Chapter 2

22:00 Hours:

It was late. They had spent the better part of the day arguing over who sent them and what agency they were secretly working for. They questioned and evasively interrogated the newcomers in the squad room. They didn't get much except the same vague answers since 10:00 that morning.

Gibbs had Ziva and Tony find a place for Angel's team to work. He quietly instructed McGee to check the security video in and around the building. He wanted to know how they breached security and entered the building without being seen. When McGee left, Gibbs noticed that Angel was watching them. He was sure that he had been quiet enough, but something in his gut was tingling. It couldn't be that Angel had heard their conversation…could it?

Once he knew that his team was busy with their assignments, he headed for the third floor, taking the stairs two at a time. He entered the Director's office, passing Cynthia, without so much as a word. He could see the secretary was frazzled and gave her a small smile before entering.

He pushed the door open and quickly shut it behind him. Jenny Sheppard, the new appointed Director of NCIS was sitting at her desk on the phone. She stared at him, annoyed and then quickly changed the tone of her conversation.

"I'll have to call you back," she said, ending the phone call abruptly and place the receiver on its base. "Special Agent Gibbs…ever hear of knocking?"

She still insisted on being formal even after all they had been through. The fiery red head was playing at being nothing but coworkers. Well, two could play at that game, Gibbs thought.

"When were you going to tell about Angel Investigations?" Gibbs demanded, his voice rising.

"Who?"

"Don't play games with me, Jen!"

Jenny Sheppard clenched her teeth. She didn't want this to end with them angry at each other. She held her tongue and remained calm.

"I don't know what you're referring to, Jethro."

"There is a team of youngsters down there, claiming to be private investigators. The leader of this group of misfits snuck into our secured federal facility without being detected, as did his team. He claims to have intel on the case we caught this morning involving a dead Navy Lt. Tell me you didn't know about this!"

"I didn't know about this. When did they arrive?"

"Few hours after we returned from the crime scene. About 10:00 this morning."

"That was early, why are you only coming to me with this now?"

Director Sheppard left her office, Gibbs close behind her. The two of them stood at the railing of the third floor to watch the squad room below. Her eyes found Tony and Ziva at their desks and then fixed on the strangers at the other end of the bullpen.

"Any reason we're letting tem stay?" She asked her former partner.

"Yeah…I'm not done with them yet. I have more questions I want answered, Jen. They'll stay until I no longer feel they're useful to my investigation. At least here I can keep an eye on them."

"I want them monitored, Jethro. Keep me informed."

Without another word, the director returned to her office. Agent Gibbs turned to watch the people below. After a moment, his cell phone rang.

He answered curtly, "Gibbs."

He listened, watching Angel's team intently. Angel looked up at him and crossed his arms. After another moment, he turned to engage his own team in conversation. "I'll be right down, Abs."

He clicked his phone closed. He hurried down the stairs and turned left once he reached the bottom. He took the elevator that led to the forensics lab.

In the squad room, Tony and Ziva sat at their desks pretending to work. They shuffled papers and aimlessly typed at their keyboards. What they were really doing was eavesdropping on their guests.

Wesley had gathered all the books and notepads he had been using on this particular case. The vampire that they were dealing with was a nasty piece of work. He had survived many centuries and could rival Angel in skill and strength. They even thought that it was possible that Angelus could have sired the vamp they were currently after. The problem was that they were never able to catch him. It had been pure luck that Gunn even heard about his attacks here in D.C.

He and Fred had been working on a strategy for finding him when Gunn had called with new information a few days ago. At the moment, she was helping him to narrow down the current location of their target. They were deciding on a plan of action.

Gunn, who was bored out of his mind, was sharpening his favorite dagger. He had almost pulled out his trusty stake when Angel reminded him of their surroundings.

Cordelia and Angel had moved to stand next to the large windows now that it was safe to do so. They stood silently for a while simply waiting, watching the busy city beyond the navy yard.

"Angel. What exactly are you going to do when we find him?" Cordy asked, breaking the silence.

Wesley joined them, "I have been wondering that myself."

Angel furrowed his brow. "What do you think? What do I always do?"

"Angel, we know that you intend to kill him. We did come all this way. My concern is the federal agents that you insisted on working with." Wesley pointed out.

Angel pushed his hands in his coat pockets, "We'll be done before they even locate his lair."

"Then, why was it so necessary to join with them and their case?" Wesley asked, pushing his glasses back into place.

"They take the victims to the morgue, Wesley. Don't you think that could be a little dangerous considering the consequences. These people don't know what will happen. It's for their own protection." Cordelia explained, noting the annoyed look on Angel's face.

"Ah…I see your point. Do you think it can be done without them finding out?"

"I left that up to Gunn."

"Oh, well alright then. We should get going soon. I believe that he will try again. The faster we get this over with, the sooner we can return to L.A."

Angel simply nodded and continued to stare at the night sky. Cordelia and Wesley were worried about their friend.

Toney and Ziva stood, told their guests they were going for something to drink and went in search of their fearless leader. They took one last look at the brooding man by the window before the elevator doors closed. They found Gibbs in Abby's lab. He looked extremely annoyed.

"McGee! Get to the point!"

Tony and Ziva moved closer.

"Well, Boss, I went over all the video in and around the navy yard. I can't tell you how they got in."

"What?"

Tim cowered at the furious look Gibbs was giving him, and began to stutter in his usual nervous fashion, "I…I….you see…it's….it'…I'm sorry Boss."

Abby took pity on McGee and added her two cents. She knew that even though Gibbs would be mad, he would forgive her.

"He's right, Gibbs. We checked all exits and security stations that have video feed. We even checked the roof access doors. None of our cameras caught a glimpse of Angel's team. You know, Gibbs, he could the be the vampire you're looking for. I mean you said that he was sneaky and seemed really strong. He gets around without being seen or heard…I mean the more I think about this Gibbs, the more…."

"Abs!"

"Sorry, Gibbs."

He turned to look at his senior field agent and liason mossad officer.

"What have you learned?" he said evenly.

"They talk a lot about hunting something." Ziva answered promptly.

"Hunting….not searching." Gibbs said quietly.

"That's right, Boss. We overheard them talking about what they are going to do wen they find the suspect. Angel intends to kill him and they all seem to know it. Apparently, they have done this on many occasions. You know this kind of reminds me of the Boondock Saints. Movie where two guys go in search of all the bad guys and kill them. Taking out the evil before they have the chance to kill again."

Gibbs smacked Tony on the back of the head for good measure, making him feel a little better about having found nothing on their guests.

"DiNozzo, David, you're with me. Abby, I want you on the evidence from the crime scene. McGee, I wanna know everything about Angel and his team. I don't care how you get it."

"Yes, Boss." McGee said, turning back to his computer screen.

Once Gibbs left the lab, Abby turned to her partner. "You think when Gibbs finds the killer he'll have fangs?"

"I doubt it Abby."

"That would be stellar. Okay, let's get our groove on. Come on babies…talk to me."

The Morgue:

Gibbs, Tony and Ziva entered the morgue. The doors slid open with a hiss, alerting Dr. Mallard and Jimmy that they had company. They had already begun the autopsy of Lt. Lake.

"I was wondering when you would be visiting me, Jethro."

"What do you got for me, Duck?"

"Well, I haven't gotten very far into the autopsy yet, Jethro, but I do have my preliminary findings. I was correct on cause of death. Massive blood loss was the reason for her demise. She was drained of it from those small puncture wounds in the side of her neck."

"How is that possible, Ducky? I mean, the wounds are hardly fatal." Tony asked, leaning over the body.

"That is a mystery I leave to you to discover, my boy."

"What about defensive wounds?" Gibbs asked.

"None. I also didn't find any other wounds. The two in her neck are the only ones I could find. I'm at a loss for words, Jethro. I simply can not ascertain our killers reason for this type of murder. Not only does it seem impossible, but it makes little sense."

"There is not reason, Doctor." A voice said from the door. It echoed in the morgue.

Dr. Mallard jumped slightly, not that anyone noticed. The others all turned to see Angel standing in the shadows. He walked toward them and came into the light from the autopsy table.

"How did you get in here, dear boy, without us hearing you?" Dr. Mallard asked, astonished.

Angel said nothing. He merely stared at Lt. Lake's body. He seemed to be waiting for something.

"You said, there wasn't a reason." Gibbs said, enticing him to elaborate.

Angel circled the table and stopped to lean against the cooler drawers. "Your killer doesn't kill for any particular reason."

"But you do know the reason, don't you?" Gibbs said, a smirk forming on his face. It irritated him how this man liked to play games.

Angel could honestly answer the man this time. He spoke from experience. "Your killer enjoys it. It's as much a game as it is a need to survive. He gets pleasure out of it. He chooses women because they are easy targets. They don't fight back and they are usually innocent, which entices him more. He takes in their scent, their beauty."

"Not all women are little bunnies."

"Lambs…Ziva." Tony corrected.

"Whatever. Some women know how to fight back."

"Yeah, I get that. I'm just telling you how the man thinks and feels."

"Go on." Gibbs said.

"There is nothing more to tell really. Power can sometimes have something to do with it, but more then likely it is all about pleasure. The kill is the most exciting part. Nothing will stop him. He isn't afraid. He thinks he is above the law."

No one said anything. They watched him as he explained the killer's state of mind to them. Gibbs squinted, his mind reeling. This man was dangerous. As soon as he was finished with him, he wanted him out of their hair.

"Well, me and my team are about to head out. I just came down here to let you know. We are running out of time. He is going to find a new target tonight. If you're coming, we'll wait. Be outside in ten minutes. You'll see my black convertible."

Angel left autopsy in silence. The others stood and waited for him to board the elevator.

"That man scares me, Jethro."

"Yeah, I know, Duck."

"What are you going to do?"

"Follow him. I want to see him and his team in action. Tony, grab McGee and then meet me at the sedan. Ziva, you're with me."

"You got it, Boss."