Chapter 1: Matt Disappears
Dodge City, Kansas, 1878
Marshal Matt Dillon slipped down the stairs from Kitty's room early in the morning, he let himself out the back into the alley, Sam Noonan shook his head he was about to lock the door behind Matt when he heard a shot. Sam opened the door again Matt had disappeared but he should still be visible no man could move that quickly.
Gibbs Residence, Norfolk, Virginia, 2014
Matt had been knocked back by the force of the round hitting his left shoulder, he hit what he thought was the back door of the Long Branch and started sliding down to the ground. Gibbs opened his door and caught Matt as he fell.
"Matt!" Matt blinked at him.
"Gibbs, how..."
"I don't know, I do know that you need a doctor," Gibbs helped Matt to the sofa, he picked up his cell and called Ducky. "Ducky, need your help?"
"Where are you, Gibbs?"
"Home, it's Matt Dillon, he's been shot," Gibbs slapped a field dressing on Matt's shoulder.
"I'll be right over," half an hour later Ducky walked through the door carrying his medical bag, Matt was in and out of consciousness. Ducky got a syringe out and injected a local anaesthetic into Matt's shoulder.
"Ah! What was that?" Matt asked, glaring at Ducky.
"Just a localised painkiller," Ducky said, Matt blinked and lost consciousness again. "Gibbs, he's losing a lot of blood, he'll need a transfusion. One problem a civilian hospital how do we explain a man from the past and gunshot wounds have to be reported?"
"We take him to Bethesda, we can order them to keep it quiet. Tell them it's an NCIS case and he's the victim."
"What are you going to tell Leon?"
"The truth, that it's a one hundred and thirty six year old cold case. I'll just call the team," Gibbs phoned Tony on his cell. "Tony get the team together get them to my place."
"You hurt Gibbs?"
"No, but Matt Dillon is."
"Abby is going to have kittens, and Ziva will swoon with delight."
"I can't imagine a woman less inclined to swoon than Ziva."
"What about Ducky?"
"Ducky's already here but get Jimmy to bring the wagon."
"He's not..."
"No, get here as quick as you can," Matt moved gingerly on the sofa.
"Ducky, I can't feel my shoulder?"
"That's the injection I gave you, it'll keep the pain down," the team came in just then. "Gibbs, need a word with you," Gibbs and Ducky went into the kitchen. "We take him to hospital just a thought though can you imagine Matt in one of those skimpy hospital gowns?"
"No, and nothing I've got will fit him."
"When we get him to Bethesda I'll see if they can let him have scrubs instead," they returned to the living room.
"Everything ready?" Gibbs asked.
"Yes, Boss," the team answered.
"Let's go," Gibbs helped Matt up, letting him lean on his shoulder as they went out and got him into Ducky's van. The team piled into their cars and drove to Bethesda Naval Hospital.