Chapter Text
“Seeley, you’re going to have to take point this morning as Tony and I have an appointment with my lawyer this morning. I don’t know how long we’re going to be.”
“ Everything okay, Aaron?”
“No. But, with Thomas’ help, it should be. We’ll explain later, but if you could get everyone together to catch up and regroup, it would help us. If you get any breaks don’t wait for us, we may be a while.”
“ Don't think about us or the investigation, Aaron. I’ll take care of it. Just take care of what you need to and we’ll see you when you’re able to rejoin us.”
“Thanks, Seeley. We’ll keep you updated.” Aaron hung up the phone and turned to look at his Sentinel who was dressed in one of his ‘court’ suits as he called it. Aaron couldn’t help feeling a rush of lust as he watched Tony button up his coat.
“Don’t think about it Aaron Hotchner, we have an appointment.”
“Just admiring.” Aaron turned back to his closet and pulled out his own jacket and pulled it on.
“Admire all you want, we have to get going.”
Aaron finished getting dressed and when the couple left their room they found thermos’ filled and ready for them sitting on the kitchen counter.
“Though y’all would like some coffee to take with you.” Chris leaned against the wall. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about, but you know we’ll support you in whatever you need.”
“Thanks, Chris. I don’t know how long this will take us, and we may need to meet up with the teams for the investigation. We don’t know what time we’ll be home.”
“Take ‘ya time. Will and I can take care of everything here.”
Aaron almost felt guilty about all of the time and care that Will and Chris were putting in helping Tony and him. But, he wasn’t going to grouse about the help. Saying their goodbyes to Chris Aaron ushered Tony out the door and to their car. The ride to Thomas Wilkes' office was silent as they both tried to find their own headspace before they got to the lawyer's office.
Getting parked took no time at all, and Aaron took Tony’s hand as they walked towards the office in an upscale single-story office building where Thomas resided. He specialized in Sentinel Guide issues. He had a small team of lawyers that dealt with different aspects that were unique to Sentinels and Guides. Everything from prenuptial agreements, to custody issues, assets, end-of-life directives, and even in rare cases divorce and separations.
Thomas also had two lawyers that specialized in the criminal side of Sentinels and Guides, even going so far as advocating for spaces in the prison system that specifically dealt with their unique issues. Separate accommodations, certain foods, and even medical staff that were trained to deal with Sentinel and Guide physiology.
“I want you to know, Tony,” Aaron stopped them just before they entered the main office and laid a hand on Tony’s face. “I’m right here and you don’t have to do this alone. Thomas will be there for us and do everything to keep TJ right where he belongs, with us.”
Tony leaned and lay his head against Aaron’s and the two just breathed each other in, settling nerves and calming emotions before heading inside.
“Good morning, Guide Hotchner. It’s good to see you again. Mr. Wilkes is ready for you whenever you are.”
“Thank you, Trisha.”
Aaron led Tony to the large office at the end of the hallway. As the door opened they were greeted by Thomas who was indeed waiting for them.
“I have some coffee and tea already prepared if you’d like anything. Let’s sit and talk for a bit before we get down to the nitty-gritty, shall we?”
“Thanks, Tom.” Aaron went ahead and poured both himself and Tony some coffee, doctored how they both liked then they all sat in the more comfortable couches opposite of Thomas’ large and imposing desk.
“Wow. I have to say when Aaron said he got an appointment with his lawyer, I wasn’t expecting all of this.” Tony had grown up in wealth. He knew Aaron had as well, but this was the type of place where the ultra-rich came for legal guidance. Tony was aware that neither himself nor Aaron was even close to that wealth bracket.
“Tom and I have known each other since before law school. Jackson Grimes, Thomas, myself, and Victor Marks were all friends growing up. Aaron and I went to law school together and I’ve always looked after him, his family, and his assets.
“Plus we do a lot of pro bono work, as well as a sliding scale. If someone can’t afford our service we work with them to either find a way they can afford us, or we have an extensive list of lawyers who would be happy to help that we trust.
“But, for Aaron, I don’t trust anyone outside of my firm. So, setting that aside, Aaron was vague on what was going on. He said he would let you tell me.”
Tony took a long deep breath before he began speaking.
“I didn’t know about TJ until this case we’re on. Jeanne Benoit was a woman that I met by happenstance. She was at Bethesda Naval Hospital one day after I was in for a check-up. My pulmonologist sees me every six months.” Tony went on to explain getting sick with the pneumonic plague. His recovery, and the close monitoring that his doctor has him on.
“Anyway, we saw each other a few times as she was doing a residency there. We talked, and found we enjoyed each other's company. Started dating, and yes we had a physically intimate relationship. It didn’t last overly long, we both knew it wasn’t a long-term thing. And in the middle of our dating, I was being pressured into an unsanctioned op by my boss.”
Tony went on to explain what Jenny Shepard had planned for him and how Tony turned it down.
“Aaron and I had just met, we knew we were Sentinel and Guide, and I let HR at NCIS know. Shepard tried to bribe, and then force me into the operation, but I invoked Sentinel rights and told her that I had already known Jeanne and an op would be impossible.
“A lot of things transpired between ending the relationship, and where we are at now. If I had known earlier about TJ...” Tony had to stop and stand, he paced away from the couch and Thomas gave him the time he needed.
“I never thought I’d love another kid like I do TJ. Jack was easy. He was just a baby and Haley was beyond patient and incredible in letting me get to know and love Jack, but TJ...it was a punch to the gut when I first met him. I...no we can’t lose him.”
“I petitioned Ms. Benoit’s lawyer to have her will read here in this office, with both of you and her family. I know this is a difficult time for them, and to a certain extent you as well, but I think if her lawyer and myself show a united front, it will go a long way towards making sure TJ stays exactly where he is.
“Do you know if the Benoit’s have procured any counsel?”
Tony looked to Aaron who shook his head.
“No, they didn’t say, but I won’t be surprised if they try to serve some kind of papers. We wanted to get ahead of this, Tom. Tony and I want TJ. He’s already forming bonds with Jack, and to Jack’s Guide, Henry. He sees the boys as his big brother’s in the short time we’ve had him.”
Thomas stood and went to his desk, then came back with a notebook and some papers.
“Okay, this is what we’re going to do. We’re going to go over everything you told me again, but I’m going to take extensive notes. I want you to tell me everything, especially what you know about Rene Benoit and how you met Jeanne. Don’t leave anything out.
“I’ll reach out to Jeanne’s lawyer, and try to find out if the Benoit’s have secured their own counsel as of yet. I want to have a sit down with just us lawyers first, then have the will read, and go from there. Are you in agreement?”
Tony let out a deep breath and Aaron could almost feel the anxiety lifting that had been simmering in the bond.
“Yeah. Yeah, that sounds good. Thank you, Mr. Wilkes.”
“Thomas, please. Here, take these papers and read them at your convenience. It’s the documents to retain me and this law firm as your personal counsel. I already have Aaron’s papers, and his retainer with this firm, I just need you to review the same and supply the retainer fee, then we’ll get moving. But, please don’t feel rushed. Right now, no one can do anything, and if the Benoit’s do attempt anything, they can be criminally charged.”
“Thank you, Thomas. And, I’ll get all of this back to you as soon as possible. I don’t want this to linger.”
“Alright, let’s get started.”
The lawyers took another two hours while Tony went over everything he knew about Rene Benoit and Jenny Shepard's vendetta, his meeting Jeanne, the unsanctioned Op, and anything else Tony could tell him.
Aaron was behind the wheel because Tony had a minor headache going over things he had thought were no longer relevant, but they possibly could be.
“Thomas seems like a good man. And, I know we’re still learning about each other’s lives from before we met. But, seriously, you know Jackson Grimes?”
Aaron laughed as he drove towards Quantico. On the way there, Aaron’s phone rang.
“Director Guide Hotchner.”
“Director, I’m Officer Ocala calling from the Franconia District Police. Sir, we have a body on Little River Turnpike just south of the Northern Virginia Community College. Sir, I’m calling because you are listed as the main emergency contact.”
Aaron pulled over into an emergency lane immediately as his hand gripped the steering wheel. Tony felt fear, concern, and anxiety in the bond and immediately he went on high alert.
“Do you have a name, Officer Ocala?”
“I’m being told that the name on the victim's driver's license is Tara Gideon.”
“Fuck, no. No. What...” Aaron audibly swallowed as his hands began to twist on the steering wheel. “What happened?”
“The officers on scene are still investigating, but they wanted me to inform you because of an ongoing investigation with your agency?”
“Give me the exact coordinates, Officer. I’m heading that way now.” The information came through Aaron’s phone, and before he could proceed back onto the street, Tony laid a hand on Aaron’s arm.
“Let me drive, Aaron.”
It took only a moments thought, and Aaron was out of the car switching places with Tony. He noticed Aaron was staring straight ahead, tension lined every part of his body.
“You know who she is?”
“Yes. And things are going to get complicated rather quickly.” Aaron closed his eyes and wiped his face. Tony could tell he was trying to get his emotions under control. “I...I need to see for myself before I explain.”
“All right. But, I’m here, Aaron.”
“I know. I know Tone.”
The car was deathly silent as Tony drove them to the location Officer Ocala had sent to Aaron’s phone. There were a few officers and a couple of detectives on the scene. Aaron took a few moments then got out of the car. Tony knew the exact moment he pulled his Director persona around him. Tony got out and followed. He was worried about what all this was and who this person was to Aaron.
“Detective Ambrose. It’s good to see you.”
“Director Hotchner. I wish it was under better circumstances.”
“Thanks, Harry.” Aaron looked around the area, Tony could tell he was trying to get a lay of the land with his sense. “Can I see her?”
“Of course. She’s over here. We waited to do anything because of that alert your agency put out. But, we started our preliminaries.” Harry stopped Aaron just before they got to the body. “This isn’t pretty, Aaron. I know you’ve dealt with a lot of horrific things over the years, but it’s different when you know them.”
Tony was beside Aaron, gripping his wrist helping to keep him calm.
“Thank you, Harry.” Aaron turned from the Detective, and Tony let go of his grip. Aaron walked towards the body that hadn’t been touched as of yet. Being careful not to disturb the crime scene, Aaron knelt next to the body, pushed the long brunette hair out of the face, his breath hitched and his hand shook. Bowing his head, Aaron needed a few moments to get his emotions under control.
Standing back up, Tony saw the devastation on Aaron’s face.
“Harry, that’s Tara Gideon. And, I’d like my agency to take over this case. I believe it might be related to our investigation.” Aaron took a shaky breath before wiping a hand over his face. “I also want to make the notifications. This is....complicated.”
“All right. But, you’ll keep us informed?”
“Of course.”
Aaron walked away and began making phone calls which left Tony to start investigating the scene. He had his backpack with him and took out his camera and started to photograph, even though this was more for their CSU. It helped him settle and gave him something to do while they waited.
“The team will be here in a few moments. Harry left a unit with us to keep any onlookers out.” Aaron looked off to the side and sighed again before turning back to Tony. “I know you have a lot of questions, and I’ll answer them, but it really is a complicated situation that is going to involve Gibbs, and Jason Gideon.”
Tony frowned as he tilted his head.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“Tara Gideon was adopted by Jason when she was six. Her family was victims of a family annihilator. Fortunately for her, a play cubby had been built in her room that she was able to crawl into, but you couldn’t tell it was there from the outside.
“Jason and David Rossi were investigating the series of murders when they were called out to the scene, even though it was on the Marine base. Tara’s father was a Combat Medic. He and Jethro had been best friends.”
Tony blew out a breath and rubbed at his hair. He paced a bit and tried to wrap his head around what Aaron was telling him.
“So, how did Jason Gideon end up adopting her?”
“The onscene detectives were looking for her, they didn’t find her among the bodies of her family. Jason went into her room and eventually found the cubby. He talked her out and the two formed a bond.
“Tony, Jethro was her Godfather, but this was right after his wife and child were killed. He couldn’t take her in and Jason didn’t want her to go into the system, so he and his wife adopted her.”
Aaron was going to say more, but 2 SUVs pulled up, with the CSU van behind them. Before anyone could move in, Aaron saw Rossi was with the team and headed their way to cut him off.
“Dave, I need you to stay back.”
“Why? What’s going on, Aaron?”
“Give me a moment.” Aaron turned back to Tony, “I need you to take point on this one. I shouldn’t be even remotely involved here. Neither should Dave. Take everyone else and do what needs to be done.”
“Alright, Aaron. I’ll handle things.” Aaron heard Tony calling for Nick and Greg to help with the scene, Gil was there as well to oversee the CSUs. Aaron turned back towards Dave and took a deep breath before he spoke once more.
“Dave...” Aaron has done hundreds of these notifications, but this one was personal, Tara was someone he cared about, someone he watched grow up around the BAU founders, and he was drafted as an Uncle. She had been to his house, he and Haley would sometimes babysit. Tara was Jack’s first babysitter before she had gone off to college. Aaron was holding back his pain. He could get through this, he had to.
“Aaron? What don’t you want to tell me?”
“Dave, the victim is Tara.”
Dave stared at Aaron for mere seconds before he started off towards the crime scene. Aaron grabbed him and held him fast.
“Don’t. Let them do their job, you’ll have your chance to see her.” Aaron knew Dave wanted to rush in there, the pain already showing in his friend's eyes.
“You have to be wrong, Aaron.”
“No. No, it’s her and I need you to stay back. I’m letting Tony take this one.”
Dave looked at Aaron before walking away, pacing back and forth. He knew Dave would grieve in private, not here at the scene. When Dave made it back to Aaron his face was a hard mask, all emotion pushed down.
“You believe it was David, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do.”
“But, Tara wasn’t a Sentinel or Guide.”
“No, but this was personal. I want everyone working on this case to have some protection. It’s going to bite into our budget, but I’m not going to risk anyone else. Especially our children.
“There’s something else. I need to call Jason.”
Dave nodded and pulled out his phone. He typed out a text which Aaron received a few moments later.
“I could do it.”
“You two haven’t gotten along in a while. He won’t answer for you, but he’ll answer if I call, and if not, I’ll have Reid make the call.”
Dave nodded, swallowed the lump in his throat, and moved away while Aaron made the hardest phone call he has ever had to make.
“This makes no sense,” Reid stated as he sat at the conference table, grief written all over his face. Aaron knew he had gotten close to Tara because of Gideon.
“She’s making this personal. She’s done her homework and I’m sure she knows a lot about all of us already.”
Reid looked at Aaron, “Henry....”
“Is safe. I promise. He’s with Jack and TJ, as well as Parker.”
“I need to talk to Gibbs. He doesn’t know yet, and this is...this isn’t going to go well.”
“Do you need someone with you?”
“I’ll have Tony.”
“Aaron...” Reid hardly used Aaron’s first name when they were in the office, but this was an unusual situation.
“I know, Spencer. If you need to go back to our office to be with Jimmy, go ahead.”
Spencer slowly stood, grabbed his bag, and left. Aaron looked at the board once more before he left the conference room, letting the others they could continue working while he and Tony went to talk to Gibbs.
“Tony, I don’t know how he’s going to react. He and Tara had reconciled when she was 12, and I know they grew close from how Gideon talked. Gideon is supposed to show up at our agency in about an hour. We’ll leave after we talk to Gibbs.”
“Then, Aaron, we are going to the safehouse where Chris and Will are, and hopefully get some rest.”
Aaron hoped they were close to finding Ziva. This was wearing on him and it all became too personal. Aaron walked out to the bullpen and saw Gibbs' team working on files. Gibbs looked up and Aaron knew some scathing remark was on the tip of the man’s tongue, but he stood and frowned.
“What’s going on?”
“Gibbs, we need to speak with you in private. Please.” Tony took lead, he knew Gibbs better and Aaron let him.
“What’s going on? Did you find Ziva?” Gibbs felt nervous like he was keeping something from them. Aaron wasn’t sure what he was getting off of Gibbs, whose shields were coming apart as the stress of the situation began to take its toll on everyone.
“No, we just...need to speak in private.”
Gibbs confusion was written all over his face as he stepped around his desk. He gave McGee direction to stay and finish working the cold case. Gibbs waved Aaron towards the stairs and the three men made for the same direction. They all stepped into MTAC as it was the most private area at NCIS.
Aaron asked the techs that were working there to give them three of them a few minutes alone. They complied when Gibbs nodded at them.
“Alright, what the hell is this about.” Gibbs crossed his arms over his chest as he glared daggers at both Aaron and Tony.
“Gibbs,” Aaron took a moment to gather his thoughts. He had made hundreds of these types of notifications, but they never got any better. “Gibbs, this is about Tara.”
Gibbs dropped his arms and didn’t try to hide his confusion.
“What do you mean? Where is she?”
Aaron breathed deeply before he told Gibbs what happened and where she was found.
“No.” Gibbs nostrils flared and his eyes went flat with anger. “You’re lying. You’re trying to distract me from this case you insist is Ziva’s doing.”
“Gibbs, it’s her. She was taken to Jimmy and he’s handling the autopsy. We can you to her.”
“DiNozzo, I don’t know what the hell you’re trying to pull here...” Gibbs stopped short of berating Tony when he held up his phone with pictures taken for this very reason. Aaron knew Gibbs wouldn’t believe him.
“What...”
“Jethro, I am so sorry.”
Silence reigned for several moments as Gibbs stared at the photos on Tony’s phone. Slowly he sat on one of the chairs directly behind him.
“No, this...this can’t be real.”
“I’m sorry, but it is.”
“Do, do you have any suspects?”
Both Aaron and Tony stayed quiet while they let Gibbs try to comprehend what happened. His head whipped up as he stared again at both men in front of him.
“You think this is Ziva, don’t you.”
“Yes. She knows you, she knows what Tara means to you. She’s been studying you, studying all of us. This, this is personal.”
“I don’t fucking believe you. Fuck, this....this can’t be her.”
Tony stared at his old boss and watched as the man paced, cursed, berated, and let the pressure he was feeling out. He kicked at a few of the chairs until he ran out of steam.
“Fine. We’ll get some answers right now.”
“Gibbs, are you harboring Ziva David?”
Gibbs looked off to the side and Tony and Aaron had their answer. The reason they couldn’t find her was that she was under their nose all of this time.
“She’s in my basement. But, if she did this if she killed...” Aaron noticed the barely held back tears as Gibbs’ eyes became shiny and wet. “If she did this, I won’t stand in your way. You can have the bitch.” Gibbs stormed out of MTAC with Tony and Aaron following behind. They ignored everyone asking questions and ran after Gibbs, who had jumped in his car and sped off.
“We have to go after him before he does something even dumber than what he has done.”
“Come on, jump in.” Aaron got to the SUV, jumped in with Tony in the passenger seat and they quickly went after Gibb and hoped they could stop him from doing something incredibly stupid.
Aaron was only moments behind Gibbs but Tony knew he was so far ahead of them because of Gibbs reckless driving that by the time they got to the house, the car was parked haphazardly, and the door was wide open. Aaron slammed on the breaks, he and Tony spilled out of the vehicle and ran towards the house. When they go to the door, Aaron took out his gun and he went in high, while Tony went in low with his gun out as well. They were taking precautions as they walked in.
While they made their way to the house, Tony had called their colleagues for back-up. They would be there in moments, but Tony wasn’t sure how long they would have.
“Gibbs, we know you’re here. Don’t do anything stupid.” Tony called out as they cleared the top half of the house. The door to the basement was open and Tony called down while taking point as they slowly made their way downstairs. It was too quiet, and that worried Tony, then he heard Gibbs.
“I’m going to ask you again, Ziva, did you kill Tara Gideon? Did you! Tell me this instant.”
Tony wasn’t surprised by the mix of anger and grief in Gibb’s voice. Aaron and he kept going down the stairs, keeping their guns insight. They didn’t say anything, Tony wanted to see how this played out and communicated as much down the bond.
“ Yes. Yes, I killed the little bitch! She meant more to you than I did and I did everything for you Gibbs.”
The cocking of a gun was heard which made Tony fly down the rest of the stairs.
“Gibbs...” Tony carefully walked towards the man he had once considered more than a boss. “Jethro put the gun down. We’ll take her in and deal with her. This isn’t the way, you know that.”
Tony was able to get close enough to see the anguish on Gibbs' face, the tears that fell broke Tony’s heart.
“I trusted you. I trusted you were telling me the truth and we’d find out you didn’t do these things. But I don’t. You killed a beautiful, innocent...” Gibbs choked on what he was going to say and held his gun up his stance meant he was ready to kill at a second's notice.
“Gibbs, come one. Don’t do this. I know this hurts, I know that Tara meant everything to you, Gideon used to tell me all the time how close the two of you became when she got a little older. I know she filled that part of you that lost your daughter. But, Jethro, listen to me,” Aaron softly spoke as he came up near Gibbs, he had put his gun away, while Tony kept his out and trained on Ziva.
“We have her Jethro. We have her and she’ll pay for what she’s done. I promise.”
Gibbs turned to look at Aaron, he sniffed once and the four people in that basement held their collective breath as Gibbs decided what he was going to do.
Thankfully, he uncocked his gun and handed it over to Tony. Sirens blared outside and before anyone realized how much time had passed, several people poured into the basement and began taking over the scene. Aaron got Ziva in cuffs, and if they were a little too tight, well he would chalk up to the heat of the moment.
“You’re under arrest, Ziva David for the murders of,” Aaron rattled off the names of the women that had been killed and the children she had orphaned. He added Tara to that list and it was what finally broke Gibbs as he sank to his knees and purged his emotions. Tony stayed with him while Aaron took Ziva to the van. Booth was there and Aaron nodded to him as he got Ziva in the vehicle.
“Make sure she goes nowhere.”
“My pleasure, Hotch.”
Tony walked out of the house towards Aaron and wrapped around him.
“Let's finish this.”
“I agree. Then I think we all need a vacation. Kids and all.”
“Sounds good to me.” Aaron and Tony walked back to their vehicle, Booth got in the back with Ziva, while Aaron and Tony got in front. They drove back to the agency, and now the hard part would begin, but finally, this whole case was almost over and they could get on with other cases and focus on the Benoit family making sure TJ stayed exactly where he should be.