NCIS

Let there be blood

Chapter 9

A new twist

There were so many emotions running through Brooke's veins that she began to feel dizzy as she stared at the body of the man who almost killed her. Without realizing it she began to hyperventilate and stumbled backward. Tripping over her own feet she began to fall to the floor. Tony broke the fall since she dragged him down with her unaware of the fact that she still had a strong hold on his hand.

"Brooke, take it easy." Tony instructed her gently. The sight of her this way terrified him. Gently he cradled her in his arms on the floor and tangled his fingers in her soft hair as she buried her face in his neck.

Jenny crouched down beside her agents temporarily forgetting how she was angry with Gibbs and DiNozzo for getting involved after she specifically told them not to. The Director placed a hand on Brooke's shoulder but the younger woman barely noticed having been shaken to the core.

"Is it the right man Brooke?" Jenny asked carefully.

Tony's eyes met Jenny's sympathetic gaze as he glanced over Brooke's shoulder. The anger he had been feeling earlier was now steered toward the redhead. He narrowed his eyes at her for a moment then glanced down at Brooke as she nodded in answer to Jenny's question.

"It's him." Brooke whispered weakly. She then sighed as she slowly worked on her breathing. Ultimately she was relieved that she was able to identify the victim although she was still trembling.

Jenny sighed herself as she rose to her feet and watched Tony help Brooke stand. He supported his wife's light weight by wrapping an arm around her waist and letting her lean into him.

"DiNozzo, take her home. I think we can all agree Brooke could use some rest." Gibbs ordered as he entered Autopsy. Everyone turned to look at the graying man and instantly Jenny's full lips became tight and thin signaling that she was angry.

No one had realized that Gibbs had been watching the entire situation unfold from the hallway outside of autopsy. It wasn't until now that he entered knowing it would have been a distraction to do so any sooner.

"Special Agent Gibbs you are not authorized to make such a decision." Jenny hissed as she placed both hands on her hips.

"I am more than authorized when my daughter's mental health is a concern." Gibbs growled back as he glared at Jenny.

"I'll be fine Dad." Brooke sighed as she leaned against Tony with her breathing finally back to normal and her knees not nearly as weak.

Jenny turned to look at the young agent and shook her head as her maternal instincts kicked in. It always puzzled her, the fact that she even had them but it seemed when it came to Gibbs' child she was just as concerned as he was for her. "As much as it pains me to say this Brooke I think Gibbs is right."

The others in the room looked shocked at Jenny's words and she tried to ignore their reactions to the best of her ability.

"Look, with all due respect Director I think I'll be okay, we still have an investigation to continue." Brooke replied politely.

Tony was silent but he continued to stand by Brooke not trusting her judgment. He could sense that she needed to lie down even if she thought that she would be alright sometimes she pushed herself too much.

"I would advise you to go home and get some sleep my dear." Ducky chimed in showing his own concern.

Brooke gave in and sighed heavily straightening up to her full height she ran both hands through her hair and nodded. "Okay but only because I don't want to hear it if I don't leave." She dropped her arms to her sides then caught Gibbs staring at her. She half smiled before walking over and hugging him tightly.

Everyone else in the room looked at each other before muttering phrases on why they needed to leave autopsy. Jenny, Ziva, and Fornell left the room together to meet in her office. Ducky went to the back to find Palmer and Tony went to wait by the elevator for Brooke.

Gibbs held his daughter close for the first time in three years. It felt as though it had been a lifetime. Even now it seemed too good to be true, that any minute he was going to wake up to the farm report or his cell phone ringing. As he kissed the top of his daughter's head Gibbs realized just how much he had missed her.

"I missed you Dad." Brooke told him softly her voice partially muffled by his jacket. She breathed in the scents of coffee and sawdust deeply, it had been far too long since the last time. She had almost forgotten what it was like to be his little girl.

"I missed you too." Gibbs replied as he looked down at her. They both smiled at each other for a moment longer then he sighed. "I know about Shannon, I just saw her in Abby's lab."

Brooke bit her lip but didn't let go of Gibbs just yet. "Oh…are you mad?"

Gibbs immediately shook her head and began steering her toward the doors. "No, I could never stay mad at you especially not for something like this. I'm just glad you're both okay."

Brooke was relieved to hear this coming from Gibbs. She allowed him to kiss her cheek at the exit then smiled at him again.

"I'll keep an eye on Shannon here and bring her back home later…I'm sure you and DiNozzo have a lot to catch up on. The man has really missed you sweetheart." Gibbs told her.

Brooke sighed and nodded. "Thanks Dad…I missed him too, I've missed everyone. I'll see you later then." She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek in return then left autopsy.

Gibbs watched her walk through the automatic doors and toward Tony. As much as he hated it when they first got together he couldn't help but see how compatible they truly were. This was of course after he got over the initial shock of finding out they were dating.

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Brooke approached Tony slowly unable to make eye contact with him after the way she reacted to seeing the man who made an attempt on her life three years ago. Tony said nothing as he turned to face the doors and hit the arrow on the wall to call the elevator.

Shortly after the elevator bell went off and the doors opened revealing the empty space inside. Tony stepped on first followed by his wife who was wearing a sheepish expression.

Tony pushed the button for the squad room floor needing a few things from his desk before they left headquarters. They both waited silently for the doors to close and the elevator to start moving. Tony counted to five in his head before flicking the emergency switch.

Brooke turned to him ready to ask what he was doing but before she could speak he was grabbing her by the waist and pushing her against the back wall.

A hand ran up her back and tangled into her long hair while the other took hold of the back of her left thigh and he wound her leg around his waist. Tony crushed his lips against hers in a passionate kiss and he closed his eyes as he held her to him.

Brooke's arms flew around his neck and she kissed him back hard. Three years was too long to be apart but so far, with the exception of Jeanne Benoit, they had both remained faithful to each other. Even if Tony had thought Brooke was deceased all this time it was difficult to be with another woman.

Neither Tony nor Brooke pulled away from each other when they both felt tears streaming down one another's cheeks. Somehow they both knew the tears were that of joy and posed no threat to their relationship.

Eventually they both ended the kiss at the same time when the need for air became too great to ignore. The couple panted as they looked into each other's eyes and Tony leaned his forehead against hers.

"I love you Brooke…I love you so much." Tony whispered in the dark.

Brooke broke into a smile and the tears continued to flow. She placed the palm of one hand to his cheek and wiped away a few tears with the tip of her thumb. "I love you too…I'm sorry Tony, I'm so sorry about all of this. I never meant to hurt you. I wanted to stay here and be with you but-"

Tony cut her off by initiating a second kiss. When he pulled back after she responded to it he wiped her tears away this time and continued to hold her in his arms. "I know it wasn't up to you."

Brooke sighed softly and stood on both legs then hugged him back burying her face in his neck. She nodded silently at his words grateful that he understood or was trying to at least.

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"You mean you love Brooke as a sister McGee?" Kate wondered as the car was parked on the curb outside of Joann's lovely home.

"No…if that's what I meant it's what I would have said." McGee replied as he shut the car off and got out. Kate followed his lead toward the house a little puzzled by his words. She had thought for the longest time now that his heart belonged to Abby then again she didn't know any better.

Unsure of what to say Kate just remained completely silent as they both walked up the path to the house. As they approached they both noticed at the same time that the door was open just a crack. The closer they both got the more obvious it became that the lock had been tampered with.

The two agents quickly drew their weapons and McGee took a step forward pushing the door open as quietly as possible. Just as he and Kate crossed the threshold into the house a horrified scream came from the second floor.

McGee bolted up toward the stairs while Kate went to clear the first floor. The male agent checked every room until he found the source of the scream in the master bedroom.

Lying in a pool of blood was Joann Fielding and standing above her was a woman holding a SIG. McGee had never met her but she looked exactly like…

"Brooke?" McGee lowered his weapon and the brunette turned to look at him shaking her head with tears falling. Kate had made her way up the stairs by then and entered the room behind her partner keeping her gun raised.

"Who are you?" Kate asked the stranger. She couldn't believe herself how much she looked like Brooke although this woman appeared to be older by at least ten years.

"I'm-" She began.

"Special Agent Samantha Fielding, Brooke's aunt." McGee finished once he realized it was her. They had seen each other plenty of times.

"What agency?" Kate demanded.

Samantha looked from McGee to Kate and back. "NCIS." She reached down with her free hand and shifted her leather jacket aside to reveal a gold badge identical to Kate and McGee's on her hip.

"Where are you based?" Kate asked utterly confused by everything that was going on today.

"I don't think that's important right now, we have bigger things to worry about like my mother here." Samantha gestured to Joann's lifeless body on the floor. McGee could see that she was trembling and still crying as she holstered her SIG.

"Are you aware of what's going on at Headquarters right now?" Kate asked as she holstered her own weapon and reached for her cell phone.

"No…I haven't heard anything…my…um…my mom called me last night sounding strange. She told me that she wanted to see me as soon as possible, that she found out something but didn't want to tell me over the phone. She wanted me to meet her here for lunch and when I got here just before you did I found her like this." Samantha explained.

Kate sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "We need to call Gibbs." In her mind she was thinking that this mess was just continuing to pile up.

"Wait…what's going on at HQ?" Samantha asked as she ran a hand through her hair. So far the only difference in looks between her and Brooke was the length of their locks.

"Come outside and we'll explain everything as best we can." McGee told her.

Samantha wanted to resist but she knew the protocol. There was no way she could stay inside while the scene was processed. She simply nodded and allowed McGee to lead her outside. Kate followed them while she called Gibbs trying to figure out how to explain this one.

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Gibbs barely had time to shut the door of Jenny's office after entering before his cell phone rang. The Director raised her eyebrow at him when he didn't answer and approached her desk instead.

"Aren't you going to answer that, it could be important."

Gibbs shook his head and sighed. "Whatever it is it can wait, we need to talk."

The phone in his pocket stopped ringing but immediately after the one on her desk began to go off. Jenny reached for it but kept her eyes on him.

"Don't go anywhere." She ordered. "Unlike you I might actually have to take this."

Gibbs simply took a seat across from the Director and waited in silence.

"Director Shepard." Jenny said into the mouth piece. She waited watching Gibbs and listened to Kate who explained that she had tried to call Gibbs and what was going on. "Stay there Agent Todd and do nothing until I send backup."

Gibbs removed his phone from his pocket and sighed when he saw that the missed call was from Kate. Jenny slammed the receiver done and got to her feet.

"You went around me and sent your team to continue the investigation?" She began with an intense glare in his direction.

Gibbs glared back at her in anger as he stood and advanced on her. "You're one to talk after everything you've been keeping from me. What did Kate want?"

"Don't even go there Jethro, it's not the same as this and you know it. You're crossing a serious line by going behind my back!" Jenny hissed.

"What did Agent Todd call for?" Gibbs asked again.

Jenny threw her hands into the air and moved around him feeling uncomfortable with how close he was getting to her. She turned back to face him again and sighed. At this point she might as well tell him and deal with the repercussions later.

"Todd and McGee arrived at Joann Fielding's home just a few minutes ago. What they found was Samantha there, standing over her mother's dead body." Jenny answered.

Gibbs froze as the words sank in. Without saying a word he rushed out of the office an she ran out after him. "Gibbs what are you doing?"

"DiNozzo!" Gibbs bellowed already halfway down the stairs by now just as he caught sight of Ton y and Brooke heading toward the elevator after leaving the bullpen.

Both DiNozzos turned around and Brooke looked worried at his expression. "Dad, what's wrong?" She looked over his shoulder at Jenny who was a step behind him then returned her gaze to meet her father's.

Gibbs sighed and continued down the rest of the stairs. He walked up to Brooke who was holding Tony's hand. "Brooke it's your grandmother…she's been murdered…"