Maura Isles stood over the body on one of the many autopsy tables in the morgue. She couldn't believe it was actually her. Marica Fowell was lying on her autopsy table, dead. The last time she had seen the other woman was that night in the bar with Abby. A faint smile appeared on Maura's as she remembered that night, but she pushed it to the back of her mind and sighed before picking up the scalpel from the cart next to her. Starting with the y-incision, she began the autopsy of her former lover. From what Maura could tell, there was no way her death was natural. The woman had suffered a severe beating before being shot in the head at point-blank range. Jane and the others still believed she was a Jane Doe, since they hadn't gotten a hit on her prints yet. Maura knew they would if they were ever checked against military records. The only way Maura knew for sure it was Marica was the scar she had on her right hip from an IED while she was serving overseas in Iraq and the tattoo of a phoenix on her left shoulder blade. Maura wouldn't forget that tattoo ever, because she had one just like it. Suddenly, the doors to the morgue opened.

"Hey, Maur, we got a match. Our Jane Doe is a one Colonel Marica Fowell, United States Navy. Honorably discharged six months ago after serving her final tour aboard the USS Enterprise. Address is for Washington DC," Jane said as she entered the morgue and moved to stand across from Maura at the autopsy table. Maura was shocked to say the least. The last time she had seen Fowell was almost six years ago, right before Kate's "death", and Marica had only been Sergeant at the time.

"Great news Jane. Do you know why she was in Boston?" Maura replied. She picked up the bone saw and began removing the front part of the dead woman's rib cage.

"She apparently had some family living right outside the city. Could've been visiting them. They're coming her this afternoon to identify the body. Korsak is contacting some Naval equivalent of the FBI to see what they can tell us about her military history." Maura froze when she heard this. She couldn't tell if Jane had picked up on her change in demeanor.

"NCIS?"

"Yeah. How did you know?"

"I did my pathology residency with their medical examiner, Doctor Donald Mallard. I will call him and see if I can get any information from him."

"Sure. Go ahead and call him after you're done with the autopsy. Let me know what you find," Jane said as she walked out of the morgue. Maura breathed a sigh of relief after Jane left. She had no idea what she was going to do. This was going to be a long case, and she sure couldn't pull herself off of it, that would blow her cover and ruin everything she had built for herself in Boston.

Almost two hours later, Maura sat down at her desk and opened her laptop. She hadn't even bothered to change out of her scrubs and back into the clothes she had worn to work this morning. Pulling up the video conference window, she prayed that Ducky would be able to talk to her. Seeing his username pop up next to the available to chat icon, she clicked on it and called him. He picked up on the second ring.

"Maura, I was wondering when I would hear from you. How is everything in Boston?" he greeted the honey blonde. Maura smiled at him before responding.

"It's good to see you too, Ducky. I am doing wonderful here. How is everyone up there?" Maura asked. Ducky knew that by everyone, she meant Abby and the team.

"Abby is still her usual self. Gibbs and the team haven't changed at all either. Although, we did receive a new agent, she is wonderful to work with, but sadly no one will ever replace you." Maura laughed at Ducky's comment. She decided to just cut to the chase and tell Ducky the purpose behind her video call.

"Ducky, I seem to have a small problem regarding Kate." This got Ducky's attention.

"And what would that problem be, perhaps an ex ending up on one of your autopsy tables?" Maura stared at the web cam in disbelief. Ducky continued, "I just received a call from a Detective Vince Korsak in homicide. He requested a copy of her military medical record as well as her service record. I told him he would have to contact an agent for something like that. Naturally, I gave him Gibbs' number. I didn't realize you would be the one performing the autopsy."

"Do you know if Vance will send a team to Boston?"

"It's highly possible."

Maura slumped back in her desk chair before speaking again, "What am I going to do? The chance Director Vance will send Gibbs and the team down here grows by the minute. I can guarantee Lieutenant Cavannaugh has already called him, probably to request some assistance."

NCIS BULLPEN, WASHINGTON DC

"Gear up. We've got a dead Navy colonel in Boston. Pack your toothbrush," Gibbs told his team. Tony, McGee and Ellie all picked up their bags from behind their desks as they rushed to follow Gibbs towards the elevator. Gibbs spoke up again, "Bishop, you're with Ducky and Abby. They will be travelling with us this time. Tony, McGee with me. He tossed the keys to the van to Bishop and she made her way down to the morgue.

Down in the morgue, she found Ducky sitting at his desk having a video call with some woman. As soon as he saw her, Ducky ended the call without warning. "Who was that?" Ellie questioned.

"That, my dear, was Doctor Maura Isles. She did her residency with me and had a few questions for me. Is there something I can help you with?"

"Yes, actually, there is. Gibbs wants both you and Abby to come with us to Boston. Local PD found a dead Navy officer there and is requesting some help with it. I am riding with you and Abby in the van while the boys are with Gibbs," Bishop replied. Ducky slightly paled at this, although Ellie didn't notice.

"Okay then. Let me grab my bag and then we can go get Abby." Ducky stood and put his laptop in his briefcase. He knew he was going to have to find some way to let Maura know they were in fact calling. He reached under his desk and picked up the bag of clothes kept ready for times like this. Ducky nodded to Ellie and spoke, "Okay then. Let's go get Abby from her lab." The two made their way from the morgue to Abby's lab down the hall.

Twenty minutes later, the trio was on the road headed towards Boston. Ducky was nervous. He still hadn't found a way to tell Maura yet. Abby piped up from her spot in the backseat, "So Ducky, do you know who all the two of us are going to be working with here in Boston? I want to know if the lab is somewhat descent."
"Abigail, the lab is probably very close to yours. We will be working with a one Doctor Maura Isles. She is the Chief Medical Examiner for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and highly respected around the world. In fact, I taught her everything she knows, considering she did her residency with me." Both Abby's and Ellie's jaws dropped as they heard what Ducky said.

"Hey, isn't that who you were video chatting with when I came down to get you?" Ellie asked.

"Correct. She came to me with a few questions about one of her newest cases, possibly the one involving us."
"Is she nice?" Abby asked.

"Indeed. Although, she is a genius and has never been very good with people. I am sure you'll love her Abby," Ducky said. He smirked to himself at the last comment. He had no doubt about that. Not even ten seconds later, Abby had googled the woman, learning about her extensive relief work and her accomplishments as a Medical Examiner. Then she found a picture…

A/N: I know I left y'all with a bit of a cliffhanger. This is just me trying to get the ball rolling with this. Please R & R. I would love some feedback. Also, it might help if you read the one-shot I posted a while back, it sort of explains who Marica is in relation to Maura. Thanks!

-BK