Chapter Three
Jessica
Jessica woke the next morning to a cold empty bed. She got up and started her normal routine, picking up her cell phone as her bathwater ran she dialled his number. Still no answer. Was he avoiding her, was he alright, had something happened to him? Nobody would know to inform her, he had not told anybody at NCIS of her, he had always been a private man and she respected that, he did not have to tell anybody ever as long as they were together, but... They had talked about him introducing her to his friend, Ducky or Dr Mallard, and Abby of course. She knew them well from what he had told her but they did not know her. He could be dead. Her heart lurched just at the thought that he might be. Should she phone NCIS headquarters to find out? No she could not do that, he would not want that.
She dialled his number again, this time leaving a message, telling him how much she loved him and that when he could, could he please contact her just to let her know he was OK. Closing the cell phone she sighed heavily before continued with her daily routine.
NCIS
It had been a long night getting the information out of Jenkins. He had been evasive at first but then had spilled his guts, telling them everything he knew, and that, unfortunately for Gibbs, did not include where Ul Zak or the bomb was. The arrangement with Ul Zak was that he would be contacted by the man when he was needed to arm the bomb. He was however sure that no other person could arm the device as he had put in special precautions so as to avoid Ul Zak being able to blow him up with everybody else and thereby tying up his loose ends. He was in this for the money not the ideology. Gibbs and the rest had taken turns grilling the man until they were sure there was no information left to give.
"How do we disarm the device?" Gibbs asked his final question.
"You don't…once it is armed there is no way to stop it." Jenkins said dejectedly.
Gibbs placed Jenkins' cell phone on the table. "When he calls you answer and make sure he does not suspect something is wrong…your life depends on it, understand.'
"I understand." Replied stoically.
Gibbs sat back, now all they could do was wait for the call to come. He was tired and now that the stress of the interview was done and he had time to reflect, he thought only of one thing. Jessica. He had not spoken to her since the previous morning when all this had started. She must be going out of her mind wondering what was going on, he knew she had called him many times, noting the list of missed calls he had received from her and had meant to call her, but with all that had happened he had not had the time to do so. Standing up from his chair he excused himself and left the room to get some privacy for the call he was going to make now.
The phone rang once before she picked up.
"Jethro…" She said breathlessly.
"Jessica, I am so sorry I haven't called before but…" Jethro started to apologize.
"No, no my love," Jessica interrupted him. "You don't have to apologize; you never have to apologize for your job. I was just worried that's all." She said realizing that her many unanswered calls were weighing on his mind.
"Have I told you lately that I love you?" Jethro said his love for this woman overwhelming him.
"No Mr. Gibbs you have not…but I forgive you for that too." Jessica said playfully. He was alright, he was alive and he was in love with her what more could a girl want.
"I am going to have to tell you more often and I am going to have to show you when I get home." Jethro returned in the same playful tone.
"And when would that be lover boy?"
"I don't know…I hope soon." Jethro replied a sombre note returning to him. "I might not be able to contact you in while, but always know that you are in my thoughts." Jethro said suddenly feeling empty and lost and wanting to hold her and tell her she was everything to him.
"I'm…just scared Jethro. Scared that if something does happen to you that…that they won't…won't know to contact me, I can't stand the thought of…"
Gibbs felt a pang of guilt hit him. He had not even thought of that. She was right, nobody would contact her to tell her if he was hurt or killed. He had to put her mind at rest on that point and was going to do it right now.
'Jessica, don't even think of that now. I'm fine and if anything happens to me Ducky will contact you I promise."
"But…but you haven't told…"
"No I haven't but I will, now, right this minute." Jethro interrupted her. "I have to go now Jesse but I will call as soon as I can. I love you, you know that."
"I know Jethro, I'm sorry I'm just being silly, I just can't bear thinking something happened to you and I would not even know. I love you Leroy Jethro Gibbs and don't you even think of not coming back to me." She said vehemently to the man she loved more than life itself.
"I love you too Jessica Marie Taylor." Jethro responded his voice betraying his emotions.
After they had said their goodbyes Gibbs left the conference room he had used to make the private call and headed down to autopsy to fulfil his promise to her. He smiled to himself thinking of what Ducky would have to say about his revelation.
Entering autopsy he found Ducky pouring over some books at his desk.
"Ah Jethro…what can I do for you.'
"Hi Duck. I need a favour." Gibbs said approaching his favourite doctor.
"Name it." Ducky responded. He did not know what Jethro wanted but whatever it was he was willing to give.
"Sit down Duck." Gibbs said taking a seat at the table.
Dr Mallard frowned slightly but did as he was bid. Jethro obviously had something serious on his mind.
"OK what is going on Jethro?"
"There is a woman living at my house. Her name is Jessica Marie Taylor, she is…well let's say is she very important to me and with any luck she will be the next Mrs. Gibbs. " Gibbs said amusement playing on his face as he watched Ducky digest the information.
"What…I mean WHAT?" Ducky said stunned, he was not even aware that Gibbs had been seeing anybody since the departure of the Colonel from his life.
"I don't have time to explain Duck, but the bottom line is if anything should happen to me…"
"Right, right I understand. Don't worry Jethro; I will take care of it." Ducky said getting the meaning of Gibbs statement straight away; he needed somebody who could inform the young lady of his demise if that should happen.
"Thanks Duck…' Jethro started but was interrupted by the ringing of his phone.
"Yeah Gibbs…" The voice on the line informed him the call had been made and they had a meeting place. They were on their way to the Directors office to discuss strategy. "Right, I'm on my way." Gibbs said as he flipped the phone closed.
"Thanks again Duck." Gibbs said as he left the room headed for the Director office.
"You're welcome." Ducky called after him as he hurried away.
Now who was this mystery woman? Jethro was going to have a lot to explain when Ducky got hold of him again. He had always been secretive and Ducky was not surprised that he had a woman in his life that he had not told anybody about, but the fact that he had taken the time to get him to agree to making sure that she was 'looked after' and make no bones about it Ducky thought, that was what Jethro was asking, indicated the seriousness of the relationship, considering the circumstances. This woman must be mean a lot to him, well Ducky thought that goes without saying. The next Mrs. Gibbs he repeated in his mind. He would have to meet this woman as soon as this whole affair was over.
Gibbs walked into the Directors office closing the door behind him. Vance watched him come in and take a seat before starting the meeting.
"So what now...?" Vance asked the group.
"We send Jenkins to the meet. We keep him covered and we take Ul Zak down there and then." Zimmerman stated firmly.
"We have to be careful here." Carter chimed in. "According to Jenkins once this thing is armed there is no turning back."
"So we don't let Ul Zak arm it." Fornell said.
"Right, what time is the meeting?" Gibbs asked not having been in the room when the call came in.
"In an hour at the address Ul Zak provided Jenkins with." Carter replied
"Good, Director anything else...?" Gibbs asked the man in charge.
"Just good luck gentlemen. Let's bring this to an end now!" Vance replied.
As Gibbs and the other agents came down the stairs from the Directors office Gibbs barked out his orders. MaGee was to stay in M-Tac and monitor by video surveillance, Tony, Ziva and Williams were to accompany the four senior officers to the scene. In the elevator Gibbs stressed that Ul Zak could not arm the bomb because once armed it could not be disarmed. They had to take Ul Zak out before he could get to the device. The agents all listened intently to the instructions and then piled into the waiting cars. Jenkins was put in the vehicle with Gibbs.
"You better do a convincing act Jenkins or so help me my first bullet will be through your brain." Gibbs warned Jenkins as they approached the house.
For his part Jenkins just wanted this over with, the Feds had agreed to protective custody and a life in jail was better than no life at all. He had heard that the Feds protective custody was like a holiday resort and he would not be in it forever. The last thing he wanted was Ul Zak to detonate the bomb; he was not ready to die. Gibbs did not have anything to worry about; Jenkins was going to look after the only person he cared about, himself.
They pulled up into the driveway, Gibbs and Fornell sinking low into the back seat of the car to avoid detection. Jenkins turned off the engine and opened the door.
"Remember Jenkins...you die first." Gibbs emphasised as the man climbed out of the car headed towards the front door of the house.
"MaGee, any movement around the perimeter...?" Gibbs asked his agent in M-Tac.
"No boss, thermal imaging shows at least four inside the house though." MaGee responded.
"Let's go..." Gibbs said as he eased the door furthest from the house open then slipped out crouching behind the protection of the vehicle as Fornell followed suit.
Jenkins reached the front door and before he could knock it opened. One big armed Arab man stood in front of him and beckoned him inside. Jenkins drew a deep breath then entered the house not looking back so as not to arouse suspicion.
"Good you are here. Arm the bomb." Abdul Ul Zak instructed Jenkins as he entered the room.
"When are you planning to detonate?" Jenkins asked stalling for time.
"That is none of your business; you are here to do a job so just do it.' Ul Zak replied his voice devoid of all emotions.
"Now hold on a minute. I don't trust you...I need to be sure that I have enough time to get the hell out of Dodge before you blow us all away." Jenkins replied bravado in his voice, he knew that Ul Zak needed him and he also knew that this was how Ul Zak would expect him to act. You can't arm the device without me and I am not about to let myself be killed by you, that was not the deal.
Ul Zak took a deep breath; he suppressed the urge to crush the little cockroach before him because he knew Jenkins was right, he needed him for now.
"Fine, arm the device; you can put a five hour timer on it, is that enough time for you?" Ul Zak asked calmly.
"Yeah, yeah that will do." Jenkins replied, careful not to push this man too far.
Ul Zak looked at the American undisguised disgust showing on his usually emotionless face. This man was willing to kill his own people for money. In his mind that just confirmed the delinquency of the American people, they had no honour at all. As for himself, well he was merely fulfilling his destiny, the infidel Americans must be made to suffer for what they were doing to his country and his people. For this honour he was willing to sacrifice anything and everything.
Jenkins moved passed Ul Zak into the back room where the bomb was being kept. He was nervous and he hoped it did not show; where the hell were the bloody Feds? Just then all hell broke loose.