"My agents need their weapons returned to them."

Tony piped in with, "Phones too, boss," while Ziva grumbled, "And my knives."

With weapons back in place, the four entered the house behind an agent who directed them to a living room where Elizabeth Wheeler was waiting. Gibbs noticed right away that she'd been crying, her eyes puffy and red, but she offered a small smile when he approached.

"Special Agent Gibbs, NCIS. I'm sorry for your loss, Mrs. Wheeler." He didn't bother introducing his team.

In a soft, controlled voice she replied, "Thank you, Agent Gibbs. Please sit down. Would you like some coffee?"

Flames danced in the fireplace; soft lamp light bathed the room. Gibbs sat on the sofa with the woman, while Tim and Ziva got comfortable in chairs. Tony, who was still angry about the assignment and being disarmed, but in awe of the company this woman had in her home just a few minutes before, stood between the chairs. He was more than curious about General Wheeler and couldn't wait for Gibbs to start asking questions. The armed man who had started it all stayed in the room with them, standing over by the French doors.

Ten minutes later it was obvious that Gibbs was a little frustrated. The coffee was excellent, but he wasn't getting anywhere on the case. Case? Was it a case? The woman claimed her husband had been posted in DC for about four years, but she didn't know where in the Pentagon her husband worked or what he did, other than normal military things... general things. He'd traveled to Colorado Springs earlier in the week, for what she had no idea. At least twice a year he went there, usually for three days, and this last year he had gone three times. He never talked about his work, in fact he had never talked about his work in all the years they had been married. She might as well have said, "I accepted it and never questioned it."

They didn't socialize much with anyone outside their circle of friends and rarely attended any of the official dinners or events. They preferred not to be typical Washington movers and shakers, in fact Mrs. Wheeler didn't play bridge and her husband didn't shoot skeet. She was not aware of any enemies and couldn't imagine anyone wanting to hurt her husband or their family.

As for his death, he'd not been feeling well, mostly just extremely tried, and came home before lunch only to collapse after reaching for a bottle of juice in the refrigerator. The neighbor's son, home on leave, performed CPR with Mrs. Wheeler's help. EMS had arrived in a speedy time and done their best, but the general was pronounced dead at the hospital. They might talk to the young man, but it wasn't necessary yet. They had his name and address and could check his service record. The deceased never got the chance to eat or drink at the house so no food and drink samples were necessary. They might ask to look in his car, but not yet.

Gibbs couldn't stop thinking about how they'd gotten there. SecNav had personally called Vance to get Gibbs and the team to investigate. Investigate what? The man undoubtedly had a medical condition and dropped dead. Ducky would figure it out and there would be no case. Gibbs was remembering Vance's exact words. "Find out everything you can about his job. He's part of some program. SecNav is out of the loop and wants to know everything, Gibbs.'

Curious himself, he asked, "Mrs. Wheeler, you might not know what your husband's job was all about, but you have to know it was very important for the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the White House Chief of Staff to make a condolence call tonight."

Gibbs could swear she looked embarrassed, but she didn't say anything. Tony couldn't stand it any longer and jumped in. "Seriously? You have no clue why the White House Chief of Staff would visit you?" Tim and Ziva appeared amazed at his audacity.

Mrs. Wheeler didn't seem offended as she turned to look at him. "I never met him before today."

Tony grinned, but Tim's eyes narrowed. "But you have met the others?"

She nodded, like hosting the SecDef and the CJCS was the most normal thing in the world.

Ziva had seen Tim and Tony get away with questions so she figured she could also. "What about the man you hugged so affectionately?"

Mrs. wheeler blushed and looked down at her hands in her lap. Oh yeah, there was history there. She seemed to take a cleansing breath before speaking, almost in a whisper. "He saved Ron's life in Kuwait."

Gibbs resumed the questioning. "Will you tell us his name, Mrs. Wheeler?"

For just a moment Gibbs thought she looked wistful, but then it was gone and just a sad smile remained. The man was definitely important to her. The question was how important and did their relationship have anything to do with the general's death?

Mrs. Wheeler didn't respond quickly enough to the question for Tony. He stepped around McGee's chair and stood right in front of the coffee table. His mind was already in the gutter thinking about the wife killing the husband when he asked, "What exactly is your relationship with the mysterious male visitor?"

From the French doors came a rebellious reply. "You have no right to insinuate that my mother is having a romantic relationship with General O'Neill."

Everyone except Mrs. Wheeler turned their heads to look at the guy.

Tim couldn't help himself and squeaked out, in a manly way of course, the most obvious question. "Your mother?"

Mrs. Wheeler reached out her hand and said, "It's okay, MJ," as he joined her on the sofa, sitting on the ample arm rest.

The defensive young man looked from Tim to Ziva and up at Tony before settling his gaze on the team leader seated on the other side of his mom. Gibbs looked at him searchingly, recognizing the familial traits of both mother and father in his facial features. Then he remembered the biographical information; two daughters and two sons. And he was also reminded about not stirring things up. DiNozzo had gotten a little out of hand, not him, but he was responsible for everything his team did so, best to tread carefully.

In a reassuring voice he asked, "Is General O'Neill a family friend?"

With the question DiNozzo backed away from the coffee table.

Mrs. Wheeler kept hold of her son's hand and answered simply, "Yes."

Gibbs must have looked skeptical because the son jumped in. "I've known him my whole life. He's my Godfather."

Okay. "Four children. Which one are you?"

"I'm Marcus. Marcus John, named after the man who saved my Dad's life."

Gibbs noted the kid didn't admit to being oldest, youngest or middle. "I'm sorry about your father." The son looked immensely sad for a moment before regaining his composure so Gibbs asked, "You're armed... in your folk's house. Why?"

"I had only been here for a few minutes when they arrived."

Tony didn't like the kid and he didn't care that his dad had just died. "You have a permit for concealed carry?"

Marcus nodded. "I'm ATF." He removed his holster and set it down on the end table. "It's habit," he explained and shrugged.

Tony's eyebrows went way up. The kid was pretty young. At least he looked young.

Gibbs thought the kid looked young too, but he'd been fooled before. The secret service agents had not disarmed the son, obviously they didn't consider him a threat, so Gibbs decided not to dwell on it. Instead he thought he'd try to get some information.

"Do you know anything about your Dad's job at the Pentagon?"

Marcus looked thoughtful before admitting, "Not a lot, but I know it was important."

Gibbs watched mom and son intently. "Important enough to get those four men here this soon."

The mom had been quiet, clutching her son's hand, and she stayed silent, but looked a little uncomfortable. Perhaps she wasn't used to the added attention. Her son, looking pensive, responded to the statement made by Gibbs.

"Dad's always been well liked and respected." His arm went around his mother, his hand on her shoulder in a comforting way.

Gibbs was already believing that neither one knew much about the general's job when the son was compelled to add, "Dad either couldn't or wouldn't tell us anything about what he knew or what he did."

Gibbs nodded in understanding. "Where are your sisters and your brother?"

Marcus smiled sadly. "Denise is in Colorado. Lucy's in Kansas. They'll be here tomorrow."

Gibbs gazed toward the piano where on it and above it on the wall were family photos. General and Mrs. Wheeler with the four children when they were very small. Another one with them as young adults standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon. Photos of two couples with two children each, and a couple with one child. Marcus was in one with a woman and Gibbs glanced at his hand looking for a ring.

Marcus noticed Gibbs looking. "My wife is upstairs."

Gibbs looked at the photos again and realized he'd distracted Marcus before he finished. "And your brother?"

"Iraq." Mrs. Wheeler reached for her son's other hand, the one on her shoulder. "As soon as we're finished I'll drive to Alexandria and bring Claudette and Kath back here." Turning to his mother he said, "And we'll bring dinner."

A few minutes later Marcus saw them to the door. The SS agent departed at the same time leaving Gibbs wondering why he'd been there after the VIPs had left. It was just another question to add to the growing list that they would tackle in the morning.

tbc

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