Disclaimer: In the first chapter along with summary, genre, verse, pairings and ratings.
Ziva and McGee stood silently watching their suspect sit, unmoving in the interrogation room.
"She is too calm." Ziva stated trying to understand the woman on the other side of the glass window. She was intriguing in Ziva's mind because unlike many other female suspects she hadn't moved once. Eleni just sat in her seat, the movement of her eyelids being the only indication of life. She was a mystery that Ziva could not wait to solve.
"Is it just me or does she remind you of someone? I mean, the cool, calm exterior making her completely unpredictable…" McGee said calculating Eleni through the one-way window.
"Interesting." McGee jumped not expecting anyone to be behind him, especially Ducky.
"Ducky! Jeez, you almost gave me a heart attack."
"Nonsense my boy… My, she is quite beautiful."
"Oh my God, I know right!" exclaimed Abby, walking into the observation room, followed by Jimmy Palmer. "You didn't see a photo of her before Ducky?"
"Fortunately I hadn't." He smiled.
"Fortunately Doctor?" Questioned Palmer.
"Yes, you see with a photograph I would be seeing only what the person inside the photo wanted me to see; the perfect smile, coiffed hair, rosy lips. But here, in person, you see her without the pose, in a more realistic three-dimensional beauty. With her photo I may have just inquired that she was very lovely, but in person I am in complete awe." Ducky said staring at the young woman in the opposite room. With Eleni's Italian origins and relations to Tony, ducky had not expected this. She resembled what he could only assume the Greek Goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite, would look like; frenzied light brown locks reaching just below her pale slender shoulders, hazel eyes that, Ducky believed, many men have gotten lost inside and full, pale-pink lips. Ah, if only to be young again.
"That is a rather… interesting concept, Ducky… Mind me asking what the three of you are doing here?" Ziva questioned.
"Are you kidding me?" Abby said turning towards Ziva shocked that the ex-Mossad Officer even had to ask. "We wouldn't miss this for anything!"
McGee laughed at Abby's answer, obviously he and Ziva weren't the only ones interested in the enigma that is Eleni LoGreco. Turning back towards the glass window McGee studied their still suspect. She was unusually calm… "You're right Ziva… She does look a little too calm. You think she's going to lawyer up?"
"No." Abby said before Ziva could answer. "She's too smart for that."
"How do you know that?" McGee asked doubtfully.
Abby couldn't place her finger on it yet, but Eleni reminded her of someone. The way she sat in her seat firmly, staring at the one-way mirror as if she knew there were people on the other side sizing her up. It was very familiar. Eleni was oozing confidence and control just like, "well, is it just me or is she giving off some serious Gibbs vibes to you guys?"
Silence feel over the group as they all turned towards Tony's cousin. Shocked that Abby had hit a bull's eye; so far Eleni seemed like the female version of Gibbs… Creepy, they all thought, unknown that anyone else had the same idea.
"She certainly is a puzzle. One that none of us could yet predict much less solve." Ducky said moving closer to the window divider.
"Jimmy probably can." Mumbled McGee still agitated that the autopsy gremlin had known about Eleni and he hadn't.
Palmer froze at McGee's words, eyes widening in horror as Ziva and Ducky gaped at him. Realizing that it was going to be easier to tell the truth then when he told Abby and McGee because not only was he going against a man who studied human psychology, but also he was going to have to resist a trained assassin. Ziva's dark brown eyes glared daggers at Palmer, "What does McGee mean 'Palmer probably can', Jimmy?"
He shifted nervously, "Uh, I… He means, I– You see… I–"
"Ugh, it means Jimmy knew about Eleni. Tony apparently told him about her. Jimmy gave us a really weird excuse, which, by the way I still don't understand. I mean, when were we not there? We were–"
Abby was cut off as Ziva shoved Palmer against the window over looking the women in question, pressing her forearm over Palmer's throat. "Why did Tony not tell us about Eleni, but told you!" She demanded.
Jimmy was in shock; he hadn't expected Ziva to escalate to such physical violent measures to get the truth out of him. He tried struggling away from her, but once he realized that Ziva wasn't going to let go of her hold even as his other three companions tried to ease her away from him, Jimmy began to answer her question frantically. "It was a long t–time ago and T–Tony was feeling really bad, uh, it was most probably one of his darkest moments in life, s–so he confided in the only person who was there for him; m–me. I swear I don't know a lot about her! H–he only talked about her twice with me before and it wasn't much! I–I–I swear Ziva. P–please, please don't hurt me." He said quivering in front of her piercing glare.
Finally giving into the other's hysterical protests, Ziva let go of Jimmy, taking a few steps away from him without breaking eye contact. When Abby said that Jimmy knew about Eleni and Tony had told him about her, Ziva, for a lack of a better term, 'lost it'. Her initial unknown questions of why he hadn't told her resurfacing at the prospect of Tony telling someone else, someone she believed to be less of friend and more of an acquaintance, instead of her. Then only after Jimmy's explanation, when he had started to beg did she realize their position. She was so fueled by rage she hadn't even realized that she had Jimmy pinned against the one-way mirror. However now… now she only felt hurt. Why would Tony tell him? When had they not been there for him? Ziva looked away, so Jimmy would not see the sorrow fill her eyes, "when?"
"P–pardon me?" Questioned Jimmy, confused at the sudden mood change and still internally trembling by her aggressiveness.
Finally looking back up she saw the questioning gazes of all her colleagues. "You said it was one of his darkest moments and you apparently were the only one there for him. When did he tell you?"
Understanding what Ziva was asking, Jimmy looked down at his hands that had started to pull on his shirt. He noticed that it was not only Ziva, but also everyone else in Observation that wanted to know when Tony had been, well, alone. However, Jimmy knew he couldn't betray Tony's trust and if that meant being physically attacked by a trained killer, well then he was just going to have to deal with it. "I'm sorry Ziva, guys, but… I can't –won't– tell you when."
Silence fell between them, questions of 'why' echoing inside their minds. Until it was Ducky who finally vocalized their thoughts, "Why not Mr. Palmer? We are all here for Anthony, none of us would think any less of him."
"I'm sorry Dr. Mallard, but…" He let out an exacerbated breath, "Tony told me these things in his time of desperation, things that other's shouldn't know unless he himself chooses to tell. And from the brief stories he's told me about Eleni… Well, I really wouldn't feel comfortable disclosing that information." He added with a hint of dread.
"Well whatever you're not telling us, we might find out now. Looks like Gibbs and Tony are ready to start the interrogation." Stated McGee looking away from the assistant medical examiner and into the interrogation room that was now filled by three.
Eleni wasn't sure what was happening, why did the "police" come and pick her up and whywas Tony with them? She had been sitting in the interrogation for what she could only assume –considering the guards took her watch– was twenty minutes. It had given her time to reflect on what had happened when she first saw Tony. She had to agree; she probably did over react by kicking him in the groin when he said her name, but she knew without a doubt that if she hadn't done that she probably would have done something just as sinister. Running into his arms, smiles and laughter gracing her lips would have been like hiding all the hurt and torment she went through after he… left? She still didn't know what she'd done to make him disappear from her life and it angered her. He had been her best friend, trusted confidant and, aside from her grandparents, the only family member she loved. Now he was just a bastard, guess he's trying to live up to the Paddington/DiNozzo name. She scoffed at the thought.
Bang! Eleni jumped when she heard a disturbance on the other side of the mirror, assuming there was some sort of tussle happening in the other room. She didn't understand why Tony and the older man had brought her here, wherever here was. When she had first heard the banging on her house's door she had immediately moved to the back exit believing her ex-boss was finally making his move on her. She hadn't expected, for what she believed to be, the good cops to be picking her up. And for what, she had no idea. It has been years since she'd been in trouble, so her most resent pick up was puzzling.
Hearing the door to her left opening, Eleni turned her attention from the one-way mirror to her new companions: Tony and the white haired man who'd cuffed her. He looks older, more mature. Handsome, she mused as she looked at Tony. God, did she miss him. Looking at his hazel green eyes her anger at her current situation instantly softened.
He had always brought out the best in her. Even though she had only seen him for three months in a year when she was younger he always made her laugh and forget about the hatred she carried towards the world… but then he'd left. Left her to deal with a world she could only describe as monstrous. People stealing, cheating, murdering, deceiving and generally hurting one another was what she had to grow up with. Growing up in a world where love was only in her dreams. Tony had probably thought he was leaving her in the good hands of her loving grandparents, but if he'd bothered to answer his phone he would have known that they died at the hands of a drunken idiot driver only four months after his disappearance from her life. Don't think of them Eleni. It will only make you sad and Tony doesn't need to see you as weak, she mentally argued. Figuring she couldn't do the interrogation with Tony in the room without falling apart, Eleni hardened her facial features, looking away from Tony and boldly at his elder colleague.
Gibbs and Tony sat on the opposite side of the interrogation table, looking at their apprehended suspect. She looked relaxed, calm, as if she knew something they didn't. It innerved Gibbs. She had a determination that he'd seen in himself many times before, in his senior field Agent and a few times in his other colleagues. Damn, this isn't going to be easy. "Miss LoGreco, do you know why you're here?"
"Eleni, please. LoGreco is my family name and I would prefer no association with it." She said without looking to see Tony's reaction because if she had she would have seen confusion cross his striking eyes.
"Miss LoGreco." Gibbs said a little harsher. Slowly continuing, "Do you. Know why. You're here?"
Bastard, she thought. "Well Mr.– I'm sorry I didn't catch your name." She said intimately.
"Agent Gibbs." He growled.
"Well Mr. Gibbs I would be glad to answer any questions you have for me, but I will not so long as Mr. DiNozzo is in the room." She said briefly looking at the face of one very confused and hurt Tony.
"My interrogation, my rules." Answered Gibbs, practically amused that she thought she had the upper hand.
"My rights, your answers." She countered.
"Elenitsa–"
Her hand slamming in a Gibbs-like gesture against the metal table cut off Tony, silencing him as she stared unblinking at his boss. "Mr. Gibbs if you don't remove your friend then I will be out of here before you have a chance to even look bewildered."
"Agent." He corrected growing angrier by her persistence. "And I highly doubt that."
Eleni let out a quick burst of laughter, "Oh yeah? I wonder how your superior will feel when he finds out you arrested a civilian and had yet to read her the Miranda rights."
Gibbs was speechless, he couldn't have possibly forgot to read her the– Damn Tony and his constant danger! He swore, realizing that because of Tony's state of injury he'd completely forgot to do the one thing he never forgot to do. Damn, she was good and if it weren't for their particular situation Gibbs would have been in complete awe with Eleni, instead of frustrated. "Tony leave." He said without looking away from the petit brunette across from him.
"Boss–" Tony started, unbelieving that Gibbs was actually making him leave the interrogation of his baby cousin.
"Now." Gibbs said, leaving no room for an argument.
With a huff Tony got up and stepped out of the room, only letting the hurt grace his face when he was in the hallway, completely alone.
Stepping into the observation room Tony was shocked to see the sympathetic faces of not only Ziva and McGee, but also Ducky, Abby and Palmer. He knew they were all thinking 'poor Tony', but for once he didn't want their sympathy. He didn't want anything from them. He just wanted them to have not seen his "interaction" with his cousin. He wanted his current situation to have never happened.
Jimmy walked towards Tony, deciding to be the first to break the uncomfortable silence the eldest Agent was most defiantly feeling. "I doubt she meant anything by it Tony. I mean she's probably just in shock. Give her some time and you'll see, she'll be begging to see you."
Tony snorted at the prospect of Eleni begging, "yeah, some how I really doubt that, Jimmy. I mean look at her!" He said waving his arms at the glass window overlooking the room he had recently been kicked out of. "She's freakin' staring Gibbs down. How many of you've done that? If she's able to do that… She's able to snub me." Hurt evident in his voice.
Tony's five companions in observation just watched. Never had Tony sounded so wounded and in front of them all. Ziva was about to speak when they all turned at the finalization of Gibbs' voice, "Now that we have the Miranda rights cleared, do you know why you're here?"
Eleni thought over Agent Gibbs' question, does she really know why she's here? No! "I can honestly tell you no I do not."
"You fled from government officials during an ongoing murder investigation." Clarified Gibbs
"That's only because I thought you were someone else."
"We stated out Agencies initials."
Eleni scoffed, "yeah… What was it again, NCYS? It may sound legit to you, but to a fleeing civilian it just sounds like bad news."
"NCIS," Gibbs corrected, "who were you running from?"
Eleni looked at the older Agent quizzically, he had yet to tell her what her interrogation was about and she was not going to give him any more information without knowing the details. "What's this about?"
"Lance Corporal Jim Damacos. Know him?" Gibbs said while opening up a brown folder, looking at its inside contents.
"Uh, yeah. We're… we're friends. Is he in some sort of trouble?"
Pulling out a photo from the folder Gibbs placed it on the table, "you could say that." He tapped on the colored photo, indicating for Eleni to look at it, "he's dead."
Eleni opened her mouth to protest, but when she looked down at the photo all her objections died on her lips. There was no mistaking it was Jim. The photo Agent Gibbs had placed in front of her was of Jim's decapitated head; his eyes shut and mouth agape. The sight should have terrified her and although it was one of the most gruesome sights she's seen, it was just a photo. She had seen tragedies, such as Jim's, in reality, so her reaction to this photo didn't frighten her. No, it angered her. Why would anyone go aft– She cut off her musing when she saw the next row of photos Agent Gibbs lay out in front of her. "May I?" She asked.
Gibbs nodded his approval in letting her take a closer look at the photos. He was surprised; he reaction to her friend's decapitated head was… different. Usually suspects would gag, throw up, cry or even let out a low gasp. Studying her every reaction he noted that Eleni did none of it. She stared at the photos unmoving as if she had seen it so many times before that photo's such as the Corporal's didn't faze her. He was starting to think that she had the personality of a psychopath; showing no sign of remorse, but then she let out a gasp. "I have to leave." Hurryingly pushing her seat away from the metal table.
"Sit down!" Gibbs said ruthlessly.
"You don't understand… I have to leave." Practically begging, Eleni looked all around the interrogation room as if a human predator was watching her every move and she was trying to locate where they were.
"Miss LoGreco, you are being investigated for the murder of Lance Corporal Jim Damacos. You don't leave until I tell you to leave."
"You think I did this!" She shrieked throwing the photo she'd picked up in Gibbs Direction.
Gibbs took the photo from its landing place, looking down, trying to find the piece of evidence that frightened his suspect. Not finding anything Gibbs slowly pushed up in a standing position, staring her down defiantly. "Until you prove yourself innocent, you're guilty."
"You do know it's; innocent until proven guilty, right?" She countered, leveling herself to be at as much an equal height she could get with the taller man.
"Not in your case."
"Mr. Gibbs–"
"Agent." He growled threateningly.
"Eleni." She responded.
Gibbs let out a low growl. He had to hand it to her, she was more determined than a lot of people he knew, she even went against him. Rarely had anyone done that and when they did there was always their underlying sense of dread at the prospect of what Gibbs would do after they stated their argument. She, on the other hand, didn't look frightened about her consequences. With a huff Gibbs settled, "fine, Eleni."
"Finally!" She exhaled, "Look Agent Gibbs; I didn't –couldn't– murder Jim. He and I… we're… It's hard to explain." She said, trying to explain hers and Jim's relationship.
"You're his lover."
Eleni choked on her saliva, her and Jim were many things, but lovers? They hadn't been lovers in years. "What? God no! I mean, we were back in high school, but he's married. And even with his rough patches with Loraine I would never try to get in between someone's marriage."
Sincerity, it's what Gibbs could only describe as the emotion displayed in her eyes. "Were you aware of Lance Corporal Damacos' affair with a Mrs. Natasha Summers?"
Eleni let out a pained breath, "yes. I told him that he shouldn't be leaving Loraine alone, but ah… I don't know; some men enjoy being ass-holes." She flickered her eyes at the mirror behind the grey haired Agent, no longer only talking about Jim. "Can I go now?" She asked desperately.
"No." Gibbs deadpanned, bringing Eleni's attention back to the reason she was in an interrogation room. "Where were you on July 17th between Oh-Nine-hundred and nineteen-hundred?"
"Uh… I was at a meeting." She said after figuring out what nineteen hundred meant: seven in the afternoon.
"What meeting?"
"A meeting with lots of witnesses." She said, hoping her weak elaboration would coax Agent Gibbs into letting her go.
No such luck. "Where?"
"Uh… I… I–" She stuttered before being silenced by Gibbs palm slamming against the table making her jump.
"Try again! This time, don't try giving me some pathetic excuse." Gibbs was getting impatient. She was building her own burial hole and although Gibbs didn't mind, he wanted her to quicken her process.
"Y–You can't talk to me that way." She sputtered.
"No? Just 'cause you have a relationship with one of my Agents doesn't mean I'll treat you any different from any other suspect." Gibbs stated, making it clear to her that she was getting no more special treatment from him. "Where. Were you? On July 17th?"
"I really was at a meeting…" She said averting her eyes from his penetrating sea-like one's.
"Yeah? And I'm just supposed to believe that without any physical evidence? Try. Again. Before I arrest you for the murder of Lance Corporal Damacos."
Eleni sighed, knowing when she was defeated. It was her moment of truth… Well, one of her moments. She really didn't want to tell this virtual stranger where she was, but more so she didn't want Tony to know where she was. Tony was a government agent; he'd done well with his life. He didn't need to know about her messed up one. Moreover, she didn't want him to know. He gave up the right to know about her personal life when he disappeared, her business was no longer his. But Agent Gibbs, whom she assumed was Tony's boss, was making it increasingly difficult to hide her repulsive life. "I was, uh, I was at an, uh, an anonymous meeting, for, ah…" Her hands were damp, she was stuttering her words and she legs were shaking. God! Just get on with it! "For recovering drug addicts." She dropped her head after her revelation, choosing instead to wipe her clammy hands against her shirt slowly. She'd all ready seen hundreds of people's disappointed and judging looks, she didn't need one from a federal agent.
Gibbs' feature's hardened –the only indication that he'd heard her– at her confession. He never liked to feel sympathetic towards drug addicts, mainly because they chose do commit the offense, but there was something about Eleni that melted his heart. Twenty-eight years old or not, she looked no older than Kelly did the last time Gibbs had seen her tear filled eyes. Clearing his throat and shaking his head in an attempt to get ride of the painful memories of his dead daughter; Gibbs got the attention from Eleni back. "People there will be able to identify you at the anonymous meeting?"
Eleni chuckled; people really didn't understand anonymous meetings. "Just 'cause we don't tell each other our names doesn't mean we can't pick out the regulars from the irregulars. The meeting started at nine and ended at eleven. And if you must know, after the meeting I went out for an early date with my sponsor that lasted two nights. His name's Greg Kadakis, phone number is 202-778-2098."
Briefly turning away from Eleni, Gibbs looked at the one-way mirror, giving McGee a silent command to call Mr. Kadakis and get his statement. "How long have you been in this program?"
"I really don't see how that's any of your business." The petit brunette said, crossing her arms over her chest warningly.
"All right, let's try a more direct question. Was Lance Corporal Damacos paying for your recovery?"
Eleni's breath caught. No one was supposed to know that Jim had paid for her recovery; if they had then he would be… dead. Shit! After seeing the photos of Jim's dead body, Eleni had brushed off the little warning symbol that indicated Jim was murdered because of her, but now they were confirmed. "Uh, no. You don't pay for anonymous meetings… You sort of just go into them." She said, hoping the Agent was bluffing about Jim's payments into her private bank account.
Taking another document out of the folder, Gibbs placed Eleni's and inadvertently Natasha's –actually Jim's– bank records on the metal table. "Why were you receiving fifteen thousand dollars every second week from Lance Corporal Damacos?"
"How did you know about that…?"
"We're good." He stated simply. "What was he paying you for?"
"He wasn't paying me for anything… He was, uhm… O.K. you have to understand, Jim and I knew each other for fourteen years. We dated for a while and even though we broke up we still cared about each other, a lot. I was going through some serious shit about two years ago and he… Well he insisted on helping me. The money he was giving me wasn't for the anonymous meetings, but for a– a rehab center I went to before being released… four months ago."
"Why was he helping you inconspicuously?"
"Uh, the… The 'serious shit' I was referring to before, uh, well it required a certain amount of confidentiality." She said, revealing only a fraction of the truth.
"What–" Gibbs was cut off by the light knock on the interrogation room's door. McGee opened the door wide enough for Eleni to fully see their new companion.
"Mr. Kadakis vouched for Miss. LoGreco–"
"Eleni." She smiled.
"Eleni, sorry." McGee blushing, "uh, yeah. She has an alibi for the 17th, boss."
Usually Gibbs hated when people interrupted his interrogations, but the new information was uplifting. He now had a new angle to get the truth out of Eleni. "Thanks McGee."
Before McGee could leave the room Eleni called out to him. "Agent McGee! Please wait there one moment." She said before lifting herself up from her chair and looking back at Gibbs. "I believe I have answered enough questions Agent Gibbs. I can honestly tell you I have no idea what association killed Jim, but I do hope you find the bastards. Now, unless you want me to lawyer-up I would very much appreciate it if your Agent McGee could bring me home, considering I had a… lift here."
McGee was speechless. Eleni had just insisted that Gibbs let her leave. Had anyone ever done that? He thought skeptically. The two were having a threatening stare down, while McGee just gaped; astonished by the fierceness of Tony's cousin.
"McGee." Gibbs barked, snapping the younger Agent out of his state of shock. "Take Miss LoGreco back to her house." Gibbs said looking away from the Italian and to his junior Agent.
McGee stared at Gibbs, unsure if he should obey. But at Gibbs' soft commanding nod McGee quickly complied. "Uh, if you'll follow me Miss LoG– Eleni, we'll head down to the service cars and I'll bring you home."
"Thank you Agent McGee. Mr. Gibbs." She said with a farewell nod. With one final look at the mirror behind the older Agent Eleni turned and followed in the direction of Agent McGee.
What the hell just happened? Gibbs thought as the door to interrogation closed after Eleni and McGee's departure. Gibbs was about to start a fresh new line of questions when she'd lawyer-up. He'd honestly thought he'd had her; another challenge he thought he'd won. But she proved to be tough, not willing to lose a battle until the very end. And she had won this one…
While picking up the photos and documents askew on the table, a small smile twitched against Gibbs' lips. Their next meeting should be very intriguing.
Author's Note:
Hola fellow followers, so what do y'all think? It may seem like a short interrogation, but aren't they all on CBS? Was the interrogation a little out of Gibbs' character? I had a little difficulty doing his part because... Well, it's Gibbs and he's sort of a treasure, inside of an enigma, placed in a sealed box that is wrapped like a present.
Remember how in my previous chapter I said this was going to POSSIBLY be Eleni and Tony's first real talk. Well, I was making it so he was the one doing the interrogation, but I couldn't really go anywhere with it. So I made this instead. Does it suffice?
I wanted you all to know that I have pre-pre mid terms coming this week and next so I might be a little late in the next update. (I know, why the HELL would they make up something call 'pre-pre mid terms'? psycho's, much?) But do you guys feel spoiled? I feel like you're spoiled. I mean a new chapter practically every fourth day and they keep getting longer! It's like a double-whammy. Hopefully I am not disappointing.
Any pointers for other character's or ideas for the following chapters are always welcomed. I wouldn't mind thinking over your suggestions and MAYBE adding them into my story.
Comment, question, critique.