Witness Tag Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS. If I did, a basement scene with McGee would be canon.

His step on the stair wasn't unexpected but it was harried in his eagerness to get to him.

Gibbs sighed. He should've known the kid was going to come to him sooner rather than later.

Taking a swig from his bourbon filled glass, he poured another glass for him.

Coming down, McGee or are ya just gonna stare at me?

That got his youngest agent moving again.

Boss? I'm so- I shouldn't have c-come by so late. I'll just go. It's not important anyway.

Ah hell The Boss thinks and barks out a McGee to get his young agent to talk instead of stammer.

Boss? Was I wrong? Could I have saved her? I -I-I know I screwed up because I didn't clear the room. But c-c-could I have s-saved h-her?

The stammering was made worse by shock and the over all tremulous quality of his voice, but he said it. Gibbs had to note that with some kind of pride.

Then he sighed. McGee, you know that there was nothing you could have done. Think about it. What did she see?

The prompting was presented behind a steel reinforced tone that often booked no argument.

E-e-Erin saw him kill the petty officer. And she was what? The o-o-only witness.

And why did she die?

The answer was slow coming. Tim flinched at the word die hard. He didn't need to be lectured like this, but somehow he knew that he really did and he wanted some valuable reassurance. Still, the answer paused on his tongue allowing the boss a little more bourbon to slide down his throat.

His eyebrow furrowed and Gibbs watched the expressions of thought flit across the deep green depths of his eyes.

Finally he opened his mouth to answer.

Because she was the only witness to his crime.

Was it your fault?

Boss, you know that if I'd been qu-

*thwack*

N-n-no. It wasn't my fault.

Need anything else, McGee?

No boss.