The next work week ended up being beyond hectic. Jethro and his team were forced to pull an all-nighter while they worked to track down the members of a Hamas cell that was operating locally. The cell had, unfortunately, taken the lives of three agents from the NCIS team currently stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in an explosion.
His team had gone home at 1900 that Tuesday evening just for Jethro to later get a phone call at 2100 informing him of what had transpired, which left Jethro to explain the situation to his wife and daughter as well as to contact his team and order them all immediately on scene.
The case was one gigantic mess after another, so Jethro wasn't home much at all that week. He didn't overly mind that though, given the situation. He was more concerned with getting the families of the fallen agents some closure. That was why he'd joined N.I.S all those years ago, after all. To help these families who were going through hell, like his had, get some measure of peace.
It wasn't easy by any stretch of the imagination, but late Friday night, they were able to finally nail several people who were connected to the cell, including the actual man who had executed the recent attack.
Arresting the head of the Washington cell was more than a little bittersweet, given the fact that three good agents had lost their lives, but they were all admittedly glad when it was finally over and they were able to go and get some rest. Especially when they'd all just barely gotten out of the cell's headquarters before yet another bomb the cell had planted had gone off, taking a lot of evidence with it.
Jethro, for one, wanted nothing more than to get back home to his wife and daughter after all of it was finally said and done.
Unfortunately, Jethro had to debrief Vance before he could do that.
"So that's it then?" Vance questioned. "The cell's been taken out?"
"Yes," he assured the man. "NCIS has all the known members in custody except for the two men who took a bullet when we stormed the compound initially."
The director gave a little sigh. "That's something, at least. Sulaiman Al-Fahim died on scene but any word yet on the other man, Yousef Ahmadi?"
"Still critical," he informed Vance.
Nobody expected the man to pull through and Jethro fully expected that he would be getting a call sometime in the morning saying that the man had passed away.
"Alright," the director said, "well, I'm sure there's nothing else that can't wait until the morning, so I'll walk you out."
Jethro dipped his head slightly in acknowledgment before turning around and finally walking out of the office with Vance. He didn't need to be told twice.
"So, how are things at home?" Vance asked him as they approached the elevator.
He raised an eyebrow. "Fine, Leon."
Now standing in front of the elevator, Jethro leaned forward slightly and pushed the button to call the elevator. The elevator door opened almost immediately and then the two men quickly walked inside.
"Well," Vance said, "I'm glad to hear that. Kelly just graduated, didn't she?"
"Yes," he confirmed. "Started a new job already as well."
"That's fantastic," Vance commented. "Good for her."
"Yeah," he said, the pride he felt evident in his voice. "She's doing great." Jethro gave Vance a sideways look. "How's your family doing?"
"Good," Vance said with a surprisingly warm smile. "The kids are good, and Jackie's, well, Jackie. Always keeping me on my toes."
Jethro's thoughts immediately went to his own wife. He knew exactly what Vance had meant by that. "I hear ya."
The pair continued making small talk as they finally left the elevator and made their way out of the NCIS building, the two men only going their separate ways once they'd reached their respective parking spots.
Pulling out of his parking spot, Jethro left the Navy Yard, making the nineteen-minute drive back to his place in Arlington.
It wasn't a long drive by any means, especially with so little traffic given the late hour, but it felt like ages when all he wanted was to be home.
It had always been that way when he was in the Corps too, though. The last stretch before he was finally back home seemingly taking so much longer than the rest of his deployment had combined. It was weird how time seemed to just drag on like that.
It had been a really long week and Jethro was beyond exhausted.
Walking through the doors of his home shortly before 2400, he was instantly greeted by Shannon, who quickly pulled Jethro in for a kiss. Kelly had evidently gone to bed, which he had no problem with. He hoped work had gone well, though.
The pair separating, he looked at her. "You didn't have to wait up for me, Shan."
Not that he didn't appreciate the fact that she had waited up for him, but Jethro did feel a bit bad about the fact that he'd kept her up. It wasn't the first time though, and no doubt wouldn't be the last time.
Jethro's being a Marine had made for more than a few sleepless nights for Shannon. She never complained though, supporting him completely.
Even without her complaining, however, Jethro knew that it was hard on both Shannon and Kelly when he shipped out, leaving them for months at a time.
It was hard for him, yes, but they'd been making a huge sacrifice of their own.
"Yeah," his wife said as she laid her head on his chest, "I did." She glanced up at him for a moment and gave him a cheeky smile. "You still owe me that patio swing."
Jethro chuckled softly. "Roger that." He then leaned down slightly and kissed his wife gently on the top of the head. "You are my favourite distraction." I love you.
She snuggled in closer to him, Shannon seemingly needing the contact as much as he did himself. "And there is no one I'd rather steal blankets from." I love you too.
He wrapped his arms around Shannon, breathing and taking in the scent of his wife's Strawberry and Sweet Mint shampoo as Jethro allowed himself to relax, forgetting all of the stress from work for a little while.
