CHAPTER 9
With the immediate threat gone, Dean and his crew in custody an Alejandro on the first plane back to Mexico... everyone could relax. Well, everyone except Gibbs, who was sitting at his desk finishing up his report for the director on what went down yesterday. He briefly looks around the room; first at Tim, then Tony, and lastly to Ziva. His team... his team that would do anything for him and deserved better than to be kept out of the loop on something this important. But he had his reasons.
He was sure the cartel wasn't going to try anything immediately to get back at him, but it didn't mean they wouldn't show up when he least expected them. They had tentacles in every major city in the country through their drug connections and it would be easy enough to hire any number of hit men to take him out, his father, Mike and his girls, or his team while they sat safe and sound in Mexico. Gibbs had a plan to lure them out, but it would have to wait until he could ensure his dad and his team were not in any danger.
Right now, he just needed to tell them he appreciated their work and dedication. The explanations would come in time. He finishes up his report and sends it off to Vance via email. Standing up, he walks to the middle of their desks and their heads come up expectantly. They are all tired, having worked through the night on the Dean arrests and seizing the assets of Bell's corporation so no other loyal members could take over.
"You all did a good job on this... working on limited intel and not having any cooperation from me. I... I want you all to know... I appreciate it and ..." They can see how hard it is for him to say he is sorry.
"It is what we do, Gibbs. We are a team, are we not?" Ziva spoke up as the diplomat of the group. Tim quickly chimed in and even Tony, who was still harboring some resentment even conceded that Gibbs was admitting his error in not telling them.
"Not to worry, boss. Getting' kinda used to you disappearing down to Mexico all the time."
Gibbs just rolls his eyes at Tony's attempt at a joke and heads for the elevators as he calls back, "Go home. All of you."
Driving home in the early morning hours seemed strange to him, but he used the time to run through the list of things he needed to do. Get his dad and move him into DC with him where he could keep an eye on him. Get Mike, Leila and Emira set up in a safe house somewhere close by. He can deal with Mike later, but right now he needed to change clothes and drive to Stillwater. Then while he is there, he can do a quick assessment of the damage to the store as well.
Once he arrives home, he is greeted by Mike Franks at the door. The frown on his face tells him something is wrong. "Mike? What's ..."
"You got company... uninvited company."
Gibbs' hand immediately lands on the butt of his gun, ready to draw it out, but Franks shakes his head. Apparently it wasn't the uninvited company Gibbs had been thinking about all day. He releases his gun and steps into the hall far enough to see M. Allison Hart standing stiffly in his living room. A tired sigh escapes him and he runs his hand down over his face as he softly grumbles, "Oh, crap", just loud enough to bring a smirk to his friend's face. Mike gestures that and the girls will be upstairs and quickly makes his exit; leaving Gibbs alone with the last person he wanted to see today.
"Agent Gibbs."
"You're in my house... again. What do you want, Ms. Hart?" His tone leaves no doubt he is not in the mood for her.
"I... I came to talk to you... about all that's happened." She is nervous, but keeps her courtroom persona in place to hide it.
Gibbs walks in and stands staring at her with his hands on his hips. "Okay, so talk."
"Director Vance paid me a visit yesterday... to tell me about Colonel Bell's death. I assume you..."
"No, I did not. Jason Dean killed him when the cartel decided he'd outlived his usefulness."
"Oh, well... all Director Vance said was he was found dead on a beach in Mexico. I want you to know that he wasn't a bad man, he..."
"Ms. Hart, I don't give a rat's ass what you thought of him! He was a murdering mercenary who used his own government for financial gain and as leverage on other countries he was trying to extort."
"I was his attorney, not his... companion, Agent Gibbs. He didn't tell me what he was doing."
"No, he just told you what to do... who to pay off, who to ruin with your illegal surveillance and wiretaps. You may not be a murderer, but you're just as guilty for the people who died at his hands." Gibbs has had enough of her and walks to the lamp that contains the listening bug. He rips it from inside the shade and turns to shove it at her. "Here... take your bug... and your hired P.I in the dirty brown sedan with you when you go."
Hart stands shocked for a moment, stunned that Gibbs knew about the bug and the P.I. that placed it here. She is just about to deny any knowledge of them, but Gibbs holds up a hand, stopping her words.
"Don't even try to deny it, Ms. Hart. Just take your shit and get the hell out of my house."
He turns his back on her and heads for the front hallway to show her out. She stands still, stunned into silence as she realized he knew all along what she had been doing. The part that hurts the worst was that Gibbs truly seemed to hate her now... and oddly enough, over the past weeks of this game, she's actually come to like him. Anger suddenly fills her at his dismissal and she finally manages to get her feet to work; grabbing her briefcase and jerking a file folder out of it.
"I've had this for two weeks, Agent Gibbs. I could have done was I was paid to do and passed it along to Bell... I could have gone to the right people on the hill... I could have ruined you with this!"
She stops in front of him, angrily waving Abby's ballistics report in his face. He only needs to see the NCIS Lab seal to know what it is and what it says. He waits for her anger to subside and then quietly asks, "So... why didn't you?"
Her eyes hold his for a long moment, feeling as if her world is spinning out of control now that her powerful protector, Bell, is gone. Her voice is much lower when she speaks, trying a different tactic that might save her from winding up in jail like the rest of Bell's crew. "I... I read what happened... to your family..." She sees Gibbs' mouth tighten at the mention of it, "and I know what you did... it was justified. And I don't want to see this report ruin your life... not if there's a chance... a chance for this to all work out..."
Gibbs holds her eye, no expression on his face as he listens to her attempt to bargain his life for her own. He would never let her hold this over his head... especially since Vance already knew what it said and had told him it was none of NCIS business. Just then the front door opens and Tony steps in with Tim right behind him. Tony grins a lopsided smile; unsure if a head slap or a thank you is coming his way.
"Oh, hey, boss. Thought we'd stop by and take this problem off your hands?" he is referring to Hart, who spins around to glare at him for the intrusion. The two agents move to either side of Ms. Hart, but don't lay their hands on her until Gibbs gives them the okay. He doesn't know how they got here, but realizes this is the best solution to his problem. He reaches out to take the folder from her numb hand and nods his head. Tim grabs her left arm while Tony takes her right, spinning her around to place her in handcuffs. Tim takes her briefcase and purse from her as Gibbs finally speaks.
"You'll find the electronic bug she place in my house in her left coat pocket, McGee. You'll be able to trace the transmissions to that dirty brown sedan parked at the end of the block. Guy's name is Gus Nilsson, private investigator she hired to spy on me. He's good for the breaking and entering to plant the bug."
"On it, boss." Tim reaches in to retrieve the electronic bug and give it a quick glance before heading out the door.
Gibbs just gives Tony a second nod and a pat on the shoulder, letting him know he did good. DiNozzo grins as he escorts the attorney out the door in handcuffs. "Ms. Hart, I gotta tell you... I've been waiting a while to do this. You are under arrest for conspiracy..."
Once Tony's voice trails away, Gibbs closes the door with a heavy sigh and tosses the file folder into the drawer of the hall table. When he turns around, Mike is standing on the stairs watching him. Franks looks from the drawer to Gibbs and then shrugs, because he already knows what's in that folder.
"I called DiNozzo, Probie..." He walks past Gibbs and heads into the kitchen, knowing his friend will follow along behind him. "Figured you didn't need to deal with her shit."
"You got that right." Gibbs takes the beer Mike hands him and downs half of it before he continues, "Thanks, but I need to get up to Stillwater and check on my dad."
"He's not there..." Mike waits patiently for the words to sink in, even as Gibbs is heading for the door. He finally stops and turns back with a suspicious look on his face.
"Who's not there?" Mike just raises a brow at Gibbs' question. "How do you know where my dad is... or isn't, Mike?"
"Same lady that pulled me and the girls out of Mexico... she got your dad out of that store... and just in time from what I hear. Didn't want to worry you earlier, but your dad's here, in DC."
"What? Where?" Gibbs comes back face his friend, suddenly feeling his gut twist with anxiety over the look on his face.
"Georgetown University Hospital... and before you go off all half-cocked... he's gonna be fine. Caught one in the butt as he was getting the hell out of the store when the shooting started. But that's not the worst part... all the commotion and I'm sure, getting shot... well, he had a mild heart attack."
Gibbs can't believe what he's hearing... his father was shot and had a heart attack and no one told him! He balls up his fists, resisting his first urge to punch Mike for keeping this from him. Mike stands his ground and keeps his voice calm as he says the only thing he knows will keep him from ending up with a broken nose.
"Before you haul off and slug me, Probie... just know... it wasn't my decision. It was your dad's idea not to tell you... didn't want to worry you when you had other things on your mind."
Gibbs suddenly turns and punches the wall with a muffled curse; cracking the plaster. A harsh chuckle rasping out of him as he shakes his head, "That's my dad... be lucky if I get an invitation to his funeral." He takes another calming breath and then finishes his beer as he turns back to his friend. "Look, I gotta go, Mike... you all right here?"
"Fine... go. I'll keep an eye on the place for you."
Gibbs heads for the front door, all thoughts of changing his clothes forgotten for the moment. As he is about to head out, Mike calls after him, "Hey! Probie... don't know who that pretty woman is... but thank her for me." Gibbs has no clue who she is either and just waves and heads out the door.
By the time Gibbs arrives at Georgetown University Hospital, he's had some time to think. Who was this mystery woman who miraculously showed up in Mexico to rescue Mike and the girls... then somehow managed to be in Stillwater, Pennsylvania when the cartel showed up at Jackson's store? At first Gibbs had thought it might be Hart, but from Mike's expression earlier, he knew she was not a woman he felt any gratitude towards.
He parks and hurries inside to find out what room his dad is in. With a sharp stab of the elevator buttons he is on his way up to the Cardiac Care ward, room 511B. The floor is bustling with hospital staff hurrying about their jobs, but one man stands out. He is standing casually at the corner of the hallway, with a clear view of anyone approaching from the elevators or the stairs. He tried to blend in, but it was obvious he was law enforcement and as Gibbs walked towards him, the man came upright to address the stranger coming down the hall.
Gibbs pulls his coat back, flashing his badge as he stops in front of the man. "Gibbs, NCIS."
"Rodgers. FBI."
"FBI? You here for Jackson Gibbs... my dad?"
"Yes, sir. He's a witness in an ongoing bureau investigation."
"Being conducted by...?" Gibbs is cut off by a familiar voice and Tobias Fornell emerges from inside his dad's room.
"By me, Jethro... so calm down."
Gibbs visible relaxes and turns to his friend. "Tobias, what the hell is going on?!"
"Well, while you were in Mexico trying to take on the Reynosa Cartel... they sent their sister up here with some of her goons to do a little cartel justice."
"Wait... sister, no... Carmen Reynosa was in Mexico."
"Not Carmen. Baby sister, Paloma. She's the enforcer of the family... meaner than a snake too."
Gibbs takes this all in for a moment, then remembers his need to see his dad. He wants to discuss this, but not now and interrupts his friend. "I... want to hear all you got, but right now..."
"Sure, thing. I was just heading out. Agents will remain at the door around the clock... until we get them, Jethro. Call me... we'll grab a coffee and go over it."
He nods to his agent who has resumed his position near the junction of the two hallways. Gibbs slips inside the room, prepared for the worst, but relieved to see his dad sitting rather crookedly in the bed watching the news.
"Hey, dad. How you doin'?" Gibbs approaches the bed and impulsively gives him a quick hug. Seeing now that his dad's butt is propped up on pillows to keep the pressure off the wound.
"Oh, hi, son. Fine, just fine. No need for Fornell to call and bother you."
"Dad... it's not a bother. Thought you were up at Ed's cabin all this time. Was just heading up there when Mike Franks told me you were here."
"Yeah... I am. Not much to tell, just damned embarrassing... that's what it is."
"What? Getting shot in the butt?" Gibbs can't hold back the chuckle when his father blushes and gives him his worst glare.
"You laugh... not so funny when it's your ass propped up on a pillow." He jerks the blanket up to cover his exposed hip, ignoring the struggle his son is having at hiding his grin.
"Dad, there's no shame in it. More concerned about your ticker."
"Ahh, that... hell I'm fine. Just a little bit of that... what the hell did that doctor call it? Angina. Said it was brought on by the stress of getting shot... or maybe being dragged into the car by those guys."
"The cartel guys?"
"Thought so at first, but then I realized they weren't with them other guys. They got me the hell away from the store and then pulled over to stop the bleeding and stuff an aspirin under my tongue. Guys saved my life."
"Who were they?" Gibbs is more confused than ever about who had come to the rescue of Mike and his dad. Mike said it was a woman... his dad was saying it was a couple of guys.
"Don't rightly know... friends of hers, I reckon'." Jackson looks past his son to the woman who is standing in the doorway listening to them.
Gibbs turns around and his breath catches in his throat as he sees Holly Snow standing there, looking like a corporate CEO in her expensive tailored suit and heels. His eyes flow quickly down past her skirt, following her shapely legs to the stylish black shoes. He is no expert, but he somehow knows those shoes are every bit as expensive as the two thousand dollar shoes worn by M. Allison Hart. When his eyes come back up to hers, she smiles and greets him, "Hello Jethro."
Neither one of them moves as the tension in the room seems to crackle between them. Jackson glances from one to the other and realizes there is a personal connection between these two. He pokes his son in the side to break his trance and asks, "Son, how come you never introduced me to her before? Always keeping the pretty ones to himself..."
His last comment is directed to Holly and she laughs as she turns her attention to the elder Gibbs. "Is that so? Well, should I be flattered?" She steps closer to lay a hand on Jackson's arm.
Gibbs finally finds his voice and gives his dad a warning glare, knowing his mind is already churning with his matchmaking schemes. "Stop... right now, Dad."
"What? Can't an old man flirt with a pretty girl? After all, she's been spending a lot of time with me... maybe she's interested." He knows just how to push his son's buttons to get a reaction out of him and gives Holly a wink.
"Obviously, you're not too sick to be chasing everything in a skirt. Excuse us..." He gently takes Holly's arm, turning her around and leading her back out of the room.
They walk to a family waiting area which is thankfully empty and Gibbs closes the door so they can have some privacy. She doesn't think twice about stepping in to give him a quick kiss, but when he grips her arms and moves her back, Holly wonders if he is angry or just shocked to see her there. Gibbs holds her at arms length for a long moment then demands, "Holly, what the hell are you doing here?!"
"At the moment, visiting your father." She keeps her calm, but his tone is starting to worry her.
"Were you responsible for getting Mike Franks and his family out of Mexico? For getting my dad here?" He is not angry at her, but his frustration at not understanding what has been going on makes his words come out harsh.
"Well, not me personally... but yes. I made a couple of phone calls... to people who could send the right men to take care of it."
"You know people... who can arrange hostile rescues under fire... and in foreign countries?"
"Does that surprise you?"
"No... I guess it shouldn't." his eyes hold hers and she knows he is referring to her black book clientele.
It was true, that is where she got the connections to make this happen, but she can't believe Gibbs was throwing her previous profession back in her face. Her anger flares as she jerks her arms away from him, "I know you don't ask for help, Jethro... but I couldn't sit back and do nothing. It's obvious you have a problem with my connections... with my past... well, don't worry, it won't happen again."
She moves past him towards the door with one last biting comment before she goes, "At least your father had the manners to say thank you."
Her sarcasm was justified. Gibbs hadn't meant to insinuate that she only knew powerful men through the favors they owed her. It may well be true, but he had never treated her like a prostitute and would never use it against her... but apparently he just had. He sighs and turns to see her storming off down the hallway on her way to the elevators.
He curses under his breath and fights the urge to rush after her and apologize. It was a strange feeling... this need to beg forgiveness and Gibbs fought it down. Better if he just let her calm down and they could talk it over later. Now he needed to be here with his father, who almost died because Gibbs hadn't been there to protect him. He glances down the empty hall, knowing it had been Holly who saved him. It was Holly who saved Mike, Leila and Emira... and she had done it... why? For him? Gibbs' mind is reeling from the implications as he returns to his dad's room.
When he walks in, Jackson is scowling at him like he'd done when he was a child. "You know... it's no wonder no woman wants to stay with you... the way you keep pissin' em off."
"Dad, enough! You don't understand how hard it is... especially with someone watching your every move with disapproval."
Jackson knows he is referring to his meddling in his son's personal life. "That so? Well, probably a lot like having a teen-age son staring at me with those accusing eyes every time I tried to move on with my life. You didn't approve... thought I was betraying your mama."
They stare at each other for a long moment, the realization of their situation becoming clear to them both. Gibbs was still subconsciously pushing away the women in his life and his father was trying to tell him it was all right to move on. He had no reply to his father's accusations, so he just hangs his head with a sigh and rubs his tired eyes. Jackson watches him a moment then softly adds, "You need to hang on to that one, Jethro..."
And with that, Jackson pulls his blanket up higher and closes his eyes to sleep. Gibbs watches him for a long moment hearing the unheard remainder of his dad's statement in his head. 'cause she's a lot like Shannon.' Gibbs admits it for the first time to himself, it was true. Holly was sophisticated and worldly, but deep down, under the public image, she was just a down to earth girl from a small town in Ohio... and that did remind him of Shannon. He wonders if that makes him a candidate for therapy or just a man who's finally found the right woman to fill the void in his life. With a tired sigh, he realizes it may not matter now. He heads out to find the cafeteria and some coffee and talk to the doctor while his dad gets some rest.