The Grey Woods Beast
By Kushie
I do not own NCIS: I do not own Anthony Dinozzo, L.J. Gibbs or any other team members.
Please understand that some English spellings and types of dialogue differ from the American
ones. Some of us put the letter 'U' in a lot more word endings. I'm sorry if you find this awkward
It's second nature to me. As is putting certain words, in front of the verb, instead of after
Warning! Alternate Universe. Many Characters act out of Canon! Don't like don't read.
Chapter Five: Is it or Isn't it?
After Tim and Abby's startling revelation, a furious debate broke out. Doctor Mallard
was at the forefront of it. Besides being a Medical Examiner and a Psychological Profiler
Ducky had a keen interest in the Classics. Including Greek Mythology. He now decried
the assumption that the beast was a Minotaur.
"There was only ever one!" he insisted "And it was killed by Theseus, in the Labyrinth at
Knosso's!" Jethro picked up the Artist's impression.
"Duck! This is based on the testimony of the witnesses, and even the Tracker says
the creature has hooves."
"He said the prints could be from a cloven footed animal. That is not definitive proof."
Ducky replied. "And I would point out That whatever attacked us. Moved too fast, for anyone,
to get a clear and distinct look at it."
"All right," Roberts, from JAG, intervened. "What do you think it is?" Ducky sighed
"In truth! I don't know. But the conflicting reports suggest It has a way of camouflaging itself.
Perhaps by projecting differing images, into the minds of it's victims or even.."
"Or even what?" Fornell felt he ought to join the conversation.
"Manipulating it's own form."
"Pardon me?" Jethro was completely at a loss. Ancient Greek Monsters were bad enough.
But now his normal, rational, friend was making such bizarre statements. Jethro's mind was close
to going into melt down.
"I mean we could be facing a creature that can change it's shape at will. All we do know is that
intense light disorientates it." So far, the young Sheriff of Elkhorn County had been content to just
listen to and follow the directives of the more experienced Federal Agents. But now she felt the
need to speak.
"If it is afraid of light. It would explain, why all the attacks have taken place at night?"
It was a fact, that the others had overlooked." Now their heads swiveled round to regard the
woman. Jethro looked down at her.
"How many attacks have there been?" She held her ground and met his stern gaze.
Not counting this evening and the military disappearances. There have been nineteen unexplained
disappearances and a spate of cattle mutilations going back over thirty years." She paused for a slurp
of coffee then continued. "But there are legends of something, terrorizing the area around Bray Road
and Devil's lake. That stem from a time, before the colonizing of America. The local Algonquin tribe
tell many stories relating to some great evil. That haunts these woods." Jethro raised his eyes to heaven
"Great!" He muttered to himself. "First Greek Myths and now! A crazy, shape shifting, Indian Demon.
How much worse is this going to get?" He glanced across at his team sitting on chairs At the far end of
the command tent.. Abby was asleep. Her head resting on Tim's shoulder. Ziva was nodding.
Tony was rubbing his eyes. Clearly struggling, to stay awake. Jethro felt a pang of guilt.
They all needed sleep. They had to be at their peak. If they were to seek out this creature's lair, and
take it on face to face? He inhaled and voiced this opinion. Relieved when the others agreed.
That there wasn't a lot more they could do that night. Having been driven off once. The beast, whatever
it was? Was unlikely to try and take them on again, any time soon. But they weren't impervious to the
danger and the number of sentries was doubled. Jethro also ordered large fires to be built and lit, roughly
ten feet apart. All around the camp's perimeter.
They were half right. The creature wasn't going to face them head on again. At least not until he had a
bargaining tool. The long years of it's existence, had taught it a few things.
The most important of which was the blood ties the humans had. A mother would die for it's infant, and
a father could be used to weaken a son. He walked far into the night seeking the trail. The scent was
partially masked by the Belcher. But as he neared the human settlement. It grew strong again. Confirming,
what he had suspected. The fat debauched one was the sire of the Chosen. Older, weaker but still useable.
A pawn to be flaunted in front of his enemy.
Tony sat on his camp bed, stroking Vinni. The fat old cat calmed him. But at the same time,seemed to
imbue with a confidence. He thought he'd lost long ago. For some reason his mother's face rose in his mind.
He remembered how she'd said that Vinni would always protect him. That as long as he had Vinni, the
Great Goddess would watch over him. Tony once again felt the horrible sensation. He'd experienced as he'd
watched his adored toy, and last link to his mother, being washed away. He touched the faded photograph,
He always carried in his breast pocket. His father had destroyed virtually all his mother's pictures. But Tony
had managed to hide the tiny image from him. He scowled as he thought of his father. The man wasn't worthy
of the title. He'd all but abandoned him. Dumping him that, cold, lonely, boarding school. Less than a month
after his mother's death. Tony growled to himself.
"Even now! The only time I see the Creep is, when he wants me, to bail him out of some dodgy deal."
Jethro slid in through the tent's narrow aperture. He frowned.
"Come on Tony Son! It's late and you're tired. If you look all ragged in the morning. I'll have Ducky after me."
Tony gave a small laugh. Knowing Jethro wasn't bothered by Ducky. His concern was a genuine one, for him.
As he snuggled down into his sleeping bag and began to doze. A single thought permeated his brain.
"Gibbs is more of a father to me. Than Anthony Dinozzo Senior."
Five miles away, the creature closed in on his prey.
TBC
