Fountain of Sorrow A WYABT Story
Chapter 2
Disclaimers: I don't own any of the NCIS or JAG characters. I don't own any product or label mentioned for the purposes of telling this story. Any similarities to situations or persons living or dead are purely coincidental.
Spoilers: The NCIS episode, 'Twilight' and any pre season three spoilers that may be floating around out there. Also some characters from the JAG fanfic 'Will You Always Be There?' may be referred to.
0900
Monday
June 13, 2005
NCIS Headquarters
Washington Navy Yard
Special Agent Jethro Gibbs was making his way toward Director Morrow's office. He assumed he had been summoned to discuss Kate's replacement. The last two weeks had been difficult at best, but no one who observed Gibbs's demeanor would have guessed it. He had stopped feeling pained when he looked at the desk where Kate sat. The team had begun to get their 'rhythm' back, but the loss was still palpable for all of them.
Gibbs knocked on the director's closed door and he heard his order to enter.
"Sit down, Gibbs."
He sat in the chair that was directly in front of the director's desk. "I assume this is about Special Agent Todd's replacement."
"No, as a matter of fact, it isn't." The director's expression gave away nothing.
Gibbs waited.
"I want you to attend a drug summit in Norfolk beginning tomorrow."
"Drug summit?" Gibbs looked at him, disbelieving.
This was an assignment he would send McGee on when he wanted to get him out of his hair.
NCIS coordinated with command leadership and substance abuse prevention coordinators to periodically to review testing procedures and ways to prevent the abuse before it happens. NCIS's role in the summit was also to interview sailors and marines who had tested positive to establish whether or not an expanded investigation needed to be initiated at command level.
A 'paper pushing' assignment to be sure. Something else was up; Gibbs could feel it in his gut.
Gibbs started to speak and Director Morrow silenced him with a raised hand.
"Yes, I'm getting you out of here. I could request that you send Special Agent McGee, but I won't, because it doesn't serve my purposes at the moment."
"May I ask what your purposes are?"
"To get you the hell out of Washington for a couple of days. I am still conducting interviews for the open position here."
Gibbs noticed that he did not refer to Kate by name.
"I want to make my decision based on what is best for the team as a whole. It may be better decided if you are not a part of the decision making process."
"I haven't been consulted so far." Gibbs was getting angrier by the minute. He had done a pretty good job of reining in his emotions as far as Kate's murder was concerned. He still blamed Director Morrow for not allowing him to pursue Ari as he wanted to in the beginning. Though, truth be told, he blamed himself as much as anyone for not seeing that Kate had been the target all along.
"No, you haven't been. But, you have a great deal of influence with your team and they know you well. If you disapprove, they would know without your having said a word."
Gibbs was already beginning to think about how he would handle Kate's replacement. He was beginning to think the director was going to hire a 'keeper' for him, to work with him right there in the office. He'd had enough of that.
"Do I still have a security detail?" Gibbs changed the subject, resigning himself for the moment to be managed away from headquarters NCIS.
"Yes, you do." The director looked at him steadily, unflinching.
"What about the other members of my team?"
"It is being handled, Gibbs."
"The same way it was handled prior to Special Agent Todd's murder?"
They'd trusted a double agent who was in fact an al Qaeda operative and now Kate was dead. Who knew who the next target would be?
"I am not going to justify my decisions to you. Agent Gibbs. These orders come from my superiors and they will be followed to the letter or you will no longer have a 'team.' Are we clear?"
Gibbs gave him a hard and direct look. "Yes."
"You have your assignment; I suggest you get to it."
Gibbs stood and left the director's office, leaving the door standing open behind him.
1435
Later that day…
Gibbs residence
Gibbs placed his duffle on his porch and turned to lock the door. On the small inset glass on his front door he saw the reflection that was beginning to become familiar to him.
Jack Keeter stood leaning casually against his Chrysler 300. He was well aware of Gibbs's assignment. He only hoped he wouldn't have to chase him all over Virginia until he attended it. There was a lot he didn't know and he wouldn't know until he got to Norfolk.
Gibbs turned quickly toward him. "Not bothering to hide now, Keeter?"
"I take it you got your assignment this morning?" He ignored Gibbs's question.
"Yeah, I got it." Gibbs frowned; his 'security detail' was more up to date than he was at this point. His assignment was an exercise in futility as far as he was concerned, busy work to get him out of Director Morrow's way.
"Good." Jack couldn't keep the smug smile off of his face.
"Want to come along and explore the new techniques on how to 'pop' those unsuspecting sailors and marines on the piss test?" Gibbs said sarcastically.
"I might do that. I haven't really had any experience in watching NCIS at work – it just might befascinating." Keeter matched his sarcasm.
Gibbs suddenly had an evil thought: Keeter could ride along with him and he would make the ride as 'comfortable' for him as humanly possible. So 'comfortable' in fact that he wouldn't be following him anywhere for a while.
"No sense in taking both vehicles. You can ride along with me, if you like."
Jack was no fool. "Nah, I'll drive my own vehicle, but thanks."
Gibbs put his bag in his trunk and reached for the handle on his door. "Don't get lost trying to keep up." Gibbs was in his vehicle and starting it before Jack could open his car door.
They made Norfolk in less than two and a half hours.
2107
Monday evening
Breakers Bar
Norfolk, Virginia
T.C Fornell walked in and saw Gibbs and Keeter sitting at the bar with their backs to him. Keeter heard the street noise from outside and turned to look in the direction of the door. It was never quiet outside a bar in Norfolk, even on a Monday night.
"Fornell," Jack greeted the newcomer.
Gibbs frowned and looked at his old friend. "You know this…you know him?"
"Yeah, we've met." He nodded toward Jack. He sat down on a bar stool next to Gibbs and told the bartender to bring him whatever they were having.
Gibbs got to the point. "What are you doing here, Fornell?"
"I told him you were here." Jack answered for him.
Gibbs had the feeling once again of being left out of the loop. "What the hell is going on here?"
"You'll know soon enough."
He looked from Jack to Fornell "When would that be? Is anyone else going to show up tonight?"
Fornell answered. "No."
"I've had enough of this sh…" Gibbs turned on the barstool and started to stand up to leave.
Jack stopped him. "Look, just attend your 'drug summit' in the morning. I think when you do things will be much clearer." Jack expression was serious; he had just about had enough as well. "Don't make this more difficult than it is."
Fornell spoke up. "That's good advice, Gibbs."
"So you're both following orders….is that it?"
Jack nodded with a wide grin back in place. "For the most part…yeah."
Fornell couldn't help but see the humor in the situation. "Finish your drink, Gibbs. It's got to be better than going back to your hotel room alone."
Gibbs didn't answer him but turned back around on his barstool. He knew Fornell was right, and he was also intrigued. He knew now that what he would be attending was no drug summit. He decided to play along for now and change the subject.
"I assume your security detail has been able to keep an eye on Dani and her family. I haven't gotten any more calls."
"Yeah…she's fine. She's been pretty quiet, though. She hasn't left her parents' property except to follow up on her doctor's appointments and to take her mother shopping."
Gibbs remembered how broken up she had seemed at the hospital after her supposed run-in with Ari. He had picked up the phone to check on her more than once but decided against it. Her emotional pain was as difficult for him to tolerate as the bruises and cuts on her face. He knew her too well.
"Dani?" Jack looked at him, questioning.
"You know who Dani is, so don't play stupid." Gibbs gave him a sidelong glance.
Fornell leaned forward to say "First wife" to Jack who sat on the other side of Gibbs.
Jack nodded knowingly. "Ahh…the first cut is the deepest." He knocked back his drink and looked at the woman who was tending bar. "Hit me again, honey."
"How many ex-wives do you have, Keeter?" Fornell asked, leaning forward again.
Gibbs leaned back a bit. "Do you want me to move, Tobias?" It seemed Jack and Fornell were becoming fast friends, Gibbs thought sarcastically.
Jack answered Fornell's question before he had a chance to respond to Gibbs. "I've never taken the plunge." He was eyeing the beautiful young lady tending bar. "Never…felt the …need." She seemed to return his interest and Keeter turned his best aviator smile on high beam.
Gibbs and Fornell both said at once, "You're kidding."
Fornell just shook his head. He wished he'd had that philosophy; if he wouldn't have been happier, he'd at least have had more money.
"Nope, there is no Mrs. Jack Keeter…anywhere." Jack looked almost smug.
Fornell couldn't keep from asking. "You've got to be at least 40, how did you escape…I mean keep from trying it… at least once?"
"Hey I'm a busy guy, I move around a lot. Marriage and kids are for other people." Keeter thought of his friend Rabb. "I stood up for one of my best friends' wedding last Christmas Eve. I thought he and I were going to be confirmed bachelors, but I think he found the real thing. How many times have you been married anyway, Fornell?"
"Twice."
"Ow, two time loser. It should make you quit."
"Hey at least I'm not a three time loser, like Gibbs here."
Gibbs gave Fornell a withering stare.
"Three times? Hell, Gibbs, how old were you when you got married the first time?" Jack was incredulous.
"Eighteen." Gibbs smiled at the memory. They were too young to know what the hell they were doing, but it was definitely fun in the beginning.
"Damn." Jack couldn't imagine. At eighteen he'd been in his first year at the Academy and definitely up to no good.
The conversation was getting too personal so he lightened it up. "Yeah…I matured early."
Fornell and Jack both laughed at him. "Get out of here."
"Yeah, I think I'll do that." Gibbs turned around and slipped off of the bar stool.
"Don't forget – 0830 tomorrow," Jack reminded him. He knew Gibbs remembered the time; he just liked to needle him.
"I'll be there," he tossed irritably over his shoulder. As he opened the door he looked back at them and said, "Don't stay out too late…boys."
0830
Tuesday
Building 332
Norfolk Naval Annex
Norfolk, Virginia
Gibbs walked up the steps of the old building. It looked more like a historical site than a working naval operations office. Opening the glass double doors framed with wood, he walked down the hallway. His instructions were to report to room 11. As he neared the room he saw a Marine sitting at a desk just outside the door.
"You'll need to sign in, sir, and I'll need to see your ID."
Gibbs took out his badge and ID; the Marine looked at it. "Thank you, sir."
He signed in and entered the door labeled 'Anti Drug Abuse Task Force.'
Fornell and Jack were already in the room along with a number of people Gibbs had never seen before. The room was windowless. There were men and women in uniform and also some dressed in civilian clothing.
A man who was dressed in khakis and a sport coat came to the podium and told the group to be seated.
"As most of you know, I'm Dan Locket, I'm from the Department of Homeland Security. We have another member joining this task force as of today. Special Agent Gibbs of NCIS, welcome to Task Force 11. We are coordinating to track and capture Ari Haswan and his associates. Once this mission is accomplished there will be no Task Force 11.You have been given access to this investigation at the behest of the deputy director of DHS based on information he was given by Agent T.C. Fornell and Captain Jack Keeter."
There were members of law enforcement at the local and federal level in attendance and also members of Special Forces teams from every branch of service. They formed a team that coordinated on every level to track the terrorist while protecting targets on the ground. They were working at a level that even MTAC was not involved with.
Gibbs learned that his entire team at NCIS was being closely watched by this task force. He also learned that Ari was believed to have left the country. Their unofficial contacts in Canada had been able to spot Ari two days ago. He would never understand how someone like him could cross the border unencumbered. He was, however, being tracked, though Gibbs would never be at ease until Ari was dead.
1230
Wednesday
Smith Residence
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Gibbs turned onto the lane off of Pacific and came to a stop in front of his ex in-laws' home. He had decided to see for himself how Dani was. He had been thinking about what Fornell had told him about how quiet she had been. He'd just paid a visit to an old friend and former Marine who loaned him his old motorcycle. Gibbs had just sold it to him two months prior; now he was borrowing it back for the afternoon.
His 'drug summit' turned out to be a day long conference with Task Force 11. He would be returning to NCIS Headquarters tomorrow. The reasoning behind allowing him to believe he was working a drug summit was to have everyone around him believe it as well, including the members of his team. He wasn't even sure that Director Morrow knew.
Dani had heard the motorcycle and looked out of her parents' front room window to see Gibbs dismounting from the bike. What could he be up to?
She went to the door and opened it. "Jethro?'
"It's time for you to get out of here. Come on." He stopped on the pathway half way to her door.
Dani looked at him warily. It had been a long time since she had ridden on the back of a motorcycle. In fact, it had been with him, a lifetime ago. She folded her arms across her chest, still considering.
"You said you felt caged in, this is the cure. Let's go." He turned around and walked back to the bike as though he expected her to follow without hesitation.
"Wait."
Gibbs stopped and turned back to look at her.
"I have to let Mom know I'm leaving." As she turned, she realized how that sounded; they could have been 17 again. She decided to plunge ahead anyway. "I'll just be a minute."
Dani was ready to get out of there — to say she still felt caged in would be an understatement. She was ready to take a ride with the devil himself just to get away from her security detail. In minutes Dani came out the door and nearly ran out to where Gibbs was standing.
She smiled at him and put on her sunglasses. "Let's get out of here." She was dressed in jeans, sandals and a Patrick Henry T- shirt that her son had sent her. Dani got on the back of the bike.
One of the men on her security detail seemed to materialize out of nowhere. Gibbs took out his badge. "I've got this under control." The agent nodded and allowed them to leave.
The security agent had already spoken with his superiors and Gibbs had been cleared to make this visit, since Fornell had expected it. He was still being tailed as well. Jack Keeter was never far away; if Gibbs was trying to lose him, he hadn't yet.
As Gibbs pulled into traffic on Pacific and headed toward Princess Anne Road, Dani straightened her back and quickly found her balance on the back of the bike. She rested her hands on her knees as she felt the bike pull her forward and lift her hair into the air. She had brought something to tie her hair back but just now she wanted to feel it in the breeze. Thank God she was getting away from here. She wanted to feel free for a while, even from worrying about her hair. The sun was warm but not hot with the bike cooling her as they blew through the breeze.
Gibbs stopped at the turn off onto Princess Anne Road. "Munden Point?"
Dani loved the idea of a ride through the country and out to the old park. She hadn't been there in years. "That'd be great," she said over the sound of the motor. "Thank you for this. Jethro."
"Hey, you're lucky I let you get on my bike wearing that T-shirt." He deadpanned her for a half second and then grinned mischievously.
Dani returned his smile and braced her back as he took off and they leaned into the turn together.
They gradually left the congestion of the suburban traffic along with the increased tourist traffic that had begun after Memorial Day. It was a perfect day for a ride. The sky was blue with only a few cotton clouds over the deep green of the fields of soybeans. After the first five miles there was no evidence of the ocean close by, except for the faint scent of salt sea in the air. Here it was sun-warmed earth and new mown grass. Dani took a deep breath and looked out into the passing landscape. To see something from the back of a motorcycle was to really be –in- it. She had forgotten how much she loved it. It was a much different feeling that seeing it out of the window of a car. She remembered now.
In a little over a half an hour they were at the old park. They had come here when they were first married to get away from tourists. This was a family park, with boat launches onto Back Bay, places to fish and a playground. Gibbs parked the bike and Dani was able to dismount by herself. This had been more comfortable than she had expected. There wasn't a lot of awkwardness; they were like two old friends, taking a ride.
Dani pulled her hair back and up from her neck with a scrunchie and without a word walked toward the blue bay, glittering in the sunshine. Gibbs followed her, allowing her a bit of space, knowing she had had enough of being followed too closely by anyone. There were a few people launching their fishing and pleasure boats out to the bay. Dani just watched for awhile leaning against a post near the first pier.
After a while Gibbs walked up beside her. "Are you thinking of renting a boat and escaping, Dani?" he teased.
"No." She gave him an indulgent smile.
"You doing all right now?" His expression became serious.
She understood what he meant, at least she thought she did. He meant with her security but also with David's death.
"I'm okay." Her expression was unreadable to him.
He decided to lighten the mood a bit. "I haven't gotten any reports of you terrorizing Dam Neck Boulevard."
Dani was silent but unable to keep from blushing furiously. She didn't really understand what had gotten into her.
"I'm not as reckless as I was, if that's what you mean, but this security is still suffocating."
"Can't be helped." He spoke bluntly now and looked away from her.
"How long do you think I'll have to do this? I want to get a place of my own, but with the threat still hanging over me and the need for security, I don't want to leave my parents alone. They could be this maniac's target as well."
"Till we get him," he said honestly, meaning to reassure her.
Dani suddenly felt the anger rise up in her. Since her accident she had learned about Ari and his possible role in her husband's death. She walked away from Gibbs and turned back to look at him.
"I want to kill him. I want to see that son of a bitch die. Because of him I lost the kindest, most loving man I have ever known. I never thought I'd every trust anyone again until David came into my life."
Dani suddenly remembered who she was speaking to and looked down at her feet. "I'm sorry…I didn't mean to throw that at you. I speak before I think lately."
Gibbs did not answer; as she looked at him, Dani thought that he was as hard to read as ever.
"Do you mind if I walk a bit?" She changed the subject.
She didn't want to have to leave yet. Dani didn't want to think about going back to that house with her security detail hovering and her parents looking at her as though they didn't know what to expect from her next.
"You can come along, you don't have to talk." She looked at him directly. "I don't want to go back just yet."
Gibbs nodded and followed her, staying slightly behind as she walked the old path along the waterfront. She walked further into the wooded area that also lined the shore and eventually sat down at a picnic table. Gibbs sat down next to her at a respectable distance, facing the opposite direction. They had both been lost in their own thoughts.
"Too bad we didn't bring something for lunch," Dani said absentmindedly.
"Bologna sandwiches." He smiled, remembering their 'cheap' picnic fare. "You used to make great bologna sandwiches."
Dani laughed at the memory. "No, that was peanut butter and jelly, and I'll have you know I can still make a pretty mean peanut butter and jelly sandwich when I want to."
"I'm sure." Gibbs turned his face toward her.
"They were Aaron's favorite." The thought of her oldest son pained her heart. She would be so glad when he returned home.
Gibbs thought conversation about her sons might lift her spirits a bit. "He still in the States?"
"No, he went back not long after the funeral. He is due back in July, though." She had begun counting the days.
"When?'
"There is no definite date, we won't know until just before they come home."
"That's probably wise. What about your younger son…Matt...Isn't it?"
"He won't be back until September." The Patrick Henry was due into Norfolk at the middle of the month, barring any unforeseen delays. Prior to September 11 you could make plans around deployments but now it wasn't quite as simple as that. It was the way of their world now.
She looked at Gibbs, knowing he was trying to make small talk. Not his best skill or at least it hadn't been when she knew him best. A slow smile spread across her face.
Gibbs looked at her. "What?"
"You don't have to make small talk, you know." She looked down at her hands and turned to look at him.
"Just making polite conversation." He shrugged his shoulders; she could read him well, at times.
"I appreciate it, Jethro, but…"
She noticed his expression change and she turned on her seat to look in the same direction he was.
Gibbs had noticed a familiar vehicle through the trees. Damn, it was Keeter.
"Let's go." He stood and walked briskly away from her.
Dani got up and followed him. "Who is that?"
"My security detail," he said in a frustrated and angry voice.
Dani caught up with him as he got on his bike. She climbed on behind him and put on her sunglasses.
"So…are we going to ditch your security detail too?" She had caught him doing the very thing he had been scolding her about two weeks ago.
He could see her waggling her eyebrows above her sunglasses. He laughed in spite of himself and revved the motor, turned the bike away from the shoreline and took off with Dani laughing with him all the way out of the park.
TBC
A/N: Just to clarify for those of you who are wondering just who Jack Keeter works for. He is Naval Intelligence, but most of his friends and former colleagues will never know that. (Smile)
A/N: I'm not sure what the helmet laws are in Virginia right now. I know they are optional in Indiana and this being fanfic, it served my purposes for them not to wear helmets just now.