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Chapter 7
Kate stepped out of her car and felt the gentle bite of the wind, there were lights from the police cars flashing and she had to push to get through the crowds of people all craning their necks to see the body, she held up her badge at the tape and the officer eyed uncertain as it was NYPD "hey" said Gibbs suddenly appearing behind him "she is ok" the officer nodded and lifted the tape for her to duck under but she found her path blocked by Gibbs, she looked at him confused.
"Kate" he said softly "I don't think you need to see this one" she looked at him "Gibbs I have seen plenty of bodies what is so different about this one" she asked, he chewed his lip "it is the Petty Officer Owen Marks' 14 year old daughter Anna".
Kate felt her chest tighten and she gasped in shock, then she ducked round him and stared, Ducky was crouched next to the body of the young girl who was still in the position she had fallen in, legs bent curled underneath her, one hand resting gently on her stomach, the other raised above her head, she looked almost graceful, like a little ballerina, light brown hair almost artistically arranged around her head, she looked almost peaceful. Except for the hole in her chest and her stained shirt, and the fact that her eyes were wide open, staring unseeing up at Kate, slightly shocked, though she never knew what had hither, and her face was flecked with cast off blood, her face still full of pain from her father's death, at least now though they were together again.
Kate stared at her, she looked so young and vulnerable lying there, and her eyes, gentle brown eyes that stared blankly at Kate, eyes that reminded Kate of someone else, young and vulnerable. She staggered backwards gasping and felt someone catch her "easy Kate" she heard Tony murmur, "it's ok shh" "Livie" Kate gasped "no" Tony said pulling her away from the body "no it's not Livie Kate, she is ok I promise it is not her" he pulled her over to a car, ducking under the line to where Booth was standing looking pretty pissed, that was when she realised that they were the ones with girls the same age as Anna Marks, that was why they were out here.
Tony leaned her against Gibbs' car and she saw that his eyes were filled with pain too; this was their killer's youngest victim, a 14 year old girl, a 14 year old girl who had an uncanny resemblance to their own children, especially hers. "you ok" Tony asked, she shook her head "No, no I am not ok we have to catch this guy now" "I know" Tony said "and we will I promise" she looked at him before she looked away sighing "where's Ziva" she asked "she took the kids to the lab" Tony said "I am glad she did" "Bones did the same" Booth said quietly "I dropped her off, Rick take your girls" he asked, she nodded shakily looking back to the crime scene "why the hell would someone kill off a 14 year old girl" she asked in a whisper, they both shook their heads sadly.
Gibbs came over then the usual cup of coffee in his hands "you ok" he asked the three of them, they nodded blankly "McGee and I can take care of this" he said "and Hodgins just arrived so I want you three to go back to the lab ok" they all looked at him about to protest, then they saw the victim again, a life taken too soon and they nodded glumly.
At that moment their phones rang and they all pulled them out, Kate saw she had a picture message and she clicked on it and felt a small smile cross her face as she looked at the picture her husband had sent her, it showed all of their girls all lying sprawled across two sofas fast asleep pressed tightly against each other, Livie and Alexis lay sprawled across one their bodies cocooned together, Tali and April lay on the other one and April had an exhausted Libby on her chest. They were fine, they all were, sleeping soundly, unaware of the pain that their parents were feeling at this moment. She looked over at Booth and Tony and saw that they were smiling too and Tony turned his phone to show Gibbs, she saw that Rick had sent them the same image. Gibbs smiled at the image before looking at them "go see them" he said "go see for yourselves that they are safe".
"I'll drive you back" Booth said "McGee can bring yours back Kate" Gibbs said "I brought him and Tony here" she nodded numbly and followed Tony and Booth to Booth's SUV and clambered quietly into the back. The drive was silent, none of them spoke, not even when they had arrived and they walked into the lab, they all immediately turned and walked towards Brennan's office and just stood in the doorway staring at their sleeping children, feeling relief inside of them that it was not their child lying on a gurney to be transferred onto a slab.
"Tony" they all looked up as they saw Ziva coming over holding AJ with Rick and Brennan behind them, they all looked concerned, Tony moved forward and took AJ from Ziva hugging him tightly before pulling Ziva into his arms and holding her tightly, she glanced over confused but hugged him back just as tightly, Booth moved over to Brennan and sighed hugging her as Rick moved towards Kate, "hey" he said "what happened" he asked, she just leaned against him sighing as he held her, then she spoke softly so that they could all hear, "the victim was Anna Marks, Petty Officer Marks' 14 year old daughter", Rick exhaled loudly and she heard him curse under his breath before hugging her tightly "we got sent back" Tony mumbled "Gibbs didn't want us there", Ziva hugged him reassuringly.
Just then a small voice said "daddy" from behind and they all turned to see Libby standing in the doorway gazing up at her dad in confusion, behind her April and Tali were stirring obviously woken by her, and Livie was shifting too, Booth forced a smile onto his face "hey there sweetheart, did you have a good sleep" she nodded and moved over to him, he scooped her up and hugged her tightly, Brennan rested her hand on her youngest daughter's back, they looked at the others all sitting up groggy and messy haired, all awake now, they all looked at their parents in confusion "aba" Tali said softly looking at Tony, he gave her a weak smile "hey there princess" he said, slowly she clambered off the sofa and moved over to him, he handed AJ back to Ziva and lifted Tali up despite her size and wrapped her in his arms holding her tightly, she hugged him back just as tightly sensing his unease.
Kate felt arms wrap around her and saw Livie hugging her, she wrapped her arms around Livie holding her protectively, running her fingers again and again through her hair, then she looked up and released her with one hand holding it out to Alexis who came forward as April stumbled over to her mom and dad too, she felt Rick wrap his arms around her and their daughters holding them all close.
They all stood there before Libby yawned loudly "tired munchkin" Booth asked looking at her, she nodded "really" April said looking at her sister "because I think you got more sleep than I did kiddo you are a fidget" "speak for yourself" Tali said with a yawn her eyes glinting cheekily "oh look who is calling the kettle black" April mocked "ok, no fighting" Ziva said "don't decide to go for each other's necks" "throats" everyone corrected making her roll her eyes "that wasn't fighting ima" Tali said with a grin "that was playful banter" April nodded "those two sleep like rocks" she said nodding at Alexis and Livie who grinned at her.
"well" Rick said "I did bring food and if there is any left it might be slightly cold but it is better than nothing though the coffee is still warm" everyone nodded and they headed to the Angela's office, trying to act positive, though it was hard, knowing that their killer had upped his game and lowered his target age.
XOXOXO
Livie, April and Tali were sitting on the bench outside in the park the next day, they had left the lab, unable to cope with their parents being so stressed, everyone was on edge, they were in the park across the road from Tali's home, throwing balls for her dog Brodie, the mad young animal was sprinting across the field after the ball his eyes wide with delight, it was lunchtime the day after Anna Marks had been killed and everyone was dreading the phone call saying that there was another victim, fearing how old this one might be. Their parents hadn't gone home last night, so they had all pushed the sofa's together, found a pile of blankets and curled up together again along with Alexis and Libby, they had found an old travel cot for AJ though he was back at day care now and Alexis was playing with Libby in the play area a few feet away.
"Livie" April said softly, she looked at him "how you feeling" she asked, Livie shrugged "I feel fine, just worried that mom is getting in too deep again" Kate hadn't gone to sleep last night, she had sat up all night staring at the boards, ever since Anna had been discovered, she had barely stopped, Livie recognised the symptoms all too well, she was slipping again, this case was personal again, she was going in too deep and she was going to find this guy whether it killed her in the progress.
Tali smiled gently at her "your mom will be fine" she said encouragingly "they'll figure it out, our parents always do" she reached down and picked up the slobbered ball that Brodie presented her with "ew gross" she said sticking it in the ball thrower and launching it as far as she could watching the dog tear after it, Livie sighed "I guess, though my mom never solved her mom's murder, the last time she tried to solve it, she got in way too deep, and it is hard to pull her out" "well you won't have to do it alone" April said "we are all here, behind you and so are our families" she grinned "thanks guys" she said taking the ball thrower and using it to scoop the ball up and throw it again.
"so your mom's mom was murdered" April asked gently, she nodded "she was 19 years old, and her mom was murdered in an ally, she never got over it and every through years she becomes obsessed with trying to find the killer, but it gets easier now for her, Rick helps her to let go" they smiled and nodded at her, then Tali looked at her watch "well we should probably head back" she said "see if we can persuade our parents to come home tonight" they all nodded and after telling Alexis they were taking Brodie back they caught the excitable dog and took him back across the street, Tali unlocked the door and allowed them in before picking up a towel and rubbing Brodie's legs off trying to dry him as he stood there panting happily, then she released him and watched him dive for the water bowel, she gave him a chew before settling him on his bed and turned to find April and Livie looking at their movie collection "um wow you have a lot of movies" April said "yeah my dad is a movie dork if you hadn't already realised" she said "oh" Livie said "so those weird comments are movie quotes" Tali grinned "yep" "ah" April said "that makes so much more sense now", they all laughed.
They headed back down and crossed the road, they were just entering the park when a voice called out "hey kita" Tali whirled round "Amir" she said and a smile slipped across her face as a boy with sandy hair and sliver eyes jogged over "hey what you doing here" she asked "I am going for a run, haven't seen you recently" he said "yeah been busy" she said "my parents are working and I am with them" he nodded and glanced over at April and Livie "Oh yes sorry Amir these are my friends Livie Beckett and April Booth, guys this is my… friend Amir Kedar" "hey" Amir said smiling at them with honest sliver eyes, they both greeted him back "so will I see you soon kita" he asked, she nodded "definitely, how about tomorrow morning 0500 for an early morning run" he looked at her "run or sprint" he checked and April bit back a laugh, good she wasn't the only one who thought Tali ran way too fast.
Tali scowled at Amir who grinned innocently at her "run" she said "sorry you are too slow for me" she said, he winked at her "ok then see you at 0500" he touched her cheek "later kita" he said and then he turned and took off at a gentle run across the park.
April and Livie instantly turned to Tali with huge grins on their faces "what" Tali said "he's cute" Livie said "how long have you two been going out" Tali's jaw dropped "what" she spluttered "we are not dating he is just a friend" "yeah and Elvis isn't dead" April said
"We are only friends" Tali said again, they both raised their eyebrows at her, "come on DiNozzo spill the beans" April said, Tali gave them an exasperated glare "we are not dating" she said "well something has happened" Livie said "because he touched your cheek and said 'later kita' what does kita mean" she asked, Tali sighed "it means lass, or girlie in Hebrew" "aww" they both went "shut up" she said "alright, there was something but now there isn't, there can't be because it's complicated"
They both looked at her and she sighed again "when my grandfather kidnapped me and forced me to go undercover, it was as a 15 year old girl named Myka Abrams, I had to buddy up with the son of a terrorist by the name of Elijah Kedar" their jaws dropped "yes he was Amir's father" she said, they continued walking into the park "I had to get close and I did, I got into their house and Amir kissed me" they both smiled but she carried on
"but his father recognised me, you see the first time I was taken Elijah Kedar's brother was there, he tried to kill my family" she looked at them "so I shot him" she said softly, they both stared at her "anyway Amir's father recognised me and he knocked me out, he flew me and Amir out if Israel back to DC, he wanted to kill me and frame me for a bomb blast that would blow up the white house, to cut the long story short my parents found me, he had a gun to my head and had given Amir the trigger to the bomb and was telling him to press it"
She paused and looked across the field "I was screaming at Amir not to, begging him whilst his father had me in a choke hold and a gun to my head, Amir made his choice and defied his father" she lowered her head "and his father shot him, it didn't kill him but he tried to do it again which is when I acted" she paused again and placed her hand over her stomach "I grabbed the gun, I was so frightened, I just wanted it all to end, I wasn't thinking, my mom was screaming out to me not to do it but I did" she looked at them "I pressed the gun against my stomach, aimed upwards and pulled the trigger" she said calmly, "he released me and my mother killed him, Amir went back to Israel but came back a few months later, said he couldn't stay in Israel"
They both looked at her sympathetically "now can you see why we can't be together" Tali asked "I lied to him and killed his father, I destroyed his life" Livie looked at her before taking her hand "let's just say I am no good in the dating department but Tali, even I can see that that boy is not mad at you for lying to him, he really likes you" Tali looked at her and saw April nodding "we talked" she said "we both agreed that the kiss was rushed and we weren't ready, we are happy being just friends"
"you mean you are" Livie said "Tali that boy is crazy about you, and I only met him for about a minute, I mean you saved his life, and he is willing to just stay friends because you are unsure, he moved back to America a few streets down from you because he loves you" Tali stared at her "you think" she said looking uncertain "hell yeah" April said "it is actually kind of romantic" Tali gave them both a small smile "how is it that you have no luck in the boyfriend department" she asked linking arms with them both "ah just haven't found the one" Livie said with a smile "hey I never said I wasn't" April said with a grin "oh do tell" Tali and Livie both said "I don't kiss and tell" April said "but I will say that his name is Seth…"
XOXOXO
When they arrived back everyone was in Angela's office discussing their case, getting more and more frustrated, when their daughters arrived though they all visibly calmed and greeted them cheerfully "hey" April said "I take it that it isn't going well" they all shook their heads and told them what they had tried "every connection we make comes up as a dead end" Booth finished, that was when Livie spoke up quietly "what about the money" they all looked at her "what" Gibbs asked.
She looked at them confused "you said you had the bank account that he used that you can't touch, have you tried tracing any new deposits" they all shook their heads "can't" Angela said "there has been no new deposits, not since the one on the day the first Petty Officer was killed by the reflecting pool, so he is probably using a new account"
Alexis spoke up "what if he isn't" they all frowned at her in confusion she shrugged "what if he isn't getting paid" she said "why would he be killing then" Gibbs asked, she shrugged bet Rick leapt up "that's my girl" he said proudly ruffling her hair before turning to the group "ok so the last payment was the one that brought us together right" they all nodded "what if that was his intention or he saw us form the team to catch him and got cocky, now he is killing to mess with us, I mean the bank account was his way of toying with us before right, so why would he change that, he enjoyed toying with us, he wouldn't stop, so maybe he is killing for fun now"
Everyone was silent taking that into account, "if that is the case" Booth said slowly "what do we do now" Kate groaned "what can we do" she asked "look at us he is following us everywhere we go then, choosing his victims based on who we talk too, we can't talk to anybody without endangering their lives, how can we solve this case without following up on any leads" everyone looked at her "Kate" Rick whispered "it is ok" she whirled round to face him "no it's not ok Rick, how can it be ok, people are dying and there is nothing we can do to stop him without selecting who his victims are"
"mom" Livie whispered catching hold of her hand "mom please calm down" Kate ignored her and carried on pacing, Livie looked at Rick before she leapt forward and stood in her way "let's just go back to our hotel room" she begged "come on please relax mom, take a step away, you are falling in too deep again" "No Livie I am not getting in too deep" Kate said harshly
"yes you are" Livie begged "please mom I have watched this happen to you before, I know when it is happening please" "Kate" Booth said softly remembering what Livie had told him "maybe you should take a day" Kate pulled away from her daughter to whirl round to face him "no" she said "I am not going to take a day because the longer we sit here and don't catch him the more innocent people are going to die" "Kate you are not going to be able to catch her if you are getting this worked up" Booth said "I am not worked up I just want to catch this guy" she snapped at him.
"mom" Livie whispered "please take a day, stop for a bit" Kate whirled round her eyes burning with emotion "I can't Olivia" she shouted "I have to catch this son of a bitch and you are really not helping me, so just let me do this"
Livie flinched backwards at the anger in her mom's voice, nobody spoke as she stood there trembling "I am trying to look after you mom" she said softly "I don't need looking after" Kate snapped, "yes you do" Livie said and her eyes were filling with tears "and if you don't remember how bad you felt the last time you got in too deep and treated me like you just did then you are in too deep", Kate's eyes widened with realisation of what she had done and a shocked and guilty look crossed her face "Livie I…" she began but Livie shook her head and bolted past her running out of the doors.
Instantly Kate moved to follow her but April caught her arm "we'll go after her" she said softly "she needs to calm down and without sounding too mean so do you", she and Tali grabbed their jackets and sprinted off out of the doors after Livie, Alexis took off after them a second later.
Kate stared after them before she gave a whimper "oh god" she whispered falling back into a seat and putting her head in her hands "what have I done" she felt tears slide down her cheeks, then Rick was there pulling her comfortingly into his arms "it's ok" he whispered "no its not, she hates me and she has every right to do so" Kate whispered "no" Rick said firmly "Livie will never hate you Kate, you are her mom and she adores you" "didn't you see how she looked at me" Kate asked, tears falling now in earnest "you just scared her" Rick said softly "you were on edge and you scared her, you both need to calm down ok"
Kate nodded but she didn't speak again, the tears of guilt and disgust at what she had done were uncontrollable and those feelings were consuming her, she did remember the how she had felt the last time she had snapped at her daughter, she remembered it as though it was yesterday…
XO
"Mommy"
Kate didn't look up from where she sat on the bed staring at the files intently, she knew them off by heart but she continued to read them, hoping and praying she would spot something she had overlooked. "mommy" Livie said again and with a sigh she looked up at her daughter standing in the doorway to her bedroom, dressed in a pair of small jeans and a long sleeved top, she had stopped pouring over her mother's case this morning to feed Livie when she had woken and dress her, then she had told her to play with her toys in her room whilst she had returned to her room to carry on.
"what Livie" she asked sharply, Livie faltered suddenly uncertain "can we go to the park" she asked tentatively "I'm bored and we haven't gone in ages" Kate sighed and looked at her "no Livie I am busy honey" Livie looked at her "please mommy" she begged "I am bored" "I can't Livie I am working, how about tomorrow yeah" Livie's little face saddened before she frowned and crossed her arms "you said that yesterday mommy" she said
"well I am saying it again today" Kate snapped sharply, instantly she froze as she saw Livie flinch and step back as though she had been slapped, she looked up at her little daughter standing there hurt and confused, suddenly uncertain, her eyes shone slightly with confused tears.
Kate looked back down at the file on her knee, at her mom's picture smiling up at her, but the picture changed to a disapproving frown, her mom wouldn't want her to focus on her murder rather than her little daughter, she forcefully shut the folder and crammed it into her drawer shutting it tightly before leaping up and moving towards her daughter who was staring at her confused "oh my gosh Livie I am so sorry baby" she whispered, tears sliding down her cheeks, she could see the apprehension in Livie's eyes, uncertain if she was going to get shouted at again.
She paused in front of her daughter "Livie I am really sorry baby, I didn't mean to shout at you" Livie looked at her before holding up her arms uncertainly, instantly Kate scooped her up and hugged her little girl tightly squeezing her tightly whispering over and over again how sorry she was, she felt Livie squeeze her back tightly burying her face into her shoulder whilst Kate breathed in the scent of her little girl's hair whispering again and again that she was sorry, eventually she set her down and crouched in front of her daughter "mommy better now" Livie asked uncertainly with the innocence only a five year old could have, she smiled weakly at her touching her cheek "yeah mommy's better now and she is never going to do that again baby, I promise, if I do you tell me ok" Livie nodded, "you still want to go to the park" Kate asked, Livie shook her head "no, I want to spend time with you just the two of us" she held up two fingers to prove her point, Kate smiled at her and held up two fingers of her own "well what do you want to do just the two of us honey" she thought "can we watch a movie" she asked "and have a cuddle"
Kate smiled "that sounds great baby girl, go pick one and I will get us some snacks yeah" Livie instantly brightened up and scampered off to choose a movie whilst Kate grabbed some food, she sat there for the entire movie not watching it but just hugging her little daughter tightly making a vow to herself that she would never fall in that deep again, ever.
XO
Kate blinked away the tears, she had broken that promise and had fallen in again, and this time she hadn't managed to stop herself from taking her frustration out on her daughter, she had lashed out and Livie had taken the full blow, she pressed herself against Rick's chest unable to stop the tears as they came down. What had she done?
Hope you liked it :D From now on it might be getting a bit more eventful :P
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Thanks Mysticgirl