Eliot and the Unknown Woman
Chapter 12
By mid-afternoon the kids were getting tired, especially Aribella. Even though she was four years old, she still needed her afternoon nap. Jethro Jr. as Chanel, well pretty much everyone, had started thinking of him was tired as well. The large group had a lovely lunch in the backyard under a giant pecan tree. Conversation went easily and the kids were well behaved in front of the guests. Sam and Margo were thrilled with how attached the kids had become with their mother and her friends. It was obvious there was a great deal of caring among the whole group. And as soon as they saw Gibbs, they knew right away he was Jethro's father, not Tommy Gifford. And they had no idea who Aribella's father was but knew from the amazing similarities with Chanel; again it had not been Tommy Gifford. For that they were relieved because while initially he came across friendly and loving, that clearly became obvious as a façade and they never liked having him around the kids.
A normally taciturn Jethro Jr. had already become very attached to the man who was his father, although he did not know it yet. And Aribella seemed to adore the man named Eliot who was obviously dangerous, but very loving towards both her and her mother. He clearly adored Chanel as she did him. Aribella had also become very attached to Chanel's friend Ziva, who Chanel called her sister. Chanel let Aribella show her to her room so she could be tucked in for her nap. Gibbs did the same with Jethro. Soon both children were asleep and Chanel and Gibbs returned to the group outside.
Chanel brought the subject up first. "Sam, Margo you have done a wonderful job raising my children. For that I thank you and you will live in my heart forever. We have found the document of financial arrangements you had with Tommy and I will see those are honored and then some. I'd like to take them with us tonight if they are ready to go. They may live their whole lives in danger, and right now is a particularly dangerous time. Even our coming here may have escalated the danger. And you have no security on premises."
Both Sam and Margo sat up straighter obviously frightened for the children. "Why would they be in danger? They have always been safe here."
"Maybe they have been safe, but they have likely had periodic surveillance on them. Gibbs, can you update them appropriately on what has transpired over the last two years or so? I think I will go walk over to the lovely English garden over here." Eliot got up with her to walk the gardens while Gibbs had the unpleasant task of filling in from Jethro's parentage to the decimation of the ops building and team.
Eliot and Chanel spoke quietly in the garden. At first they just spoke about the flowers and the intricacy of the garden beds and then Eliot finally broached the subject that still had not been dealt with. "Chanel, we will obviously be taking the kids with us when we leave, whether tonight or tomorrow, they'll be coming home. But Chanel, where will home be? Do you want to live in LA? Move back to DC? Take us all to Tahiti? Stay here in the relatively anonymity of Kentucky?"
She asked him quietly, not looking at him, "Where do you want to live Eliot? Do you plan to stay with Leverage? Do you have to live in LA to work with them? Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself, do you even want to take on the burden of two children not your own plus a pretty messed up woman who is going to have a lot to get over after being held hostage for two years. And what happens if I start remembering the rapes, every night? It may wreak havoc on what is currently an amazing sex life. And if all we have is sex, then we both know that is not enough. What about Jethro and Ziva? At the very least they will want to live very close, if not with us. I have a home far out in the country that we could all live in outside DC, but I have no idea what has happened to it given my "death." I could also buy a mansion in LA and we could all live there together. Pool, ocean, Gibbs could have his boat house for him and Jethro Jr., and you could stay with Leverage. In the short term, perhaps we will travel. I can take them to Europe and Israel. In the very short term until I can get their names changed, as well as birth certificates and DNA established we can stay in a bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel. I need to talk to my lawyer and find out my status, or what he knows at the very least. But I am sorry, I get away from your question: where will we live? Obviously, I don't know."
The wandering couple had stopped talking under yet another pecan tree. Eliot put his large hands on her shoulders and felt her tense. He immediately dropped his hands, "You flinched, Chanel. Are you afraid of me or does it remind you of something else?"
She had noticed the reaction and was surprised as well. "I don't know Eliot. I am not afraid of you. You would never hurt me. It just must be a touch memory from before. What were you going to say?"
"First of all, under no circumstances would I consider you OR your children a burden, regardless of what happens in the future. I know you don't need me. You have enough money to buy a country and enough friends who care deeply for you to have your own family. Even so, I love you. It is not just about sex with me and you and you know it. Our relationship started intense, and we have been around the block enough to know it won't always be intense like this, but that does not mean I love you any less. You and Gibbs still love each other, but while he is still in love with you I don't believe you are with him and even if you were I would still want to be with you. I don't care where we live, wherever you will feel safe, I will live with you and the children, our children. Most kids are lucky if they have one father, our kids will have many fathers and uncles and aunts. And as far as Leverage goes, I will stay with them if it works out. Otherwise I'll find something else to do that is not so dangerous. If we stay here in Kentucky, I can train horses. I grew up here and love this place. If we go somewhere else, I can find something to do. For now we should return to LA while we figure it out, and you and the kids will live with me not in some hotel. We will stay together, and you will be safer there anyway."
Chanel looked at Eliot with tears in her eyes and walked into his arms where he held her until she could stop crying. She was overwhelmed, tired, and feeling weak from the long days of trauma inflicted on her mind and body. She heard the laughter of the children so she dried her eyes and kissed Eliot, communicating all the love and passion she felt for him. He could taste the salt of her tears, but he also felt her love and need for him and that was all he needed from her. It would all work out. He always made things work out.
The couple walked back to the table where everyone sat, with Eliot's warm wrapped possessively, protectively around Chanel's shoulders. Jethro and Aribella ran to Chanel throwing themselves into her welcoming arms. Their laughter helped pull her out of her sadness. Eliot took the heavier boy while the smaller Aribella stayed in Chanel's arms. As they approached the table, both Eliot and Chanel noticed the haunted look in Sam and Margo's eyes. Chanel looked at them with sympathy. Those that lead honest and clean lives, far removed from the dirt and filth of Washington politics and ugly operations, never even conceived of how terrible some parts of our government, or people, can be to others.
Chanel asked Ziva, Gibbs, Hardison and Parker to take the kids to the playground Sam and Margo had set up for them. Chanel and Eliot sat down.
"Sam, Margo, are there any questions I can answer for you after Jethro told you what happened?"
Both shook their heads, and Margo reached across the table and took Chanel 's hand. "I am so sorry this happened to you. It is hard to believe, but at the same time knowing what we did of Tommy Gifford, somehow it is not as hard after all. Do you agree with Mr. Gibbs and Ziva's assessment that the children might be in danger?"
"We were very careful traveling here. We used assumed names, vague flight plans. We covered our tracks here pretty well, but we cannot be sure. What we can be sure of is that the people sitting at this table can protect Jethro and Aribella. I'd like to take them with us tonight. We can bring them back to see you tomorrow before we leave, and will of course come visit."
Margo started to cry quietly. "We knew this time would always come. We've grown so attached…but we have always told the kids this time would come time. And they are clearly already attached to you, like you have never been away. I'll go pack up a few things for them, and we can ship the rest."
"Thank you for being so understanding. You are both terrific and the children love you."
"The children's safety is absolutely the most important. I know you will all protect them and keep them safe. I am so glad you got out of that terrible place. I hope the rest of your life is more peaceful and quiet and filled with all the love you deserve." Margo looked meaningfully at Eliot and back at Chanel with a smile on her face.