A/N: For her Secret Santa gift, Imsles' "must have" was adventure, and she asked that things be taken off the beaten path, with at least three of the main characters finding themselves somewhere they need to work together to accomplish their goal. This picks up near the end of the S7 episode, "Child's Play," mainly to capitalize on one line in the story, but if I have gotten canon time a bit boggled, I hope it won't be too distracting. The biggest change is that Thanksgiving will be pushed back a few days.
WHERE DO YOU GO, JETHRO?
The Very Special Agent had gone down to autopsy to pick up specimen kits for the samples to be taken from Eddie's hands, shoes, and clothing. Admittedly, he didn't think anything would turn up, but the samples were justified to rule out someone with Eddie's connections to their victim and to their formerly shared gang. He also hoped that the poking and prodding might rattle Eddie just enough that he might offer a bit more information, which could then lead to further connections that might pan out for them. It couldn't hurt. And he had plans for Thanksgiving.
Which is why very special Anthony DiNozzo was handling the collection of evidence – at least the front end of it – instead of an evidence tech or field probie. Which, in turn, was why Tony was not far behind the Boss when he'd headed into Autopsy – and why he was there to eavesdrop, unknown to Ducky, at least, as the doctor asked, "Where do you go, Jethro?"
Tony's attention went into overdrive, and he eased back into the still open doorway.
"Over the past nine Thanksgivings, I've called your house. You're never home. Sometimes I even drive by."
It didn't matter that Ducky's voice was low and intimate; it didn't matter that Gibbs didn't respond. It didn't matter that they were in the middle of a homicide investigation with possible, though unlikely, gang ties and a risk to an adolescent genius. Those things would be taken care of, as always, and the perpetrator brought to justice.
But this! Gibbs – missing. Annually. Gibbs, of the "never be unreachable" rule. Taciturn Gibbs; Gibbs of the deep dark secrets.
Tony backed out of autopsy, quickly and silently as he grabbed the door to slow its noisy auto--close function, and took the longer route to the lab, where he knew he could get the same kits he needed for Eddie's samples as he chewed over this new morsel of information about his mentor.
Gibbs, just ... gone ... at Thanksgiving? Where? Tony had been partnered with the man for nine years and had yet to see any evidence of family or friends with whom he might spend the holidays. If anything, a stable of ex-wives and the memories of a wife and daughter lost seemed to force the man even deeper into his basement.
So, he mused ... Thanksgiving, eh?
DiNozzo decided that Big Bend could wait, and that other holiday revelers could have his share of the crab at the all-they-can-eat crab buffet. He was an investigator, and one of his favorite mysteries – Gibbs – suddenly sprouted another mystery.
DiNozzo was on it.