So0rry if I was not clear in the last chapter. Ari dissappeared by a back exit.(You know, they are good for everything from sneaking boyfriend's down when you hear Mom and Dad's car pull in, to a trusty escape for terrorists!)
Chapter Fourteen
Are we ready, 8-2-8?" the man spoke into his headset.
'8-2-8' responded. "Yes, sir. Execute!" Machine gun fire rang out, and 8-2-8 could see that men crouched in their positions. Several of the enemies fell.
It had taken a long time to reach this point.
Reaching for the phone, 8-2-8 spoke. "Are you sure about this?"
"Not a bit. But it's my only choice."
"I will kill you if you are wrong about this."
"I'm not worried—if I am wrong, they'll kill you first."
8-2-8 cleared her throat, and held the receiver to her ear.
"I have very important information here on the death of a NCIS Special Agent Caitlyn Todd," she spoke. No doubt, that would get the guy's attention.
"Speak," the voice on the other end said gruffly.
"I need to speak with—with Haswari," she said.
So here she was. At least something came of it. She had pulled her own double agent tricks against him. Al-Qaeda's DC cell was almost diminished. Except for Ari Haswari himself. He escaped.
A hand grabbed 8-2-8's shoulder. "You did good. Lets see about getting you back home now."
……………..
It was a loud slam. McGee started, and glanced at Tony. Was it his hand that just banged on his desk?
"C'mon, pick it up. No!….not another message! I won't need another message!" This time it was definitely the phone that slammed down, and Tony caught McGee staring at him.
"Tell me, Probie, how in the heck are you supposed to talk to someone when they won't answer their cell?"
"You could go find them."
Dinozzo ignored him. "I mean, Gibbs is, like, gonna kill me if I don't get a hold of Fornell. What's wrong with Gibbs anyway? He left us to—" Tony stopped when he saw the warning look on McGee's face. He knew this one. Gibbs was right behind him. He closed his eyes, ready for the whack. It didn't come.
He opened his eyes; delighted he had gotten away.
And then it came.
"Dinnozzo, think!"
Tony rubbed his head gingerly. "I don't know if I can anymore, Boss."
"Leave off that anymore and you have it straight. Listen to McGee. Go find Fornell!"
"Brilliant idea, Boss. Great, Probie, you should have thought of that. What did they teach you at MIT, anyway?"
By now, they were too far away for Gibbs to hear McGee's retort. But he knew by the sudden smack on the agent's head that it was a good one.
Those two were starting to act like Tony and Kate.
The thought hurt him to the core.
…….
"8-2-8, do you read me?"
"Yes, I hear you."
"We have good news and bad news."
8-2-8 sighed. "Can I have the bad news first?"
"Well, one, you've done an exceptional job. You've gained valuable intel, you've kept the NCIS agents safe….well, most of them."
"If that's the bad news, I think I can live with it."
"No, Ari Haswari escaped.
8-2-8 paused. "The good?"
"We think its time to let you go.
8-2-8 frowned. It had been a hard few weeks. Life had seems so normal—until she had watched that girl die on that rooftop. It had seemed so unnecessary, so wrong. That girl was like herself, young and deserving of life. Not death. It had made the hunt for Ari a little more real.
They were going to let her go. Let her resume life in a normal way. Things would be better then. But she knew, deep down, the desire to rid the earth of that one terrorist would always be strong. Nothing would really ever be the same.
Especially if he got to her.
….
"Lookin' sharp, Fornell," Tony commented, pushing his sunglasses up the bridge of his nose. He jerked his head towards the table, where the FBI agent's cell lay. "Funny thing here," he said picking the phone up, "You have nine new messages. I'd listen to them for you, but, sorry, I can't have that pleasure. 'Cause I already know what's on them." Tony pulled off his shades, and tried to glare at the agent, who started laughing.
Tony blinked. "What's wrong with you?"
"You! Stop trying to act like Gibbs."
"I don't act like Gibbs!" Tony said, now trying to look as un-Gibbs as possible. "Right, McGee?"
"Well, Tony, you did kind of have that look….ow!"
Tony ignored his cry of pain. "So tell me, Fornell. Is there a reason you are avoiding any calls from a Special Agent Anthony Dinozzo?"
Fornell looked at his guests. "Give me a break, Dinozzo, I am kind of beat up. Just got home from the hospital, and this is what I get?"
"You know what I figured, Fornell? I figured if you were well enough to bark orders to us and your men from your hospital room, you were sure as well enough to answer your phone from your own home!"
Fornell narrowed his eyes. "Barking orders at you?"
Tony tilted his head. "Sure. 'No questions, just—'."
"Okay, I've heard enough."
"Have you, Fornell? 'Cause I got a lot more to say here. Like, I need some answers."
"You aren't—" Fornell's cell phone rang in Tony's hand.
"For once, it's not me," he peered at the cell. "Holy smokes, Fornell, I recognize this number!"
McGee looked over his shoulder. "The Director?"
Tony nudged McGee. "We shouldn't let him have it, you know. He's sick…needs some time to--…"
Fornell swiftly swiped the phone from Dinozzo.
"Fornell."
Pause.
"What! But sir, it would damage the whole op—he's gotten—okay, yes sir."
"Whats up, Fornell?" Tony asked, when the agents lay down his cell but refused to look up.
"Where's Gibbs?"
Tony exchanged glances with McGee. "Uh, I think he--,"
"You don't know where he is?"
"Does the coffee shop count?"
…………………………………
Gibbs' long stride resulted in the footsteps heard by the three men. The steam rose from his Styrofoam cup.
Fornell met his eyes squarely. "You're not going to like what I'm going to say, Jethro."
"Yeah? Have I ever?"
"I assumed you felt some satisfaction—in an I-told-you-so sort of way—when your ex left me."
"I'll let you have that much."
"This is really going to danger your team—forever."