When Ellie emerged onto the balcony, she saw that her team had returned. Tim was in front of the plasma, explaining something to Gibbs while Tony looked on. She paused for a minute, looking down at them. She would have missed them terribly if she had resigned, although she still felt she deserved it.
Then Gibbs looked up and saw her. "My office, Bishop," he called, heading towards the elevator. Ellie hurried down the steps to join him.
As she expected, once the elevator had started its descent, Gibbs flipped the emergency switch and turned to look at her. "I tried to resign, but the director wouldn't let me," she said quickly before he could speak. "I was stupid, Gibbs. If you want me gone, I'm gone."
He regarded her for a moment. She couldn't read the expression in his eyes. "Rule number five, Bishop."
"'You don't waste good,'" Ellie quoted automatically.
"And rule number forty-five."
"'Clean up your messes.'"
He smiled grimly. "Exactly."
"Are you sure, Gibbs?"
"I wouldn't have you on my team if I wasn't." He clasped her on the shoulder. "We all make mistakes."
Though she tried to hide it, she knew her lip was quivering and her eyes were bright with tears. "My mistake got someone killed."
"And that means you won't forget it." He squeezed her shoulder and let her go, flipping the emergency switch back up. The elevator started again, heading down.
"Where are we going?"
"Abby's lab. She has something for us."
The forensic scientist met them at the elevator doors. She gave Ellie a firm hug before preceding them into her lab. "You might think this is crazy, but Gibbs, I've found a connection."
"Between Megan Carter and Cori Fields?"
"No." Abby paused, her eyes flickering to Ellie. "Between Megan Carter, Cori Fields, and Virginia Davidson."
Gibbs stared at her. "Our victim from today?"
"That's the one."
Ellie's heart started to race. "What is it, Abby?"
"They all had residue on their shoes." She held up a hand when Gibbs opened his mouth. "What kind of residue?" she said in a gruff tone, imitating Gibbs. In her normal voice, she continued, "It's a compound of heavy metals including chromium, arsenic, cadmium, copper–" Switching to Gibbs again, she said, "Get to the point, Abbs!" With a wide smile, she held out a printout of a map. Ellie took it. "The residue is from the Patapsco River. Specifically, the Lower North Branch. All three of the victims had been there in the past three days."
Ellie looked at the map without seeing it. "That means..."
Gibbs turned to her. "That means that Virginia Davidson was targeted, just like the others."
"He was after her the whole time! That's why he was waiting in the bar. He wasn't sitting there idly. He was–"
"Biding his time." Gibbs kissed Abby on the cheek. "Thanks, Abbs." He proceeded to the elevator. Ellie followed, her bad mood gone and replaced with an eager readiness. She may not have directly gotten Virginia Davidson killed, but by God, she was going to get Alexander Michaels for it.
Because you've gotta have a twist, right? :p Thanks to everyone for reading and to DS2010 for reviewing!