#16
AU stories for NCIS episodes. Each is independent from all the others since this is based on the possibility of parallel universes and multiple timelines…. many, many of them. Later on some may seem to follow something that happened in an earlier AU episode story but it's probably coincidence unless I say otherwise in the beginning. Again, these are AU scenes/stories which means a character may die in one story and be alive in the next one.
This is #16 - a short alternate universe story/scene for season 1, episode 13 Bête Noire
The original episode aired on March 2, 2004.
The dialogue in some of this is from the episode.
Rating: K+
Category: general
Warnings: Guns and blood. Nothing too graphic.
Disclaimer: Borrowing characters. Just borrowing. No profit.
And finally, all mistakes are mine.
"Would you truly like to demonstrate?"
Gibbs answered the intruder without hesitation. "Yep."
He slid something toward Gibbs and told him, "Agent Todd's Sig Sauer is in the box to your left."
With his hands still on his head Gibbs looked in the box.
"The clip is from the Sig Sauer. Untampered. All live rounds."
The clip was there on the floor. Gibbs didn't believe it hadn't been tampered with but he had little choice. Kate, Gerald and Ducky were still in danger. Agents were at the three exits: elevator, staircase and receiving. Tony was outside receiving.
Gibbs looked at him and calculated the distance. He knew he should go for center mass. It was dark without the ceiling lights. Not pitch black but very little light and the invader was in shadow. He reached down carefully and retrieved the clip. Then he turned toward the box where Kate's weapon lay waiting for someone to use it.
"Pick it up," the man ordered.
With measured breathing Gibbs reached for the gun, snapping the clip in place and then he moved his feet, just enough to be a quarter turn from his anticipated firing position. He stood silently for a few seconds, making sure his eyes were as adjusted to the low light as they could be and he looked out of the corner of his eye to confirm the man hadn't moved to either side. Satisfied, he then asked, "Why?"
The hostage taker replied, "Why not?"
Everything happened fast. Gibbs fired. The man who had already shot Gerald fired.
Something dropped onto the floor and a few seconds later HRT burst into autopsy.
An agent yelled, "Let's go! Go, go! Go, go, go! Come on!"
Team members reported, "Target's down!" "I got him." "Over here!"
Gibbs was on the floor, his vision blurring from the smoke and pain. The bastard had shot him and he could feel his warm blood in the chilliness of the autopsy suite. Hopefully it wasn't too bad but it sure hurt a lot. Fighting to stay conscious, he saw shadows and heard footfalls as the HRT guys cleared the room. And then Gibbs passed out.
He regained consciousness abruptly with Tony looming over him.
"We get him," Gibbs asked through the pain.
DiNozzo answered, "Yeah, you got him."
Gibbs relaxed a little. He was still on the floor but sitting up and Tony said EMTs were on the way. Why was it still so dark? Why hadn't someone turned on the overhead lights? Gibbs felt pretty light headed and zoned out for a minute. He started feeling a little better when the EMT put an oxygen mask on him.
"Well, you were right, boss. He had an accomplice in HRT gear inside the receiving elevator. Shot both the HRT guys before I nailed him. They're hurting but I think they'll make it. EMTs got to 'em fast."
"Where are Kate and Ducky?" Gibbs asked through the oxygen mask.
"Right here. He had them in the body cooler."
It suddenly wasn't so dark because someone finally hit the lights and Gibbs could see that Kate and Ducky looked intact though a little harried. Gerald was being tended to by EMTs. He looked awful.
With an EMT trying to put some pressure on his shoulder, Gibbs got up and immediately started coughing. Dang, it hurt a lot to cough. There was still so much smoke in the air. He steadied himself and with Tony and the EMT making sure he didn't fall over, they approached the body on the floor.
Gibbs looked down at the dead man sprawled in front of them. There was a pool of blood under his head and he was glad that the smug look was gone from his face.
"How'd you get him, Gibbs," the HRT leader asked.
"Luck," he replied. He'd gone for center mass but took a head shot too hoping to hit the head or neck.
"The way he tried to escape was always his backup plan. He just needed someone he could count on to shoot him in the chest and trigger the assault. He didn't consider that someone would shoot him in the head too. Gibbs figured he was wearing a bulletproof vest all along."
Kate looked pensive. "He was. I felt it."
Tony looked shocked. "You felt it?"
Kate didn't answer at first. Then she admitted, "I had a knife and I was close enough to stab him but I didn't."
Tony studied her. Happy that Gibbs killed the man he told her, "You'll have to figure out why you didn't take him out. And you better tell Gibbs."
Kate nodded, understanding what he was saying while not really understanding why she didn't stab him when she had a chance.
"I will, tomorrow. Did Gibbs go home?"
"Yeah, he's hurting."
"Maybe he won't be in tomorrow," Kate half predicted.
Tony laughed. "Oh, he'll be here, Kate. Probably prowling and growling around us like a polar bear, but he'll be here."
Cut to Gibbs' house. He's on the sofa, propped up on pillows, wearing a scrub top and sleep pants. His left arm is in a sling and he looks to be sleeping peacefully.
End
This alternate universe has Ari dead right away and it's quite a while before he's identified. Nobody knows about Ziva until she comes after Gibbs for revenge.
Thanks for reading.