Resilience
Rating: Still T
Disclaimer: See Part 1
Author's Notes: Thanks again to Loz and Annie-M; you guys totally rock!
Thank you very much for all the wonderful reviews… as I said before, it will end up 'shippy', but at the moment, I don't know who I'll ship… or maybe I do… I like to keep everyone in suspense!
This chapter isn't as long as theprevious two, but trust me, the next few chapters are much longer!
Enjoy!
Part 3
Gibbs, Tony and McGee entered the bullpen to find Kate standing by the printer, waiting for the fourteen personnel files to be printed out. "You got those personnel files for me, Kate?" Gibbs said as he unclipped his gun and placed it in his drawer.
"They're just printing out now, Gibbs. Was it the same M.O as the last one?"
"From what we can tell without the autopsy report, yes. Let's head down to Abby and give her the photos." Gibbs walked back out of the bullpen without waiting for his three agents to catch up.
Tony grabbed the camera out the bag and held it in front of Kate's face, taunting her. "You know, Kate, it was great out at Norfolk today." He pulled the camera slightly away from Kate, making her grab for it.
"Dammit, DiNozzo! Why the hell did Gibbs make me stay back here doing all the dirty work?" She said, still trying to get her hands on the camera.
"Maybe he thinks you're losing it. Perfectionists are usually the first one's to lose it!" Kate glared at Tony before turning sharply and walking over to the elevator.
"That was a bit harsh, Tony," McGee said quietly.
"No one asked for your opinion, Probie. Now hurry up! You know better than to keep Gibbs waiting." Tony walked quickly to the elevator and stepped in beside Kate just as the doors were closing. Kate rolled her eyes as Tony entered the elevator, making her annoyance at his childish antics obvious. "Don't be such a party-pooper, Kate!" Tony exclaimed. "I'm sure Gibbs had his reasons for leaving you here all by yourself."
"Yeah, well we'll probably find out soon enough," Kate said as they exited the elevator and walked into Abby's lab. Gibbs was already there, watching in amazement as Abby drank half a Caf-Pow!
"Hey Abbs!" Tony called out as he entered the lab.
"Tony!" Abby exclaimed. "Nice of you to come and visit me today! And you brought me some photos!"
"Hey Abby!" Kate said in a subdued tone.
"Kate!" Abby shrieked. Kate winced at the pitch. "Ouch! Someone does not look happy today."
"You wouldn't be either if Gibbs dumped you as a field agent!" Tony said, speaking before Kate even had a chance to respond to the question herself.
"He what!" Abby shrieked again. "You did what! Gibbs! How could you do that?" Gibbs glared back at Abby.
"He had me pulling files," Kate said flatly, "whilst they were looking at a dead P.O in Norfolk."
"Gibbs! I'll ask you again; how could you do that! How could you just leave Kate here?" She turned around and stared back into Gibbs' deep blue eyes.
"I have my reasons," Gibbs said, never breaking the eye contact with Abby.
"Which are? Gibbs, I'd seriously like to know," Kate said, trying to get his attention.
"You will find out once we've finished going through these photos. Tony, give Abby the camera." Abby held her hand out expectantly. When Tony gave her the camera, she pulled her eyes away from Gibbs and took the memory card out of the device. She stuck it in her computer and watched as the photos appeared on the screen "Put them on the plasma, Abbs," Gibbs said, walking over to stand in front of the giant screen. Tony and Kate followed and stood either side of him, peering over his shoulder.
"Hinky!" Abby exclaimed as she saw the first photos. Kate took a deep breath. "It's like a carbon copy of the one a few weeks back."
"That's because it is a carbon copy, Abbs," Tony said turning to face her. "Same M.O., same killer."
"I'll print them out for you. They shouldn't take too long. Where's Tim?" Gibbs turned around to look at Abby, just as he walked into the lab.
"McGee!" Gibbs growled, "what the hell took you so long? If Tony and Kate can make it down here without taking forever, then I expect you to do the same."
"Y-yes, Boss. S-sorry. But there was a phone call for you."
"Who was it?"
"It was Commander Coleman, boss." Gibbs rolled his eyes and turned back to the plasma screen. "She's waiting for you in MTAC."
"Better not keep the Commander waiting, Boss," Tony said cheekily, looking at various vials of substances on the bench in Abby's lab. "I know how much you look forward to talking with her." Gibbs glanced over at Tony who didn't even look up. He turned on his heel and walked out of the lab, slapping Tony on his head as he passed him.
"Ow!" Tony exclaimed, wincing from the force of the slap. Kate, Abby and Tim just looked at him and laughed before the three agents made their way up to MTAC, leaving Abby alone in her lab. Gibbs was still waiting for the elevator when they caught up, so the four of them rode together in silence.
"DiNozzo, Kate, McGee, follow me," Gibbs said as the elevator doors opened. They walked into MTAC and Gibbs stood facing the screen, his face giving nothing away. Kate, Tony and McGee sat back in the chairs behind Gibbs, content on watching the conversation between the Commander and their boss.
"We should have brought popcorn," Tony whispered softly into Kate's ear. Unfortunately, it wasn't soft enough and he earned himself a hard stare from Gibbs. Kate tried hard to refrain herself from laughing.
"What do you want, Commander?" Gibbs said as he turned back to the large screen in front of him.
"I want to know what you have found, Gibbs. This is the second assistant of mine that has been murdered."
"We haven't found anything yet, Commander. We don't have many leads."
"Lieutenant Ellis is on his way over to NCIS at your request. Can I help in anyway?" Gibbs didn't respond to the Commander's question. Instead he stuck his hands in his pockets and looked at her expectantly. "Was that list of names useful?"
"We're looking into that now. There aren't many other options."
"The only option we have at the moment is that matter we discussed earlier," the Commander said to Gibbs. Tony looked at Kate and McGee.
"What matter?" He whispered into Kate's ear. Both Tim and Kate shrugged their shoulders.
"Like I said earlier, Commander, we have very little to work with. It has left us with no choice. We will be ready for you at 0700 on Monday morning." He took his left hand out of his pocket and gestured to the technician to cut the live feed. The image of the Commander flickered then disappeared, leaving the large screen blank. Gibbs turned around and looked at his agents. "The dead Petty Officer's husband is on his way over here."
"You're going to interrogate the husband, Gibbs?" Kate said, unsure of whether it was a good idea. "He's just lost his wife." They began walking out of MTAC and made their way to the bullpen.
"She was killed last night. I want to know why her failure to go home was not reported and whether or not he was worried."
"Gibbs." Kate said quietly as they walked down the stairs. "Be nice." Her comment earned a smug look from her superior.
"What was the other matter you discussed with the Commander?" Tony asked.
"You'll find out later."
So, that's it for chapter 3. I really hope you like it. As usual, if you want to see another chapter, I'dreally appreciatesome reviews; it's great to get them!
