CHAPTER 4
Gibbs had spent the last 3 days in his basement, leaving only to use the bathroom. He hadn't bathed, shaved or changed. He stank of bourbon, sawdust and stale sweat.
He worked on his boat and drank to avoid thinking, to avoid feeling. He worked and drank until his body rebelled and forced him into a deep tormented sleep when he woke he started the process all over again, he wasn't hung over simply because he didn't allow himself to sober up.
This was the state Fornell found him in.
"What the hell Gibbs?"
"Not really in the mood for visitors"
"Ya think?" Fornell tried to inject some humour.
Gibbs didn't rise to the bait, ignoring Fornell, pouring more bourbon down his throat.
Fornell looked at him for a long time, willing him to make any attempt at communication, a word, a look, anything, but Gibbs continued to ignore him.
Finally Fornell walked up to him raised his hand and slapped him upside the head. Finally Gibbs reacted, turning to glare at Fornell. Fornell met his glare without backing down. Gibbs looked away first. Fornell waited, when Gibbs reached for the bottle again, he walked up the basement stairs, shaking his head.
When he reached the main house, he put a pot of coffee on, pulled out his cell and made a single call.
Earlier that day….
Vance stood at the top of the stairs and watched his best team fall apart.
Tony was trying to hold it together, but it was clear his heart wasn't in the role of team leader.
Ziva was showing her emotions in the only way she knew how, reacting aggressively and frequently violently to the slightest provocation.
Tim had regressed into the nervous, stuttering agent he had been when he first arrived, looking for direction and approval at every turn.
Abby was a emotional wreck, eating things that seemed to only contain sugar and practically mainlining Caf Pow.
The entire team had barely slept since the Thompson shooting; they seemed to go home only long enough to shower and change. They ran down every lead with a ferocity that scared him at the same time it impressed him. They checked everything they had found, then passed it to someone else who checked it again. They re-ran every bit of evidence they had over and over, determined to find something, anything that would solve the case and exonerate their boss.
Vance had realised over the last 3 days that Gibbs was more than just a boss to these people, he was their lynch pin, their glue, their hero, and they would stop at nothing to serve and protect him.
He made a decision, and called the only man who seemed to still be sane, Ducky.
When Ducky hung up, he muttered to himself, and made another call.
"Agent Fornell?" he said when the phone was answered "I'm afraid we need your help"
Back at Gibbs place….
When the coffee was ready, Fornell moved to the basement door, opened it and called down "Gibbs, get you alcohol soaked ass up here, I've made coffee"
Gibbs thought about ignoring the summons, but the marine in him refused to waste coffee so he went upstairs.
"What do you want Fornell?"
"Me, nothing. But I think these guys have other ideas" Fornell indicated the far end of the room, where his entire team stood.
"boss" Tony spoke, his voice was low and soft, he was stunned by how Gibbs looked.
Gibbs stared uncomprehendingly at them, his mind reeling by how haggard they all looked.
"I'm not your boss"
Tony snapped, the anger he had barely kept in check for the last few days spilled out. "YES YOU ARE!"
"The director was clear, no contact" Gibbs refused to hold onto the hope that flared in his chest when Tony had yelled at him.
"Screw the director, we work for you, not him" Ziva spat.
The rest of the team nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly with that sentiment.
Gibbs closed his eyes, emotion threatening to overwhelm him. He turned unsteadily and made for the door.
"Gibbs!"
"Shower" was the only word he could force out.
30 minutes later Gibbs was clean, shaved and in fresh clothes. He hovered in the doorway, watching his team converse quietly, they were right, they were his team and nothing would change that, he owed them an apology and an explanation. He just wasn't sure he could give them either.