Premonition

By Shellie Williams

Warning: spoilers for 'See No Evil', 'Probie', 'Twilight', and 'Cover Story'.

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or places of NCIS.

Summary: When Gibbs begins having nightmares, he can't shake the feeling that one of his team is in danger. Can he stop a killer before his premonitions come true?

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~ Part Four ~

Though Ducky's head was bent over the cadaver, he cut his eyes up to observe Gibbs. The object of his attention had a slight frown on his face, as if concentrating very hard on the incisions in the body.

"You find me more interesting than the body, Doctor?"

Chagrinned at being caught, Ducky flinched and brought his attention back to the gory business at hand. He chose to ignore Gibbs' question. "Our Lieutenant Bretford died in the same grisly fashion as all of the previous victims, Jethro. With the exception of one detail."

Holding his scalpel, Ducky mimicked sliding the blade across his throat. "While Petty Officer Pikes and Lieutenant Attwood had their throats cut from behind, Bretford's throat was sliced with the murderer facing him." He gestured at Bretford's body. "Our two previous victims had copious amounts of blood on the front of their clothing, indicating their throats had been cut first, before the secondary stab wounds to their torso and abdomen."

"Bretford was stabbed first, then his throat cut."

"Precisely, Jethro. But the end results are the same."

Gibbs nodded grimly. "How long would you say Bretford lived before his throat was cut?"

Ducky shrugged with his eyebrows. "I'd say at least an hour, maybe more. The poor fellow would have suffered excruciating pain before bleeding out. His throat was cut after he died. See here?" He pointed at the gaping wound. "The skin here appears almost to have a Styrofoam quality, and there was almost no bleeding from the wound, indicating the heart had already stopped pumping by the time this was inflicted." He drew back from the body, a pensive look on his face. "But why would he change the order in which he injures his victims?"

"He wants to watch them suffer."

Ducky's eyes cut to Gibbs. "Ah, yes. He's found that slicing their throats first kills them almost instantly, and there's not enough life left in them for a reaction when he stabs them --" He thrust his scalpel forward dramatically "-- in the abdomen."

Gibbs shook his head and turned to leave. "He's one sick bastard."

"Have you found a connection between the victims?"

Gibbs didn't slow down. "Tony and Ziva are working on that now."

"Jethro! Wait!"

At the automatic doors, Gibbs stopped and turned, keeping his hand against the edge to keep the way open. "What?"

"How's that other problem we talked about?"

"It's fine, Duck." He released the doors and left.

Ducky sighed and returned to his table. "Between you and me, Lieutenant, I don't believe he's being exactly honest with himself. Something's bothering him, I can tell. Now, let's see if we can get you cleaned up."