My apologies for this crazy long span between updates. I'll try to do better.
Chapter 5
As the yacht made its way back towards the island of Tahiti, Ziva and Tony called back to NCIS to inform Abby and McGee of their boss' recovery. While Abby was beyond excited, McGee informed them of the possibility that this was an assassination attempt. They explained to Tony and Ziva that is was essential that they kept Gibbs and Jenny under close protection. McGee then notified the acting Director and SecNav of the recovery of Gibbs and the Director. As he was trying to arrange for a flight home for them, Abby was dancing around her lab in joy.
"OMG, I've got to tell Ducky!" She danced towards the elevator and continued to do so until she breeched the doors of autopsy. "Ducky!"
"They found them!" He exclaimed as she rushed over and hugged him.
"Yes! Can you believe it?"
"I'm ecstatic dear." Ducky said as Abby continued to embrace him.
When she returned to her lab McGee was standing in front of the elevator. "We have to report to MTAC."
Abby's face fell. "Party's over."
McGee smiled as he pushed the button for the floor. "I wouldn't say that. Let's just keep it down until they get back."
"Oh yeah, perfect McGee. We'll throw them a welcome back party!" Abby said as the elevator doors opened once again.
'Tahiti'
Gibbs held Jenny's hand as they walked off the boat. "I want a beer and a giant piece of meat." He commented.
"Dido." She said catching a warning glare from Gibbs. "I'm not."
"Jen." He warned.
Henry smiled at the look Gibbs gave Jenny. "Not much has changed I see Gunny. Always trying to intimidate with your glare." He giggled but stopped quickly as he came face to face with Gibbs' stern stare. "Sorry."
Tony burst out laughing. "I'm so glad I'm not alone in this situation."
As Gibbs turned his stare to Tony, Henry cleared his throat. "Scout and I will fire up the grill. I'm sure you guys could use a real meal." He slipped past Gibbs and went into the house.
As they were all sitting on deck of Henry's home, Tony was pelting Henry with questions about his boss. "So, were you a sniper with Gibbs?"
Henry put down his beer. "DiNozzo, you're a curious bastard aren't you."
"Well, I guess you could say that."
"How about I make you a deal, I'll spill my guts about my time with Gunny, and when Scout and I visit Washington, you can be our guide to the best stripper bars."
Tony's eyes widened. "Oh my God, that's the best deal I've ever heard." He reached out and shook Henry's hand.
Henry glanced over at Gibbs. "Well, we enlisted about the same time. I first met Gunny in camp. He was quiet, kept to himself, worked hard. It took me half a year to get him to start coming out of his shell, but I think that was due to a certain red head's letters." He grinned but when he noticed Gibbs' face fall slightly, he opted to skip the parts with Shannon. "Anyway, being the hard, dedicated worker that he is, Gibbs got his first promotion before any of his other platoon mates. Ol' Scout there was next in line followed by me." He took a sip of his beer. "We did training overseas for a few years, before returning stateside. I'm gonna hop and skip the boring parts of base on the east coast. The three of us made Corporal and being typical hicks from the sticks, wanted to shoot things from long distances."
Tony smiled. "Snipers."
"There's more to be a sniper than just shooting DiNozzo." Gibbs stated and took a drink from his beer.
Henry smiled. "Son you have no idea. We informed our CO of our wishes and trained for several months on the base before applying. Luckily for Gibbs, our applications were accepted after Shannon had Kelly. He gathered his family and we all moved to Camp Pendleton in California."
"So the three of you were pretty close?" Jenny questioned under her own curiosity. She already knew about Shannon and Kelly and that even to this day struck an emotional string with Gibbs.
"Like brothers!" Henry laughed. "Of course when Scout and I would go looking for girls, Gunny would go home and work on his ghillie suit. But, like always he moved right on up the ranks."
Jenny smiled and patted his leg as Tony grinned. "Typical boss. So, you three were all deployed to Kuwait."
"Yup." Henry looked from Gibbs to Scout. "Got those steaks done yet?" Henry yelled.
Gibbs shook his head. "You think after all these years his hearing is going to get better?"
Henry shrugged and Jenny looked between the men. "What happened?" She noticed Gibbs intake a sharp breath and he began playing with his beer bottle.
"You wanna tell it Gunny?" Henry asked.
"Nope." He stood up and grabbed his beer. "Don't care to hear about it either." Gibbs walked back into the house leaving his coworkers at the table.
Henry sighed. "That was the worst week in that man's life."
"Shannon?" Jenny questioned.
"Yeah, but that was after our ambush." Henry looked at his friend as he continued to cook and keep his back to the table. "We were sitting atop a hill looking down at the Iraqi border. We were probably a thousand yards out, lying down and concealed by brush. I guess we had been there about a day. Suddenly there was a bunch of activity and Gunny looked through his scope. The Iraqis were shouting and pointing in our general direction. Technically we couldn't engage an enemy without being engaged."
"Rules of Engagement' great movie." Tony spoke.
Henry shook his head. "Yeah, something like that. Anyways, Gunny gave us the command to fall back, so Scout and I started to crawl back, and at the time we didn't feel like we were in any immediate danger. Suddenly I heard a rifle shot and Gunny yelled at us. We all began running back and suddenly the sound of an RPG filled the air. I stopped and glanced up trying to find it. Scout kept running and when we realized it was going to land near him, Gunny yelled for him to stop and as he did the grenade landed about twenty feet from Scout." Henry swallowed hard as the memory came rushing back. "Gunny ran for him as he was blown about thirty feet." Henry took several breaths and looked at the three solemn faces looking back at him. "When I reached them Scout had blood running out of both his ears. The explosion blew his ear drums. He's been pretty much deaf ever since."
"Oh my God." Jenny whispered.
"It was a day before we made it back to camp. Gunny cut the sleeve from his shirt and wrapped it around Scout's head. We all had cuts and scrapes, but Gunny took Scout's injury personal. But the real bomb dropped when we were told about Shannon and Kelly's murder." Henry shook his head. "I've never seen a man of his stature fall to pieces. I stayed at camp with Scout. Gunny went off the reservation. I don't know the details, but I was told he went straight into a hot zone and bull rushed the enemy until a land mine launched him. I saw him months later stateside, and he had the look of revenge in his eyes."
Jenny leaned forward on the table. "Do you know what he did?"
Henry narrowed his eyes. "Is this off the record?"
Tony and Ziva glanced at the director. They hoped her answer would keep Henry talking. "I'm asking as Jethro's friend."
With a sigh he continued. "I had just made it back for leave. Scout he been medically discharged, and was quickly in the wind. I managed to locate Gunny in Laredo. The corps had approved an extended leave for him but when I saw him in that dive bar; I knew he wasn't going back. He was dressed in his usual utilities but there was something about his demeanor that told me his intentions. He asked if I was going to talk him out of it, and I asked if he wanted help." Henry watched as Jenny narrowed her eyes at him. "So, we drove separate across the border, and I waited in town and drank as he went off. Three days later he returned."
Jenny was about to speak when Scout turned and set a plate full of steaks on the table. "I'll go get Jethro." Jenny walked back into the house and found him standing and staring out the front window. She approached him from behind and wrapped her arms around him. "Food's ready."
He sighed. "Done story telling?"
"Yeah, come on." She took his hand and led him out towards the back porch.
After they finished eating Jenny leaned back into her chair. "Full?" Gibbs asked her.
"Yes, I forgot how amazing real food was."
That night Gibbs lay in bed watching Jenny sleep. He gently ran his fingers across the exposed skin on her arm. With her he felt completely at ease and was able to forget about everything else. A soft knock echoed on the door. "Hey boss." Tony whispered. Gibbs sighed and eased out of bed. "Tiny Tim needs to talk to you." Tony held the satellite phone through the open door. Gibbs grabbed the phone and as Tony was retracting his hand Gibbs shut the door catching his forearm. "Ouch!"
"Oops, sorry DiNozzo." Gibbs grinned and put the phone to his ear. "Yeah, Gibbs."
"Boss, we've got you guys a ride home." McGee started. "At 0300 the USS George H.W. Bush will be passing about twenty miles west of Tahiti. You'll rendezvous with the carrier and they'll transport you guys to California. The ship is scheduled to dock in San Diego three days later at 0100." McGee explained.
He could sense the tension in McGee's voice. "What's the catch McGee?"
McGee sighed. "While on the ship SecNav has ordered the captain to keep you guys on lock down. The fewer people know where you are the better."
"Great."
"Sorry boss. But SecNav Davenport will personally meet you guys at the dock and fly you back to DC on his private plane."
Gibbs ended the call and left the room. He informed Henry of the plan while Tony and Ziva put their gear on the yacht. He woke Jenny and they headed out to the coordinates that McGee had sent them. As Henry piloted the yacht out in the dark sea, Jenny relaxed in a chair with Gibbs.
He kissed her hair as the warm breeze washed over them. "You feeling okay?"
She sighed against his chest. "I'm just tired. It's been a long ordeal and I just want to go home."
The boat slowed to a stop and he squeezed his arms around her. "Just a few more days."
It was only ten minutes of waiting before the lights of the carrier came into view. They stood at the stern of the yacht and watched as a small motorized boat approached them. Henry took the tossed line and secured it.
"NCIS?" The naval officer called out.
"Director Shepard, Special Agents Gibbs, DiNozzo, and David." Jenny said.
"Petty Officer Simms ma'am." The man introduced himself. "I've been specially assigned to you during our remaining time at sea.
"Thank you Petty Officer Simms." Jenny responded.
Tony leaned to Ziva. "It's amazing how fast the Director can reappear." He whispered but noticed the glare he was now receiving from Gibbs. "Just making an observation boss."
Gibbs bid farewell to long lost friends and climbed aboard the small boat. He sat patiently as they approached the large carrier as it coasted through the water.
Once on board they followed Simms to a large sleeping cabin. "You're restricted to this cabin, the head's through there. I'll be delivering your meals and any correspondence to the captain."
Jenny sighed and moved across the room to two bunks that were set up close to one another. Gibbs thanked Simms and walked over towards Jenny. He watched as she pushed the two smaller beds together before getting into bed. Gibbs grinned and joined her in bed.
Tony and Ziva settled into their own beds after turning out the lights. "Ziva, want to put our beds together?"
"Goodnight Tony."
"It was worth a shot." He pulled the covers over his body and fell asleep.
TDCSI