Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
A.N.: Thank you to Huddly, HesMines, Mrs. Elizabeth Gibbs, babyred1995, MissJayne, black widow mistress, Romantic Southerner and MissOrlane for reviewing!
Gibbs led the way to Jenny's office, resisting the urge to place his hand on Hollis' lower back as he escorted her in, a motion that Jenny would no doubt see. He couldn't help but want to see the fire in Jenny's eyes when he showed Hollis off, it just made him believe for a few moments that she cared for him, though she was more than likely just bitter. The job she had didn't leave much time for personal pursuits and he knew that she was a tactile, sensual woman. Being cooped up for months in MTAC and meeting with stuffy politicians would be driving her mad and he was just glad that she was nowhere near desperate enough to date any of them seriously.
He pushed Jenny's door open unannounced and stood in front of her desk, Hollis following closely behind and throwing an apologetic smile at Cynthia. The ever patient assistant merely apologised to Jenny and then closed the door, hoping that one or both of them got reamed out for being so disrespectful of her position. Jenny glanced up at them and then proceeded to ignore them for a few moments, instead concentrating on the email she was writing. Upon completing it she took off her glasses and placed them on her desk. She looked straight at Hollis, for once ignoring Gibbs.
"Colonel Mann, what brings you to NCIS?"
"Director Shepard, my Director has sent me here to officially accept… this Agency's… request of aid in an investigation. He has tried to contact you many times but you were not in." She wasn't sure how Jenny would react to what she was saying, so she thought it better to say 'Agency' than 'your request', since it was Gibbs that had asked her. Jenny's eyes registered her surprise that Hollis was here for an investigation, and she turned her gaze to Gibbs.
"Well, I'm sure that Agent Gibbs was so impressed with your… prowess… during the last case that he momentarily forgot to run that by me." Gibbs smirked at her double entendre, but Hollis felt a stab of disappointment. Here we go again, just like last time. It was in this moment that Hollis decided she would never carry on what she and Jethro had started. He just couldn't seem to help himself when he was around Jenny, everything he did seemed to be a shout for her attention and Hollis could see the strain it was putting her under. She was hurt that he had gone over her head to ask for help, and even more annoyed that it had been his one time lover he had asked.
Hollis didn't like to mix business with pleasure, that was why she had never indulged in a relationship with any of her admirers at Army CID, and this incident just solidified that in her mind. She needed to romance a civilian, someone who would be there for her emotionally and physically when she got home from work. Jethro was not that man, and she found she wasn't that sorry to see him go. He had crossed a line by doing this to her.
"When it became clear the investigation was going to be bigger than originally envisioned, I requested help. I thought you wanted to improve relations with other Agencies." Jethro said almost smugly, enjoying the sudden flash in Jenny's eyes.
"I always want relations with others to be as good as we can make them, that cannot be achieved if I don't even know they are involved, Agent Gibbs." She replied, her anger masked by her sweet 'I'm right, so get used to it' tone of voice. Hollis ducked her head and smiled a little. She enjoyed listening to their banter, there was something engaging in it, though she didn't like being the cause of it, or the excuse for it.
"You were busy, as Colonel Mann just said; even her Director couldn't get through to you." Jethro pointed out, quite rightly, and Jenny sat forward in her chair, ready for the fight.
"Yet you are in the same building as me, and you still can't find the time to tell me? Or better yet, tell Cynthia?" she said, equally as right about the situation, but neither just giving up and admitting they could both have done more to keep the case running smoothly.
"I wanted this wrapped up as soon as possible." He replied and Jenny almost scoffed, but controlled herself just in time, not wanting Hollis to see her lose control, which she thought must be Jethro's plan; embarrass the ex to put the current at ease. Well she wasn't falling for it.
"Your excuses are so thin, Jethro, I wonder why you even bother giving them." she said rather smartly and his eyes betrayed his enjoyment of their conversation, even though they were both getting annoyed with each other.
"If you would rather that my team checks out one hundred and forty seven houses on their own, I'm sure Army CID wouldn't mind pulling their resources. Emily will most likely be dead before we find her though." Hollis winced at the low blow and then carefully schooled her expression, waiting for the outburst.
"If you think I am unaware of the stakes in this case, Agent Gibbs, you are sadly mistaken. I have not expressed any dissatisfaction with Army CID's involvement, merely your silence on the matter when it should have been brought to my attention first." Her eyes burned into him and the part of him that enjoyed her anger was thrilled with her fire, the other part was annoyed that he was here arguing with her when he could be helping his friend to find his young daughter before it was too late. "Colonel Mann, I will call your Director after this meeting, I am glad that it was you who came in answer of this request. You have shown that you take your work seriously and professionally…" she glared at Gibbs and then turned her attention back to Hollis. "… and that you can handle Gibbs, which is definitely a necessity. I look forward to the conclusion of this case, which with your Agencies help, has a much higher probability of success."
"Thank you Director." Hollis said, taking that as her dismissal and turning to the door. Jethro followed her out and Cynthia glared at him, annoyed with his constant disrespect, which he thought he was showing to Jenny, but really it was her who took it to heart. It was her job to allow people through to the Director's office, it was her job to see to it that she wasn't disturbed, but every time he barged past her, it showed she couldn't do her job properly. She was just thankful that Jenny understood how difficult Gibbs could be; otherwise she would have been sacked by now.
Tobias couldn't wait any longer; he needed to be out there looking for Emily. The house filtering process was lengthy and boring, but necessary, though right now he had no patience. Who knew what could be happening to his daughter right now? He winced, he did; he knew everything that the monster could be doing to her. His little angel was in such terrible danger, and all he could do was sit in a room and stare at a computer screen while she was terrified and alone. He clenched his fists and stood, picking up the list of houses and fully intending to go out and check them himself, but he was cut off by Gibbs just as he reached the elevator.
"Where do you think you are going Tobias?" Gibbs asked him angrily, putting his hand in front of him to stop him from calling the elevator. Fornell let out a harsh breath and furiously glared at Gibbs.
"I'm leaving to look for my daughter." He ground out, clenching his jaw at the self confident look on Gibbs' face. Did he think he could stop him? This was Emily they were talking about; nothing would stop him from tearing the entire city apart to find her.
"No you aren't." Gibbs said quietly, trying not to attract the attention of any other teams. This was one case he didn't want anyone else's opinion on. Fornell grew even more furious at his supposed 'friends' interference.
"You can't keep me from the search, Gibbs!" Gibbs grabbed Fornell by the arm and pulled him around the squad room until they were around the corner of the steps, away from prying eyes and ears. Gibbs pushed him roughly into the corner and trapped him against the wall, so he couldn't leave without hearing him out.
"What do you think he will do to Emily if he makes you? He knew where to hurt you Tobias, he knows what you look like, and if you join the search he will recognise you. Emily will suffer if he does." Tobias shook his head, he didn't want to hear this, it was exactly why he needed to find her, to save her, but he had a point.
"Then what do you suggest? That I stay here and do nothing?" he shouted, not quite believing that his friend could suggest something so cruel.
"You are not going to be doing nothing! You have set us on the right track to finding your little girl and with your help, we will. You just need to get more involved in what is going on here; organise relief aid for Emily and any other children he could have in his house when we find him. Go through your methodology more thoroughly, see if there is anything that can help us." Fornell still seemed torn, though and he vacillated on whether he should do as Gibbs said, or not. "Trust me Tobias; I will put all of my energy into finding Emily, as I would do if she were my own daughter, I promise you." Fornell nodded, how could he argue with that?
Gibbs watched his friend walk back to his desk and he felt the hot prick of tears behind his own eyes. Images of his own young daughter filled his mind and he closed them against the pain. He hadn't been able to do anything to save Kelly, but he could and would do everything in his power to find Emily and shield his friend from the pain he felt every day. He walked behind Tobias, back to the bullpen and approached Hollis.
"Any word from your people? We need to know which houses are not under suspicion, as well as the ones that are." Hollis nodded and produced a list from her pocket, handing it to him.
"My people have already started to send back reports on each house, including who is living there just in case." She said and he looked it over, nodding. He walked over to Tony and put the paper on his desk.
"Cross these houses off the list DiNozzo, and then start coordinating with CID to have them checking the ones that have only just been moved into first. We need ever advantage in this case."
"Yes boss."
"And what case is that Agent Gibbs?" a voice said behind him, and he turned around slowly, making a show of how unsurprised he was. Two men stood behind him, both FBI Agents, and they didn't look very happy to see Tobias and Sacks in the squad room. The two men picked up the paper that Gibbs had just placed on Tony's desk and looked it over. Ziva and McGee took the opportunity of their backs being turned to clear up the case notes and pass them to the Agents over the wall from them. Those Agents then passed the evidence and notes to Agent Taylor, who found a very good reason to visit Director Shepard.
"Where do you think you are going Agent…?" one of the FBI Agents said, stopping Taylor in his tracks. The Agent began to look through the pile of papers that he was holding, but was stopped by Taylor's voice.
"Agent Brian Taylor and I'm going to my Director's office to deliver the evidence on the case I am working on. The one to do with 'Ares'. She will not be happy if the FBI hinders this investigation, or involves itself with any of the evidence." The two men stepped away, both knowing they had no authority over Ares, and allowed him to continue. "Thank you. It's nice to know our Agencies really can cooperate with one another." Taylor said caustically and then he made his way up the stairs, pausing only to catch Gibbs' eye. The evidence was safe; for now.