#ncis dead letter

[dadjoke-ness]

Say what you will about the copaganda in NCIS because I don't watch it for that...

I watch specifically for how explicitly married Gibbs and Fornell are.

Gibbs, breaking into a hospital because Fornell got shot: WILL HE BE OKAY Nurse: Sir you need to prepare yourself Gibbs: PREPARE MYSELF FOR WHAT MY HUSBAND WILL BE FINE

[winterscaptain]

A Joyful Future Masterlist - Part I

Aaron Hotchner x Female Reader  Aaron Hotchner x Gender Neutral Reader

updated: november 15th, 2021 total finished works: 166 works in progress: 23 planned works: 107

summary: canon-divergent, big family!au

currently working on absence part ii and the mean-it era

beta’d by @ssaic-jareau​, without whom none of this would be possible

resources and links: 

inspo blog + media folder

faq + cheat sheets 

headcanon masterlist 

to-write list 

find upcoming fics here | join my tag list! | submit an idea! 

please read faq and key before asking a question! 

▶ episodes i’m planning to adapt for ajf ✸ smut - explicit sexual content (18+ only, minors dni) ✦ suggestive content - non-explicit suggestions of intimacy, drinking, etc. ☰ fem!reader (all other fics are gender neutral) ◎ graphic/edit ✂ director’s commentary ☎ podfic 

Part I: Cicatrize

Ao3 Link

2007

Advocate Cicatrize ✂ | 3x01 "Doubt" - 3x11 "Birthright" Ambition Aaron Hotchner's Letter of Recommendation ◎

2008

▶ Working Title: Reflections | 3x05 "Seven Seconds" ▶ Working Title: Worser Instincts | 3x16 "Elephant's Memory" ▶ Working Title: Developments | 3x17 "In Heat" Dreaming ✦ Intellectual Guesswork | 3x19 "Tabula Rasa" Familiarity | Crossover: NCIS 5x19 "Judgement Day, Part II" Focused | 3x20 "Lo-Fi" - 4x01 "Mayhem" Constellations | 4x02 "The Angel Maker" Buffer Through and Through | 4x03 "Minimal Loss" ▶ Working Title: Milestone | 4x05 "Catching Out" Players Bedtime ▶ Working Title: Grounded | 4x07 "Memoriam" Pride | 4x08 "Masterpiece" Dead Man's Hand ☰ | 4x09 "52 Pickup" Unfair Midnight ✦

2009

At Risk Part I | 4x10 "Brothers at Arms" - 4x11 "Normal" At Risk Part II | 4x12 "Soul Mates" - 4x13 "Bloodline" A Kindness | 4x16 "Pleasure is My Business"

Part II: Fear Itself

Ao3 Link

2009

No Deal | 4x18 "Omnivore" ▶  Working Title: TBD | 4x21 "A Shade of Grey" Collision | 4x23 "Roadkill" ▶  Working Title: TBD | 4x24 "Amplification" Outnumbered Fear Itself | 5x01 "Faceless, Nameless" Enough ✂ Infirmity | 5x02 "Haunted" Push | 5x04 "Cradle to Grave" 5x05 "The Eyes Have It" Nightmare Realized | 5x09 "100" Hands | 5x09 "100" Nightmare Recalled | 5x09 "100" Stay Arrangements An Unrivaled Force of Nature | 5x10 "The Slave of Duty"

2010

Exceeding Expectations | 5x11 "Retaliation" Three's Company Sunburnt ▶  Working Title: TBD | 5x18 "The Fight" A Horrible First | 5x16 "Right of Passage" Unbecoming | 5x21 "Exit Wounds" ▶  Working Title: Blackout | 5x23-6x01 "Darkest Hour/Longest Night" An Opinion

Part III: Berry Hill

Ao3 Link

2010

A Real Hero | 6x09 "Devil's Night" Short Notice Berry Hill ▶ Working Title: Berry Hill (Aaron's Version) Two Inches Stowaway ✸

2011

No Help A Chance of Snow Waldosia | 6x18 "Lauren" - 6x24 "The Big Sea" Absence | 6x24 "The Big Sea" - 7x01 "It Takes a Village" Mean It ✸ ☰ | 7x01 "It Takes a Village" Mean It (SFW + Gender Neutral) ✦ | 7x01 "It Takes a Village" Firsts ✦ Impression Gossip: A Prelude ✦ ☰ Surreal About Time Second Best Obligated | 7x10 "There's No Place Like Home" Conspiracy The Pleasures of the Elder ✦ ☎ Not Complaining ✸ Mistletoe ✦ ✂ Bring It ✸

2012

Gifts & Notices Symptoms Hide

Masterlist Part II

Masterlist Part III

[glitteringsunshine]

Loving Gibbs

Pairing : Leroy Jethro Gibbs X Reader

Gibbs’s  POV:

Y/N: YOUR NAME

Y/L/N : YOUR LAST NAME

Y/P/N : YOUR PEN NAME

 

“ We have a problem. Someone hacked the navy database. We don’t know what was taken. You can understand how sensitive the issue is. You have to find the hacker , recover the data  and close this case as soon as possible. “ The Director said.

“ OK “ I said, understanding  the security risk of the situation.

…

“ Boss I have been going through the military database. There’s  no way can anyone hack it remotely. We need to go over the master computer again , look into that room for clue of a break in. “ McGee said.

“ Well gear up McGee “ let’s  go.

 

“ What's this?” I said suddenly noticing a tiny red origami flower.”

Looking closely I found the words :

The fountains mingle with the river

And the rivers with the ocean,

The winds of heaven mix forever

With a sweet emotion;

Nothing in the world is single;

All things by a law divine

In one spirit meet and mingle

Why not I with thine?

I could suddenly see McGee paling a bit.

“ What’s the meaning of this? Some sort of  message?” I asked.

“ I think boss. I am not sure. It’s  PB Shelly’s  poem  Love’s  Philosophy.”

“ I want to know the relevance of it ,McGee. Find it.”  I snapped.

 

…

“ We were in the squadroom running leads. Suddenly the phone on my desk rang.

Picking up, I heard a voice clearly hidden with a software. 

“ I have a little gift for you. You want to know who hacked the database , you need help then. “

I clicked my fingers to alert McGee to trace the call as Tony started recording it.

“ Go on.” I said . Trying to stall the caller.

“ I left you a special message in the NCIS computer system. You will know who you need to call for  help.”

Then the phone went dead.

 

“ Bose found a hidden encryption in our system. Trying to decrypt it Boss” Mcgee said.

“ After working on his computer for a while McGee visibly paled.”

“ Ohh Ohh Boss”

“ What ?”

I decrypted the message based on the crossword and the letters picked out from there through a riddle, I found a name.”

“ Well What McGee”

“ You ever heard of Y/P/N Boss?”

“ The bestselling author. The number one in NY Time’s  bestselling list “ Tony jumped with excitement.

“There’s  more boss. In her last novel, the narrator, a professor of literature helping  Law Enforcement  Agencies solve crimes through her depth of psychological perception, fell in love with an NCIS agent as she helped him solve a crime. They were close, I mean really close. Things were steamy, I mean. Then the NCIS agent didn’t want to commit , and after the case , the narrator felt heartbroken, and decided to leave the city. She wanted to send ref flowers with Shelly’s  poem pouring out her heart. Couldn’t.  Then finally before leaving the city , she was making a cryptic message in form of crosswords and riddles , pouring her heart but did not send it.  At the end she suffered from lack of inspiration  and writer’s  Block, contemplating of not writing again.”

 

“ Find this person McGee. Bring her in for questioning.”

“ Boss , it’s a pen name. She wants to keep her identity secret.”

“ McGee, I don’t care. What’s  her real name?”

“ Boss , you know her.  I mean we know her.”

“ Who?”

“ Y/N, from the state department.  We worked a case together last year remember  Boss.”

“ Huh?”

“ Well she was a professor  before she joined the state department as policy analyst.” McGee said.

“ That’s it , that’s why the characters felt so familiar.” Tony said excitedly .She based the characters on us. Ohh you really did some steamy stuff Boss. Really sexy stuff. Didn’t read till the end though. Nice Spoiler McGoose.” Tony stopped abruptly after he saw me glaring.

“ From when did you know she is a writer McGee?” I asked.

“ Well we met at a writer’s  convention   a couple of years back.”

“ You mean you knew her from before the case ,and never bothered to tell me. It’s bad enough to have one writer follow you , and now there’s another?” I asked.

“ Bring her in. We need to talk.” I said.

 

…

I made her sit in the interrogation room , making her stew.

“ Love to see this one McGoose” Tony said.

“ Ohh it will be something Tony.”

“ You think Boss did those stuff  MacGee?”

“ No Tony they weren’t in contact after the case. Writers make up stuff you know.”

“ Yeah but that’s really  wild imagination.”

I could hear them as I completed the book. It’s a really brilliant one. Gripping, full of suspense, unputdownable . I would be lying if I had said that I did not imagine the same stuff she had written  about. This past year ,she has been in my mind. Specially at night in bed. Many a times I have pleasured myself imagining her.

 

Reader’s  POV:

It has been almost an hour I have been sitting in the interrogation  room.  When they took me in for questioning,  the secretary of state demanded to know the reason. Hence I have been filled with the details of the case. It wasn’t  a surprise to her as she already knew about my writing career. I was once her student and then her colleague  in the university.

Gibbs walked in.

“ So how many in state department knows about our little secret identity.?” He asked

“The Secretary  of State does.”

“ Yea I figured that.” Gibbs said.

“ So what do you think?” he continued

“ I don’t know” I said.

“ Where were you last night?”

“ If you think I did it ,using scenes from my own story , you are mistaken. I was in the office the  entire night , trying to convince nation states for using more clean energy. Trying to push forward an international treaty in the UN. My entire team and the Secretary of State will vouch for that. “

“ You are not merely a policy analyst. You have done spy stuff before. The Secretary of State is also Ex CIA. Where’s the guarantee you didn’t steal Intel.”

“ I didn’t.  Okay. Besides if I had, I wouldn’t  have used my own stories.”

“ So what do you think happened?”

“ I don’t know , okay. Maybe somebody wants to deflect attention from spystuff, or maybe?”

“ What?”

“ The chemistry between the characters was a huge success. I got a lot of mail wanting them getting back together. Wanting them to solve one more case.”

“ You think it’s a fan?”

“ Well its possible.  If it’s the case , it’s someone  for whom the line between fiction and reality has blurred.” I said.

“ Is the lines clear for you?”

“ What do you mean Gibbs?”

“ I mean you are basing your characters on real people , but you are using your imagination for a lot of things.”

“ I am writer. I use my imagination.  I make up stuff.”

“ I am more curious as to why you wrote what you wrote.”

“ Meaning?”

“ What went on in that pretty little head of yours when you wrote about us? The stuff , was it for just the story or is there more to it? ”

“ Look , I may have based my characters on you , but that’s it. I have never revealed any identity nor any public information,  regarding any case or people.” I said standing up.

“ Sit down. I am not done with you.”

“ Well I am.” I said walking away.

Gibbs followed me , pushing me to the elevator and flipping the  emergency  switch.

“ What?”

“ Tell me Y/N , What you wrote about us ,was it just about the story or because you wanted those things to happen between  us.”

“ Why do you want to know?” I asked.

“ I need to. I have to.” He said.

“ Why , Gibbs Why?”

“ Because this last year I have been driving myself crazy thinking about you, okay. So tell me Y/N the truth. Do you want those things to happen, and that’s why you wrote it?”

I nodded an yes.  I tried to look down on the floor but he held me by my chin.

��� See , that wasn’t difficult to say, was it?”” Tell me Y/N ,did  you touch yourself thinking of me?”

“ Fine I did Gibbs. But I am not the only one. I walked on you pleasing yourself thinking of me remember.”

“ And that’s  not the only time.  I have done it many times, thinking of you this past year.”

“ You could have called.” I almost whispered .

“ So could you. Why didn’t  you? “ he countered.

“ Why didn’t you?” I shot back.

He stared into my eyes and started the elevator again.

“ Y/L/N  will help us in this case” he announced in the squadroom. “ You can share my desk with me.” He said. “ Here, take this” he commanded as he handed me a bottle of water and aspirin.

“ What you have been rubbing your temples in interrogation. You were working last night . You didn’t get any sleep. Keep yourself hydrated. It will ease the headache”.

 

Gibbs’s  POV:

We were in the bar, celebrating the closing of the case. Y/N was right. The person who hacked our system is a high school boy. He is bullied in school , and his divorced parents both remarried not paying much attention to him. He is lonely and reading Y/N’s novel helped him cope with it. He formed a bond through the reading of the novels. He could not bear the character of Y/N getting heartbroken. He thought a case could bring the characters back together.  He didn’t  steal any data. He just pretended to , to make us work the case together.

“ Good Job Y/N, reaching out to him in interrogation. “

“ So did you Gibbs. But what’s gonna happen to him.”

“ Well he didn’t actually steal data. So no prison time. But he have to do community service in the form of hacking for NCIS. That’s the deal.”

“ That’s good Gibbs. He will get a sense of belonging.”

“ Yeah the kid’s  smart” he commented.

Reader’s  Pov

“ Well I should go now. I am tired.  “I said walking away.

Outside the bar , I realised I am a bit drunk. Not wanting to drive , I waited for a ca.

A group of guys were entering the bar. One of them tried to start a conversation using really stupid pick up lines.

“ Look I am not interested”  I said sternly. But they still tried to pester me.

GIibb’s POV:

I can make out Y/N was a bit tipsy. Her speech slurred a little. I didn’t want her to drive like this. So I followed her.

“ The lady said she is not interested “  I said sternly. The group went away.

“ Ahh my prince, my saviour” Y/N slurred. “ If only you loved me a little bit, just a teeny tiny bit.”

“ Y/N you are drunk.”

“ No. Maybe. Yes . I think I am drunk in love.” She pouted. “ I hate you . I hate you for making me feel like this. Maybe if you could fuck it out of me.”

“ Y/N , I want you . I want you so badly. But you are drunk now . I can’t take you when you are drunk. You are not in the proper sense to consent. “

I guided her to my car, putting on her seat belt. I took her to my home.

She had fallen asleep in the car. I undid her seat belt and carried her to my room making sure not to wake up. I tucked her in, brushing the hair from her face,  kissing her forehead.

“ Good night love . Sleep tight.”

 

Reader’s  POV:

I woke up in the morning. As memories of last night’s drunken stupidity flooded me, I was gripped with utter embarrassment  and humiliation.

“ You are awake. Good Morning . I made breakfast.” I heard Gibbs.

“ I need to go” I said. “ I am really sorry. I was really stupid last night.”

“ Y/N” Gibbs tried to say something , but I ran away before that.

 

“Gibbs’s  POV”

It was 9 o clock now. I was in my basement trying to work on my boat. I wasn’t doing a good job. I wanted to talk Y/N about how I felt. But she ran away before I could.

I heard footsteps . I looked up to see Y/N standing.

“Gibbs “ she said.

“ You are here. Really Here. Why?”

“ Because I wanted to . I didn’t want to be anyplace else.”

“ Then why did you run?” He said hoarsely.

“ I couldn’t bear to say goodbye.”

“ Y/N”

“ Wait Gibbs . Hear me out. I thought if I run , I can get you out of my mind. But I couldn’t.  Please. I am asking for one night with you. Show me pleasure. Maybe then I can get you out of my system.  No promises.  I am not asking for your heart. But you , for one night. I need to know hoe it feels to be with you.”

Reader’s  POV:

 

Gibbs looked at my eyes with such intensity. He stepped closer to me.

“ There’s one teeny tiny little problem” he said.

“ What?” I blurted

“ I have fallen in love with you.  I fell for you the moment I saw you. This last year ,I tried my best to fight my feelings. I was scared to open up. What If I mess up. What if I hurt in the process. I didn’t want myself  to screw up with you. I couldn’t  bear it. So I shut myself out from you. But it hasn’t been easy. You have no idea how many times I have almost called you. You have always been in my mind, no matter how much I fought it. I thought I wasn’t good enough for you.  But I can’t  deny my feelings anymore. I want you Y/N ,I need you. More than just a night. You see I have already given my heart to you.”

“ Oh Gibbs Gibbs ,I  thought you didn’t like me like that. I mean there was an attraction from the first moment we met. But I was scared to reach out.  I wanted to call you. But I was scared  that what if you did not feel as strongly for me as I do. You have my heart from the moment we met. I knew I have feelings for you. But what if you didn’t. What if it was just lust from your part.”  

My words were cut off when his lips touched mine. This was no gentle kiss. It was wild passionate and demanding.

“ Oh Gibbs ,Gibbs ,Gibbs”  I babbled.

“ As much as I love to hear my name coming from your pretty little voice , I need you to shut up and listen to me for a second okay.” He said cupping my face.

He softly brushed his lips against mine ,gently kissing me. Then looking into my eyes he said : “ Y/N I love you . I love you so much Y/N”.

“ And I love you Jethro. I Love you so much.”

“ Ohh Y/N, words will fail to express how much I love you. But I can show you” he smiled pulling me closer.

[indestinatus]

In ToC Tony says that it’s weird that it’s been 3 months and no one has been in contact with Ziva. Does that mean that in the three years she was not with ncis, she was contacting the team? I find it weird that Ziva wouldn’t speak to her family for such a long amount of time, not Gibbs, Abby, Ducky, or Mcgee? It just doesn’t make sense if she wasn’t at least emailing or something. On the other hand, I like to believe that she was not in contact with Tony over those three years because the idea that she was in contact with him while simultaneously not telling him about Tali would be awful. But Tony did call her in Dead Letter, so that makes me think he (or someone else) might have been in contact with her unless he just thought she would have the same number after three years. Thoughts?

you know what, anon?

that's a terrific, wonderful question. BECAUSE -> the answer (in my eyes) falls into the "what the fuck was this writing" world of ncis. I propose to you another question: if Ziva was within reach during 3 whole years after season 11 what would make us believe Tony wouldn't contact her frequently? Why THE FUCK would he date Zoe? Why (again the fuck) would Ziva keep Tali a secret knowing it was Tony's????????? Writer's room was lacking a lot of brain cells that day

that said, my thoughts (as I try to explain canon): Ziva didn't contact the team during 7x01 because she was abducted. Ziva didn't contact the team post-S11 because she was afraid.

I like to think she lied. Plainly, simply, she kept it hidden because she was a coward and that was the biggest mistake of her life and yes it fucked everything up completely. I truly (fingers crossed omg) hope the spin off talks about it, it would be SO GOOD to finally understand the perspective of both characters about it. I need anger, I need loud fights and tears. I hope the address it

I think they had her number but didn't keep in touch because it was the ending of a relationship without prospects of getting together again and she didn't call them so that was that. Tony heartbroken, Ziva heartbroken, without contacting and meanwhile she is (again, fuck the writing of this part) raising a child alone ???

anyway, wonderful words, thank you for the ask!

[avatarskywalker78]

OC Pride Challenge Day Twelve- Tropes of an Aroace OC

Special Agent Brianna Wilson

Action Girl: Has known how to defend herself since she was a child and has kept up a high level of fitness ever since. Though she only fights when she absolutely needs to, she can still kick serious ass when required, especially when someone else’s life is in danger.

Affectionate Nickname: Used to be called ‘Little Brie’ by Gibbs back in the day and is known as ‘Brie’ to most of her friends.

Better as Friends: The result of every one of her few relationships that she’s had.

Celibate Hero: Well-aware of both sex and romance but has never had nor wanted the former and had very little experience with the latter – realising she’s aroace isn’t really a great surprise to her.

Combat Pragmatist: Not above using any way she can to end a fight.

Dark and Troubled Past: Emotionally neglected by her parents to the extent that she wished she was part of Gibbs’ family instead, was shattered by Shannon and Kelly’s deaths – compounded by the fact she wasn’t allowed to attend the funeral - struggled to make friends throughout school, ended up leaving home the moment she turned eighteen, and lost one of her two best friends in a homegrown terrorist attack, which she only avoided the brunt of due to being five minutes late. This led to-

Desperately Looking for a Purpose in Life: Convinced that the universe had let her survive for a reason, she continued with the Around the World gap-year trip with Jessica, taking various odd jobs and experiencing different cultures, and decided that her purpose would be saving lives, so joined the Coast Guard the moment she returned to the US. She spent nine years there before leaving to pursue a college degree in social sciences, before joining NCIS after deciding that she now wanted to try and get justice for the dead.

Family of Choice: The Gibbs’ family (which is still extended to Gibbs’ himself even after the others were killed), Steven, Jessica, and the NCIS team.

First-Name Basis: Is known and referred to as ‘Brie’ by everyone except Gibbs, Vance, and Ducky, the former two often calling her ‘Wilson’ and the latter calling her ‘Brianna’ – though Gibbs tends to refer to her as ‘Brie’ in private or when he’s trying to get her to open up to him.

Hidden Depths: Can play the piano and saxophone by ear and often employs the woodworking skills Gibbs taught her back in the day.

Honorary Aunt: Becomes this to her friends’ children later down the line.

Like Brother and Sister: Sees Tony as a brother and Abby as a sister.

Like a Father to me: Has held Gibbs in this regard since she was seven, and decades later actually says this out loud to him.

Long Lost Found Family: To Gibbs, as he hasn't heard from her in sixteen years and hasn't seen her in twenty - and given that her last letter mentioned Steven's death he's been greatly concerned about and yet unable to track her down. He doesn't recognise her when she first joins the team and is equal parts relieved that she's alright and hurt that she went off-grid for so long.

Nerves of Steel: Being a helicopter rescue swimmer for nine years means she’s faced plenty of harrowing situations, and as such is unfazed in the face of danger.

Not Wanting Kids is Weird: Averted! No one ever calls her out on this, especially after she comes out as aroace.

Platonic Declaration of Love: Once she’s good enough friends with someone this is what she tends to do if they’re comfortable with hearing it – but most of the time it’s not something she needs to say.

Percussive Maintenance: Tends to do this to newer technology.

Survivor Guilt: Being five minutes late for a meet-up with Steven ends up saving her life – even years later she still suffers from shades of this.

That Person Is Dead: How she refers to her previous name of Brianna Durand – as far as she’s concerned that woman died alongside her best friend.

The Un-Favourite: Her parents wanted a son, and when they got one – who turned out to be a musical prodigy to boot – they treated him as the golden child and never took much notice of Brianna, despite the fact that she not only got consistently high grades in school but was no amateur when it came to musical ability herself.

Tagging (let me know if you want to be added or removed): @shrinkthisviolet @starstruckpurpledragon @dream-beyond-the-fantasy @daughter-of-melpomene

[television-overload]

More NCIS / X-Files stuff no one asked for:

Matching Episode Titles:

"Unusual Suspects" - TXF 5x03 and NCIS 20x15

"Detour" - TXF 5x04 and NCIS 10x16

"Chimera" - TXF 7x16 and NCIS 5x06

"Requiem" - TXF 7x22 and NCIS 5x07

"Patience" - TXF 8x03 and NCIS 12x19

"End Game" / "Endgame" - TXF 2x17 and NCIS 7x07

Super Close:

TXF 1x8 "Ice" and NCIS 3x19 "Iced"

TXF 6x02 "Drive" and NCIS 4x11 "Driven"

Special Mentions:

NCIS 1x17 "The Truth Is Out There"

NCIS 5x03 "Ex-File"

Bonus:

Angel:

TXF: Fallen Angel

NCIS: Angel of Death, Better Angels

Blood:

TXF: Blood, Bad Blood

NCIS: Bloodbath, Flesh and Blood, Blood Brothers, Blood and Treasure, Blood in the Water

Dead:

TXF: Deadalive

NCIS: Left for Dead, Dead Man Talking, Dead and Unburied, Dead Man Walking, Bury Your Dead, Dead Reckoning, Dead Air, Dead Reflection, Dead Letter

Devil:

TXF: The Jersey Devil

NCIS: Devil's Triangle, Devil's Trifecta, Devil's Triad

Fire:

TXF: Fire, Firewalker

NCIS: Playing with Fire, Friendly Fire, On Fire

Heart:

TXF: Young at Heart, Paper Hearts

NCIS: Heart Break, Heartland, Lonely Hearts

Home:

TXF: Home, Home Again

NCIS: Hometown Hero, Homesick, Homefront, Home of the Brave

Kill:

TXF: Kill Switch, Surekill

NCIS: One Shot One Kill, Kill Ari (1 & 2), Road Kill, Kill Screen, Kill Chain, Dressed to Kill, Kill the Messenger

Sea:

TXF: Beyond the Sea

NCIS: Seadog, High Seas, Lost at Sea

[typingtess]

NCIS: LOS ANGELES – "Shame" – Act Two

Anna wants Callen to stop “casing” the wedding planner's office.  Anna is celebrating their wedding, Callen is celebrating on the inside.  Anna's first choice to go was Fatima but Callen is there.  They are drinking champagne and bickering.  

Landing on the Allegiance, Kensi and Fatima are introduced to Master Chief Hughes.  He feels the matter is straight forward.  They are in the hold where Chief Adebayo found Wassner.  His body was sent back to the shore right away – he's Jewish and they bury their dead quickly.  They are off to speak to the sailor who found him.

Deeks and Rountree are gentle with Wassner's widow.  She last spoke to him on Sunday – their weekly phone call.  They spoke about his leave, they were happy.  They were trying to have a child.  Wassner sent letters – thought they were romantic, though his penmanship was so bad, she could barely read them.  Deeks asks to see the letters.

Kensi and Fatima sneak peek with Chief Adebayo.  

Wassner's record is spotless – no drugs, no fights, no finance issues.  Rountree mentions the suicide note was generic.  Deeks-Rountree sneak peek.

[darkspicyevanstan]

⚡️ Fandom AUs, Crossovers, Fusions Galore ⚡️

View the Fandoms beneath the cut!

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The Princess Bride

The Vampire Diaries

The Walking Dead

The Wizard of Oz

Through the Looking Glass

Titanic

Transformers

True Blood

Twilight 

Underworld

Vampire Academy 

Vampire Knight

Van Helsing

Venom

X-Files

[wexarethewalkingxdead]

spell out your url using characters you love from any media. then, tag as many people as there are letters in your url ( or however many you'd like ! ) inspired by the song titles dashboard game.

W - Willow Rosenberg (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

E - Emma Nelson (Degrassi: The Next Generation)

X - Xander Harris (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

A - Abigail 'Abby' Scuito (NCIS)

R - Rafael Barba (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)

E - Ellie Satler (Jurassic Park)

T - Temperance Brennan aka Bones (Bones & the Kathy Reichs novels)

H - Han Solo (Star Wars)

E - Emily Fields (Pretty Little Liars)

W - Wynonna Earp (Wynonna Earp)

A - Alex Eames (Law & Order: Criminal Intent)

L - Leia Organa (Star Wars)

K - Marcus Kane (The 100)

I - Indiana 'Indy' Jones (Indiana Jones)

N - Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

G - Gil Grissom (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation)

X - Charles Xavier (X-Men)

D - Daryl Dixon (The Walking Dead)

E - Echo (The 100)

A - Anya Jenkins (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

D - Dobby (Harry Potter)

tagged by stolen from: @esoterium tagging: everyone!

[femalebookworm]

This bundle ends here for me, and might take me a while to get back to it, unless I find it for free.

Okay, then, this is Vital Secrets series (bundle of book 1-3, but as you can tell, reviews will be separate!) is my first read for 2024 (started and finished on Jan 4, 11pm sharp), picked this set at random after seeing cover with dude holding a gun and some words like, crime, thriller, suspense, detective work etc attached to it. All that, set my mindset for CSI, NCIS; set the standards too high, but the coincidences were piling up too hard and too fast, I just followed the letters on the e-page.

Yeah yeah, I kept the same intro used for the first and second book, sue me, and will continue for this paragraph cause my muse has left the building. This is also my last installment in this series for a while, unless the next volume is FREE or something. Anyway… Web of Secrets is about 66% into this bundle, and while I have the separate book status being marked on Goodreads, I could definitely NOT review 3 books in one go; my brain wouldn’t let me. It would also be super long, and I know Goodreads and my blog have limits. Bear with me, I’ll keep the bundle review simple. NOT SPOILER FREE, read at your own risk.

Ha! I knew it, when Lizzie sat at trial and the handsome man decided to sit next to her, I though, “they will be paired next”, well — I was right. While I managed to foresee the couples like Cupid itself (Joe and the tech lab lady, as an example), I did not see the bad guy being highly connected to previous book and to a good initial part of this current one, I only knew that at some point he was on broad daylight. Nor could I have predicted such an awful death to a lovable character —SPOILER, Max— But alas, I was caught by surprise, overall by Donny, he is a sweetheart, and Lizzie is special indeed. I kept cheering them on since the last couple of pages from previous book, and I’m happy with their outcome. Ain’t gonna lie that their “witness protection” scenes rang a bell for me - maybe it was a movie or even another book. Found it to be quite similar. Or maybe one of my daydreams. Whatever!

Also, as a side note: I liked so many of the victims here. Many had a whole future ahead: a date, a party, a night in studying, a night in just chilling. Those cut deep. The last one was really sad too. And dude, the reason?!? Why? It’s still muddled somewhat. Why did he think he needed to breathe in their light?!? And yup, Samantha is dead. SPOILER.

That’s it. Oh, and lots of moving boxes towards Texas from several people, I guess. Now, I’m entering my pause for this series. Know it’s unwanted. Sorry for the hasty review. I really didn’t know how to say everything and the good-byes for now are pretty fucking sad. Bye.

Also super pissed at this (specifically used my kindle to auto mark the %/Page and this came out. Not cool.

[doberbutts]

I was mentored by a trans woman old enough to be my parent when I was in college, freshly 18, Obama's first term, just a couple of years out of my incredibly christian and conservative high school. Some stuff I'd scraped together on my own but I can honestly say SHE taught me how to be trans. She wrote my letter, for those reading that are old enough to remember when we needed letters of recommendation just to be considered for affirming healthcare.

Prior to that, I knew what trans women were. I like crime shows and trans women are often dead sex workers in crime shows (think law and order, ncis, bones, etc) so I understood that it was possible to go from M to F. I knew what being gay, lesbian, bisexual was. I had friends and we hid, together, back when I was just an "ally".

At some point I poured out my soul to a pansexual friend about how I was a horrible twisted failure of a girl because I felt nothing but displeasure at the idea of being a woman. Not because women couldn't be GNC, I was GNC af all throughout my childhood and had to be stuffed unwillingly into a feminine role pretty much from the moment I realized I had a choice and could say no. I knew I didn't need to have kids or a husband or wear makeup etc in order to be a woman. That all was fine. I grew up watching and maybe connecting a little too hard with butch characters on TV. I best liked it whenever she said she was a woman who was also a man, a man who was also a woman, that in everything except body she was a man. That was me! I wanted to be just like her. And I knew it was wrong. So I wanted to kill myself instead.

Anyway my pan friend sent me to a now defunct geocities website which was a trans guy journaling his journey from being a butch lesbian married to his wife, to transitioning medically and socially. Photos of his surgery results. Little sound bites of his voice as it changed. Short videos of him and his wife.

And I realized... that's me. He did it. I want to do that.

I didn't know trans men existed before him. I knew the rest. But not trans men, specifically. I didn't even know the word "transgender".

And then my trans woman mentor taught me the rest.

How did you all learn queer history??

I was raised by lesbians but they never talked about it. They didn't even acknowledge to me that they were lesbians, I had to piece that together on my own (which sounds way easier in retrospect than it was in reality when they've both been there for as long as you can remember).

I learned about Stonewall within the past two or three years, after I had switched political alignments and seen queer leftists talking about it like it was a thing I was supposed to know.

I learned about Leelah Alcorn today. Like, 10 minutes ago.

I need some kind of educational digital queer calendar that I can add to my phone's holiday calendar so I can start googling a significant queer event every morning.

[pacha620]

I’m watching Dead Letter & noticed something. HOW DID I MISS THIS?!?! She legit joined Mossad again according to this!!

[tivajunkie]

I know Gibbs sees his agents as his kids, but I’m being 100% honest when I say that I don’t think he loves anyone more than he loves Fornell.

[shutupanddance]

Using another prompt from @prompts-for-every-need ! It will be in bold letters. This one is a Tony Dinozzo x Reader comfort fic <3

You toss your purse onto the bar, and thump down on the nearest stool with a groan. Your back hurts, your feet hurt, everything hurts. You want to go home. The only problem is, you’re in the middle of Atlanta on a case. There’s no home here. Only the choking humidity and a cockroach-infested hotel room.

You’ll take the bar over the cockroaches any day.

The bartender wordlessly slides you a drink, and you’d normally be offended by the pity party playing out in his eyes, but honestly, you look like complete crap.

You down the glass in one gulp, and promptly thump your forehead onto the bar, shoulders slumped. You close your eyes, so you miss Tony walking in.

”Rough night, huh?”

It’s supposed to be funny, since you’ve spent the last twenty hours working the same case together. You don’t lift your head.

”Wow. Tough crowd.”

You hear him ruffle his pockets, and the crackling sound his leather wallet makes as he opens it. Dollar bills exchange hands.

”Let’s go on a walk,” Tony offers, and this time, his hand is on your back.

When you finally lift your head up, you notice that he has your purse in his other hand, and that he’s paid the bartender. You nod, and follow your partner outside.

A few blocks pass before Tony speaks.

”You’re not acting like yourself. I know you’re tired — we all are — but this isn’t tired Y/N behavior. What’s up?”

You let out a long sigh. It sounds so loud in the still summer air…

”I don’t know if I can do this anymore.” You admit.

Tony waits patiently.

”It’s not just this case. It’s every case. The long hours, the running back and forth, the hours we spend en route to different locations. When I first signed up for NCIS, I enjoyed the hell out of it all. But that was years ago. And I’m tired. I‘m married to the job. No husband or kids, not even a boyfriend who will stick around for longer than a month. My social life is dead, I make so little money off this government paycheck, and for what?“

Before he can say anything, you continue.

”Yes, I know this job is important. It’s a beautiful thing. But I just don’t think it’s my thing.”

“Stress can be expected, this is a high pressure job-”

“No, you don’t get it. I. Can’t. Do. This. Any. More.”

You stop now, and turn to face your partner head-on.

”I’m tired, Tony,” you say, and your voice finally breaks.

Tony looks like he‘s almost as down as you. He grabs you by the shoulders and pulls you in. You curl your arms to your stomach, letting him just envelope you. You cry. He feels so warm and safe.

His thumbs rub small circles on your shoulder and waist, and kisses your hair gently. You sigh again. When you finally move away, he’s not sure what to say at first.

”What do I do, Tony?”

A pause.

”I think… I think you’re right. It’s hard. This job is hard. But I also think that you’re tired, and we’ve been working this case for a long time, and a wise woman told me —“ he raises his eyebrows in your direction “— a wise woman told me to always get a good night’s sleep before letting something affect you.”

You sniffle, and giggle, and nod, and Tony kisses you again, this time on the forehead.

”Okay,“ you agree.

It’s late at night when you get back to NCIS DC after solving the Atlanta case. Tony and McGee had already gone home, and Gibbs was in MTAC with Vance. You don’t want to know.

The problem is, there’s a shoebox on your desk where you want to put your stuff down. You set it all on your chair instead.

The shoebox is old and blue, with any stickers rubbed off. On top is a note.

Y/N,

I thought this might help you remember why we do this job.

Your favorite coworker,

Tony.

You smile softly, and lift the lid of the shoebox.

The first thing you notice is a dog tag on a small leather loop.

Sergeant Ross. You remembered the case. When his murder was solved, his wife gave NCIS one of his dog tags as a thank you.

Next is a photograph of two parents, a child, and a dog. The kid had been kidnapped, and you found him. Next, a dried rose from the wedding bouquet of a bride who got to marry the man of her dreams because you saved his life by taking a bullet for him.

It went on and on, through to the bottom of the shoebox. There were tears in your eyes.

”Oh Tony,” you breathed, wondering how he had kept all of these for so long.

”Something wrong with Dinozzo?” A voice behind you asks. Gibbs. You whip around.

”No, boss. Just talking to myself.”

He glances down at the box, and at the tears in your eyes. He knows.

”I’m glad you’re a part of our team, Y/N.“ You smile.

”Me too.”

And you were.

[winterscaptain]

nightmare, recalled

Aaron Hotchner x Gender Neutral Reader

a/n: the hearing. next part up is the slave of duty. we are reaching the end of this arc, and we will do some healing, i promise. thank you all for waiting on this part! it’s a little short breather before we get slave of duty tomorrow night. 

an ajf fic arc that happily stands on its own! (the pieces stand alright on their own as well, for the most part!) one | two | three | four | five | six | seven | eight | nine | ten | eleven

words: 2k warnings: discussion of violence, language

summary: “when someone you loved was depending on your lie, it was perfectly easy.” - liane moriarty, big little lies

masterlist | a joyful future masterlist | requests closed!

You arrive at the office in the early morning, not looking half as exhausted as you feel. It was your own fault - you begged and begged to be the first in the back-to-back team testimonies today. If you were first, you reasoned, you never once had to leave Jack once he and Aaron arrived. 

Jess is taking care of the final arrangements today - handling the catering for the wake with her parents, sourcing roses, all of the wretched little tasks you’d much rather take on yourself - for the funeral this weekend. 

But alas, Strauss needs to continue her warpath on Aaron, and you need to defend him. 

You sit outside of the eighth-floor conference room, just down the hall from Erin’s office. You have tissues tucked in your hand, not trusting her to provide them and saving your pride in the process. You keep your eyes down as she steps into the room and closes the door behind her. 

As you expected, about three minutes later, she pops her head out. “We’re ready for you.” 

Inside the room is one of the deputy directors, in addition to a lackey from the inspector general’s office. 

Gang’s all here...

You take your seat opposite Erin, keeping your hands in your lap. 

“Please state your name and rank for the record.”

You do, clear and steady.

“How long have you worked in the BAU?”

“I was assigned to the BAU as a New Agent Trainee in the summer of 2007, and was assigned to the unit as an agent at the end of that year.”

“So, two years?”

“Just about, ma’am.”

The other people in the room start taking notes, but Erin keeps her eyes on you. It’s unsettling. 

“How was it that you were assigned to the BAU as a NAT?” There’s something hidden in her question, so you answer somewhat comprehensively. 

“I requested a unit assignment based on a recommendation from Jennifer Shepard, the late director of NCIS. I was intrigued by the guest lecture given by Agents Hotchner and Gideon and requested the BAU.”

“Who approved your transfer into the unit?”

Your brow crinkles. “I’m not sure of the specifics ma’am, but the SSAIC informed me that she’d spoken to Agent Hotchner prior to my assignment.” 

“Do you feel indebted to Agent Hotchner?”

Ah. There it is. 

“No, ma’am.” 

She narrows her eyes. “How can that be? He was directly responsible for a massive acceleration of your career within the bureau.”

“All due respect, ma’am, I believe my academy coursework and the Director’s Leadership Award on my desk speaks for itself. Agent Hotchner and Agent Hemingway both recognized my potential and made their decisions accordingly.” You try to keep the sass out of your tone, but you have to throw her off this train of thought somehow. 

She hums - once, staccato. “Given that...recognition, do you feel obligated to defend Agent Hotchner?”

“No, ma’am. I do not feel any obligation or debt to Agent Hotchner.” 

She narrows her eyes again, but makes a note in her small notebook before speaking again. “How would you describe Agent Hotchner’s recent behavior in the field?”

Without hesitation, “Motivated.”

She’s not impressed. “Would you say he’s been taking unnecessary risks in the field?”

Lady, if you only knew the half of it. 

“No, ma’am. I believe his choices in the field have been effective.” 

She chuffs a little laugh, unamused. “Very cute, agent, but that’s not what I asked.” 

You blink at her, waiting for another question. 

“Why did Agent Hotchner step down from his position as unit chief?”

Careful. Careful. 

“He promoted Agent Morgan so the team could continue our work unhindered.” 

“What were the hindrances?”

Shit. 

“By transferring his responsibilities, he had the opportunity to explore more investigatory avenues regarding George Foyet that he would have been unable to prioritize while in his post as unit chief.” 

Good save. 

“Can you characterize the transition of power?” She raises an eyebrow. She’s baiting you. 

You don’t take it. “Amicable. Seamless. Peaceful.”

“So you wouldn’t say there was tension between Agents Hotchner and Morgan regarding the division of responsibilities?”

“No, ma’am. I did not experience or witness any dysfunction arising from the transition. Agent Hotchner was exceptionally respectful and deferential to Agent Morgan following the promotion. There was never any confusion about the chain of command.” 

And that was actually true. 

She pushed and pushed and pushed you to say something that would condemn Aaron for his behavior in the previous eight weeks. Though you were plenty frustrated with him, you didn’t budge. 

Soon enough, she asked about what happened on the afternoon of November 23rd, 2009. You started from the beginning - The Fox, the letters, the medication. 

+++

“Who made the decision to breach Foyet’s apartment?”

This was wearing on you, well into the second hour. “Agent Morgan, ma’am.” 

“Didn’t Agent Hotchner have anything to say regarding the tactical plan?” Strauss looks tired too, but she better rally - her efforts are getting weaker as you continue to answer her questions with steady candor and she still has seven more interviews to conduct today, not to mention the paperwork. 

“No, ma’am. Agent Morgan, even in normal circumstances, is the established tactician of the unit. In this instance and others even while he was in the unit chief position, Agent Hotchner deferred to Agent Morgan’s expertise regarding SWAT deployment and tactical decisions.” 

+++

“Do you believe it was Agent Kassmeyer’s fault that Agent Hotchner’s family was compromised?”

You shake your head. “No. I’m sure you’ll hear it more than once today, but torture is seemingly endless. Agent Kassmeyer took everything Foyet threw at him and still refused to compromise the Hotchner family’s location. There was nothing more he could have done to prevent Foyet from making contact with Haley Hotchner.” 

+++

“Did it occur to you to join Agent Hotchner as he separated himself from the team?”

“No, ma’am. And I disagree with your characterization of the situation - Agent Hotchner did not separate himself from the team. He pursued a lead with Agent Kassmeyer, who requested his presence as he was dying in the back of that ambulance.” 

She purses her lips. “What was your next plan of action?” 

You take a moment. 

This is the hard part. 

“Once the scene was in-process, I took a car and followed the ambulance to the hospital. When I arrived, Agent Anderson had already found Agent Hotchner a car, and he was in touch with the team regarding the next plan of action.” You wet your lips. “He then received a call from Foyet.”

+++

Her eyes remain cold and detached as you walk her through the conversations with Foyet, with Haley. With a certain degree of frustration, you push through your tears as you relay her last words, the gunfire. 

“I don’t remember exactly what happened after that.” You stare down at your hands, focused on the way the pad of your thumb feels against the side of your middle finger. “I remember pulling up to the house and getting out of the car...The - the door was open. I found Agent Hotchner while I was clearing the ground floor. Foyet was dead, at that point.” 

“What had happened to Foyet?”

“He’d been...beaten.” Your voice cracked. That was an understatement. “I subdued Agent Hotchner until the rest of the team arrived.” You press the tissue to your eyes for a second. “He was...understandably distraught.” 

Strauss examines you across the table, sees the emptiness in your eyes behind your tears, the grief, the sorrow, the horror of having to relive it. “What happened after that?”

“I realized,” you continue, “that I hadn’t found Jack. I remembered what Agent Hotchner told him, and we both got up and ran to his home office, off the kitchen. I found Jack Hotchner in the storage trunk beside Agent Hotchner’s desk.” You look up at her. “I can’t begin to articulate the relief I felt at seeing him alive.” 

+++

“When Haley’s sister, Jessica Brooks, arrived, I kept her away from the crime scene for the sake of her health and safety. She met up with Agent Jareau, who had Jack at that point. I -” You stutter and swallow before taking a breath. “I returned upstairs.” 

Your voice shakes, and tears make their way down your cheeks again. 

“I returned upstairs, where Agent Morgan was sitting with Haley’s body. There wasn’t - I couldn’t, um - I couldn’t do anything for her. She was gone even before Aaron - Agent Hotchner - arrived.” 

The representative from the IG’s office looks a little misty now, as does the deputy director. You press your hands to your face. 

“It was... She’d been shot at least three times - that much we heard over the phone.” You voice breaks, but you forge ahead. “She had also been stabbed...There was…” You take a quick breath, but it’s not enough. “...so much blood.” 

Strauss’s voice is quiet when she asks. “What was the nature of your relationship with Haley Hotchner?”

You look her square in the eye, not shy about the grief washing over you in waves. “She was one of my best friends. My boss’s wife, the mother of a boy I consider my family.” You turn your gaze to the table, the fake wood grain suddenly very interesting. “I will miss her beyond measure.” 

A breath echoes around the room as the others collect themselves. 

“I have one last question for you.” 

“Yes, ma’am?”

“What do you think would have happened if Agent Hotchner had allowed George Foyet off of that floor?”

You level her with a look that makes her sit back. “He would have killed Jack. He would have killed me.” 

“And?” There’s one more thing you have to say. 

“He would have let Agent Hotchner live, and he would have told him it was his fault.” 

The rest of the room looks shaken, and you know you’re right. Even beyond the profile, Foyet’s obsession with Aaron was clear. 

Why can’t they see it? 

“Thank you, Agent. No further questions.” 

+++

When you get back to the roundtable room, JJ is there with Derek. You offer them an approximation of a smile. 

“What are you still doing here?” Derek asks. “You can go home, if you want.” 

You shake your head. “I’ll be here until Aaron’s interview is finished.” 

+++

You can’t help the way your face lights up when Jack sprints across the bridge in the middle of the afternoon, leaping ahead of Aaron. 

Rounding the table, you kneel and open your arms to him, letting out an oof when he runs into you full-tilt. You can’t help but smile. 

But then again, Jack has always had that effect on you. 

“Good morning, bud.” 

He wraps his arms around your neck, still impossibly tight. “Hi.” 

You stand in the doorway until Aaron gets there. Jack’s familiar travel bag is slung over his shoulder, and he tosses it down in the corner. “Emily’s in right now, and then it’s you.”

Aaron nods, taking a seat. You follow suit, reclining in your chair so Jack can relax against your chest. The rest of the team watches you both, equal parts mournful and hopeful. 

JJ watches the way Aaron presses a kiss to the side of his son’s head right before he sits down, his hand resting lightly on your shoulder for balance.

Penelope watches the way Jack clings to you, playing with the buttons on your shirt, comfortable and safe. 

Derek watches the way Aaron watches you, brown eyes soft and absent of concern. 

Dave watches the way you watch Aaron, can see the way your fingers ache to reach out for him, to take care of him. 

They all watch the three of you - understanding, but not knowing. 

+++

tagging: @arganfics @quillvine @stxrryspencer @agenthotchner @hurricanejjareau @ughitsbaby @rousethemouse @criminalsmarts @shrimpyblog @genevievedarcygranger @ssaic-jareau @good-heavens-chris-evans @davidrossi-ismydad @angelsbabey @writefasttalkevenfaster @venusbarnes @hotchsflower @ogmilkis @marvels-agents100 @hotchslatte @risenfox @mrs-dr-reid @captain-christopher-pike @dwellingsofrosie @pan-pride-12 @sunshine-em @word-scribbless​ @jdougl-love​ @sageellsworth05​ @dreila03 @forgottenword @aaronhotchnerr @ssa-morgan @buckybau @sana-li @tegggeeee @abschaffer2 @ssacandice-ray @ellyhotchner @lotties-journey-abroad @mrs-joel-pimentel-23-25 @laneygthememequeen @violentvulgarvolatile  @mooneylupinblack @ssareidbby @violet-amxthyst @bwbatta @roses-and-grasses @lcvischmitt @capricorngf @missdowntonabbey @averyhotchner @mandylove1000 @cevanswhre @qvid-pro-qvo @jeor @spencers-hoodrat @infinity1321 @zizzlekwum @popped-weasels @evee87 @nuvoleincielo @this-broken-band-girl @reidtomestyles @hotch-meeeeeuppppp @winqhster @spencerelds @the-falling-in-the-danger @nattylite49 @crazyshannonigans @softbibxtch

[comfyswitcherblanketfort]

Covert Operative

@stinastar turned my own mind against me and hit me with this in my inbox: 

“Heeyyyyyyy babe.You did this to yourself. I’m here to kindly ask for your own idea 🤣“The totally untrained/civi/softie jumps in front of a bullet for the one who's already been shot like five times? The ex spy or some shit who's been tortured and lived. And their twinky little SO was like NOPE” I’m assuming you’ll do geraskier but you know I also adore lambden. THANKS CAN’T WAIT. This is much better than filling my own prompts 🤣😘💖”

and i was feeling that Lambden life so, boo, this one’s for you 😘😘 ily

Warnings: this is all pretty canon typical levels of violence just modern au style, guns, gunshots, someone gets shot, allusions to killing, BIG TIME deception, feelings of betrayal, one of them is a secret spy, it ends soft but it is not a fluff piece, think an episode of NCIS or Covert Affairs. 

_________________

He’d found out by teasing Aiden about missing an exit. 

Aiden didn’t miss anything; he skipped it. Then drove them in circles, checking his mirrors the whole way, as he tried to convince Lambert he was just looking for something.

Lambert unbuckled and threatened to roll out of the car on a side street before Aiden finally admitted it. 

Covert operative, he’d said. Lambert had been thinking about proposing. To a spy.

They now sat across from each other on the upper level patio of a quaint little bistro, rather far away from the farmers market they were headed to, and Lambert was absolutely livid. Aiden ordered for them while Lambert pretended to be on his phone. Aiden had taken the battery out of that though, so it was more an excuse to not talk to him. 

“Bert-”

“Don’t fucking call me that,” Lambert snapped, barely keeping his voice low enough, “Only family calls me that.” 

The hurt on Aiden’s face wasn’t even slightly hidden and, oh did Lambert want to believe it was genuine, “I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you. I did. But knowing placed you at greater risk.”

Lambert locked eyes with him, lips pressed together in a thin narrow line and eyebrows arching up as if to say “bang up job”, but he kept silent. 

“You don’t have to believe me right now. I just need you to listen to me. Please,” Aiden looked almost terrified for a moment before he schooled his features. He just looked like your average person out on a date with their live-in significant other. The pistol in his laptop case sitting on the table was the only thing an outsider would find odd.

Looking at Lambert was completely different.

He was breathing heavy, bouncing his knee fast enough the cooks in the kitchen below them could probably feel it, and the murderous look in his eyes alone would have killed someone unaccustomed to it. 

“I don’t even know you.” he growled.

“I’m still me. I swear to God, this was the only lie I ever told you,” Aiden offered a soft smile as he leaned forward a bit, “And that I liked your experiment with growing tea. So two lies.”

Lambert scoffed, crossing his arms and looking across the street. 

“Be as angry as you want. Hell, take a swing at me once we make it to a safehouse. But please - Lambert. Please tell me you can follow my instruction to the letter. You can hate me, and I’ll understand that, but I need to make sure you’re safe.” 

“Fine.”

A different waitress set their food in front of them in the tense silence that followed and just before she left Lambert noticed the edge of her tattoo peeking out underneath her shirt sleeve.

He glanced up at Aiden and made a split second decision, turning to the server, “Cool tattoo! Where did you get it? I’ve been looking for a good artist.” 

She blinked at him with round brown eyes before smiling and tucking her short curly hair behind her ear, “In Panama, actually. I had an interesting summer holiday last year.”

Something in Aiden shifted when she rolled her sleeve up and showed them the sailor’s Celtic knot taking up all of her inner forearm. Lambert looked politely, leaning into the ‘don’t raise suspicion’ issue Aiden had pressed.

“You make much better holiday tattoo decisions than I do. You know,” he cocked his head to the side and squinted a bit, “You look really familiar. Do you work anywhere else? I swear I’ve seen you before.”

She shrugged, “I’ve had to bounce around lately.”

“Renfri!” Lambert exclaimed, “You worked at the plant nursery! Sold me the giant monstera plant!” 

Aiden couldn’t have been any more tense as Renfri just nodded and made some excuse about getting back to work. 

“What? You told me to be as normal as possible.” 

Aiden stood as soon as she’d disappeared down the stairs, grabbing his computer bag before gripping Lambert’s wrist and hauling him up, “We have to go.” 

Lambert stumbled as he followed after him, a lead weight settling in his stomach, “She doesn’t work at either of those places, does she?”

“No. That was a completed knot. We need to move fast,” Aiden ducked into an employees only staircase that spit them out in a parking lot one street from their car. He broke into a dead sprint down an alley after a glance behind him. 

As soon as they’d cleared the brick, a bullet lodged itself where Lambert’s chest had just been a moment before. 

His whole body felt numb with shock. Aiden pulled him forward and shouted something at him but he didn’t register it until the third time. 

“Lambert! Climb through the fucking window!” Aiden was nearly screaming at him but shook his head and kept pulling him away from the open window that looked like it had been recently broken. Did… did Aiden do that?

He actually took a turn onto a busy street and sprinted up a block before diving right out in front of traffic, Lambert still in tow. They ran for another couple blocks before they dove into another alley that Lambert recognized as leading to their parked car. He had no idea if they were still being followed but he didn’t much care. He barely registered Aiden glancing back to check on him, didn’t even think he might be checking to see if Renfri was behind them. 

She wasn’t. She was leaning against their car, casually checking the chamber of her gun. 

“There you are boys!” she smiled brightly, “Took you long enough.”

Aiden slid to a stop on the gravel, keeping his fingers laced through Lambert’s, “Shrike.” 

“Cat,” She let go of the slide and the snapping sound echoed through the courtyard parking lot, “You killed my sister.”

“I didn’t.”

Lambert was starting to feel light headed as his mind caught up.

“No,” She conceded, “But you might as well have. What you stole got her executed.” 

“You two shouldn’t have gotten mixed up with Skinner.”

Before the last word had left Aiden’s lips Renfri raised her gun and fired.

She’d been aiming straight for his heart but Lambert shoved him aside with every last bit of strength he had. He felt a searing pain flash through his shoulder, outright blinding, even before he registered the crack of the shot. There were two more cracks back to back then nothing for a moment. There was one set of footsteps on gravel then one more sounded before the ringing in his ears muffled everything else.

Aiden was over him soon after, scrambling to stop the bleeding and yelling… something… but Lambert couldn’t hear him and his eyelids were feeling heavier and heavier by the second. 

-

Lambert tried to wiggle his nose and get rid of the itch as he woke up, but it only got worse. He tried to scratch it and ended up smacking himself in the face. His limbs felt heavy and there was a tube under his nose. 

Oh.

He was in a hospital. 

Where was Aiden?

He forced his eyes open as Aiden gently picked his hand up off his face. His eyes were red and a little puffy and he looked downright awful. There was blood all over his shirt, a little in his hair, and the bags under his eyes were a deep shade of purple. 

“What.. what are you…?”

Aiden bit his bottom lip for a moment before taking a shaky breath, “I’ll go if you want me to. I just needed to see you wake up,” he barely choked out his words as his eyes welled up with tears. 

Lambert frowned, “No. Stay.”

Aiden tried to laugh but it came out as more of a sob as he grabbed Lambert’s other hand and cradled it in his, “I’m so sorry…” he whispered. 

Lambert gave his hands a squeeze, “Please don’t go.”

“I won’t,” Aiden shook his head, “I’ll do anything you want me to.”

“Get me out of here?” Lambert grinned.

Aiden snorted, wiping at his nose with his bloodstained sleeve, “Anything but that.” 

They smiled and fell into a heavy silence. Aiden stared at their hands where he not so slyly kept a finger over Lambert’s pulse. 

“Hey,” Lambert’s voice had a husk to it that he only got when he was about to cry, “I still love you.”

Aiden just stared at him with wide eyes. 

“I’m scared, but I love you,” he repeated. 

Aiden leaned over and kissed his forehead, tears falling over his hair, “I love you too.”