Kris Furillo [Wildfire] (wildfireskris) wrote in _ravenhurst_, @ 2010-08-09 02:43:00 |
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Current mood: | anxious |
Entry tags: | complete |
Who: Kris and Gibbs
Where: The stables and then Police Station
What: Questioning about a magical horse theft
When: Mid Afternoon
Rating: PG
Kris had been working in the barn when she saw the horses that didn't belong. It wasn't as if she didn't recognize them, she had risked everything for these two horses, and lost everything because of the many risks she had taken. Walking over to the horse she smiled and canted her head to the side. "What are you doing here?" she asked the animal as if he could answer, of course he couldn't, he simply nudged her shoulder as if to tell her to pet him. "Alright alright..." The girl was still very confused how he was there, but for now she wouldn't complain. Once the Wildfire was back in the stable and Flame was in the stall next to him Kris immediately went in and called Raintree back in California only to find out that it was in fact Wildfire and that they had been missing for hours. This did not go over well with Jean and only led Kris to panic. With her record she couldn't afford something like this so she hung up in a hurry.
Gibbs had been passed the information about a missing horse. He read through the file and set out to attempt to find a missing horse. What on earth he was going to do to track down a horse was beyond him, but he was certainly out to get the job done. Grabbing the phone book, he set out to grab a cup of coffee and then scan the yellow pages for stables in the area. After gathering his information for the local areas he set out for his first stop: Rising Fire
Kris was worried about what was about to happen, but to be honest, how would they think she could have taken the horses, she was in Pennsylvania and Raintree was in California. Needing to work off some anxiety Kris was in the barn cleaning the stalls and praying that this was all a nightmare.
Gibbs made his way out to the stables and started looking for someone to talk to. Rather than roam around aimlessly he made his presence known by calling out hoping for an answer "Hello?"
Kris jumped about 10 miles when she heard the voice and had she not been so startled she could have hidden, but instead she let out a screech of pain and a slew of curses. "Dammit" Was the final word as she peeked out of a stall. "Hello? Can I help you?"
Gibbs looked at the girl, "Are you alright? I heard screaming," he offered. "Detective Gibbs," he introduced himself.
"Yes, just an unfortunate argument with my pitchfork" She said as she took off the glove and offered a hand trying to play innocent. "Can I help you?" Asked again.
Gibbs took her hand and shook it. "I sure hope you can help me," he offered. "Got some missing horses and this seemed like a great place to go looking for some."
"Oh...?" She asked. "And what horses would these be?" she asked a slight stammer in her voice.
Gibbs pulled out the papers to take a look, "Well, they're missing from a place called Raintree. Says here you used to work there." He gave her a meaningful look before continuing. "Wildfire and Flame are the horses."
"I..I did work there yes, I rode for them." She said as if that meant something to Gibbs. "I.." As soon as she was about to say she didn't know where Wildfire was the horse poked his head out of the stall and huffed. "Traitor" She muttered "I don't know how he got here, I really don't, I came outside and he was there." She hoped the man would understand.
Gibbs looked at the horse and then at the pictures in his hand. "You're trying to tell me a horse magically appeared here all the way from California?" he asked skeptically.
"I know I didn't take him..this time." She said honestly. "I was in here cleaning the stalls, not like I could fly to California in 20 minutes, get them and drive back without any time passing."
Gibbs raised an eyebrow, "So you're telling me you've taken him before? And do you have anybody that can corroborate your whereabouts?"
"All of the farm hands, and it still would have taken me days and he just disappeared an hour ago." She said pointedly. "And yes, I took him from an auction...BUT! It was only to save his life!" She said the last part in a panic and with such concern that he had to know that it was truth.
Gibbs looked at her doubtfully. "What you're trying to make me believe is that the horses just appeared here? That you have no idea how they came to be standing outside of your stables? A little farfetched don't you think?"
"And nothing crazy has happened to you in this psychotic place?" She asked hopefully.
He thought about his next answer carefully, recalling the appearance of Jacqueline recently and of how Ziva showed up in the middle of campus. "I have to admit this place can make the strangest things happen. Unfortunately in this case, the disappearance of two prize horses has to have some sort of repercussions. Unless you can give me a very good reason otherwise, I am going to have to arrest you."
She sighed and set the pitchfork to the side and took the other glove off. "No matter how I try nothing will ever change" She muttered. "I told you everyone that works here can tell you I was here, I left my magic transport in my other pants so it wasn't me that took Wildfire and Flame, so I can't explain how they ended up here."
Gibbs sighed knowing this was going in the wrong direction but also knowing there was little choice otherwise. "I need you to come downtown for questioning."
"Can I at least change out of the manure smelling clothes?" She asked hopeful he would believe she wouldn't run
He considered this carefully; concerned she would disappear but also not wanting to deal with the smell coming off her clothes. "As much as I will probably regret this, I can't let you do that. Let's go," he said.
"My house, right there, there's people all over this property, not like I am going to run. Please I beg of you, I am not little miss seventeen magazine, but I do love not smelling like I just dug my way out of a manure pile."
Gibbs shook his head hoping this wasn't going to be a mistake, "Alright, let's go," this time gesturing towards the house rather than the car. "Don't make me chase you, please."
"Not really in the mood to run so trust me no chasing." She said. "Thank you" She added as she led him to the house, kicking her shoes off at the door. "Would you like a drink?"
"Water would be fine," he answered mechanically as he was on duty. "Nice place," he offered taking the place in.
"Okay, I think there's coffee made too." She said knowing that’s a cop thing as she walked over to the kitchen and pulling a cup out.
"Water's fine," he answered knowing he had fresh coffee back in the car. He wanted to hurry her along so they could get this mess figured out but knew better than to rush a woman.
She nodded and made him a glass. "I will be back in a bit, I promise." She said this as her eyes met his, part of her pleading with him to trust her.
He took the glass and nodded, meeting her eyes and hoping to convey authority through them. He took a sip of the water and started to look around a bit more while he waited.
She sighed and nervously walked upstairs to find a change of clothes and take a quick shower, something told her she could trust this would turn out well.
He looked around the vast kitchen surprised. He wondered if she was single in a place this large. He heard the shower turn on and sincerely hoped she wasn't the kind to take long ones. He sat down at the bar and waited as patiently as he could.
10 minutes later she climbed out of the shower and dried off, pulling on a simple pair of jeans and a t-shirt and tied her hair back. Kris wasn't the type to care what people thought of what she looked like, and prison wasn't the place to worry about that at all so she quickly headed back downstairs hopping along the way as she tried to put on her shoes.
Gibbs heard Kris coming before he saw her. It sounded like she was jumping to get back to him and realized she was doing just that trying to get her shoes on her feet. He nodded his appreciation and stood, "Off we go."
"Yes Sir" She said respectfully as she waited for him to lead her.
Gibbs started back the way they had come. He was parked by the stables where they had first met. "I'm parked back here by the stables," he told her.
She walked behind him in silence, simply nodding as he led her to the car. Stopping mid-step as she thought Kris looked at him. "Detective..sir.." She started, waiting for him to turn towards her. "Just make sure they're safe, please." Kris finally pleaded.
Gibbs nodded and sighed again. "First things first, I need to get someone down here from the station," he said pulling his cell phone from his pocket. After hanging up he motioned to Kris, "Let's go make sure they're set. We won't leave until the unit gets here. I don't need them randomly disappearing as easily as you say they appeared."
"I thought you were just taking me in for questioning..." She said confused. "You don't have to take Wildfire and Flame yet do you?"
"We're not taking them, yet. I sure can't leave them without someone to watch them since you say they 'appeared' here. Losing them again would be even worse for you, don't you think?"
Kris nodded and sighed. "There's a place to stay here if you need to have someone stay here, anything to show I didn't do anything wrong."
"That's good to know. Definitely don't want to take our eyes off those horses until we can get this all straightened out," he said. The cop car pulled up just then. Looking to Kris he said, "She the officer the horses and anything they need while she's here. Any accommodations you can give for restroom, food, and such will be appreciated."
Kris grabbed the first hand that passed by and asked them to show the officers around and then show them the guest house and explained she would be back in a while, she hoped.
Gibbs headed to the car and opened the back door for Kris, "In ya go," he said with a smile trying to keep this as light as possible not sure what to think about the whole situation.
She sighed again and got in, not liking this at all, but didn't argue as she got in.
Gibbs didn't know how to make conversation and was glad it didn't feel like it took long to get back to the station. Opening the door he gestured for Kris to get out and follow him inside.
She got out and followed him inside, nervously looking around, As they walked inside she saw many people sitting at separate desks.
"Gibbs?" Came a voice from behind her and it made her spin around to see a woman with dark hair and oddly looked as if she could snap Kris in half if she wanted to.
Gibbs looked around at Ziva, "Yes Detective David?" he responded, gently grabbing Kris by the arm to make sure she didn't walk away
Ziva canted her head. "Do you need help?" asked as she studied the girl.
Kris stiffened as he grabbed her arm, but couldn't help it.
Gibbs let go of Kris after they paused then looked to Ziva. "Room 2 for questioning if you would Ziva," he asked. "I'll be in there in a minute."
Kris looked at the older man worried before letting Ziva lead her from where they were to the interview room. Once in the room Ziva stood in the corner and Kris paced uncomfortably,
Gibbs grabbed his coffee quickly and then headed into the interrogation room. Opening the door he said kindly to Kris, "Have a seat," and pulled out the chair for her. Nodding to Ziva he pulled out his chair to sit across from her.
Once Gibbs walked into the room Ziva left leaving him to interview the girl and she went back to her own work.
Kris didn't sit just yet, her nerves too high to let her sit just yet.
Sitting in the chair, Gibbs sipped his coffee and addressed Kris as she paced, "So, tell me what happened today with the horses"
"I did that already" She said
Gibbs chuckled a little, "For the record, please."
"For the record, I didn't do it, they just showed up and now you can call the men in white coats."
"Start from the beginning, what you were doing, where they 'showed up', when they 'showed up' and no white coats, this place is a bit different. I just need the whole story," he guided her gently to explain the whole mess.
"Cleaning the stalls in the barn and walked out of the barn to see two horses that didn't belong, knew them, made sure they were okay, put them in stalls and went inside to call Raintree when Jean and Pablo told me they were missing I hung up." She explained. "There, explained" Said as she flopped down on the chair
Gibbs nodded, "Do you have any idea about what time you 'found' the horses outside the stalls or what time you called over to Raintree?"
"Wasn't really looking at the clock, about five past the turn of the earth I don't know."
Working hard not to roll his eyes at her he responded, "It would just be helpful to get a timeline together."
"Well next time two horses magically show up on my property I'll be sure to check the clock and jot the time down."
Realizing he was going to get nowhere with her Gibbs grabbed his coffee and stood up, "I guess I'll call Raintree and get the information from them. I'll be back." And with that he left the room.
Kris stood and rushed to the door opening it and calling out to him. "Mr Gibbs..." She pleaded. "I'm sorry"
Gibbs turned to look at her and headed back her direction with an almost cocky grin. As he reached the door, "Alright, I'd love to hear what you have to say."
"I really don't know what happened." She said with a sigh. "I walked out of the barn and they were there."
"I'm definitely not beyond believing you. I just need to get some better understanding of what time it all happened. A time line from when they went missing to when you found them would be a great place to start," he coaxed her.
"It really doesn't matter what time." Kris said as she wilted back to the chair and table. "With my record even though it’s not realistic I am screwed."
"Earlier at the stables," he prompted, "You mentioned they'd only been missing for an hour. Was that the information you got when you called Raintree?" He thought this story was as far-fetched as they came which fit in perfectly with everything in this strange place.
"Yes" She said simply as she sat back in the chair and thought. "Jean told me that."
"Now that is the kind of information I need. I'll be honest, I'm not sure what to do here," he told her point blank. "The story is hard to believe."
"Not one that I would make up, too farfetched otherwise."
Gibbs nodded in agreement. "Definitely a hard story to create but still not looking good for you. As I said, two prize horses 'appear' at your stables, two horses you know, no less. This is complicated."
"They were in California an hour ago, how else would they have ended up here."
Taking the last drink of his coffee he makes a final decision. "As it stands now, you're free to go. Don't leave town. I will need to speak with you again," and he gestured towards the door, feeling defeated and deflated at the strangeness of the situation.
"Just one thing..." She said with a sigh. "and don't think I am not grateful sir, but, you drove me here."
Sighing Gibbs stands, "Only if we stop over to get coffee first," he said with a half-smile.
"You know I could make you a free cup at the house..." She suggested.
"I never turn down free coffee," he answered with a bit more of a smile. "Shall we?"
Kris stood and nodded. "Okay, let’s go..I mean if that’s okay."
Gibbs chuckled, "its okay."
"Yes sir" She said waiting for him to lead her.
Leading the way, Gibbs opened the door and stepped into the hallway then looked back and gestured for Kris to come on out. Playfully he called back, "Well, come on."
"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't move fast enough for your taste." She teased back.
Finally Gibbs felt a full smile break across his lips. "Hey, I've got all day. I work here. I just thought you might like to get out of here while you've still got the chance," he answered teasing back.
"Why? I'm going to be back soon anyway." She said with a fatalistic attitude.
"I can get you a bunk and a nice room if you'd prefer," he continued to tease, hoping to keep the atmosphere light for the moment, not admitting to her that he agreed.
"It'd save on gas" She muttered, but didn't stop, simply walked out of the station to the car.
Gibbs followed silently to the car. He was not looking forward to another silent ride so started thinking about who to get a conversation going for the drive back.
"You don't seem like the detective type" She said
Gibbs opened the passenger door, offering to let her sit upfront for the ride back. "I'm not exactly used to being a detective," he answered as he walked around the car to get in.
"Really? You a spy in a previous life and now in hiding as a detective?"
Gibbs laughed, "No. Not a spy. I've always been a detective of sorts, I guess you could say. Just been with NCIS for as long as I can remember. Hell, I'm supposed to be retired and here I am, head detective."
"NCIS?" She asked. "What’s that? Like CSI?"
Gibbs hated when people did that, "No," he answered flatly. "Naval Criminal Investigative Service. We dealt with cases involving Navy service men and women."
"Oh..Sorry." Kris said feeling shamed now.
"No worries," Gibbs answered feeling a bit sheepish for his reaction. "Most people don't know the difference." He felt badly for the tone in her voice.
"Oh, okay." Kris said with a sigh. "Why did you give up retirement?"
Gibbs thought about that for a minute, "It seems I can never retire." Gibbs remembered his short time in Mexico. "I haven't quite figured out why I'm no longer in retirement to be honest. Just the way it always ends up. Guess I'm too much of a work-a-holic?"
"And what does your wife feel about this?" She asked nosily
"Not a single one of them cared much for my job," he answered honestly. "Guess that would be why they all left."
"Really? How many is that?"
"Three," he answered quickly.
"So...how about that weather" She said with a slight smile catching that he didn't want to talk about it.
"It's okay," he responded. "I'm not just incapable of retiring; I'm incapable of staying married." He sighed a little. "Just the way it is, I guess. Ah, here we are," he said as he pulled up to the stables.
"Any kids?" Kris finally asked. "And I guess I am being nosey, I'm sorry."
"One, evidentally," he answered non-plussed. "Just found out about her though. Seems a real peach, though." He thought about Jacqueline with a smile.
"What do you mean you just found out about her?" Kris asked now curious
Gibbs thought how to answer carefully. "Well, with the strangeness you're claiming with the horses... I'm not finding it terribly farfetched as Jacqueline sort of just appeared a lot like you're claiming the horses did."
"Oh" The girl said this as she got out of the car in front of the house. "You want that cup of coffee?"
Gibbs looked at his watch, "Why not? My shift is over already."
"Done arresting people for stealing things that were hundreds of miles away and couldn't possibly of been taken by them?" She teased
"Something like that," he answered easily. He found himself liking the girl and hated this was hanging over her head.
"Then by all means come in and enjoy some bad coffee." She said waiting for him to get out of the car
Gibbs opened the door and stretched a bit after standing, "Lead the way."
"How old is the mysterious daughter that you didn't know you had?"
"Fifteen," he answered. "I'm a bit nervous about being a new father, and to add to it, the new father of a teenager." He groaned a little at the thought.
She laughed "Let me guess, your biggest fears include clothes and school and puberty."
He nodded agreement, "To name a few. Top of the list of course being boys."
"Something tells me you won't have to worry about that...I am guessing you have a shotgun and bullets ready to go."
"That I do," he smiled. "And I plan to be sitting at the table cleaning the gun any time a boy comes to the house."
"You do realize that will horrify your daughter right?" She asked
"You do realize that is the intention right," he said with a smile and a wink.
"I wouldn't know...my dad skipped town before I was born." she said. "But if you don't mind an ex-con who had some horses magically appear on her land being around your daughter I could help if you need it."
"If we can get this mess figured out," he offered, "I think I am willing to take all the help I can get."
"After my 10 years in prison for magical grand theft horse I will gladly help."
Gibbs couldn't help but laugh. "That would definitely be a charge for the record books. Might even been interesting enough to make it into state's stupid laws."
She shook her head and led him into the house where she started a pot of coffee and took a seat where the conversation fell silent.
"Look, I know this is a strange situation," he said in apology. "We will get this figured out some how."
She shrugged. "I can handle it, not like I haven't been in jail before."
"You keep saying you're a con and been in jail before," he finally said. "What happened there? If you don't mind my asking."
"What you didn't get my record in the file?" She asked. "Stole a car, went to Camp LaGrange in California and when I was released I went to work for the Ritters and Wildfire, the only friend I had at Camp LaGrange was being sold at an auction I did the only thing I knew how to save him and took him, anything was better than having him sold and slaughtered, and then went back to jail for 3 months to be let out again and work for the Ritters. I got my Jockey's license rode for them and other stables, won the biggest race of my career, the breeders cup, found out my manager was a liar and had stolen all of the money not only from me but from the Ritters thanks to me and still they let me ride for them, and could have ridden in the Kentucky Derby fixed everything, but lost the race to get in because of something going wrong and made yet another wrong decision, ran an unsanctioned race with Wildfire and the racing commission found out and the only way to save the Ritter’s license and the Davis' license I gave mine up and left and moved here. The only reason I have all of this is because the man who set the race up gave me the winnings later to make a new life. I gave half to the Ritters and kept half."
"Well," Gibbs said a bit taken aback "What I saw in the file certainly didn't explain all that." He gave a small smile. "Sounds like you've had a lot to deal with."
"That’s just the last..." She thought about it. "Five years." Kris explained. "I try to ignore everything before that."
Raising his eyebrows he commented, "Been a pretty busy five years," and chuckled.
"I guess" She shrugged. "Oh and I was in a hot sauce commercial." She said with a shrug.
"A celebrity? I haven't met many of those, actually any that I can think of."
"Well now you've met Kris Furillo, Jockey, and Hot sauce girl."
"I like hot sauce," he teased a little. "And do you offer riding lessons or anything like that around here?"
"Yes, we do." She said. "You wanting to learn" She asked with a laugh.
"Not me," he said quickly. "I was thinking about Jacqueline, actually. I think she'd enjoy it."
"If she wants to sure" She said. Kris wasn't really in the business of giving lessons to someone who didn't want to be there.
"I'll have to ask her when I get home," he said. "Speaking of which I should probably think about heading that way. Still not used to being a dad."
"She's welcome here anytime, so are you....or do I have to magically steal horses from 2 thousand miles away to get you to visit?"
Standing up to head out, "I'd prefer no stealing horses. And thanks for the coffee. I'd like a chance to get to know you after all this is resolved."
She canted her head "Why?" Kris asked
"You seem like a pretty decent person," he said. "Even with all the crap you've done. I don't get on with a lot of people and it is nice to just sit and talk with someone."
She shrugged. "Well sure I guess, and even if you have to arrest me you can come visit me in the place they send magical horse thieves."
He laughed again, "Let's just hope it doesn't come to that."
She looked up at him her mood changed a bit. "Would you though?"
"Come visit if it came to that?" he asked confused. "I think I would honestly." Then he shrugged a bit. "I mean it when I say I kind of like you."
Kris kind of smiled at that and looked down again. "Okay."
"I admit I'm sorry we met on these terms," he offered as he turned to leave. "I'm not sorry we met."
"Thank you sir" She stuttered out.
"Would you call me Gibbs?" he said and almost groaned when she said 'sir'.
"Okay, sorry Mr Gibbs" She said
He rolled his eyes, "That's better, I guess."
"What? what did I do wrong?" She asked confused
"Mr. Gibbs is my father," he said smiling. "Just Gibbs."
"Okay, Just Gibbs it is." She mocked. "Thank you Just Gibbs"
Raises up hands and laughs "Alright, alright. Thanks again for the coffee," he said. "I really do need to get home to Jacqueline."
"yes, you have to be sure she doesn't have a bunch of boys and trashy clothes in the house." She teased
His eyes grew wide at her suggestions, "NOW I'm worried about that," he answered.
She laughed "She's your daughter, you care about her and you don't split at her sight, she's probably shining her halo and making you dinner."
"Let's hope you're right."
"I know I am" She said. "I'm sure I'll see you and backup in the next few days."
Gibbs looked almost sad at her words. "I do hope to see you soon and in the best of circumstances."
"Hey, Gibbs, don't worry about it really" She said. "I can handle it."
"I have no doubt you can," he nodded his agreement and goodbye.
She watched as he left and went back to doing work on the stables.