When Gibbs woke up, on the couch again, he took a look around, there was so much work that could be done to the place, new furniture, a new paint job, a bed maybe, heck even food in the fridge for a change would all be valid jobs to get around to, but what was the point? It was just him and he thought this day would be just like all the rest, so why bother with any of it?
If he had only known what was to come, he might have done something about well….everything.
XXX
It was a bright spring day, sun was out, birds were singing & very Special Agent Tony DiNozzo had beaten the rest of his team into the office.
That right there should have given Gibbs cause for concern, or at least a hunch that the day was going to be well… one of those days, which given the week they already had wasn't much of a surprise. They had just wrapped up a weeklong triple homicide investigation & the whole team was tired, so a quiet day would be welcomed.
It was around lunchtime when his phone rung. Well, that didn't last long Gibbs thought. "Gear up!" he called as he walked through the bullpen "Dead Marine, Falls Church, Virginia".
The team arrived on the scene, the marine was sitting up against a tree in a small park, in civilian attire. They immediately started processing the scene. "Boss, its Major Jeffery Rooney, he got home 2 weeks ago from a 6 month deployment." McGee reported. Ziva was taking photos, while Tony was speaking with the passer by whom reported it to the police.
"You got a time of death Duck?" Gibbs asked.
"Ahh, around 5am Jethro, looks like single gun shot wound directly to the heart, he wouldn't have suffered long at all, if that's any consolation" Ducky replied "No Duck, its not."
"Looks like he could have committed suicide boss, got a 9mm here & we've got a note that was in his pocket" McGee said, handing Gibbs the folded note.
Gibbs opened it & read:
"I'm sorry, I should have been stronger to say no all these years gone by & be a proper marine and said yes last night.
Tell my dearest Megan that I love her more than life itself, and in time maybe she will forgive me for what I've done.
Major J Rooney.
Semper Fi!
"What do you think it means boss?" Tony asked
"Dunno DiNozzo, what the witness say?" Gibbs snapped back.
"Said he on his way to the gym at 5:15am & saw him sitting there & noticed that he was still there on the way back, so he went up to see if he was ok, that's when he saw the blood & called 911, at around 6:30am boss. Cops called us once they made the ID that he was one of ours." Tony reported as Gibbs just starred at the note, as McGee and Ziva headed off for Major Rooney's house.
With the statements taken, body and evidence bagged & tagged, the rest of the team headed back to the navy yard.
XXXXX
McGee & Ziva had arrived back into the squad room.
"What wife Lynda say?" Tony asked, as Gibbs walked in as well.
"Well, he was a loving husband, father, brother. Everyone loved him, she had no idea why he would do such thing. Claims he couldn't kill himself but had no idea why someone else would kill him either" Ziva said.
"Who's Megan?" Gibbs asked her "14 years old daughter Boss. She wasn't home, in fact she hasn't been home since yesterday morning" McGee replied.
"Her mum know where she is?" Tony asked.
"Step mum & no, said she had gone to the Brat Action Centre yesterday to spend some time with friends, they were having a sleep over last night, wasn't expecting her home til tonight. Tried calling her cell, no answer." McGee answered. He saw Tony with a puzzled look, and was about to answer the unasked question, when Gibbs answered it.
"The Brat Action Centre, it's a place where kids with serving parents can hang out, bond & just be with kids who understand what each other go through, while their folks are here & on deployment." Gibbs said, as his mind wandered. The team looked at him, they all knew where his thoughts were taking him.
Gibbs could tell his team were staring at him. "McGee, you & Ziva check out the Centre. Tony, see if you can put together Rooney's last few hours" "On it, Boss" They all called.