Strokes of Genius, Thursday (Oct. 1)

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

Still pensive after Ethics (not to mention everything else over the last week), Katchoo made her way into town and to the art store, trailed by a subdued yet very solicitous Clocky.

"Quit hovering already, geez," she told it, and immediately wished she hadn't; it would be just her luck if she complained about something like that, and Clocky spontaneously sprouted wings. Katchoo, quieter than usual, just sighed at it and picked up a package of clay. If she had to spend all day getting this lump smashed into the right shape. she'd do it, dammit.

[OOC: No OCD, not much in the way of creativity, not-great odds of SP.]

Comments

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

It wasn't that Katchoo had ever had a particularly cordial relationship with law enforcement -- it sort of ran in the family, so this was beyond surreal.

"Thanks," she said slowly. "Holy frikkin' -- Jesus. Thanks."

[famous-gut.livejournal.com]

"Don't thank me just yet," Gibbs said pulling out a notebook to read his notes. "Thought you might want to know what happened after you left. Both Darcy and 'Bambi' were arrested. Which I could say both of them will stay in Jail. Bambi is going down for killing Digman. As for Darcy... well there's not enough evidence to make a charge stick."

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

Katchoo huffed something vaguely like a laugh. "Wish I could say I was surprised, but Darcy's team of lawyers is way too good. No need to ask about Samantha, is there?"

[famous-gut.livejournal.com]

"Not unless you want an autopsy report," Gibbs replied evenly. "Though I can guarantee you she's not going to be getting up and walking away from that. Not unless your friend can pull off what he did with you."

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

Katchoo added 'thank the hell out of Merlin' to her list of things to do today . . . or bumped it up the list, rather. "Little late for that now." She wasn't particularly surprised Darcy would throw Bambi to the wolves -- figuratively -- like that.

She looked down at the folder again. "You had it pulled? I'm clear?"

[famous-gut.livejournal.com]

"You're clear," Gibbs replied. "Though there's a cost to it."

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

"'course there's a cost. When isn't there?" Katchoo asked.

[famous-gut.livejournal.com]

Gibbs ignored the comment.

"The next time you get in trouble? You are not to involve your friends," he growled at her. "Do you know how lucky all of you are? You should be dead right now. Your friends should be dead. Do you understand that?"

He put both hands down on the counter and glared at her.

"My job is supposed to keep you kids and everyone else on this island safe. Next time you get into trouble you call me. Or anyone else at the station. Got it?"

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

Katchoo just stood there and took the glare, figuring she was getting off easy.

"Got it," she said, tapping her fingers against the folder, "now I know if I call the station I'm not gonna get hauled off in handcuffs leaving Francine to wonder what the hell happened."

That was a harsh response to a guy who'd just helped save her life along with Francine and Merlin's, and even Katchoo knew it. "I screwed up bad. I know."

[famous-gut.livejournal.com]

"You did," Gibbs said leaning back. "And you were almost dead because of it. I'm not sure there's a bigger punishment than that but I'm sure I could think of one if something like this happens again."

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

"It won't," Katchoo replied, her jaw tensing. "Not as long as I've got friends --" weird thought, still, but she actually smiled -- "who're big enough dumb, lovable idiots to go running after me like that."

[famous-gut.livejournal.com]

Gibbs sighed. "Yeah. Friends tend to do that, don't they?" he said losing a bit of his posture.

Or team members who refuse to do what they are told at the possible expense of their own lives.

"Just try to keep themselves from getting kidnapped next time."

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

"This," Katchoo groused, not actually complaining at all, "is why I wonder if they're worth the trouble sometimes."

Even that bit of diffidence got tossed out the window, though, and she looked at him in all seriousness. "Thanks for everything . . . sir. For getting 'em out of there most of all."

And for not elaborating on what he must've seen in the pictures, even though she suspected he'd seen as bad or worse before.

[famous-gut.livejournal.com]

Gibbs shrugged it off. "It's what I do," he replied. "Just keep your nose clean from now on. Oh and whatever money Parker was talking about? I don't want to know about it."

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

"Clean as I can," Katchoo promised, which was as reasonable as it got.

". . . sorry, did you say something else there? Didn't catch it."

[famous-gut.livejournal.com]

"That's a good girl," Gibbs smirked as he headed to the door. "See you around, Choovanski."