The Black Dog

Genre: Mystery/Horror/Supernatural

Rating: FR 15

Characters: McGee, Bishop, Tony, Gibbs, Ducky, Abby, Palmer, Vance, OCs

Warnings: It's horror. 'nuff said.

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters are the property of their respective copyright holders. No infringement intended. The original characters and places mentioned are the product of the author's imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to those living, dead, or undead is completely coincidental.

Summary: A pair of murders sends Bishop and McGee to Oklahoma where they discover a twenty-year-old mystery.

A/N: I've written a few Tony/McGee friendship stories, so I wanted to expand my repertoire a bit to have Ellie and Tim working together on this one. I'd love to know what you think.

The hounds, the hounds
come baying at his heels.
The hounds! The hounds!
The breath of death he feels.

~ Book of Counted Sorrows

Chapter 1

Major Derek Rowe climbed into his jeep, started the engine, and guided the vehicle towards his home in Master's Hill. It had been a long couple of weeks, and all he really wanted to do was go home, have a couple of beers, spend some quality time with his wife, and go to sleep. He had three days of leave coming, and he was looking forward to doing some work around the house with the boys…among other things.

Rowe was about a mile from home when his cell phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket, checked the number and smiled before he pressed the speaker button.

"Hi honey, what's going on?"

"I'm leaving work in about five minutes. Do you want me to pick up something for dinner?"

"Sure, something I can throw on the grill. Jordan and Connor will eat steak, I know."

"But Isabel won't. I'll find something for her. Anything else? How about some sweet potatoes? Those were great the last time you made them."

"Sounds good. I'll—" Suddenly a dark shape darted across the road in front of his jeep, and Rowe thought he caught a glimpse of glowing eyes before it vanished into the trees. He swore as he slowed the jeep and tried to catch another glimpse of the figure.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Just some idiot letting their dog run loose."

"Do you want me to report it to the Commander before I leave? What kind was it?"

"I didn't get a real good look at it, other than it was big and black. Not much to go on to figure out who owns it. Don't worry about it."

"OK. I'll be home in about twenty minutes. I need to pick up the boys from soccer practice and Isabel from rehearsal."

"Great. I'll warm up the grill."

"Thanks, hon. See you soon."

"Looking forward to it," he replied with a grin and his wife giggled at his lascivious tone before she disconnected the call. Rowe chuckled to himself as he pressed the gas pedal and started off again for home.

The sun had just slipped below the horizon as he pulled into the driveway, and when he stepped out of the jeep he noticed that it was unusually quiet. There were usually a few of the neighborhood kids out and about, but not tonight. Rowe didn't think much of it as he headed up the steps to the front door of his modest 3-bedroom house and unlocked it before he stepped inside.

The house was oddly silent. Rowe realized he was used to his family arriving home before him every night, and their absence would account for the lack of noise, but the quietness of the house was a little disconcerting. He walked to the kitchen expecting Juno, Isabel's cat, to come running as she did whenever anyone approached her food bowl, but she failed to make an appearance. With a shrug and one last look around he headed upstairs to change.

After switching out his greens for sweats and a T-shirt, Rowe returned to the kitchen, still keeping an eye out for the errant feline. He pulled a few ingredients out of the refrigerator to make a seasoning rub for the steak and soon got the strange feeling that he was being watched. Slowly he looked up and jumped slightly when he saw the huddled figure on the top of the refrigerator that was staring down at him.

"Juno, what are you doing up there?" He tried to reach up and grab her but she hissed at him, ears flattened, and let out a rumbling growl before she retreated even further. He shook his head. "Crazy damn cat." He resumed his work, preparing the mix and then tearing off sheets of foil for the sweet potatoes. He was about to open the refrigerator again when he heard a strange, wailing growl. He looked up at the cat and saw that she was staring past him, her eyes as wide as saucers, her growls growing louder and louder.

"What in the hell?" He spun around, expecting to confront an intruder, and froze at the sight before him. He never even got the chance to scream.

XXX

Christine Rowe guided her SUV into the driveway and frowned, surprised that the front porch lights were not on. She supposed Derek had just forgotten and she'd give him a gentle, teasing reminder later. In the meantime…

"Jordan, Connor, help your sister with the groceries."

"Why?" Jordan whined. "It's just a few bags. She can—"

"Did I give any indication that my instructions were up for debate?"

"No…"

"Well, then, what are you waiting for?"

"Nothing."

"What was that?"

"Sorry, ma'am."

"Better."

Conner smirked at his brother, receiving a light punch in the arm. "Mom!"

"Enough, Jordan, or you'll be carrying all the bags. And washing all the dishes."

"OK, OK." Jordan followed his mother to the rear of the car and waited until she had lifted the hatch before grabbing a couple bags and shoving them at his younger brother. His sister nudged him out of the way as she grabbed a few more of the bags, leaving the heaviest ones behind. "Hey!"

"Isabel…"

She rolled her eyes and exchanged one of her lighter bags for a heavy one. "Sorry, Mom."

Christine shut the hatch and headed for the front door, her children following behind. She unlocked the door and stepped inside, surprised to find the house dark and silent.

"Derek?" No answer. "We're home." The house remained silent and she felt a chill trickle down her spine. She turned to her daughter. "Wait here, I'll be right back."

"Mom?" Isabel had immediately picked up on her anxiety, and Christine could see that she was trying to hide it from the boys.

"Just wait." Carefully she made her way to the kitchen, ready to defend herself and her children at the first sign of an intruder. Suddenly something shot towards her and she dropped into a fighting stance. The thing stopped a few feet away and she let out a soft huff of laughter when she realized what it was.

"Juno, what are you doing? You scared the crap out of me!" She reached down to stroke the cat's head and stopped when her fingers touched something wet. She raised her hand to her face and in the dim light saw that the tips of her fingers were dark and glistening.

"What…?"

Her heart now hammering in her chest, Christine inched her way forward, terrified by what she might see. She eased around the corner to the kitchen and froze when she caught sight of what lay before her.

A few seconds later, the silence of the house was shattered by a blood curdling scream.

TBC…