Out in the Yard

Frankie Rizzoli listened over the earwig to the confrontation in the hold. His heart beat a little faster because his sister was in the clutches of a crazy man and because the conversation seemed to be going nowhere. O'Rourke didn't care what Gibbs and Jane had to say. He wanted to memorialize his brother at the cost of these good people. Frankie couldn't let that happen.

At that moment Captain Starling approached the ship and boarded motioning to Frankie as he came over the side. "Detective, what's happening below decks? This is taking too long. Gibbs and the detective should have been out by now."

Frankie couldn't have agreed more. "Yes Sir. O'Rourke is not going down easy. I've been listening and it seems that Agent Gibbs doesn't want to harm him. I think he wants to give him the help he needs. The suspect has a hostage, my sister, Detective Rizzoli. Both Gibbs and Jane are working around her being a hostage. I'm not sure sending more men down will help them."

Captain Starling listened to Frankie and felt the worry wash over them like waves on the beach. The wind increased and turned as he listened and a plan began hatching. "Not to worry Detective. We'll get everyone out without harming a hair on their heads." He turned and strode down the gangway. He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and called the barracks. "All hands on deck. Digi-cam uniforms, ASAP. Chief, kill the flood lights. We're going to participate in night maneuvers.

Chief Petty Officer Gregson watched the captain walk away, but the look on his face said Captain Starling has lost it. He may have thought it but followed the orders anyhow.

When all the crew had assembled outside of the dock area, Captain Starling searched the faces of the eager young men before him. Those young faces looked back at their commander in anticipation of their mission. The captain knew that if anything went wrong with his plan some of these bright young men could be hurt or killed. But whatever happened tonight they would save this beloved ship. "Sailors, tonight we are needed to save Old Ironsides from an enemy within. Once again a man has placed a device to bring the Constitution to her ruin. This man also has a Boston Police detective and an NCIS agent as hostages. We need to save them as well as the ship. We are going on board and I want you at your post on the deck – no below decks, and gentlemen….stealth is the word." He took a moment to meet each man's eyes. He raised his hands which held lanterns. "When the first lantern is lit you will climb the rigging and set the sails." Two men at his right caught his eye. "Turnbull and Schmitt, when the ship is hauled over and the hawsers are tight I will light the second lantern and give the order to cut them. Gentlemen, you will not cut them until I say so. Is that clear?"

Both Petty Officers stood tall and saluted their captain. "Aye, Aye Captain!"

Captain Starling smiled and glanced once more at his crew. "To your posts gentlemen and Godspeed!"

All his sailors ran for the ship as the captain walked briskly to his post carrying the two lanterns. His smile gave the impression of a man on a lark but it hid the true feelings of an angry man towards the man who planted the devices. He'd worked long and hard in the service of his country to receive the honor of captaining this beautiful matriarch of the seas. No one would harm "his" ship.

Above Decks

The captain waited with his face to the wind. His men watched him waiting for their orders. Many of them wondered what they waited for.

Captain Starling picked up the first lantern and lit it. His men scampered up the rigging like little spiders in a web. The set the sails with record speed but not one of them knew where they headed or why. The sails billowed with a steady diet of wind. There were so many sails and so much wind the glorious lady pulled away from the dock like she had wings and she yearned to fly. Yet, the captain still had her tied to the dock.

Amos Starling was a patient man. He waited and then waited some more. The Constitution pitched to the port side as the wind blew more and more into her massive sails. Finally as the Lady squealed and moaned as if to complain, he lit the second lantern.

Below Decks

Down in the hold, Gibbs had felt the movement of the ship as she began her tilt. He was sure of the full mast of wind and sail and the reasoning of the wily old salt at the helm. It was the help that he'd offered Gibbs and Rizzoli. Each braced their legs as the tilt grew larger. O'Rourke got more skittish by the minute and Rizzoli waited for her moment to move. Gibbs kept his Sig firmly trained at O'Rourke.

Jethro, being a seasoned sailor, knew the ship still sat at the dock, O'Rourke didn't. Gibbs watched his face take on the green tinge of seasickness.

Rizzoli had felt the topsy-turvy tummy behind her. She understood that the time for action neared. She watched Gibbs eyes as he felt the movement of the ship and the Grand Lady's groaning at those same movements. Jane caught the moment that Gibbs knew change was imminent. She readied her footing for whatever would happen.

Above Deck

Turnbull and Schmitt raised their axes and waited for their captain. Starling smiled and let his gaze fall upon them, and nodded to his men.

Both men let their axes fall on the hawsers and the ropes split in two.

The Great Lady snapped back to her berthing as the wind dropped away and she wobbled to and fro for a few moments.

Now all Captain Starling and his crew could do was wait.

Below Deck

As the ship whipped, O'Rourke fell to his left side taking Rizzoli with him. Jane rolled with the rolling of the ship but not so far as that she couldn't continue with the capture. She reached for his hand that held her pistol and knocked it away from him. When he reached for the handgun, Rizzoli grabbed his wrist and wrestled him into submission. He kept struggling and Jane kept wrestling until she felt him slowing down.

O'Rourke knew he was beaten. He stopped his struggling and let her cuff him.

When Rizzoli looked up Gibbs stood over her giving a hand to help her up and then to help get O'Rourke on his feet.

Gibbs watched as Rizzoli picked up her pistol from the deck, place it back in the holster at her side and hand him the flashlight that had dropped to the floor in the struggle. "Nice job." He gave her his smirk. "Maybe I should call you Superman."

Rizzoli just smiled and kept walking O'Rourke out of the hold. "No way Gibbs. Detective is just fine with me." She then turned to O'Rourke and read him his Miranda Rights.

Gibbs chuckled as he followed her to give assistance to get O'Rourke up the ladder.

Once on deck Frankie went to his sister to help her. He took O'Rourke to the squad car and sent it off to the precinct.

Gibbs called to Jane. "Wait up. I want to talk with the Captain." The captain walked down the deck towards the gangway. "Nice job with the ship." He met the captain's eye. "Why?"

Captain Starling looked out over the harbor. His gaze took in ships coming and going and the planes that flew out of Logan. He smiled inwardly at his thoughts. Nothing really has changed much since the days of the Constitution. There will always be men who want to do harm. He knew why he did what he did all of his life. "Honor, Privilege and Commitment."

Gibbs head snapped up and he gave the captain one of his stares.

The captain continued his thought because he knew what the agent wanted. He still took a moment to ponder his answer to Gibbs before giving it. "Agent Gibbs, it has been my honor to serve my country for the last thirty-five years in the Navy. Since my retirement is coming up soon, I was given the privilege of captaining this beautiful lady. I feel grateful for the chance to do so. Those long years ago I made a commitment to protect our nation and in protecting the Constitution I have done just that. I would do it again in a heartbeat." He looked into Gibbs eyes and continued his thoughts. "Thank you Agent Gibbs for all you do every single day." With those words he reached out and shook Gibbs hand. Once that was done he turned back to his ship.

"Gentlemen, it seems we damaged the hawsers. Let's get them replaced ASAP."

All of his men, aloft and on deck responded with a cheer and continued with their assigned tasks.

Gibbs smiled while watching the men in the rigging. He then turned and followed Rizzoli off the ship.

Frankie waited for them in the parking lot.

Jane mussed up her brother's hair. "Nice job Detective Rizzoli. Stay and clean up here. Help the Bomb Squad. We're going to the station to file paperwork. See you at O'Malley's later?"

Frankie grinned and headed for the ship with the Bomb Squad.

Gibbs caught up just as Frankie headed back. "Nice job..Hey, I'm going to keep my eye on you!"

Frankie beamed at the compliment but waved over his shoulder and kept on walking.

To Jane and Jethro, it seemed like he floated on air. Both the detective and the agent laughed at him because of it.