For the past three days, the team hadn't gotten a new case. Just small easy open and shut cases. Well this last one got her a bullet in the back leg. Not much damaged, but Gibbs and the others didn't know she was healed. So that meant over the wall care and no excessive work. When in the office, Alex stayed glued to Gibbs side. She wasn't sure why, but she had this huge urge to be by him. When at Ziva's place, she would wonder off with Nathan. Eyal was spending more and more time at Ziva's place. She wouldn't be surprised if he moved in already. Nathan and the other alphas were still on alert for Elston. They knew he wasn't going to simply give up on avenging his father's death. The packs were standing guard around the clock. Without the team knowing, they always had shadows following them around. Seeing Ziva walk into the bullpen, she frowned at how pale she looked. In fact, she hadn't been looking to good since yesterday. Standing from her corner, she trotted into the kitchen area.
Gibbs was currently grabbing a coffee. "I am not giving you anymore coffee, you already had two cups."
Alex chuckled. 'But you didn't see the last two Tony gave me.' Grabbing him by the sleeves, she tugged him towards the fridge. 'Open it.'
Gibbs pulled the door open for her. "What?"
'I need.' She stuck her nose into the fridge, pushing items out the way. 'Found it!' Grabbing the bottle, she backed away. 'Close it.'
"What are you doing with that?" Gibbs chuckled, following her into the bullpen.
Alex trotted over to Ziva, placing the bottle of juice on her desk. 'Drink this, it will help with whatever you have going on.'
Ziva was startled by the sudden appearance of the bottle. Grabbing it she glanced at Alex, to Gibbs, to the bottle and back. "You gave it to her."
Gibbs shook his head. "No, she grabbed it herself and brought it."
Taking a gulp, she pulled Alex into a tight hug. "Thank you, I needed that."
Content with that, she crawled back under Gibbs desk. Gibbs had actually placed a large dog bed under there for her. Just as she was about to get some shut eye, Gibbs phone rings.
"Gear up, dead marine in an alley." Gibbs ordered, grabbing his gun and badge. "Luna stay."
Alex groaned, falling back into the dog bed. 'I swear getting shot, even when healed sucks.'
The team came back after a few hours. Gibbs headed down to Ducky's, while the team got to work with who knows what. Well Ziva and Tim got to work, Tony was rambling about something Gibbs.
"So many questions." Tony spun Gibbs chair around. "My mind spinning with questions. I mean, have you ever thought about it? He actually came from somewhere. He didn't just appear, you know. He didn't just start Gibbs. He was a boy. And then he grew."
'Okay should I be worried Tony thinks so much of Gibbs?' Alex chuckled. 'Because I have enough with Lisa, I really don't need to add DiNozzo to the list.'
"I thought he was molded from clay, had life breathed into him by a group of mystics." Ziva said.
Tim frowned. "That's funny, I thought he fell to earth in a capsule after his home planet exploded."
Ziva laughed, waving her hand in front of them. "No, he burst-forth full grown from the mind of zeus."
"Nice." Tim gasped.
Tony leaned forward, pinning them with a serious look. "He is the avatar of Vishnu. He was sent to be the left hand of yahweh." Both Ziva and Tim glanced at him with smirks. "He was grown in a cabbage patch. I'm trying to pose a serious metaphysical question here. You want to be clever? I can be clever."
Alex spotted Gibbs walk into the bull pen. 'He always had a knack for walking in at the right moment.'
"Just a matter of time, DiNozzo." Gibbs said.
Tony went off blabbing things that he should be doing, but in fact were being done by Tim and Ziva. The rest of the team spoke up on what they found. Alex crawled out from under the desk, moving to stand by the elevator. If she was correct from the bits and pieces she got, they were going on a road trip. And sure thing, a few moments later all with the exception of tony climbed into the elevator.
Gibbs kneeled down beside her, checking her leg. "Well it doesn't seem to hurt anymore."
'Nope all healed.'
"Alright." That was all he said, as they got off the elevator and into the car.
Stillwater wasn't that far from them, just a few hours of drive. It would have been shorter, if Tim wouldn't have needed to use the restroom every five minutes. Alex had taken the front seat, enjoying the fresh air hitting her fur. Upon entering the small town, she felt a change in Gibbs. He became guarded, sadden at some points. Turning in the seat, she placed a paw on his leg.
Gibbs scratched her chest fur. "I'm alright. Just so many memories, good and bad."
'If you need to talk, I am here. Always.'
They pulled up next to an old barber shop. As they climbed out of the car, a sheriff's car pulled up beside him.
Gibbs sighed. "Well that didn't take long."
The sheriff was an older man, a bit older than Gibbs. "You know, if you had a little tennis ball buzz cut, instead of that salt and pepper, you'd remind me of this skinny little wise-ass I used to know. Why didn't you tell me you was coming?"
Gibbs shrugged. "Not sure it's worth your trouble."
He stepped up close to Gibbs. "Heard you was a fed now. Never imagined we'd en up on the same side, huh?"
Gibbs chuckled. "No. No, never." Gibbs back up leaning against the car, blocking the growling wolf from coming out. "How you been, Ed?"
"After 30 years?" He inhaled deeply, glancing up at the air. "Well, let's see, um...remember Debbie Leonard? Knocked her up. Married. Kids. My kid had a kid. Calls me pappy. You know how it goes. Anything I can help you with? Far as the police work goes."
"I'll let you know." Gibbs assured, yet he held his fisted hand behind his back.
"You do that, Leroy." Staring Gibbs down, he walked back to his car and drove off.
Alex jumped out the car, snipping at Gibbs. 'Why the hell did you keep me trapped in there?!'
Gibbs stopped by next bite, grabbing ahold of my muzzle. "Will you relax, the man would have shot you on sight." Grabbing the harness from the back seat, he placed in on Alex. "I know you hate it, but let's keep it on while we are here."
Alex snorted. 'Fine, but back to that jerk, he could have tried and he'd end up with his jugular missing.'
"Old friend?" Ziva asked.
Gibbs smacked his lips. "Frenemy, let go pay LaCombe's aunt a visit."
Alex wasn't sure if the looks were because of her or because of the feds. Or both. Either way, she was starting to get nervous. Everyone was watching them. Some were even on the phone, pointing at them. Alex loved the small-town life, but there was always a down side. Everyone knew everyone and everyone was in everyone's business. She stayed with Ziva, who was to call Tony and checkup. Gibbs and Tim walked up to the house of their injured marine's aunt. As Alex wondered off, following the scent of what she hopped to be a rabbit, she failed to see the older man walk up to Ziva. Alex trailed the scent to a small hole in the ground. Digging into it she found what she was looking for. It took her no time in catching and...well lets just say she may have let her hunting instincts take over for a moment.
"Luna!" Gibbs yelled.
Dropping the rabbit, she bolted out the bushed and stopped beside Gibbs. To her surprised there was another man. 'Who the hell are you?'
The man's eyes widen at seeing the bloody animal. "This is your k-9?"
Gibbs sighed, attempting to remove the blood from her muzzle. "She must have caught a rabbit."
"Let's hope it truly was a rabbit and not a towns folk." The man chuckled. "Come on, you all can set up at my shop."
Alex frowned, looking from Gibbs to the man. 'Who is this man?'
It wasn't until later Alex found out he was Jackson Gibbs, Gibbs father. Great I am meeting the father of my mate as a wolf. A bloody wolf. Just fantastic. As we walked into the store, Jackson was quick to order Gibbs, to leave Alex outside. Both Gibbs and Alex stared at him, as if not believing what he had just said.
Ziva, was quick to change the subject. "Was that the gun you learned to shoot with?"
Gibbs glanced up at the rifle, shaking his head. "No was ever allowed to touch the Winchester."
"Let that be a parenting lesson." Jackson chuckled. "Tell a kid he can't have a rifle and he grow's up to be a sniper." Gibbs gave him the same look; he would give Tony. "Dog stays outside."
Alex growled, leaning in closer to Gibbs. "She stays where is stay."
"You can't have a dog running around a grocery store." Jackson sighed.
Gibbs kneeled down, scratching her neck. "She isn't a dog Jack."
"Fine, but she better be housed trained." Jack chuckled.
Alex bared her teeth at him, getting a slight head slap from Gibbs. 'What? That was just offensive of him!'
"Can I get you something to eat, Leroy?" Jack asked.
Gibbs stayed as he was, scratching Luna's chest. "Can't. Case."
"Well, least I can help you with that. I had a few beers with Ethan Lacombe."
Gibbs stood up, with a slight groan. "Gee, I'm shocked."
Tim and Ziva were like kids at a zoo, watching an event of a life time. Alex although knowing she was probably going to get into trouble, went on a little tour. Just as she walked through the third isle, she heard the doorbell ring. Rushing out, she bumped into Ziva and Tony. Pushing her head pass their legs, she spotted senor Gibbs sitting in Gibbs car. Gibbs was staring at his dad through the driver side.
"Uh, boss, we'll, uh, we'll wait here." McGee held a thumbs up, as Gibbs looked up at him.
"Luna?" Gibbs held his door open.
'Yeah, I think I'll sit this one out. Keep these two out of trouble.' Alex stepped a back into hiding behind Ziva and Tim.
Gibbs tapped the hood of his car a little too hard, as he jumped in and drove off.
"I'll call Abby." Tim said.
"I'll call Tony." Ziva chuckled.
'I'm telling matt.' Alex followed them back into the store. 'Matt?'
'Hey.'
'You will never believe who I just met.'
Ziva and Tim were currently telling it all to the other two. Which transformed into a talk about the case, and how the town believed Ethan has been dead for 4 years. Alex kept herself busy with doing patrols around the store's perimeter. It helped to keep anyone not looking to enter and buy on the other side of the street. But she had to admit, it was causing a lot of unwanted attention. Gibbs really needed to hurry the hell up and come back. By the time night fall came, Alex laid on the bench next to the door. She was starting to worry about Gibbs, even Tim and Ziva were getting worried about him. She spotted a woman talking to the sheriff from earlier, pointing towards her.
'Whatever you have in mind, don't do it.' Alex sat up at seeing him make his way to her. Baring her teeth at him, her view was blocked by Gibbs car pulling up. Glancing back over to the sheriff, she noticed he was walking away. 'That's right, the alpha is here. You better walk away.' She jumped up, placing her paws on his chest. Inspecting him all over, ensuring herself he was actually fine. 'You hurt? You okay? Do I need to bite any one's ass?'
"I'm fine, but what are you doing outside?" Gibbs ruffled her fur, kissing her gently on the head. "Come on, let's get you inside and fed."
"Leroy we are not done talking." Jack grumbled, only to be ignored by his son.
Gibbs ushered Luna into the store, re-grouping with Tim and Ziva. "Why was Luna outside?"
"She refused to come inside, since you left." Ziva answered.
"Can't you ever take things as you see 'em?" Jack walked in, closing the door behind him.
Gibbs sighed, talking a little too loud. "I see people lying to me."
"You were such a happy child." Jack muttered.
"Boss, I talked to Tony and Abby." Tim was cut off by Jack's confused voice.
"Boss?" Jack scoffed. "You make them call you that? He's not a... Are you a boss, Leroy?"
Gibbs heard the growl, before seeing her. In a quick move he grabbed ahold of Alex by her harness, jerking her back to his side. "Easy Luna, easy." Kneeling down by her side, he stroked her softly. "It's fine, Jack just likes to speak his mind."
Alex glanced at senior Gibbs, growling lowly. 'You may be his father, but I will not let you disrespect him.'
Ziva began speaking about the case, in an effort to ease the tension in the room. "Blood traces from LaCombe's ring will help us ID two of his attackers."
"As far as how they found him, LaCombe's squad in Iraq made a video and put it on the net." Tim pulled up the website, showing the video.
"It was posted a month ago, and already has almost half a million hits," Ziva added.
"I can tell you who has seen it, by using a service provider accounts, I can cross-reference the static IPs..."
"McGee...I'm tired." Gibbs sighed heavily.
Alex placed a paw on his lap, giving him a small lick on the cheek. 'You really need to rest more.'
Tim nodded, typing away on his laptop. "I can conclusively say, that this video has been views from the Winslows' home account."
"Someone in that house knew Ethan LaCombe was still alive." Ziva said.
Jack shook his head, pointing at the screen. "Well, you see, anybody could have found that. I mean, anybody could have known how to find him."
"It could have been anyone." Gibbs agreed, standing to his full height, glaring at his father. "But they lied to me about it."
Jack smacked his lips, walking towards the back of the store. "I am going to bed. Leroy, you know where the guest bedrooms are."
Gibbs sighed. "You two head to the hotel. Meet back here at 8am." Tim and Ziva began to gathered their items, heading out he door.
Ziva paused, glancing back at Alex. "She staying with you tonight?"
Gibbs nodded. "Yes."
"Alright, good night Gibbs."
"Night." Locking the door, he shut off the lights. "Come on."
They walked towards a door in the back, walking out into what looked like a back yard. A few feet ahead was a nice old house. It reminded Alex a lot of Gibbs house, a welcoming look. Gibbs led her into the house, down the hallway and into the bedroom on the left. Alex jumped onto the bed, laying at the end, watching Gibbs get ready for bed. He walked into the bathroom for a few minutes, walking out changed and with a wet towel.
"Let's get that blood cleaned off you." Gibbs cupped her under the jaw, lifting her face up. "You look like something out of a horror movie."
Alex licked her lips, hating she couldn't control it. 'Shut up and clean it off.' Once he was done, he tossed the towel into the hamper. Climbing into bed, Gibbs reached over shutting off the lights. Alex crawled over to him, laying her head over his chest. Gibbs hand rested on her back and neck, stroking her gently. His heart beat thudding softly in her ear, lullabying her into a deep sleep. She missed this. She missed falling asleep to the sound of his heart beat. Inhaling his scent, memorizing it all over again. His body heat, keeping her warm during the night. She really missed this. She missed him.
