Chapter 22

"What do we have?" Gibbs asked as entered the bullpen.

The team looked at him in shock. Same clothing as he had had on when he left last evening. Last to arrive.

"Uh, Gibbs…" Tony started. Gibbs stared him down. "Never mind."

"I did the analysis of the uploads and downloads, boss." Tim offered.

"And?"

"Everything looks fine."

"Okay. Great. As I understand it, we were called in at …" Gibbs looked down at his empty wrist. Crap…no watch…last time he saw it, Roxane had unhooked it with her teeth while her hand was…oh, right… "…at this early hour by Abby."

Ziva noticed the lack of a watch. Last to arrive. Same clothing. Where had Gibbs been? An alley?

Abby's bouncing seemed to never end.

"She needs to switch to decaf." Mused Tim.

"Does anyone have a tranquilizer dart?" Thought Ziva.

"She's making me nauseous." Tony grimaced.

"It's a girl, Gibbs!" Abby proclaimed.

"Come again, Abs?"

"It's a girl…the DNA on the hair. It's female."

Gibbs frowned.

"And before you say that only women dye their hair,", Abby started, "I've also narrowed it down to a brand and colour. We're looking for the shade 'golden halo' by L'Accente."

"Thanks, Abby. Good work." Gibbs looked at the team. "Okay, how many blonde women are on our suspect list?"

"Just Roxane Jamieson, boss." Tony said quietly.

"She was on a plane, Tony!" Ziva protested.

Gibbs felt as if a knife had been thrust into his stomach. His heart refused to believe that Roxane was a suspect. But his head, which had been screaming at him to leave her, now taunted him.

"Actually, Captain Reed's wife is a blonde." Tim said quietly.

Four sets of eyes turned to look at him.

"I was going through some of his personal stuff." Tim explained. "In their wedding picture, she was a brunette. But in her Christmas card to him, she included a more recent photo."

Tim held up a small wallet-sized picture showing a blonde woman set in a snowy background.

"Get her down here now." Gibbss ordered.

"She's in Canada, boss." Tony started. He flinched at the glare. "But I'm sure we can work something out."

"I'll be back." Gibbs stepped into the elevator. His team stared at the closed doors in disbelief.

There was a soft knocking at the door. Pulling her robe tighter around her body, Roxane peeked through the hole and smiled.

"Everything okay?" She asked as Gibbs came in.

"I thought you'd go back to bed." He said.

Roxane smiled. Did this man ever say hello like a normal person?

"Not tired…must be more adrenaline." She shrugged.

He stared at her.

"Gibbs? Jethro? What's…"

Her statement was cut off as pulled her roughly towards him and claimed her mouth with his. He devoured her, ravished her lips, laying claim to her.

Softening in his grip, Roxane returned the passion just enough to let Gibbs know she was a willing participant but she held back enough to signal his control over her.

He finally tore his mouth from hers and stared at her, blue eyes wide in an almost frenzied state.

"Jethro? What happened?"

"It's this case, Roxane. I keep thnking…feeling…and they don't match."

Roxane frowned. Her mind tried to piece together that fragmented statement.

"Ah, your heart and mind are warring. How can I help?"

"You're the problem!" He growled. "I can't get enough of you. But I know that I shouldn't even be here."

She tensed.

"Am I a suspect?"

"No!" He said harshly. "Not really."

"Not…really." She rolled the words out slowly. "Either I am or I am not. Which is it?"

Gibbs walked over to the fireplace, staring at the flames. The flickering stands of yellow, red and orange kept the early morning dampness out of the room. Hs mind argued. His heart fought valiantly. But one would have to lose.

She was involved, but her alibi was solid. She was a natural blonde…he'd seen evidence enough of that just a few hours ago. She was Ziva's friend.

He turned to look at her, lost in his inner battle.

She didn't move from the foyer area, just watched him. This was something that she couldn't help him with.

"Is my watch here?" He asked.

She blinked.

"Yes, upstairs. Shall I get it?"

"Nope." Gibbs shook his head firmly. "I'll get it later."

He walked towards her, passing her.

She turned.

He put a hand on the doorknob.

"You're not." He said without looking at her.

"Pardon me?" She questioned softly.

Gibbs turned to look at her.

"You're not involved. You've helped us. You're Ziva's friend. I trust you."

With that, Gibbs walked out of the house.

Roxane stared at the closed door in shock. Those three words had her heart hammering faster than his kisses from earlier.

"Something's been bugging me for a while, Ziva." Tim announced. They were alone in the bullpen.

Ziva looked up, hoping that Tim wasn't about to venture into some personal territory. Yes, she liked Tim…like a little brother…and there were some things that you just didn't tell your brother. Her heart tightened as she thought of Ari.

"Everyone claims to have not known about Captain Reed's marriage. But Captain Payette said that his wife sent them Christmas cards. Doesn't that seem like a major disconnect to you?"

Ziva nodded.

"Some people are more private than others, Tim. Perhaps Captain Reed just didn't wish to let everyone know all about his personal life."

Tim's mouth pursed in frustration. Didn't sound like a good enough reason to him.