Hey! Thank you all for the lovely reviews! Here's the next chapter; please enjoy. Thanks to my faithful beta bethellie!

Caring

Chapter 4

Feeling a bit troubled after our conversation in the bullpen, I was instinctively drawn to the one place in this building where I always go when in need of some answers.

"Ah, Caitlin, my dear. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

I didn't quite know how to begin. How does one ask personal questions about coworkers, anyway?

"Please, tell me what's troubling you", Ducky urged, obviously picking up on my hesitation. Suddenly I felt stupid. For worrying. For caring.

"Oh, Ducky, it's just… I don't get them. I just don't." To my horror I felt myself blushing. "And I'm supposed to be the profiler."

"I see", he mused. Then, after a slight pause; "This concerns Anthony and Jethro, I presume?"

Silly stories aside, Ducky is probably the most intelligent and perceptive person I know. Of course he would presume correctly. I silently nodded.

"Some tea, perhaps?"

"I knew he could be a bastard, he told me so himself, but like this? Why, Ducky?" I had hardly touched my tea in favor of pouring my heart out to him about these few days' events.

Ducky sipped his Earl Grey and looked at me with an unreadable expression on his face. I had the feeling he was silently debating whether to share a secret or not. I tried to remain calm. He finally seemed to make up his mind and sighed thoughtfully, putting his cup down.

"Jethro has a great sorrow he carries, Caitlin. I know this and so does Tony. Jethro, however, is not aware of our knowledge, and we'd like to keep it that way. For all our sakes."

"What sorrow?" I asked breathlessly, not sure if I wanted to know.

"I cannot tell you, however rest assured it is a thorn in Jethro's heart and this time of year the memories come to haunt him."

I felt tears burn my eyes. What could possibly torment the stoic Gibbs like this?

"He will never admit to it, of course, but Jethro is tremendously afraid that something will happen to Tony. Something that he will not be able to mend, and my guess is that young Anthony's…incident made him worry. Jethro does not take well to worrying." He looked at me again with those intelligent eyes and his voice was insistent. "Those two, they need each other, Caitlin. I don't know how they functioned before they met. Obviously not very well, all things considered. They look after each other in the strangest ways."

I didn't, couldn't, understand. That was supposed to be a good relationship?

"I don't get it, Ducky."

He sighed.

"You will, my dear."

My phone rang at that moment and a short "Abby's lab now" made me drain the rest of my tea and after a sincere 'thank you' I left Ducky to tend to his other guests.

I bumped into Tony just outside the lab doors and we stumbled in, both eager to get there before Gibbs arrived.

"Tony!" Abby cried. "Are you okay? Why do you always make us worry like this?"

"This happens a lot?" I asked amazed and was almost afraid of the answer.

"Oh, yes, all the time!" She didn't seem fazed and happily continued: "But we're kinda used to it by now and Tony's like a cat, y'know, with nine lives and all." She frowned a bit at the simile and added. "Without the agility and grace of a feline, of course…"

"Hey!" Tony exclaimed, and Abby smiled sweetly at him.

"I still worry, Tony, you know I do."

"Well, I wouldn't." Gibbs whooshed past, slapped a CafPow! on the counter and looked at the screen. "Get a hit, yet, Abs?"

It didn't take long before AFIS could confirm that the unknown partial print did indeed belong to one Brent Grooms, small time thug with quite an impressive police record. No obvious connection to Eric though. No military background. Just a nasty history.

"Give me a printout of his picture, Abby. I'll show it to Peterson and I'll nail his sorry ass", Gibbs growled. We all believed him.

Half an hour later Gibbs made the previously composed Eric spill his beans. He had dated the Petty Officer and apparently was quite smitten with her. When she broke it off he had gotten very drunk and told his friend that he wished her dead. Grooms had taken it as a challenge. Since he had met PO Anderson a number of times it had been very little trouble to convince her to let him in the house. There he had brutally killed her, supposedly without leaving any evidence behind. Eric had been sure to have a solid alibi for the night.

"I'm so sorry", he whispered. "I was drunk. I wasn't serious. How could I know he would actually kill her off?"

Gibbs rage knew no boundaries after the confession. He leaned in so close we could see his breath ruffle Eric's hair.

"You tell me where we can find this friend of yours and I might not kill you myself right here and now."

We got an address. Like I said; no one can stand that glare forever.

We scrambled down to the garage and claimed a black Intrepid. Tony fought me for the front seat, and since this was before I had learned he was prone to get carsick I let him have it. No fun in being cruel if you're not even aware of it.

Gibbs took us to the address in less than forty minutes.

"New record. Four times the speed of sound", Tony stage whispered to me as we screeched to a halt. I gave him a smirk, but then snapped to attention as Gibbs handed out our vests from the trunk.

"Two exits. Kate, you're with me." I was the new one, after all. "Tony, back door."

"On it, Boss." No room for jokes now. He slipped round the back, and Gibbs waited a minute before he charged the front.

"Federal agents! Grooms, we got a warrant, open up!" He pounded on the door. Of course no one came to greet us. Gibbs tried the knob and as the unlocked door swung open we entered, guns at the ready.

I could fell the tension building in the air as we swept the area. Hallway, kitchen, bathroom.

"Clear!" Gibbs roared.

"Clear!" I answered.

Guns a little lowered we looked at each other, waiting for Tony's call, but instead of a reassuring reply we heard him shout.

"Federal agent! Drop your…" Then a gunshot ripped at our eardrums, followed by another one and I heard something, someone, tumble to the floor.

There is something so utterly dramatic about the sound of a tall human body plough into the ground without any attempt to brake its fall. Every time I hear it I wish I never will again. I think my heart stopped for a second or two.

I will never forget the look of horror in Gibbs' face as he pushed himself through the door.

"Tony!"

TBC