Will You Take Care of Me?

Ellie

"Bishop, you said you had news about the case." Gibbs said as he came down the stairs.

"Even more now. We saw on the security footage from inside the club that Malone spent most of the evening with a woman, one who isn't his wife.  We questioned Petty Officer Ledger again and he admitted that Malone was having an affair."

"Alright, do we know who the girl is?"

"Got an address right here boss." McGee chimed in.

"Bishop, you're with me, let's go." She grabbed her bag and they headed for the elevator.

***

The agents arrived at an upscale building and found the girlfriend's apartment. "NCIS!" Gibbs shouted as he knocked on the door. After several minutes with no answer, he kicked it open and him and Ellie searched the place.  After clearing the back of the apartment, Ellie returned to the living room.  "Find anything Gibbs?" She called out.

"Yeah... in here Bishop."  She entered the kitchen to see him knelt on the floor beside Ernest Malone's girlfriend who appeared to have been shot.  "Somebody got to her before we did."  Ellie knelt beside her boss.

"She was shot?"

Gibbs shook his head.  "Only Palmer can tell us for sure, but I think she was strangled first.  Look at the bruises on her neck."  Gibbs ran his fingers over the marks and Ellie noticed something.  She knew she should mind her own business, but she had to ask.

"Gibbs, are you wearing a ring?"

***

When they got back to the Navy Yard, Ellie went straight upstairs. She paced back and fourth past the door several times. Finally, Jack noticed her.

"You gonna come in?" Jack prompted. Ellie debated over what to say, or whether to say anything at all. "What's on your mind Bishop?" She walked in the room and started to sit down, but ended up choosing to pace instead. Realizing something was off, Jack closed the door. "Ellie, just talk."

"I saw something I wasn't supposed to see. Well, actually, I've seen multiple things that weren't meant for my eyes between today and yesterday. Also, I think I kind of pissed off one of my fellow team members. Multiple times." This was news to Jack.

"One of the team, mad at you? That's hard for me to imagine. You gonna tell me who it is or do I have to guess?" Jack knew by the look on Ellie's face before she could say a word. "So you got on the bad side of the great and powerful Gibbs... welcome to the club, I've done it many times." Ellie looked at her surprised.

"Wait, really? Gibbs mad at you? No way, Sloane, he loves you." Ellie realized what she had said and threw her hand to her mouth. "I'm sorry, Jack, I just meant that, you two seem to be really good friends so I couldn't imagine him getting mad at you very easily." Jack put a hand on her friend's shoulder.

"It's okay, Ellie, really. I understand.  And I wouldn't say mad, sometimes we just push each other's buttons." She laughed a little.  "So, what weren't you supposed to see?"  Ellie wondered if she should tell Jack the truth.  Her eyes drifted down to Jack's ringless finger.  She didn't want to cause her hurt, but Jack had to know at some point.

"I don't know how to tell you this Jack..." She hesitated for a moment.  "Gibbs, he was wearing a ring.  Like a wedding ring..."  Jack's eyes widened in surprise at Ellie finding out.

"I can imagine you must have been shocked to see something like that."  Ellie nodded. Jack was frustrated by the fact that tears stung her eyes for the second or third time that day.

"Are you okay?" Ellie wondered. She started to speak again, but Jack threw her hand up in protest.

"It's me, Ellie... I just wasn't exactly prepared to tell people yet," Jack admitted.  "No one else knows except for Doctor Grace." The younger woman smiled.

"Oh, oh my gosh, congratulations. Wow. Don't worry, my lips are sealed." The relieved agent leaned in to hug her friend. Jack hugged her back lightly and smiled.  For a moment, memories started flooding Ellie's mind.  Suddenly, she got up to leave.  "I have to go." She said, rushing for the door.

"Bishop? You've got something on your mind... what is it?" Jack watched from her doorway as Ellie hurried to the stairs.  "Ellie... Ellie wait..."

"What was that about?" A familiar voice asked.  Jack turned her head to see Nick approaching her office.

"I don't know, Nick.  I don't know..."

a/n: soooo now we're starting ellie's storyline 😊 i'm so excited for this story and i hope you all are enjoying it!  don't forget to follow my talented friends, Drey-J who writes amazing ellie/ellick stories and dinozzobby who has the best slibbs story ever 💗💗