10
Sunday 18 March: 08.15
Gibbs, Tony and Ziva handed over their Sigs and signed the paperwork; it was a frustrating but necessary step on their journey toward Landon Grey.
They had planned to see Grey as part of their original investigation; then Tim was taken, and finding him had become their priority. Gibbs had already been convinced that Grey was integral to this case and he had received further confirmation earlier this morning. NCIS agents had discovered yesterday that Lester Jarrom was being held at North Branch and overnight they had examined security camera footage from the prison, footage that showed Jarrom and Grey together, briefly it was true, but Gibbs was convinced there had been meaningful conversation between them.
"Good morning Agent Gibbs; I'm George Murdoch, the Warden here. Grey is at breakfast right now, we'll have him taken to an interview room directly. Can I ask, how is Agent McGee doing?"
"He's holding his own, and he's sure to do better when I tell him we've nailed Grey's ass to the wall."
Murdoch had been surprised when NCIS had requested visitation with Grey, he'd always been a model prisoner, and he'd been downright shocked when they'd filed a warrant for the surveillance pictures. He had been given some idea of what Agent McGee had been through…if Landon Grey was behind this crime, he deserved everything that was likely to be coming his way.
"Let me take you to the interview room, could any of you use some coffee, juice?"
"Coffee's always good Warden, thanks."
Twenty minutes later Gibbs was sitting on an uncomfortable metal chair in a drab room with metal mesh over the single small window high in the wall. His empty coffee cup had been set down on the floor, Ziva and Tony were standing either side of the table, they stood a little straighter when they heard footsteps coming closer.
'By the book, by the book…' Vance's words echoed through Gibbs head; they were close to the truth behind the threat to Tim, he could almost smell it, all he had to do was keep his hands away from Grey's throat.
Landon Grey walked along the unfamiliar corridor, a guard either side of him, and his hands cuffed behind his back. His heart was beating so fast, had been ever since the guards pulled him out of the line of prisoners filing back to their cells after breakfast. He'd glanced involuntarily in Jarrom's direction, but he was heading out of the dining hall with the other men from his wing. Who was here? There was no way they would allow a family visit, it had to be someone from NCIS, with McGee missing it was inevitable that given enough time they would get round to talking to him.
Landon took several deep breaths as the door was opened, he had to maintain control. "Agent Gibbs, long time no see."
Gibbs ignored the greeting and gestured for the guards to leave.
"We'll be right outside if you need us."
It wasn't likely he would, but Gibbs knew they had been ordered to wait outside and listen out for anything the warden wouldn't want happening in his prison.
"Sit down Grey, before I knock you down."
Landon had heard people talk about having the hairs on the back of their neck stand up, but he'd never felt it…until now. There was so much tension in the room the air seemed to be fizzing with electricity. He stumbled toward the chair, almost knocking it over as he tried to sit comfortably with the cuffs constraining his arms.
For what seemed an eternity no one spoke, then Gibbs leaned forward slightly. "You know why you're here Grey; tell us why you put out a contract on Special Agent McGee."
"What? How could I do that? In case you hadn't noticed I'm in prison."
"Oh, I noticed Grey…tell you what else we noticed." Gibbs placed an eight by ten print on the table. Landon stared at the picture and tried not to show the tremor of fear that had run through him. They'd already been looking at surveillance pictures, and there he was, side by side with Lester Jarrom.
"All I see is two guys out for a run."
"Really?" Gibbs' voice was ominously low. "I see a conspiracy to murder a Federal Agent."
"Murder…" Landon's heart leapt in a moment of triumph.
Tony picked up the picture. "Your running buddy, he has a real good friend on the outside, specialises in torture and murder, he got together with another sick bastard and they took my friend…stabbed him, tortured him…all because of you." He slammed the picture on the table and Landon flinched.
"What…what does that have to do with me?" Landon was torn between fear of what they might do to him and jubilation that McGr..McGee was dead.
"It has everything to do with you." Ziva took a step toward him and Landon flinched under the intense scrutiny of her gaze. "You took money from Melissa Grover, and handed it to your sister. That was low Grey, to involve your sister in this; I fear she will not do well in prison."
"Why should she go to prison? She hasn't done anything."
"She transferred money to offshore accounts; it is only a matter of time before we find out who she was paying. We know already why payment was made, and do not lie to me about lawyers Grey; after what I have seen today I would happily choke you with that lie."
Ziva was close enough for Landon to feel her breath on his face, she'd carry out her threat, he was sure of it There was so much pent up anger in this room, and something deeper too, Landon gasped as the reality of his situation hit him like a hammer blow in his gut. He was trapped in a room with three people who hated him; even if Li...Ziva didn't get him, the others would...he turned in panic to the door, but he knew enough about Gibbs and his team to know he'd be dead before he could cry out for help.
Gibbs had seen the fear, and he knew they had him. "Tell us Grey, you can't save yourself but you can help Jennifer. She had no idea why she was transferring the money did she? And Melissa, she gave you money because she loves you; she thought the money would help to have lawyers who could get you out of here."
"Then she's a deluded bitch! Have you seen her? No man in his right mind would want to be with her." Landon's voice had gone up an octave or two, and he could feel his stomach starting to churn, so soon…they were on to him so soon, wouldn't even give him a moment to enjoy the triumph that came with McGregor's demise.
"So it was all about the money."
"What else? She has pots of it, and she wanted to give it to me, I wasn't about to say no. It's not my problem if she's besotted with me."
"Do you think that'll be the case when she knows what you used the money for."
"If I never see her again it will be too soon, and it doesn't matter. McGee's dead...I'm not going to be a hypocrite and pretend I'm sorry, he's the reason I'm in here."
"Not true Grey, no one forced you to kill those men, that was all on you, and who said McGee is dead? He took everything Warren and Costero threw at him, and they threw plenty, but he never gave up, he fought against them with everything he had."
Landon's mouth opened and closed soundlessly as he tried to fill his lungs with some much needed air. "Not…dead. You said…he was stabbed, tortured, you said…"
Ziva stepped back and viewed Landon Grey with contempt. "He was; you underestimated his strength, people do this because his strength is within, unless you know him well it is easy to overlook."
"No! He has to be dead…it's the only thing I wanted…to make my life bearable again."
Gibbs got up from his chair and stood ready to strike. "Your life! I don't give a damn about your life. You tried three times to have one of my people killed, and you talk to me about your miserable life." In two strides Gibbs was at Grey's shoulder.
"Boss."
"It's okay Tony; I'm not going to waste my energy on that pile of…" Gibbs glanced with contempt at the wet patch forming on Grey's pants. "You make me sick to my stomach Grey, I'm done with you." He turned to the others and they headed toward the door.
"Stop…Tibbs stop! You have to listen…you've got me all wrong, you know I wanted to help McGregor…then McGee…he got in the way, and it all went wrong…" Landon struggled from the chair, his legs felt like they belonged to someone else, he fell to his knees and begged. "Please Lisa…Tommy, make him see…It was all on McGee, he ruined everything…Agent McGregor…I was looking out for him…please…"
The three agents walked away without a backward glance. Whether Landon Grey was laying the ground for an insanity plea, or whether he really had relapsed didn't matter to them; he was guilty and he'd never be allowed to walk free, that was what mattered.
13.45
"I don't understand why you wanted to see my daughter again, I believe our attorneys made it perfectly clear, she has nothing to say."
Gibbs set a file on the conference room table and sat down. He was calmer than he had been since the dark hour when he got word of a potential problem at the safe house. They'd taken a quick detour to the hospital on the way back to DC, Tim was still unconscious but his heart rate was close to normal, and the doctor was talking about reducing the sedation within hours.
"I'm really not interested in what your daughter has to say Mr Grover. I just wanted to let her hear the truth about Landon Grey."
Melissa had been staring at the ground, refusing to make eye contact, but she raised her head and looked Gibbs right in the eye.
"Tell me what you like, I know the truth…you always hated Landon, framed him for those murders, and now he's getting close to the truth you're trying to silence him again."
"Melissa, I told you to say nothing."
"I am a grown woman Father; I will speak when I want. Agent Gibbs, I gave Landon money for an appeal, and I will give him every last cent I have if it will get him out of that hellhole…"
"He's not using the money for lawyers Ms Grover; he used it to hire hit men to kill Special Agent McGee."
"Him! He's the one who wrote that book…Landon wouldn't… you're wrong, he just wants to get out of there, to start a new life with me ; you've always hated Landon, he loves me!"
Gibbs opened the file and took out some photographs. "Get your head out of the clouds Ms Grover, he loves your money. You know what he did with the money you gave him for his appeal? He paid men to do this."
He laid out some of the pictures taken by the medical team at the hospital, showing in vivid detail some of Tim's injuries.
Melissa's hands flew to her mouth as she struggled to take a breath. "No…he…Landon he loves me…this can't be…"
At a signal from Gibbs Ziva clicked open her phone and played back the section of Grey's interview when he had revealed his true feelings toward Melissa. She fell into her father's arms sobbing uncontrollably. Joseph Grover held his daughter and let her cry. "That was cruel Agent Gibbs."
"Ya think? Why don't you both come along with us to Bethesda, I'll show you cruel."
22.15
"Then we went to see his sister, I think she pretty much knew what her whack-job brother was really capable of. Didn't take her long to cave…I even felt a little sorry for her, Melissa Grover too, they didn't deserve to be used the way they were."
"Don't waste your sympathy Tony, they're not likely to get any jail time, and maybe that's right. Landon seemed to have them in his control…and I'm convinced neither of them knew what the money was really meant for."
"You think we'll ever find the original shooter Boss?"
"Oh yeah…Vance has Cyber Crimes all over the bank accounts, we'll get him."
"And when we do Gibbs, I hope he runs…"
"Just so long as we get him off the streets Ziva; give Tim the chance to live a normal life again."
They turned again to their stricken team mate. Tim's family were getting some well-deserved sleep, secure in the knowledge that Tim's NCIS family would keep vigil. Abby, Ducky and Jimmy had been sitting with him while Gibbs and the others got some shut-eye of their own before taking on the night shift. Tim had woken briefly three times, but the pain meds had pulled him back under before he had chance to speak. His anxious watchers were content to let him rest, there were painful days ahead for him, and right now sleep was the best medicine.
23.50
"You see that? He's waking up…"
"Steady Tony…he needs the rest remember."
"B…Boss…" Tim's eyelids fluttered slightly and he turned his head to the direction of Gibbs' voice.
"Hey Tim…you're meant to be resting, but heck, it's good to see you."
"You…too…did I...Tony?"
"I'm here McSleepyhead, Ziva too."
"Did I dream…was Dad here?"
"He was, along with your mom and Penny, they're getting some sleep, it's late."
Tim tried to raise his head from the pillow and his breath hitched with the sudden pain. "Dirty…I'm so…they shouldn't see…"
"Stop it Tim! They cleaned you up, like I said they would."
Ziva stroked his forehead and whispered soothingly. "You worry over such foolish things McGee, your mother and father simply wanted to see you safe."
"Safe…I am…safe…" He glanced anxiously in Gibbs' direction. "Safe house…Rowan…Chloe…"
"Drugged coffee, knocked them out for a few hours; they're fine Tim, anxious to see you."
"No!" Tim's throat may have taken a battering, but he made sure they all heard that. "No…only…team, family…no one else…not like this…please Boss…"
"Okay Tim, whatever you want, take it easy now…rest."
Tim relaxed back on the pillow, all the time he'd been held he'd been scared that the two agents who'd been guarding him had been killed, to know they were safe too…
Gibbs settled back into his chair. "He'll sleep the night through; now he knows they're okay."
Tony shrugged and gave a crooked smile. "Typical McGee, never asked who was behind this."
"He will ask Tony, when he is ready." Ziva kissed Tim's forehead softly and settled back in her own chair, content to watch him sleep.
Wednesday 25 July 2012
"About time McTardy, lunch break is almost over."
"There was a line Tony, not my fault you chose the most popular take-out around."
Tim handed out the cartons and settled down at his desk with a smile; he'd missed all this, even Tony's comebacks, maybe he'd missed those most of all. During Tim's hospital stay Tony seemed to be so worried about saying or doing the wrong thing that he'd spent the whole time walking on eggshells.
They had been difficult days; Tim's recovery had suffered several setbacks, and the surgery on his broken fingers had to be delayed until his temperature was somewhere near normal and there was no chance of further infection.
Over the weeks and months that followed Tim had asked questions about the case, he hadn't been surprised that Grey was behind the attempts on his life, but he was surprised at how easy it seemed to be for someone in jail to reach out and do such harm
Cyber Crimes had come up trumps and traced the owner of the offshore bank accounts; Alan Lawrence, former Army sniper had been arrested at O'Hare International Airport on his way to catch a flight to Thailand. Much as Gibbs wanted him handed over to NCIS, he took a back seat when they discovered his gun had been used to kill an undercover FBI Agent. Lawrence was likely to face the death penalty and Gibbs for one wouldn't shed any tears.
Lester Jarrom and Elroy Dunkley would receive their punishment too. They were already serving life without parole, but their involvement in Grey's plan would ensure they would lose the few privileges they had. If they thought they were doing hard time before, they had the rest of their lives to figure they'd been wrong.
After spending some time in rehab, and out in San Diego with his family, Tim had returned to DC. A phased return to work had started with some short days at his desk, working up to full-time, and eventually after intense physical and psychological therapy, a return to field work.
On the face of it everything was back to normal, but the people closest to him saw the changes in Tim. He rarely joined them if they went for lunch or drinks with other agents, and if he did, he kept to himself, almost hiding away. Tony had done his best to show Tim that the only person who was bothered by his scars was Tim, but despite the fact that the only visible signs of his ordeal were the slight scars left by the burns on his hands Tim couldn't get out of his head the image he had of himself in the recording studio. His therapist was working with him, and he honestly felt he was getting better, but as everyone kept telling him, these things take time.
"Mmm, you were right Tony, that was good."
"Told ya! I'm right about other things too." Tony had been trying to convince Tim to ask Chloe Agyeman out, even if it was only for coffee, problem was, she'd been there when they rescued him, and she'd seen him, Tim couldn't get past that, not yet. "Hey Agyeman, what brings you over here?"
Tim almost dropped his coffee cup. He'd been savouring a few moments of relaxation and hadn't noticed her coming across to the MCRT desks. It had been tough avoiding her and Rowan since his return to NCIS, their desks were over the other side of the squad room, and the occasional meeting was inevitable, but so far he'd managed to keep everything on a work basis.
Chloe was carrying a tray laden with paper plates and a large chocolate cake. She smiled and Tim had a sharp pang as he remembered how he'd admired her smile, before…
"I thought you were on the crackerjack team around here Very Special Agent DiNozzo. It's Peter's birthday and we got cake for everyone."
"In which case, you are more than welcome."
She cut cake for everyone and handed out the plates. Tony noticed that she seemed to linger a moment longer at Tim's desk, but he wasn't taking the bait. As she started to head over to the other side of the squad room he hurried over to Tim's desk.
"Ask her, or I swear…"
"Don't even think about it Tony, for once just butt out!"
Chloe handed out the last of the cake and she started to walk slowly back to her work area…"Screw it, he can only say no."
"You say something Agent Agyeman?"
"Just giving myself a kick in the rear Agent Gibbs, I have something I need to do."
"Then don't let me stop you."
Gibbs stepped aside as Chloe increased her pace and strode over to Tim's desk. "McGee…Tim, I've been waiting patiently for you to ask me out, but you know, this is 2012, not 1912, so I don't see why I should sit like a wallflower waiting…" She stopped for a breath and suddenly became aware that the squad room had gone really quiet. Chloe laughed aloud. "Oh boy, I really messed up, what I had planned; it was a little more...subtle than this."
Tim was smiling, and blushing. "Hard to see how it could be less subtle Chloe. But I didn't hear a question."
She put her head to one side as if replaying what she'd said. "You're right, okay, here's my question. Tim, would you please go out with me? I'm not doing anything this weekend, if you're free."
"Maybe I should check with my social secretary, he seems to have my weekends pretty much planned."
Tony was grinning; at last someone had shown some sense. "Nothing that we can't do some other time, go for it Tim, from where I'm sitting it looks like you've got yourself quite a woman."
"Looks that way from here too Tony…Chloe…" Tim was sure he wanted to go out with Chloe, but suddenly his mind was filled with pictures he tried not to see.
"You're not going to turn me down now are you Tim?"
"I don't want to…but, you know, in the studio, you saw…I was…the filth, and I was helpless, couldn't get out…"
She moved closer to him and stooped down to look him in the eye. "Is that what's been holding you back? You were worried I'd think less of you because of that?" Chloe reached out for his hand and discovered he was trembling almost as much as she was. "What I saw…still see…is one of the bravest men I've ever met, they wanted you dead and degraded Tim, and you didn't give in…don't give Landon Grey even the tiniest hint of a victory, live your life to the full, you hear me?"
"Loud and clear." Regardless of the audience she knew they'd gathered, she gave him a quick hug, he responded in kind, and whispered. "Do we have to wait for Saturday? I'm not busy tonight…if you're free."
THE END
