Cracked I.C.E.

"Ah Jethro, and what do I owe the pleasure of your visitation this afternoon? It isn't as if I am working on anything for you." Dr Mallard enquired as he looked up from his notes.

"Duks, have you ever lied to me?" Gibbs asked looking the good Doctor in the eye.

"Never Jethro, embroidered the truth slightly…..but lie never, I know better, than to do that to you of all people." Ducky replied now standing and returning the stare.

"So did Agent Cassidy die or not?"

"Jethro, I did the autopsy….and my findings…based on the thickness, and part length of what would have been the femur…and then there was the skull and the teeth fragments. I did test for the blood and skin off the walls and yes the DNA report I got back did in fact lead me to the assumption it was Agent Cassidy."

"Lead you to the assumption Duks?"

"Jethro, assuming you find bits of a body, a female of Paula's height, her dental records, the blood group from the walls…..if Jethro I remember correctly, Director Shepard refused, you and your team access to the room…only Mr Palmer and I scrapped the remains off the walls."

"So was it Paula?" Gibbs continued to question.

"Jethro, I told you all the signs pointed to Paula." Ducky continued trying to keep the stare, he knew if he looked away Gibbs would say something.

"Dr Mallard did she die?" Jethro shouted.

"Gibbs how often do you want me to say this? The evidence we gathered, Mr Palmer and I , all put together pointed to Paula, so yes she died."

"Could you have been wrong?"

"No…..Director Shepard signed off the report." Dr Mallard answered now angry.

"And she's dead."

"Yes."

"And where is this report Ducky?"

"No idea, gave it to the Director."

"And she is dead? I mean I never actually looked in the body bag."

"Oh yes Jethro….Jenny is very, very, dead."

-oOo-

"So Gibbs what did Dr Mallard say?" Ziva enquired seeing Gibbs return.

"Said, all the evidence pointed to Paula."

"But you don't believe him?" she continued.

"Nope…he never actually answered my question."

"So Boss can I investigate?" Tony shouted raising his hand in the air like a schoolboy.

"In your spare time….but there has to have been a reason." Gibbs replied thoughtfully.

-oOo-

"Dr Mallard, I am sure or should I say, I assure you that the late Director Shepard did the right thing. I personally have no knowledge of Agent Cassidy being alive. As for I.C.E. we are all sister agencies…..but not connected."

"Thank you Director Vance," as Ducky turned and walked out the door.

He didn't therefore, see Vance make a telephone call.

-oOo-

"Boss I got some leave time, and things are quiet….well as quiet as you call no death for our team to investigate."

"Where you thinking of going, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked over his glasses.

"Thought San Diego, I mean I've never met Callen, I know Abbs has, and the last time I was West State side…"

"Least said Tony." Ziva snarled.

"Ok, how long did you think you could get away with?" Gibbs asked.

"Week? 10days? I don't know…..ok a week Boss, a week." Tony answered.

"Tony what are you going to do when you find this woman who so looks like Paula? What are you going to do when you find out you have been chasing a pin in a cornfield?" Ziva now questioned.

"Ziva, it is a needle in a haystack, and if you didn't know Tony and Paula, sometime before our time had a thing going." Tim now replied on Tony's defence.

"Yeah, she tried a couple of times to lay him, but Tony was a bit immature in those days." Gibbs added.

"If you say so Boss." Tony now replied

"I do Tony."

-oOo-

"So what do you think Tony will do if he finds this woman who he thinks is Paula?" Ziva questioned looking at Tim.

"Probably just put his mind at ease. He did always like Paula. I think if it hadn't been this thing with Jeanne, they might have had another go." Tim answered not looking at Ziva but looking at his screen, "Hey, guess what I just found?"

"No idea, I may be good but not that good, I can't, contrary to Tony's mind see through computer screens."

"Ziva, I got a Cassandra Paul, she works for Homeland Security….guess where?"

"San Diego?"

"You can see through screens or was that an educated guess?" Tim smiled.

-oOo-

Los Angelos

"Hi, Callen….Special Agent Tony DiNozzo, Washington D.C…just in the neighbourhood, bit of leave…wondered if I could pop in, maybe you could show me the sights…..and I got a slight problem, wondered if you guys could help?" Tony spoke down the cell, "Ok thank you will do."

Tony being Tony, was just across the road, he crossed and made his entrance.

-oOo-

"So this is where it all happens," as Tony looked about in awe, "I remember when Tim…Agent McGee came back he was so taken with all your gadgets and how modern you were."

"Mr DiNozzo?" he heard a voice enquire, turning he saw Hettie.

"Hettie?" Tony replied.

"Ms Lange, to you, now Director Vance rang, he said you are on leave…..and would be asking questions. Mr DiNozzo, may I ask that you do your "investigating" in your own time and not company time." Hettie asked politely looking at Tony.

"Sorry, I just thought…" Tony apologised.

"Yes Director Vance said you would, and may I add Agent Gibbs said to say "Ya think DiNozzo,"" as Hettie smiled slightly, "Mr DiNozzo, can I give you this and wish you God speed." as she handed Tony a card with a number.

"Thank you," was all Tony could say.