Painting the Roses Red
That evening Lainy opened the oven to check on the casserole she had made for dinner. It smelled very good, just enough garlic. She slipped the biscuits in onto the top rack. She was concerned that Jethro was pushing so hard on Ivy's case he would relapse. He had slept for a half hour after they had made love and showered.
She hadn't been happy when he told her on arising that he was going to contact Tim and Tony. She had gone into the kitchen and began cooking everything she could think of. It was one way she coped with stress.
Jethro was in their office talking with McGee and Tony on the computer. McGee had found evidence that Watson had indeed been staying with Ivy at her apartment. There had been a doubling in Ivy's grocery bills, power use. A definite increase in cash withdrawals, savings deficits.
Tony had spoke with Mrs. Walker who reported that there was a dark haired man staying with Ivy. She says that she never saw him "do a damn thing" to help Ivy, "even with the groceries". She had no use for him and found him to be arrogant, borderline abusive to Ivy in front of her, and she tried to talk Ivy into throwing him out. She had made up her mind to evict Ivy because "there was always traffic coming and going all night long". The apartment was rented on a month to month basis so there shouldn't have been a problem but she was afraid of Watson.
"Ok DiNozzo. Thanks. Not sure where we can go from here yet. I'll let you know. Thanks McGee."
"You got it Boss. I'll let you know if I come up with anything." Tony said.
"Me too Boss. Bye." And they were gone. Gibbs sat there and sighed, rubbed his face. He lifted his head when he heard Lainy call him. Something different in her voice. He stood quickly to go to her and stopped to grip the doorway as the room tilted. Lainy was there suddenly and took him into her arms.
"You still have a fractured skull dear one." She murmured tucking herself under his arms. "Even without a spirit it has an effect. Move more carefully OK?"
"Yeah." He whispered, eyes closed and leaning on her until the spinning stopped. "Are you OK? Your voice…"
"Dinners ready. I wanted to ask if you boys were done. I guess so seeing as you were coming out."
"Your voice was strange, wrong…" Gibbs said and sought Lainy's eyes for reassurance of her well being. She smiled briefly at him, alarmed that he was still ill enough to be dizzy and nearly fall.
"My voice? I didn't call you Darling…" They were in the hall moving toward the living room.
"I heard you say my name, but it sounded far away… Maybe It was because I was getting a little tired again and pushing it."
"I know you were pushing it Love. But I've never been able to control that aspect of you." Lainy was smiling and shaking her head in a self deprecating manner.
"Oh yeah? And there's some aspect of me you do control?" Gibbs said with eyebrows raised. They were hand and hand now and walked toward the dining room. He pulled her into his arms suddenly and kissed her.
"Guess the dizziness is gone eh?" She said to him with a smile. "Come on let's get you fed. I'm starving myself."
He smiled back and looked to the dining room where the light was on and candles were lit. The wind still blew and occasionally they heard sleet as well as the fine powder against the French doors. The drifts were half way up.
"This is great Honey. It smells terrific." He felt his stomach grumble. He was hungry too he realized.
"I'll grab the biscuits from the warmer." She moved to the kitchen. Jethro sat down.
"A glass of wine would be good with this." He murmured.
"Not with your medicine and head injury." She said without even any forethought. He sighed.
"Ok." He smiled up at her while she placed the biscuits next to him and moved the butter dish closer. He placed casserole onto her plate and gave it back. She poured him ice water from a pitcher, then herself.
"There's advantages to having a blizzard." Lainy said with a smile on her lips. She turned to him as she took a forkful of casserole.
"Really…" He drawled. "And what would that be?" He lifted a brow and gave her a smirk.
"Well, I get to have you home full time on a day other than every other weekend. And I would say I have your complete attention but that's not true. However I have enjoyed a great afternoon with you that was unexpected. I didn't expect you to recover enough for us to make love. I'm more than pleased kind Sir." She lilted in her Irish brogue. She gave him a little smile through her eyelashes in a shy manner.
He grinned then. "I love you little Minx. You know that."
"I do but it's still good to hear it. Eat up you need your strength. And remember I'm a wench not a Minx."
"Ok." Still grinning he dove into his plate and biscuit.
They had finished and a half eaten piece of blueberry pie was on his plate.
He had just leaned into her for a kiss when the room became incredibly cold. Startled he turned to look for an open door when Lainy gripped his arm.
"We have company." She said quietly. Looking back he saw Ivy step forward out of a reddish light.
"I didn't expect you to come back." Gibbs said quietly.
"I didn't expect to." She said in an equally quiet voice. "But I still can't do this alone and it needs to be done. There are too many bodies. I realize now that all the reasons he gave me for justifying their deaths were lies. I can't go until he's done. I want to give you all I know."
She began to move toward the fireplace where the gas fire burned. She stopped and held her hands out. Looking toward them she watched as Lainy repeated what she had said. Jethro shook his head and looked right at her.
"I see her Babe. I can hear her this time too. What do you want Lainy? I'm limited in what I can do, both physically right now and with the weather like this…" He shrugged.
"You're angry enough to materialize Ivy. That takes a tremendous amount of effort and energy. You can't keep that up can you?" Lainy asked. Her hand rested in Jethro's lap. She wasn't sure what was going to happen but she knew she would protect her husband if it was within her power.
"I'll do what I have to do to get this done." Ivy began to pace. "I keep ending up here, so I guess that means I have to involve you Agent Gibbs. I think I know where Ronnie is. I went there. His light is full of dark spots. I had a lot of trouble finding it. So many lights, all the same way! I finally decided to go home, then I found myself in Florida. I was in front of an empty lot. It was where I used to live when I was little. I guess it got torn down. Finally I made it to Mrs. Walker's. I got stuck there for awhile. Ronnie wasn't there but I remembered more stuff about his big 'Plan' for us. He wanted us to go to New York. I figure he probably made it before this storm hit. His cousin Walter Smekel has a place in Brooklyn. I can't remember the address, but how many can there be? He was there! I followed his light there! You need to go get him! Now!"
She turned suddenly and then was directly in front of Gibbs, leaning over him.
Jethro leaned away from her, nearly upsetting himself in the effort. Lainy grabbed his arm and threw a hand up repelling Ivy back with her own gift.
"You are not running this Ivy. You are asking, the supplicant. Act like it!" She said angrily. "Stop forcing yourself on Jethro!"
"I hate you!" Ivy burst out. Gibbs got angry then too.
"Hey!" he shouted. "Live with it and grow up. You're dead, we're not. If you really want to end this get the address. People can't follow 'lights'. Brooklyn is a big place. Go haunt Ronnie, and I do mean haunt him. Perfect opportunity. My team will do what they can. But we're in the midst of a blizzard and the storm will head up the coast to NY if it hasn't already. You're the only one without some physical limitations. Use it!"
Ivy began to fade then to a mere circle of gray face. She stared at them with eyes that were now a mere suggestion.
"Alright. I'll do it. I'll be back when I know more…" The voice seemed to come from around him instead of the ghostly face. He shivered and frowned.
Lainy met his eyes and shook her head.
"I guess that answers the question of whether she's gone or not." Lainy muttered.
"Ya think?" Jethro said and shoved his pie away frowning.