Thanks to my wonderful beta Kristen! Everything is starting to come together now...

Chapter 13: Rescue

Jenny had been surprised to see Jasper, but hid it well. It wouldn't do for Gilman to realize she not only knew him, but was his aunt.

For his part, Jasper did not acknowledge her either. Clearly Lily had given him some instructions to carry out, or she would not have risked her son.

It seemed as though everyone held their breath as Jasper typed in the code. Jenny recognized the number of keystrokes as correct. MTAC was now open again, although Gilman did not know about it. She hoped Lily would make her move soon, or he could figure it out. It would be very bad luck indeed if someone called before the SEALs arrived.

It would obviously be the SEALs. Arbourne was on site, and he loved calling in his former pals to do the job. Especially if it annoyed the Marines.

Jenny wondered why Arbourne was around. She knew everyone thought she was Lily, but had someone actually called Lily's boss? Who would be that stupid? Someone who didn't know him, obviously. Someone who had never suffered his wrath. Either that, or the news about Lily had leaked outside NCIS so fast that he had personally heard of it and came rushing down to help his agent.

At least he did not know which way around they were. This situation was already nightmarish, and she didn't need some more problems. As it was, Gibbs would chew her out, and Lily. If the rest of his team figured it out, Ziva would have a go at her. Charlie might try complaining if he guessed, but with even more luck he was wandering the halls of the CIA, dealing with another crisis Lily had sworn she was all over like a rash.

What had she done to end up in the middle of one crisis after another? First Vance, then Kos, then Europe with a crazy Lily, and now this. Was it possible for her to have a rest for a few days? Catch her breath? Play with her children?

Entering this surreal situation, she had been aware she might never see her children again. She wanted to hold them, to see their smiling little faces. They were true innocents, having no idea about all the evil in the world. One day they would grow up and discover some of Lily's doings. Hopefully, they would be nothing like their aunt and more like their father.

She wanted to let Jethro see them, but she couldn't. It was too dangerous. Keeping him at arm's length was the best thing she could do right now, however much it was breaking her heart. He couldn't get caught up in this. It was bad enough that the twins were in danger, but Lily could help protect them. She couldn't watch over Jethro all the time, and something could happen to him. She knew it would.

All her planning had done was put him in a hospital bed. Although it was not directly her fault, Jenny felt guilty. Perhaps she should let him see the twins after all. He, like Lily's husband, could die any day. Surely he could spend some time with his children.

Jasper had learnt to be patient a long time ago. Mom could leave the country at the drop of a hat, and he knew she could not contact him easily most of the time. Being patient was the only thing he could be.

Now he was waiting patiently for Mom to appear. He still had one more instruction to carry out if he had to.

Robert was getting edgy. He had allowed everyone to take some bottled water and sandwiches from the trolley – Mom's boss had also put some chocolate bars on there as well, but Robert had taken that for himself – and was now pacing up and down, muttering to himself.

Jasper wondered what his mom was doing now. She had promised to be as quick as she could and he trusted her. He did not like Robert though; he was too careless with his gun. He waved it around like a toy. Mom said that guns were dangerous and he should not touch one without her present. This man did not seem to know the rule.

Like right now, he was scratching his forehead with the tip of the gun. Jasper questioned whether he should remind Robert or not, and decided not to. Mom would deal with him. Mom and perhaps Charlie.

Jasper liked Charlie. Mom's work partner took him to the fair when he was in town. Sometimes they went to the zoo as well.

Jasper also liked Alex. Mom was engaged to Alex, but she had made it clear he was not a replacement for Dad. Jasper had been scared he would be told to call the Russian 'Dad', but that wasn't the case. Alex was nice and smiled a lot. He made his mom smile as well. Anyone who could make Mom happy was fine by him.

Robert finally lost his temper and pulled Jasper to his side. The boy closed his eyes, his final instruction.

"Give me the code now or I'll shoot him!" Robert roared at Aunt Jenny. "You want to be responsible for the death of a child? I'll kill him, and then I'll kill everyone else. Give me the code!"

Jasper cracked one eye open slowly. Aunt Jenny looked nervous. He thought she might crack, but he could not say anything to her. He was not allowed to let Robert know she was his aunt.

Then he saw some movement in the corner of his eye. A woman was slowly making her way into MTAC, hiding in the shadows. He recognized her; it was Ziva.

So if Ziva was coming in, where was Mom?

Very slowly and carefully, he turned his head to the other door. He could see Mom making her way in as well, a gun in her hand. Realizing he would be grounded if she caught him peeking, he closed his eyes again.

The next thing Jasper knew, Robert went down like a sack of bricks, screaming at the top of his lungs. The boy decided the bad man had a girly scream, before breaking free and running to his mom.

Ziva stayed where she was, gun held out.

Jenny was happy to see her sister. She pulled herself up from her chair to take in the rest of the situation.

Ziva had tasered Gilman. Jenny should have guessed her sister would employ non-lethal force if her son was in the room. She also suspected that the tasers had been retrieved from her own desk. Lily had a few, but she tended to carry guns and knives. And the odd explosive of course.

Jasper was busy trying to climb up Lily. She was trying to pick him up with one arm, not an easy task with an eight year old. At the same time, she was attempting to sweep the rest of the room with her taser, just in case.

Jenny did not know what she would have done if they hadn't entered at that point. Gilman had a gun to her nephew's head. She had been about to tell him the code, in an attempt to stall for time. He wouldn't have realized MTAC was already unsealed, and it could have bought a few minutes for Lily.

Everyone else in the room was starting to realize they were now free. A few of the techs high-fived each other, some hugged the nearest person, and some burst into tears.

Gilman lay on the floor, conscious but not happy. Ziva had moved closer and kicked the gun away from him. Jenny moved over to help her search for any other weapons on his person.

It took a couple of moments, but he was clean. She breathed a sigh of relief. It was all finally over.

"Out," Lily ordered the techs in her 'I'm the Director of NCIS, you'd better do what I say or else' voice.

Nobody bothered to argue; they were too happy to be free. Ziva grabbed Gilman under the arms and frog marched him from the room.

"I can do whatever I want with him, correct?" she called over her shoulder.

"As long as he's alive at the end of it," Lily yelled back, lowering her taser at last and hugging Jasper tightly to her.

The sisters looked at each other. Without saying a word, Jenny knew what Lily wanted. Her sister lowered Jasper to the floor, and started to take off her shirt. Jenny followed suit. They each retrieved a bulletproof vest from Jasper, putting it on and swapping shirts over. Now Lily was Jenny and Jenny was Lily again.

Jenny picked up her nephew, smiling as he patted the dried blood on her shirt. "Jasper," she whispered. "I need you to call me Mom for a little while, okay?"

He nodded, completely used to it. Jenny carried him out, leaving Lily behind, staring at a spot on the floor.