A/N: First of all – this is where it changes more dramatically from the actual episode.
Second – I'm sorry this took so long, but I totally met Mark Harmon last night, so…. Yeah.
Gibbs felt helpless as he watched Abby leave, followed by Alejandro and two of his men. As soon as they were gone, he spun around to Director Vance, "You can't let them take her to Mexico."
Vance eyed him curiously. He knew Gibbs would never endanger Abby, and the fact that Gibbs seemed so helpless told him that his earlier suspicions that they working together was wrong. This was Abby's show. "I'll see what I can do."
Tony, McGee and Ziva all stood, automatically reaching for their guns, as Abby walked through the squad room, followed by the three Mexicans. "Abby? You okay?"
"Fine, Tony. I've just got to go back to Mexico for a few days, that's all."
They watched silently until she was gone, and then Tony was the first to speak. "Campfire."
"Not here." Ziva interrupted. "Autopsy."
They watched as Gibbs and Vance walked through the squad room and then headed up to the director's office.
"Autopsy, go!" Tony motioned for both Ziva and McGee to get a move on as soon as Gibbs was out of sight. "Hurry!"
They rushed to the back elevator, jabbing at the button for the door to close quickly. The three tumbled out of the elevator when it hit autopsy and rushed in. "Ducky!"
"Oh… oh my, is everything okay?" Ducky looked up from the file he was reading and glanced over at Jimmy, who was going over inventory.
"It's Abby… we need to have a campfire." Tony made sure the doors were shut and locked.
"Campfire?" Ducky raised a brow.
Jimmy perked up. "A campfire?"
"And you're invited, so pull up a chair." Tony and McGee hopped up to sit on one of the clean autopsy tables and waited for Ducky and Jimmy and Ziva to gather close. "Does anyone know what's going on before I start speculating?"
"Well," Ducky started, "maybe a few hints. I'm not quite sure what's been going on and it seems as if something happened upstairs?"
"Abby was just escorted from the building by Alejandro Rivera and two of his men. Gibbs and Vance didn't look happy and they headed upstairs." Ziva explained.
"Vance and Alejandro brought me down to the lab earlier. Had me pull up security footage of Abby's lab… something about the evidence for the cold case that Abby was assigned to her for the course she taught when we went to Mexico."
"The cold case," Ducky broke in, "it's not so cold anymore."
"What?" Ziva, Tony and McGee all looked at Ducky.
"What cold case?" Jimmy cocked his head.
"We, ah… well, it's complicated, but we know who the dead man is. His name is Pedro Hernandez and 18 years ago, he murdered a woman, her young daughter and their driver."
"Pedro…" Ziva played with the name. "It sounds vaguely familiar." In the dossier she had composed on Gibbs' when she had first come to the US she had come across the name when she had found out about Gibbs' dead wife and daughter. "Oh…" She looked at Ducky for confirmation.
"Yes. Pedro Hernandez killed Shannon and Kelly Gibbs."
"Oh… wow." Tony ran a hand through his hair. "This is more complicated than I thought."
"But why do they want Abby..?" McGee asked.
"Is it not obvious that Hernandez was killed by Gibbs?" Ziva asked. It was the only option she could imagine.
"Wait, that's why they want to bring Abby back to Mexico?" Tony thought a moment. "It makes total sense. But wait, did he say he killed Hernandez?"
"He did, not until I had already figured it out, and Abigail had as well." Ducky nodded. "I just don't know how Mr. Rivera figured it out."
"What did Abby say about it?" Jimmy asked, taking interest. "I mean, out of everyone, wouldn't she be understanding about why he did what he did?"
"She didn't say much," Ducky answered. "She just asked for the bullet from Hernandez as soon as I removed it. But you're right. I don't doubt Abby would understand."
"She'd understand, but…" Tony shook his head. "She knows he doesn't talk about his past, but if she figured this out by herself, my bet is that caused a major shake-up in her blind trust in him. I mean, it's Abby, and out of all of us, with the exception of you," Tony nodded at Ducky, "she knows the most about him, but still…" No wonder things had been tense ever since she and McGee had returned from Mexico.
Ziva turned slightly toward McGee. "You were there with her in Mexico, did nothing seem out of the ordinary? She didn't say anything about the evidence?"
"I wasn't exactly in any sort of place to be asking questions," McGee grimaced. The time he had spent in the bathroom after eating unpasteurized yogurt had far outweighed the time he'd spent paying attention to the case Abby had received. "But no, she didn't even hint that the case had to do with Gibbs. But it was weird that while we were at the scene, Paloma Reynosa showed up with the shell casing. The case had been cold for 20 years and then evidence is suddenly showing up? It was weird."
"We've got to find out everything that Gibbs knows," Tony decided.
"Yes, because after 20 years he is going to share everything about his past." Ziva rolled her eyes. "I think it will be better if we don't involve him."
"He's already involved." McGee agreed with Tony, they needed every bit of information they could get.
"No, we need to go right to the source."
"Mexico?" Jimmy ventured.
Ziva nodded. "Paloma Reynosa."
"Right, Ziva. We're just going to fly down to Mexico and look up Paloma Reynosa, drug cartel leader in the phone book."
"They list drug leaders in the phone book?" Ziva quipped back sarcastically. "We aren't going down… we've already got someone down there. Franks."
"No… no way." Tony shook his head. "Mike… that man is a loose cannon. Gibbs might trust him, but I… the man hit me over the head when I was supposed to be watching him."
"Then obviously you weren't watching him." This time McGee sided with Ziva. "It might not be a bad idea. He's probably got friends that can do some snooping around."
"Guys… Gibbs is your team leader, you should go to him." Everyone stopped and looked at Jimmy. "He's not the easiest to talk too, but it's Abby, I'm pretty sure he'll want all the help he can get if it involves her."
"Realistically, once she's in Mexico, we can't do anything." McGee looked somber.
"At least she isn't charged with anything yet." Ziva added. "Maybe we should start by making sure that nothing she's done here can be traceable."
"McGoo… up for a little creative film editing?"
"We don't even know if she has done anything. Well…" He thought back to the tapes. "Actually, a few things on the security camera looked questionable…"
"Let's go." Tony hurried Ziva and McGee out of autopsy and waved back at Ducky and his assistant. "We'll keep you up to date."
Ducky wasn't surprised to find that Gibbs' had left NCIS not long after Abby had been escorted home to pack. Leaving Mr. Palmer in charge, Ducky headed for Gibbs' house, pleased to see Gibbs' car in the drive-way. He didn't both with knocking, he simply pushed the door open and went in. His first instinct was to go to the basement, but he thought better of the idea. If Abby safety was of any concern, Gibbs wouldn't be working on his boat. A big thud upstairs confirmed that thought and he headed for the stairs. "Jethro?"
He found Gibbs upstairs, packing a small suitcase. "Going somewhere?"
"What do you think?"
"Mexico is rather hot this time of year. Not the best time for a vacation."
"I need to keep an eye on her."
Ducky moved forward and sat beside the suitcase on the bed. "She came to me." Ducky shrugged. "The moment she got back from Mexico the first time. She figured out who Pedro was and asked for me to give her some time before bringing it up with you."
"What did she say?"
"Nothing. Only that she wanted the bullet."
"She tampered with it, Duck."
Ducky nodded. "I suspect she has."
"If they find out… she'll lose her career, possibly her life. I can't let that happen."
"The focus is on her, isn't it? You'd rather it be on you?"
Gibbs looked at him sharply. "I know what I did. I didn't ask her to do any of this."
"Of course you didn't, I know that."
"If I say anything, she'll be in big trouble. And if I don't… she could still… I don't know what to do."
"What do you plan on doing?"
"I'm catching a flight at midnight. She's not going to Mexico alone."
"Have you spoken to her?" Ducky was curious. Abby hadn't seemed interested in having Gibbs' help with anything.
"She's not interested in talking to me. I went over to her place yesterday and she wouldn't let me in."
"You're worried?"
Gibbs gave him a questioning look. "Am I worried? She's… hell, I don't know what she's thinking. I can't help her if I don't know what she's thinking."
Ducky nodded. "Can't you stop her?"
"I tried, but she… I've ruined everything, Duck." Gibbs swallowed against the lump in his throat and then steeled his features. "I should've told her everything a long time ago. I should have… I need to make it better." In a rare show of emotion, Gibbs scrubbed his hands over his face. "I can't lose her."
Abby pulled her sunglasses down over her eyes and unfolded the map she had picked up in the hotel lobby. She wasn't exactly sure of where she would find who she was looking for, but she figured it couldn't be hard. She wandered through the market, feeling out of place despite the jeans and simple tee she was wearing. Her hair was pulled into a messy ponytail, and she was without make up.
Although she was called back to Mexico so Alejandro could open a case investigating her, Gibbs and the cold case, but because of a few paperwork issues, they didn't need her for a few days. Since she wasn't under arrest, she was lucky enough to stay at a hotel and come and go as she pleased. She also hadn't been surprised to find someone from the US embassy waiting for her once her flight landed. He hadn't said who had sent him, but she was sure it was someone from NCIS. Most likely Gibbs.
Alejandro didn't seem thrilled when the embassy official took her to her hotel, but he didn't argue.
"Dónde es…" Abby stopped at a corner stall and flipped through her phrasebook. The woman selling bottled water shook her head and turned away from Abby before she could find the word she was looking for.
"Maybe I can help you."
Abby spun around and found herself face to face with Paloma Reynosa, the same woman who had handed her the shell just a few days prior. "I… how did you…?"
"I heard you were back in Mexico, possibly case related. Decided to keep an eye on you."
"That a good thing, or… bad?"
"You tell me."
"Can we go somewhere?" Abby glanced around the bustling market. "Somewhere quiet? And talk?"
"I know a place…" Paloma waved for Abby to follow. Abby eyed the small group of Paloma's followers cautiously, but followed the woman anyway. They made their way to the road, and one of Paloma's men raced forward to open the door of a large car helping both her and Paloma inside.
"Where are we going?" As they pulled away from the crowded market, Abby questioned her own judgment to get in the car. The chill of the SUV's air conditioner was a welcome relief compared to the sticky heat of the market, but she couldn't help but feel that everything was out of her control now.
"Some place we can speak freely." She signaled the conversation was over by turning to watch out the window as they drove further and further into the countryside.
Twenty minutes later, they pulled up to a large home up on a cliff over-looking the ocean. "Would you like something to drink?"
"No, I-"
One of the men that had traveled with them followed them through the kitchen and out into a patio, bringing two bottles of water with him.
"It's hot today, you should stay hydrated." Paloma took the two bottles and opened them, handing one to Abby and keeping one for herself.
"Thank you." Abby sat when Paloma nodded to the chair opposite her.
"You were looking for me, yes?"
Abby nodded. "I… I don't know where to start, but… I think I need your help."
"You've discovered who killed Pedro Hernandez?"
"I… well, how did you know I would be… why did you bring me the casing?"
"You think you were set up?"
"Rule 40."
"Excuse me?"
"Rule 40 – if it seems like someone is out to get you, they probably are. I'm a scientist, I don't believe in coincidences very much."
"Alejandro Rivera, he brought you back to Mexico, yes?
"He did. Do you know him?"
"You could say that," Paloma nodded and took a long sip of her water. "He is my half brother."
"Oh…" Abby's hope that Paloma would help her quickly drained. "You're… you're related." She wasn't sure if it was a question or a statement.
"By blood, I suppose." Paloma shrugged. "We have the same father."
"Pedro… he… he was your father?"
"Yes," the Mexican woman took another sip of water. "I was young when he died. I had a father growing up, my mother remarried quickly."
"What… what do you… what do you know about the case?"
Paloma set her water down. "Relax," she waved away her security so that it was just the two of them. "I am well aware that Agent Gibbs killed my father. Alejandro filled me in."
Abby jumped up to protest. "There isn't any proof!"
"Sit down."
Abby did as she was told.
"My half brother may not have physical proof, but I am a woman and I can read you easily."
"I…"
"Why else would you still be working on the case. The evidence was handed to you. I've read up on you. You could have the case closed and the report done in two days. You love the man, it's easy to see. I don't blame you."
"I-"
"But the evidence wasn't just handed to you. It was handed to my brother as well. He was closer to our father than I was, but he hasn't taken the time to think it over. What do you know of Colonel Morton Bell?"
Abby's water bottle nearly slipped from her fingers. "Colonel Bell?"
Paloma's eyes narrowed. "You know the name?"
"I… yes." When Paloma silently encouraged her to continue, Abby spoke. "Gibbs got him arrested. Bell was bounty hunting illegally here in Mexico. NCIS handed him over to the Federales… he wasn't too fond of us after that."
Paloma laughed. "No, I suppose not. What else do you know about him?"
Abby relaxed back into her chair. "I haven't had much time to dig, but I know he's working with lawyer Margaret Allison Hart, though she swears she didn't know he was out for Gibbs."
"And we all know how that ended up."
"What?" Abby cocked her head to the side. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You didn't hear?"
"I… no?"
"She was found dead at her D.C. apartment."
TBC….
