"Don't you want to finish what you came here for Senor?" The younger man asked, placing his weapon into the side of his belt.
"You did not sit across from this man for hours…in his eyes, my friend, is revenge itself."
He nodded. "I see. Well we got much cleaning up to do back home."
Jorge agreed. "Let's get the hell out of this place."
--- ---
Gibbs was starting to get his step back, but slowly. He was about to enter fully into Abby's lab, when he stopped for a moment and stared at her. He had come very close to losing her a few times, but never like this. Someone that he cared for so dearly, had up and forgotten him and the rejection he felt then, was nothing compared to the relief he was feeling now. Though, he somehow knew that every time he'd say hello to her, the fear that she may not remember him; would creep up. He took in a deep breath to compose himself, and started towards her.
"Whatchya got for me Abs?"
She shook her head. "All business I like it." She punched a few keys on her computer and flashed some pictures up on the screen. "I wasn't able to locate where the tracker was sold, but I was able to put three partial prints off it."
He turned back and stared.
"I missed that stare…" She smiled. "Got a hit almost immediately…Juan Lopez, did some time in El Paso for drug possession, out on parole within two years…known right hand man of everyone's favorite bad guy."
"LKW?" He leaned over her shoulder.
"You're not gonna like it."
"Lay it on me."
"Juarez, Mexico."
"Thanks Abs." He started to walk out and she called him back.
"Hey Gibbs…I know you're all gung ho right now bout finding the guy, but I just thought maybe we could talk soon?"
He smiled back at her. "As soon as I get him Abs, I promise."
She nodded and returned the smile as she watched him leave; her mind finally starting to become at ease.
--- ---
Gibbs entered the bull pen in full force.
"Ran down the patch on their shoulders, got no hits…if it's a group or gang symbol, they don't exist..."
"In the states maybe." Gibbs replied, staring in McGee's direction.
"Car was reported stolen yesterday morning, so far nothing on the Bolo."
He sighed deeply, and took to rubbing his temples. "Does anyone have a lead we can use?!" He practically shouted as he stared down at his key board.
Neither of them answered.
"I'm going for coffee."
And it was silently understood, that they better have something before he returned.
--- ---
The next few hours passed with little progress and the three of them knew it.
Gibbs stared at his watch, tiredly.
"Alright, go home get a few hours sleep."
McGee and Ziva's head snapped up. "You serious boss?"
He stood up and stretched. "Fornell's funeral is at 0600, and I plan on being awake during it."
"But what about Perez? I mean don't you think he'll be coming after us again?"
"If I thought that, would I have just said what I just said McGee?"
"Well…no, of course not boss, I'm just saying…"
"Listen, I've spent more time with that coward then both of you…he's running scared if he knows what's good for him, and I'm pretty sure he does."
McGee nodded. "Got it boss."
"Now go."
Ziva stood up slowly and motioned towards McGee. "I'll get Abby and be right back up to drive ya." He smiled towards her and headed towards the elevator.
Gibbs grabbed his coat and slowly put it on, attempting to use as little movement as possible. He stopped at Ziva's desk before heading out.
"Feeling any better?"
"Yeah, just cheapy.'
He smiled softly. "You know, if it's any consolation you don't look that bad for being shot twice…maybe you Mossad agents aren't human after all."
She cocked her head sideways and looked at him confused. "How can you use such humor when you know Perez is running free somewhere?"
He changed his expression. "Maybe it's because I know I'll get 'em, whether he's down the street or at the gates of hell."
She swallowed hard at his response. "I think I liked the humor better."
He shrugged. "See, I can be a funny bastard too….now get some rest. You may not look that bad, but you don't look great either."
He turned to leave, but somehow knew he wouldn't be getting much sleep.
--- ---
When morning came, it didn't seem like a new day. The past few days seemed to blur all into one. He put on his suit, slipping his ceremonial badge to lie outside his coat pocket. When he looked into the mirror to straighten his tie, he fought back the urge to stay home, knowing full well, the guilt welling up inside him was enough to let him break down. And that was something he refused to allow any one to see. He convinced himself otherwise, and limped his way out of his home and into his car. Today was a very sad, sad day.
The service was traditional, just as Tobias Fornell would have had it. He was honored for bravery above and beyond the call of duty and the number of Agents present was in the hundreds. He was highly esteemed by every agency, regardless of where their loyalties lied. And he was highly esteemed, by Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
When the service had come to a close, and most of the people had cleared out, Gibbs and his team remained. Along with two, lone and familiar Federal Agents.
"Take the ladies to the car." He asked Ducky politely and motioned that McGee follow. They did just that.
Agents Bryant and Silverman made their way over slowly.
"I see you're in fine form Agent Gibbs." Bryant offered.
"Yeah for a guy who just off an attempted murder charge." Silverman offered.
"Silverman, put a sock in it will ya?" Bryant took out his keys and handed them to the younger agent. "Go warm up the car."
He was hesitant at first but complied none the less.
"Sorry about him Gibbs, he's a Probie."
"Yea, I have one myself…but not as gutsy with his words as him."
"Well Fornell, raised him from a pup…he's trying to be all stoic, but he's holding a lot in."
Gibbs didn't reply and only stared back at him questioningly.
"I bet you're wondering why I'm standing here?"
"It crossed my mind, yeah."
"I want to help." He said simply.
Gibbs shook his head. "Yeah well I'm not a consoling over a beer kind of guy."
"I didn't mean sympathetically, I meant to get Perez. I heard he took down three NCIS agents today…"
He nodded. "Keep talking."
"I did some checking, got some Intel on his locale in Mexico, he's trying to lay real low, but not low enough."
"Where?"
Bryant reached into his pocket and handed him a slip of paper. "You didn't get that from me."
He smiled slightly. "Got what?"
Bryant then put his hand out for Gibbs to take it. "Fornell died for a hell of a man, Agent Gibbs…I'm sorry I didn't realize that sooner."
Gibbs took his hand and shook it. "Fornell was more of a man, than I'll ever be."
Bryant nodded his goodbye and left Gibbs alone as the casket slowly began to lower. He unfolded the piece of paper, read it with a slight smile and tossed it down into Fornell's grave.
"Time for me to say my thank you, the best way I know how Tobias."
--- ---