Title: The Truth in the Lie
Author: Shannon - shannyfish
Disclaimer: I do not own "NCIS" or its characters, CBS does. This is merely for entertainment purposes only.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: The case of a missing marine leads Gibbs down into the past and questions if the truth he knows is true. Takes place during Season Six.

Warnings: Spoilers for Season Five Episode "Judgment Day".

Chapter 4 – "Echo"

Author's Note:

...............................

Heathrow Airport

"I'm going to go get our luggage," McGee volunteered once they'd cleared customs. He pulled out a Starbucks card and handed it to Gibbs. "Coffee?"

"Abby gets the coffee," Gibbs said grabbing the card. "I'll supervise Abby."

Abby and McGee exchanged looks before McGee nodded, "Right. Then I'm going to go and get the luggage."

"We'll meet you at the car rental," Gibbs told him before facing Abby.

She stared at him oddly, "Afraid Tim and I will take off and leave you stranded here?" she asked.

"Now I am," Gibbs said as they moved to the line for Starbucks. "Coffee first, though." They waited in the absolutely long line to order their coffees and then patiently waited with the crowd at the pickup counter.

"You're not going to court martial us when we get home, are you?" Abby asked. "You'll see that I'm right."

Gibbs didn't respond and just immediately took his coffee from the coffee carrier once their order was up and headed in the direction of the car rental. When he saw McGee, he sighed, "Are they even going to let us a rent a vehicle?"

"Just as long as we promise to drive on the wrong side of the road, Boss." McGee nodded towards one of the rental dealerships. "I've already made reservations for a vehicle."

"Well at least you were thinking when you made that decision."

Gibbs was overwhelmed at the thought of Jenny being alive, it literally made him sick to think that she was alright and hiding from something in another country. What could she be hiding from? Worst of all, he knew that she'd been sick before...was she still sick if she was alive? He couldn't bring himself to drink the coffee. Just the smell made his stomach roll. He'd wandered away from Abby and McGee. He'd faintly heard McGee inform him that they were going to get the vehicle and meet him in front.

Removing the lid from his Starbucks cup, he poured the hot liquid into the trash and then stuck the lid back on his cup. For now, he'd use it as a prop. He knew without it, Abby would insist on him getting a refill...but with it, it looked like business as usual. This wasn't business as usual though. This was a horrifying turn of events. He'd loved her... Sure, he'd been married a few times and divorced almost just as many...he'd loved Shannon...but he'd loved Jenny as well. After Shannon and Kelly's deaths, he'd had relationships, but they'd never lasted...

Married four times.

Divorced three.

Things just didn't seem to add up right for him. He had a feeling that it had to do with the loss of Shannon and Kelly that he was still working through. It'd been the hardest loss of all. The three divorces hadn't been anything compared to losing his first wife and his only child. Jenny had been like a fifth wife; though he mentally kicked himself for the term...it almost implied bad karma to come to her without fail.

Grief.

It was a funny thing. To cry? To hide? To move on? He couldn't do any of them. He was still grieving for Shannon and Kelly...and now Jenny... Gibbs had a feeling that to most people he didn't seem to be grieving for Jenny Shepard...but he had been. He wasn't an extrovert when it came to his emotions. He was a marine; his emotions were for himself and private. Life went on whether he liked it or not.

He'd broken one of his rules.

Rule number twelve: never date a co-worker.

He'd dated Jenny. She'd been his partner, he was sure that that was closer than a co-worker, but it still counted. He didn't regret it though. He regretted not being there when she needed him, though. Gibbs would have rather gone down in a fight with her... Why was it that the women that he loved in his life were extinguished like a candle when he couldn't be there to save them? Why was it his burden to bear? He was starting to think that he had some kind of curse put upon him that didn't allow him to love someone and allow that person to live for long.

Red hair.

His mind suddenly stopped its onslaught of the past and distraction. It'd been there, a flash of red hair. He immediately started to scan the busy platform and then he saw it. He felt his heart stop for just a second as he took in the scarlet mass. She wasn't far. Dropping his empty prop coffee cup to the ground, he started off in her direction. Gibbs hadn't even bothered to pick up his duffel. Weaving through the crowd, he pushed his way towards the retreating form.

Jenny.

The woman was in better view now. Her hair was shoulder length and slightly curled inward. She was dressed in what appeared to be a black knee length skirt and then some kind of sweater. He continued to push. He needed to see if it was her. Was Abby right? Was Jenny alive? His heart pounded in his chest as he pushed, he noticed the woman stop and then start towards a park vehicle. No. He couldn't lose her. He needed to know.

Jenny.

Gibb didn't care what people said, he was rudely pushing past people. "Jen!" he shouted and then came to a halt when he reached her. He extended his hand to her shoulder and let it gently come to a rest there. "Excuse me?"

Jenny.

She turned, but the woman he saw wasn't Jenny Shepard. She was pretty, but her eyes were a dark brown and her face seemed tighter. It wasn't her. "I'm sorry," he muttered. "I thought you were someone else." The woman just nodded as he removed his hand. He breathed out in frustration and slowly started to work his way back to where he'd abandoned his duffel and his prop coffee cup. He'd let himself jump to conclusions. He'd let Abby's crazy idea cloud his judgment. Jenny was dead. Ducky had pronounced her dead. They were there for a marine captain, that was it. Jenny wouldn't be returning with them.

One day. That was all he was giving them. He suddenly felt the need for a drink. He longed to be at home in his basement with his boat. He felt exhausted. "Stupid," he mumbled to himself as he made it back to his bag where he found Abby looking very worried. "Here, Abs," he called once he saw her. She was on the phone and her face was all scrunched up and crinkled with worry.

"Gibbs! Where did you go? You had me worried!" Abby said and immediately hugged him.

"What did you think could possibly happen to me?" he asked putting on a smile for her.

"I don't know," Abby said and picked up the duffel bag. "You might have insulted their tea. The English are very picky about their tea...it could be an offence here."

"Worthy of jail?" he questioned.

Abby shrugged, "It's possible."

He shook his head and just got into the back of the vehicle. It was odd having the driver on the opposite side of the vehicle, but that thought only entered his mind for a moment. His stupidity at chasing after a ghost of Jenny Shepard tortured him as he sat there, but it hadn't even been a ghost...he'd let his hopes get the better of him. He was being damn right illogical; his heart wasn't even telling him that she was there...at least not most of it. He felt a glimmer of hope, but he knew that that was wrong. Why would her death be faked? No. She was dead. Except it. It was the reality of the situation after all.

...........................

The Bristol Hotel

"I hope you don't mind us driving so far just to get to a hotel," Abby told him. She'd noticed that Gibbs looked sick...she wasn't sure how. He looked paler to her, weak somehow...but she figured it could have been from his lack of sleep.

"It's fine, Abs. Fancy, though, isn't it?" Gibbs finally asked as he took in his surroundings. It was very clean looking.

"I picked it," she admitted. "Timmy is getting you a room. It shouldn't take too long. We can get dinner after if you'd like?"

"I think I'd rather just lie down." He looked at Abby and noticed that she looked concerned. Worried. "Remember, I said one day. If you and McGee don't find something by tomorrow then we're arranging a flight back."

"I remember." She frowned and tilted her head a bit. "Are you feeling okay, Gibbs? You seem off."

"I'm just tired...jet lagged."

"I thought you didn't get jet lagged."

"I've never had to come to England chasing after you and McGee before," Gibbs told her. "I'll have them bring something to my room and just sleep. I want to start this chase first thing in the morning."

"The school won't be so far of a drive now," Abby announced happy that at least they wouldn't have a long car ride in the morning to look forward to.

"Abby?"

"Yes Gibbs?"

"You and McGee sharing a room?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Why not?" she asked. She'd argued McGee into it. He'd gone from two rooms to one room with two rooms and then she'd gotten him to agree to one bed in one room. She figured it would be more fun that way. Plus, it wasn't like they hadn't slept in the same bed before. Abby had a feeling that he was just trying to remain professional, but they were in a completely country. She doubted Gibbs would get upset about that.

He just smirked in response and was grateful when he saw McGee approaching with two room keys. He took his as soon as McGee set it in his hand. Gibbs hadn't even waited to see where his room was. He figured he'd figure it out in the elevator. He set out immediately without a word.

"What's with him?" McGee asked Abby.

Abby frowned severely with concern. "I don't know... Something's wrong. But you know how Gibbs is. He doesn't let us know anything. He has to be all...bottled up and unemotional."

"Yeah."

"I hate that."

.......................

TBC...