LOOK, PEOPLE it's another chapter, and only hours after the last! Are you as shocked as I am?
AN: So how long is this thing going to go for, anyway? It's a question I've been asking myself for some time now. Well, from about chapter three, I have. At first I was saying five, but that went down the drain and took the plot with it. Obviously this hasn't been finished in five, and then when I had no plot I thought seven. Seven chapters would be a nice length, but then I found a shiny, new plot! I like this plot; it's new, shiny, and still has that new book smell, and now I feel like I could very well go for forty-seven chapters. Which, it probably won't; I just like the number forty-seven. How long do you think this fic should go for? Don't feel you have to answer; if you don't I'll just wait until all of your reviews say: "God, Jen, give it up all ready!" My name's Jen, for anyone that didn't get that.
That over, I desperately need betas. If anyone's interested, speak up! I'm looking for anyone willing, and no, you don't have to be able. Basically I'll send you the chapter in an email (which is a perk; you get to see the chapter before it's been posted) and you'll stop me from making stupid mistakes like "oddly feeling" of last chapter. Which doesn't exist anymore because I just replaced the chapter. Ha! (laughs at all the people that didn't notice and were going to go back and look) This chapter is totally un-beta, and so was the last. This chapter even more so, because as I write this I'm about to fall asleep.
Dedicated to; DragonFlame27 for remembering it was "almost four months", Mara for informing of The X-Files episode (which I should of know – Detour – I even have that episode!), NavalHut because they liked my A-Z of ships and always reviews, and Gertrude Louise Genevieve for giving me the greatest idea ever! (It'll pop up in a later chapter – it's very McAbby).
Last time the McAbby was first, this time we'll start with the Tate! The plot makes an appearance in this chapter…isn't it horrible?
--
Several hours later after Gibbs had showed up (though he hadn't said anything about Kate wearing Tony's coat) and they had bagged and tagged everything and Ducky had taken the body back to autopsy, Kate and Tony were sitting at their desks waiting to see if they could find the dead man's identity through his fingerprints. Kate suddenly had a thought.
'Tony,' she said, and Tony looked towards her 'before you said you'd imagined what our kids would be like, does that mean you think about us having kids?'
--
Tony was almost sure he had turned white. They had been going out for almost four months; now was not to the time to be talking about marriage and babies. After a minute he suddenly realised that he hadn't said anything. At all, and Kate would be expecting an answer. He caught her eye; she looked… bemused. He had to say something soon.
'So what if I do?' He cringed as he heard himself say that, what was he, seven? Kate smiled.
'Tony "I like anything with boobs" DiNozzo thinking about settling down? Not possible!' Kate replied, trying hard not to laugh.
'You played me, didn't you?' Tony said, standing from his desk, and sitting on hers.
'Tony, we've been going out for less than four months; even I don't want to have this conversation for at least another three months.' Kate had smiled. She had got him good. 'You should have seen the look on your face!' She laughed, squeezing his hand so he wouldn't feel too bad.
'What have you two love birds got?' Gibbs said, striding in with the ever-present coffee in his hand. Tony jumped up like he had been shocked.
'The uniform's surplus. From what little we can tell there seems to be the possibility that it was from the same batch as they one found on the dummy.' Tony said, speaking quickly.
'Two weeks ago a truck carrying surplus uniforms was held up.' Kate said, reading out of a folder as she stood up. 'It got stopped on the Beltway; one car stopped behind it, one in front of it. They instructed the driver to open the back and then helped themselves to the gas in his tank. It was assumed that was all they did; no one noticed the missing uniforms until a couple of days ago.'
'The driver said they were; "of average height, weight and build". Both were wearing stockings over their head, and wore black t-shirts and cargo pants. Neither had any distinguishing features or limps.' Tony added
'They also both wore gloves, and from what the driver could tell dark hair. He also that one of them had an accent that was either; "English, New Zealand or Australian".' Kate said
'And get this, Gibbs; both cars, Ford sedans, dark blue, but both had South Australian license plates. Even though both of them were left-side driving.' Tony continued and smiled when Gibbs raised an eyebrow slightly.
'After a little digging around we found,' Kate said, drawing Gibbs' attention to the Plasma 'the first licence plate; WDE 345 wasn't even a Ford.' On the Plasma a moron car appeared.
'Or even dark blue. It was a zippy little Mazda.' Tony said
'Was, being the word, it was sold to a used car dealership, where the engine promptly blew up. Several witnesses, almost a legal case, and after that it was thrown in the local dump.' Kate said 'According to the report one of the plates was burnt beyond repair and the other was dumped with the car.'
'The second plates were WSK 293.' He nodded to Kate, who made a second picture appear. This one was of a silver car. 'Which is a silver Kia Rio, still be driven around today. I made a phone call to the owners and her teenage daughter just emailed me the paperwork. The car was bought from a Ford dealership about two months ago.' Tony snorted when he saw what the teenager daughter had attached to the email. Kate looked up, and Tony took the opportunity of Gibbs staring at the Plasma to show Kate. "Why the hell was I woken up at five in the morning to send you this? You Navy cops think you know it all. Yes, I Googled your asses!" Kate held back a laugh.
'Is that it?' Gibbs asked
'So far.' Kate answered
'Kate, get on the phone; see if you can find someone to find the first car and tell us whether the other number plate is on it.' Tony's phone rang, and he answered it as Kate started dialling on hers.
'Ducky wants to see us in autopsy,' Tony said as he hung up 'as soon as possible.'
'My phone's not working.' Kate exclaimed 'It won't let me dial anything; keeps giving me a engaged signal.' Tony picked his phone up and held it to his ear.
'Mine too!' Tony exclaimed, putting the phoned down 'But Ducky just phoned me. How is that possible?'
'You can use Ducky's phone.' Gibbs said, marching to the elevator and Kate and Tony hurried to catch up.
'Ah, Jethro, there you are.' Ducky said, as Gibbs, Kate and Tony walked into autopsy. 'I've been thinking about the time of death and something doesn't add up.'
'What's that?' Gibbs asked
'Well, I have it being around twelve thirty-two.' Ducky answered
'Wait a second… Oh!' Kate had just caught up
'What?' Tony asked, confused.
'Tony, at twelve thirty-two we were just leaving. There was no way that the shooter got freaked out by us and shot him…' Kate explained
'He was dead before we got there.' Tony nodded in understanding.
'That would mean the shooter fired to what; draw out attention to the body?' Kate questioned
'What I don't get is why it seems like the uniforms are connected, yet the last one was only on a dummy.' Tony voiced
'Maybe they're gradually increasing the violence.' Kate said
'Or maybe they lost their victim.' Gibbs said 'Tony, go back to the park and find the bullet.'
'Got it, boss,' Tony threw a look at Kate before leaving
'What's up, Gibbs?' Kate asked, trying to keep up with him as he stalked out of autopsy.
'The day the body was discovered, you had the local paper,' Gibbs said
'Yer, so?' She asked
'Still got it?'
'I think it's still in my bin.' Kate said as they entered the elevator with Tony 'Why?'
'What was on the front page?'
'Something about petrol prices and…' Kate suddenly understood 'a piece about a attempted kidnapping.' Kate rushed to her bin and pulled out the paper. 'Here,' she exclaimed, scanning the front page 'thirty-five year old male attacked in the alley next to a crowed nightclub. He was hit over the head. Bouncer heard a noise and went to investigate and came across two guys, wearing stockings over their faces, trying to force the guy into a dark blue Ford sedan. He didn't catch the plates.'
'Does it say his name?' Gibbs asked
'Grant Baker.' Kate said, after a second of looking
'Grab his address, and meet me out the front in five. While you're at it get McGee in here.'
'But…' Kate tried weakly
'I know what I said Kate, but this needs to be done.' Gibbs said, before walking off. Kate sighed. They were not going to like this.
--
As McGee started to wake he had the odd feeling he was still dreaming. There was someone in his arms, and if he didn't know better, it was Abby. He blinked and realised it was Abby! Then something else dawned on him; had he told Abby that he loved her!
--
Yes, he reflected, he had said that he loved Abby. Well, he said that sometimes he thought he loved Abby. Which was different, right? McGee's cell started ringing.
'McGee,' he said quietly into the phone; not quite awake and trying not to wake Abby.
'Hey, McGee, how's Abby?' Kate asked
'Hi Kate, she's fine; she's asleep.' McGee answered
'Good. Sorry to do this, but Gibbs wants you back at work. There's some blood to be analysed and one, maybe two, bullets to be sorted with.' Kate said with a sigh
'Is there a body?'
'Yes, and it looks like it could be connected to the dummy. I've got to go; it should only take a couple of hours tops. I'll see you later, McGee.' Kate said
'Bye,' McGee said, hanging up and turning to face Abby. 'Hey Abs,' He said, shaking her slightly and getting no response. He got off the couch and tried again. Eventually he got an 'mmmm…' sound from her. 'Abby, I've got to go.'
'What?' She asked, definitely awake now
'I have to go to work for a couple of hours,' McGee said
'Are you going to be doing something that I should be doing?' Abby asked
'Yes,' He answered with a sigh 'are you going to be okay?'
'Yes,' Abby muttered and rolled over 'I'll probably sleep anyway.'
'Hey, Abs?' McGee said, and she turned to look him 'If you don't rest you'll get worse and that can't happen, okay?' He put a finger to her nose
'Okay,' She said and gave him a smile, grabbing his finger.
'Be good,' She told him, letting go of his finger and he put his shoes back on 'and bring back food!' McGee grinned at her one last time before leaving.
--
At the park Tony wasn't having much luck. It was bitterly cold, growing darker by the second, and he was only one person. It was only by dumb luck that he came across the bullet thirty minutes into his search. It was wedged into a tree. It took Tony another twenty minutes just to get the darn thing out, but at last he had success. Pulling out his cell he phoned Kate.
--
'Todd,' Kate said, answering her cell as Gibbs pulled up to Grant Baker's house.
'Hey, Kate,' Tony said
'Tony, are your teeth chattering?' Kate asked
'It's cold!' Tony exclaimed
'What was that about me getting a cold?' She teased him lightly. Gibbs glared at her 'Got something?' She asked quickly
'Is Gibbs staring at you?' He asked
'Yes, so do you?' She eyed Gibbs
'Yes, I found the bullet. It was lodged in a tree. Can I go home now?' Tony asked with a yawn
'He found the bullet.' Kate said to Gibbs 'Can he go home now?'
'If he takes the bullet to McGee, he can.' Gibbs replied
'Hear that?' Kate asked
'I did. Kate, do you want to come over? We can watch DVDs and fall asleep in front of the TV…'
'Sure, Tony, I'll be there after I'm done here.'
'See ya.' Tony said
'Bye' Kate said and hung up. Gibbs was already almost at the front door. Kate rolled her eyes, and followed. Gibbs was just knocking on the door when Kate caught up to him. A woman about thirty answered the door.
'How may I help you?' She asked. Kate and Gibbs pulled out their badges
'NCIS, we'd like to ask your husband some questions.' Gibbs said showing her his badge
'I don't know what that means.' She said
'It stands for Naval Criminal Investigative Service,' Kate said, showing her badge. She allowed them to enter and showed them to a couch.
'I'll go get Grant.' She said, and disappeared for a few seconds before returning with Grant.
'How can I help you?' Grant asked, sitting down and his wife scuttled off.
'We'd like to ask you a few questions about your attack.' Gibbs said
'Sure, go for it.' Grant said
'Do you remember how many people attacked you?' Gibbs asked
'Yes, two.' Grant answered
'Did either of them have an accent of any sort?' Kate asked
'Yes, now that you mention it, the second on had a very strong Australian or New Zealand accent.' Kate shot a glance at Gibbs
'Did either of them have any distinguishing features?' Kate asked
'No, none.' Grant replied
'Did either of them call the other by name?' Gibbs asked
'Yes, the first one called the second one "Ad". It was weird because "Ad" didn't seem to like being called that.'
'Did you see the licence plates?' Kate asked
'No, I didn't.'
'Was there anyone in the car?' Gibbs
'No, I didn't see anyone.'
'What time was this?' Kate asked
'About twelve thirty-ish.'
'Do you have any enemies?' Gibbs questioned
'None that I know of.' Grant replied
'Do you know why they chose you?' Kate asked
'No, I assume it's because I was alone in an alley about to take a piss.'
After another million questions Gibbs finally decided it was time to leave. Holding back a yawn, Kate thanked Grant as they headed out the door. She was almost certain it was the same people.
'Hey Gibbs?' Kate said, as they got into the car 'It's getting late, can you just drop me off at home?'
'Aren't you going to Tony's place?' Gibbs asked, as he started the engine.
'I'd forgotten. Tony's place, then. Please?' Gibbs nodded.
An hour later Gibbs dropped Kate off at Tony's place, before speeding off again. Tony had been right; it was cold. She hopped from one foot to the next for a second before running as fast as she could to Tony's.
'Your door's unlocked.' Kate said, letting herself in
'I should be more careful. Anyone could walk in!' Tony exclaimed, locking the door behind her. Kate took her coat off.
'It's warm in here.' Kate commented
'It's cold out there.' He replied, before kissing her lovingly, pulling back before anything too intense could start. 'Your lips are cold too.' He gave her a grin
'Do I smell food?' She asked
'Yes, you do.' Tony said, leading her to the kitchen by her hand. 'I got you your usual.' He hanged her a box (AN: one of those really cool square ones, that NO shops near my place use) of Chinese and a pair of chopsticks, before taking his food and a fork.
'One day, I swear, I'm going to teach you how to use these things.' Kate said, watching him
'Oh, you will, will you?'
'Yes, I will.' She said, determinedly, following him back into his lounge room and onto his overstuffed couch in front of his TV. 'It's your turn to pick.' She took her shoes off, and curled her feet underneath her.
'You can go again,' Tony said 'I can't think of anything I want to watch.'
'We could just watch TV,' Kate said and Tony grabbed the remote and settled next to Kate.
'Anything in particular?' Tony asked
'Nope, anything.' She replied, leaning on his shoulder.
--
It was fairly late by the time McGee got back to Abby. She was exactly where he left, though. She woke up as soon as he got there.
'Hey,' she said 'Any luck?'
'Not much.' He replied 'You feel up to pizza?'
'Pizza sounds great.' Abby said, smiling. McGee went off to order it and Abby turned the TV back on, after turning it off sometime before. McGee settled next to her on the couch.
'It'll be here in thirty minutes or less.' He said
'Ahuh,' Abby yawned and leant her head on McGee's shoulder.
'I'll wake you up when it gets here.' He said, gently taking the remote from her grasp
'Thank you.' She mumbled, already almost asleep.
--
TBC… (I make it a point to put TBC at the end of every chapter now. It helps when you're clearing out your story alert page thing and you have to figure out if the fic's over or not.)
Mary Sue, Mary Sue, let's point out the Mary Sue! Yes, I am in fact the teenager daughter. As Han would say; "Go me!" Yes, go…
I know, it's horrible; there was next to no McAbby this chapter! But it was crucial to the so called "plot". I wonder how Tony and Kate got around rule twelve… hmm. Maybe we'll have to have another flashback for that. Next chapter; the McAbbyness!
Review, oh, go on, review! You know you want to…