DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NCIS OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS!
DEAD DOESN'T MEAN FOREVER
Ch 3
Gibbs travelled with the precious cargo. He was trusting no one and not letting the boxes out of his sight. Tony's contacts made it easy to clear customs. Everything was labeled as 'Sensitive Medical Equipment'.
Gibbs had placed a call before takeoff to ensure the lab he was entrusting to run the all important procedures had the larger chamber that was required. McGee had assured him that the equipment he designed would be compatible with any-sized chamber.
Tim had been intrigued by what Gibbs could possible need a larger chamber for, though he refrained from inquiring directly. It was evident this whole adventure was top secret and no one person was going to know anything outside of their own involvement. Like Abby, Time believed in the end, Gibbs would reveal the mystery.
The flight was a turbulent one. The plane pitched and heaved, Gibbs and its contents rattling throughout. But as often was the case when he travelled by plane, Gibbs managed to fall asleep. While he slept he dreamed. The motion of the plane was taking him back in time to his days as a Marine. It wasn't the fighting or even his old sniper targets that filled his head, but happier times shared with Shannon and Kelly, his girls.
The dreams were of his coming home to find them preparing some surprise to greet him. He'd gotten fairly good at predicting their surprises, but he never let on that he had guessed.
A smile appeared as he slept, as he envisioned their smiling faces when they would first spy him coming off the plane. He could almost feel the warmth of Shannon's arms around him and the wetness of Kelly's tears as she pecked him with kisses and squeezed him with her special hugs.
A large burst of turbulence rocked the plane and awakened Gibbs who squinted and blinked the sleep from his eyes. He rubbed them and stretched wishing this had been the transport from his dream. He checked on his cargo to make sure all the straps were still in place. Finding everything safely secured he returned to his spot. His internal clock told him they would be arriving to their destination soon.
He thought about the people that were waiting there. The very ones in whom he was putting his faith in. They weren't all strangers to him, but it had been some time since he had seen his old friends. They had proven their loyalties more than once and their discretion was above bar. His gut held strong that the timing was right and Ziva's contacts would be as tight lipped, too.
Once the plane landed Gibbs began to gather the boxes. When the hatch opened he saw his old comrade. They exchanged a platonic hug and strong hand shake gripping each other's arms near the elbows.
"Good to see you, Sven," Gibbs greeted smiling.
"You too, Jethro," Sven returned the smile. "This is a most exciting adventure you have made. I hope it will not all be in vain."
Gibbs put his arm around his friend's wide shoulders, "I know this will work. I've had the best of the best at what they do putting this together." Indicating his friend he continued, "And I have the best here to make sure of it."
"I am honored by your confidence in me," Sven placed his hand on his chest over his heart. "Tell me," he looked Gibbs in the eye, "Did you leave your weapon at home?"
Gibbs smirked, "Don't worry, my friend. If for some reason we aren't successful, I have no plans to shoot anyone."
Both men laughed as they watched Sven's crew transfer the cargo from the plane to the waiting van. Sven led Gibbs to his car where they waited to follow the van to the lab.