What Mrs. Mallard Said - 29
Author: GataChica
Rating: M
Warnings: sexual situations
Spoilers: Untouchable
Disclaimer: My writing is not-for-profit and I don't own the characters or anything else besides my ideas.
By the time that Abby and Officer Cheng arrived at NCIS, Fereshtah and her husband had been taken down by the NCIS agents, and Agent Gibbs had been transported to Bethesda. Director Shepard had gone to meet him there, while Ziva and McGee each interrogated a suspect. Tony watched through the observation rooms, intent on "supervising" their performance.
Abby ran into Ducky's arms and he held her tightly, comforting her as she tried to pretend she wasn't crying. "It's all right, dearest," he murmured, "He's still alive."
"I'm so glad, Ducky. Can we go see him?"
"Yes, of course. Jenny is already at Bethesda; he's still in the operating room, but will be moved to ICU as soon as they finish."
"Finish what?" asked Abby, as Ducky donned his coat.
"Electrical burns can cause serious internal injuries. Surgery at this point is mostly diagnostic but may include treatments such as removal of dead tissues, construction of skin flaps, and other repairs. I don't know yet what specific problems Gibbs has, but we will find out when we get there. After you, my dear."
Ziva was enjoying her job of questioning Fereshtah; she may have enjoyed it a bit too much but no one was upset about that at the moment.
"You do realize that since we caught you in the act of torturing Special Agent Gibbs, and we documented it, there is no point in lying. You might as well confess to your crimes, so that you might get a lighter sentence."
Fereshtah's face remained stony as Ziva circled around to stand next to her, just barely intruding into her personal space. Suddenly the woman turned and spat in Ziva's face. "As if I would tell you anything!"
Ziva moved away and calmly wiped her face, even though her anger was threatening to break through. Looking at Fereshtah more closely, Ziva realized that tears were falling down her cheeks.
She sat down and placed her hands in her lap. "You must have been devastated to learn that your brother had killed himself."
Fereshtah looked up in surprise at the new compassionate tone of Ziva's voice. She looked down and replied, almost inaudibly, "Yes."
"You were close to him?"
"Very close. He took care of me when our parents died."
"Did you kidnap Agents Gibbs and Wolniak?"
"No, my husband did the kidnapping." She seemed beaten down now, instead of the rebellious and defiant woman she had been only minutes before. Ziva tried not to betray her amazement at the change her tone of voice had created in the suspect. However, she filed it away for future use.
"And then what?"
Fereshtah didn't answer for several minutes. Ziva was itching to use force to speed up her responses, but she managed to stick to her new tactic.
Finally she said, "And then I drugged them and questioned them and electrocuted them. They were kept in the old morgue drawers in between questioning." She sighed. "I made a mistake with Agent Wolniak. I used too much voltage. I honestly didn't mean to kill him"
"Did you intend to kill Gibbs?"
Fereshtah nodded. "I had to get revenge, you see. My brother killed himself because of something Gibbs told him."
"How do you know that?"
"Well – he must have – because Gibbs visited him in prison a few days before the suicide."
"Were you aware that Agent Gibbs visited the prison at your brother's request?"
Fereshtah looked up, her eyes wide. "That's true then?" She shook her head. "Gibbs told me that but I didn't believe him. He said Aref apologized for the killings. But that doesn't sound like the Aref I knew!"
Ziva opened the file lying on the table. She soon found what she needed, and began to read, "Subject Aref Limon requested the presence of NCIS Special Agent Gibbs. During the visit, the recording reflected the following dialogue:
Gibbs: Why did you want me here, Aref?
Limon: I want to say I'm sorry for what I did.
Gibbs: What things in particular?
Limon: Using drugs and alcohol, beating my wife, stealing, and killing.
Gibbs: You regret murdering the four Navy officers?
Limon: Yes. If I could go back I would change everything and be a good person, but it's too late now.
Gibbs: No, it isn't. You can't change what you did before, but you can change what you do from now on.
Limon: No. I must pay the debt I owe. I know you and the officers' families cannot forgive me. But I needed to apologize.
Gibbs: I forgive you, Aref.
The subject shook his head and asked to be taken back to his cell."
Fereshtah laid her head in her hands. "Now I'm the one who has to apologize," she whispered. "I'm the one who will pay the debt." Looking up at Ziva she added wistfully, "I just wish Aref had told me goodbye."
Ziva wasn't sure what to say. She could feel the emotions stirring within her, but how could she describe them appropriately? Finally she said, "I hope you do get a reduced sentence, Fereshtah. I will do what I can to help you." Ziva stood, picked up the folder, and left the interrogation room.
Tony met her just outside. "Wow, was that really Ziva David, mad ninja assassin, that I saw in there?"
"Grow up, Tony," was all she said, swatting at him with the folder.
Abby and Ducky had to wait for some time before they could visit Gibbs. Jenny was the only person allowed at first. Abby tried to sneak around the nurses and get a peek, but to no avail.
Finally they were told they could enter one at a time. Abby walked purposefully to Gibbs' bed in the ICU, and after getting a nod from Jenny, who sat on his other side, Abby sat down and took Gibbs' hand in hers.
He stirred, then opened one eye to see Abby. He tried to lick his lips, which were dry and cracked, and Jenny dabbed at them with a wet cloth.
"Abbs," he said almost inaudibly.
Both women automatically said "Shh," an index finger on each pair of lips.
"No," Gibbs said, his voice a little stronger. "Abbs, I'm sorry. I was wrong."
Abby's eyes grew large and she almost dropped his hand from surprise. "Gibbs – it's okay," she said sincerely.
"No, it isn't."
"Jethro, Abby and Ducky have already forgiven you," Jen said. Abby nodded.
"Jen, please, let me apologize. It's the least I can do."
Jenny wondered to herself just how much those torture sessions had changed him. "Very well, Jethro."
"I forgive you, Gibbs," said Abby. "Thank you for apologizing. I'm sorry for what I did, too."
He closed his eyes for several minutes. Just when they felt sure he had fallen asleep, he again opened his eyes. "Where's Ducky?"
"I'll go get him," Abby said as she left the room. A moment later she returned, with Ducky in tow, and Gibbs repeated his apology.
Ducky was noticeably touched. "Thank you, Jethro," he said quietly. "I must apologize as well. I was too hard on you."
Gibbs barely shook his head, then his eyes drooped heavily and he fell asleep.
"They have him well-sedated," Jenny explained. "Do you want to stay awhile?"
"Yes," they said simultaneously.
"That's good. I need a little break, do you mind?"
"Not at all." Ducky settled into her seat. "Take your time, Director."
For the first time since Gibbs' disappearance, Jenny smiled broadly. "Thank you, Ducky. I'll do just that."
