Disclaimer: I don't own Bogey, Mark Harmon et al. They just invade my brain, stay awhile and leave.

Authors Note: The Mysterious Red Head came on the scene in the first season and then disappeared without explanation in season two. Here's my explanation. Takes place about three months after the end of "Boxers vs. Briefs".

Ilsa: "I didn't count the days." Rick: "Well, I did. Every one of 'em. Mostly I remember the last one. The wow finish. A guy standing on a station platform in the rain with a comical look on his face because his insides have been kicked out."- Casablanca

MCRT Bullpen, Monday 0915 hrs

Start of the work week. Senior Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs was going over his agent's reports. Rather he was reading the same report again. "Snap out of it Leroy" he thought to himself. "There's no doubt a good reason she didn't call." The she in question was Jane Bradford. Or as she was known to Special Agents Todd and DiNozzo, "The Mysterious Red Head".

Gibbs had met her about 18 months ago at the Chesapeake Yacht Club. He was admiring the sailboats. She had been trying to find one. Her friends had invited her for a sail. With Gibbs' help Jane had located her friend's boat. Impulsively, Jane had invited Gibbs along. Not caring if a fix up may have been in progress. Luckily it hadn't been.

After that first date they had kept the relationship loose. Jane was separated from her husband. They were trying to reconnect but it wasn't working out. She was fun to be with, was not fazed by his job and didn't mind just sitting around watching him work on his boat. He got her a DoD sticker from the Navy Yard pass office. That and "I'm picking up NCIS Special Agent Gibbs." Got her aboard most government installations.

This past Friday they had made vague plans to get together. Jane called his cell late Friday morning telling him she might not be able to make it. That's where they had left it.

Now, his "gut" was starting to send out its usual signals. Gibbs stopped trying to read. He looked around the bullpen. Kate was down with Abby, picking up some type of report. DiNozzo was….where was Tony? Of course, he was over by the copier talking to the new female Probie from Agent Crawford's team.

As he was about to holler for DiNozzo, his desk phone rang. Outside line. "Special Agent Gibbs".

"Hi Boss, it's Steve Mitchell" Mitchell had been a Gibbs Probie who had moved over to the US Marshall Service. "What can I do for ya Steve?" "Can I meet you, Boss?" "Sure, come on over to the Yard" said Gibbs. "This is kinda personal Boss" Gibbs sighed. "OK, where?" "The Wall, 20 minutes" said Mitchell. Gibbs hung up the phone. "DINOZZO!!...

The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, Monday 0940 hrs

Gibbs saw Mitchell standing at the far end of the Memorial. Something in Steve's tone when he had set the meet had caused Gibbs to watch his mirrors on the way over. He hadn't been followed.

He walked up to Mitchell. "You're looking good Steve." "You too, Boss."

"OK kid, dancing's over. What's going on?" Gibbs said.

"You know Jane Bradford." It was a statement, not a question. Gibbs felt a lurch in his chest. "Yes".

"She went into the Witness Protection Program on Saturday" said Mitchell. "Her husband was CPAing for Jimmy Napolitano. The FBI got him to roll on Jimmy." Gibbs face remained impassive. Mitchell continued. "The Feebies convinced Jane to go into the program with her husband. She wrote you this."

Steve handed Gibbs an envelope with Jane's loopy writing on the front. "Gibbs". "I'm awful sorry about this Boss." "You draw the short straw, Steve?" said Gibbs. "Nah, Boss. I'm not in WPP. They ran everybody in the Washington Field Office. I was the only one who knew ya. The guys from WPP wanted nothing to do with this."

Gibbs extended his hand. "Thanks, Steve." "No problem, Boss. I'll be seeing you." As Mitchell walked away, he saw Gibbs open the letter.

Gibbs' Basement, Monday 1825 hrs

Gibbs stared at the boat. He was sitting on an old barstool, dressed in jeans and an old "NIS" t-shirt. After returning from the Wall, Gibbs got the Director to send the team home. Gibbs went too. When he got to his house, he did chores upstairs. He was avoiding his usual sanctuary because once he went down there and started work, it would mean Jane was truly gone.

He had been sitting here quite awhile. "Hell, Leroy get a grip. She's gone. The damn boat ain't gonna build herself." He picked up the plane and started to work. The front door opened. Gibbs looked up. Floorboards creaked in the hallway. Didn't sound like anyone he knew. Gibbs drifted to one side of his workbench. He slid his hand under the bench. It came up with a Charter Arms .44 Special snub-nosed revolver. He pointed it at the basement door.

A voice called out, "Don't shoot me Boss." It was Mitchell. Gibbs lowered the pistol as Steve came thru the doorway. Steve held up a bottle. "Single barrel Jack Daniels. If I'm forced to drink swill at least it's good stuff." Gibbs slid the pistol out of sight and grabbed two sawdust covered jars.

"Still First Class all the way I see" said Mitchell. Gibbs wiped out both jars. He filled them with a generous portion of bourbon.

"Absent friends," said Gibbs. "Absent friends," replied Mitchell. Gibbs picked up the plane and handed Steve a sanding block. "You still remember how to do this Probie?" "Sure Boss, it's just like riding a bicycle…."

A/N: OK guys, how about some reviews. Only six so far. Show me the love, please?