Fountain of Sorrow

by mkim57

This story begins as a part of a larger JAG story and shortly spins off into its own NCIS story

2. Chapter 2

Fountain of Sorrow 2

Disclaimers as previously stated

Spoilers: Also as previously stated.

0630

Tuesday

April 5

NCIS Headquarters

Washington Navy Yard

A picture of a beautiful young woman was taped to the top of Special Agent Gibbs's desk, placed dead center. It was a picture of the then Danielle Smith. On the back was written in fading blue ink:

'To Jethro,

With all my love,

Dani'

There was also a verse written on the back of the picture as had been with the two previous pictures that Gibbs had received.

'Nevertheless I have this against you,

That you have left your first love.'

The cleaning crews were the only people who had access to the office after hours. One of the crew members had been approached by a young man one afternoon at the beginning of his shift who'd asked him to help him play a practical joke. He placed the picture at the designated desk. He had said that he and a man who worked here had been college friends; he had paid him fifty dollars for his trouble. This was the second time he had done this for him. It was an easy way to make a little extra money and harmless as far as he was concerned. He was well dressed and had seemed sophisticated. He was surprised the man had even spoken to him; the cleaning staff was invisible to most people.

0730

Tuesday

April 5

Smith residence

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Dani walked into the kitchen to get her coffee before taking what had become her daily walk on the beach. She took a sip of her coffee and walked to the sliding glass doors off of the kitchen. She was startled by an object that appeared to be taped to the glass. Taking a closer look, she saw that it was a picture of her and Jethro. It had been taken at one of her family gatherings. She and Jethro were sitting on the beach. She sat between his legs and he had encircled her in his arms. They were looking lovingly into each other's eyes. Another forgotten picture, but one so intimate she wanted to grab it and hide it from anyone who might see it. She was embarrassed, even though no one else was in the room. She reached for it but then realized that it was taped to the outside of the glass.

She immediately opened the door and took the picture from it. It dawned on her then that someone had been this close to her parents' house, someone who very well could have murdered her husband. Commander Rabb had not said that the pictures and her husband's murder were related but that they might be. She considered calling Special Agent Todd but then thought better of it. She would call Commander Rabb at JAG; they were working with NCIS. She didn't want to deal with Jethro, not even indirectly. She had just buried her husband – she didn't need this now.

Composing herself, she brought the picture inside. She saw the dark writing on the back of the picture and turned it over to read it. One part of the writing had been what she had written: 'September 1978 at Mom and Dad's' in fading blue ink. The rest was written in stark black:

'For love is strong as death,

Jealousy is as cruel as the grave'

Dani had the most terrible sense of foreboding. She reconsidered her decision to call Commander Rabb immediately. What if someone were to kill Jethro too? She couldn't let ancient history be the cause of someone else being killed. She went to her purse and took Special Agent Todd's card out of her wallet.

0900

Tuesday

April 5

JAG Headquarters

Falls Church, Virginia

Major McBurney followed Commander Coleman back to her office after staff call. He and Lieutenant Vukovic had been assigned to a case out of San Diego. It was a court martial of a Marine accused of killing a Nicaraguan civilian during a humanitarian mission. He would be prosecuting and the lieutenant would be defending. They would also be attending the annual JAG conference along with Lieutenant Tali Mayfield. She had been welcomed aboard on Monday.

Faith turned to look at Mike as he sat down, taking in the scowl on his face.

"Aren't you looking forward to San Diego?"

"No, not really." He looked away from her, not wanting to make eye contact.

"Care to elaborate?" She thought it might be about his apparent dislike of Lieutenant Vukovic.

He looked at her directly. "You know why I'm not looking forward to going out there. I might as well have been designated 'babysitter' with Vukovic and now the new lieutenant." He rolled his eyes. "They've got some kind of history, from what I understand… maybe I should be designated the chaperone too."

Faith was surprised; she knew that Michael thought Lieutenant Vukovic was a pain in the ass, but this looked like real resentment. "Is there something you're not telling me?"

"I don't know. Maybe it's nothing." Mike sat forward, resting his forearms on his thighs.

"Okay…now you're starting to worry me. What is it?" She folded her arms across her chest.

"All right…remember the night we… the night we went to McMurphy's. The night he came in as we were finishing dinner?"

"Yes." The color started to rise in her cheeks. She would never forget that night as long as she lived. She had never been kissed like that in her life – and she had never kissed back like that before, either.

"The few times we have been alone in the same room, in the break room or in my office, he keeps bringing that night up. Just stupid little details that no one would even think about. Like how warm the weather was that night or how great the steaks are at McMurphy's. Once he even said something about the parking lot being dark and that they should have it lighted better."

Faith sat forward in her seat. "Why didn't you say something?"

"What would I say…that he commented on the weather?" He sat back and looked at Faith for a long moment. He hadn't wanted to tell her because it took her so long to let anyone close. He believed his hunch about something not being quite right with Vukovic had been correct. He also thought Vukovic was just the kind of person who could send Faith right back into her shell.

Faith returned his look. "You didn't think I could handle it…did you?"

Mike looked away from her. "I just didn't want to go back to the way it was before, Faith." He looked at her. "I have really enjoyed our time together."

Faith was touched that he felt that way, but didn't like it that he thought she was that fragile. "I appreciate that, Michael, but I'm not as fragile as you think."

He looked at his watch. "I have to get going. I have to be at Andrews by 1300." He stood and walked toward the open door. He turned and looked at her. "I should have talked with you about this. I'm sorry."

She smiled at him; he could get under her skin faster than anyone she had ever met. "Apology accepted."

As he started out of the room, he said, "I guess I need a little more…Faith." He couldn't keep from chuckling when he heard Faith's sharp intake of breath. He walked briskly back toward his office.

"All right, McBurney." She stood and walked around her desk to follow him when Commander Rabb appeared in her doorway.

"Commander Coleman, we just got a call from Special Agent Todd. We are to be at NCIS headquarters by 1000."

Faith stopped immediately and returned to her normal closed expression. Her face was still flushed, so much so that the commander asked her if she was all right. She had picked up her cover and closed her office door. She assured the commander that she was fine as she secretly glared at Michael across the bullpen.

0945

NCIS headquarters

Washington Navy Yard

Gibbs walked into the office swiftly. Kate could feel him walk into the room without having heard or seen him. He was furious and she knew why. He had somehow found out about the picture that was left at his ex-wife's parents' house.

"Kate! Where the hell are Dinozzo and McGee?"

Kate calmly closed the file she had been reviewing and started to stand up. Gibbs was in her face before she even had a chance to push her chair back. "You'd better have someone covering Dani's family in Virginia Beach, Kate. What the hell are you doing? Are you going to wait till someone kills them, too?"

Before Kate had a chance to answer or react they both heard the booming voice of their director. "Special Agent Gibbs!"

Gibbs backed off from Kate and looked up to see his boss waiting.

"My office…now."

Gibbs looked back at Kate for a moment. "This isn't over."

Director Morrow heard what had been said. "It is for you, Special Agent Gibbs." He turned to walk toward his office, and Gibbs followed him.

Director Morrow walked to his desk and sat down. "Close the door."

Gibbs did as he was asked. He was silent as he sat down in front of the director's desk.

"You have been advised to stay clear of this investigation, Gibbs."

"It's difficult to do when I keep getting thrown back into the middle of it." He looked at his boss directly.

"I'm aware of the situation; however, I am only going to tell you this once more. Stay out of Special Agent Todd's investigation."

"Director Morrow, I…"

The director raised a hand to stop him. "I heard your…concerns as you stated them earlier to Special Agent Todd. There is a security detail at Mrs. Graham's parents' home. A detail that has been in place since the incident at Little Creek. Special Agents Dinozzo and McGee are following up with Mrs. Graham as we speak."

He paused for a moment, knowing that Gibbs would realize that someone had seen him at the Smiths' residence immediately after he had been directed to stay off this case.

"Yes, you were seen there, but since you did not approach Mrs. Graham and up until this morning have not involved yourself, I was willing to let that go. I will not, however, tolerate anymore of this behavior, Special Agent. I want you to go home; as a matter of fact, I want you out of here for at least three days. Do whatever you have to do but stay out of this case, understood?" The director leaned forward on his desktop and raised his brows.

Gibbs was barely controlling his anger, but he would do ask he was asked. He would stay out of the office, for three days, anyway. He nodded an affirmative.

"That will be all then, Special Agent."

Gibbs stood and left the office. He walked directly to the elevators and met Harm and Faith coming off of them. He brushed past Harm, nearly knocking him backward.

"Nice to see you too, Gibbs." Harm turned and brushed the sleeve of his uniform.

Gibbs looked at him but said nothing as the elevator doors closed. Harm arched an eyebrow and looked at Faith. "Not an easy person to deal with, is he, Commander?"

"No, sir." She gave him a pained smile. The special agent could be a great guy to count on in a tough situation, but more often than not, in the everyday, she thought he was a bastard.

2330

Tuesday

April 5

Harm and Mac's apartment

North of Union Station

Harm lay awake listening to Mac's restful breathing as she slept. He had been mulling over the Graham case in his mind. He just couldn't put Gibbs into the middle of this somehow. The pieces just didn't fit and yet they were linked.

He and Mac both lay on their sides, spooning as usual. Mac leaned into him slightly and he pulled her closer. She drew a deep breath and seemed to slip further into sleep. He reached down and softly caressed her stomach, scooping his hand low to hold the baby in his hand. Mac was showing a bit more now, but she still carried this pregnancy well. She was as beautiful as ever to him and he had told her so. He felt a light thump under his hand and couldn't keep from smiling. He was still so fascinated with the fact of the baby. He couldn't wait until her next ultrasound; he wanted to see how much the baby had grown and that she was all right.

The phone rang, startling Harm and waking Mac.

Harm answered, "Rabb."

"Commander Rabb, this is Special Agent Todd. There has been a huge break in the Graham case. Meet me at headquarters NCIS in an hour. I don't think Commander Coleman should accompany you – she may not have clearance."

"What?"

"I'm sorry to sound so cryptic, Commander, but it is necessary, and once you have the details I'm sure you will understand why."

Harm looked at the clock. "I'll be there."

"Great." With that she ended the call.

"Harm?" Mac wiped the sleep from her eyes.

"It's about the Graham investigation. I have to meet Special Agent Todd at NCIS." He frowned. "This should be interesting."

He dressed quickly and kissed Mac, who followed him to the door and locked it.

Same time

Gibbs residence

Jethro Gibbs stood sipping his bourbon from his coffee mug, taking a rest from his boat building…in his basement. His cell phone rang and he picked it up. "Gibbs."

"Special Agent Gibbs?"

"Fornell?" He recognized the voice of FBI Agent T.C. Fornell.

"That's right. How quickly can you meet me at headquarters NCIS?"

"What do you have?"

"Let's just say I have some information that will tie up Special Agent Todd's case along with the JAGMAN investigation."

"I have been given specific instructions from my superior not to involve myself in this case."

"The director will be here as well. He is aware that I'm calling you."

"I'm on my way."

0045

Wednesday

April 6

NCIS Headquarters

Washington Navy Yard

Director Morrow stood just inside the glass doors of the building, watching Special Agent Gibbs walk toward him. The director knew that he was not going to take what he would learn tonight, well. There was no way around it: they had gotten a hell of a break, though the source may not be to the special agent's liking.

Gibbs joined his boss and each gave the other an acknowledging nod. He followed the director into the building and onto the elevators. When Morrow pushed the button to the basement and the morgue, Gibbs frowned at him, seeming to question him.

"It is our most secure area for this meeting, Special Agent," he answered perceptively.

The elevators opened, and Gibbs saw Kate and Commander Rabb just inside the doors to the morgue. Gibbs was beginning to feel cornered. Something about this did not feel right. It seemed as though everyone was in on the story but him and he didn't like it at all. He walked inside the doors, glancing for a few seconds at Harm and Kate but not acknowledging them.

Harm and Kate looked at each other; Harm had already been briefed before Gibbs had arrived.

He looked back at the director. "Where is Fornell?"

"He will be here momentarily." The director looked toward the doors leading to the basement garage which housed all vehicles used by the medical examiner.

As though on cue, the doors opened and T.C. Fornell walked in, followed by a man dressed in business attire, his eyes shielded by the position of the hat he wore. As they approached the group, Fornell raised his hand and the man accompanying him stopped.

"We have the individuals responsible for the arson and murder at Little Creek."

Gibbs looked hard at the man who had yet to look up and allow his face to be seen. "Is this your informant?"

Fornell nodded the affirmative.

"Do you mind if I question him?" Gibbs's voice was taking on a sarcastic edge.

Just then the man began to look up and he spoke. "You may ask me anything you like, Special Agent Gibbs." He recognized the man's smug and mocking smile right away.

"Ari…" Gibbs held his temper but he took one step toward him.

Harm and Agent Fornell stepped closer to Gibbs.

"Why the hell would you do anything to help us with this?" Ari had taken Kate hostage in this building, and he had shot and wounded one of his people – Jackson had still not returned to full duty. He had not been able to prosecute him due to his Mousaad/ Hamas double agent status. Gibbs had been able to repay Ari to a degree; he had given him a shoulder injury much the same as Ari had given Jackson.

Ari feigned offense and said, "Why would I not help you, Gibbs? We are friends, are we not? We have so many…shared experiences." He returned to his mocking smile.

"Enough Ari." Kate turned toward Gibbs. "The pictures were not related to the arson and murder at Little Creek."

He looked at Kate as though he did not believe her, but said nothing.

Kate looked at Ari. "It was part of a game he was playing."

Ari answered, "You should not have shot me…I was in a great deal of pain for many weeks."

"What the hell are you talking about? If you knew about this, why didn't you come forward before Master Chief Graham was killed?" He was stepping closer.

"I was made aware only after the fact, Special Agent Gibbs." Ari placed his hand on his chest. "I would never withhold that kind of information. We are on the same side, my friend, brothers in arms…in the war on terror."

"Brothers in arms don't shoot or torture each other…my friend." Gibbs returned his apparent sarcasm. "Who got access to those pictures and why were they sent to me and to my ex-wife?"

Ari smiled. "Ah…yes…Dani, such a lovely woman." His voice took on the same quality it had when he taunted her about Kate or Jackson.

Gibbs understood then that it had been Ari who tormented him…them. He had used this opportunity to get back at him. Gibbs did not believe him. He swiftly stepped closer and Fornell and Harm stepped up, keeping Ari out of Gibbs's reach.

"Why the hell should we believe him?" Gibbs wanted to break his neck.

Ari stepped back, enjoying the effect of his taunt on his nemesis.

Kate spoke up. "The evidence we gathered at the crime scene is directly linked to the individuals that Ari informed us of."

"That doesn't mean that he is innocent. There is more to this." He could feel it in his gut. He knew that Ari wasn't doing this out of the goodness of his heart. Harm and Fornell had backed off slightly, allowing Gibbs to see him.

"Your lack of faith wounds me, Special Agent Gibbs."

Ari had gotten what he came for that night. He had seen the result of the torment he was able to place in the special agent's mind.

"I must say, though, that your perseverance in your investigation impressed me. Although I do hope your superiors will look into security lapses in this building. You never know who might be able to breach it and get all the way in, even into your office, Special Agent Gibbs."

Gibbs had reigned himself in and decided to return the jab.

"Is your shoulder healing nicely, Ari?"

He would never regret shooting him; he wished he could have done more. He hated double agents. The only thing their existence proved was that there were people who had no loyalty, other than to themselves. In trusting them there was a 50 chance that you would be the one betrayed. With so much at stake, he didn't think that percentage was high enough to warrant his trust.

"I'm doing very well, thank you for your concern." The false sentiment hung in the air.

The director spoke. "This is over. Fornell, get him out of here."

Fornell and Ari had turned and were walking toward the doors with Gibbs's piercing gaze following them. Just as Ari walked out the door he looked over his shoulder at Gibbs; his sarcastic and smug smile continuing to taunt him. This was not over, and they both knew it.

"Commander Rabb, you will advise the Judge Advocate General of what has transpired here, with the proper discretion. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir." The director's implication was that Ari's role in the capture of the suspects would never be officially acknowledged.

The director looked at Kate. "If you and the commander will excuse us?"

Harm and Kate began to walk toward the elevators.

"I will expect a full report on my desk by 1300 tomorrow, Special Agent."

Kate acknowledged his request and they exited the room. She walked with Harm to the entrance of the building.

"You understand now why Commander Coleman could not accompany you?"

"Yes, I do." He paused just inside the doors before walking out. "Sounds like its pretty personal between Ari and Gibbs."

Kate nodded. "We had an incident last year. Ari took a hostage and wounded a member of our forensics team. Gibbs never really got over Ari's ability to walk away from the incident with impunity due to his double agent status."

"Spy games." Harm shook his head and looked at the special agent, suddenly glad he was at JAG and not playing spook anymore.

"Yeah." She wasn't really wild about them either, but they were a fact of life here.

"I have to agree with Gibbs, though; I don't think Ari did this out of the goodness of his heart. It has been my experience that no spook ever does anything if there isn't something in it for him and all the other players in the game be damned."

Kate looked at Harm without answering, her expression guarded.

"The arson of the home and the murder of a SEAL who –happened- to be married to Gibbs's ex-wife was no coincidence, Special Agent Todd. Someone seems to want to make this personal, very personal for Gibbs."

Kate couldn't say any more without feeling like she was betraying Gibbs. He and the commander weren't enemies, but there was no love lost between them, either. She extended her hand to shake Harm's.

"Thank you, Commander."

Harm smiled slightly, understanding and appreciating her discretion. "Anytime, Special Agent."

At that same time in the morgue…

The director and Gibbs stood between two autopsy tables facing each other, each man leaning against one of them.

"Special Agent Gibbs, I have never considered myself an unreasonable or rigid man. I have always given you a certain amount of license in your investigations, within the law."

Gibbs knew what was coming. He had to have heard about the amount of investigating he had done on his own. He crossed his arms and waited.

"You already know what I am going to say."

"Yes." He was going to volunteer anything but he did know.

"You contacted Agent Fornell; you followed up with the other members of Master Chief Graham's SEAL team…. I could go on." He had not expected this from Gibbs; the man might have bent the rules more than once, but until now, he had never broken them.

"Director Morrow…"

He held his hand up to stop him. "I have no choice but to place this in your personnel file. You were warned more than once and yet you continued to interfere."

Gibbs decided that if it was going into his personnel file, he may as well say what was on his mind.

"We don't have the whole story, Director Morrow. You know it and I know it."

"Special Agent Gibbs, there was more at stake here than the incident at Little Creek. The arrests of the individuals responsible will be in the media tomorrow, but we were able to get more substantial intel than that."

They had been able to arrest four young men from a cell there in Virginia. They had been attending a 'jihad academy' not 30 miles from Washington D.C. They had the men responsible for the death of Master Chief Graham and now helped create a door through which they would be able to infiltrate terror cells here in America.

Gibbs still knew in his gut that they would regret this. He did not know how, but he knew they would.

"Will that be all, sir?" There was no point in pursuing this, since he wasn't going to be told more than he already had been.

The director nodded in the affirmative.

Gibbs turned and left the room without a backward glance. He knew he was already on thin ice with the director but at this point he didn't give a damn. He took the elevator up to their office level. He saw Kate standing in her office space perusing a file. When he approached her she was startled. A picture fell from the file folder. It was the one that had been taped to the door at Dani's parents' house.

Gibbs picked up the picture and looked at it impassively. "Do we still have a security detail covering Mrs. Graham?"

"Yes, but after the arrests are announced the FBI will take over."

Gibbs thought that was at least one positive. Fornell would keep him posted if anything should come up. He nodded and then walked away, taking the picture he had picked up from the floor with him. Kate thought about stopping him – the picture belonged in the case file – but she thought better of it. This had been difficult for him.

She didn't blame him for not wanting the picture to be part of a file kept in this office. It was highly personal and Gibbs was a private person. It had made her uncomfortable to even look at it. It was just a couple obviously in love and in a loose embrace. What had made it so intimate and therefore uncomfortable for her was the unguarded love and desire on his face. She hadn't seen Gibbs as being capable of showing that kind of emotion and it embarrassed her for reasons she could not explain.

If there were any questions about the missing picture from the file she would handle them. It wasn't worth it to pry further into Gibbs's life than she had to for the purposes of this investigation.

Gibbs took the elevator to the ground floor and walked out of the building. He unlocked his Intrepid, got in and reached into his breast pocket, taking out the picture. The lights from the parking lot allowed a clear view. He remembered that day clearly: it hadn't really been anything special, just a visit with her parents, an unguarded moment captured in an instant. Had he ever been than young…had she? Suddenly he felt a loss that he had never allowed himself to feel. He felt a tug on his heart toward something he knew that there was no road back to. Gibbs replaced the picture in his pocket, then started his vehicle and put it in gear.

He thought that the vehicle was suddenly too quiet and so he decided to turn on the radio.

"Classic Rock…WCAP…Jackson Browne."

It was a song from their time, his and Dani's, so Gibbs leaned forward and turned it up.

'Looking through some photographs I found inside a drawer

I was taken by a photograph of you

There were one or two I know that you would have liked a little more

But they didn't show your spirit quite as true

You were turning 'round to see who was behind you

And I took your childish laughter by surprise

And at the moment that my camera happened to find you

There was just a trace of sorrow in your eyes.

Now the things that I remember seem so distant and so small

Though it hasn't really been that long a time

What I was seeing wasn't what was happening at all

Although for a while our path did seem to climb

But when you see through love's illusion there lies the danger

And your perfect lover just looks like the perfect fool

So you go running off in search of a perfect stranger

While the loneliness seems to spring from your life

Like a fountain from a pool

Fountain of sorrow, fountain of light

You've known that hollow sound of your own steps in flight

You've had to hide sometimes, but now you're all right

And it's good to see your smiling face tonight…

Gibbs reached back into his pocket and looked at Dani again, her sweet smile and the love so evident on her face. He was glad she had come through this all right; she had always been stronger than he had ever given her credit for. He gave her picture a sad smile and returned it to his pocket.

It was time to listen to something else. He pushed seek on his radio, and it sang out "Shot gun…shoot em 'fore he run now..." Junior Walker and the All Stars…..now –that- was music. It also seemed appropriate when he thought of Ari. He smiled at the thought of Ari being 'in a great deal of pain for many weeks.'

"All right…that's better." And with that Gibbs accelerated to a rate of speed that matched his music.

Harm had been on the interstate for just a few minutes when a vehicle blew by him. Although it was dark, he recognized the vehicle. It was Gibbs speeding down the highway; he looked as though he were going 90 miles per hour.

He shook his head. He didn't envy him tonight. Gibbs had had a personal stake, although indirect, in this spy game. He had stood there and watched his superior pull the rug right out from under him, knowing there was nothing he could do about it.

He had been there, only to go home alone with nothing and no one there for him. It had taken Paraguay for him to really see what he could lose and how terribly tired he was of all the games, spy and otherwise.

Where had he been a year ago tonight? It occurred to him how completely his life had changed in the space of one year. The last six months had been unbelievable. He had experienced nearly unbearable pain and inexpressible joy, and through it all Mac had always been there.

He was suddenly so grateful that he would be returning to his apartment to find her sleeping in his bed. Harm knew when he slipped under the covers she would turn automatically into his arms, barely waking, to the place they both knew she belonged.

No, he did not envy Gibbs tonight at all.

TBC