Please Read
I know I tend to write a spiel at the start, but please take the time to read. For some of you it will relieve your fears! lol! Jenny does NOT die!
Thanks for all the wonderful reviews. I am always so excited when I get a new review notification. Much love to you all xx
Enjoy
Chapter 38 - Plans Revealed
It was twenty past seven when Gibbs and Jenny pulled up beside the van. Taking out his cell, Gibbs sent Abby a quick text.
'can u meet us in the annex'
Smiling at Jenny as he awaited Abby's reply, Gibbs felt amazingly calm. Despite what they were about to do, he felt that now, at least, they had a plan. He reached over and took her hand, entwining their fingers.
"You OK?" he asked, continuing to smile at her.
"Yeah," she answered softly. "A bit nervous, but anxious to get things moving."
"Me too," agreed Gibbs.
He leaned across the console with every intention of kissing her, but was interrupted by his cell buzzing. Flipping it open, he read, 'coming now xx'
He frowned.
"What's xx?" he asked, showing Jenny the message.
Jenny laughed and shook her head.
"Seriously Jethro? And here I thought we'd dragged you into the twenty-first century," she teased. "Think about it. If I put that on a card after my name, what would it mean?"
"Oh," said Gibbs blushing slightly as he made the connection. "Well how was I supposed to know, I thought it was code for something."
Opening the car doors, Jenny and Gibbs climbed out. Not wanting to alert Tony and Ziva, they decided not to close the doors just yet, but simply pushed them to. Creeping into the annex, they were met by Tim and Abby who were just exiting the van.
Surprised to see both of them, Gibbs asked, "What are the kids doing?"
"Sleeping," said Abby. "Ziva wore herself out crying and fell asleep not long after you left and Tony fell asleep on your bed while was watching TV."
Gibbs sighed in relief.
"That works out well," he said. "We need to have a meeting and run some ideas by you before we tell Tony and Ziva."
He looked around the annex and found the camping chairs folded up against the plastic table.
"Grab a chair," he ordered, pacing towards the stack.
When everyone was seated, Gibbs began.
"While we were setting up the annex, I got a call from Vance. A retired NCIS agent that Jen and I worked with about eight years ago, died today. His name was William Decker. At first his death was classed as natural heart attack, but, due to some classified information Jen and I were able to share with him, Leon ordered the body be flown to NCIS and Ducky was asked to check the body and perform a second autopsy. It turns out Decker was tortured and murdered for information regarding my and Jen's whereabouts. His kill was ordered by a woman who is seeking revenge. She wants us," here Gibbs waved a finger between himself and Jenny, "dead and she will stop at nothing to see that happen."
Gibbs looked at Tim and Abby to gauge their reactions. Both were looking shocked and a little pale. Abby in particular appeared distressed.
"Unfortunately, we also know that she is not working alone. She is currently keeping company with DiNozzo Senior."
This time Abby gasped and brought her hand to her mouth.
"What about Eli, Boss," asked Tim, his voice trembling slightly with shock.
Gibbs shook his head.
"Don't know," he replied simply. "He could be in on this as well but, as yet, we have no intel either way."
Tim nodded.
"So what's the plan?" he asked.
Gibbs took a deep breath and released it slowly.
"Vance has just flown down to LA where Decker's murder took place. He is meeting with Decker's girl friend Sasha Gordon who, apparently, has some information she wants to pass on. The problem with that," continued Gibbs. "Is, the information she gives may only make sense to me and Jen. And, if there's something that needs doing, or finding out, it makes sense that Jen and I should be the ones to do it."
Abby narrowed her eyes.
"Just what are you saying?" she asked suspiciously.
He looked her straight in the eye and said calmly, "Jen and I are going back home to finish this once and for all."
Tim's mouth fell open.
Abby suddenly jumped up from her seat and slammed her hands down on the table.
"NO WAY!" she shouted.
"Shhh!" admonished Gibbs. "You'll wake the kids! Now sit down and listen to what we have to say."
Although Abby took her seat again, she was far from being reasonable.
"You can't go back home," she whispered angrily. "I thought the whole point of coming out here was to be protected. How's that gonna work if you two go waltzing back into the States shouting, 'here we are, come and get us'!"
Ignoring her sarcasm, Gibbs took her hand and said gently, "Abby, listen to me. We have a plan and it involves you and Tim."
Having recovered from the initial shock, Tim shuffled in his seat and made eye contact with Gibbs.
"How?" asked Tim.
Well, basically, we need to kill this woman and her hit men before they kill us," replied Gibbs candidly. "And, in order to do that, we need a team to find them. Tim," Gibbs turned to the man sitting across from him. "How do you feel about being reinstated as an NCIS agent?"
"And help you kill these people?" clarified Tim. When Gibbs and Jenny nodded, Tim grinned. "You betcha Boss!"
Gibbs smirked and, nodding his thanks, reached over and slapped Tim on the shoulder.
"Where do I fit in?" asked Abby. "And what about the kids?"
"Abbs, you're the best forensic scientist I have ever known," began Gibbs sincerely. "I need you working your magic back in your lab. We're gonna need every skill you possess if we're to find these people."
"But what about Tony and Ziva?" she asked again.
"We will be flying direct from Australia to New York. From there, Abby, you'll be met by two NCIS agents who will drive you back to D.C. We don't want you seen in any security footage arriving at Dulles so, driving will be safer. Tim, the three of us, along with the kids, will catch a connecting flight to Charlottesville, Virginia we're we'll be meeting up with my Dad. We will then take two rental cars to a small cabin I built a few years back. It's in the middle of the Cherokee National Forrest. No one knows about it and it's not on any map. I built the road in and out myself. Dad and the kids will be safe there."
Abby nodded slowly. "Then what?" she asked nervously.
From there, the three of us," Gibbs waved his finger between himself, Jenny and Tim, "will drive back to Charlottesville and catch a flight to Atlanta then onto LA. What happens after that depends on what Vance has found out."
"Don't worry Abby," consoled Jenny, speaking for the first time. "We will keep you informed of all our movements."
"Plus, it won't just be the three of us," added Gibbs, smirking slightly.
"You mean Vance is going to join us?" asked Tim, wondering what Gibbs meant.
"No, that'd be too suspicious. Vance is needed in DC. Nope," said Gibbs, raising his eyebrows mysteriously. "I have someone else in mind. Someone who doesn't care about rules. Someone who taught me all I know."
Abby smiled and clapped her hands.
"Mike!" she squealed quietly. "Yay! He'll keep you safe and make sure you toe the line."
Jenny and Gibbs laughed at Abby's enthusiasm.
"Thought you'd approve," said Jenny, still smiling. It felt good to laugh again.
"So what happens with all our stuff here?" asked Abby suddenly. "And where are we going to fly out from?"
"For the time being, we're going to leave it all set up," replied Gibbs. "We don't know what will go down, and we just may need an emergency safe place we can go back to quickly. Besides," added Gibbs with a grin. "I'm hoping, once this is all over, we may be able to come back and actually enjoy a little vacation time without looking over our shoulders every five minutes."
"Do you really think that's possible?" asked Abby wistfully.
"Course it is, Abbs," replied Gibbs with confidence. "We'll get 'em! Don't you worry."
"So when do we fly out?" asked Tim.
"Tomorrow," answered Gibbs. "That's your job tonight, yours and Abby's. We need tickets booked for the first flight back to New York. Try and fly us out of Melbourne, it's closer. Even if it's just a connecting flight to get us to Sydney."
"Right Boss," said Tim, nodding studiously.
"And Abby?" said Gibbs, getting the young woman's attention. When she looked at him, he continued. "From this point on, your grounding is officially suspended. You need to have access to whatever it takes to help you do your job and, if that means blaring out your ears with that God awful music you play, then so be it."
Abby's grin almost reached from ear to ear.
"Yes!" she said, punching the air with her fist.
"Suspended, I said," cautioned Gibbs. "As for whether or not it continues once all this is over, well, that depends on your behavior. Got it?"
"Yes Sir!" replied Abby enthusiastically, giving Gibbs a salute.
Without even looking at her, Jenny and Tim joined Gibbs in automatically saying, "Wrong hand Abbs!"
****NCIS****
Tip-toeing into the first bedroom, Gibbs and Jenny found Ziva sprawled on Abby's bed, fast asleep. Her eyes were swollen with crying and mucous was smeared across her cheeks and under her nose.
Jenny's heart melted and she felt her own eyes awash with tears. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she reached out her hand and gently brushed through Ziva's hair. Discovering something wet and slimy, she withdrew her hand quickly only to discover she now had mucous all over her fingers.
Gibbs snorted with laughter and Jenny scowled at him.
"Snot!" she whispered, grabbing a tissue and wiping her fingers.
Using the tissue, she carefully wiped Ziva's face. The movement awoke the child immediately and, upon seeing Jenny next to her, she sat up and dived into Jenny's lap.
"Mommy!" she whimpered. "You're back!"
"We're back Peanut," affirmed Jenny, rubbing Ziva's back gently. She kissed the little girl's head, first making sure the area was snot free, then stood with Ziva in her arms and carried her into her and Jethro's bedroom.
Stirring from sleep, Tony sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"Mom! Dad!" he exclaimed, seeing them both. Then, remember the reason he was in their room in the first place, he added, "What happened? Why did you have to leave before?"
Sitting down on the bed, Jenny and Gibbs rested their backs along the head board. With Ziva still nestled in Jenny's arms, Tony took his place on Gibbs' lap.
"Sorry we had to leave before," began Gibbs gently.
"I should think so!" chided Ziva angrily. She sat up and stared crossly from one parent to the other. Eventually focusing on Gibbs, she waggled her finger and admonished, "We were worried sick about you. Don't do that again Mister!"
Taken aback by Ziva outburst, Gibbs and Jenny burst out laughing.
"It's not funny!" continued Ziva still reprimanding them severely. "You don't just run off if something is bothering you. You stay and talk it over with us!"
"Oh my god," said Jenny suddenly. "She's a mini me!"
Gibbs chuckled before composing himself quickly having received a perfect imitation of one of his own glares from Ziva.
"You're not the only one she had down pat," he murmured sideways to Jenny.
Looking back at the angry little girl on Jenny's lap, Gibbs took her hands in his.
"Ziva," he said seriously. "What happened before wasn't very fair. We admit that. But sometimes Mom and Dad need to talk to each other first before we can discuss what's happening with you and Tony. It was the same for Abby and Tim. They had to wait until we got back as well. But," he patted her hand gently, "it's now time to tell you what we are all going to do."
"Hmph!" puffed Ziva, pulling back her hands and crossing her arms. "It better be good."
Gibbs looked at her sternly.
"OK, we get that you're angry," he began calmly. "But a little respect wouldn't go astray Missy."
Straightening up and softening her demeanour, Ziva did her best to put a neutral expression on her face.
Tony shook his head in exasperation and rolled his eyes before turning to his Dad and asking, "So, what's the plan?"
Jenny and Gibbs spent the next twenty minutes explaining to Tony and Ziva what they had shared with Tim and Abby. At first, both children were completely against the idea and, once again, tears began to fall from both of them.
"We don't want you to leave us?" stressed Tony, angrily wiping at his face. "What if you don't come back?"
"Tony," said Gibbs gently. "We will do everything in our power to make sure we stay safe. This is one time you're just going to have to trust us. Mom and I are trained to do this kind of work. We have been doing this for many years and we're still here today. This mission is no different."
"Yes it is!" wailed Ziva. "This time Abba is the one you're fighting. And he doesn't lose."
"That's because he's never met me and Mommy before," stated Gibbs confidently. "We're pretty good too you know. And we don't like to lose either."
Ziva frowned. She hadn't thought of it that way. Maybe her Daddy was right. Maybe they were stronger than Abba.
"Do you really think you could beat Abba?" she whispered, hardly daring to believe the words.
"Yep!" said Gibbs with conviction. "With me, Mommy, Tim and Uncle Mike, we'll be unbeatable."
"Is Uncle Mike an agent too?" asked Tony.
"He sure is," replied Gibbs. "He taught me how to be an agent."
"Wow!" said Tony amazed. "He must be really old."
Gibbs snorted. "I'll be sure to tell him that," he said, grinning at Tony.
"And Grandpa Gibbs will take very special care of you as well," reassured Jenny. "He fought in the war and he's had to raise your Dad. Imagine how tough he must be, putting up with Daddy all these years."
Gibbs shot her a glare, but his eyes twinkled at the sound of Tony and Ziva giggling.
"So, when are we leaving?" asked Tony.
"Tomorrow," replied Gibbs. "Abby and Tim are booking our flights now."
What about everything here?" asked Tony. "We just rented this van, we haven't even taken it anywhere yet."
"We'll leave it all set up for now and just pay a daily rate," explained Gibbs. "Hopefully, when everything is over, we'll get to come back and enjoy the rest of our vacation."
"Excellent!" exclaimed Tony.
"So, how about we wash your faces," said Jenny, speaking particularly to Ziva. "Get changed into your PJs and have a hot chocolate before bed. It'll be a long day tomorrow and you'll need all the sleep you can get."
Tony and Ziva nodded.
Climbing off the bed, both children left the room and headed to the bathroom.
Gibbs leaned over and kissed Jenny gently on the lips.
"Well done hon," he said softly. "I think we've managed to convince them."
Jenny suddenly laughed.
"What?" asked Gibbs, wondering what he'd said or done to amuse her.
"Nothing," she said, still laughing. "I was remembering Ziva wagging her finger at you and giving you what for! Her and Mike and going to get on like a house on fire."
Gibbs gave a short laugh.
"Yep," he agreed. "Either that or they'll kill each other in the first twenty-four hours.
Taking Jenny's hand, the two of them left the bedroom to join the others in kitchen area.
****NCIS****
It was just past 3.00am when Gibbs' cell began to ring. Grabbing it, he answered quickly so as to not wake the rest of the family.
"Yeah, Gibbs," he said, in a low croaking voice.
Next to him, Jenny stirred. Opening her eyes she saw Gibbs was on the cell and sat up abruptly, ready to hear whatever Vance had to tell them.
Gibbs put it on speaker.
"You've got both of us here Leon," he added before Vance started speaking.
"I've just been speaking with Sasha Gordon," began Vance getting straight to the point. "I don't think there's a great deal of working brain cells going on in that head, but she did pass onto me a message for Jenny. Apparently Decker must have suspected something might happen. Do you think he knew Svetlana was still alive?"
"Pretty sure he didn't," replied Jenny. "He certainly never said anything to me and I would have thought I'd be the first person he would have contacted seeing as it was my job to see her dead."
"True," agreed Vance. "I just think it's odd he went to so much trouble to ensure a message got to you should anything happen to him."
"That's just Decker," added Gibbs. "He was never comfortable with that mission from the start. McCallister had to do a lot of talking to convince him to come on board. The whole time we were in Europe he was on edge, worrying, almost paranoid something was going to go wrong. Maybe those feelings continued even after the mission was over."
"What was the message?" asked Jenny, cutting to the chase. She was anxious to know exactly what Decker wanted.
"According to Sasha," explained Vance, "Decker left some kind of insurance policy. She didn't know much more, other than it can be found at an old diner he has out in the desert. She gave me a bookmark with the address on the back. I'll text you a photo of the address, see if you recognise it."
"Don't bother," said Jenny suddenly. "I'll see it in person in a couple of days."
"Say again?" asked Vance, sure he must have misheard her.
"We're coming home Leon," replied Gibbs. "We need to finish this."
Gibbs went on to explain the plan he and Jenny has devised. Vance listened attentively, not speaking until Gibbs was finished. To Gibbs and Jenny's surprise, the Acting Director didn't try to dissuade them.
"I think you're right," he said, when Gibbs had stopped talking. "It was something that crossed my mind as well. Not sure what we'll find at the diner but, if it's in some kind of code derived from your mission, I wouldn't have a hope of understanding it. I'm more than happy to provide you with any agents you may need. And, I don't just mean to escort you. If you need backup, just let me know."
"Yeah, thanks Leon," replied Gibbs.
Despite his acknowledgement of Vance's offer, the likelihood of Gibbs seeking more agents was zero. He wanted this job finished and, to him and Jenny, 'finished' meant bodies. He trusted Mike and Tim to keep their mouth shut should anything unorthodox take place. The last thing he wanted was more paperwork.
"I'm still not convinced bringing in Mike Franks is a great idea," said Leon wryly. "The man isn't exactly a poster boy for NCIS."
"Leon," said Gibbs, frustration rising in his tone. "You worried about reputations or getting this mess sorted?"
"Both Gibbs," replied Vance solemnly.
"Look," placated Gibbs. "Mike knows what he's doing. Trust me Leon, when this is over, there will be no loose ends. I guarantee you."
Still not entirely convinced, Vance agreed none the less. Whatever he may say to maintain a politically correct stance, he was just as in favour of seeing this over as Gibbs and Jenny were.
"So, when should I expect you in LA?" asked Vance, moving the subject away from Mike Franks.
"According to flight plans and giving us time to get the kids and Dad set up, I'd say sometime Friday, your time," replied Gibbs, mentally calculating each activity with an estimated time frame. "We'll call you when we are on route from Atlanta to LA.
They spent the next few minutes finalising smaller details until, eventually, Gibbs hung up.
Jenny yawned loudly.
"Come on," said Gibbs tenderly, brushing his fingers through her hair. "Lay down and we'll see if we can catch a couple of hours before we need to get up. There's not going to be a lot of time for sleep over the next few days, so we need to grab it when we can."
Snuggling down in the covers, Jenny cuddled into Gibbs' side.
"You worried?" she asked quietly.
"About what?" he replied, sleepily.
She gently slapped him on the arm.
"Oh I don't know, take your pick!" she said sarcastically.
Gibbs rolled over and faced her. He cupped her cheek with his hand.
"About the mission?" he began, 'No. About the kids? Yes, but I know Dad will take care of them? About travelling around the US while we get plans in place? Hell yeah!"
"We'll have our disguise and passports," reminded Jenny. "We should be ok?"
"Maybe," murmured Gibbs. "If we had more time I'd cut the smaller flights and only have ours to LA. Less of a paper trail with a car."
They were silent for a minute or two and Gibbs had just about dozed off, when Jenny said, "So, this cabin you built?"
"Hmmm," murmured Gibbs.
"How inhabitable is it?"
Gibbs opened his eyes and frowned.
"Huh?" he asked, staring at her.
"Well, knowing you, it probably has a fire pit, a few tree stumps as chairs and a clean section of dirt in which to lay a sleeping bag."
Gibbs glared at her.
"I'll have you know, Miss Five Star Luxury," he began in mock sternness. "I built that cabin when Shannon and Kelly were alive. It used to be our little secret hide away. It has two bedrooms, with beds, as well as a kitchen table and some chairs. Yes, it's basic," admitted Gibbs. "But it serviceable and comfortable. Besides, Dad and the kids won't care. He'll be taking them fishing, hiking, hunting..."
"Hunting!" exclaimed Jenny, suddenly sitting up. "I don't want those two anywhere near a gun. Ziva's too little and, when the time comes to teach Tony how to shoot, I want you to be his teacher."
Gibbs smiled at her and gently lifted the covers indicating she should lie down again. When she finally agreed to do so, he said gently, "Dad is exceptionally careful when it comes to firearms, trust me! I should know! He won't be teaching the kids anything with regards to the gun. But, they're gonna need fresh meat and Dad is an excellent shot. Besides, they'll need the gun for protection."
Realising Gibbs was right, Jenny simply nodded.
"OK then," she conceded at last. "I guess you're right."
"Of course I'm right," replied Gibbs grinning.
Leaning in, he kissed her gently.
"Night Jen," he said softly.
Snuggling into his side, Jenny laid a soft kiss on Gibbs' shoulder.
"Night," she whispered.
Tomorrow was going to be a huge day, she thought as she drifted off to sleep. But at least they'd be facing it together, all six of them.