Of Swords and Sorcery

Disclaimer for all Chapters: I don't own, so please don't sue. Except for a certain lady, but more of her later.

McAbby, naturally. And a little surprise.

With nods to various sources, and a little bit supernatural…………

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"A dark and stormy night" Ducky Mallard thought to himself, as he pushed the little Morgan a bit harder. 2am callouts were not his favourite experience, "a rainy night, another body, rain has washed away the evidence……another impossible job." Ducky smiled grimly to himself. "the impossible we can do at once, miracles take a little longer."

He pushed the car a little harder. Gibbs had sounded very tight, very controlled as he inevitably did when he was angry. Ducky knew the irritation was not directed at him, and until now hadn't given the tension in Gibbs' terse command for his services a second thought. Now he was wondering.

The headlights swept the bend, and picked up the tape glistening in the rain, Ducky eased down the gears and brought the sports car to a quiet halt beside the NCIS van.

"What took you?" Gibbs strode towards his old friend and pathologist.

"Jethro." Ducky took a moment to absorb the details of his friend's demeanour. "Firstly, it is two am. I was asleep. Secondly, the downpour" he waved a hand at the sky, "this reminds me of the occasion…."

"Not now, Ducky." The unusual thread of steel in Gibbs' voice, made Ducky swing round. He shot a penetrating look at Gibbs. Gibbs shifted slightly uncomfortably, he hadn't meant to be so short. But this one had him confused and worried.

"We have a body without a head……" as Ducky looked at him almost impatiently, Gibbs elaborated "……………no head, and a sword stuck into the ground where the head once was!"

"Jethro, we've seen worse, what is that has got you so unsettled."

"A gut feeling, Ducky." Gibbs offered a small smile as an apology for his short temper. "There's more……………….you'll." His voice trailed quietly away.

Feeling the tension, Ducky acknowledged the brief apology, and set off down the hill.

Tony DiNozzo handled the camera, snapping off shot after shot. Perhaps if he just kept going he could ignore the body in front of him. "It's the savagery" he muttered to himself, "perhaps that's why I really can't handle this one. Can't let Ziva and Probie see my weakness!" Move, click, change angle, check for blood spatter, perhaps pinpoint direction. Where was this guy standing? He spun round carefully, swiftly averting his eyes from the sad remains on the ground.

Ziva David was not fooled, this body was having a profound and unusual effect on both Gibbs and Tony, the effect on McGee was something else. She eyed DiNozzo, this was definitely not like him; she glanced down at the body, and felt a strange reluctance.

"McGee! Are you done?" DiNozzo prepared his usual outlet. Special Agent Timothy McGee was a gift from the gods. DiNozzo had to admit that he really liked Probie, but the opportunity for teasing was too good to pass up.

Special Agent Timothy McGee was having a hard time holding on to last night's supper, show Tony this weakness and I'll never hear the end of it. Somehow he was holding it together Abby would be proud of me.

Ducky took in the strained faces of the investigation team, something is really wrong here. Then he caught sight of the sword, and the body………..