True to her word, Jenny had started pulling contacts once she struck out with the CIA. The cowardly director wouldn't even get on the phone with her this time, probably knowing the truth about her nephew and not wanting to deal with her, so after giving his assistant a piece of her mind for having the bad luck of delivering the news of her boss' cowardice, she got on the phone with a military friend of her brother's, who was now standing in front of her, General Alan Harper. "Thanks for coming, Alan. I know it's getting close to dinner time and you'd probably rather be at home with your wife."
"Don't even mention it, Jenny. Jay was a good friend and I'll do whatever I can to help his sister," Harper said.
"I appreciate that. Jay is why I asked you here. Well, actually, his son is," Jenny said.
"Has Jasper's remains finally been recovered?" Harper asked.
"No, and they won't be because there are no remains. Jasper is still alive," Jenny said. Then she waited for the disbelief she knew was coming. Her nephew being alive after all this time and with what happened at his home eighteen years ago was unbelievable.
"He is?" Harper asked with great skepticism in his voice. He seemed a bit afraid to voice his disbelief though.
"I haven't gone insane, Alan. I have proof," Jenny said. There was no anger in her voice. She didn't blame him one bit for being hesitant to believe her. She hadn't believed it right away either. She didn't see how it was possible. It wasn't until Jethro explained that she believed him.
"Proof?"
Jenny nodded. "There's DNA evidence and circumstantial evidence to prove it. He uses a different name now, but it's Jasper."
Harper sat down on of the chairs. "I don't understand. Acosta let him go when he killed everyone else that night?"
"No, he didn't let him go. He decided to make torturing my nephew a sport," Jenny said with anger in her voice. She thought about just the vague information that Gibbs had given her and that was enough to send her into a rage. She was going to kill Acosta for what he'd done to her family. "Somehow Jasper escaped him and made it to a family that took him in. he never spoke of his past, which is why we never found him."
"My God. You're sure?"
"Yes. I found out a couple hours ago. I haven't gotten to talk to him about it yet because he's missing and in trouble," Jenny said.
"What do you need, Jenny," Harper asked immediately, ready to do whatever it took to help his friend's son.
"The CIA has lost their minds! They've decided to deal with Acosta. They're getting him to help with bringing down terrorists in exchange for his freedom," Jenny said.
Harper huffed. "That's gotta be the craziest thing I've ever heard, but i wish I could say it surprised me. No offense to Jay or the few decent people I know who work or have worked in the CIA, but most of them are idiots. How is Jasper involved?"
"You know of a man named Trent Kort?" Jenny asked.
"I've heard of him. He's a well-known CIA agent who many times uses less than legal or ethical means to complete missions," Harper said.
"That's putting it mildly, but you have the gist. He came here this morning and coerced Jasper into helping him and Acosta with operation they're on now. Unknown to me, Jasper was working under me using a different name," Jenny said. It still bothered her that she didn't know. She should've figured it out. Now that she thought back on it, she saw pieces of her brother in the face of the man she'd seen every day for over two years. She didn't understand why she never saw that before.
Harper looked pissed. "He's got a young man who was tortured by Acosta and lost virtually everything to him working with him?"
"Yeah, and that's something he will pay for!" Jenny said firmly. Kort was not going to get away with what he was doing to her nephew. He was going to pay for daring to think he could exploit him this way. "I have been dealing with the CIA all day and they've been less than helpful. They say Kort is working solo to use Jasper, which I believed at first, but now I'm not so sure. Either way, they must have some idea of where Kort would go with him and I need to find out. My nephew's life is on the line. I will not trust it to Kort."
"I have some contacts in the CIA that I can ask for help. I would be glad to do it and help with Jasper's recover if I can," he said.
"Thank you, Alan," Jenny said gratefully.
"Just out of curiousity, what about Acosta. I don't see you just standing by and letting the CIA whisk him away when this is over," Alan said.
"I have no intention of that," Jenny said. She meant what she said to Jethro earlier. When she got her hands on Acosta, she would not be letting him go, nor would she be arresting him. He was going nowhere but into a hole.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Tony looked at his watch as he sat at his desk. It was almost six and there was still no news on McGee. He was getting worried about the younger man. McGee was right now with a known sociopath. Sure, Kort was there, but that wasn't exactly reassuring. Kort couldn't be trusted.
"It is getting late," Ziva said from her own desk. She too was worried.
"Yeah," Tony agreed.
"Is there any news on the BOLO?" Ziva asked.
"Of course not. Kort's a pro. He knows how we operate and he knows how to avoid us," Tony said.
"Gibbs is not going to be happy to hear this," Ziva said. It had been hours and they still had nothing. Gibbs would not like it. Hell, she did not like it.
"Nope," Tony agreed.
Just then the two were interrupted by a familiar voice. "Where's Gibbs?"
Tony and Ziva both turned to see Fornell standing there in casual clothes. "Fornell, what are you doing here?"
"A good question, DiNozzo, one I'd like the answer to. Your boss called me me here and wouldn't tell me why over the phone," Fornell said sounding annoyed.
Gibbs came through at that moment carrying coffee. "Tobias."
"Wanna tell me why I'm here at six-o'clock on my day off?" Fornell asked.
Gibbs nodded towards the elevator and led the way. He didn't bother to make sure Fornell was following. He knew he was. Once they were both inside and the doors closed, he hit the emergency switch.
"What's going on?" Fornell asked.
"Got a situation involving one of my agents, Trent Kort, and his newest project who also happens to be a sadistic killer," Gibbs said.
"Since he's the only one I didn't see, I assume it's McGee. Shouldn't you be dealing with the CIA ?" Fornell asked.
"Trying, but as usual, they're playing games and Jenny's getting pissed," Gibbs said. He didn't blame her. McGee was her nephew. That still seemed weird. Never in his life would he have guessed McGee and Jenny were related, not until he got the information on both their pasts and it started to merge. But he was related to her and the more that sunk in for her, the angrier she got at the CIA, especially Kort.
"Not surprised. They've been making a habit of interfering with NCIS lately," Fornell said.
"It's more complicated than that. First of all, have you heard of a man named Sebastian Acosta?" Gibbs asked.
Recognition appeared on Fornell's face immediately. "You're right, it is more complicated. Yeah, I've heard of him. Not many on the job back then haven't. Just like not many haven't heard of Jasper Shepard Jr. and his family. I'm sure you know now that Acosta murdered your director's brother and his whole family."
"No, he didn't kill all of them. Jasper Shepard III survived that night," Gibbs said.
Fornell frowned. "Where'd you get that idea? The boy wasn't declared dead at the same time as the rest of his family, but it was clear to almost everyone that he was dead. Acosta killed his five-year-old sister. Why would he leave him alive?"
"To torture him. He tortured that kid, Tobias. Got evidence to prove that. That doesn't leave this elevator. My team will find out simply because it can't be avoided, but no one else. He's been through enough," Gibbs said.
"Why do I get the feeling you know Jasper Shepard personally?" Fornell asked.
"Should start at the beginning. This morning, Kort showed up and forced McGee to leave with him," Gibbs started.
"Forced him how?" Fornell asked.
"He blackmailed him. He threatened to reveal secrets that you'll learn during this conversation. Anyway, after Jenny threatened to accuse them of kidnapping, the CIA finally informed her and me that they were using Sebastian Acosta to take down terrorists that had infiltrated their systems," Gibbs said.
"Are you kidding me? I know the CIA works with shady people, the business with La Grenouille is proof of that, but Acosta brutally murdered one of their one," Fornell said with disbelief and disgust in his voice.
"Yeah, so you can imagine Jenny's reaction. She demanded McGee back immediately, but they've been claiming that they had nothing to do with Kort using him," Gibbs said.
"You believe them?" Fornell asked.
"Not sure. They certainly have reason to lie if they did know. But that's irrelevant right now. McGee's in trouble and what matters is helping him," Gibbs said.
"Well, with a guy like Acosta, I can see why you're anxious to put an end to this, but what does all of this have to do with the Shepard boy?" Fornell asked. The piece didn't fit in anywhere. When did they learn he was alive and what part did he play? He soon thought about everything Gibbs had told him about Jenny Shepard's nephew and about McGee. "Wait, are you trying to say that McGee is Jasper Shepard III?"
Gibbs nodded curtly. "Found out a little while ago. As you can guess, Jenny is even more pissed since learning that. Kort has placed her nephew in serious danger and it's not the first time he's been in danger from Acosta. She's on the warpath." He'd gotten a front row seat for that. He was there when she called the CIA and the director refused to speak to her Jenny had completely torn apart his assistant.
"If this is true, why didn't McGee ever say anything?" Fornell asked.
Gibbs shrugged. "Don't know for sure. I have my guesses though. He was tortured by Acosta and he never recovered from it. He never dealt with it to recover from it. If he told Jen the truth, he would have to deal with it. She wouldn't let him hide anymore because she'd know that it would just destroy him."
Fornell sighed. "Alright, what is it that you want from me. I don't exactly have much pull with the CIA."
"That's not what I need. We will find McGee. Jenny's pulling every resource she has, professional and personal. We'll find them. What I'm worried about is what Jenny will do to Acosta when she sees him. She's already stated to me that she'd kill him if she saw him, and that was before it was determined that McGee was her family and what happened to him. Now I'd wager that she wants Acosta's head even more," Gibbs said. He didn't blame her either. He would and did take vengeance when it was his family, but he was alone. If he went to prison, there wouldn't be anyone hurt by it. It wasn't the same with Jenny.
"And you want my help to stop her," Fornell guessed.
Gibbs nodded. "Can't let her do it. I get her anger and thirst for revenge, but I can't let her possibly go to prison. McGee needs her, even if he doesn't realize it. She's all he has. I'm not sure I'll be able to get her to step aside when the time comes. Can't take the risk." Of course it wasn't just McGee. A large part of it was. McGee did need her. He needed her support and he also needed her fierceness to force him to finally deal with what happened to him. But Gibbs also wasn't willing to let Jenny go to prison. He cared about her and he wouldn't let it happen.
"So you want me to help stop it and hand him back over to the CIA?" Fornell asked skeptically. That did not seem any better, nor did it sound like something Gibbs would do.
Gibbs glared at him. "I'm tempted to head slap you for even suggesting I'd agree to that. Acosta destroyed McGee's and Jenny's lives! He tortured them both in different ways. He doesn't walk away again.
"So then what do you want?" Fornell asked truly perplexed.
"The CIA has admitted that Acosta has been involved with the terrorists they're trying to stop," Gibbs said.
Realization hit Fornell after a few seconds. "You want us to swoop in, grab Acosta and whisk him away as a terrorist before Kort and his buddies can do anything."
Gibbs smirked. "As a terrorist, he has no rights. Kort can't do a damn thing."
"Except make my life hell later. I'll take a lot of backlash over this," Fornell said.
"He's a murderer. He tortured an entire family, save one, to death. He has to be taken off the streets, Tobias. CIA can't be allowed to deal with him," Gibbs said.
Fornell sighed. "You will owe me big for this."
Gibbs smiled and hit the emergency switch once more. "If it makes you feel better, I'll get backlash too. Jenny's gonna be pissed when she realizes I've kept her from exacting her revenge."
"It makes me feel slightly better," Fornell said with a smirk.
