Death Of A Conspiracy
Author's Note: Thankyou for all the reviews! I really appreciate them, they keep me wanting to continue this fic :) and I really needed the inspiration to write this chapter…I lost my motivation there for a while…but anyway…
Also a humungous thankyou to Kate who has been a great help and gave me some great ideas.
As I haven't posted in a while, I made this chapter longer than the others, hope you like it!
"What the hell did you just say?!" Tony growled
"Kate is alive, her death was faked because…" Ziva started
"What?!" Tony asked, "Ziva, I don't think you…"
"Tony, listen to me!" Ziva interrupted, "Let me finish before you interrupt me!" she took a deep breath, "As a former secret service operative, Kate still had information on the president, useful information. Many people could use that information for a number of purposes, I won't go into that now though. In any case, the majority of people who have access to that information have greater security, they are…monitored. But as Kate left the secret service, they no longer guaranteed her safety…"
"She was an easier target?" Tony asked in an attempt to clarify
"Yes. We knew that a group of people were trying to get their hands on that information and would go to any lengths to do it. So we had a chat to Agent Todd, who agreed to be bait to bring the terrorists out. Unfortunately, the plan backfired. Ari ruined the plan by bringing your team into it, telling NCIS that he was going to kill Gibbs.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, on that rooftop, Ari tried to shoot Gibbs, but he was never a good shooter. The bullet ricocheted off an oil drum, or some other metal object, and grazed Agent Todd's fore-head. Kate lost consciousness, but was still alive. Ari thought he'd killed Kate and took off, and your team thought she was dead as well. So we used her 'death' to our advantage and kept it a secret," Ziva stopped to take a deep breath and to let Tony absorb the information
"You can't be serious," Tony said disbelievingly
"I don't kid around, Tony," Ziva replied, "Anyway, the terrorist group decided to get closer, hoping that Kate had mentioned something to somebody…namely Gibbs. So they sent Jennifer Sheppard in, knowing about the affair in Paris, and knew that Gibbs would trust her,"
"I knew there was something hinky about their relationship," Tony remarked
"Yes well, recently Kate has been restless and visited Gibbs, whom I believe has now figured out the truth. I tried to tell Gibbs not to mention it to Jen, but he didn't listen. I don't blame him though, in his eyes, I'm trying to replace Kate," Ziva sighed, "I put Gibbs in a psychiatric institution, hoping he would calm down and Jen would think he was loosing his mind. But I've just received a phone call, notifying me that Jen discharged him this afternoon,"
"Don't they need a doctor's signature?" Tony asked
"She faked Ducky's," Ziva replied, "So now the terrorist group knows that Kate's alive, and they have a bargaining chip, Gibbs. And once they have Kate…who knows what will happen,"
"So, the president's life is in danger," Tony deduced, "So, does any of this have to do with our ex-marine, formerly secret service agent who's in autopsy?"
"Undoubtedly, I assumed they tried to get information out of him…the question is whether he gave anything up or not," Ziva responded
Tony thought for a moment, narrowing his eyes at Ziva, "Why should I believe you? What makes you think I can trust you?"
"Tony, would I make this up?" Ziva asked in response
"Well I don't know, Ziva, would you?" Tony asked
"Okay, what would make you believe me?" Ziva responded
"Tell me something only Kate would know," Tony replied. When Ziva huffed and rolled her eyes, he continued, "Or better yet, let me talk to her,"
"Tony, we're wasting time," Ziva said in exasperation
"So what are you waiting for? Call her," Tony demanded
"You think it's that easy?" Ziva asked, "I would be blowing months of work of undercover work and protection, not to mention giving anybody her location who thinks to listen in, and I would be confirming she's still alive,"
"I think the cat's already out of the bag on that one," Tony replied, getting irritated again
"What?" Ziva asked in confusion
Tony growled and clarified, "I think people already know, Ziva,"
"Tony, I don't think you understand - " Ziva started
"No, I don't think you understand, Ziva. Now, make the call," Tony interrupted. When Ziva didn't move, he snapped, "Now!"
Ziva glared at him for a moment, "If I call her – "
"We'll help," Tony finished her sentence, "Guaranteed,"
"I was thinking more along the lines of wanting a secure line…" Ziva replied
Tony thought for a moment, "Okay, we'll go to Abby's lab"
"She can't find out," Ziva told him
"Why not?!" Tony growled
"Tony, she likes to talk as much as Ducky, the whole building will know in five minutes," Ziva replied, exasperated
Tony narrowed his eyes at Ziva, "Abby is very good at keeping secrets, Ziva, there are a lot of things you don't know. Abby stays,"
Ziva sighed, "Okay. And I suppose you want McGee and Ducky there as well?"
"Naturally," Tony deadpanned, "They deserve to know. And if you're right, they'll know by the end of the day anyway,"
"Okay, but nobody else," Ziva eventually said
"Wouldn't dream of it, too risky," Tony responded, flicking the emergency switch, bringing the elevator back to life.
Ziva and Tony exited the elevator at the morgue and walked in to find Ducky talking to their ex-marine on the slab. As they walked in Ducky looked up and frowned, "Ah, Anthony and Ziva, I didn't expect you back down here,"
"Duck, we're having a team meeting in the lab," Tony told him
"I see, I'll just finish up here, I shouldn't be – " Ducky responded
"Doctor Mallard, we need to meet now," Ziva interrupted
Tony glared at her, "Ziva, why don't you call McGee, tell him to meet us in the lab?"
Ziva growled, but did as she was asked
Ducky turned back to Tony with a surprised expression on his face, "Is there something I should know about?"
"Yeah, a lot of things," Tony replied, rolling his eyes, "Why don't you get Jimmy to finish up here?"
Frowning, Ducky turned to Jimmy with instructions, before following Tony and Ziva to the elevator. When they arrived in the lab, McGee and Abby were glaring at each other.
"Okay, break it up guys," Tony said as he entered the lab, "We have some news…McGee, can you secure the lab, I don't want anybody walking in. Abs, I need a secure line,"
"What's going on, Tony?" Abby asked, looking anxious
"I don't even know where to begin," Tony replied, watching as McGee turned off a few lights and locked a few doors
"Okay, the lab's as secure as it can be," McGee announced
"Right," Tony began, shooting a glance to Ziva before taking a deep breath and explaining what was going on
"Where are we going?" Gibbs asked, watching as they reached the outer edge of the city.
When they'd gone the opposite direction to Gibbs' house, he assumed they were going to Jenny's place, but they'd passed her road a while back now. He hadn't wanted to say anything, but he was getting tired of being nice.
"Some place quiet," Jenny replied, cryptically
Gibbs turned his head to look at his old partner, "Care to be more specific?"
"Not really," Jen responded
"Wasn't a question, Jen," Gibbs told her
"Why don't you tell me what makes you think Kate is still alive?" Jen asked
"Don't avoid the topic, Jen, where are we going?" Gibbs replied
"Don't you trust me, Jethro?" Jen asked, pouting a bit
Gibbs narrowed his eyes, "I used to, right now I don't trust anyone, and you're not helping by dodging my questions,"
"Jethro, don't worry, we'll be there soon," Jen replied, "Now, you said you looked over the case file and found inconsistencies… ?"
"She's not dead, Jenny," Gibbs replied, then laughed, "You know, I was thinking of going to her grave and trying to find out if her body was in there," he quickly sobered, "But I didn't go because I was afraid I was wrong, and if I'd dug her body up and she was still there…I don't know what I would do. It would be like experiencing her death all over again, and I don't know if I could go through that again, don't think I could cope with it,"
"What were the inconsistencies?" Jenny asked
Gibbs sighed, "The wound on her forehead was…it had a direction, like the direction she was shot from was from the side. It was more oval than round, and not as deep, it just…I don't know,"
As they approached a truck stop, Jen slowed down and pulled in.
"Jen?" Gibbs asked, eyeing the truck parked at the stop as two big men got out of it
"Just need to stretch my legs, Jethro," Jenny replied
Gibbs frowned, "I'll stay here,"
"No," Jen responded, "You need to stretch your legs as well,"
"I'm fine thanks," Gibbs responded
"Jethro, out, now," Jen replied
Gibbs glared at her, "No,"
Jen sighed, "I was really hoping I wouldn't have to do this, Jethro, but you leave me no choice," she said, pulling out her gun and leveling it at Gibbs, "Now, get out of the car,"
Gibbs smirked, "You wouldn't shoot me, put the gun away and let's go,"
Jen watched Gibbs, "Try me,"
Gibbs raised an eyebrow but stayed put. Jen pointed the gun at his though and squeezed the trigger. The shot took Gibbs by surprise and he let out a yelp of pain and put pressure over the wound, grounding out, "Bitch,"
Jen smiled and leveled the gun at his head, "Now, get out,"
Taking off his seatbelt, Gibbs registered the truck drivers open the door and drag him out.
Jen looked at the taller of the truck drivers, "I'll follow you there, in case he tries to escape,"
"Won't be much chance of that happening," the man responded, hitting Gibbs on the head with something hard, knocking him out
That's it for chapter 11!... ... Hope you liked it! Please review! Any words of inspiration would be much appreciated, my motivation seems to have taken a holiday...
