It's something unpredictable,
but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life…
Green Day – Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
Chapter VI - Sudden Death
"Let´s call it a day..." Anthony mumbled and his two co-workers nodded. The U.S. Marshals gave the team finally access to the files of Colonel Chase Anderson and his henchman, but they couldn´t track them down either. Two hours ago Gibbs went to the day-care and was now in the cafeteria with Brady, waiting for Kate to go home since the agent couldn´t drive, still complaining about his situation by growling at everyone.
"Alright see you tomorrow." The brunette said and grabbed her stuff, heading towards the cafeteria to meet Gibbs and Brady. She was still unaware of what was waiting for them in the underground parking lot. The black SUV with the tinted windows was waiting for them for two hours now.
"See you tomorrow, Kate." Timothy and DiNozzo said unison and watched their fellow agent leave.
Caitlin spotted the duo immediately when she entered the cafeteria. Nobody except for them was sitting here because the work hours were long over and the agents who were still working were upstairs behind their desks. The silver haired man finally followed the Doctor´s advice and his leg was propped up on the chair next to him with an ice pack resting on top of it.
"Hey... Are you ready to go home?" She asked and could swear that an uneasy expression flickered over Gibbs´ face, but it was gone in the next second and she guessed it was related to the fact that he had to rely on her or the others to get home.
"Sure we are." Jethro replied and smiled a little at the brunette. Slowly he stood up and taking the ice pack with him and making his way slowly toward the exit. "Hey Brady don´t you want to tell Kate about your day at day-care?"
"Okay..." The fair-haired boy replied and took the female agent´s hand while they walked to the underground parking lot. The five-year-old seemed to be more open lately, but to Caitlin it sounded more like he spent the day mostly playing alone only when the teachers asked him to play with the other children he did it reluctantly. Finally the three reached the parking lot and when Cameron Thomas walked towards them Gibbs had to repress a sigh.
"Agent Gibbs, agent Todd." He greeted in sober tone and opened a plastic bag, holding it out in front of him. "I need your wallets, keys, cell phones, service weapons, IDs, jewelry and all the other personal belongings you are carrying with you."
"Why?" Caitlin asked and felt Brady inching further into her side. She glanced at silver-haired man and could see that he wasn´t confused like her, but angry. "What is going on here Jethro?"
"That is a topic for later, agent Todd." Thomas said before the older NCIS agent could answer her question. Kate just furrowed a brow, but did what she was told when she saw Gibbs handing over all the stuff Cameron requested and finally unclasped his silver bracelet and his watch. "Agent Cooper will tell you everything you need to know he is waiting for you in the van."
"Sure." Gibbs hissed and grunted something inaudible when the Marshal took his the items and his ice pack as well.
"Be assured that you won´t have to walk much in the next few hours." Cameron stated curtly and waited until the trio was in the van before he walked over to Caitlin´s car. James Cooper started the engine and the van slowly rolled towards the exit of the underground parking lot.
Caitlin was still looking really confused at Gibbs and at the U.S. Marshal. "Are you telling me now what is going on here?"
"Yes, I will." Cooper answered and glance at the brunette through the rear-view mirror. "Marshal Thomas is preparing everything to fake your deaths in a car-accident and you´re send into Witness Security Program. We and your director decided that it is the best for the boy."
"What?" Kate said and her voice was full of disbelief. "Who do you think you are to decide that my life -our lives- are over? Just with a snap of your fingers?"
"You need the protection agent Todd and it is only for a few weeks or months then you can come back to Washington as soon as this case is closed." The Marshal explained and the female agent could only shake her head at his behavior. That was when she noticed that the gray-haired man in the front seat didn´t say anything yet.
"Did you know it, Gibbs?" She asked in a lowered voice and stared at the back of his head until he turned around in his seat as far as possible.
"I did..." He replied curtly and could see the anger rising inside her. He knew the anger was directed at him because he didn´t tell her what she needed to know. "I didn´t like it either but I was ordered to attend the Program. Just like I was ordered not to tell you."
"How could you agree to something like that?" Caitlin whispered and didn´t say anything else for the whole time of their journey. Gibbs didn´t try to talk to her, sensing that she needed some time for herself, which was hard in a van with four people and a five-year-old who demanded their attention. They made it to New York with only three stops and arrived at the safe house in the middle of the night. Brady fell asleep barely one hour before they reached their destination and the brunette carried him into the house, laying him down without waking him in one of the bedrooms.
"You can stay in the house for the next couple of days to get used to everything including your new identities and then leave for Vermont." James said curtly and looked at the NCIS agents. "Make sure you learn your cover stories by heart. If anything happens, call this number."
"How do you know that we go there and don´t go back to D.C.?" Jethro asked and took the number the Marshal handed him.
"We have our sources. We will know exactly when you leave this house and when you arrive in Vermont. Make sure you get everything you will need in New York, there are credit cards along with your driver´s licenses, IDs and other papers you need." The U.S. Marshal explained and turned to leave the house. "Your new car is in the garage and the keys are on the cabinet in the hall."
"Just great." Gibbs replied and Cooper finally left the house. The two agents sat in the living room in silence for a moment before Jethro took the file and started reading their cover story. He was still unsure about how to handle Kate´s silence and obvious anger because he wondered if it was still directed at him or if she figured that it was the Marshal´s fault. "I tried to tell Morrow and those Marshals that this isn´t necessary, Kate you just have to trust me on that one."
"I trust you on that one Jethro. It´s just unfair for everyone, they think we died in that car and we... Well, go on." The brunette said and let out a frustrated sigh while she walked over to the silver-haired man. They didn´t show it in front of their team but when he asked her for a second chance her answer had been positive. Now everything had changed they were alone in a whole new situation and obviously had to act as a married couple with a young child. "So from now on we are Jonathan, Kate and Emmett Cohen. We just moved from Miami to Vermont because you work for a big security agency."
"They were quite creative with your name..." Jethro said and smiled at the brunette pulling her into his side and finally feeling that she relaxed at least a little. "But on the other hand there are thousands of Kates in this country. But of course you are the only one I want to be with."
"Yeah." The female agent replied and smile at the gray-haired man, leaning into his side she allowed herself to enjoy the closeness once again, just like she did it when they were together for the first time. This time it hopefully wouldn´t end like the first try, not only for their sakes but it as well could risk their cover. "But I really like Emmett..."
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