Previously on NCIS
Ding
For the two agents who did not know who was to exit those widening silver doors, everything seems to move into a paralysing slow motion.
The person exited the lift and looked up to face the five agents. A face that had been branded into their minds as a terrorist ever since their first encounter.
Ari…
He was escorted by the security personal by the lift to the table to be seated on the short edge on the left, closest to Kate. However to her surprise, also being in a slight state of shock, he wore no restraints or shackles, only that cheeky grin.
"Nice to see you again, Caitlin" He said smoothly.
Kate inched in her chair closer to Tony on her right. This was totally awkward and coming from a traumatic scene as a near death explosion, she didn't have the courage or the strength to even look in his direction, rather keeping her arms crossed against her chest and glaring and Morrow.
Gibbs answered him for her. "How's your shoulder, Ari" The spite and anger played on his tongue, though it was hidden well with a cover of sarcasm.
He smiled and once again answered in his thick Middle Eastern accent, with a dash of British.
"Better… thank you for your concern. And Gerald, may I ask?…"
However Morrow had other ideas, "Well, that's the pleasantries out of the way. Onto business, shall we?" He insisted and in the next moment all six had a manila folder place on the table in front of them labeled, "Operation Caméléon."
"Now I know it's getting late, so this will only be a short introduction and I want you two…" Morrow indicated to Kate and Tony, "…to be cleaned up and rested to finish this tomorrow." He ordered.
They both nodded in agreement and picked up the operation folder from the table. However, Ari eyed Kate up and down and showed no intention of hiding it; out of the corner of Kate's eye she could see her boss turn uncomfortably in his chair.
Gibbs then shot Ari a 'don't-even-think-about-it' glare and then went back to reading the folder, as Morrow summarised it out loud, "Agent Russell is heading up the teams to be setup for surveillance at the docking yards. We are going to let it continue on it's usual route as the container is scheduled for a mandatory 24 hour quarantine lock-up before being sent out again."
"That's where we think the pick up was meant to take place?" asked Tony.
"It's the only logical point, as any later, it would be heading off our shores."
There was a few minutes silence as the agents…and one double agent, scanned the brief.
"You're going to be in there with diamonds and powder?" Gibbs suddenly exclaimed.
Ari looked up, grinning, before continuing, "Yes, I will go in there as the courier and see who meets me. They won't be expecting someone with an American accent and I have the correct ethnicity." He looked slightly smug as he informed Gibbs of the situation.
"But won't they be expecting the courier to have not so much testosterone" Quipped Tony as he tossed the folder back onto the edge of the desk.
"Well…" Ari began.
"…I can answer that," Morrow interjected, "…We have just received secure intelligence that no personal details were known about the courier, just an identifying 5-digit number tattooed on the back of their left ankle," He spread out a couple of photos in front of them with a tattooed ankle with the 5 numbers, "…and of course they would expect someone from the exporting country to be doing the deal."
"How did you come by this and how can you be so sure?" Asked Kate.
"One of our agents over in the Philippines's came across it only hours after the discovery of the body here. This is going to be a joint operation and we need to get all the evidence so that we can get everyone in the network and prevent a disaster."
Satisfied,Morrow closed his folder and stood up. "That's the important details, now, you all now this is strictly top secret and can not leave this room." Morrow warned, "I expect you all to be here at 0630 for tomorrows operation."
With that both he, Agent Russell and Tony exited the room and thankfully Ari was still under guard and was quickly escorted out as well, however not before throwing a one-eyed wink at Kate. She shuddered a little and breathed a sigh of relief at the close of the silver doors that meant he was gone.
Leaving Kate and Gibbs alone.
They both watched as Ari left and their guts were both churning, not liking it at all. Gibbs then turned his attention back to Kate. He knew she was a strong agent, but at this particular moment in time he found that rules could be bent, even his.
Gibbs knew that he had to keep rule 12 but as he walked around the table to where Kate was still sitting he could see that rule 12 was about to be severely tested.
He sat down in Tony's vacant chair so that he could face her. God, she's so beautiful, he thought but coughed immediately trying to maintain his composure. This broke Kate from her little stare into space and she suddenly noted how close Gibbs was and that his attention, and those eyes, were directly focused on her.
It was a little intimidating, but…something else at the same time.
Gibbs was the first to speak. "I think you should have a two-week leave…" Kate reacted instantly, but Gibbs placed his hand over hers that softened her immediately. "…you've just come from a very traumatic experience and I'm sure that Tony and agent Russell's team will be able to handle things fine."
However Kate wasn't softened for long, "You're letting Tony go?"
"He's done these type of sting setup operations before and I want everyone to be objective"
Kate was starting to feel a little defensive now, "Morrow has involved me in the investigation and I have no problem being apart of it. Which means there are no objectivity issues!" She argued chucking the folder on the table.
Kate stood up turning her back to Gibbs and rubbed her fingers across her forehead.
Gibbs was running out of ideas, he knew that she wouldn't back down easy, but he didn't want to tell her the truth either. He walked around to face her again, this time putting his hands on her shoulders. Kate was stubborn and looked him directly in the eyes.
"Why aren't you letting me be involved in this case, Gibbs? Is it something to do with Ari?"
She had spoken the 'forbidden' word and she could feel his hands tense of her shoulders. However she remained focused, waiting with no hesitation for an answer.
"It's for your safety" Gibbs finally answered, looking into Kate's eyes as passionately as the conversation was heated.
However, it was a bluff, because as soon as it left his lips, he knew that it was the wrong thing to say in that moment.
Kate had heard enough and wriggled her shoulders out of his grip and stormed for the lift, in a rage that had her leave her jacket behind.
Gibbs didn't want to stop her in her flight of anger, so he looked from her jacket to the lift and back again. Pondering what he should do.
"Rule 12, is starting to bend like a plastic straw." Gibbs breathed.
KATES APARTMENT: Monday 2107
What a fking bastard thought Kate as she slammed her apartment door behind her.
He doesn't want me to be around Ari, that's it she concluded, …that was nearly a month ago and I've already seen the mandatory shrink and things are fine…there are no objectivity issues. She huffed and chucked her keys onto the hallway table before flopping onto the couch.
After a few minutes of punching a lone cushion and cursing under her breath, her emotions took hold of her and tears welled up in her eyes. It was just another usual day on the job; the explosion didn't affect her. Sure, it was going to be 'different' with Ari, but other than that…fine!
"Fine…!"Kate repeated to no one is particular.
As Kate lay there, contemplating her thoughts, there suddenly was a knock echoing from the door behind her.
A/N: So there it is... ! thanx for the feedback! So now that Ari is...here...oh-so complex this is getting! I have to get some time to rearrange the next coming chapters…:P but u all know how powerful reviews are! Lol J What triangle am I going to make this? Hhmmm..:P…. Sorri to all the McGee and Abby ppl too! I will try as much as I can but I will see what I can do! xoxo Claire J