Getting Down To It

            The name haunted her. It haunted her sister. It was one of two names that would haunt them both for the rest of their lives. From the day that they each had given birth to their respective daughters that their daughters would never have to deal with the loss of a parent or the loss of both parents. The name haunted her, it haunted her sister, the name haunted them both.  Andrei Anatoly, his picture had been up on the plasma in her office since day one of the investigation. Just like she had La Grenouille’s picture on her plasma at the start of that investigation a few years ago.

            The blinds had been drawn just as they had been years earlier, the lights were off. Jethro knew that there was something more to the investigation than what Jenny had told him. He knew he was being lied to and he didn’t like that. Jethro didn’t like it back when Jenny was using DiNozzo to get close to La Grenouille through Jeanne Benoit. Jethro was at his desk and was watching the door to the outer office of Jenny’s office along with the door to MTAC like a hawk. He knew that there was a good chance that Jenny had Anatoly’s picture up in both places what he didn’t expect was his sister-in-law and his nieces coming off of the elevator behind them. It had been a while since Tony, McGee, Ducky and Palmer had seen Jaylyn; so when McGee and Tony saw her step off of the elevator with the girls in their stroller they were completely taken aback.

            The last time they saw her, Jaylyn’s hair was around the same length as Jenny’s had been when Jenny first started as the Director but a bit short and a shade or so darker than what Jenny’s was when the team was investigating Lance Corporal Bakr’s death. This time her hair was at her shoulders, auburn in color and curled in a scrunched up fashion. It would’ve been anyone’s guess that Jenny and Jaylyn were sisters based on their appearances.  The other agents that had been walking past were whispering under their breath about Jaylyn and Jenny.

            “We’re sisters and it’s called a dye job so move on.” Jaylyn said.

            “What’s brought you here?” Jethro asked.

            “It’s nice to see you too, Jethro.”

            “Why are you here?”

            “Came to visit. You guys mind watching them for me; I have to go see Jen.”

            Jethro stared Jaylyn down wanting answers.

            “Nice try, Jethro.” Jenny said as she left the girls in the care of her teammates and went to join Jenny who had gone into MTAC while Jaylyn had stepped off of the elevator.

            As Jaylyn went up the squad room stairs to MTAC, Ziva sneaked out from her desk to the stroller which was next to Jethro’s.  Ziva pulled Juliet from the stroller and held her as Jethro cleared his throat signaling his team to update him on the Anatoly case. Once Jethro had his update he followed Jaylyn’s footsteps. Unfortunately Jethro wasn’t able to get into MTAC.

            “Damn it.”

            “Looks like the Director locked Gibbs out of MTAC.” Tony commented.

            “You’re a pro.” McGee said commenting on Ziva’s expertise with Juliet as Jethro stepped onto the elevator to go down to Abby’s.

            “I’ve had practice.” Ziva said with a smile dancing across her face as she looked over her shoulder at Tony while she thought of their daughter and son.

            Get up here, bring the girls with you. Come up before Jethro comes back up.

            After Ziva had read the text she put Juliet back in the stroller and headed to the rear elevator with the girls.

            “Wonder what that was about.” McGee said.

            Seconds later Ziva stepped out of the elevator on the floor above them pushing the girls.  Just as Ziva got to the eye scanner at the door of MTAC, Jethro was coming around the corner and into the squad room.

            “So she let’s her sister and Ziva in but I’m locked out.”

            “You must have done something to piss her off, boss. It wouldn’t be the first time.” Tony said.

            Jethro then wacked Tony on the back of the head in typical fashion.

            “Where are the girls?” Jethro asked in regards to his nieces.

            “Ziva brought them with her, boss.” McGee answered.

            “She should know better than to bring them in there.”

            “I think the text Ziva got told her otherwise, boss.”

            “The Director makes the rules remember.”

            “Not all of them.” Jethro said as he stormed off to the elevator to get another dose of coffee.

            “Looks like there’s going to be trouble in paradise, McElflord.

            McGee shook his head at Tony’s absurdity.

            In MTAC Ziva had joined her friends and had the girls nearby in case they needed something. All three women were well trained with guns, but Jaylyn and Ziva were artists with the steel.

            “So what’s the plan, Director?” Ziva asked as the three of them looked at the picture of Andrei Anatoly before them.

            “Director, there’s a feed from SECNAV’s office coming through.” One of the MTAC technician said.

            Jenny looked at Jaylyn who then wheeled her girls up to the last row of seats that was in the shadows of the room.

            “Put it through.” Jenny instructed as she and Ziva got from their seats.

            “Ziva.” Jenny said directing Ziva’s attention to the spit up towel Ziva had on her shoulder.

            “Damn, thanks Jenny.” Ziva said as she quickly removed the towel and tossed it back to Jaylyn just seconds before Jarvis came on screen.

            “Director Gibbs, Agent David; how’s the case going?”

            “As well as can be expected, sir.”

            “We’ve hit a brick wall, Mr. Secretary.”

            “Stone wall.”

            “Thanks.”

            “Agent David; what is keeping you and your team from resolving this case?”

            “There’s a lot of details and leads we’re trying to work through and we are down one sir.” Ziva said trying to keep her poker face intact.

            Jaylyn shifted slightly and one of the girls cooed.

            “Agent Shepard is that you lurking in the shadows?”

            “Yes sir.” Jaylyn said as she and the girls came down to where Jenny and Ziva were standing.

            “Aren’t you suppose to be on leave?”

            “I am; I was just stopping by.”

            “Why are they in MTAC?”

            “I had to bring them with me, sir. They are far too young to be left alone.”

            Jarvis was getting annoyed. Before anything else could be said and before a line was crossed Jenny signaled the MTAC technicians to end the feed.

            Jenny, Jaylyn and Ziva took the seats they were in before Jarvis called in.

            “What’s the plan?” Ziva asked again as Anatoly’s picture came back on the screen.

            “Can we have the room?” Jenny said to the technicians.

            The technicians left and Jenny put MTAC into skive mode once the techs left.

            “What’s the plan, Jen?”

            “Hunt and kill, by any means.”

            “When.”

            “I’ll let you know.”

            With that Jenny returned MTAC back to normal and allowed the techs back in then headed back to her office. Ziva returned to the squad room. Jaylyn and the girls headed out.

            “See you tomorrow?” Ziva asked Jaylyn as they came around to the squad room with the girls in front of them.

            “I can’t wait.”

            With that Jaylyn and the girls left the agency.

            “Why can’t she wait for tomorrow?” Tony asked once Jaylyn and the girls were in the elevator.

            “She’s back tomorrow officially.”

            “Oh.”

            “She’s nothing like her sister.” Jethro commented.

            Tony was stunned and speechless for the first in months.