The caskets were lined up; people were paying their respects, they were shaking his hand…
"No!" He awoke again; sweat pouring from his forehead and chest. He ran his hand through his hair and fell back onto the pillow, taking a deep labored breath and fighting to keep his eyes open.
--
"Morning Duck, what you got for me?"
"Morning Jethro…well I was right about the cause of death." He stopped to pat himself on the back sarcastically. "The body was slowly bled out by a series of cuts and deep gashes, then was sliced and diced as it were, before the process was complete…"
"So you're saying…"
"He was tortured my boy…he was alive when his limbs were severed. Though I'd imagine he fell out of consciousness at the mere thought, the brain will do that in such a state of shock. I have sent the findings to Abigail; she is running her usual tests as we speak."
Gibbs walked over and patted his friend on the back with a smile. "Nice job as always Doctor."
Palmer entered just as Gibbs was leaving. "Boy he sure looks tired Dr. Mallard."
Ducky nodded. "I would have to agree with you there Mr. Palmer."
--
"Abby." He hollered loudly out of habit, but realized that no music was playing. He approached her at her computer screen. "What's with the no music?"
She smiled at her friend. "Nothing, just trying to mellow out a little."
He shrugged. "Alright, mellow me out too, and give me something on the case."
"Mellowing…okay. I got a clean match, and actually he looks like a younger you Gibbs."
He looked up at the screen and stared for a moment. "What else Abs?"
"You were a stud muffin in your day weren't you Gibbs?"
"Abs…"
"Right…well I'm currently working on the size and such on the gashes to see if any markings are available…and if you find me a murder weapon…I may just be able to match it for you my stud muffin."
He now stood next to her. "That's good work Abs…" He started to walk away then came back, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "And to answer your question, yes I was."
"Aww, you still are Gibbs…" She said in a sympathetic tone and continued to smile as he walked out.
--
He walked into the bull pen with three cups of coffee, two stacked on top of each other. He set his down on his desk then dropped one off at each of his agent's desks.
"I need you two awake today… the kids name is Nevil Thompson, did Abby send up his information?"
DiNozzo was still staring at the cup of coffee at his desk as was McGee. "Hey! Wake up!" Gibbs clapped his hands together.
"Uh, yes boss, I'll pull up what we got." McGee stood up and walked over to the screen as he clicked the mouse in his hand.
"Gonna join us DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked, Tony was still eyeing the coffee cup.
"Yes boss." He got up and stood with the two men.
"Jennifer Thompson, is his next of kin, both his parents were killed in a ten car pile up on the interstate in December of last year…he moved back into his parents home to live with his sister a short time later. He was arrested at the age of 14 for possession of marijuana, found in his locker at school. After his time in Juvie, he seemed to have straightened up, joining the Navy at the age of 18, and became a member of the shore patrol."
"That was a mouth full McGee." Tony said in between his now characteristic yawns. "Can you read me a bed time story tonight?"
Gibbs raised his hand, but as he looked at Tony's face he lowered it. DiNozzo had prepared himself for the blow and was surprised when it didn't come. No one said a thing.
"That's it McGee?"
"No there's more boss…I pulled up his bank records, it appears that two days ago, he removed all of the money from both his accounts, and purchased two plane tickets to Italy."
"Two." Gibbs repeated.
"On it boss." DiNozzo headed over to his desk to grab his coat.
"On what DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked curious.
"His sister boss…she was probably the one going with him right?"
Gibbs nodded. Maybe he was just as tired as his agents were. "Right, go….McGee, go with him."
The two headed out. "Call me."
"Soon as we got something, right boss." DiNozzo finished, but just as the two reached the elevator they made their way back to their desks, each picking up their respective cups of coffee. Gibbs said nothing, and only stared at them. They put the cups back down quickly. There is no rest for the weary.
--
He was running as fast as he could, but he kept getting further away. He was screaming but he couldn't hear anything but the gun shots, then the explosion. It threw him back but he got up quickly, only to continue running. He thought the liquid on h is face was blood, but as he wiped his hand over his face he found it wasn't, it was his own tears.
--
"Jethro…Jethro?" Ducky shook the shoulders of his friend slightly.
Gibbs head snapped up and he began to rub his eyes.
A look of concern fell on Ducky's face. "Jethro, have you been crying?"
"Don't be silly Duck, I'm just tired…" He patted his face with his sleeve. "You got something for me?"
Just then the Director began to walk towards them. "I just got a call from Metro…there was a shooting and an explosion at the home of the dead man you're investigating…"
"I just sent DiNozzo and McGee to question the sister…" He didn't finish his sentence before he opened his drawer to retrieve his gun and badge, only to be out of the office faster than his two friends had ever seen him leave.
--
The caskets were lined up; people were paying their respects, they were shaking his hand…
--