Title: Truth Betrayed, Truth Enslaved
Author: Gibbsgirl
Rating: R (language and strong sexual content)
Disclaimer: NCIS and the characters of Jethro Gibbs, Tony DiNozzo, Kate Todd, Abby Sciuto, Donald Mallard, Tim McGee and Tom Morrow do not belong to me. They are property of Paramount and Bellisarius Inc. No infringement intended.
I just borrow them for some fun every now and then and dabble in their world for a little enjoyment of my own. All other characters, including Leah Hecht, are mine.
Acknowledgements and Author's notes: I want to take a moment to thank, as always, the two most important people who helped with this small (ha!) work. To my fabulous beta/writing partner, m.a.c., you rock, my twin! I could not do this without you! Here's to hoping our words will soon be more than ink on a page! And to jo, our final proofer, who goes over these pages one final time to try and catch what we may have missed. Thank you so much for taking the time, we appreciate more than we can say, the extra pair of eyes.
A special shout out to the girls over at Spec Ops, you know who you are! Thank you all for being so encouraging and supportive. Knowing that you're looking forward to reading what I'm writing makes it a lot of fun. Otherwise it'd just be this weird compulsion...
This story takes place roughly five months after my first one, Blast From the Past. It is not necessary to have read that story to understand this one, I try to fill in the blanks for those of you who are new to my work. If you do choose to go and read that first, please be aware that that particular piece was my very first fanfic and was unbeta'ed. It is rough and really does need some work. This piece is far more polished and will answer all most all of the questions left open from that original work.
Thank you for your patience with my ramblings here... I hope you've stuck with me this far. Now I hope you enjoy what follows.
The punchline was the monkey did it. Tony grinned across at Kate. His partner just shook her head and looked back without even cracking a smile.
Tony, I don't know where your friend comes up with these lame jokes, but you really need to stop reading your e-mails to me. She gave a sigh before bending back over her paperwork and waited.
Oh come on, Kate. You can't be serious. That was a really funny joke. He stared at the top of her head until she finally looked up at him.
The monkey did it? That's not funny. She started to laugh. Now if the bartender had done it... that would be funny.
Tony looked shocked. The bartender? That's sick... he trailed off as Kate's phone began to ring.
Agent Todd -- whoa, slow down, McGee! Now what happened? All right, I'll tell Gibbs. She hung up the phone and looked over at Tony.
What's he up to now?
Before Kate could answer her partner, Gibbs stirred the air around her as he rounded the corner and headed for his desk.
Yes.. okay. With one hand securing his cell phone to his ear, Gibbs reached his desk, set down his coffee, and shifted his PDA aside. He grabbed his field notebook and flipped it open. Right... got it. We're on our way. He had been scribbling furiously during the remaining conversation, now he looked up at his teammates. Grab your... Tony and Kate had been watching their leader since his arrival and were now standing at the ready, field bags in hand. Gibbs grabbed his own bag and continued smoothly, ...gear. Two dead bodies were found within hours of each other. In the same house. He glanced around, noting the missing man. Where's McGee?
Stuck on the beltway, some truck rollover. Kate glossed over McGee's problem and jumped straight to the real question. How did they miss the second body? Was it hidden?From what I gathered, police found the first body, processed the scene and left. When two officers went back, there was a second body, same place as the first. Apparently this one was wearing his uniform, so they decided to call us in. Damn fools should have called us first. Gibbs' mouth was pressed into a hard line.
Well, if the first DB wasn't identifiable as Navy or... Tony trailed off as Gibbs glared at him. Right, they should have called us first, he muttered as he sighed at Kate's expected smirk. Some days it didn't pay to open your mouth. Trying to lighten the mood he said, Hey Boss, have you heard the one about the monkey, the pool player and the bartender? Behind him, Kate groaned in response.
They arrived at the scene, parking slightly away from the house since the unkempt property was surrounded by vehicles. Among the police cars was the ME's van. Gibbs, trailed by Tony and Kate, joined the waiting doctor and his assistant, and the five waded through the officers scouting the perimeter of the building. Intent on finding the detective in charge, he nearly overlooked the woman by the door, overshadowed by yet another uniformed man. His stomach sank as Ducky called out a greeting the detective guarding the entrance.
Leah, my dear! You look just as beautiful as ever. It's been too long; do come by the office so we can chat.
Gibbs paused and looked at the striking redhead. Fifteen years ago, Special Agent Leah Hecht resigned from NCIS and walked away without a word. Five months ago she reappeared in his office with a bag full of evidence and a mouth full of sass. It had been a shock to see her then; although he knew she was with Arlington PD, he also knew she took great pains to stay away from her former colleagues. He had never found out why she had come to him that time, nor did he pursue her when she refused to take his calls. Now he had a second chance with her, one he was determined not to let slip away.
Gibbs stepped next to her, his voice quiet but aloof. What've we got?Dead body, Jeth. She answered him in precisely the same tone he used with her, then turned pointedly away from him and greeted Ducky. Hey there, Ducky. Can't believe you're still seeing the dead safely home, my friend. Maybe we can get together for lunch sometime. Right now, I'd better do my job and let you do yours. She smiled and nodded to him before turning to Gibbs' teammates.
Disgusted by her curt dismissal, Gibbs continued on inside, followed by Ducky.
Detective Hecht, nice to see you, Tony said cautiously. He could already feel the tension between his boss and the woman before him vibrating in the air.
Agent DiNozzo, Agent Todd. Good to see you. Sorry about the way that forgery deal turned out. She gave them a genuine smile touched with a hint of regret as she referred to the case where they met.
That's okay. Kate returned the sympathetic look. If the gossip I heard is correct, you got shafted worse than we did on the bust.
Leah opened her mouth to reply, but was cut off by a familiar bellow from inside the house.
If you three are finished chatting, maybe we can process this scene. Today! No one missed the sarcastic undertones laced through the words.
That would be for Kate and I. If you'll excuse us? Tony held out his arm in a gentlemanly gesture for Kate to pass while holding on to Leah's aqua eyes in a nearly flirtatious manner. Then he followed his partner inside for his first look at the victim.
Gibbs watched his teammates enter the room and begin assessing the crime scene. Kate took out her camera and flashes punctuated the tableau while Tony scanned the room carefully. Ducky was already crouched beside the corpse, taking stock of the unfortunate man.
Okay, Duck, whaddya got? Gibbs, as always, was poised to note the information in his notebook.
Our petty officer has been dead for at least eighteen hours. I'm also reasonably certain that he was not killed here; there are indications that he's been moved more than once. Ducky sighed as he stood and motioned for Palmer to bring the gurney. I'll know more when I get the poor fellow back to the lab.What about cause of death? Gibbs had risen at the same time as his friend and waited for the answer with an expectant look.
I can't tell from here. There are no obvious signs of trauma; it's going to have to wait until the autopsy, Jethro. Ducky spoke as he and Palmer placed the petty officer in the body bag and lifted him on to the gurney. Then Palmer began to maneuver the laden gurney backward with Ducky leaning in to help steer over the uneven carpet.
All right, this is our dirtbag's dumping ground, then. If it's not nailed down, bag it. If it is, pry it up carefully, first. Gibbs stepped around his teammates as they moved about the room.
Where are you going? Kate looked up at him, pausing in her effort to document the scene.
To have a little talk with Detective Hecht. He headed out of the room.
Gibbs exited the house to find Leah standing next to the ME's van, having a pleasant conversation with Ducky and Palmer. He watched as she leaned her head back, laughing at something the coroner said, her copper hair sparkling in the sun. Why was she always so open with everyone but him? He started down the handful of steps toward her and saw the happy expression on her face freeze and die at his approach.
Excuse me, Ducky. I have to get back to work now -- I'll call you later. It was nice meeting you, Jimmy. Leah schooled her face to show no emotion at all as she and Jethro drew close. What can I do for you?Where's my body? And the evidence from earlier? That place is a mess! You letting elephants collect evidence now? He hadn't meant the words to sound so sharp and cold, but there was no taking them back. Instead, he waited while her eyes roamed his face for a brief moment before she replied.
If you're speaking of the body found here at 0700, I believe Arlington PD has had it transferred to the coroner's office. She could do cold, too.
Frustrated, he ran a hand over his face.
Curtis has the body. Have Ducky give him a call. I tried to pull strings, but after the whole forgery ring bust got screwed up by that CIA jackass, well... She shrugged and looked away.
Why didn't you call me? I'd have done what I could to smooth things over for you. His voice was softer now, which only seemed to ignite her anger.
Yeah, right. Special Agent Gibbs to the rescue. Just like fifteen years ago, eh Jeth? Now she faced him, her voice rising. I seem to remember what you cost me then! I don't know how many times I have to tell you, I don't need your help! I don't need it, I don't want it, I wouldn't take it if you begged me! Damn you! She turned to storm off, only to be brought up short by his hand imprisoning her arm.
Detective Hecht, you have a job to do here. I need this crime scene guarded until I can arrange to have NCIS personnel take over. Return to your post. The man that spoke was every bit the Gunnery Sergeant.
Guard it yourself, NCIS. I don't work there anymore. The derision he heard in her voice shocked him as she yanked her arm from his grasp and stalked off.
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Tony was carefully tweezing hairs from the carpeting watching through the open doorway as Gibbs and Leah approached each other. Even fifty feet away, Leah's raised voice carried clearly through the air.
Holy shit! Wonder what he did! Tony whispered in Kate's direction.
Quit eavesdropping! He'll kill us both if he finds out, Kate whispered back. She continued to take blood scrapings from the carpet, as they heard the rapid approach of their superior's angry footsteps.
Aren't you two done yet? And where's McGee?Boss, there's a lot of trace evidence here... Tony began.
He called in, traffic's still backed up. I suggested he start following up on the petty officer, since we had an ID. Kate spoke at the same time as her partner.
Why is McGee calling you and not me? His teeth weren't quite clenched, but it was a near thing.
Kate tried to smooth things between her boss and her newest associate. I think he's a little nervous about being two hours late, she said, never lifting her eyes from her work.
Is something wrong, Boss? Tony asked in response to Gibbs' obvious frustration. His question earned him a glare from the other two in the room.
Just shut up and finish, DiNozzo. Gibbs turned and strode out of the room.
Tony was puzzled by Kate's irritated expression. Kate just shook her head and continued collecting.
For the second time that day, Gibbs stood alone on the porch. He made a quick call to Ducky to let him know that the first body was in the custody of Arlington's coroner, Dr. Curtis. He followed that up with a call to arrange security for the crime scene. The early afternoon sun washed over him as he tried to figure out what went wrong with Leah. He watched the Arlington police clean up from their search and head for their cars, his eyes raking the uniforms fruitlessly for her leather-jacketed form.
Clearly she still cared -- the look in her eyes allowed him to believe that her memories weren't all bad. And she still called him Jeth. No one else ever had; he wouldn't let them, not after her. So, what was so wrong with him wanting to help her? Isn't that what friends are for, to help each other? Why did she always throw that case back in his face? He let his own memories play on his closed eyelids like an old familiar movie, one he hadn't seen in years. Lost in thought, he stood, leaning against one of the pillars on the porch until a noise roused him from his daydreaming.
We're done now, Gibbs. Kate spoke quietly, so as not to spook him. You okay?
At the sound of her voice he straightened and opened his eyes. Let's go. He nodded, keeping his face expressionless as he headed for the car and slid into the driver's seat, forcing the other two to hurry after him.
Kate and Tony exchanged looks of puzzlement; idle introspection was completely out of character for their boss. They quickly stowed their gear in the car before slipping into their seats. The short ride back to the office was quiet since Gibbs seemed uninterested in conversation.