The City of Shadows
Author's Note: I'm very proud to say that most of my friends that have read this are-so far-thoroughly confused. My work here is done. Actually, if anyone has read my first story, this whole thing wouldn't be such a mystery (because it's the same character), but for those that haven't, the mystery remains-for now.
Disclaimer: I claim ownership to nothing except for my character.
"What do you mean 'she's gone'?" Gibbs shouted at Tony and Tim, who were standing awkwardly in front of his desk.
"I don't know, boss." Tim started. "We just went into the room and she wasn't there." Gibbs looked at Tony.
"Weren't you supposed to be watching her?"
"I was! I mean, I wasn't in the room, but I was right outside the door. There is no way she could have gotten out."
"Well, she did. Find her, now!"
"Yes boss!" Came the simultaneous response from the two. Both of them scrambled to their desks, not knowing exactly what they were supposed to be looking for. Ziva-who was at her own desk-didn't make a comment. Even she was afraid of what Gibbs might do if she did.
Meanwhile, Abby had just come back from a bathroom break (it's all those darn Caf-Pows), when she found a flash drive sitting on her desk. She was curious, but didn't think much of it, figuring that someone had dropped it off while she was gone.
She put the flash drive in her computer and was immediately overwhelmed by the complex binary code that streamed across her monitor. It took her nearly two hours, but she decoded it. Once she had, she called Gibbs.
"Yeah, Abbs? What is it?"
"I figured it out."
"Figured what out?"
"The flash drive you gave me. I decoded it."
"I didn't give you a flash drive."
"Well, someone did." Then there was an audible click and Abby knew that Gibbs had hung up on her. She also knew, however, that he would be coming down to her lab any time now. She waited for him and when he came in-the others all tailing behind him-she started explaining.
"I came back to my lab, and found this." She held up the drive. "The code was really complex, but it was no match for me." She put it back into her computer and typed a few codes in. Suddenly the numbers disappeared, leaving only four in the center of the screen-three together and one separate.
"1, 1, 0, 1. And what, exactly, does that mean?" Gibbs asked her.
"Not 1, 1, 0, and 1. It's 110 and 1, as in page 110, line 1 of Shay Caycie's book. That was the really hard part to figure out." She took the book off of the desk, flipped to the page, and read the first line aloud.
"Your job may be important, but don't you dare try to tell me how to do mine. This is my case, and I don't need your help."
"The story's about a private detective and a cop working on the same case. I don't exactly know what that has to do with this case, but…" She stopped when she noticed everyone heading out the door-Gibbs leading the way. "Okay, then." She mumbled to herself as the drained yet another Caf-Pow.
The elevator ride back to the bullpen was relatively silent. Tony couldn't keep quiet for long, however, and eventually broke.
"I don't understand."
"We're the cop, she's the detective. She's trying to tell us that this is her problem and she needs to deal with it on her own." Gibbs answered.
"So, what are we going to do?"
"We're going to catch the killer, DiNozzo." He slapped Tony on the back of the head, that and his tone indicating that it was a stupid question. As he walked away, Tim looked after him.
"How did he know that it was the detective speaking in the novel? Abby didn't tell us that." He exchanged confused expressions with Tony.
"You don't think he…read it, do you?" They exchanged another look before shaking their heads.
"Nah." They said together.
"There's no way…"
"The boss wouldn't…
"He doesn't read things like that…"
"…Or does he?" There was a silence, and they both watched as Gibbs headed back to the elevator.
"Where are you going boss?" Tony asked.
"Home." Gibbs answered simply. The two glanced at the clock to see that it was time to leave. They gathered their things and headed to their respective residences. Tim had reached his apartment and was about to put the key into the lock, when a voice sounded behind him.
"Nice place you've got here. The neighbor's kind of a jerk, but it happens." He jumped and turned to see Shadow leaning against the side of the building.
"How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough. I told you I'd be waiting."
"I didn't think you meant at my house." She shrugged.
"What can I say? I'm a complicated person." He sighed-silently agreeing-before opening the door and motioning inside.
"Do you want to come in?" She shifted uncomfortably.
"Would that be okay? I don't want to intrude, but it is a bit cold out here."
"It's fine. Come on in." She smiled, passing Tim and entering the apartment. There was a loud bark and Shadow found herself face-to-snout with a German Shepard. The dog was standing on its hind legs and had its paws on her shoulders. He started licking her face, causing her to laugh.
"No, Jethro. Down boy." Tim tugged on the dog's collar and lowered him to the ground. "Sorry about that." He apologized nervously.
"Oh, don't worry about it. He's so cute. I don't even know him and I love him already." Shadow laughed again. "So, his name's Jethro?" She raised an eyebrow at him.
"Yeah, Abby named him."
"Ah, that explains it." Tim was silent as he watched Shadow pet his dog. Eventually, she looked up and caught him staring. "You're probably wondering why I'm here."
"The thought has crossed my mind, yes."
"I think you've said that before."
"Probably." Another silence.
"Actually," Shadow hesitated. "I don't have a reason for being here…I just wanted to see you." She blushed, turning her attention back to Jethro, who licked her face again.
"R-really?" Tim stuttered, also blushing.
"Yes," Shadow responded quietly. "I like you, Tim. You understand me." This silence stretched on for a while, before Tim figured out what to say.
"I like you too, Shadow." Okay, so that shouldn't have taken that long to figure out, but it did.
"Oh good," she said, obviously relieved. "That would have been so awkward if you didn't. Um…I don't mean to be pushy, or anything, but I'm kind of thirsty. Do you have anything I could drink?"
"Yeah, sure. What do you want?"
"Just water. I don't really drink anything else."
"Okay." He went to what Shadow assumed was the kitchen area. She sat down in a chair and waited. When he returned, he found that she was looking at his typewriter.
"Kind of old fashioned, isn't it?" She asked as she took the glass he offered.
"I like it."
"I prefer a computer."
"Most authors do." Shadow looked taken aback.
"Did you just call me 'most authors'?"
"That's not what I meant…I mean…you're not like most authors…I mean…that didn't come out right…I'm sorry." He tried to correct himself, clearly flustered. She just laughed and set her hand on his arm.
"Relax," she told him. "I was joking."
"Right, sorry."
"You have nothing to apologize for…You know, I still haven't gotten my computer back."
"I'll ask Gibbs about that tomorrow."
"Okay. Thanks."
"So…" Tim started. Shadow waited for him to finish, but he took a while. "Do you want to…watch a movie…or something?"
"Sure, sounds like fun." She answered immediately. "What do you want to watch?"
"Why don't you pick?" Shadow shrugged and followed Tim to where he kept his movies. It took her less than a minute to make her choice.
"Oh my god! I love this movie!" She shouted, holding it up for him to see. It was Star Trek, one of his favorites.
"You like this movie?"
"Did I not just say that I love this movie?"
"You did…"
"Well, there you go." She put it in the player and flopped down on his couch (does he even have a couch? Oh well, he does now) and motioned for him to sit with her. He did so, and they stayed that way until they fell asleep, about two-thirds of the way through the movie.
A/N: I'm going to end it there. I don't know when I'm going to get some answers out, but I guess it's not going to be in this chapter. Maybe the next one will, or maybe it will just be more mushy-gushy stuff. I haven't decided yet.
