This is it, guys; the last chapter! Thank you for sticking with me to the end!
Two Months Later...
The intern from the mail department bolstered his courage before stepping into the most terrifying place in the entire building.
"Hi, Kevin!" DiNozzo greeted, catching sight of the intern passing his desk.
"Hi, Tony," the intern replied, dropping the Priority Document envelope on Gibbs' desk. He gulped as the silver haired agent looked up at him, gave a brief nod of thanks, then went right back to ignoring him. The intern darted back to his cart and sped off, grateful to be alive.
"I never could figure that guy out," DiNozzo commented, watching the intern duck into the elevator. "He acts like one of us is going to chew his arm off, or something."
Gibbs grunted. He let the envelope sit on the corner of his desk for a few moments while he finished the report he was typing, but when he'd submitted it and closed out of the program, he tugged his knife from his pocket and slit the seals. Putting the blade away, he lifted the cardboard flap and raised an eyebrow in surprise.
DiNozzo wandered over. "Boss?" he queried when Gibbs didn't move. He peered over Gibbs' shoulder, seeing the words inked into the cardboard.
"Good old 'Rule Number Nine'!" the note read. Tony blinked a few times before reading it again. The words were there, all right, and in a barely legible scrawl. "Shipping label says from The Phoenix Foundation, Lost Angeles. MacGyver?"
"Rule Number Nine…" Gibbs repeated softly, glancing up to meet Tony's eyes. He noticed the goosebumps rising on both of their arms as he opened the cardboard envelope and pulled out the items inside. There was a typed letter on Phoenix Foundation letterhead signed with MacGyver's scrawling autograph, and a plain ivory colored envelope, 4x6" and sealed. Pushing aside Tony's hand as he made a grab for the envelope, Gibbs picked up the letter first and read it.
MacGyver's Voiceover: Dear Gibbs and the Team; It's been a busy couple of months here. Using the intel you were kind enough to share, I had the Investigative side of the Foundation follow the leads we dug up, and we've taken down quite a bit of Salazar's extended business associates. I've kept in touch with Jack and Natalie, who are happy to report that Andy is doing very well at the Rehab facility and should be able to go home in the next few weeks. I've been trying to keep myself out of trouble, but you know how good I am at that. I need to ask Ducky where he gets his Apricot Tea… I developed a taste for it when I visited you in DC, and I haven't been able to track down a brand that's as good as his.
Okay, enough rambling. If you've bothered to read this far in the letter, I'd better get to the point and not aggravate you any further.
I got in touch with a mutual friend, and told her about the adventure we had. I took the liberty of extending everyone's well wishes, and she appreciated the sentiments. I did drop a pointed hint that perhaps she would like to reciprocate those sentiments. I got this in the mail yesterday.
You'll have to forgive me, especially Abby, but I ran this through the lab here at the Foundation and tried to figure out where it came from. I wish you better luck than we had.
Keep in touch, you guys! Gibbs, I don't want another fifteen years to go by before we hear from each other again. Like I said the day you arrested me, my number hasn't changed!
May your roll of duct tape always have enough on it!
MacGyver
With fingers that trembled openly, Gibbs picked up the ivory envelope and broke the seal. Inside was a plain ivory piece of paper, folded over. He flipped it open and stared at the words written in the hauntingly familiar handwriting.
Ziva's voiceover: I miss you too. I will never forget you. Shalom.
Gibbs twisted away as DiNozzo attempted to snatch the paper from his hands. Blocking the agent with his shoulder, Gibbs pushed himself to his feet and strode quickly to the elevator that would take him to Abby's lab, and hopefully some answers.
The sun was hot enough in the desert to make the stale water in the cooler refreshing. MacGyver used his bandana to wipe the sweat from his forehead and cheeks as he looked over the scene. Swarms of people carried building materials back and forth like ants, and the structures grew with every hammer strike. The school had just been completed, two weeks ahead of schedule. He hoped Sam would have a chance to fly out for the dedication. They were working on a community education facility next, where classes ranging from Languages to Finance would be provided for the adults. This place, this complex, was amazing. To see it rise out of the empty land so quickly, the white walls of the buildings shining like the beacons of hope they were, made MacGyver's heart thrill with happiness.
The project coordinator sauntered over to him, tugging her long dark braid free of her collar as she walked. She accepted the cup of water MacGyver held out to her with a grateful nod, and drained it in two gulps. "Thank you again for being here, Mac."
He wondered if he'd ever grow accustomed to hearing her sultry accent. "My pleasure; and thank you for letting me help!"
"These people are eager for a new start, and so grateful for this opportunity. To have escaped such horrors to come here and find peace… many still cannot believe it!"
Mac grinned. "I'm still surprised they wanted to settle here!"
She reached out and wiped away sand that had accumulated on MacGyver's cheek. "I grew up in a place like this, as they did. This is what we know."
The children playing in the school yard let out yells of delight as they began a new game, and both of them smiled. "I hope peace is what these kids'll know as they grow up here," Mac offered.
"We gave them a good start," she agreed. They watched the scene for a few more moments before she turned back to him, her beautiful face looking troubled. "Mac, I still think it was a mistake to send that letter to…" She broke off, her fingers toying with the zipper on the side of her cargo pants.
"I have a confession," Mac started slowly. "I know you didn't want to be found, Zee. I had my lab at the Foundation go over that letter for any trace of forensic evidence that might point to where you are now. I know Abby's good, but so are my people. I'm sorry to frustrate Gibbs and the others, but they're not going to be able to track you down."
She gazed at him with appreciation. "I hope, when my work is done, that I can go back to them and explain… and explain everything. I just hope, in the meantime, that they don't forget me."
Mac rested a friendly hand on her elbow and reassured, "They'll never forget you!"
-fin-
Thank you so much for reading this, and for those of you who reviewed, thank you extra! (especially DS2010, ladyaloysius, and Sue! You guys made my day!)
Stay tuned for the next adventure of the Unforgettable Friends series... Coming soon!