Thank you so much for all the kinds reviews! And I apologize for the long wait for this chapter! I wanted to do this justice as we are bringing a bit more information that is crucial to the plot in to the story :) I hope you enjoy!1


Somewhere in Arlington, VA

Gibbs finished off the last of his coffee, placing the mug down beside the file he was reviewing. He'd gone over the details multiple times since this case had started two and a half weeks ago. But the seasoned agent couldn't shake the feeling they were missing something…something staring them straight in the face. If only he could figure out what that "something" was.

It had started out like any other case: Marine widow shot during a Wounded Warrior gala; two men taken in to custody and one killed on site by security guards. After learning that the victim was also the Director of the Wounded Warrior Project out of Bethesda, Maryland- the logical assumption was that she was targeted for her work with the organization…maybe by a disgruntled veteran or family member…perhaps even someone who had a hatred for veterans.

But as soon as interrogations began, all logical assumptions ceased.

While Ekaterina Johnson fought for her life in the hospital, Gibbs and the team found that she had been shot by a hit team…not the real perpetrators of the crime. They had no hatred for veterans and no hatred for the Wounded Warrior Project. They were given only one task to accomplish: kill Ekaterina Johnson.

It had been quite easy to get information from the two thugs. After being offered leniency in sentencing, they quickly gave up the two names of the men who'd hired them: Vanin and Petrov.

But Vanin and Petrov had absolutely no connection to Ekaterina Johnson, her late husband, his family, her family…

So why on Earth would they want her dead, and why would they go to such lengths to make sure it happened?

A sudden interruption in the form of a large, orange cat jumped on the coffee table, sitting directly on the report Gibbs had been reading.

Gibbs smirked. "Really?"

The cat stepped forward, nudging Gibbs' hand to encourage a pet behind the ears.

"Torres was right. You like to run the show, huh?"

"He has since he was a kitten," a quiet voice said, startling Gibbs.

The cat jumped from the coffee table to the back of the couch, purring loudly as its owner came in to the living room. Gibbs stood, turning to find the petite, less than five foot, Ekaterina Johnson in an oversized sweater and yoga pants, now petting the friendly animal's back. He was grateful to see she seemed more alert and rested than she'd been the past few days.

"I hope he's not in the way," she said.

"Not at all. He's pretty quiet, actually."

Ekaterina nodded. "I appreciate you letting me bring him here."

Gibbs could sense how much this woman cared for the animal now standing on his hind legs and rubbing his face across Ekaterina's cheek.

"We ruled him out as a suspect. All good."

Ekaterina laughed lightly, gently pushing the animal back on to the couch and pulling the sweater tight around her frame. The cat followed her as she moved around the couch, jumping to the arm of the chair Ekaterina sat in slowly.

"Can I get you anything? Torres said you haven't eaten since breakfast."

Ekaterina looked over at the clock, noticing it was almost 10:00pm.

"I didn't realize I slept so long," she answered.

Gibbs took a seat on the couch once more, picking up his coffee cup and studying the inside of it.

"Pretty rough PT session?"

Ekaterina agreed. "But…I guess that's what I need to get back up and running, right?"

"Yup. It'll get easier."

"I'm sure it will," Ekaterina answered, wincing slightly as the large cat settled itself in her lap. "I thought Agent Bishop was going to be here tonight."

"Change of plans."

"I see," she answered, putting up her hand as he moved to explain. "Don't worry…I've learned not to ask."

Gibbs couldn't help but laugh as he stood. "Quick learner, I like that. I'm gonna grab another cup. You want some?"

"I'm more of a tea person…but thanks."

"I can boil a kettle…give me a couple minutes."

As Gibbs waited for the water to boil, he couldn't help but think about the resilience of the woman sitting one room away.

The doctors had said she was lucky…that it would take a long time for her to recover to full strength. The two bullets she'd taken had done quite a bit of damage- one to the abdomen and one to the right thigh. But she'd taken it in stride- and Gibbs had come to learn that it was not the first time Ekaterina Johnson had to deal with tragedy in her life.

Maybe that was why she seemed unfazed by being placed in protective custody, moving in to a safe house, and the lack of information she was being given by the people working this case.

A whistling tea pot broke Gibbs from his thoughts. He poured the steaming water in to a mug for her, poking his head around the archway.

"Want anything in it?"

"Plain is fine, thanks," she answered.

Gibbs finished pouring both drinks and moved back in to the living room, handing her the tea cup carefully before reoccupying the couch.

They drank in silence for a few moments before Gibbs set his mug down and leaned back.

"Mind if I ask you a few questions?"

"Fire away," she answered, pulling the mug in closer to her chest.

"Have you ever heard the name Maxim Renkov?"

Her eyes creased in thought for a moment before shaking her head. "It doesn't sound familiar. Should it?"

"Not necessarily. Just wondered if the name ever came up in conversation."

"Hmm…and it sounds German? Russian?"

"Russian," Gibbs confirmed.

"My father was stationed in Germany for about six years. That was where he and my mother adopted me. Perhaps they knew this Renkov from there? Though, I can't say I remember them mentioning a Renkov."

"Got it."

Gibbs leaned forward and wrote a few notes on his paperwork.

"I do have all of my parents' important papers in a safe at the house. You are more than welcome to look through it to see if this man is listed anywhere."

"Worth a look," Gibbs answered. "Afraid I can't let you back there yet."

Ekaterina rolled her eyes. "I know. I can give you the code to the safe. Don't worry…I won't try and sneak out on you to get back to my house anytime soon."

"Not what I meant," he confirmed, turning to look her straight in the eyes. "I just need to keep you here and out of harm's way."

Looking down, Ekaterina took a slow breath in. "I do appreciate that, Agent Gibbs…very much. You just let me know when you need the code, and I'll get it for you."

He nodded and turned back to writing his notes.

"Might I ask a question?" Ekaterina asked.

"Go 'head."

"Why is this man important?"

"The two men who put the hit out on you were once hired by Renkov in Russia. It was what put them in jail in the first place."

Seeing she was listening intently, he continued…cautiously.

"Renkov died in the 80's, but the fact that both Vanin and Petrov were hired employees of Renkov's suggests they may still be working for the old organization's cause."

Ekaterina set her tea cup down and folded her arms across her chest, deep in thought.

"Then I am assuming correctly this Renkov's organization was not a good one? Considering he is dead and the reason these two men were in jail was because they worked for him?"

Gibbs agreed but did not expound on any further details.

"I see," Ekaterina said.

Gibbs set down his pen and stood, coming to stand next to Ekaterina's chair. "Listen…we're not completely sure...but with Renkov dead and these two men putting a hit out on you as soon as they got out of prison…"

"Would suggest that there is some connection to this Maxim Rekov," Ekaterina finished for him. "Wish we knew what that connection was."

"We'll find it…don't worry," he answered.

She let out a small breath of relief, smiling up at him. "I'm not...well, not yet anyway."