I own nothing from NCIS and make no money from this story! If I did own them there would be some massive changes! I am simply borrowing them for a bit and returning them happier and in better condition than when I found them.

A huge thanks goes to my most excellent Beta-Amy- without whom this would not be as polished! Kudos to her for her great work and wanting to work with a nut like me! Trust me! There is much love to her! She also feeds the bunnies some massive happy food since they keep appearing.

Come by my facebook page- always a riot! Sometimes great eye candy as well! Facebook./gibbsandtonysbabe Always happy to have you drop by!

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This is a bunny brought on by my awesome Beta Amy...she so rocks!

Tony was silent all the way back to the Navy Yard having decided that he might say something worth regretting. He knew it was only a matter of time before Gibbs cornered him and tried to use his skewed logic to make his point. He really didn't feel like having that conversation anytime soon; he was on shaky ground as it was.

He never assumed that Gibbs would just quietly disappear without a word and as much has he wanted him to, he also didn't want Gibbs to try and make him see his point of view or change his mind; he needed some recovery time. He was barely holding it together and honestly wasn't sure how a confrontation with Gibbs would play out. How was he supposed to ignore the overwhelming pull of the blue eyed man when all he wanted to do was fall into his arms? He was relieved when they pulled into the Navy Yard knowing they were going to be too wrapped up in the case for any kind of personal argument, but he also knew that he was on borrowed time.

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Gibbs gruffly shouted orders when they exited the elevator. "Ziva, get that evidence down to Abby then start on alibis. McGee, backgrounds on the club owner and victim and DiNozzo see if there are any connections between the people that were in the club and our victim." He growled out the last order as he headed for the stairs.

Tony quickly buried his head in his notes hoping to prevent McGee and Ziva from asking about Gibbs' attitude; however, he wasn't that lucky.

"Tony, do you know what is wrong with Gibbs?" McGee shot at Tony as he powered up his own computer.

"No McGoober, I don't. Maybe it's just the murder of a Marine?" trying to be as sarcastic as possible.

Ziva shook her head. "No, I do not believe it is just that. He is disturbed about the dead Petty Officer, but there is something else that is biting at him."

"Eating at him." Tony corrected.

"Do you not bite to eat?" Ziva waved her hand to show it was of no consequence. "I am concerned."

Tony sighed. "Even if there was something bothering him do you think it would be wise to confront him?"

McGee nodded. "Tony does have a point. Maybe we should just wait and keep an eye on him from a distance."

"I do not like that idea, but since you both agree, I will leave it alone for now." Ziva narrowed her eyes at both of them.

"Fine Zeeevaah, now get busy before the Boss gets back and we make it worse." Tony looked at both McGee and Ziva before he continued looking for a connection. Unfortunately, he had no idea what the connection could be. The Petty Officer may have been a regular at the Madhatter but according to everyone they talked to, he never caused a fuss and was quiet. No one ever saw him leave with anyone. He could have met with someone later, elsewhere, but it didn't seem likely. So Tony began to dig deeper into the club, feeling the connection might lay there.

The club manager had a couple of skirmishes with the law when he was younger, but nothing that made Tony sit up and take notice. The club itself hadn't had anything more than a few drunk and disorderly calls according to police reports. He had to be missing something, unless the Petty Officer really was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

He pulled everything he had discovered so far into an organized chaos and reexamined the sketches he had made from the crime scene trying to get a feel for what may have occurred. Just as he was getting ready to go see if Ducky had found the cause of death, Gibbs walked back into the bullpen.

"Ducky found ten stab wounds. Two at arteries which accounts for the blood and bruising around the groin area. Before you ask, there was no evidence of penetration only bruising. What did you three find?"

Tim stood as he talked. "Financials look clean no transactions in or out raise any flags. The owner ran a sports bar in Texas before moving to DC to help a friend. He opened the Madhatter and it became a success."

"The friend, McGee?" Gibbs looked at the screen where McGee pulled up the picture.

"Dirk Sanchez; born in Houston Texas and met Lester Simmons in grade school. Became fast friends and stayed that way through college and years after. Dirk moved to DC with his boyfriend Alex ten years ago. Alex was killed in a car accident five years ago and then two years later he was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer and began seeking treatment."

"Apparently when he was diagnosed, Lester, who had never married, immediately came to DC to help Dirk in any way he could. There were rumors and speculation that Lester was gay and in love with Dirk but nothing every proven. Could be they were just good friends but either way Lester opened the club and continued helping Dirk until the day he died."

"Doesn't seem likely he had anything to do with this. Anything on our vic?"

"Military records show he was above average and well liked. No infractions or complaints."

Gibbs glared at his three agents. "So you found nothing?"

Ziva shook her head. "Nearly finished the alibis and they've all checked out."

"DiNozzo!" Gibbs growled.

Tony placed what he'd found so far up on the screen. "Club has never had a problem, only a couple of drunk and disorderly calls. Eric, the manager had a couple of skirmishes when he was younger but nothing of a violent nature. Still trying to find a reason why the Petty Officer made that his haunt. Was there something that he was drawn to? Still looking Boss."

"Find me something."

"On it Boss."

"Yes Boss."

"Yes Gibbs."

Gibbs watched as they hurried back to their desks. This had to be a hate crime; owner possibly gay, club clientele a mix, bruising in the groin and location of assault. DuPont circle was a known for eclectic people and clubs.

He glanced at Tony. This was why they couldn't come out to their friends, it wasn't safe. He had rules about secrets for a reason. This case would help him convince Tony that he was right. It had to; there was no other option. It wasn't lost on him that he was hoping for a hate crime.

So far, the facts supported his theory and if he could use it to his advantage, he would. There would be time for self-recriminations later but his life was at stake right now and he needed every bit of evidence to point in that direction to make his case.

Sighing internally, he went back to work, determined that this case would work in his favor but he also knew he had to tread carefully.