a/n - Umm, okay, ouch. For those of you who are reading this one, thank you. I should have the next chapter of Puppet Master up tomorrow.
After the dinner break, Sarah handed Tim a large box that had just been delivered. "Are you sure about this, Tim?" Gibbs watched the exchange closely, but didn't interrupt.
"I'm sure, Sarah. Gibbs has to look the part. This will be perfect." Tim returned to the table and set the box down while Sarah peered over his shoulder.
Curious, Gibbs leaned closer to look as Tim opened the box. Black velvet was visible, but it had a red glow to it from the lining as Tim lifted it out of the box. Now free, it was apparent that McGee was holding a short cloak, trimmed in luxurious gold and red embroidery. Sarah took the cloak as Tim laid out each of the layers of the outfit, identifying them as he went.
The first item was a linen shirt. "You'll be asked about your garb, the details are important. The shirt is made of Irish linen, the collar and cuffs are embroidered. They're removable, and there's an extra set if case these get dirty." The next two items were another shirt, this time much heavier looking and a matching pair of what appeared to be close fitting shorts. Both were in a rich red.
Gibbs reached out and touched the fabric. "Silk?"
"Shot silk." Tim moved one of the sleeves to show the difference. As the light hit the fabric at a different angle, it looked almost burgundy. "See, there's a second color woven into the fabric, but you can only see it at certain angles. The top is called a doublet, the breeches are also called canions. Next we have the slops."
'Poofy pants' was on the tip of Gibbs' tongue, but he kept silent as he looked closely. They looked like short, poofy pants at first, but he could see that they were made of strips of the black velvet, with more of the red silk showing through. Each strip was heavily embroidered with the same gold as the cape. Even the codpiece was equally covered in golden stitches. The slops were much shorter than the canions, which were knee length.
Another black velvet piece joined the pile. It looked like a vest with the same trim as the cape. "Okay, Boss, this is the jerkin, it goes over the doublet." The last items added to the pile were a pair of leather gloves with black silk gauntlets and a tall arch brim hat.
Sarah's earlier comments and the wistful expression on Tim's face as he handed over the jerkin told Gibbs the backstory of this particular garment. "This is pretty elaborate, McGee. It was supposed to be yours, wasn't it?"
His sister didn't give him a chance to answer. "Tim had it commissioned last year after he won the jousting championship. She just finished it this week."
Tim shrugged as Gibbs looked back at him. "Like I said, you need to look the part if you're going to catch Anja's attention and this kind of garb is all one of a kind and custom made. There's no time to get a new set of clothing made, this has never been seen by anyone there and it will fit you. We really don't have a lot of choice."
Gibbs felt like the guy who wrecked somebody else's brand new car before they even got to drive it. Knowing that Tim would brush it off, he instead turned to Sarah. "Make sure we get the receipts for all the clothing we're using, especially this one."
She nodded and left the room, and her brother immediately changed the subject. "We need to have a cover story as to why you haven't been around the last few years, something that will explain any lack of knowledge."
Gibbs could tell that the younger man was working on a plan, but before it could be verbalized, his phone rang and they were on their way to autopsy.
-NCIS-
"What 'ya got, Duck?" Gibbs arrived in autopsy, the rest of the team at his heels. Ducky and Palmer looked rather pleased with themselves as they looked up from the body on the table.
At a nod from Ducky, Palmer brought over a metal pan that contained Sergeant Ward's heart. He held it out for the team to look at as Ducky explained what they were looking at. "When we found fresh damage to the heart, we assumed that the stress and torture may have caused a mild heart attack, but upon further examination, I discovered that the damage was caused by an electrical current."
"He was electrocuted? There's no burns on the body."
"Quite right, Jethro, a thorough exam showed that there are no electrical burns on the body."
"But..."
Jimmy couldn't stand the suspense. "The burns are on the inside. Inside the wounds from some of the spikes."
"Yes, well," Ducky was a little disappointed that he didn't get the honor of breaking the news, but it really was Jimmy's discovery. "Mr. Palmer has been examining each of the puncture wounds to see if there was any debris left behind and he discovered that two of the wounds have burned flesh, one on his upper left shoulder and one on his lower right side."
Gibbs immediately understood what had happened. "The current crossed his heart."
"Causing instant arrhythmia and then death. It was quite clever, to be honest. They tortured the poor chap, and then when they were done with him, they just flipped a switch. He was dead before they removed him from the chair, thus the lack of excessive bleeding."
Tony looked back and forth between Gibbs and Ducky as he listened to them and put the pieces together. "If they killed him, does that mean they got whatever information they were after?"
Gibbs was not pleased with these new developments. "Looks that way, DiNozzo."
-NCIS-
This was one Thursday night that Leon Vance did not mind missing out on a home cooked meal, as his visitors from the 'other kingdom' were scheduled to arrive any moment. Right on cue, his door opened and his assistant poked her head in, wearing a huge grin. "Director Vance, Sir Giles and his party have arrived." Vance leaned back in his chair, lacing his fingers together behind his head.
"Very well, send them in. You may join us if you'd like." The giggle he got in response told him that she'd like to, very much.
McGee, or actually, Sir Giles as Vance reminded himself, entered the office first. Fresh from Ziva's first lesson as a squire, he was in partial armor, his helmet tucked under his arm. Perhaps it was the shoes, but the usually bashful man seemed taller as he strode in to stand in front of the desk. Vance decided to go for it. "Sir Giles, welcome."
The young knight raised his closed fist to his heart as he bowed. "Director, please allow me to introduce my household." Stepping to the side, his hand now swept out to greet a young woman. Today Sarah was wearing the same linen dress but this time it was covered with a second gown with deep sweeping armholes that revealed the underdress to her waist. Her hair was braided with a ribbon around her head and a sheer veil was in place today. "Mistress Margerete Baldshawe of Dunroth, a roving merchant at the Faire, providing food and drink to the populace."
Vance found himself tilting his head in acknowledgment as she curtsied deeply before stepping backwards to stand off to the side. If it weren't for the tattoo on her neck, he would not have recognized his forensic scientist as she came in, sans make-up and platform boots. Her curtsy was stiffer but met with Sir Giles' approval.
"Good day, sire. I am known by the public as Amphelicia Faw. Prithee, might I tell his majesty a fortune? Just two shillings."
Amused, Vance turned for an explanation. With a nod, McGee gave the details. "The Romany, or Gypsies as the outsiders refer to them, do not speak their given names outside their community. They take a given name of the region for when they must deal with outsiders and Faw is an ethnic term of Gypsies in northern England and therefore used often as a surname."
"I see. Welcome to our kingdom, Mistress Amphelicia."
"Just Amphelicia, sire. N'er no proper blood in me and mine." Abby stepped to the side to join Sarah as Palmer came through the door. Without glasses he looked much different even if Vance ignored the bright colors he was wearing and the basket he was carrying.
"Good morrow, your Majesty. I am Alfonso Lourenco de Narayola, Castilian by birth, and have come to your fair kingdom to seek my fortune. Would you like to buy a pickle?"
"No, I'm good." Vance was very proud of himself for keeping a straight face, at least until Dr. Mallard charged in.
"I be Donnchadh mac Domhnaill mhic Fearchair. I dinnae ken yee kirk or thr'n. Ken whit I me'n?"
He obviously was expecting an answer and Vance smiled and nodded before shaking his head and turning to his translator.
Sir Giles spoke in a quiet voice as to not upset the excitable Scot. "His name is Duncan, son of Donald, who is the son of Farquhar. He doesn't know if you follow the Church or the Throne. I'm afraid he still has not forgiven King Edward I for the Great Slaughter or for removing the Stone of Destiny."
Vance froze, not having a clue how to respond. In the background, his assistant was giggling.
With one last glare at the possibly English leader, the tartan clad man stormed off to be soothed by the fortune teller and DiNozzo sauntered in with a grin on his face "Good day, your grace. I'm Edwarde Oxton of Durham. Mistress Margerete may think me a tosspot, but in truth, taint nothing wrong with a bit of ale after a..." A loud clucking from the good mistress stopped whatever else he was about to tell and he quickly changed his tune. "Zounds, my mistress will surely have my backside striped with a belt if she finds me dallying. Fare thee well, my Lord."
The next arrival was quiet and elegant. Sir Giles met her at the door and escorted her in to stand in front of the desk. "Your Majesty, may I present the gracious Amira bint Da'ud, a recent arrival from the far away Ottoman Empire. Lady Amira has done me the honor of becoming my squire."
Ziva's curtsy was low, with sweeping arms. "Your Grace, it is an honor."
Vance dipped his head in acknowledgment. "Welcome, Lady Amira. I hope your journey was a pleasant one." A mysterious smile and a tip of the head was his only answer.
The next arrival came through the door in a swirl of black velvet and red silk, leaning on a carved ebony walking stick. Instead of moving straight to the desk, he stopped in front of Vance's young assistant. "Tis a wondrous kingdom to have such a beauteous young maiden. Pray, wil'st thou walk with me?" He bowed deeply before kissing her hand. Giggling, she allowed him to escort her to Vance's desk where he introduced himself.
"My Lord, I am Jeames Hadricke, Earl of Bedford and a guest of my former squire, Sir Giles Edmondes. Verily, an accident in the modern world has kept me from visiting yon Faire for many years." Hat in hand, a sweeping bow finished his introduction.
Tim filled in the rest. "Lord Bedford is the only unmarried noble in attendance this year, and thus the only proper suitor for the Princess."
"Perfect." Vance gave the group one last look. Every possibility was covered and they seemed comfortable with their characters. McGee and his sister had done an excellent job in prepping the team. "Well done, all of you. Tim, Sarah, you two especially have gone above and beyond."
Gibbs wanted to make sure Vance was fully aware of just how much his agent had undertaken. "Leon, all this garb has come out of McGee's pocket, not to mention all the other expenses to get the team into position."
"Make sure all the receipts come to me and I'll personally take care of it. Now, are we all set for tomorrow?"
It was after 2100 and most of the group nodded, but Tim shook his head. "I really hoped to go over setting up the tent before we get there in the morning, but it's too dark."
Gibbs patted him on the back. "It's a tent, McGee. How hard can it be?"