Chapter 11
Abby was more than tired. She had been "learning to do with little sleep.' as she told Ducky. She had sanded a little more than ½ of Jethro's boat often dropping down to sleep on a pile of blankets under the frame. Bourbon and boats did bring sleep she found. She just wondered how Jethro had done it for so many years.
Jethro had been gone for 6 months. Her broken heart kept her sleepless. She slept for 2-3 hours at a time and only when she literally collapsed.
Always she could feel him. Somewhere in her mind and soul. She could feel him, inside. He was alive. It had always been that way for her. She had always had a gift. Her mother and grandmother had it too. She could feel her family all the time.
But when she had met Jethro the attraction between them had been quick and powerful. The connection deeply spiritual and somehow visceral. As time had gone by it had only grown stronger. When they had become lovers the bond had intensified still more. Jethro had not been a believer but she had worn him down over the years. There had been too many times she had been right. Too many times when the caution she put in his ear had saved him or his team.
She turned back to one of her machines as it beeped. Evidence for Sattlers case.
As she set it up for the 'scope she sighed.
Now she knew he was in trouble. Not just a usual "Gibbs is chasing bad guys and they hate him" stuff. This was bad, really bad. And she did not know what to do about it. She put her head down and prayed. Prayer had always helped her.
XXX
Jenny Shepherd had used and thrown all of her not inconsiderable influence all over Capitol Hill, the Admiralty, FBI, and finally the CIA. There was a great deal of squirming and a few death rattles. She was able to confirm that the raid that killed Édouard Ste-Germaine took place. She was not able to find out what the purpose was for the raid and it was not clear why the fixation on the Ste-Germaine family. It was put to her that the explosion was due to efforts of a fellow crime syndicate. She wasn't buying it. She also was applying a great deal of pressure to speak with the past director of the CIA Stephen Markham. He had been in charge when the abortive raid took place. She wanted to look this man in the eye when he lied to her.
She was determined. That raid had somehow lead to Jethro's kidnapping all these years later. She may not ever again feel his lips on hers, or wake up with his strong, warm body wrapped around her but she could still fight for him.
She could somehow repay a little of the debt she owed him. He had made her special, made her believe in herself. She had made a massive mistake walking away from him. A life's happiness thrown away.
She knew he was now happy and content with Abby. Had been since before she arrived at NCIS. She couldn't bring herself to begrudge it to him. She admitted to herself that part of her had been excited to find him again. She had had some vague ideas of becoming lovers again with him.
When she had first met Jethro in M-TAC his smile had been warm. He had seemed happy to see her. She had 'put him in his place' on the stairs and felt good about it. Never realizing that he wouldn't challenge her on it. But later at 5:30 when the team had got ready to leave for the night she had been on the upper deck leaving M-TAC. She heard them all making closing remarks and teasing and recognized Jethro's baritone setting limits with his dry humor. She stepped toward the railing intending to ask him to dinner when she saw Abby come bouncing off the elevator.
"Gibbs! Gibbs! I found the recipe! We have to stop at the grocery store on the way home. I need Cayenne as well as the Thyme. OK Jethro?"
She moved up to him and he helped her into her long coat. He already had his on. After settling it in her shoulders he slipped his arms inside and pulled her to him and kissed her. It was a deep and intimate kiss which she returned melting into him.
"C'mon guys! Get a room or something! We're all hungry for Gumbo. Let's hit it!"
Tony cried waving.
"You're all gonna be in my house DiNozzo. We have a lot of rooms, but you guys are gonna be using them!" Gibbs growled but a slight smile was at the corners of his mouth.
"Hey it's Friday! We wanna eat, let's go. Food first, beer second, sex later." He sang out and headed for the elevator. Ziva smiled and winked, and followed Tony . "We're getting the beer!" Tony shouted.
"Oh no Tony…You won't buy Corona and I won't drink that swill you do. I'm getting my own!" McGee said shaking his head.
"Suit yourself McCoolguy. See you there Boss!"
The back elevator dinged and while Gibbs and Abby talked quietly he wrote a quick note for the night report, Ducky joined them. Palmer trailed him holding a grocery bag and smiling.
"We have the bread you requested my Dear and some snack items Jimmy thought necessary apparently." Ducky gestured at his assistant and protégée.
"Great!" Abby cried. "We're gonna stop at McKenna's and get cayenne and we'll meet you there. OK? The gumbo's on simmer and the vegetables and dip are in the refrigerator."
"Got it!" Ducky said. "I'm sure Tony and/or Tim will have the game ready."
Abby turned to Gibbs who was ushering her to the elevator with a gentle hand in the small of her back. "You don't think they'll eat everything before we get home? Should we buy more vegetables?"
Jethro leaned in to catch her mouth. "If they do it'll be their last meal." He growled. Abby draped her arms around his neck as the elevator doors closed and snuggled her face against his chest with a smile.
Jenny had known then it truly was over. Her somewhat hasty decision was indeed final. Somehow she had maintained a friendship with him since that day of her return to NCIS. It had been a hard lesson in self examination. That had been almost 3 years ago.
He remained an intense, complicated man. But the damaged part seemed to have been muted if not completely healed. He had made a decision to look forward, not back.
She still came to talk to him for advice as much as she could and would allow herself to. Sometimes in the quiet of his basement she found some peace and clarity.
His strong sense of integrity was intact, and he still challenged her in his thoughts of right and wrong. He would never be a politician. He was too much of an Alpha to bend his knee to any man. But she valued his opinion above all others and he was unfortunately usually right about people.
But it was clear he saw her only in a work role and as a friend.
He didn't seem to challenge Abby much. She remained intact and inviolate through the worst of his temper storms. His protection of her was absolute. He tolerated no one, not even Jenny to pressure or speak harshly to his Ab's. Tony was almost as bad and the rest of the team not far behind. In fact she was greatly loved and respected by the entire building and staff, all the way up to SecNav. Abby was somehow magical. Jenny came to feel the same way.
Jenny had been happy when she began to be included in the teams barbeques and football game weekend invitations. She realized that no one was really close with her but the fact that they didn't seem to mind having her "hang" with them as Abby called it had meant a lot. They made her laugh and feel wanted.
Now Jenny admitted she was tired. It had been 6 months from Hell. The rest of the world didn't care that one of her agents had disappeared. The terror and killing just kept on going. Coming from M-TAC she felt more tired than she had ever felt in her life.
She had had an outburst at one point telling Tony and his team that Jethro could not have "Just dropped off the face of the World! There had to be a sign, a reason, a clue, something!"
Whirling to face Ziva she had seen sorrow in her face and turned back to see Tony's carefully controlled expression. She had apologized. Tony simply murmured "Gibbs rule" then said: " McGee and Abby are our best bets right now Director."
"What have Fornell and Franks told you? Their records?"
"We have their case reports and private notes. But they've both disappeared too.
Fornell took an approved leave of absence and Franks just vanished."
He shrugged and sat down heavily in his chair.
Now, coming down the stairs slowly she saw Ziva's head turn first. The Israeli stood up and stared, moving slowly to stand near Gibbs desk letting one hand drift to touch it. Tony, seeing Ziva looked and rose as well. McGee coming around the barrier from the locker room came to a stop near his teammates. They all stood there as a group and waited.
Jenny moved up to them and allowed herself a deep breath before speaking. None the less her voice was not steady.
"Orders have come down from above SecNav. We are not allowed to continue the search for Gibbs as a primary assignment for a major case squad. We are free, he said to pursue leads as a secondary goal. As of today you are all in the active case rotation." Unable to hide the moisture in her eyes she moved back toward the back elevator.
"Ma'am." McGee spoke up. Jenny turned.
Are we free to pursue our search activities on our own time?" He stood steadfastly facing her.
"I have no control over your personal lives Agent McGee, as long as it is not blatantly illegal." She gave him a slow small smile.
"Understood Ma'am." Tim said firmly. Tony laid his hand on McGee's shoulder and squeezed. Ziva nodded.
Standing for just a second longer Jenny headed for the back elevator to the lab.
"I suppose it's up to me to tell her. Jesus I've learned to hate this job!" She said, eyes filled with tears.
XXX
Gibbs woke in his room to the sound of the door latch being keyed open. He was nude as always. He hated sleeping in his clothing. He lifted his head and then moved to a semi sitting position in the bed. The shackle to his left wrist jangled with the movement.
"My Lady." He murmured, his voice husky with sleep.
"Étienne ." She purred. "I've come to you to sleep as usual, even though you continue to deny me what would truly please me. I wish you would change your mind. I don't like to chain you. I want to believe you can serve me without this." She gestured at the shackle and moved to turn on the lamp next to the bed.
"I have told you my Lady, that I have no objection to helping you with your businesses as you instruct. I have done all that you asked. But I have no desire, I am sure I have never had it. I do not know why I am sure." He tipped his head slightly looking at her. His blue gaze direct, his face expressionless and collected.
It was to her great exasperation that he spoke the truth. He spoke in French to her, his English was now actually slightly accented. His fluidity in languages and all of his other considerable skills were intact. He reacted instantly in a protective fashion for her. He handled all of her foreign contacts now at her command. His acumen in handling his teams was flawless. Without exception they respected him. He had swiftly become invaluable to her. His reputation amongst the DuFresne-Ste-Germain empire had been built quickly and fearfully upheld. He had no past memory except that which she had given him. He always returned to her after an assignment. But he was dispassionate, unfeeling. In this one respect Robert had failed her. He had told her that he had had to use dangerously high levels of drugs and "other means" to erase Gibbs memories. He had been "an extremely strong minded man. Highly intelligent and private. All in all a very satisfying challenge."
He had no desire for her whatsoever. She had tried Viagra but it had nearly killed him and her medics had despaired of his life with extraordinarily high blood pressure. Robert had warned her it was "pharmacologically ill advised."
Punishment had not worked either. He did not and literally could not stop her from coming to him nightly and fondling him, but there was no response. He simply endured it. Often she came to him after having pleasure with one of her other "Pets". She had found herself fantasizing about him while they serviced her. It was frustrating and she was not used to being frustrated. In anything.
"Well, we will see. Won't we my dear one?" She said and climbed into the big bed beside him and turned out the light.
"As you say my Lady." Étienne Ste-Germaine said and closed his eyes.