A/N: So, here we are! Sorry it took so long, I hit a rough patch in here, but today I decided to scrap it and wrote this instead. I'm much happier with this than I was with the original :) I know, this is short, but it just felt right to leave it there. The chapters should get progressively longer.

XXX

Under cover of darkness, a man crept towards a large, dark house, holding a can of gasoline in his hand. He set to work quickly, spreading it over the front lawn in an undistinguishable pattern, knowing that the inhabitant of the house had a habit of showing up at inopportune times. He wanted to be finished just before he got home.

Just as he added the last touch, the squealing of tires could be heard around the corner, a sure sign of the man's return. The vandal rapidly procured a butane lighter and set fire to his masterpiece, and then dashed across the street to watch from the shadows.

As the man saw the flames in his front yard, he tore into his driveway and parked crookedly, jumping out of the car before it was fully stopped. He took a moment to read the message burning in the dry grass.

I see you.

LP

His head shot up as he finished, and he glanced around warily, not noticing the dark eyes across the street, observing him. He then reached in his pocket and withdrew a cell phone, punching in numbers aggressively and barking orders to some unfortunate person on the other end of the line.

Just before turning to enter his house, the man turned around and looked directly at the vandal, who worried that he had been spotted; but when the man's eyes moved on, scouring the rest of the street, he knew he was safe.

He wasn't going to be caught tonight.

He silently crept across the backyard of the nearest house and away to an unknown destination.

September 12th, 2011
Washington, D.C.
Navy Yard

Abby paced. Not a slow, thoughtful pace, but a rapid, panicking one, as she verged on a nervous breakdown. The others wisely remained silent. Finally she turned to Gibbs.

"I'm not happy about this. I mean, I really hate that your life has been threatened, Gibbs, but I think a protection detail is more than unnecessary."

"This isn't a random threat, Abbs. It's serious. Until the person responsible is caught, I don't want any of you alone."

"But Gibbs-"

"No buts. I mean it."

She shook her head. "This sucks."

"I know, but your safety is more important than your comfort."

Abby sighed. "Don't stick me with some creepy escort, Gibbs. I don't want the closet pedophile looking in my window as I change clothes at night."

"That won't happen."

"Please. Give them a background check or something."

"No, Abby, it won't happen because you already know them."

"Oh, God, Gibbs, don't tell me it's Henry. He looks at me with those huge eyes, and I feel like I'm on display. It's freaky-"

"-You'll be with McGee."

Tim jumped from his place leaning against his desk. "What?"

"Gibbs, that is not going to work. I can't-"

"How are we supposed to-"

"Hey!"

Gibbs' exclamation silenced them both. "I know it isn't what you want, but get over it. It's for your own good."

He continued before Abby could vocalize the protest on her lips. "We'll all be pairing up. I don't want any of you alone. Tony'll be with me, and Ziva's going with Ducky. I'll be helping Fornell with the case, but I don't want anyone else involved, understood?"

He made do with the assorted less-than-enthusiastic nods. Then Ziva spoke up.

"Who is it, Gibbs?"

He sighed. "He was someone Mike and I tried to catch years ago. He said he'd come back, but I didn't expect it now."

"So," Tony inquired, "how long is this gonna last?"

"However long it takes."

The room was filled with groans. "Not even an estimate?"

"Nope. Go home, pack a bag, and go somewhere. It doesn't matter where, but you can't stay in D.C.."

The group dispersed. As Tim took a moment to gather some things from his desk, Abby approached him.

"So, where are we gonna go?" she asked, downcast.

"Uh, good question," he replied. "Maybe to one of our families' houses."

"Maybe." She sounded uninterested.

"Where do you want to go?"

"Well, I don't know, McGee. I never really considered what I would do in protective custody with my best friend, banished from the city I live in."

He sighed. "Abby, I don't like this any more than you do, but I'm doing the best I can."

"…Fine." She relented a bit. "Where does your family live?"

"My mom's in Indiana, and Penny's here in D.C.. Sarah's in grad school at Waverly."

"What about your dad?"

He gave a humorless laugh. "We're not going to my dad's."

"And I'm not going to Indiana."

"What's wrong with Indiana?"

"I've had bad experiences with Indiana."

Tim sighed again. "My God, Abby."

"You know what this means."

He looked up. There was a mischievous glint in her eye, and her earlier reservations seemed long forgotten.

"What?" He dreaded the answer.

"It means that you and I," she said slowly, "are going to Louisiana."

He groaned inwardly. It wasn't going to be a fun assignment.

XXX

A/N: What did you think? Tell me when you review, please :) In case you didn't know, Abby is from New Orleans (as is Pauley Perette), hence them going to Louisiana :)