a/n: Spoiler—I've figured it out (I hope)! Prepare for some more Ari!

Firefly: Chapter IX

When Shelby had gone to bed, he'd shut his bedroom door, and put away anything that was either expensive, sentimental, a choking hazard, or likely to be used as a bathroom. He'd given Reggie a bath, but when he took her out before bed, she found the only patch of dirt in the yard—note to himself, blow drier next time. He knew that when she started to shed all her think black and brown fur, Gibbs would be pissed if she did it all over the living room couch, so he wanted to re-enforce the concept of stay off the furniture! while she was young and would retain it. But when he turned off the lights and climbed under the sheets, and he could see the reflection of her little puppy eyes in the darkness staring up at him, he couldn't resist but pick her up and let her snuggle under his chin.

He awoke to her whimpering and yipping, and a scent that assaulted his unprepared senses. He opened his sleepy eyes and burning nose to find Reggie pawing at his door and behind her, on the floor, a steaming pile of little puppy shit.

Not the best thing to wake up to first thing in the morning.

"Ugh, Reggie!" He exclaimed in disgust, bolting up in his bed. She just whined at him. He got out of bed to open the window and glanced at the clock; it was 4:20 AM. He guessed it was his fault, she only peed when he'd taken her out before bed—he was just glad that he hadn't left anything material on the floor. "That's a bad girl, no pooping in the house!" He scolded.

He cleaned up the crap (literally) as quickly and quietly as he could, so as not to wake his father, and flushed it down the toilet. Washing his hands before he slipped his bare feet into his sneakers, and put her in her harness and leash, and took her into darkness of the backyard. He stood on the patio in his pyjamas, letting the extendable leash run taunt as she ran around for a little, peed—and cut it short when little scoundrel had to nerve to start digging a hole. He took her straight back to bed after that. The smell had dissipated, thank God, and it felt like he'd barely closed his eyes before he woke up with a slobbery face and her stinky, hot breath.

He groaned as he pushed her away, glancing at the clock; 6:02 AM. "I hope this isn't routine," he told her; if she understood him, she didn't show it. He'd planned to sleep in too, since he didn't have any appointments today, but it seemed like a pipe dream now.

He went to the bathroom first before he took her out in the yard for 15 MIN, before taking her back in where she instantly went to her food and water bowls; and he went straight for the coffee pot. Gibbs always woke up early each morning at the same time, the only reason why it was already brewed and hot. He laced it with sugar and milk before he sat down at the table, and gulped it down before it could go cold.

By the time that Gibbs came down stairs, dressed in his usual work attire, Reggie had finished eating and discovered a loose thread on Shelby's pants very entertaining. Gibbs smirked as he poured a cup of coffee extra black for himself and piping hot, before he sat across from Shelby at the table.

"Welcome to parent hood." He chuckled.

Shelby glowered back, clearly not amused.

"What did you expect?" Gibbs asked. "She's a puppy, she doesn't know any better."

"She was so cute in the store, though!" He moaned.

"I meant what I said, she's your responsibility."

"I know. It just... I didn't expect to wake up so early and find poop on my floor." He pouted.

Gibbs couldn't help the amused smirk. "What did you name her?"

Shelby sighed and looked down with mild amusement as she tugged at the thread. "Reggie," he told his father.

"Fitting." Shelby looked back at him. "It mean's Queen." He finished off his coffee, and stood from the table. "I'll see you after work."

"Bye, dad!" Shelby called after him, as the front door slammed shut and he heard his dad's truck start and pull from the drive. He had grabbed at Reggie before she could run off after him, and held her in his arms. "Fitting," he agreed as she started to lick his face against his will.

chapter IX break…

Shelby had taken Reggie out for a long walk, and took the opportunity to get the rest of the things that he might need. When they got back to the house, he put a plastic mat under the food dishes before getting her a fresh bowl of water. She lapped at it greedily and sloppily; he made a good choice in his purchase. He gave her a treat, telling her to sit, showing her how; she blatantly ignored him, stole the treat and went on her way into the living room to play with her toys.

Shelby shook his head as he followed her. "We'll work on that," he told her before settling on the couch to watch some TV while she played. He took out his cell and texted Kate.

FROM SHELBY:

HEY. MISSED U THE OTHER NITE. GOT A SURPRISE.
AFTER I LEFT UR PLACE, I WENT BY THE PET STORE
AND GOT A PUPPY! SHE'S THE CUTEST THING U HAVE
EVER SEEN. :)

He snapped a cute picture of Reggie and sent that along with it. It was nearly twenty minutes before she replied.

FROM KATE:

HEY THERE. MISSED U 2. I'M HAPPY THAT U GOT
A FRIEND TO KEEP YOU COMPANY. SHE'S ADORABLE,
I CAN'T WAIT TO MEET HER. I'LL C IF I CAN GET AWAY
IN A LITTLE BIT & C U. XO

FROM SHELBY:

OK. HAVE A GREAT DAY. B SAFE. XOX

It wasn't long after that, that Shelby must've dozed off. He awoke sometime later to Reggie's whining. He groaned, rubbing his face, hoping that she didn't use the floor as her bathroom again. He was immensely relieved when he discovered she'd just lost her tennis ball behind the TV stand and couldn't get it back again.

He slid from the couch and crawled towards her on his hands and knees. He pushed her out of the way and reached in behind the stand. It was an awkward angle and he found the side of his face pressed against the wall and his hand tangled in cords and old cobwebs.

There was a knock at the door and her called come in! without thinking as found the tennis ball. He heard the door open, and close as he pulled his arm out and Reggie barked nervously. Shelby supposed that she would be a little nervous about meeting Kate, but then again, she didn't seem to mind Gibbs. Reggie was the type of dog that he was afraid might get her in trouble; if she ever got off the leash when she was older, he knew she would be happy to meet everyone in her line of sight—while that could be good in some situations; in others it could mean disaster.

"Kate?" Shelby smiled as he stood and turned towards his girlfriend, only to take a step back against the wall in surprise and fear. "Ari?" he gasped, Reggie pressing heavily against his calf.

"Shelby!" Perfect white teeth flashed as the Israeli smiled at him—not at all looking like he walked up to Shelby in his own territory. "It's such a pleasure to see you again." He acted liked they were best friends, and Shelby wasn't pressed against the wall in fear—what if Kate came by and he was here? Would he kill her?

"What—?" Shelby started, but Ari ignored him as he spotted the puppy at his feet.

His eyes seemed to light up as he crouched down and looked at Reggie—this was one such situation that Shelby dreaded. "Hey, there, girl." He cooed. "Aren't you a princess." Reggie whimpered and the warmth left Shelby's leg as she bolted from the room as fast as her little legs could carry her, and up the stairs. Ari waved the action aside as if it didn't happen, and stood back up. "It's instinct," he explained to Shelby, "when they sense a predator."

As much as Shelby might have found Reggie's presence a comfort, he was glad that she ran; he didn't know why Ari was here, and he didn't want her caught in the middle—he just hoped that same went for Kate. "What do you want?" He ground out, sick of these games.

Ari's handsome face turned hard as he looked at the other man pressed against the wall, as he took a step forward. "Your father works for NCIS. I want you to get me information on a case that he's currently investigating." He stated simply.

"What? No way! Why would I ever do that for you?" Shelby protested, taking a step away from the wall.

But Ari was right there. "Because I am telling you to," he didn't even have to physically touch the other man, his mere intimidating presence forced Shelby against the wall again. "If you do not do as I say..." the threat was left unsaid, but then he felt like putting the man's imagination at ease. "Your girlfriend, dear Caitlyn? I believe, is bound to be arrive soon, I suspect—I can still be here if you like. The choice is yours,"

Shelby glared back at him harshly. "If you dare hurt her—" he started.

Ari smiled back at him. "Do as I say, and no harm shall come to her."

"Alright," Shelby swallowed down the bile that rose in the back of his throat at the mere thought of what he was going to agree to, but if he didn't, the Israeli doctor/terrorist would kill Kate. "Alright. I'll find out what my father knows."

"Good." Shelby flinched as Ari reached out and patted him on the shoulder like he was a good chap. "I want the information in 72 hours. You know where to find me. I'll let myself out,"

Shelby watched as he left, closing the door behind him. The first thing that he did was lock the door, but he doubted that would do much to stop the terrorist if he wanted back in. He backed away, a shudder running through him in shame and revulsion. Shame at what he was going to do, and revulsion at the man that was making him do it.

He went up stairs to find Reggie (she was hiding under Gibbs's bed), she was shaking and didn't want to come out, and Shelby didn't blame her one bit. He was in the same condition that she was. He'd always felt the safest when he was a kid and went into his mom and dad's room—now just his dad's—but it still felt the same, and he felt himself, as a grown man, crawling under the bed with his dog, and petting her; trying to comfort the both of them.

The former Marine wondered if that was what it was like to be a suspect in Gibbs's interrogation room. He'd seen war, he'd killed, he'd felt loss and tragedy and isolation; but nothing made him feel more like a helpless boy than Ari Haswari.

chapter IX end—

Intense. You wondering what's going to happen next? Me too! Please review.

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