"A Lot Like You"
Chapter 1
"Hey Probie what's the date today?"
"Hmm. May 24th. Why do you ask?"
"Kate died on May 24th three years ago."
"And what does this have to do with this crime scene that we are going to?" Ziva interrupted
"Nothing, it's just that expect Gibbs to be extra grumpy, extra mean and just not fun to be around with, so have patience, both of you."
"Tony, you can't possibly think that Kate's death still bothers him? I mean, it's been three years after all. Plus, if he was so bothered by her death, how come I took her desk and he was fine with it?"
"Because Zee-vah Duh-veed, you didn't work with Kate and you don't know what she was like. And Gibbs was the one that brought her to NCIS and if he hadn't done that, she would be alive still. He still blames himself for what happened to her and just like the deaths of his wife and daughter, he's not over Kate's death yet. He's fine and sane everyday except on May 24th. I bet you anything, he went on that rooftop where she was killed and placed flowers there."
"And you know this how?" Ziva asked.
Tony remained quiet and just kept on driving.
"Because, you do the same thing every year don't you Tony? Are you sure it's Gibbs that's not over Kate's death and not you?"
"Just drop it Ziva, you don't know what you're talking about because you weren't there."
They got to the scene to find Ducky and his assistant already working on the bodies. Three bodies of the Marines were found dead, that's the only information they got so far.
As they made their way to the bodies, they saw Gibbs coming their way, and as expected, he didn't look very happy.
"So what do we got Dinozzo?"
"Three dead marines, Boss and that's what we know so far."
"Where's the deputy?"
"That would be me, Agent Gibbs. I'm Deputy Robert Marshall. We don't have an ID on the victims yet, but from the looks of it, they were killed execution style?"
"Were there any witnesses?"
"They didn't tell you Agent Gibbs? We have a witness but she's badly beaten, stabbed and I don't think she remembers anything. She's in the ambulance and they are about to take her to the hospital. She's lost a lot of blood."
Gibbs made his way to the ambulance and Tony started to follow him.
Gibbs wasn't sure if he saw what he saw but although her face looked beaten, the woman looked a lot like…
"Kate? Hey, don't go yet, I need to see her."
Startled, Ducky, Tony, Ziva, and McGee stopped what they were doing when they heard Gibbs call the name Kate.
"I'm sorry sir but we need to take her to the hospital. She's lost a lot of blood and she's losing consciousness fast. If we don't get her to the hospital, she will die."
"I'm sorry. Let me just see her face."
He couldn't believe what he's seeing, except the color of her hair, it's Kate.
"Kate."
"Sir, do you know her? We found this on her. You can take it with you as part of your evidence."
Gibbs took the wallet but didn't open it yet.
"Can I go with her to the hospital?"
"Sir, you'll have to follow. We have no room in there."
"What hospital are you taking her?"
"The one in Bethesda, sir, we need to get going."
Gibbs nodded and closed the door.
"Boss, were you calling Kate's name? Kate is dead sir. I know today is her death anniversary and…"
"Dinozzo, get back over there and help Ziva and McGee. Get all the evidences you can find and bring them back to the headquarters. Evidences that need to go to Abby, take them to her."
"Where are you going Boss?"
"I'm going to the hospital to see the eyewitness."
"Boss, it's not Kate. I know what you're going through."
Gibbs stopped in his tracks and walked back to where Tony was, anger written all over his face. Gibbs pulled Tony's shirt and looked him in the eye.
"You didn't see that woman Tony. And you have no idea what I'm going through Tony. You have no idea."
"Jethero, let Tony go. We got this covered. Go where you need to go."
Gibbs let go of Tony and headed back to the car.
"I'm so sorry Tony. Just give Jethro time for this day to be over with and he will be fine tomorrow."
"Ducky, I understand his pain more than he thinks."
"I know Tony. Now let's finish this, so we can go back and start examining the evidences."
Gibbs got to the hospital and asked the receptionist about the woman brought here moments ago. The receptionist said that she's in surgery and that it will be awhile before they are with her. She said that besides being beaten and stabbed, it looks like she was also shot. Gibbs nodded and told her, he'll be in the waiting area.
Gibbs almost forgot about the wallet that the EMT earlier. He took the wallet out of his pocket and took a deep breath before opening it. He could have sworn she looked like Kate but maybe Tony was right, he could have just been imagining it. He opened the wallet and there, it was her driver's license. He wasn't hallucinating, the woman is Kate.
She looks exactly like Kate except her name is Sarah Michaels.