Gibbs walked inside the place with no windows, hands free, this time, of any coffee cup.

— Duck ? he asked.

— Jethro…the medical examiner smiled, although Gibbs could notice the worried expression in his eyes.

— You called me ?

Actually, I did !

Jethro slightly jumped as he heard the voice of Abby, the gothic face suddenly revealing its two black ponytails onto a screen next to him.

Abbs…he groaned.

— Abby, didn't I tell you that it might be a bad idea to do so ? Ducky lowly chuckled.

Oh come on, Gibbs, life is short, you should have fun more often ! Really, it's like you've…anyway, she instantly added, Jethro's face now turning extremely impatient.

— What's new, Abby ?

We finally found and analyzed the bullet, Gibbs, isn't it wonderful ?

— On which crime scene ?

Marine Martin Pitt's, of course ! It had solidly gone inside a tree next to our body, why we didn't see it right away !

— Anything else ?

Yes ! That's the same kind of bullet that killed our Marine Philip Frank, so…

— So they have the same killer, Gibbs neutrally commented.

— Well…yes, it can be a possibility, Ducky started to pronounce, if we then agree on the fact that our killer might have let his gun next to our supposed to be suicidal man, otherwise

But Jethro was already leaving the room, dialing a number on his phone, automatic doors opening up in order to let him go.

Is he… Abby started asking, still prisoner of that screen.

— Yes, I think his eyes are blind, indeed, my dear…let me talk to him for a minute.

Alright...bye Ducky !

— Goodbye, Abigail.

Ducky hurried in the elevator's direction, the lab's face vanishing from his sight, hoping that he would still see Jethro when he'd arrive.

— There was something else, Duck ? Gibbs questioned him, interrupting the closing of the elevator, including his phone call.

Yes, there is, the medical examiner heavily sighed, entering the silver cage without any sign of politeness.

Both doors closed when both men finally stood still in the inside, but Ducky didn't wait for the awkward silence to install between the two of them.

— Jethro…what are you playing at ?

Gibbs raised an eyebrow for a second, wondering if he really wanted to have this conversation…before he pressed the so well known button of the elevator, transforming the small transport into his so well known secondary office… When Ducky felt his heart bump a little and then knew that they were now stuck together somewhere in the middle of the building, he finally slowly breathed in and out, ready to face Gibbs.

— The same kind of bullet, Jethro…he started to speak again. One in the forehead, and one in the temple. What if…

— We cannot know anything for sure until we've talked with everyone. We have to check on both Marine's families and to talk to Lize Samens about her sister, Cassandra Frank…

— But, Jethro...

— Duck, we've already seen this kind of case, you know it can be the same person who's planned an attack on...

— I say 'what if', Ducky suddenly unexpectedly turned mad, his old facial features tensing a bit with his words, but come on, Jethro ! If for once, I can use that so famous 'guts power' of yours, I think it is now or never, and I think that you should feel it too !

— Okay Ducky, what's going on ?

— You know, Jethro, sometimes you make me think of these horses people are blinding with blinkers when they make them walk down the road, in order to just make them go straight on without thinking of what is around them ! What are you gonna find, now, Jethro ? That we have a serial killer using different kinds of techniques, forcing one of the men to…

Hey, Jethro interrupted him as he put a palm on his shoulder, Ducky's usually calm face in any situation now tensing so much that his blood seemed to be completely boiling. What's wrong, Duck ? he insisted.

— Please do not avoid this conversation, Jethro…I am not one of your agents.

— I know.

Ducky heavily breathed in and out again, the sight of Gibbs' hand pressing the button secretly making him feel desperate. Yes, as usual, Gibbs was running away from a discussion for the umpteenth time, but he'd never admit it.

— What I am saying, Ducky hurried himself to speak before it'd be too late, is that maybe you should have given more credit to Mr Palmer…

The redness of his face seemed to have mostly vanished, but Gibbs could still notice the slight shaking in the medical examiner's voice as the silver doors opened up, revealing the surprisingly not so crowded bullpen.

— Hey, boss, Tim lowly pronounced.

— McGee, where are Dinozzo and Ziva ? Gibbs asked, Ducky now silently walking next to him.

— They went to the different families' places in order to talk to them, in case they would have some additional informations to give us.

— Any news from the Captains ?

— Both ready to see us. If we leave now we can talk to them in about thirty minutes.

— Alright. Let's go.

Gibbs watched Tim head to the elevator and quickly went to his personal desk, grabbing his badge and gun, before he turned back for a second, facing Ducky.

— By the way, where's Palmer ?

— I've sent him home, Ducky calmly said, this time, although he still seemed to be carrying an indescribable burden.

— Something I should know about ?

— Not for now, Jethro…the medical examiner heavily sighed, I am still trying to figure things out myself, and you are, obviously, pretty busy for now…

Jethro nodded and didn't add a word, only joining his agent inside the ready to use elevator, the bullpen and Ducky's worries momentarily vanishing from his sight… When they finally both entered Jethro's car, deeply willing to find out more about the case thanks to the Marines' Captains, Gibbs' eyes quickly shifted from the road to some other parked vehicles, not realizing yet what they've just been looking at until McGee simply commented something he'd seen too.

— Isn't it Jimmy's car ? Tim asked.

— I guess so…Gibbs first naturally answered, his mind and thoughts deeply focused on the future itinerary he would need to follow. Why ?

— Well, I didn't mean to listen, but when I was waiting near the elevator, I think I heard Ducky saying that he had sent him home. Am I wrong ? he simply asked his boss, not knowing if it was useful to have said so.

Tim did not wait for a reaction and didn't get any in return anyway, so he finally silently stayed focused on the road, conversation not seeming to be continued, only heavily sighing and trying to keep his mind busy… That was always the problem with Gibbs. He was not really this kind of very talkative guy, and when it came for his agent to be stuck all alone with him for about half an hour in a car, Tim would literary be killing for a semblance of a dialogue.
He was almost regretting Tony's presence, and that was probably the worst of all.