Disclaimer: I OWN NOTHING! NOTHING I TELL YOU! NO CHARATERS, NOTHING! I am not making anything from this, it is just for amusement. NOTHING MORE! *Ari nods satisfied and puts away his gun and author lets out a sigh of relief*
STORY INFORMATION
Summary: Evelyn Matthews came to NCIS with one goal in mind, to get close to Agent Gibbs. But how exactly do you go about telling a man that you're his dead daughter?
Pairings: EVENTUAL Ari/Evelyn(Kelly),
Tate
Tony/Evie friendship
Ducky/Audrey (Other pairings will appear when I decide)
Warnings: Greyish! Eli, Neutral! Ziva
NOTE: Things I lack knowledge of I have researched from the internet, and while I do try to make sure information is accurate as can be determined some things may not be, so I apology before hand for any mistakes or ignorance on my part.
I want to thank, Dricsj, Gibbs Girl Kelly, HannahbananaJane, JainaSyal, Lady Knight Aria of Haven, Notheronebitesdadust21, Probie girl1717, UnknownFlux, cheether, chrissypotter, Leonarange, lexilia, pavinet, torontogirl12, skeeter88, stargatesg1973, wisegirl71301, OzNCISLover, Kendra29, andrewjeeves, Fantasyfictionwriter, XxstarburstmonterxX, alterangirl, cookie62, kc5mzr, LovelyxLittlexLauren, Rayne90, faith1430709, jbn42, jrfan2383, yadoonkeenjaani, BONES-LOVER-94, FourHorses, IwouldrockJoshuaJacksonsWorld, lauram314, Angel-Lilly16, Captain Kathryn Janeway98, Jeremy Kelly, TivaBelieva.x.x.x, KrisShannon, Tris Holmes, Jenna Craig, MismatchedSocksandKnickers, jtr1812, Amelia Jessica Pond Williams, BrianB1126, calliegirl63, leoniebroeder94, CSIflea, MDDC26, Sirius7, amurdock42, byLunaA, buffy1242, Too Hard To Be Called Love, starchild295, swimgeek2007, Lady Isabelle Black, vampireacademyrulz797, Arkansas Sweetheart, Sweetest-Time, janno, Russian Flower, SimplyReBECca, GraceSong, Marauders Twilight, NikkiAlex, horsegirlrule, adrienmaciel, Alpha Centarus, Angelus320, Dreamspirit47, MrsScott323, bakaprincess85, mitchievw, potiongirl1992, Nicole1314, Trance20666, Viivs0612, cwatker222, Mal4Inara, sophiemom01, Pandora'sBox11, Callipygian, EzziBA, Curiouser-and-Curiouser101, leFlame, LadyMary33, swanqueen4, PayShaFan, and zebraclrgard for all the follows!
I also want to thank, UnknownFlux, HannahbananaJane, JainaSyal, skeeter88, stargatesg1973, Notheronebitesdadust21, smilin steph, bulletproofdeath, Leonarange, torontogirl12, wisergirl71301, LovelyxLittlexLauren, Rayne90, janno, Kendra29, Hope'sFace, lexilia, Annie016, KrisShannon, StarlightShivers, MismatchedSocksandKnickers, 1956johndeere50, Amelia Jessica Pond Williams, BrianB1126, calliegirl63, leoniebroeder94, Sirius7, byLunaA, SecretsAreHiddenByMe, Too Hard to Be Called Love, BurnedSpy, NikkiAlex, adrienmaciel, Annie016, bakaprincess85, spikewil, thelauers918, Animanga-smile14, Nicole1314, Trance20666, Viivs0612, sophiemom01, Rika92, Callipygian, EisForElephant, EzziBA, Curiouser-and-Curiouser101, Annika Sparks, CryDevil, Monochrome13, PayShaFan and andrewjeeves for the favs!
I apologize if I missed anyone, if I did just give me a shout out like 'Mirror, how could you?' Seriously all PMs are welcomed. :D
Wanna give a special thanks to, Burned Spy, 1, Buckeye am I, Too Hard To Be Called Love, byLunaA, XxstarburstmonterxX, JainaSyal, LadyMary33, MismatchedSocksandKnickers, Angelus320, Annika Sparks, smilin steph, FourHorses, Curiouser-and-Curiouser101, Someone and CSIflea! THANK Y'ALL! If I have missed you and your review, or follow, or fav, just PM and I'll fix that.
Guest Reviews:
Someone-Here is the update! I hope you enjoy. :D
1-Thank you so much! You alls reviews make my day. :D
I LOVED WRITING THIS CHAPTER! I don't know why, but I did. The only bad thing is my laptop is acting like a piece of junk and my wifi isn't working so I've been having to play computer tag (all possible by a flash drive) and jump to my main home put to upload this chapter. Hope you all enjoy!
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
'May Lead You Astray'
It was that feeling.
The one of pure dread that curled up right beneath your heart without a second of warning, and ripped fight through you in a tidal wave of fear in panic. "Ari?" Her voice came louder this time, echoing through the empty parking lot. Her fingers pressed against his skin that was so ice and cold that even she shuddered. His chest was the only part of his body that moved with deep, haggard breaths and her hands moved down to his collar. "Ari? Ari, come on, you have to wake up!"
It felt so wrong. With all he had survived in the past two days to die now, and Evelyn felt at a total lose at what to do. "Come on…" Evie took a deep breath, running a hand through her hair as she pulled back slightly to look at his body for a wound. In the inky blackness, she could see nothing. Reaching out with her hands, she searched around his stomach first then up around his torso. Then when her hand landed on his right shoulder did she feel something warm and wet. Blood, a jolt of panic as swift as lightning tore through her.
Biting her lip, she gently prodded the wound and felt the round tear that could only be made by one thing. A bullet.
"Oh, my god," she breathed out, and pressed down on the wound to try to stop the bleeding when in a blurred movement Ari's eyes snapped open and he pulled a blade from somewhere off his body and held it at her throat. Her eyes widened as a strangled gasp poured out of her lips and she stared down at him, heart hammering in her chest.
His eyes staring directly into hers. There was no panic in his eyes, no real fear, as if that death was expected and that scared her more than the blade at her throat. "Ari," she said, keeping her tone gentle and light.
His eyes narrowed, as if he were trying to see clearly and after a moment the knife dropped from her neck and he slumped back onto the ground. His eyes slid back closed. He couldn't just accept death—not if he wanted to live through this.
Her breath came out of her mouth as puffs of smoke, the night was freezing and she needed to get him somewhere warm soon fast. She had no idea how badly he was injured. Evelyn took a deep breath then wrapped her arms around him, and tried to pick him up off the ground. A painful breath escaped him, and she felt him tense underneath his hands. "I know, I know," she spoke to him, placating. "It hurts, but I can't help it. I have to get you to the car."
He didn't fight her, which surprised her. Blindly, she reached for her back door after hitting the button to unlock the car and struggled to get him in the backseat. Slipping her hand underneath his arms she hooked the around his back and lifted with all her might. His dead weight was too much for her to handle and she fell forward, sprawled onto of him across the backseat of her car with there legs hanging out the door. "Oh, God," she said, mortification welling in her throat. If anyone walked out right now, she could only imagine what it would look like. Carefully, she crawled off of Ari and slid his legs into the car before shutting the door firmly.
She stood there, her fingers pressed against the cool metal and wondered what the hell she was doing. She should go get Fornell, or someone to handle this, to take him to a hospital or something. Not Gibbs because Gibbs would just get a shovel and asked where to bury him. With deep, uneven breaths, Evelyn did none of things. All she did was get in her car and start the ignition pulling out of the parking lot while wondering what the hell was wrong with her all the while.
Ari couldn't stop shivering. He felt like he was floating in a dark abyss, just on the edge of consciousness-aware of his surroundings, but helpless to do anything about them. It was a disaster of his own making, he had baited and pushed Gibbs until the man had snapped. He felt the gentle roll of the car tires beneath the seats, and heard Evelyn's gentle whispers of reassurance. He didn't actually hear the words, but he could hear the tone in her voice as well as the edge of panic.
She was too good of a person. Men like him shouldn't be saved, they should be dropped in the nearest ditch to die. The world would be a safer place, but Evelyn hadn't left him there. Or perhaps couldn't. He had seen the fear as the blade pressed against the column of her throat, and felt regret for putting it in her eyes. But something, some fire had eclipsed that fear, and she had helped him anyways.
He leaned his head back until he could rest a little more comfortably against the backseat. He had hoped to disappear, by either death or by becoming someone else. Anyone else. All of his life, he killed people justifying it by saying it was for the greater good. He moved in and out of the shadows because men like he didn't deserve anything else, there was just too much blood on his hands. never emerged into sunlight.
He felt Evelyn's incredible eyes on him and could picture the frown on her very generous mouth. "Don't worry, Ari," she said, her voice soft and light. "We'll get you to a hospital."
"No!" The word tore through his body like hot ash and fire. The pain was searing from his bullet wound, and his lethargic limbs pained by being cold for too long. He felt Evie jump, and felt the car skid slightly before she got back under control.
"What? Why?" Evelyn demanded. "You need a hospital! You're bleeding from everywhere-"
"Not everywhere," Ari struggled with his breaths. He pushed away the fogginess of his mind, and pushed away the pain just as he was taught. "Just my shoulder."
"It doesn't matter!" Evelyn growled out. "You're hurt, I have to take you to the hospital."
"Take me home," Ari said. It was all about survival, he told himself. Wanting to stay with her was just a means to survive, and had nothing to do with those large, soulful blue eyes or her lush pink lips that were parted in shock. Even as he denied it, he couldn't help but think what it would be like for her to look at him with those eyes, look at him for no other reason other than she thought he was hers
Evie jolted, her eyes jerking up to the rearview mirror and met his dark gaze. "Ari…I-I can't," she said, trembling at the thought of him being in her house.
"Evelyn…" his voice sounded tired, defeated, so unlike him that it made her heart stop in her chest. "I have nowhere else to go."
With those worse, she felt her resolve crumble remembering a time when she too had nowhere else to go. The streets lights came and go as the car silently traveled down the road and she let out a long sigh. "Don't you dare die in this car," she hissed in warning.
"You that worried about me?" Ari asked, cockily.
And he's back. Evie rolled her eyes. "No," she scoffed lightly thought it lacked her usual bite. "I don't want to deal with the paperwork, or have any logical explanation to give to Gibbs."
Ari would have made a sarcastic comment, but refrained, too spent to even try at that moment. Too relieved that she was there, with her blue eyes that always saw through him. Through the lies, and right into him. With the sight of her blue eyes in his mind, Ari found himself drifting into a deep sleep.
It was that feeling.
The one where you could almost remember something, it was on the tip of your tongue, but in the end your memory failed. Gibbs took a deep drink of bourbon from his coffee cup, while studying the boat carefully. He got that feeling every time he saw Evelyn. There was something about the way her eyes looked like she was carrying a secret that could shatter the world. The way that she seemed too familiar, like a distance memory he couldn't connect with. Morrow and Fornell knew something. The surprised looks on their faces were something imprinted on his mind and he felt out of the loop. He hated not knowing something.
He took his frustrations by building on his boat listening to the late night news. "A shootout today in Great Falls National Park between FBI Agents and alleged Colombian drug dealers lead to the death of four suspects and one wounded Agent. One suspect is reported to have escaped on foot and a wide-spread manhunt is underway throughout the park."
Gibbs gritted his teeth together before shooting a glance up at the shadow lingering at the top of the stairs. "Suspected drug dealers, huh?" Gibbs barely contained a scoff. "Whose idea was that?"
Fornell smirked. "Secret Service," he said, walking down the stairs in a leisurely pace.
"They give Ari his "Get Out of Jail For Free" pass too?" Gibbs questioned, a bitter taste on his tongue when he said the bastard's name. Hopefully he would be bleeding out in a ditch somewhere, but as much as Gibbs wished that it was highly unlikely.
"No. We did that. CIA helped. But all the Directors agreed. Even yours," Fornell stated, watching Gibbs with a long stare. "Ari's father was Mossad. Probably knocked his mother up to get a son with Arab blood. Sent him to medical school to vet him as a doctor in Gaza. This guy's been a sleeper his entire life."
"I'd love to put him in a coma," Gibbs muttered under his breath. He didn't care about Ari's history, the man came after his team twice and that was two times too many for Gibbs.
"Al Qaeda funded this Hamas Op. Ari was just doing what he had to do to make his bones with them," Fornell explained, while wishing they had sent someone else.
"You tell that to my team," Gibbs snapped. He turned around to face the man, his expression fierce. "There is a line, Tobias. That bastard crossed it! You don't make your bones shooting friends!"
"What do you want us to do?" Fornell stated, his face blotching red. "The man has information on Hamas, Al Qaeda, and a lot more. He is willing to hand it over, Gibbs, and the higher ups don't care who gets stepped on along the way to get that information."
"I know that, damnit!" Gibbs did know and he didn't like it one bit. There was something about Ari, the coldness, the aloofness he held for everyone and everything around him. The man was a skilled manipulator and liar. He knew in his gut that it would lead to nothing good.
Fornell coughed. "How the hell do you breathe in all this dust?" He demanded, fanning the dust from around his face.
"I don't," Gibbs sighed, letting the anger drop out of his shoulders. There was no need to take it out Fornell, he doubted the man like the situation anymore than he does.
"You got anything to wash it down?" Fornell asked.
"On the top shelf," Gibbs pointed, "next to the paint stripper."
Fornell raised an eyebrow and pulled it down. He looked at the bottle then sent Gibbs a look. "Who drinks bourbon anymore?" He asked.
"I do," Gibbs defended.
"You got a glass?" Fornell asked.
"Upstairs and get a glass or… drink out of the bottle," Gibbs told him, with a light smirk.
Fornell just undid the top of the bottle, and took a drink before gasping harshly. "What the hell."
"It's a hundred twenty five proof. You sip it, Fornell," Gibbs chuckled, all too amused over Fornells sputtering.
Fornell wiped his tongue of his sleeve, and set the bottle down before taking in a deep breath. "The Directors want your word that you'll forget about Ari. After he gives us the information, we give him immunity and bury him a cover so deep that he can live his life out here in America," Fornell stated. "They don't want you messing that up."
Gibbs said nothing for a minute. "If I got payback, it won't be by blowing his cover. Why are you asking me this and not my director?" Gibbs asked, curiously.
"He refused to," Fornell stated, with an amused smile.
"Yeah," Gibbs chuckled. "All right. Fine. I'll forget about Ari."
Fornell paused. "That was too easy," Fornell shook his head. "What's the catch?"
"The catch," Gibbs crossed his arms over his chest, "is…what do you want with my agent, Tobias?"
"DiNatso?" Fornell asked.
"Evelyn," Gibbs narrowed his eyes.
"Oh. Her." Fornell said. "Superiors were curious. After all Ari seemed to have a fixation on her, not mention her work isn't too shabby. Perhaps they're thinking of giving her an offer."
"Matthews is mine," Gibbs stated, firmly. "She is staying at NCIS."
"Isn't that up to her?" Fornell said, baiting Gibbs.
Gibbs glared, and Fornell held up his hands. "Personally? I'd like her to stay at NCIS too. She's smart and sharp kid, but she's only loyal to one person and that's you."
Gibbs raised a silently eyebrow.
"Oh, come on, Gibbs, it's not surprising. The girl thinks the sun sets and rises with you," Fornell said, not believing that Gibbs was really that obtuse. "She would do well anywhere, but with you she's better."
Gibbs cracked his neck, before grabbing some of his tools and getting to work on his boat. Fornell's answers were good, but Gibbs could feel his bullshit meter going off. He was going to get his answers, and he didn't care who he was going to have to step on to get them. His brows pinched, troubled and he looked over at Fornell. "When you got Evelyn…how was she?"
"Physically? The kid looked like she had been pulled through a ringer. Haswari wasn't looking too good either," Fornell said, getting the unease suspicious he wasn't going to like where this was headed.
"I don't give a damn about Ari," Gibbs snapped, unable to help himself. His hands dripped the sandpaper so tightly he could feel it bite into his skin. "I want to know about Evelyn," he said, once he managed to calm himself down. "How was she? Around Ari?"
Gibbs say Tobias wince, and he felt his heart sink slightly. No, Evelyn would not be that stupid. Gibbs told himself. She just couldn't. She was too smart to fall for Ari's charm.
"She seemed…" Fornell searched for a way to say it without pissing him off. He got nothing. "At ease with him. Given what they went through I don't find it surprising."
Gibbs twisted the sandpaper in his hands before going back to work on his boat with a fierce and silent determination as disappointment welled up within him. He thought Evelyn knew better than that. He thought he had taught her better than that. With a sigh Fornell left Gibbs in peace, letting the man stew in his thoughts. After all, he had a busy night ahead of him thanks to Ari Haswari and Evelyn Matthews.
These are the days that I hate my job, Fornell thought.
Evelyn pulled the car into park in front of her house. She sat there for a long moment, before shaking her head violently. "What am I thinking?" She asked herself.
You're not, came a voice that sounded suspiciously like Gibbs. With a deep frown, she looked back at Ari and studied his expression. It would have been peaceful if not for each time he drew in a breath his face contorted in agony. You're too involved, Matthews, the voice warned.
"It's too late now," she whispered back, and unbuckled her seat belt. Sliding out the door, she opened the back door, and thought about how she was going to get Ari out and to the house. Leaning in so she had one foot on the floorboard, and was half way over him, she said, "Ari…Ari, I need you to help me. I need you to help me get you to the house-"
"Shhh," Ari's lips parted, his voice sounding slurred. "Don't make a sound…they only hurt you more if you make a sound. Endure the pain…you can endure it."
Evelyn stared down at his blanched face, unable to form a word for a moment. Good God, what happened to you? She couldn't help, but think. Licking her dry lips, she agreed in a whisper, "Okay. I'll be quiet. I won't make a sound. I'm going to get you out of this, Ari. I promise."
Ari's face contorted, his next words a jumbled mess that she couldn't understand. His pulse was jumping in his throat, and his breaths became uneven. Her hand reached out and her fingers brushed along his forehead checking for a temperature and exploded off of the backseat. The next thing she knew was her back was pressed harshly against her gravel driveway and Ari was above her, both his hands wrapped around his neck. She gasped, but no air came. She tried to move, but Ari had her sufficiently pinned.
Her world began to fade into darkness, as panic burst through her mind. Suddenly, Ari's eyes widened and he let go. She kicked him in the stomach, shoving him away while scrambling backwards to put distance between him and her.
Greedily, she sucked in air and glared up at him. He looked at her, his dark eyes filled with confusion and tad remorseful. Ari reached forward, and Evelyn tensed. "Stay back," she snarled, her fingers rubbing her swollen throat. He could have killed her in seconds, and damnit it would have been her own fault for bringing him here in the first place. She wiped away the tears that slid down her cheeks, and wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed forgetting the last few days ever happen.
"I'm sorry."
"Shut. Up."
He obeyed the order, and moved back a foot to give her more room. She sat there on the uncomfortable gravel, cursing her stupidity. Finally, she drew in a deep sigh and demanded, "Are you insane? What is wrong with you?"
"It was a reflex," Ari explained.
"Reflex," Evie said, her lips twisted downward. "Killing people is a reflex for you?"
Ari gave her a look that said 'do you remember who you are talking to'. "I didn't kill you," he stated, breezily.
"But you could have," Evelyn countered.
"Yes…" Ari admitted, the timber in his voice deepening. "I could have."
Evelyn stared at him, hard before looking over at her house. Ari was in no condition to be left alone and she certainly was no nurse. Why did she put herself in this situation again? She pressed her face into her hands, letting out a long groan. "No one comes into my house. I don't like it. What is wrong with me?"
Ari stayed silent through her mini meltdown, and she was honestly thankful for that. If he had said something she probably would have burst into to tears or anger which ever hit her first. Drawing up her strength, she pushed herself forward towards him and looked him straight in the eye. "Are you strong enough to help me get you to the house?" She asked.
Surprised filled Ari. He was certain after his second attack on her that she would turn him away, and she didn't. A feeling of awe and admiration soared in his chest as he looked at her. Evelyn felt her cheeks warm as he stared at her with some unnamable emotion in his eyes. Compressing her mouth into a threatening line, she added, "And if you so much as attack me again, you'd better make sure to kill me because you won't live through it if you don't."
She was serious. Very so. Her threat however made him want to laugh, not that he didn't think she wouldn't try to go through with it because he had no illusions that if threatened she would defend herself. But because he could see the worry and compassion in her gaze, and he really just didn't understand it one tiny bit. His stomach rolled, and he let out a watery groan feeling like he was about to throw up. His hand reached out for her blindly and she shifted sliding herself under his arm so he could use her as a crutch. They both nearly toppled over, his weight almost too much for Evleyn's delicate frame, but he steadied himself.
Little rockets full of pain exploded behind his eyes and he knew he must have given himself a concussion when he passed out from blood loss. As they got close to the house, he felt Evelyn began to tremble and slow, as if reluctant. They stepped onto the porch, and Evelyn stared at the door as if it were going to reach out a swallow her whole. Her fingers shook as she put in the key, and unlocked it. She shoved open the door, and stood stock still.
"I have to lie down." Ari really did. And it was going to have to be soon. He wasn't sure what was troubling Evelyn. At first, he would have said second thoughts, but this was something deeper. Darker.
He heard her grind her teeth. They crossed the threshold, and a shudder ran from her head to her toes, and she was cursing herself under her breath all the way. Her eyes peered through the darkness, and she lead him to the living room. "You can lay on the couch," she told him. "It's closer than any of the bedrooms."
"That is acceptable," Ari nodded. He was in no position to
Her fingers curled in his wet clothes, holding on tight. "I'm going to have to take off your wet clothes. The parking garage did nothing to shield you from the downpour," she murmured out, dispassionately as if he weren't a man at all and she wasn't about to strip him.
Ari's lips curled upward in a smirk. "I knew you couldn't wait to get me naked," he chuckled then hissed when Evelyn seemingly accidentally twisted his hurt arm.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she apologized, insincere. "Did that hurt?" She looked up at him out of the corner of her eyes. He glared as she set him down on the couch. He hissed as he leaned back against the overly stuffed and comfy couch and practically sunk into it. She stared up at him, looking him over trying to figure out what to do next. "We need to get that bullet out of you," she said, her voice barely more than a whisper.
"It went clean through," Ari said, his expression tightening. "You are going to need a needle and thread, towel and rubbing alcohol. You have those, don't you?" He asked, after a moment.
"Yes…I should," Evie nodded, her mind racing. "Don't move."
His lips twitched. "I am not going anywhere," he said, a bit of humor mixed in with the painful groan.
She didn't bother answering his wry response, and headed towards the kitchen. She pulled open her junk drawer retrieving the needle and thread before rushing up the bathroom. She slammed the closet open and reached in a snag a towel, tossing it over her shoulder. She opened the mirror cabinet, knocked things out of the way in her haste to find the rubbing alcohol. She snatched the bottle off the shelf as soon as she found it. Panic throbbed through her veins, and she was breathless by the time she returned to Ari's side. She sat down beside him and set all the items out across the couch.
"Okay…I have all of it," she said, running her hands over all the items, instinctively double checking. "We need to get your shirt off, so I can get to the wound."
Ari nodded his consent, and Evelyn hands reached for the hem of his shirt. Grasping it, she slowly lifted it up as Ari used all his strength to sit up. "Sorry," she whispered, as he grimaced as she moved his wounded arm. "Sorry." She lifted it over his head, and pulled it free. Ari let out a long breath of relief, falling back on the couch. Evelyn's set his shirt off the side, and winced at the angry looking wound. Dried blood coated the outside of the wound, and it swollen and red looking. Taking the rag soaking it in alcohol, and warned, "This is going to sting."
"I've had worse," Ari replied.
I'm sure you have, she thought with light doubt. His bronze torso was covered in scars, and each one looked horribly painful. "Lean forward. We'll get your back first," she said, and Ari complied. As gently as she could, she slowly cleaned the wound. He watched her every movement carefully through half-closed eyes. He was tense and alert, every muscle coiled ready for pain that would come. She moved cautiously, knowing that wrong movement could set off his instincts and she brushed away the last specks of blood. With a shaky hand, she set the rag down beside her while picking up the bottle of alcohol.
Her blue eyes looked at him regretfully, before she tipped the bottle and allow the clean liquid to flow over his wound. Ari gave a slight jerk, but no other indication he felt the burning sting inside his wound. His face looked as if it were carved of stone as he focused on spot on the far wall. Evelyn set the bottle down, before grabbing the rag and cleaning off the droplets that ran down his back. His muscles contracted underneath her touch, startled by the warmth of her fingers as they accidentally brushed along his skin.
"You really should be in a hospital," Evelyn regarded him, her blue eyes darkening as she looked at him.
Ari's lips curled upward, as she sterilized the needle and soak the thread as well. Her thigh pressed against his as she scooted closer for a better angle. "I can't," he replied, his hand reaching out and rested on her knee just where her skirt came to an end. He ran the pad of his thumb back and forth, marveling at the softness of her skin.
She stiffened, and looked down at the hand on her leg, her lips twisted downward. "I don't like people touching me," she told him, ignoring the pleasant hum that went through her as he stroked her knee lovingly.
"I don't like it either," he said, truthfully. He had never admitted that to anyone. It didn't particularly matter, it never changed the face he did what had to be done. His was a natural avoidance of closeness with others driven into him since he was young child, but Evelyn…it wasn't because she didn't want to be held or to hold. Distance for her was a shield, to keep others from getting too close, to keep herself from getting hurt. Ari tilted his head and studied her face. "I don't think my touch bothers you that much," he said, stroking his thumb back and forth.
She blinked. Then her gaze narrowed. "Don't profile me," she told him, using the towel harshly wipe his bullet wound clean one last time.
It made Ari chuckle. "You have such a penchant for violence."
She looked at him in disbelief. "This coming from the man who smashed my head into a wall," she shook her head, raising the needle after threading it.
"I do regret that," Ari told her.
"I don't think you do," Evelyn said, holding the needle above the wound. "You kidnapped me twice."
"I regret hurting you. Not the kidnapping," Ari amended after a moment. "Do it quickly."
Evelyn's eyes flickered up to his before she gave a slight nod, and buried the needle down into his skin. "Oh, god," she said, as blood came pouring out as she tore into the flesh. She shuddered started to stitch the wound closed, pulling the thread tight before bring it back down to his skin.
She punctured it through, and bit her lip harshly as little rivulets of blood slowly ran down his back. Evelyn felt her fingers tremble, and Ari gently squeezed her knee reassuringly. She finished the stitches, and wiped her eyes before coming around to sit in front of him. Re-soaking the towel with fresh alcohol and slowly wiped away the blood, with a diligent attention. She didn't think she had seen so much blood since the car crash. The blood sprayed across the windshield…her mother's face…unflinching, dripping with blood… "How can you not flinch?" She asked, her hand lingering on the wound as she finished the stitching.
"You learn not to," Ari answered, his voice toneless. So dispassionate as if merely talking about weather.
Evelyn stared at the blood, more affected by the sight than she thought possible. She hated blood. If it had been hers, she wouldn't have a problem. But it wasn't hers. It was dripping red, and she suddenly had a flash back to the car crash. Her mother's face, half gone and blood dripping down onto her lap. Soaking…soaking her in blood. A lump form in her throat as her tightened preparing for a scream when she jerked at the light touch underneath her eye.
Ari had reached up wiping away her tears, and her head jerked up, her wide blue eyes questioning. Then slowly she raised a hand to brush her cheeks and felt the hot tears on her finger tips. Ari's eyes narrowed a fraction curiously, but he said nothing. "Let me…" Evelyn looked down at her handiwork. "Let me get some bandages, so I can get that all wrapped up. I'll be right back," she reassured him, pulling away from him.
Ari's body trembled at the loss of warmth, and he watched her disappear around the dark corner. She had remarkable control given the circumstances, if the roles had been reversed Ari didn't know if he could have been as tolerant. His dark eyes moved across the dark shadows of the room, making out the layout. He noticed she kept the windows covered up, or hidden behind large objects. A man in his profession could admire the paranoia behind it all, but why did Evelyn feel this need to shelter herself in? He also noticed the lack of photos. Paintings hung on the walls, but not a single photograph save for the one he saw on his way in of Evelyn and an older lady.
There were none of Evelyn when she was younger, none with her father, it was as if nothing of her past existed at all. It had been the same way in the file he had received, a giant gap before she awoke alone in that hospital. He had been tempted to ask, but he knew that if he did, Evelyn would immediately clam up. Or worse, kick him out. In his condition, he couldn't afford for either of those things to happen.
"You're lucky I'm in such a dangerous job," Evelyn's voice drew him back to the present. "Otherwise I might not have had all the stuff you needed." She fell silent as she wrapped his bandages, and Ari offered no conversation, too lost in his thoughts. It was only when he felt her press a small plastic bottle in his hands did he looked up.
"Painkillers," Evie told him, bemused.
Ari looked at her, his eyes sharp. "I do not need them," he stated, firmly. He moved his arm, assessing her bandage work. It was good for someone who had little medical training and certainly did the job.
"Don't be a stubborn mule," Evelyn frowned, as she pulled the blanket off the back of the couch. "You're going to need them at some point. They act as a fever reducer and that wound is likely to get infected. I may not have a medical degree, but even I know that," she placed her hands on her hips and scowled down at him.
The sight was quite adorable to Ari, as much as it was intriguing. His eyes rolled across the flush on her cheeks up to the sapphire eyes gleaming as hot as fire with determination. "And when I fall to the fever then I will take them," he said, turning away knowing his dismissal would only serve to anger her up even further.
Her cheeks deepened in color, and her eyes narrowed. Her fingers twisted the blanket violently in her hand and he had a feeling she was wishing it was his neck. She took a deep breath, to calm herself before getting back to the matter at hand. "You're going to need to take your pants off," Evelyn stated, feeling her face flush. It suddenly felt scorching hot in the room, and the look that Ari sent her didn't help at all.
His lips pulled into a smoldering smirk. "They're soaking wet, and won't help keep you warm at all," she tried to stop him before he began, and she cursed herself when her voice faint to her own ears.
"Why don't you help me?" His voice was deep, rough with passion and she felt her body pulse, answering the dark promise in his eyes. Evelyn stood there froze by it, her chest suddenly felt heavy and the hot burning need from the night in the cabin was back full force.
She closed her eyes, repeating her mantra that just because she was attracted did not mean she had to act, before letting a long breath. When she opened her eyes regarding him, coolly and walked over to him. She went about it mechanically, or at least she tried. Her fingers went to the button on his jeans, and she could see his smug look. He was challenging her the bastard. Damn him. And damn her to for eagerly accepting it to. Her fingers quaked as she fumbled with the button, before on her fourth try to release it. Her fingers dug into the hem of his jeans and she started to pull down. Ari lifted his hips upward to help her slid them off, but the gesture instead ignited fireword inside her stomach. Oh, God, she wanted to slap herself. Why did I ever think this was going to be easy?
She tried not to touch his skin, but every inch she drew the pants down, her fingers brushed his thighs. Each time the look in Ari's eyes got darker, and her breath would hitch in her throat. His skin was like velvet wrapped in steel, and she could feel the strength coiled just beneath her finger tips. She felt her heart pounding in her ears, and she closed her eyes trying to push away all thoughts and just focus on getting him warm. That of course made her think of several inappropiate things that left her just back where she started. It felt like eternity before she had his pants free, and she did her damnest not to look at his private area. But from what she saw straining against his briefs, Ari had a very...very large... "I'll let you sleep," Evelyn stated, abruptly and laid the cover over him. She was fighting not to look him in the eye right tha very second. She felt dizzy and her body felt out of her control. She didn't like it. Not one tiny iota.
"Don't go yet."
She gave him that little frown, the one where the ends of her lips barely tipped downward and an indention appear in her brow as her blue eyes looked at him as if she weren't sure what to make of him. He just wanted her close, and he knew she felt this pull as well. It took all his control not to give into it, because if he did, he knew he would frighten her. She was already frighten by her desire, he could see that.
"Look, Ari…" She turned away from him, and rubbed her cheeks in an attempt to cool herself down. "In case you haven't figured it out, I don't like people in my home. It…it's a pet peeve of mind. I can barely stand having someone in here for ten minutes, let alone for…for even longer. As soon as morning comes, I'm going to call Fornell." And with you gone I won't feel like this.
Ari repressed a groaned lightly. He had forgotten about Fornell, and his deal with for protection. He'd have to pay the piper soon, or all his efforts to escape Mossad and his father would be all for naught. He shivered beneath the blankets, suddenly afraid for her. For himself. He couldn't imagine what would happen to him if any of his enemies or his father came after him, and he shuddered to think what would happen to Evelyn if they discovered how much she had come to mean to him.
"You're still cold. I'll get you another blanket," she said, before disappearing out his sight again.
He really didn't like that. He felt himself tense, in alarm waiting for her to return. He kept his face turned toward the door way, his head slightly off the pillow. Breathing a sigh of relief, he watched her reappear around the corner with another blanket in hand, and she carefully drew it over him. This time she was make sure the cover was snug to keep him warm. He felt his breathing change, as heat flooded through him. Her tiny hands even through the blanket stirred the fire in his blood. He gritted his teeth together. He had always been in control of his body, taught to use it to manipulate others through his practiced touch, and it was always he who commanded his body's responses, never his lovers.
And with one simple touch this woman managed to unravel years of brutal training in a split second.
He took a breath and let himself absorb the feel of her hands on him, tucking the blanket around him to him warm. He wanted to laugh at the absurdity of being turned on by being tucked in. He had wanted her ever since he laid eyes on her in autopsy. A moth drawn to her flame. He wanted to taste her in his mouth, to touch every inch of skin branding it with his kiss, seek refuge deep inside her-so deep that they'd become one. His body tightened, and harden, and it took everything in him to sit still as she drew back away from him.
"You haven't asked me." He desperately sought some kind of distraction to cool his body, and stifle his reaction.
"Asked you what?" Evelyn asked, taking a seat on the couch. Her shoulders were slumped, and she looked exhausted like she wasn't going to be getting up anytime soon. Every ounce of her strength and spent and exhaustion was playing its alluring tune. She let herself fall to it eagerly, so she didn't have to keep thinking about Ari...in that way. She leaned against the soft cushion of the large sectional, there was four feet between her and Ari who sat on the other end. Rolling onto her side, she asked, "Your scars? Would you tell me if I asked?"
"As much as I can," Ari nodded.
Evelyn looked at him, for a long moment. It was a hell of a lot safer territory than the low hum of desire that was slowly cooling in her veins. "The cut on your right hip, just above your thigh," she asked, recalling it from when she was stitching him up.
"Eygpt. Seven years ago, with a knife. It cut so deep I saw my muscles," Ari replied.
"The one on your right arm, just underneath your elbow," her voice was quiet, and her expression was blank. Her eyes however were grave, and filled with so much.
"Mapped my entire body out have you?" Ari gave her a smug look. She raised an eyebrow in return, but he saw her fighting a smile. "Japan. A passing bullet."
"You know every scar," Evelyn mused, softly.
"I earned everyone," Ari replied back. Evelyn gave him that look, the one where her eyes reached out towards him like she wanted to help, but didn't know how.
Evelyn looked down at her hands, her eyes barely able to stay open anymore. How could anyone go through all he had and stay half as sane he was? How could anyone put a child through that? She drew in a long breath, and raised her gaze to him once more. "The one I had to stitch up?"
He contemplating the question longer than she thought he would before finally answering. "Your father."
"Hmm," Evelyn acknowledged. Gibbs was a lot different than the man from her childhood memories. Worn, battered and roughened. He was a man who had seen loss and lost more than anyone should and it had hardened him. Part of her, the little girl deep down, wanted to be horrified. The other half, the agent, understood where his anger stemmed from. "You're lucky he didn't shoot to kill," she murmured out, tiredly.
"How do you know he didn't?" Ari questioned.
"He's a sniper. One of the best. If he wanted to kill you Ari, he would have," Evelyn felt her eyes drift close against her will and she sagged against the couch thoroughly spent. "Did you want him to…" Her words were slurred as exhausted was pulling her in deep.
"Want him to what?"
"Kill…you…" And that was the last Evelyn knew.
Ari didn't answer. He couldn't because he couldn't honestly admit to himself that was what he wanted. He watched her breathing even out, and knew she was fast asleep. She looked so tiny as she curled up into a tiny ball to keep herself warm. Groaning, Ari picked himself up off the couch and gritted his teeth against the burning pain in his shoulder. He got to his feet unsteadily and took one of the blankets she had given him, and draped it over her, gently.
Her face was so peaceful, unlike when she was awake. All her cares lost in the back of her mind, and he found himself longing to see that expression on her face when she was with him, wide awake. He shook his head lightly. He had to let go of these thoughts. He could not have Evelyn in his life, he could not even entertain the thought. At least, that's what he told himself as he leaned down pressing a kiss on her forehead. She gave a light murmur, and shifted slightly.
He pulled back and went back to his side of the sectional, and as he fell asleep, he knew that he was fighting a losing battle.
Evelyn had slept good.
In fact, better than she had in a long time. She could feel the comfy couch underneath her and felt the familiarity of the surrounding walls. Her home wrapped her up in a warm and safe feeling, and she was about to drift back off into sleep when the feeling that awoke her happened again. Something touching her shoulder. Her brows furrowed, and she muttered out, "What the hell?" She rolled over, and came face to face with a dark pair of eyes. Instinctively, she pulled back and her hand went to her hip and to retrieve her gun, but it wasn't there.
Ari had it hanging from his hands. He raised an eyebrow, and said, "I had a feeling you'd be trigger happy like your father."
Evelyn groaned as last night came rushing back destroying the warm feeling in her chest. She pressed her face into her hands before tossing him a glare. "I don't believe for a second that you didn't bait him into shooting you," she said, shoving off the blanket before giving it a double take in confusion.
"It's like you know me," Ari's voice was flat. His body was tense and alert. "Someone is coming up your road."
"What?" Evie shot him a wary look. "That's why you woke me up? Because you think someone is coming up my road?"
"I hear tires against the gravel," he explained. "And it's getting louder. They are definitely on the road to your house. Are you expecting anyone?" He asked, his lips in a fine line.
"No…" Evelyn said, brushing her hair out of her face as the sound of a car door slamming shut reached her. Her brows furrowed, and she looked at Ari. "Stay here. I'll be right back."
"No," Ari shook his head. "I will cover you-"
"Ari, chill. I'm sure it's nothing."
"Nothing?" Ari expression went artic. "You think I can't see that you are worried someone is following you? Hunting you? You have thread on half the windows, the others blocked. Everything about your house is made to catch an intruder."
"That…that isn't any of your business," she barely managed to get out, as she felt her stomach flip. Eric Wells may be dead, but the impact he had on her life hadn't completely faded away just yet. "Just stay here," she ordered, angrily before rushing towards the front door. Her feet smacked against the wooden floor as she muttered obscenities under her about Ari and calling Fornell as soon as possible. She was already half way down the hallway when someone knocked on the door. "Hold on!" She called out. Her fingers hurriedly, unlocked the door and she pulled it open. Shock bolted through her like lightning along with a healthy amount of fear and she stood there, frozen.
"Oh…" Was the only syllable that escaped her mouth.
DUN DUN DUN! Yes, admittedly I planned this cliffhanger, but at this point, are you all surprised? Hope you enjoyed reading! :D
PREVIEW FOR NEXT CHAPTER: A missing DNA test makes suspicions run high. Ari has a horrible realization while Evelyn is forced into an awkward position, and more guests arrive.
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