Southern New York State…

A sedan backs into a driveway in a quiet suburb and a small family starts piling out of the car. One of the kids points to the house next door. It sits at the end of the block, and has several broken windows.

"Mike, look," the wife says. "Jenna's place got vandalized. She's been gone a while, too. See the lawn? I wonder if she knows. She didn't say anything about leaving, either."

Mike frowned. "We were gone all week, Jackie, so it isn't like she could say anything; her house probably got trashed by some local kids. We were lucky it didn't happen to us! I'll call the police when we get the kids inside. Somebody should take a look around the place; maybe one of the other neighbors saw something."

The wind shifts, blowing towards them from their neighbor's house, and the couple suddenly cover their noses.

"UGH! That's rot!" Jackie exclaimed. "Oh, God, I hope nothing happened to her. I want to go over and see if she is ok."

Mike looked nauseous. "I don't think that's a good idea. Let's just get inside and call the cops. We have the kids to look after. If there is anything gross over there, I don't want them to get into it. It's probably just a dead animal anyway."

"Yeah, you're probably right. I'll go get the kids something to eat." She closes her door awkwardly, and it doesn't latch. "Darnit. My hands are full. Can you get my door, dear?"

Mike smiled. "Don't I always? Go on, I'll grab the rest of this."

His wife takes her bags, and follows the kids into the house. Mike walks around to his Jackie's door, opens it, and gives it a decisive SLAM. Next door, a light pops on in response to the sound….

A sudden explosion tears through their neighbor's house. Shrapnel rains down on Mike, who crouches flat against his car. It had shielded him from the blast. He looks up in shock and horror at the flaming house…

Lying in the long backyard grass is the body of a dead black man. He is dressed in blue jeans and a polo shirt. He has several bullet wounds, and his right hand has been severed. A scarf is tied to one arm, partially covering a tattoo. A military chain with a dog tag dangles from his neck. He has a holster in his belt, but the gun is missing. There are flies buzzing above him…

NCISNCISNCISNCIS

NCIS squadroom….

McGee was already sitting at his desk, talking on the phone, when DiNozzo walked in, carrying a cup of coffee and munching on a donut.

"Good morning, Probies!" he said jovially, but there was no response.

Ziva sat quietly at her desk, looking at a picture of two young girls, a lit candle in front of her. DiNozzo sat down and peered over his computer at his partner.

"You know, Ziva, we aren't supposed to have open flames in the office." He paused as she gave him a 'shut up' look, but is too somber to reply. "What?"

McGee hung up and motioned with his head. "You might want to leave her alone, Tony. It's an anniversary of sorts."

DiNozzo looked puzzled. "Anniversary? Of what?"

"My baby sister," Ziva said quietly. "It has been 15 years since she died. I promised I would never forget her, so I light a candle twice a year for her: once for her birth, and once for her death."

"That's really nice, Ziva. I can't imagine loosing Sarah like that. When she almost got killed, I thought I would go crazy," Tim said gently.

"I can't really relate," Tony admitted, shaking his head. "No siblings."

"Which is why you're never getting Sarah's address or phone number out of me, Tony!" McGee said mockingly.

Ziva smiled a little. "I agree. I wouldn't trust you with my sister either, and she is dead!"

DiNozzo scowled in mock seriousness. "OUCH! That was below the belt."

Ziva smiled conspiratorially. "Everything is below the belt with you, Tony."

"Hey! What is this, 'Pick on DiNozzo Day'? Don't you people have some work to do?" Tony protested.

Abby, walking through with a CafPow, overheard. "Yes it is, no they don't, and check your calendar." She said, and threw a paper wad from her straw at him.

DiNozzo caught the paper wad, and then bent over to look at his calendar. "Hey…it does say 'Pick on DiNozzo Day' here…Who wrote on my OSU calendar?"

Ziva and McGee both throw paper wads at Tony when he sits up, just as Special Agent Gibbs walks into the squad room.

"I didn't hear the bell for recess!" He yelled. "Grab your gear! Tony, get Ducky and Palmer, tell them to get the truck. We have a dead Marine in a southern New York suburb." He pauses at Ziva's desk. "Candle, Ziva. Now move out."

Ziva blows out her candle, and the team members grab their backpacks and move to the elevator. Smoke from the extinguished candle curls upward as the team leaves the bullpen.

TBC