AN: Shorter update than yesterdays but slightly more plot development. Enjoy.

--

"It's a tusk."

Tony smothered his laugh with a sneeze. "A what?"

"Tusk…"

Gibbs reached for the bag. "An elephants?"

Abby nodded. "Tell him what's he's won!"

The team couldn't help but shake their heads at her comment and Gibbs even managed a small smile. "Anything else Abs?"

"Did you know that although both African elephant sexes have tusks, there are large differences in size and weight…typically, the male tusk has a larger circumference in relation to its length, is stouter, and is much heavier? Interestingly, some elephants are born without tusks….can you imagine being that baby elephant? Going off to school and all the other elephants pointing at him and laughing? Poor little guy."

"Abs…"

"Right sorry…obviously this is a not a full tusk. It was broken, leaving the sharpest end. Which Ducky is making casts of the puncture marks to confirm. I also tested for blood and anything else that would make sense and found…"

Gibbs stared. "And found…?"

She motioned that they follow her. "Sorry guys, we gotta do this down in my lab. The vibe in your office is very dark."

"Dark how?" Tony asked first, looking behind him for a possible head slap.

Abby shrugged. "I don't know, but I don't like it. Just come on…it's more fun when I can show you pictures."

They arrived at her lab in full force, well everyone but McGee who seemed to be lagging behind even more than usual. And if it weren't for a lead on the case, Gibbs may have dragged him by the ears.

"The blood I found matches the victims, and I was able to pull a butt load of prints off the tusk…guess the guy didn't think we'd find it. I'm running it now." She hit a few buttons "See isn't it more fun with pictures?"

"DiNozzo…"

"Start researching the recent ivory purchases in the country…"

"David…"

"Legal and illegal ivory purchases in the country…"

"McGee…"

Silence.

"McGee!"

"Help Tony and Ziva…"

Gibbs shook his head. "Go home."

Both Ziva and Tony had started out of the lab but turned back at the last two words.

"That an order boss?"

Gibbs came inches from his face. "Sure sounded like one to me."

McGee nodded and acted as though Gibbs was doing him a favor. Tony and Ziva stepped aside as he passed. "Boss…" He sneezed a few times. "Is he sick?"

"Not as sick as you're gonna be if you don't do what I asked."

Tony nodded and almost knocked over Ziva as he left. Gibbs paced towards Abby and took in a deep breath.

"Tell me more Abs."

Abby was still a bit shocked at the scene that just unfolded but complied none the less. "Um, nothing more on McGee and I'm running Tony's purchases now and…" Her dinger went off on cue as the report came up on the plasma. And before Abby had a chance to finish her key strokes, Gibbs was gone.

--

Timothy McGee was more startled than Gibbs expected when he came up behind him and snatched his car keys. "Not leaving yet McGee."

"What now? You gonna take my keys hostage till I tell you?"

It was then Gibbs gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "Tell me Tim."

McGee shook his head. "You can't help boss. Not this time."

Gibbs only stared as he watched tears well up in his Agents eyes. His hand still gripped on his shoulder. "Never claimed I could."

"Yeah but you're gonna try. You always do. But this time there's nothing anyone can do."

Gibbs started to piece it all together and now placed both his hands on Tim's shoulders. "You sick Tim?"

"Not me boss…"