Morning came around to soon for her. Well, more like Gibbs woke up way too early for her liking. She had forgot how much of a morning bird he was. Still she laid on the edge of the bed half asleep, watching him go about his morning routine. Once he was ready to go, they walked out of the house and back into his father's store. Alex laid by his chair, as Gibbs and his dad sat at the table, drinking coffee and reading the paper.
Alex moved to lay on her side, stretching her legs out. 'This has got to be the slowest case ever.' Hearing the doorbell ring, she glanced up as McGee and Ziva walked in.
"Morning, Gibbs." Tim raised a brow, slightly confused. "Gibbses."
Ziva bit back a smirk, getting down to the point. "Corporal LaCombe Briefly regained consciousness, but, uh, he has no memory of the attack."
"Tony's trying to secure a court order for the Winslows family. To take blood samples. Financial records." Tim's voice quieted down at the end, sharing a look of confusion with Ziva.
Alex lifted her head up once more, quirking a brow to see why. Gibbs and his father were simply sipping their coffee and reading the paper. 'What the hell was Gibbs trying to proof here.' Walking around, she took a seat beside Ziva and Tim, watching the duo.
"Who is this Tony?" Jackson asked without looking up from his paper.
'Like father like son.' Alex snorted.
"He will be driving up this afternoon." Ziva choked on her laugh, covering her mouth behind her hand.
"So, how's it go? You line up people you don't like and make 'em give you blood?" Jackson asked. Well demanded was more like it.
Gibbs sighed. "It's not personal."
"Sure it is."
"One of those guys put that kid in the hospital. Killed his friend."
"Yeah, and you know this how?"
"I can feel it."
"Feelings. That sounds very personal to me."
Alex was starting to get whiplash from looking at each man. Yet, not once did they look up from their papers. 'God, now I know where he gets his stubbornness from.'
"I do this for a living." Gibbs stretched out his words, as if he was speaking to a toddler.
"Some living." Jackson scoffed. "Just to let you feel superior to everybody else."
'Oh, that did it.' Alex stepped back, nipping at the back of Ziva and Tim knees. Getting them to move away from the duo and huddle in the corner. 'Cover your heads and assume the position. The bomb is about to off.'
Gibbs removed his glasses, finally looking up from his paper and glaring at his father. "What do you want me to do?"
Jackson mimicked Gibbs movements, giving him a glare of his own. "Why do you say you think they're responsible? How about getting some more evidence first? How about that? How about DNA? I thought everything was DNA now."
'I thought that was why we were getting the blood for.' Her ears twitched at hearing nothing, but silence. All three heads looked back, to find Gibbs staring at them. 'Oh shit.'
And that is how they found themselves in the trash. Well Tim and Ziva, Alex kept watched on the men a few feet away. They were currently going through the trash bins of Winslows's mining company.
"Shame, I was really starting to like him." Tim mumbled as he rummaged through a trash bag.
Ziva nodded. "Me, too."
"And Gibbs sure is bending over backwards to accommodate him." Tim added.
"He needs to be himself." Ziva spun around at hearing Alex's growl.
"Whoa!" The approaching man jumped back, away from the growling wolf. With a nervous chuckled, he glanced up at the agents. "Can I help you folks?"
"Sure, you want to make that offer?" Tim asked.
He chuckled. "Depends on what you're looking for."
"Anything that may carry traces of DNA." Ziva jumped right in, her hand running over Alex's neck. "This dumpster is on public access road, so we are able-"
"And willing." Tim added.
"To go through it." Ziva finished.
Tim continued his search. "Looking for treasures like, this." He pulled out an old mining glove.
Ziva grinned, giving him a comical look. "Does that bother you?"
"Yeah, it's a-" His words faltered as Alex approached him, sniffing his boots and pants. "It's a little off putting."
"Luna." Ziva called back.
Alex snorted. The man tried to keep a strong front, but she was sure he was close to pissing his pants. 'Maybe I should give him a little scare?'
"Here, let me help." He tossed his half-eaten apple into the bin and left.
He gathered with the same group Alex had been watching. Ziva grabbed the apple, giving him a thanks gesture and tossing it into the evidence bag. The man glared at her, talking closely to one of his workers. Alex didn't have a good feeling about him. He wouldn't take his eyes Ziva.
Alex moved to stand behind her, baring her teeth at him. 'Don't even think about it bud. Not the best idea.' The man was quick to advert his eyes.
After Tim and Ziva were done shifting through the dumpster, they moved on to the next. This time to the dumpsters across from the Winslows home.
Tim was rummaging through them, when Ziva tensed. "You feel that?"
"What?" Tim made a disgusting face. "Week-old bananas?"
Ziva rolled her eyes. "No, we are being watched."
Tim and Alex looked up to see a young girl standing on the porch of the Winslows home. Ziva made her way over, signaling Alex to stay put.
"How does she do that?" Tim wondered.
Alex grinned. 'I got no clue.' Tim continued with his scavenger hunt. While Alex watched Ziva and the girl. They didn't talk much, seeing how a car pulled into the driveway. Alex gave out a loud howl, getting Tim's and Ziva's attention. Tim and Alex made their way over to them, just as Mr. Winslow told her to get off his property.
Ziva lowered her eyes, fixing the sleeve of her jacket. "Are we finished here, McGee?" Winslow jumped, not expecting anyone else.
"Finished."
Giving the man a smile, she nodded softly. "Okay."
Alex allowed them to go first, keeping her eyes on the man. Like his son in law, this dude creeped her the fuck out. Something was really off about this family. They arrived back at the shop in no time. This town really was small.
McGee went into the shop first, followed by Ziva. Alex jumped out of the back seat to stretch herself out. Before she knew what happened, she felt a strong blow to the side of her stomach. The impact sent her tumbling to the ground, with enough force to knock the air out of her. As she tried to scramble to her feet, she got another blow to her shoulder. Laying on the sidewalk, she looked up to see two men tampering with the car. She tried her hardest to pull herself up, but every time she did, someone or something would push her down. In a last attempt to get up, she tossed her head up, biting down on the leg holding her down. Just as he fell on his ass, an explosion was heard. Looking over, she saw the car going up in flames. Turning back, she cursed at seeing the man gone. Letting her head drop to the ground, she focused healing herself. Bastard cracked her ribs and shattered her shoulder.
"Jethro? Jethro?!"
Alex could hear Jackson calling for his son, asking if they were all okay. She could feel herself weaken, her body asking for sleep. Healing oneself was very tiresome for a wolf.
"Everyone okay?" Jackson asked.
"Yeah, fi-" He stopped, looking from right to left. "Where is Luna?" Not getting a response quick enough, he began to panic. "Where is she?! Luna!"
Ziva stared into the flames. "She was in the car when I went inside."
Gibbs felt the life in him drain. "What?" Shaking his head, he grabbed Tim by the shoulder and shoved him to the left. "Look for her!"
"On it." Tim took off running, calling for her. "Luna!'
Gibbs ran a hand through his hair, taking in deep breaths. His heart was pounding against his chest, threatening to jump out. His hands shook from both the adrenaline and fear. His eyes scanned the streets, looking for any signs of her. "She wouldn't have stayed in the car if someone got near it. She has to be here."
"Jethro, calm down." Jackson placed a hand on his shoulder. "We'll find her."
"Boss!" Tim yelled from down the street, kneeling next to something on the ground.
Gibbs felt his heart stop. Running towards them, he nearly gasped at seeing her. Alex laid on the ground, covered in blood. Blood mixed saliva drooled out of her mouth. She was breathing, that much he could tell. "Oh, Luna." Kneeling down beside her, he ran his hand down her body. "What did they do to you?"
"They beat her with this." Jackson held up a bloody bat, covered with fur and blood.
Gibbs looked up, his eyes darkening at the sight of the blood. Hearing a slight whimper from the wolf, he calmed her. "Shh, shh, shh, you're alright. I got you." Grabbing her head in his arms, he ran his hand through her fur. "I got you." Clenching his jaws at hearing the hard time she had breathing.
"Is there a vet nearby?" Ziva asked.
Jackson nodded, pointing to the shop just a few buildings over. "Dr. Hanks."
"I'm on it." Tim rushed across the street, nearly missing the vehicle driving by.
"She isn't breathing right." Gibbs told Ziva.
Ziva placed her palm on Alex's chest, feeling the shaky vibration of her breathing. "Place her down on flat. Sounds like one of her lungs maybe crashing."
Alex could hear them. Feel their raw emotions, as they touched her. She wanted to let them know she was fine, but this was taking its sweet time. The damaged they did on her body was severe. She felt her lungs crashing, luckily her healing kicked in before anything major. Inhaling deeply, she was wide awake, by the horrible scent she took in. Blinking softly, she looked up to see Gibbs.
"There she is." Gibbs grinned, stroking her muzzle gently.
Alex glanced around, her eyes landing on the unknown male. He was currently checking her abdomen. 'Who are you and why are you touching me?' In his hand he held a small napkin, drenched in whatever he used to wake her up.
"Well, I don't feel anything swollen or broken. Seems the damage was more superficial than internally." The vet said. "She will be needing stitches to close these wounds, but nothing a good rest won't heal." He reached for the bat, quickly dropping it at hearing the growl. "I do have to say, she is a tough one. Not many-if any would have survived those blows. I would like for her to come in for X-rays. Just to ensure nothing is cracked or damaged."
Alex scrambled to her feet, shaking the dirt and blood off herself. 'No need, all better. Just need to finish healing the ribs.' She didn't need for them to see the cracked ribs. Then how would she explain the healing.
Ziva chuckled, cupping her face. "She seems all good to me."
The vet nodded, grabbing his bag. "In that case, I will be leaving. Agents. Jackson."
"Thank you, Hanks." Jackson said.
Gibbs patted his chest, getting Alex to stand on her hind legs. "You gave us quiet a scare."
Alex leaned forward, licking his cheek. 'Sorry, but in my defense I did get hit by a bat.'
"What now?" Tim asked.
Ziva stared at the still burning car. "All of our evidence was in there."
"Alright." Jackson nodded. "Let's do it your way."
