AUTHOR'S NOTES: When I first started working on the final 3 episodes of season 7 I'd wanted to blend everything together but that didn't work out as well as I had hoped.
And as far as Rule 50 in this story the rule is 'The rules go out the window when it comes to family.'
At the end of the chapter, there is mention to my 'Pretender' crossover chapters (Chapter 24 and 25).
Also, I decided to make the episode 'Rule 51' its own chapter. So that will be coming later.
Please read, enjoy, and show some love!
Chapter 36
Borderland & Patriot Down
There was something about Alejandra Rivera that made Kelly's gut twitch.
For the past month, Kelly had been focusing mainly on her physical therapy but when she'd popped in at NCIS, passing Rivera in the hallway made her gut squirm as if reminding her of something… or someone.
When Abby was invited to teach a class on forensics at a symposium in Mexico, Kelly's gut started squirming even more.
But it wasn't until Abby called Kelly, talking 100 miles an hour about the cold case she'd been assigned that Kelly's gut gave a sharp jolt.
"It's a really cold case," Abby said, hurriedly. "Like… Antarctica cold. The drug dealer's name was Pedro Hernandez and he was gunned down…"
Kelly's mind tuned out as soon as she heard the name. The man her mother had seen kill a Marine… the man who'd killed her mother… "Abby," Kelly said, trying—unsuccessfully—to keep a catch out of her voice. "Um…"
"Kelly, what's wrong?" Abby asked. "You okay?"
"Yeah," Kelly lied. "I-I need to go, Abbs. I'll talk to you later."
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As Abby turned off her cell phone, she paced her empty classroom. Something was bothering her about Kelly and Abby had a sneaking suspicion that it had something to do with the cold case she'd been assigned. Pulling on a pair of gloves, Abby opened the evidence bag that contained the bullet she'd been given by Paloma Reynosa earlier that day. Looking at the logo, the hairs on the back of Abby's neck prickled slightly when she saw that the manufacturer was Lapua.
Going to the computer she logged into the NCIS database, pulling up the police report on Hernandez's death. But when Abby opened a connected file, she gasped when she saw the newspaper article and the picture in the upper right corner. "Oh, my God."
Hernandez was the one who killed Shannon Gibbs.
Hernandez was killed by a sniper.
Gibbs had been a sniper with the Marine Corps.
Suddenly, Abby wished she'd never come to Mexico.
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Back in DC, Kelly was sitting in bed with her laptop, looking up the old NIS reports on her mother's accident. She knew who killed Hernandez. Anyone with half a brain could figure it out.
19 years ago, Lt. Lara Macy, MP, investigated Gibbs and let him go. Kelly knew that Macy had taken a risk with letting Gibbs go on the charges.
Hearing a chime on her computer, Kelly brought up her email, somewhat surprised to find an email from Lara Macy. Opening the message, Kelly sat up a bit more as she read. 'Kelly, someone's digging into the Hernandez case. I don't know who and I don't know why. But tell Gibbs that this is his mess.'
Rule 45. 'If you get yourself into a mess, clean it up. Don't expect others to do it for you.'
Kelly felt her heartbeat quicken as she realized that someone was out to get her father. Someone wanted this case brought to light and they used Abby to do it.
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Pedro Hernandez.
When Gibbs heard Jimmy Palmer say the name of the body currently lying in Autopsy every nerve in his body went on full alert. He heard Palmer talking about the bullet but Gibbs was suddenly transported back to Mexico… to the ridge from which he shot Hernandez. He could practically taste the dry arid air and feel his sniper rifle in his hands…
"Abby thinks she might be able to trace the bullet," Palmer said, his tone doubtful. "But I don't know. It's pretty old."
"Abby, huh?" Gibbs said, unable to take his eyes of Hernandez's body. 'Abby knows what happened,' Gibbs thought, ruefully. He'd thought that the drug dealer wouldn't be missed. That the whole thing would just go away.
But it hadn't. As Gibbs held out an evidence jar for the bullet, he could see his career going up in smoke. There was no statute of limitations on murder and despite whatever rationale Gibbs offered, it didn't change the fact that he had murdered a man in cold blood. And even if by some miracle he was legally let off the hook, it would impugn his credibility and every case he worked afterwards would be questioned and under suspicion.
x
As Ducky watched Gibbs leave the room, something in his memory started popping up. Hernandez's name seemed very familiar and the way Gibbs reacted to seeing him… "Oh, good Lord…" Ducky breathed, hurrying out of the room. In his personal office, he rummaged around until he found what he was looking for: a newspaper article from nearly 20 years ago. Looking at the picture of Shannon and Kelly and the picture of Hernandez, Ducky sighed deeply in sympathy for his friend.
x
It was probably the first time ever that Abby wasn't happy to see Gibbs. And as soon as he looked at her he knew that she knew. She didn't want to know… and while McGee was going on about the current case, she couldn't help staring at Gibbs. 'I'm so sorry, Gibbs. I don't want to hurt you like this…' Looking at the evidence jar he held, Abby looked at Gibbs and hopefully asked, "Is that another tissue sample?"
"No," Gibbs said, quietly, placing the jar on top of Abby's microscope. When their eyes met, both knew that a conversation was coming. One which neither of them wanted to have.
xxxxx
Limping into Abby's lab later, Kelly wasn't surprised to see Abby sitting alone in the room, staring at a lab report. "Can we talk, Abbs?"
"About?" Abby asked, looking at Kelly. Gibbs' daughter was getting around better, but she still used a cane periodically. And Abby felt wave after wave of guilt as she thought about what had happened the past few days.
Kelly pulled a stool over and sat down. "You know what about, Abby," Kelly said, quietly. "I know you know." After a moment, she said, "And you have to destroy the report on the Hernandez case."
"What?" Abby asked, surprised. "Kelly, how can you ask me that?" Pacing the room, she said, "Look… You know I care about Gibbs. He's like… I can't destroy evidence. I can't just give Hernandez's body back and say that I found nothing!" Stopping and looking at Kelly, she went on. "Hernandez killed your mother. He could have killed you. And Gibbs murdered him. In cold blood."
Kelly sighed and said, "Abby… If this case goes to trial… even if Dad's acquitted, he won't be able to stay an NCIS agent."
"Maybe Vance can—" Abby started to reply but she stopped when Kelly shook her head.
"If Jen were still Director… maybe," Kelly said with a shrug. "But Vance… He'd fire Dad. And even if Dad still… Every case Dad testifies on, the lawyers are going to bring up the fact that Dad's a killer." Tears in her eyes, she gave Abby an imploring look. "Please, Abby."
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Gibbs had expected Abby to find him that night as he stood working in his basement. But when he looked at her, he could see the pain and confusion on her face. And he didn't expect what she said.
"Kelly asked me to change my report," Abby said, as calmly as she could. "Gibbs… I know you. Sometimes… I think I know you better than anyone. I matched the bullet from Hernandez's head to your sniper rifle. I know you killed him." Looking into the blue eyes she always looked to for guidance and comfort, she asked, "Tell me why, Gibbs. I know what Hernandez did to you. He murdered your wife. He nearly killed Kelly. But I need to know why."
Gibbs looked at Abby and a mix of heartache, guilt, and shame wash over him. "I became a Marine to protect my country… my family. And I couldn't." Taking a step closer to Abby, he went on. "I remember every second leading up to taking that shot. And after… I just walked away. I did what I had to do, Abby."
"I know," Abby said, looking around the basement. "And I know that I didn't find this out by accident."
"Rule 40," Gibbs said, quietly. He'd felt it coming for ages now. But now he was certain that someone out there wanted him to suffer… wanted to hurt him.
"If it seems like someone's out to get you, they are," Abby recited. She knew something had been off for the past few months and now… "Gibbs, I wish… I wish that I could just tell you I'll figure this out. That we're in this together: You, me, Tony, McGee, Ziva, Ducky… Kelly…" She waited until Gibbs met her gaze before she went on. "But I need to know something. I-I'm with you, no matter what, Gibbs. But I need to know… if you're still going to love me after this."
Gibbs couldn't say the words, but as he looked into Abby's eyes, he tried to make his eyes say what he couldn't. 'I'll always love you, Abbs.'
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Rule 40…
Rule 40…
Ever since Abby had heard those words, she'd been a nervous wreck. Someone was after Gibbs and they didn't care who they used or killed to get to him.
NCIS Lara Macy was dead. Murdered, to cover up… what? Had Macy known that Gibbs killed Hernandez?
And if that was the reason Macy was murdered, was she killed to keep her from talking… or was she killed because she'd buried the truth?
It didn't help that Gibbs was acting even stranger than usual lately. When Abby had insisted that the two of them needed to talk about Mexico, Gibbs acted like he hadn't heard her before hurrying out of the lab and to the elevator where Kelly was waiting.
X
Once the elevator doors closed, Kelly looked at Gibbs. "Dad, what's going on? First Mexico and now Macy's been killed?"
"Kelly, did Mike leave this morning?" Gibbs asked, urgently.
Kelly was slightly taken aback by the question but after a second, she shook her head. "No. Mike changed his flight for tonight, why?"
Gibbs pulled out his cell phone and punched in the phone number for Mike's phone. "Mike, it's me. Look, I need you to—No, don't go back to Mexico. Rule 44."
Kelly's eyes widened at the words and she could hear Mike over the phone as he said, "What the Hell's going on, Probie?"
"I-I can't explain right now, Mike," Gibbs said, quickly. When his old boss started to protest, he said, "Look, just get Leila and Amira out of DC and don't go back to Mexico." When he hung up, Gibbs studied Kelly for a moment before he said, "Rule 44 applies to you, too."
"Like Hell!" Kelly exclaimed shutting the elevator down. "Not until you tell me what the Hell is going on! First you tell Abby 'Rule 40' now you're pulling out 44?"
"This is not a discussion," Gibbs said, firmly. He didn't want to send Kelly away but right now he had to keep her safe. "And it's not a debate."
"Whatever happened to Rule 50, Dad?" Kelly protested. "Look, if you're worried about me and the kids, don't be. If anyone tries to hurt my family they'll be staring down the barrel of my Sig."
Gibbs felt his gut twist at Kelly's words. It had been a promise very similar to that that had put current events into motion. If Kelly got involved it wouldn't help matters. Most likely it would just make the situation worse. Looking Kelly he said, "Rule 45."
Kelly let out a long sigh. "If you get into a mess, you clean it up. Don't expect others to do it for you." Nodding, she said, "Okay. Okay. I'll go get a flight to—"
"I don't want to know, Kel," Gibbs warned.
"Dad, you're scaring me," Kelly said, worried. "First the Rule 40's… now you don't even want to know where I'm going." She couldn't think of anything else to say as she turned the elevator back on. Although before they reached their floor, she stopped the elevator again. Turning to her father, she threw her arms around him. "Dad, promise me you're going to be okay."
Gibbs hugged his little girl as tight as he could and said, quietly, "I wish I could, Sniper."
Los Angeles, CA
NCIS OSP Offices
As Kelly parked her rental car on the street, she took a deep breath hoping to calm her nerves. Yesterday she'd dropped off Jen, Kate, and Mikey in Coral Hills with Sherriff Jarod Parker. Since Jarod had had years of experience staying off the radar, Kelly figured her children would be far safer with him than with her. Getting out of the car, she grabbed her backpack and headed into the building where she found Hetty waiting expectantly.
"Miss Gibbs," Hetty said with the slightest of smiles. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"
Kelly sighed when she saw Callen coming up looking worried. "Rule 44," she said, simply.
"44?" Callen said, looking more than a little worried. "Gibbs is using the Rule 40's?"
"Callen, what rules are you talking about?" Kensi asked, confused as Kelly sat down on the couch.
Callen exchanged a look with Kelly and when she nodded, he started to explain. "Jethro Gibbs was my mentor. He's somewhat famous for his different rules both for life and the job."
"So what's #44?" Sam asked as he joined the group.
But to everyone's surprise it wasn't Callen or Kelly who replied. It was Hetty. "Rule Number 44," she said in an authoritative tone. "First things first: Hide the women and children." Seeing the surprise on Kelly's face, Hetty smiled. "Well, where did you think your father learned that particular rule, Miss Gibbs? Leroy Jethro Gibbs and I exchanged rules during a meeting in Paris." Giving Kelly a pointed look, she said, "And if I recall Rule Number 50 states that the rules go out the window when the problem concerns family."
"Which is why I came here," Kelly replied. "Dad's in trouble and just because I've been booted out of DC doesn't mean I can't help him."
"Then let's get to it," Callen said, leading the group up to the computer room.