and that there was no need to be scared, she was safe.
CJ was not worried about a gunman, she was worried about a very different man, one this young officer had no understanding of. It was as the officer led her down the hall towards the auditorium that he noticed she was bleeding. And instead of leading her to where they were collecting students who were not designated to a class at the time so that they could make sure all were safe and accounted for he took her to the EMT's set up in the front foyer.
This was where it all came out. How else do you describe a severe burn on four of your fingers if you weren't the one with the matches? The EMT was such a nice woman. She treated CJ's fingers and bandaged them all up. She too tried to console CJ as the tears continued to fall. She wasn't crying, there was no sound, the tears just spilled uncontrollably down her face. It was in her gentle questioning about how CJ had managed to get such bad burns while at school and during this incident that the EMT worker put two and two together and realized that CJ was the one to have lit the firecrackers and in that lighting process was burnt. Getting as many details as possible from CJ while she was in the daze like state the EMT worker radioed her supervisor who in turn contacted the head of the police on scene who in turn contacted Mr. Cooperland. It was this group of men who descended on the front foyer to collect a still tearful CJ.
Mr. Cooperland's first call was to Mr. Tony DiNozzo. Problem was Tony was unable to answer his line because at that very moment the NCIS headquarters was in lock down because someone had allegedly fired a weapon in the parking garage. NCIS was in just as much turmoil as was the high school. None of this information registered with CJ.
Mr. Cooperland's second call was to Mr. Leroy Jethro Gibbs as he had dealt with the uncle on a previous occasion and thought it best to get a hold of someone now rather than later. Beyond panic, beyond feeling, beyond worry CJ just sat mute and statuesque. She didn't realize that each student was counted, and all were escorted back to the class to which they belonged. The change of classes didn't happen until everyone was properly registered. CJ also didn't hear any of the men around her talking about possible mischief charges, school suspension or need for official statements. CJ didn't register that her fingers really, really hurt or that she was extremely hungry.
Gibbs had difficulty gaining access to the school but eventually was escorted to the office. He was brought up to date on what had happened and spent several minutes convincing the LEO's and the school that he would keep CJ home the next day but there was no need for further external intervention as they would deal with everything at home. He made sure to drop what he had once been and what both of CJ's parents current employment entailed. It was a hard sell but it was Gibbs and he finally won out. Only then was he lead into the office to see CJ. She paid no attention to his arrival and he was instantly worried. CJ was in shock and no one around her seemed to be paying any attention.
"CJ, CJ look at me" he said taking her by the shoulders as he knelt in front of the chair she was sitting in.
Seeing a familiar face CJ wrapped her arms around his neck as though she were a small child saying "Oh Uncle Gibbs" and began to sob. She continued to sob as he rubbed her back and held her tight.
"Shh… shh… it's going to be ok angel… it's going to be ok… shh …. Shhh" he tried to sooth. He was never any good at crying women or girls. It made him feel so inadequate like nothing else could. But she needed him and so he stayed there crouched on the floor, knee throbbing, mind racing trying to figure out how to calm his "little angel" down.
When she had finally got enough control that he could get her to stand and follow instructions he took her by the shoulders and led her out of the building and into his truck. He headed straight for NCIS, not because that was where Tony and Ziva were, although that was a bonus, it was because that was where Jimmy would be. And CJ needed to be tended to the bandages were wet from tears and he was worried she was actually in shock.
By the time Gibbs drove into the Navy Yard and up to the parking lot, most of the commotion and excitement was over and it only took a couple of physical threats and I'll report you to get them into the building and heading to the autopsy theater. Once in the building Gibbs called Tony on his cell to get him to meet them. CJ was simply following orders and instructions, she wasn't thinking, or feeling she was just being. Jimmy actually lifted her under her arms onto the table as you would a toddler.
He first un-bandaged her hand and examined the burns. They were quite bad but not very big. He instructed Gibbs to get her something to drink as burns cause dehydration and with the emotional shock of everything she would benefit from some fluids. He asked CJ a lot of questions, had she hit her head, when was the last time she'd eaten, what were the burns actually from. She answered them in monosyllabic responses and in a tone drained of all expression.
Tony arrived first and like when Gibbs arrived at the school CJ threw herself around him and sobbed. He too was not the best at consoling but his daughter was in need of him and he was there. A shoulder to cry on, an arm to hold her up and words to sooth "Peanut it's ok, we'll work it all out, you're alright now." Tony was patting her gently on the shoulder when Ziva flew into the room and took over the holding, rocking and reassuring.
Much of the soothing and words were more for themselves than CJ. She wasn't paying any attention. But hearing the words out loud helped each and every one of the terrified adults to calm themselves. It may have been that they too had been in lock down, or that they saw she had been injured, or that she wasn't being her normal CJ that had them so worked up that none of them were able to do more than a few words per sentence.
The tableau of Jimmy and Gibbs standing off to the side, CJ sat on the autopsy table being hugged by Ziva and patted gently by Tony was interrupted as a mascara streaked goth came flying through the sliding doors and bowled Ziva over to get to CJ.
"Oh my God,.. Oh my God… Oh my God… are you alright… of course you're not alright… you got burned.. oh CJ let me see… no I don't want to see… Oh my God… it's all my fault…she's going to be ok right? she's going to be ok… I am so sorry CJ … it is all my fault.. .what was i thinking.. you got hurt and that is all my fault… I didn't think you'd get hurt… Oh my God." Abby ranted as she touched CJ all over as if to make sure she really was in one piece.
Abby's overwhelming outburst brought CJ into the present. "Abs, I'm ok" CJ affirmed grabbing Abby by the shoulders and giving her a pretty good shake. Abby in returned stopped completely. She didn't move or say anything else. The two accomplices stared into each other's faces and traded an assortment of feelings and thoughts.
It was Jimmy that brought them back to reality and suggested that maybe the family reunion could take place in a more appropriate location like the conference room and leave the poor dead in peace.
