Disclaimer: Not mine.


As Gibbs screeched to a halt, Tim and Reynolds pulled themselves out of the back, holding onto the doors to help keep them up. Even Ziva looked slightly off balance for a moment. Daniel climbed out on Tim's side and looked at Reynolds from across the top. "You alright Reynolds?" Daniel asked trying not to laugh at the green look on the Colonels face.

Reynolds glared at Daniel as he replied, "We did decide that Gibbs here, and the General were not related, right?"

Daniel did let out a chuckle when he inquired, "Have you ever flew with Jack?"

"Umm, no. No I haven't." Reynolds replied, unsure where he was going with this.

"Okay then. Talk to me when you have." With that Daniel turned and walked towards Gibbs and smiled. "Nice driving Gibbs."

Gibbs smirked then watched Tony and Ducky pull up behind them.

"Boss. Question for you. Why is it always Rock Creek? Can't they find somewhere else to drop the bodies." Tony complained as he climbed out of the van.

Everyone stared as Gibbs walked over and slapped Tony on the back of the head. Hard. "DiNozzo, interview's. David, bag 'n' tag. McGee, photo and sketch. Lets go people."

Not another word was spoken as they headed down the trail the police had cordoned off. When they reached the body, the team broke off to do their assigned tasks. Ducky went straight over to the body followed by Gibbs and Daniel. "McGee, first I want to know who this is." Gibbs said before Tim got very far with the photo's.

"Not necessary Gibbs." Daniel softly said. "It's Colonel Matthews." He slowly got up and walked over to where Reynolds and Towen were standing guard. Gibbs saw him nod his head at the Marines questioning look. He watched as they all closed their eye's for a moment and lower their heads, before straightening up and keeping a subtle, yet, extra close eye on their surroundings.

Gibbs turned back and knelt next to Ducky. "What have you got Duck?"

"I won't know the cause of death until we get him back, but my best guess would be that he died the same way our Captain Johnston did. Time off death was about an hour and a half ago."

"Boss." Tony said as he came up to the two men. Gibbs stood up as Tony said, "Witness said she was jogging down the trail, stopped to tie her shoe and noticed something in the bush. When she stood up to see what it was, well lets just say, she got more than she bargained for. She called the police, and they in turn called us, when they saw the dog tags. Lady said she found the body about forty-five minutes ago. She also said she'd been running for about an hour with no sign of anyone else around."

"Thanks Tony. Go help Ziva."

"Umm, Boss? Is this another one of their missing men?"

"Yeah Tony, it is."

"Great." Tony said as he went and grabbed some evidence bags, and asked Ziva what was next. Once the crime scene was cleaned up, everyone headed back to NCIS.


Gibbs, Tim, Tony, and Ziva were all at their desks working. Towen was once again sitting on the floor between Tim and Tony's desks and Reynolds was sitting in the chair between Gibbs and Ziva. They had been back for around ten minutes, and had delivered the physical evidence to Abby. Everyone had just started to unpack and gather the photos together when a man came off the elevator.

"What the heck is going on here?"

"General, Sir." Reynolds and Towen jumped to attention as Jack came to stand in the bullpen.

"At ease Colonel, Major. Now someone answer my question." The hard look on Jack's face scared even Ziva as she looked over to Tony. She could see that he wasn't moving, for fear that Jack would notice him sitting there.

"General, why don't you come with me." Gibbs said standing up. He didn't even look behind to see if Jack was following as he headed to the back elevator. Neither said a word until they were both in the car. After a second of it descending Gibbs flipped the switch, leaving them with only the emergency light. Both still stood in silence, but Jack started to fidget. After a full minute of Jacks fidgeting, Gibbs couldn't take it anymore. "What do you know so far General?"

"That you found Colonel Matthews."

"And that made you storm into my bullpen yelling... why?" This time it was Gibbs with a hard look. Jack just stared back, barley noticing the look.

"Sorry about that, was expecting Daniel to be up there with you. It was more for his benefit than anyone else's. Really didn't pan out the way I had anticipated." Jack said with a shake of his head.

"You always yell at each other like that?" Gibbs asked.

"No, well, sometimes. Depends on the situation." Jack replied with a thoughtful look.

Gibbs decided to ignore that comment, "He's down in autopsy with Ducky. Had a few questions I guess."

"You let him go down there by himself?" Jack tone was hard.

"Look General, you said yourself, he's a big boy who doesn't need a babysitter. If he want's to go to autopsy alone, I'm not going to stop him." Gibbs could not figure these people out, the General in particular. First the General says Daniel can handle himself, then he won't let Daniel go anywhere alone.

"Jack."

"What?" Gibbs asked confused.

"Just Jack. No General. I get that enough at work." He said with a smirk.

Gibbs had thought he couldn't get anymore confused, but 'Jack' had just thrown another curve ball. 'Well two can play this game.' He thought.

"Jethro." They smiled at each other as Gibbs flipped the switch to let the car travel down again.

Exiting the elevator they walked into autopsy to see Ducky prepping Colonel Matthews on the last table to their right. Daniel however was standing at the closest table to the doors. He was on the left side facing Ducky but was looking down. Gibbs headed over to Ducky, giving Jack a moment with Daniel.

"Daniel." Jack drawled out, rolling back on his heals, hands in his pockets.

"Jack." Daniel replied shortly, not even looking up.

"Daniel."

"Jack."

"Dan..." Jack took a breath and decided to start over, knowing they could do this all day. "Soo, what cha lookin' at?" He asked as he came to stand next to Daniel and looked at the papers he had scattered over the table.

"Ducky's preliminary finding on T.J." Daniel distractedly said.

"You understand any of this?" Jack asked as he pick up a picture, not knowing what it was of.

"Yes and no." Daniel said as he slowly took the picture from Jack and put it back on the table. Jack sighed as he squinted and looked around the room. Gibbs and Ducky came over to them at that point.

"Jack, this is Doctor Donald Mallard, otherwise known as Ducky. Duck this is General Jack O'Neill."

"Nice to meet you, call me Jack." He said as they shook hands.

"A pleasure Jack, and call me Ducky." Ducky then turned to Daniel, "So dear boy, did you find what you were looking for?"

"Nooo." Daniel replied as he flipped to another page.

"What were you looking for?" Jack asked as he picked up some type of tool Ducky had left on the table. Daniel immediately grabbed it from him, shook his head 'no' at Jack and handed the tool to Ducky. Perplexed yet amused Ducky took it and put it away.

"I was just trying to see if anything stood out. Anything that didn't make sense."

"Daniel, none of this makes sense!" Jack said frustrated.

"I know Jack." Daniel testily shot back.

Having seen the two do this once before and wanting to avoid it, Gibbs broke in, "So nothing in particular, that you're looking for."

Sighing and rubbing his forehead Daniel said, "No, not really. I guess I'll have to wait until Ducky's done with Matthews autopsy and then compare them. There's something here. I know it. I just can't figure it out."

The four men stood in silence for a moment until Jack's phone rang. "Oh-fer-cryin'-out-loud." He muttered as he pulled his phone out. "Can't they give me a minutes peace?" Jack stormed off into the hallway, missing Daniel's smile.

"Who's that?" Gibbs asked when he saw Daniel's look.

"Most likely the Joint Chiefs. They love to hassle him at all times, day or night. I think it's because they know it drives him nuts." The gleeful look in his eye had even Gibbs smirk. "Oh and Ducky, if Jack ever comes down here, keep an eye on him. He likes to play and fiddle with things he shouldn't." Daniel informed him.

"Thank you for the warning Daniel." Ducky said with appreciation.

Jack pouted back in, "Well back to the pentagon. Apparently they can't do anything without me." Jack put his hand on Daniel's shoulder for a moment, "You need anything, call, okay?" As Gibbs and Ducky watched, the other two men seemed to have a whole conversation in just a look. Daniel then smiled and nodded his head,

"Of course Jack, always."

The next minute Jack was gone and the three remaining men stood staring at each other. Daniel finally broke the silence, "Soo, now what?"


A/N: Apparently I needed a 'Jack-fix'. He wouldn't leave me alone until I added him to this chapter. I had planned to go into the details of the two dead Marines and what caused their deaths... but that will have to be the next chapter. Hope you're all still enjoying!