Chapter 2

Disclaimer: I own none of the NCIS characters.

Gibbs was bombarded with facts about James when he returned. He told DiNozzo to take James to an interrogation room - after head-slapping DiNozzo when he suggested a conference room instead. It turned out to be James' birthday, and four years to the day since he moved to the USA from Britain. His mother had committed suicide after being diagnosed as a manic depressive two years before her death. There was also a strange nine month period in his life McGee couldn't yet access - they were being blocked by Social Services - which implied he had also been in foster care. He also got some loosely related background information from McGee - such as his school reports generally saying, 'Has potential, never does any work apart from occasionally Maths, and constantly disruptive in class.' Gibbs grinned - he knew someone who could relate to this boy.

After ordering his team to pull any security footage from the crime scene, to look for potential suspects, Gibbs went to get a Caf Pow! for Abby before making his way down to her lab to check in with her. Abby went into her alien language mode before concluding in English that the marine issue knife found at the murder scene was the weapon. This supported Ducky's finding in the autopsy that the knife wound, not the head wound, was the cause of death. Ducky also said there was evidence of a fist fight before death.

...

Gibbs (this had taken him around 15 minutes) decided to visit James in interrogation, having thought he would have had enough time to think. He called DiNozzo to do it, who was slightly alarmed at the prospect of interviewing him.

'Why me Boss?' he whined. 'Shouldn't you use your Gibbs-ness to do it?'

'No - go on. He wont bite.'

DiNozzo asked some basic questions but got no response. James was also refusing to sit on a chair, instead he was standing at the side of the room with his back to the wall. DiNozzo kept asking questions until he got answers - but only to what James thought were 'relevant' questions. Gibbs was amused at the boys antics, but also worried as he suspected there was a darker reason for them. After calling for Ducky to come up from autopsy, he called DiNozzo into the viewing room.

'I think he's being abused. Ask him about it.'

'I can't get through to him Boss. I can't.' Gibbs was surprised, DiNozzo was usually very persistent.

'Try. I need to talk to Duck. I'll go in if he doesn't talk in 10.'

As DiNozzo reappeared back in interrogation, Ducky arrived.

'Jethro? You wanted to see me?' he inquired.

'I want another opinion on him Duck.' Ducky nodded and watched the interview in silence.

In interrogation, DiNozzo had an idea - he couldn't believe he didn't think of it before. 'So, you speak Italian?' he asked - in Italian. James' head snapped up and he looked surprised for a second before going back to his (slowly softening) glare.

'Yeah. How'd you know?' he said, answering back in very good Italian. DiNozzo suspected it wasn't his first language though - he'd learned it.

'Let's just say the stuff you yelled at me could only have been said by someone who spoke Italian fluently.' DiNozzo replied, switching back to English for Gibbs' benefit.

For the first time, James looked sheepish. 'Oh yeah. Language gets away with me sometimes.'

DiNozzo was pleased with this little breakthrough. 'Are you going to talk to me now?'

James' attitude switched in a microsecond. 'Look. I know I'm being watched. I'm not stupid. But I don't know anything so you have to let me go.'

Back behind the glass Gibbs commented to Ducky, 'He's a smart kid.'

'Yes. But I've never seen such a young child so guarded before.' Ducky in-putted. Gibbs agreed with him. 'Him being abused is one explanation.'

At that, Gibbs decided to take over from DiNozzo so he entered interrogation and gestured for DiNozzo to leave - receiving a half gratified look in return.

'Agent Gibbs! Was I too much for Agent DiNozzo?' James said with a mischievous grin. Gibbs had to admire the boy's nerve - however - he also needed some answers.

'Sit.' Gibbs said, indicating the chair in front of him.

'No.' Behind the glass, bot Ducky and DiNozzo raised their eyebrows. Gibbs flipped like a switch.

'Sit down now Matthew!' he commanded in his Gunny voice. DiNozzo wasn't sure about this approach, despite knowing Gibbs was great with children. However, he still cringed at the tone - it no longer mattered - Ducky had just left. James stared, obviously debating how far he could push this man. 'It wasn't a suggestion Matthew.' At this, James realized this wasn't a guy he could mess with, and sat. He was stiff, but hid it very well. You could probably only notice if you were looking for it.

'Tell me what you saw.' Gibbs stated.

'I didn't see...' James started.

'Don't lie. We have a witness who saw you this morning around 7 o'clock leaving Colonel Johnston's house. So - let me say it again - What. Did. You. See?'

After a pause, James spoke. 'I got there around 6.55. I walked up his drive and saw him lying there - he was bleeding. So I went over to him and put my hand on his chest were most of the blood was to try to stop the bleeding before I realized there was no heartbeat.'

'Why were you there so early?'

'I look after Max on Saturday mornings.'

'Colonel Johnston's son?'

'Yeah.'

'What happened next?' Gibbs continued.

James began to get agitated and drummed his fingers on the table. Gibbs tried to ignore it and waited, sensing he needed time before he continued. James gave Gibbs a quizzical look, but Gibbs returned his look with a 'no nonsense' face. James started to speak - fairly quickly too. He explained how he'd gone inside to check for Max, before realizing his mum had him. He then told Gibbs how he had called 911 using the land line and that the ambulance and a crowd of people (who had worked out what had happened) were there when he got back outside.

'Why did you run when we asked Henry about you?'

'Because some random guy was chasing me!' James said, getting angry again.

'Calm down. Give me a real reason.'

'Look Gibbs, you're not going to get one. I've told you everything. Can I go now?'

'No. I need more information.'

'Can I at least have some of your coffee then?' In the viewing room, DiNozzo's eyebrows shot into his hairline.

'Nope. Rule 23.' James looked puzzled and annoyed, but didn't comment. 'Why coffee? How long have you been drinking it?' Gibbs questioned.

'I like it. And it's none of your business.' Gibbs now knew this kid was hiding something - the very fact that he had told his story while remaining emotionless astounded him. It wasn't unusual for some adults he'd interviewed after finding a body to end up in tears.

'You can trust us James. We can help.' Gibbs saw a flicker of longing, but it was gone so quickly he could have been imagining it. James studied him, then gave a laugh. God, this kid reminded him of Tony.

'What else then?' He asked in slight annoyance.

'Someone told me you're being abused.' It was a statement, but James didn't react. He did, however, laugh again. Except, Gibbs noticed the smile didn't quite reach his eyes. He was still amazed by James, to the untrained eye you wouldn't know, he was a good actor as well as a good liar.

'Whoever told you that must be the same person who told you that shirt and jacket look good together.' Gibbs smiled humourlessly - he didn't appreciate the attitude.

'Lose the attitude. James, you're a smart kid - you showed that today. But you shouldn't lie to me. Look me in the eye and tell me you're not being abused.'

James gave a frustrated half shriek and brought his right fist down on the table. Gibbs knew he shouldn't, but he let it slide.

'I hate this stupid day.' He muttered angrily. He said no more, so Gibbs took this as confirmation.

'Come on.' Gibbs encouraged gently, 'I'm not going anywhere.'

After what felt like a long few minutes where James just glared into the walls, James sighed. Gibbs hoped this was a good sign and had a feeling he was about to do something he had never done before.

James unzipped his hoodie where there was a mass of dried blood. 'It's Johnston's', he explained, Gibbs merely nodded for him to continue.

James stood up and slowly lifted his t-shirt. Gibbs and DiNozzo both swore.

Underneath his shirt, covering the entirety of his ribs, was a mass of red and purple bruises.

...