Chapter One.
"I'm Special Agent Anthony Dinozzo and this is my partner, Officer," Tony paused in his introductions, "I mean, Special Agent Ziva David." He was still getting used to Ziva no longer being Officer David, Mossad.
Tony was speaking to an elderly lady sitting in a rocking chair on her front porch. They were speaking to the surly looking lady about a murder that occurred across the street. So far all the neighbours the team had interviewed had been extremely unhelpful. It must just be this neighbourhood, Tony thought.
"Yessum," the old lady said. She titled her head to the left so as to get a better view of Ziva. Her disapproving glare was just one of many Ziva had had to endure that day and by then she was about ready to snap. Tony sensing her discomfort and change in stance continued.
"And what may your name be?" he asked adding a touch of the irresistible Dinozzo charm. At least he thought it was.
"I, young man, am Mrs. Dubose to you and I need nome of your silly attitude," Mrs. Dubose frowned for the third time since meeting them.
"Okay. Well Agent David and I are just here to ask you a few questions about…" Mrs. Dubose cut him off impatiently.
"The murder, yessum I know. You city folks ha' been down here all day pokin' around and stickin' their noses in other people's business. Mrs. Birse down the street now she told me that…" Mrs. Dubose launched into a speech that proved no more helpful than the rest of them Tony and Ziva had heard today.
Gibbs paced up and down in front of the small, one bedroom house. Across the street he could see Tony and Ziva talking to an agitated old lady. By the looks of things they wouldn't be finished any time soon and McGee was interviewing the couple next door.
The door to the house opened and Ducky emerged wheeling the front of the trolley on which Petty Office Hughes now lay in a body bag.
"Duck, let me know when you finish the autopsy will ya'?" Gibbs said.
"Now, now Jethro. These things take time," Ducky replied and upon seeing the look on Gibbs' face he added "But I will make this one speed along a bit faster than usual. You know, Jethro, this case reminds me of when I was studying in England. There was a man near my dorm room…"
"Duck. Autopsy, then story," interrupted Gibbs.
"Uh, yes. Of course." Ducky and Palmer put the body into the back of the van and drove off, undoubtedly heading for the Navy Yard. Gibbs' attention returned to across the street where Tony and Ziva had finished the interview. Ziva's laugh could be heard from where he was standing and Gibbs frowned. Ziva hadn't been herself since they had rescued her from Somalia and though she was laughing he knew something was still troubling her.
For now though, the thought would have to go into his inbox. He would deal with it whenever he had the time, or when it became more of a problem. Whichever came first.
Back at NCIS Abby was eagerly awaiting the return of the team. She hadn't been all that busy since their last case and was beginning to think that her Caf-Pow's were being wasted. She needed evidence, and so did her babies.
"Major MacSpec, you had better be in good shape. No slacking off just because we haven't had any evidence for a while," she said talking to a large box like machine against the far wall. "A brilliant forensic scientist like myself must always be ready for, well, anything I guess," she finished by raising her arms in the air in a flourish worthy of any drag queen.
"Nice," Tony said as he entered. Behind him followed McGee, arms laden with boxes of evidence. Both men deposited the boxes they were carrying on the metallic bench in the middle of the lab.
"Evidence! Finally, what took you guys so long? You've been gone since six am. Ziva was the only one here when Gibbs got the phone call," Abby had already begun rifling through her loot, her eyes already getting that glazed look they so often got when around masses of evidence.
"Well, it took us longer than expected to get statements from the neighbours," McGee said with a hint of annoyance.
"McSlow here took forever is what happened, Ziva and I were finished incredibly quickly," Tony lied.
"Me? You and Ziva were still onto your third interview when I was onto my fifth. It's you two who were the slow ones." McGee's face scrunched up in a frown.
"There were that many interviews? No wonder you guys took so long," Abby looked up from her precious evidence. "Thanks for this; I'll let Gibbs know as soon as I get something. But more likely he will just know. He is Gibbs after all."
'Right. Sure you don't need any help here Abby?" McGee was hopeful; there was just no hiding it. Tired of paperwork and interviews he wanted something better to do, preferably involving computers.
"McGee, I only just got the evidence so… whoa," Abby said picking up a completely crushed laptop. "But then, I guess you could always try and get something from this."
"Great. Tony, you don't mind do you?" McGee said.
"No but Gibbs might. I'll tell him that you're helping out Abby," Tony replied before leaving for the elevator. McGee watched him go before pouncing on Abby.
"Something happened," he said startling Abby to which the glazed eye look had returned.
"What? What happened McGee?" Abby was genuinely curious. She was usually not a gossip but the lack of interesting cases had made her bored. Even with her new-found entertainment she wanted something to talk about.
"Something happened between Tony and Ziva. I know it did, they have been acting weird all week, I've been dying to tell someone," McGee rushed through the words, eager to get them out of his mouth before someone else came out of the elevator.
"Like what, McGee? What do you think happened? And what do mean by weird? Is it a Ziva thing or is it bigger than that? Like, say a conspiracy? Answer me McGee!" Abby said. She too was flustered.
"I don't know, that's the problem. I can't really pin a guess as to what happened but something sure did and its making them both act… I don't know… funny towards each other. Gibbs noticed it too, I saw him today watching them talk together. What do you think Abby?" Finally out with it McGee could now relax and wait for Abby's reaction. His audience however seemed lost in thought. McGee shook her shoulder, gently, almost as if he was waking her up from sleep.
Ping! The elevator doors open to reveal Palmer, the autopsy technician, causing the two people in the forensic lab to abandon their thoughts and focus on him.
"I have the Petty Officer's blood samples Abby. Ducky said I should take them up to right away before you become too swamped in evidence," Palmer said indicating the large mound of plastic bags on the table.
"Palmer, have you noticed anything strange about Tony and Ziva lately?" McGee asked.
"Strange? No, not really. Oh wait, there was one time the other day when I caught them talking together in the men's bathroom. She really doesn't have much respect for the term 'Men's Room' does she?" McGee, Abby and Palmer exchanged looks. What was going on none of them knew for sure but whatever it was, they were going to find out.