Disclaimer: I own nothing. Not Gibbs, not Ari, no one do I own. This is all for amusement. There I said it, now can someone have Ari put the gun down slowly…
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)-ARLYN SHALL RULE THE WORLD-
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 also want to thank, athena9090, 777musiclover, UKgirl17, Tig442, Thedarkstorm,asdfaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, 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, Cosmos89, doggy bye, goldengloss, GibbsTonyZivaTim, CSIflea, FictionWriter09, ange1993, RedRiver21, winterhail, Tenshi of Heaven, MusicLover500, TwilightLover162, Romantic Journalist, JrSnape, xLyraCharlottex, JamesBond2007, Lizzy2586, SkullKey4758, Shades-Soul, lightningx94, ihateyoubaby, GryffindorWolfSlytherinHybrid, I am One with the Wind and Sky, OzNCISLover, Suddenly Psychotic, ElizabethMartin101, summercampgoddess, LTree16, RedEyedSurprise, katgirl9585, EmeraldFox01, Flausch, RAD092515, LegalAddiction20, ginny917, Som3on3, dogsrme, Hikari no Hoshi, thedarkrstorm, Tig442, UKgirl71, 777musiclover, athena9090, The Italian Rose, bera0053, LadyPheonixKnight, saji235, ljcolic, Ella-Zoe, newbeth, dallas1990, Mermaidmom, klosteca, Tsadras, coffeee, DarkWolf80, JibbsRibbsNCISMOTIVELover, DoodleBugNY, deanambrosewife2014, deadbyapril122, juniper81182, celticicegoddess, DABraning, Thai iced tea, Nessa Faelivrin, bloodshadows, BlueGirl 1234, tammy henson and andrewjeeves for the favs!
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, Angelhaggis, starwarsfan1000, goldengloss, GibbsTonyZivaTim, Irjuni92, pinkrangerforever, persephone829, Forest Angel, RedRiver21, Nightwing's Gal, Emerald Pixie Dust, peacesista123, RogueShadow94, TwilightLover162, x-xLittle-Miss-Brown-Eyesx-x, x-X-x-Donna-x-X-x, xLyraCharlottex, Danielle89, Dark Alana, JamesBond2007, Lizzy2586, SocietyMember, SkullKey4758, Shades-Soul, tomboy4997, ihateyoubaby, lachicarebelde22, D3ANwasH3R3, othlvr16, GryffindorWolfSlytherinHybrid, Firecrane930, Dreamsb223, I am One With the Wind and Sky, Paddy and Moony's Angel, Suddenly Psychotic, gotta-love-acheron, Ugla, Willow Tree 26, Soccergirl0388, Collingwood39, Jowin28, sammyboyaldaway, BoredZero, RedEyedSurprise, katgirl9585, EmeraldFox01, Stars2008, Darkwitch716, NavyGirl05, bloodshadows, LegalAddiction20, Skyagon, jowhity, Som3on3, Rianna Hunter, dogsrme, Hikari no Hoshi, Souls of the Blue Fire Pheonix, thedarkrstorm, MeliaAlexander, Tig442, BlackIce33, silkly0670, Ladycat21201, 777musiclover, , jessgreenslade, animefreakv23 the beast, FarmerLiv, hummingbird23, Limetka.111, LadyPheonixKnight, saji235, Daniellee217, Emerald Pixie Dust, Jay O-Niell, newbeth, solarangelsuki, Archyrr, AlexJMP, klosteca, K8Y, jcena'sgirl557744, laurabhouse7, Tsadras, JibbsRibbsNCISMOTIVELover, SnowLeopard167, Sir-Tannin, SlySn4ke, DoodleBugNY, Setsuka Neko, Tehya Riddick, TheGirlWhoWaited, Nessa Faelivrin, juniper81182, celticicegoddes, DABraning, Thai iced tea, hsk26, Loutolson, tammy henson and zebraclrgard for all the follows!
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 And I know I lost some favs, and follows, but I'm keeping y'all on here anyways.
Wanna give a special thanks to, tammy henson, Buckeye am I, lilnudger82, Suddenly Psychotic, Burned Spy, cwatker222 for the reviews! THANK Y'ALL! If I have missed you and your review, or follow, or fav, just PM and I'll fix that.
Guest Reviews:
RidingAngelxspy: Our journey is at an end here, but we always have Spooks Edition. All I can say is thank you for your wonderful reviews, they were some of the best parts of writing this story is to see what everyone would think and your responses really keep me going. As for how everything turns out, I hope that you like the ending. I look forward to reading it whenever you get finished! :D Glad you like the soundtrack, and thank you for support. Hopefully one day soon I will have my own books, and I'm glad to know that I have a reader in you. :D
You have a nice week, and good luck with the writing. Hope your muse helps move your fingers across the keyboard and filled with loads of inspiration. *big hugs*
-ThroughtheMirror
THE END IS HERE! Go check out The Girl in Memory: Spooks Edition, and give it some love people. Pretty please with a cherry on top? :D
CHAPTER THIRTY
'IF IT SO MUST END...'
The nightmare hadn't ended. It had only just taking a break. The insane thought raced through Gibbs's mind as he raced through the hospital hallway. He was livid. No, livid was not a sufficient word for the anger that was coursing through him. His heart was rapidly pounding beneath his chest, and he teeth ground together as medical staff hurried up and down the hallway for the lockdown. Every room, every exit was being locked down, but he had no doubt that Paloma was just as crazy as her brother. It wouldn't matter if she got out or not. She just wanted one thing.
Him dead, or his daughter. Neither was option. He would simply not allow it. He would not die today, and he was sure as hell not losing his daughter. Never again.
Part of her just wanted to crumble to the floor and just give up. It felt like the universe had pitied itself against her every chance it could. The other part of her knew that giving up was not an option. It wasn't just her life that was at stake her. So many lives were at stake and she could not help, but feel that it was partially her fault. "We can't stay here," Evelyn looked around the hospital room trying to come up with some kind of plan. "Who knows what Paloma has done. She could have taken a nurse or doctor hostage. It wouldn't take a lot of effort to figure out which room the FBI has been guarding or why."
"Well, geez, Matthews tell me something I don't know," Fornell groused, darkly. His gun was in his hand as he peered out the hallway where nurses and doctors were hurrying into rooms for a lockdown.
"Shut up, Fornell. I'm thinking," Evelyn snapped at him.
"What is going on?" Ari demanded, with a glare.
Evelyn turned toward him, and swallowed thickly. "Something bad," she told him, her hand landed on his arm in an unconscious gesture of comfort.
"That answers nothing," Ari stated, shortly.
"Look, Ari, I wish I had the time to answer you," Evelyn looked at him, her wide blue eyes pleading with him. "But I don't. We don't. We have to more you out of here."
"I don't understand," he looked frustrated, and his eyes were filled up with a horrible confusion.
Evelyn clenched her eyes closed and pressed her forehead against the hospital bed as a breath shuddered through her before she lifted her head, and looked Ari straight in the eyes. "Do you trust me?" She asked, softly.
"What?" He blinked.
"Do…you trust me?" She repeated.
Ari stared at her for a long time, and her heart sank with every second before his fingers glided down her arm and his hand land over hers. "I don't know why…but I do," he said, softly. His brown eyes filled with frank astonishment. "I do trust you."
"Then trust me now," she pleaded, softly.
Ari swallowed thickly, several emotions flickered through his gaze before Evelyn could figure them out, and he leaned up out of the bed with great difficultly. "Alright," he swallowed thickly. "Tell me what I need to do."
Evelyn took in a deep breath. "Just lean on me, okay?"
Gibbs marched down the hallway with purpose. Tony was right by his side, covering his six. The hallways were practically empty now and quiet as the grave. The emergency lights flickered and there was an electric hum in the air. He didn't know which would be worse, knowing Evelyn was somewhere in this hospital where any moment Reynosa could turn the a corner and find her. The thought of his daughter being the target of a gun made his gut jolt though logically he told himself that Evelyn had been in situation like this before.
Gibbs rounded a corner, and he saw Paloma Reynosa rushing down the hallway. "Freeze!" Gibbs barked out, taking an am at the woman's temple. Before he could pull the trigger, she darted around the corner and Gibbs let out a violent curse. The chase was on, his feet hitting the floor with a thunderous sound as he ran as fast as his legs would take him. The bad feeling in the pit of his gut increased tenfold and he had to stop here before anyone got hurt.
Kate was on her way back from picking up something from a vending machine when it all happened. Everyone was scrambling about, and when she tried to get an answer as to why no one had a good one. She had her hand on her gun, the holster unhooked for quick access as she made her way down the hallway warily. Her high heels clicked against the tile floor, loudly and she could feel the tension creep along her spine. As the overheard lights went off and the emergency lights kicked on as the last nurses, doctors filed into rooms and locking them, Kate realized something truly bad must have happened. "Shit," she quickened her pace only to jolt backwards when a door swung open.
She tensed ready to draw out her gun when she came face to face with Director David. A breath hissed through her clenched teeth as her shoulders slumped. "Director David, I think you should go back into the room," she stated, without preamble. She didn't have time to give the man an explanation. It wouldn't have done any good since she didn't have one, but she didn't want to be accused of some kind of negligence if worse came to worse.
"Agent Todd," Eli pinned her with a scrutinizing gaze. He wondered idly if he would be able to get information from his son from her. While he had not doubt she would be tight lipped, he knew from her background that she was family oriented. He could try to play for her sympathy. "I would wondering if I may have a word."
"Director David, I don't think now is the time…" Kate asked, cordially though there was a sharpness to her gaze that spoke volumes. Obviously, the good Director had not gotten wind that something was going down being cooped up in the office.
"Please, it is about my son, Ari-" And that was all he was able to get out before he heard the unmistakable pop of a gun going off echoed off the hospital walls. He stumbled back at the feeling of blood splattering on his face and he watched as the NCIS agent fell to the ground with a thud. He had a split second to register the fact that a woman stood there with a gun in her hand, before he heard the sound of footsteps rush towards him.
"She is armed!" Eli David warned, loudly. He saw the woman pin a glare on him to which Eli matched with one of his own. While he was many things, he was not a coward. If he were to die then he would die, it was as simple as that. However, as it was the woman turned away from him, her gun still trained on Agent Todd's head. Eli glanced upward in time to see Gibbs and DiNozzo came around the corner. Gibbs came an abrupt halt, and his face sagged in shock. He felt as if the air had been punched out of him. His blue eyes stared down at Paloma's feet as the blood drained out of his face. It was Kate. Kate was out cold, her face pressed against the tile floor and her eyes were closed. Blood pooled from somewhere underneath her, but Gibbs could not see wound.
"Kate," Tony croaked, his eyes horrified. A pain like no other ripped through him, and it felt as if his heart had been ripped right out of her chest. He should have went with her, he thought as a painful lump formed in the back of his throat. She had insisted that a quick trip to the vending machine did not warrant back up, but he still should have went with her. His gut told him something was wrong, and he ignored it. His eyes narrowed with rage as he stared down the barrel of his gun at Paloma who calmly stood over Kate's body, gun poised at her head.
"She isn't dead," Paloma informed them, a gleeful smile tugged at her lips. "No, she is still breathing. You see, Agent Gibbs," her grin grew as she watched his jaw clench, "I had mistake her for you daughter and well, her death…is going to be a long one."
"You'll never get the chance," Gibbs spat.
"You never thought I'd get a chance like this," Paloma taunted. "But here we are, aren't we?" The twin doors swung open, and Fornell stepped through them then cursed violently bring his gun up. "Ah, ah, wouldn't want sweet Catlin dead would we?" Her gaze went past them and her grin became positively vicious. "And look who has finally joined the party? Come on now, Kelly, why don't you join the party?"
Evelyn, to her credit, walked through the doors with her head held high and Ari stumbled along side of her. His hand on his wrist as he tried to tug her behind him, but Evelyn wouldn't let him.
"Ari," Eli breathed out, a mournful gleam to his expression just for a split second. Ari spared him a confused, narrowed eyed look.
Fornell grimaced and looked at Gibbs apologetically. "I tried to get her out, Gibbs," the FBI told him.
"It's not your fault Fornell," Gibbs said, lightly.
Paloma's lip curled upward in a sneer. "The family is all here…well, mostly," she hissed out with a cruel edge to her laughter. "All about family, aren't you? It is a bit hypocritical when you think about it since you are all about tearing families apart, aren't you, Agent Gibbs?"
Gibbs said nothing, just glowered.
"And what about you, Kelly Gibbs?" Paloma stated.
"What about me, Paloma Reynosa?" Evelyn shot back, frostily. "Yes, I know you name, too. It is nice to finally be able to put a name to a broken face."
Paloma brought her free hand up to her face, gingerly touching the bandages that covered the majority of her face. "You are a hypocrite and a liar and user. Has anything you ever done been for something other than your own gain?"
"I don't think a murdering, psychotic bitch gets to read me the riot act think you," Evie hissed out through clenched teeth. Ari squeezed her hand, and sent her a meaningful look. She looked up at him, and felt guilt hit her like a bit wall. She had gotten him into this…mess, and here he was trying to give her comfort.
A sneer pulled at Paloma lips and she glared at Evelyn before her brown eyes flickered towards Ari. "So this is your lover boy, is it? Not bad. Perhaps I will try him out before I put a bullet in his brain."
"Over my dead body," Evelyn growled out.
"Even better," Paloma smiled, viciously.
Evelyn was about to snap something else when she saw an unmistakable sight of red. Her mouth dropped open in shock. "Kate! Oh, my God! Kate!" Evelyn stared at the blood, and the dark hair. She saw the weird glitter in Paloma's eyes, and her inside went cold. "You bitch," her voice was barely more than whisper as she held on tightly to Ari as she felt her legs about to give out.
"Oh, so witty," Paloma taunted.
"Now would be a good time for you to put down your weapon," Gibbs stated, his eyes hard and artic cold. His finger was on the trigger and there was nothing more he wanted to do than to pull it.
Eli caught movement out of the corner of his eye and he twisted his head. He saw a familiar dark head of hair, and the eyes of his daughter peer around the corner. He could see the calculations go off inside her mind, and he would not allow herself to put herself in harm's way. Ari was already in the line of fire, he would not have both of his children there. "Ziva stay there," Eli snapped, darkly. Ziva gave him a glare, but stayed around the corner out of sight.
"I have had just about enough of you," Paloma glowered at Eli.
Eli said nothing else, but the look he gave her could chill even the stronger person to their soul. Too bad with the way Paloma was, she probably didn't have to.
Fornell inched forward, his gun hand steady. Three guns were trained on her, all any of them needed was one shot. One shot that they could take when they didn't feel that Agent Todd's life wasn't compromised. The FBI agent gritted his teeth together. "No one else has to die," Fornell began, but Paloma let out a dark laugh.
"No one else has to die? Do you hear yourself?" Paloma said, her voice harsh and rapsy. The gun shaking in her head as she kept it pointed at Gibbs. "Everyone has to die some time. The world adds, the world subtracts…and I know where the heart is…to make it hurt even worse."
"No…" Evelyn's voice was like a pin drop in the silent hall.
The next moment, chaos exploded. Paloma was as quick as a snake, she whipped her right arm away from Fornell and Gibbs to point the gun straight at Ari. She pulled the trigger, and four guns went off. Paloma's body jerked wildly as she was struck, and she was dead before she hit the floor. Silence rang through the hospital hallway, and Evelyn felt as if her heart had just completely stop as she leaned against Ari for support. He felt like a statue, he stood so still and his dark uncomprehending at the sight before him. Lying before in a pool of blood at Ari's feet was Eli David. His last and only fatherly act to Ari.
A horrible noise tore through Evelyn throat, of relief and sob. She pressed her face into Ari's shoulder, and the rest of the world slowly came back into motion. Ziva let out a scream, and came to her father's side. Tony lifted Kate into his arms, and started down the hall with a nurse trailing after him. Gibbs rushed to Evelyn side, and pulled straight into his arm. She held onto her dad tightly, and for the first time she felt the weight lifted off her shoulders. "It's over?" She breathed out, shakily.
"It's over," Gibbs nodded. "It's over."
Evelyn shook as the adrenaline slowly ebbed away, and she turned her head to look at Ari. He stared blankly down at Eli David with an indiscernible look on his face and then he raised his gaze to look at her. He looked so lost, so she reached out with her hand without relinquishing her hold of her father and took his hand in hers. It's over, she repeated inside her mind, but it didn't feel quite over. Not yet.
News cameras, police and much more surrounded the hospital just a half an hour after everything had occurred. NCIS made it onto the news for the simple fact that Fornell has relinquished rights to the case stating, "It was more trouble than it was worth." And something along the lines that he would never work with Evelyn again which she mostly ignored. She sat on the plastic bench with Ari at her side. The doctors could not convince him to leave her side, eventually they had given up after Evelyn promised to make sure he got back to his bed soon. He had been silent as Mossad agents along with took his Eli's body away and she leaned over resting her chin on his shoulder. At first she was worried that she had been too bold, then his arm wrapped around her holding her tight against him. "I'm sorry," she breathed out.
"Why?" Ari said, his voice flat. "I did not know him…"
"Doesn't mean I'm not sorry," Evelyn told him, sincerely. Ari turned and looked at her thoughtfully before the trace of a smile appeared on his lips. "What?" She asked, pulling away from him suddenly feeling a bit nervous.
"I'm just thinking how was I am to forget you," Ari commented, softly. "You seem like a person that is quiet unforgettable." He looked down at her fingers laced though his and he tilted his head to the side. "We were something more than friends, weren't we?"
Evelyn looked at him, her voice caught in her throat. She felt so tired, as if all her emotions had been ripped out of her leaving her hollow and she stared at him, brokenly. "We were," she admitted, softly. She loosened the hold on his hand, and tried to pull her hand away.
However, Ari held tight. "Don't," he said, quietly. Evelyn shot him a startled look. "It…it feels right," he explained, his voice very soft.
Evelyn felt like she was swallowing glass as she curled her fingers around his hand. It was something she wanted to hear, but not this way. Not when any kind of future with Ari was so uncertain. It felt like she was being mocked, or her heart was being pulled through a food grinder just for the hell of it. She held tightly to his hand, trying to remember the feel of him. Trying to hold onto to everything about him, just in case…just in case, these were her last few moments she would have with him.
Gibbs sat on the other side of the room, slumped into a chair feeling more exhausted than he had in his entire life and he had not moved for a long while. All of them sat there waiting for news on Kate while Tony had forced his way back to stay as close to her as he could. A shadow fell over him, and he looked up to Jenny standing there. "What are you doing here?" He asked, gruffly.
"Damage control. The Mossad Director's death, one of agent is down and two FBI dead…it's a worse than a circus out there, and I just…" Jenny pressed her hands to her lips, and looked at him with earnest eyes. "I just want to know, are you okay?"
Gibbs paused, and raised his head. "That depends on who wants to know," he stated, quietly. "NCIS Director or Jen?"
Jenny's lip wobbled slightly before she steeled her expression. "I do. Jen does," she commented, her voice barely more than a whisper as she settled herself into the seat beside him. "Are you okay?" She repeated, her hand coming to rest on his.
Gibbs's eyes flickered around the room, before they landed on Ari and Evelyn who sat side by side. Evelyn leaning into Ari's side like she knew she would fit there, and Gibbs shook his head lightly. "No, Jen, I'm not," he admitted, with a thick swallow.
Jenny stared at him for a long moment. Ever since she stepped into DC, into the Director's chair she had been solely focused on being the Director. The past was in the past, and should stay there. She was beginning to realize that was entirely a mistake. "Tell me, what can I do to help?" She asked, tilting her head to the side.
Gibbs turned to look at her, and entwined his fingers with hers. "You're already doing it, Jen," he stated, honestly. Jenny smiled, slightly, but it had a sad edge to it.
The doors opened, and Tony came stumbling out. He looked dazed, as if he didn't truly believe what was in front of him. "Tony," Gibbs rose to his feet, his voice laced with worry. "Tony, what is it? What happened to Kate?"
Tony, for a moment, could not answer. The syllables got choked as tears pooled in his eyes. He drew in a deep breath, and leaned up against the wall for his knees threatened to buckle right out from underneath. Evelyn pressed a shaky hand to her mouth, a denial on her lips while Ari's arm wrapped around her tightly as a shaky breath rolled through her.
Finally Tony spoke.
"She…she going to be alright," he choked out, relieved tears leaking out of his eyes and he whipped them off of his cheek.
"What?" Evelyn nearly fell over with shock.
Tony gave a shaky grin. "She is out of surgery. She's stable. The doctor's are optimistic that she's out of the woods. She's going to be alright," Tony stated, a slightly hysterical laugh bursting out of him as he ran a hand down his face. He knew that one day he was going to have admit his feelings for Kate, and he had almost missed his chance entirely. He was not going to make that mistake again.
"Oh, thank God," Evelyn's expression broke down, and she slumped into her chair with a shaky relieved sob. "Oh, thank God. It's over…isn't it? It really is over?"
"Yes," Gibbs nodded. "Yes, it is."
And finally, Evelyn just let herself believe a little bit that it truly was.
The next three weeks passed startling fast. As sensational the events at the hospital were, the fifteen minutes were up and people were soon forgot it all together. As for NCIS it was not so forgotten. Mossad and NCIS had been in talks for a long while before anything substantial happened. Eli David's was accepted a sad tragedy that could not be prevented, and with Ari's amnesia had allowed his Sanctuary to be passed. Ziva David was in talks of liaison position on Gibbs team, which Gibbs had surprisingly given his agreement to. Kate had awoke, and was doing much better especially since Tony without preamble kissed her. Gibbs had given them the all clear on rule #12 much to the twos amusement and relief. As for Ari the doctors were stunned by his quick recovery. Except for the lack of memory, he was doing great. So great that the doctor had released him with stern instructs to bring him in the next two days.
And he had been released into Evelyn's care, thanks to some maneuvering on Director Shepard's part which left Evie more than a little confused. As the car rolled down the rode drove by her father, and Ari sitting in the backseat, she decided she had more important things to be concerned about. Like when lightning was about to strike. The tension was palpable in the air, and Evelyn knew it was not just from Gibbs's glare at Ari in the rearview mirror every five seconds. In the pit of her stomach, she did not know if she could do this. She did not know if she could have Ari live with her, take care of him and know that she was little more than a stranger in his eyes.
She knew he felt something for her, but would it all come back? Would ever be the same? The uncertain crept along her skin anxiously and into her heart like storm clouds cluttering upon the horizon. A tremble ran through her jaw as the car came to a halt in front of her house. This was a bad idea, she thought as her heart ached in her chest. "I just…I just need a minute," Evelyn spared them a quick smile before she shoved the car door open and headed towards her front door. She felt like a bit of coward running away like that, but she needed a moment where she wasn't underneath their gazes. A moment where she could breath again because right now she felt like she couldn't.
Gibbs watched Evelyn shut the door behind her and got out of the car with his coffee in hand. At the sound of the other car doing opening, he pinned Ari with the most fierce glare he had ever mustered, watching him have that lost expression out of his face, and suddenly he was angry. He had been pissed at the hospital, waiting for it all to come out. The man held his silence, and that silence was hurting his daughter. He gritted his teeth, and pulled out his gun without warning and aimed it straight at Ari's gut.
"Agent Gibbs," Ari took a step back, startled and eyes wide. "What are you doing?"
Gibbs just glared, unimpressed. "Cut the crap, Ari," he said, holding his gut level with Ari's gut. "I haven't dealt with many amnesiacs before, but I know you and I know that you are lying."
For a moment, Ari truly looked terrified. Like any normal man would when faced with death then his features relaxed and his spine straighten. Narrowed dark eyes peered at Gibbs, distrust glinting in them. "How long have you known?" Ari asked, carefully.
"Since the moment the hallway with Reynosa. Things were hazy still I bet, but I saw the cogs in your head begin to turn. I guess you figured this was your way out, hmm?" Gibbs asked, with a bitter smirk upon his lips. His blue eyes were as hard as ice and just as cold.
Ari was stock still save for the steady rise and falls of his chest. He seemed like a man completely in control, but there was a dark edge to him. An cornered animal that would lash out if confronted. "What exactly do you plan to do with this…information?" He asked, darkly.
"You mean will I tell Mossad and have your ass heading back to Tel Aviv by this afternoon?" Gibbs asked, calmly like he wasn't holding a gun right to Ari's gut. "The thought crossed my mind, once or twice," Gibbs admitted, nonchalantly. He seemed to be enjoying the upper hand he had over Ari.
Ari stared at him, gauging the man before him. Gibbs could kill him, and not even blink. However, there was something that told him that the man wasn't out to do that even though he desperately wanted to. "But?" Ari prompted, curiously.
"But she loves you," Gibbs said, simply. "And I would move the very earth to keep my daughter in my life, and if that means have to stomach your existence a few hours a week, I can do that for her. I've dealt with worse."
"How noble," Ari stated. He had meant it to come out mockingly, but instead it came out very serious.
"Nobility has nothing to do with it. I have lost too many years with my daughter already, and I am not about to lose more over you. You aren't worth it," Gibbs practically spat.
Ari stayed silent for a moment. Gibbs's words did little to affect him in any given way. Gibbs didn't like him, and he did not like Gibbs. It was not a big secret of any kind, and Ari knew that this would likely never changed. "And I will be civil with you as well. Evelyn means a lot to me, and I will not jeopardizing losing her either," Ari finally spoke.
Gibbs gave him a glare. "If you hurt her, I'll kill you."
"If I hurt her, I would end myself," Ari stated.
Gibbs fell silent. His expression pinched, and his jaw tense. "I don't know what the hell she sees in you," Gibbs stated, his voice gruff. "I'll never understand it, and I'll never accept it. She might see you as some good man underneath all the things you have done, but I will never forget all the things you have done and all the things you are capable of still doing. And I will always be waiting for the day you slip up because I am keeping a bullet with your name on it. And I'll be waiting for the day I will be able to pull the trigger."
Neither man shied away, and neither man backed down. They were locked in a battle of wills, and an understanding passed between them. It was not respect. It was not admiration. Neither men would ever sit down and enjoy a pleasant conversation that was for certain, they would merely tolerant the existence of one another and only talk when there was no other option. The front door opened, and Evelyn peered out worriedly.
Gibbs didn't put down the gun, at the angle, Evelyn couldn't see it all. Several seconds ticked by before Ari's lips quirked up in a sardonic smile. "Keep your bullet, Agent Gibbs," Ari told him, firmly. "You won't be needing it for me."
"For her sake…I hope you mean that," Gibbs stated.
"I do," Ari said, firmly.
"We'll see," Gibbs said, before slipping the gun smoothly back into his holster as Evelyn came out of her front door.
She looked felt so small. She wrapped her arms around her waist and her face too pale. She hesitated for the briefest of moments before she started down the stairs. Her eyes danced back and forth between them with a deep frown on her face. "Is everything okay?" She asked.
"Yes," Ari replied. "Your father and I were just having a friendly chat."
Evelyn didn't look particularly convinced, instead it only seemed to increase her worry. "Friendly, eh?" She said, lips pursed. She looked between them with her cool blue eyes, debating on whether to acknowledge the tension in the air. She knew that Gibbs still didn't trust Ari despite the lack of memories, and she was certain that this was probably what it was about. She reached out to grasp Ari's arm gently. "Why don't you go and settle in?" She suggested, lightly. "I need to speak to my dad for a moment."
Ari looked down at her for a long moment, before he gave a nod. He took her hand in his for a short brief second to give a comforting squeeze before he headed towards the house. Evelyn turned and faced her dad. There were so many things left to say, so much she wanted to tell him, but right now there was only one thing that mattered. She crossed the distant between them, and hugged him tightly. His arm wrapped around her and pulled her close. "I love you, dad," Evelyn said, her voice muffled slightly.
Gibbs tightened his hold on her. "I love you, too, Kelly," he said, softly. He pulled back so he could look her in the eye, and he told her. "No matter all that has happened, the choices we made…I am so proud of you. I want you to know that," he told her, and he meant it. He couldn't be prouder of the woman his daughter had become. "Your mother would have been to. You know that, don't you?"
Emotions swelled up in her throat, and tears prickled in her eyes. "I know that," she smiled sadly. "I just wished she could be here, too."
"I know. So do I," Gibbs nodded. "But she is here with us, her memory it is still here. As long as we have that, keep her in our memories always, then she is will be with use wherever we go."
Evelyn wiped her eyes before the tears could fall. "Youre right," she said, softly. "Don't be a stranger, okay? I know that work can get crazy and I know that you're aren't Ari's biggest fan, but please, stay in touch."
"Always," he promised, the corner of his mouth lifted.
Evelyn stepped back into the house after Gibbs drove away, and her expression could only be described as fragile. After everything she had been through, she thought she could handle this, but now she did not know why she thought she could? All she did when she looked around was see memories. How Ari had come into her life, and had turn this house into a home for her without her realizing it. How was she supposed to do this when all she could think about was how it had been? That wouldn't be fair. Not to her, not to Ari. She pressed her hands to her forehead and stumbled towards the kitchen on shaky legs. How could she constantly live around Ari, who would look at her like she was a stranger? It felt like someone had ripped out all of her organs, and twisted, and knotted them until they were recognizable then hastily shoved them back down inside of her. A dizzy sick feeling overwhelmed her and she had to step out of the room to catch her breath. She put her head into her hands, and she trembled as sobs threatened to overwhelm her.
"Evelyn…" Ari's voice came from behind her.
She bit her lip harshly and drew in a deep, squaring her shoulder before she turned towards him. "The kitchen is through there, and there's tea in the fridge." She ran a shaky hand through her hair. "It's the icky green stuff that you used to drink. Shit," she let out the a curse, and closed her eyes.
"What is wrong?" Ari reached out for her.
She stumbled back, her back hit the wall. "No. No, I am not supposed to tell you that kind of stuff. I messed up at the hospital telling you that we were…," Evie said, aggravated. "And now I'm doing it again." This all hurt so much. Much more than she ever thought was humanly possible. How was someone supposed to survive when it felt like their heart had been ripped right out from her chest?
"Evelyn…"
She clenched her eyes tightly, feeling the tears coming on. "I just need…a moment," she said, turning to him. She didn't open her eyes, she couldn't look at him right now and suddenly, Ari grabbed her by the shoulders pulling her to his chest without warning. Her eyes snapped open just in time to see him swoop down and plant a kiss right smack across her lips. Her eyes went wide, and she gasped. He took advantaged, slipping his tongue between her warm lips and plundered her mouth, desperate to taste every inch of her. A moan slipped out of her against her will, he tasted like salt and some hot spicy. For a moment, she almost surrendered and of course, then related came flooded instant turning the flames that had been boiling her blood to ice.
She planted her hands on his shoulders, and shoved him back. Her eyes were wide, and she stared at him, incredulously. For a moment she couldn't say anything she was so angry. "What was that? What do you think you are doing?" Evelyn demanded, heatedly.
Ari slanted a smoldering look at her. "Kissing," he replied, cheekily.
She huffed, sending him a dry look. "That's not what I meant," she said, her voice sharp. She felt as if she had been stabbed in the heart. "I meant why did you do it?"
"Because I wanted to."
Just slap him. Just slap him. Her right hand was urged her to do, and her fingers twitched ached to do so. She managed to reign in the impulse just barely. Shrugging off his hands, she glowered at him. "You know, the whole amnesia thing might excuse a lot, I know I've been there," Evie stated, placing her hands on her hips. "But it doesn't excuse you for kissing someone who to you is a complete stranger and you to me…" Her face fell, and she couldn't hide the hurt in her blue eyes. "Well, it doesn't matter now. Don't do it again."
"Or…?" Ari prompted.
"You'll learn that I got my aim from my father, and I have several firearms placed around this house, so I would be very careful," she warned, with a dark look.
"That would be a shame," Ari stated, his dark eyes twinkling madly. He did so enjoy her fire. "For I intend to kiss you, and quite often." Evie's hand curled into fists as Ari took a step towards her. "For the rest of our lives, if you would allow it."
Evelyn completely froze, from her head down to her toes completely still as her mouth working up and down. She stared at him, her gaze hard and scrutinizing. Her heart was pounding in her chest, all the noise vanished from the room and tension crackled in the air all while she straight into Ari's eye when it all hit her. All her pain and hurt quickly turned into a lava hot rage. "You son of bitch!" She practically screamed. "You lying son of bitch! You remembered all along! You bastard-" Ari cut her off with a passionate kiss, his arms wrapping around her tightly as her hands were trying to debate whether to pull him closer or to hit him. He broken the kiss to plant a kiss on her forehead, then with his thumbs he brushed away tears streaming down her face.
"Your bastard," he responded, turning the once hated word into an endearment.
"How could you…? Do you know what you put me through?" Evelyn demanded, weakly. Hurt and relief, both so powerful that it nearly overwhelmed her and she clutched him tightly to her as if afraid it was all a dream. Part of her wanted to just hit him, over and over again and the other part of her wanted to just collapse against him in pure relief.
"I know. I'm sorry," he whispered out. "It was the only way. If Eli truly believed that I remembered nothing, then he would leave me be. Even with him gone, I could not be certain that Mossad would leave me be."
"I don't understand," Evie said, brokenly.
"It takes years of training to make someone like me, Evelyn, and the most important asset is the mind. A mind can stay intact even when the body is broken," he said, running his hands through her hair savoring the feel of her silky locks against fingertips. "While my body might have remember, it would have taken decades to retrain my mind or at least, that's what Mossad thought. And with the US government backing me, they thought I was a lost cause and more trouble than I was worth. Though I'm sure they will still keep an eye on me for quite some time."
Ari smiled, broadly. It was truly a breathtaking and miraculous thing. "The beauty is I can be with you without raising suspicion. If anyone can understand what is to lose their memory and be lost, it would be you."
"But I'm not lost anymore," she said, softly pressing her forehead against his.
"No," Ari said, his hands coming to caress the sides of her face. "And you never will be. Not with me."
Evelyn's heart swelled inside her chest, and she couldn't described the happiness that was practically bursting within her. She had a family, she had her father, and she had a man that she cared for more than anything in the world…for the first time Evelyn Matthews felt complete. For the first time, Kelly Gibbs felt complete. However, despite her happiness she was still pissed as hell with him. "I'm still mad at you," she told him, her fingers gripping the front fabric of his shirt. "You hurt me."
"I have," Ari admitted with a nod.
"I should make you sleep on the couch…forever," Evelyn stated, her eyebrow cocked upward.
"Ah, I suppose I will just have to make it up to you," Ari purred, a smirk upon his lips and he leaned down sealing his lips over hers. It was filled with passion, and so many promises. He would spend forever making it up to her as long as she let him stay with her.
"Still sleeping on the couch," Evie murmured, against his lips. The first hints of a smile curled the corners of her lips.
Ari chuckled on a sigh. "I will have to do better," he said, wrapping his hands around her thighs and picking her up off the floor. She wrapped her legs around his waist, and clung to him tightly as he lead them to the bedroom. They made love together. Sometimes is passionate and slow, other times it was fast and swift for they were too overwhelmed with each other and the emotions there for it to be anything else. It was early morning by the time, Evelyn drifted off to sleep contently. She didn't know what today, or the next day, or the day after that would bring, but the future…
Well, it didn't scare her at all.
THE END
I hope you all enjoyed the Girl In Memory. I enjoyed writing it and seeing all your responses. It makes me a bit sad to have it all come to an end, but I have my Spooks Edition to work on. Please go check it out, I'm sure you'll love it. And if you are a Hobbit fan, I have a story in that as well please go check it out. Thank you all, you have made all this very enjoyable for me and I appreciate all the reviews, favs, follows, and readers who loved this fic. Thank you again. :D