Special Agent 2: The Dark Soldier

Chapter 51

Odin was standing on the balcony, gazing down at Asgard, as Gibbs walked toward him. Bishop and DiNozzo had told him about Frigga's death and how Loki had left on a quest for avenge her. Gibbs had felt a pang on learning that. The queen of Asgard had been nothing but respectful and generous to him and his agents.

"The Convergence shatters the borders of the realms as it draws nigh," Odin murmured as Gibbs reached the entrance onto the balcony. "Why, Frigga, did you have to leave me?"

Gibbs halted, not wanting to intrude on the king's grief. He remembered grieving, after his wife Shannon and daughter Kelly were killed in that car crash, the one orchestrated to prevent them from testifying. That had been a dark time, when his world had stopped spinning and crashed all around him, shattered into sharp pieces that drew blood whenever he stooped to touch them.

NCIS had been the only thing that had saved him, and kept saving him, every day.

"Agent Gibbs," Odin said, not glancing back. "What can I help you with?"

Gibbs walked up to the balcony, resting his forearms on the railing. "I'm sorry for your loss," he said quietly.

Odin sighed, looking down. His knuckles whitened as he gripped the balcony railing. "Have you ever lost your only love, Agent Gibbs?"

"Yes," Gibbs replied, his voice low. Odin glanced over at him as he continued. "Yes, I did. Car crash. Lost both my wife and daughter."

"My condolences," Odin murmured. "How does your world continue, after a catastrophe such as that?"

Gibbs was quiet for a moment. "Barely," he admitted. "But you've still got your two sons, who are grieving their mother just as you are grieving your wife. They're not all gone."

"I know," Odin said, pressing his lips together. "They have left to do what I only wish I could."

Gibbs closed his eyes. He had taken justice – in the form of his Marine sniper rifle – into his own hands when Shannon and Kelly had died. Pedro Hernandez, the one responsible for their deaths, had been alive one moment, and then dead the next, with blood trickling down his face from the bullet hole, dead center of his forehead.

"My agents told me Dark Elves attacked Asgard," he said, glancing over at Odin.

"Yes," Odin murmured, his gaze distant. "They weren't extinct. But they will be. I will make sure of that."

"This has something to do with the Convergence," Gibbs prompted.

"Yes," Odin said, meeting his gaze. "The Dark Elves' attempt to bring back the primordial darkness took place during the last Convergence. Now they rise again, seeking the Aether to rebuild their damned City of the Darkness." He sighed. "Loki said the Aether was split between two hosts. Do you know where the other is?"

Gibbs nodded. "She's with me and my agents. Currently, she's here."

Odin turned toward him, his brow furrowing. "I would like to meet her. To see, for sure."

Gibbs tilted his head. "Yes, sir."

"I have one more question for you, Agent Gibbs," Odin said, after a moment of hesitation. "How did you earn my son's respect?"

Surprised at the question, Gibbs drew back slightly. After a moment of silence, he tilted his head. "You'll have to ask Loki that yourself."

****

Kate lay still under the Asgardian soul forge. "This is exactly like what Abby has in her lab," McGee marveled. "Man, this is so cool. It's like straight out of the Lord of the Rings! Or some comic book!"