Checkmate
By ProfessorElk
Disclaimer: The NCIS characters mentioned below are not mine and no profit has been made in the writing or posting of this story.
Summary: Set after 12x11 "Check." Not having his glasses on to check the caller i.d., he answered with his usual, "Yeah, Gibbs." "Checkmate." The voice on the other line, although only spoke one word, it was enough to make his blood run cold.
Spoilers: Set after NCIS episode 12x11, "Check." General spoilers for the previous NCIS seasons as well.
Part III
His body ached to pace, emotions bursting and needing an avenue to be released, but his soul was beyond weary. Michnev knew where he was the most vulnerable, what would cause him to crack, and as he ran a tired hand down an exhausted face, posture mimicking what he felt, he wondered if the man succeeded in causing him to crumble.
He could not do this, not again.
The scent of coffee, strong and hot, danced under his nose. Despite the temptation, he remained hunched over, hand hiding his face.
"Um," an uncertain voice began, "I figured you would need this."
He was loathe to admit it, but he wanted to stay hidden behind his hand. The real world was too painful and full of loss. Too many bodies and too much blood. But that voice, that damn voice, how could he deny it after what the owner did?
"Thanks Palmer." He accepted the beverage, trying not to glance at the dried blood caked under the other man's finger nails. It was impossible not to, though. He did not want to see it, but he also could not help himself from looking. Penance, he supposed, for the lives that had almost been lost because of him. Lives that still could be lost.
Jimmy stood awkwardly, trying to look nonchalant, but failing miserably. "They'll be okay," Jimmy declared with false confidence. "We got to them in time."
"You did, Palmer. You got to them."
"We were right behind you in the autopsy van. And Dr. Mallard didn't get us lost again," Jimmy said quietly, almost sheepishly.
"You could've died. He was still out there." His own earlier screams direct toward the encroaching form of the young assistant sliding down the snowy embankment to go back to the safety of the autopsy van reverberated in his mind.
Jimmy shrugged awkwardly. "They needed me."
He tried not to flinch, but the comment stung. His agents needed him to keep them safe. Instead, he lead them into a death trap, making them nothing more than glorified mannequins used to help recreate a scene from the worst moment in his life.
No, they did not need him. In fact, they needed him out of their lives.
He glanced up from his Styrofoam cup to get a look at Palmer's face, which was deep in thought.
"Remember last year when Breena and I were going to adopt and the birth mother decided to keep her baby?"
He nodded minutely, too tired to figure out the point behind this new line of questioning.
"I wanted to give up. It hurt too much to keep going. You said something to me then."
He ducked his head. He was too tired for guessing games.
"You told me to fight for my family, to fight just to have one. He wants you to fall apart Agent Gibbs, to give up. If you let him do that, he wins. You stop fighting for them, he wins. Everyone needs you now to fight for them."
He could not bring himself to look up. He could not let Jimmy see the wetness in his eyes.
"Um," the bravado was gone from Jimmy's voice, replaced by his usual awkwardness. "I'm going to go check with Dr. Mallard. Hopefully he has an update for us."
He did not move from his perch as he listened to Palmer go, the silence of the private hospital waiting room serving to echo the other man's words.
Michnev could not win, he would not let him. He had fought like hell to get this family, he would be damned if he let another person destroy it. They belonged to him, had a special place in a burdened heart, and they needed him.
Guzzling down the now lukewarm coffee, he stood, stretching his back. He needed to find his family.
To be continued…
a/n: Thank you to all the amazing people who have read so far and left a review. I am truly humbled! The final chapter will be uploaded soon.