NCIS
"So you have no idea how Officer Ashby ended up in this state?" Gibbs asked and kept going through the crime scene photos.
"No, I have no idea. I dropped her off at her apartment and then I went home!"
"Can anyone verify that?" Jethro asked and Crowley just stared down at the photos of Officer Ashby on the autopsy table.
"Why won't you believe me?" Xavier asked and Jethro pointed to his neck.
"Because that pepper spray irritation is the only thing throwing me off," Gibbs said and Xavier slapped a hand over the red skin that went from his ear to his shoulder. Jethro smirked as a tap came from the one-way glass. Standing, Gibbs gathered the files and let Crowley stew about what he had done as Jethro left the room.
Exiting the room, he ran into Ziva. "Tony and McGee found heroine and more evidence at Crowley's house. They're returning…" Tony and Tim exited the elevator and met the two in the hallway.
"I'm taking this to Abby," McGee said and went to the other elevator behind them. Gibbs watched him go and turned to the other two.
"Good work, DiNozzo," he said and followed McGee to the labs.
--
Abby sliced a piece of the jeans off and placed it in a small vial. Adding a few drops of liquid, she screwed a cap on and placed it in one of her many machines. Gibbs and McGee watched patiently, knowing that their time of holding Xavier was slowly ticking away. While she was waiting on the results from the jeans, Abby took the service weapon and tested it for blood; she found trace amounts buried in the textured grip. Grabbing another vial, she repeated the same process before checking the magazine. Taking it into the back room, Abby placed her ear protectors and goggles on.
Taking aim at the water, Abby slithered her hand down the pipe and fired off a round. Making sure it was safe, Abby switched on the safety and removed the magazine. Retrieving the bullet from the catch sieve, she rushed back to compare it to the bullet that Ducky had pulled from Petty Officer Ashby's body. Lining the striations up at 100x magnification, Abby smirked at herself and turned to look at McGee and Gibbs.
"The bullets are a match and…" The machine printed out the results from the blood, "And the blood is a match to Officer Ashby! We did it, Gibbs!" Abby said happily and Gibbs took the results up to the interrogation room; he was playing hardball now.
--
Exiting the elevator, Gibbs turned into the questioning room and placed the results on the table in front of Xavier; Tony and Ziva were watching from behind the glass. "Why did you do it, Crowley?" Gibbs asked and the man grumbled.
"She was following me around ever since she saw me hand something to one of my buddies!" Xavier growled and Jethro showed him a picture of the heroine; Xavier went white.
"Was it heroine that you were giving out?" Gibbs asked and Xavier ran a hand down his face, sighing as he did so.
"She knew too much. I was doing just fine, and she had to confront me about it. I told Tate to mind her own business, but she wouldn't listen."
"So you broke down her door, dragged her to the alley, made her kneel, and shot her execution style? What's wrong with you, Crowley?" Gibbs demanded and slammed the crime scene photos back onto the table.
"She got in the way…"
"That is the lowest excuse I have ever heard," Jethro growled and stood from his chair to exit the room. Turning down the hallway, he returned to his desk and sighed; this had been a long day, but nothing compared to Petty Officer John Holly. "Killing a dog is lower than drugs," he mumbled and saw the sun setting.
----
McGee hugged Abby good night and the girl skipped happily with Ziva towards the elevator. "I guess I'm walking you to your car again, Abby?" Ziva asked and Abby just smiled at her friend as the two were sealed from sight as the elevator doors closed. The opposite elevators dinged on the other side and Gibbs saw Rhiana exit them, heading directly for McGee's station. Jethro raised a curious eyebrow; Rhiana had a nervous expression on her face as she stopped in front of Tim's desk; DiNozzo was too interested as he stopped typing and saw Rhiana.
"Ahem," Rhiana said quietly and McGee looked up from his report.
"Rhiana, what are you doing here? I thought you would have been home already?" Tim asked and Rhiana just smiled.
"Well, I was wondering… if you weren't too busy, if you'd have dinner with me." DiNozzo nearly choked on his gum and gagged into the trashcan beside him; Gibbs shot Tony a dirty look before returning to his reports. McGee glanced around Rhiana at Jethro and saw the approving look. Rhiana looked at Gibbs and smiled, gently shaking the coffee cup she had in her hands.
"Sure, I don't mind. Where are we going?" McGee asked and Rhiana smiled.
"I'd like it if you'd join me for some home cooking. I'm not a bad chef," Rhiana said and Tim gathered his things.
"That's sounds great," Tim said and the two walked to the elevators, Rhiana looping her arm through McGee's; Gibbs just smiled as Tony continued to gag in the background.
