Kate typed Admiral Wright's name into the NCIS database. "Robert Wright…Robert Wright…Gibbs, I got him."

She read, "Forty-three, and had been an admiral fleet for five years. He's divorced, and has two children. He started out as an NCIS intern, and became more and more interested in the navy." She raised her eyebrows when his picture came onto the screen. "Very handsome," she whispered to herself as she saw his bright blue eyes and light blond hair. She printed out his profile, and handed it to Gibbs, who nodded in approval.

"Boss, the pilot says he can take the plane now." Dinozzo said, hefting his backpack onto his shoulder.

"Good. McGee," he barked. "Tell Ducky and Abby that we'll be leaving earlier; probably be back tomorrow or the day after."

"S-sure Boss,"

Soon, the four of them were on the jet.

As Kate leaned back in the seat, a thought came across her mind. "Gibbs?" she asked. "The information I pulled up about Admiral Wright…it said he had a family. When are we going to tell the family about him?"

"As soon as we leave Afghanistan." Gibbs said, not even looking up.

"That late?"

"It's better than a phone call," Gibbs responded, going through the papers.

Dinozzo called out from the seat across the aisle, "Are we all going, Boss? You know how I hate breaking bad news to people… Kate should do it. She's more sensitive."

"We're all going, and that's final." Gibbs said, his eyes' meeting his teams.

"Why?"

"Because this man was in charge of a whole fleet, Tony. He dedicated his life to protect our country. He earned several awards, including the Medal of Honor, Navy Expeditionary Medal, and the Battle of Efficiency ribbon. I think the least we could do is spend an hour comforting them."

No one could argue with Gibbs on that one.

Kate and McGee squinted in the bright Afghani sun. Tony, however, grinned and flipped down his sunglasses.

"Middle Eastern women…"Tony catcalled, and caught a couple women's eyes, who giggled in return. Gibbs slapped him, and continued down the plane ramp. "Let's get it moving!"

Boarding the USS Victory was like walking into a funeral. Pictures of the admiral hung up almost everywhere, and a memorial service was going on in one of the ship's chapels.

"Special Agent Gibbs, NCIS."

The security guard saluted him. "Agent Gibbs, it's an honor to see you." Gibbs nodded, and explained that he and his team had to see the crime scene.

When they got there, Gibbs said, "Dinozzo, Kate, take pictures and clear and prep the crime scene. McGee, come with me."

Kate pulled out her camera, snapping pictures of the grisly scene.

The admiral was flat on his stomach, and the bullet wound was open, dried blood crusting the hole. Blood spilled across the floor the admiral laid on, soaking his starched white shirt.

"Turn him over, I want to see his other side," Kate said from behind the camera lens.

"That's what she said," Tony mumbled, holding his laughter in.

Kate ignored the overused comment and winced as Tony flipped Admiral Wright over. The blood soaked his shirt, and his head had a huge cut across his forehead, running down his jawline. A huge bruise was on the back of his head.

"We should probably bag him up so Ducky can take a look at him." Tony nodded, and snapped some gloves on.

Kate reached for the body, but Tony's hand thrust our and grabbed her wrist. "What?" she jumped at

"Kate, you need gloves or Gibbs will go crazy," his light eyes reached her dark ones for a couple seconds…lingering.

"Right," she managed to say. "Thanks Tony." His eyebrow rose at the gratitude, and he let go of her wrist. Kate sat there for a minute before she helped bag the body.

"What did you think of your Admiral?" Gibbs said, reclining in his chair.

A couple members of Wright's crew sat in front of them. A small, slender woman spoke first. "We loved the Fleet Admiral. He was tough…especially on us, but he had a good heart."

"Did you know anything about his family life?"

"Not much. Just that he had a daughter and a son who took care of her while Wright was gone. He was divorced for eleven years."

"Where were you at the time of his death?" Each member said the same story; they were asleep, for they were supposed to have wake up early the next day. When the Admiral hadn't come to alert them—a special personal thing he did only with his most trusted team members—something was up.

After asking a couple more questions, Gibbs left the crew. "I don't suspect anyone of them."

"Why not Boss?" asked McGee, taking off his NCIS cap and scratching his head.

Gibbs stared off at the horizon. "Because, McGee, that's the exact way I felt about my superiors. Yeah, they were tough, but you knew that he had your best interests at heart."

McGee though this over. "Is that why you're always so tough on us?"

Gibbs never answered him.