A/N: Thanks again for the reviews and alerts! I'm glad you guys are enjoying the story so far. I think I have a better idea of where I'm headed with it now. This chapter gets a little more "technical" and case-related than the others, and while I did a little research please keep in mind that I'm not an expert of any sort. Poetic license and all that. :) -abby
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Abby was changing the CDs in her player when she heard a crash and a strangled hiss of pain. She rushed into the hall to find McGee and DiNozzo in a heap on the floor. It wasn't hard for her to figure out what had happened.
"GOD, McGee, are you TRYING to kill him?" Abby glared at Tim as she knelt down beside DiNozzo, who was clutching at his throat and gasping for air.
"Tony, oh my God, I am so sorry, it was an accident! I swear! Are you okay? Oh my God I'm so sorry!" McGee got to his feet and started frantically pacing and wringing his hands. "I'm sorry! You must hate me! I can't believe this! Now I've made things even worse! I can't do anything right!" Tim was beginning to babble.
Tony finally caught his breath, and from his spot on the floor forced shaking hands to sign –I'm okay. I'm okay, no harm done. Calm him down.-
"Are you sure you're not hurt?" Abby was concerned at how pale he looked, but DiNozzo nodded and motioned at Tim. "McGee!" Abby tried to get the panicky agent's attention. "Timmy! He's fine! You didn't hurt him! Tony's okay. Stop freaking out!"
McGee stopped in his tracks and looked down at Tony. "Are you sure? I mean I hit you pretty hard and-" DiNozzo stopped him with a look and gestured for Tim to help him up. Once Tony had regained his footing he clapped McGee on the shoulder and smiled, then signed a few words. "Good as new, see?" Abby helpfully interpreted.
- Abby, don't be mad at him about yesterday. It's not his fault. I had been a pain in the ass all morning. I don't blame him at all for assuming that I was joking around. And tell him that I'm not mad at him.- Tony finished his piece and looked at Abby expectantly. She put her hands on her hips for a moment, then quickly began signing right back at him -Just because you are going to let him off the hook that easily doesn't mean I will. You could have been killed, mister.- DiNozzo rolled his eyes.
"Um, guys? Are you talking about me?" McGee asked nervously.
Abby looked over her shoulder at him. "Yes, we are, and I'd appreciate it if you would keep out of it." At that, Tony glared at Abby and emphatically repeated his earlier gestures. –Tell him I'm not mad. Tell him!- She huffed indignantly but turned to the very confused McGee. "He says he's not mad at you, and he doesn't want me to be mad at you either. He seems to think that I'm overreacting." Tony grinned and touched his nose, as if playing Charades. Abby giggled in spite of herself.
Tim didn't look convinced. "I don't know, Tony. You should be mad at me, after what I said to you in the car before we even made it to the scene! What kind of a friend says that they never want to hear your voice ever again?" Abby gasped. "You SAID that? Timmy! That's terrible!"
"Tell me about it!" Tim agreed. "I feel awful, Tony, I'm so sorry. I really didn't mean it."
-Probie. I know you didn't mean that. You were just blowing off steam. Don't worry about it. I'm not mad, I promise.- Again Abby vocalized Tony's words, and this time they seemed to have an effect. Tim visibly relaxed, then brightened.
"I just remembered why I came down here in the first place, I think I may have a lead. Remember that small sliver of plastic we found at the scene? Did you ever get the results?" McGee directed the questions at Abby.
"You know, Major Mass Spec should be just about finished. I was about to check when I heard you two getting into trouble." The Goth scientist flounced back into her lab, black ponytails bobbing. Tony and Tim followed.
Abby checked the analysis results. "Let's see...hmm. The fragment is covered in the victim's blood, so it possibly came from the murder weapon. The plastic is polycarbonate. It's used in all sorts of everyday things, CDs, eyeglass lenses, computers-" Tim cut in to add, "and law enforcement batons." Abby nodded. "Yeah, why?"
McGee explained, "While I was reviewing the victim's records, I noticed that he was involved in a bar fight in Baltimore a few weeks ago. LEOs were called in to break it up. I pulled the Baltimore police file, and saw that the other person involved was a Vincent West. Apparently the fight started because our victim, Staff Sergeant Ramsey, had an affair with West's wife a year or so ago. Evidently West found out about it and tracked the Staff Sergeant down when he returned from Iraq last month. And it just so happens that Mr. West is a night security guard at a mall not far from Quantico." Abby saw where Tim was going and continued, "We didn't find the murder weapon. If West used his baton to kill Ramsey and was still near the scene when you guys arrived, he may have been the one to attack poor Tony!"
Tony closed his eyes and tried to think back. I was taking photos, and saw something out in the woods. I followed, there was a snap and then a flash as the weapon caught the light. I thought it was metal, but it could have been reflecting off of a black baton. Maybe. I don't know. GOD! I wish I could remember!! DiNozzo slammed his fist down on the workbench.
Tim and Abby had been watching Tony closely and could tell he was extremely frustrated. Abby moved closer to him but stopped when she saw Gibbs standing in the doorway. He held up his hand and silently cautioned her to hold off.
"That's a good job, Tim." The praise was quiet, but sincere. Gibbs motioned for Abby and McGee to leave the lab, but not before instructing McGee to pick up Vincent West for questioning. That done, he turned his attention to DiNozzo.