Tim stayed in Stillwater for the remainder of the day. Jackson talked him into staying for dinner, and they drove back to the house in Jackson's truck. Jackson was pensive on the drive over to his house. Tim knew what was on his mind, and elected to not say anything about it just yet.

They pulled up to the house, and Jackson got out of the truck, holding his cane out in front of him to help him climb down. Tim hurried around to help him out, but Jackson shook him off.

"I can get out of my own damn truck."

Tim backed off a few paces, and let him plant his feet firmly on the ground. Jackson walked by him and entered the house via the side door, that led up into the kitchen. Tim followed. By the time Tim had removed his coat and shoes in the small breezeway and stepped into the kitchen, Jackson was taking a package of hamburgers out of the freezer.

"How about I throw a couple of hamburgers on the George Foreman?" he asked.

"Sure, that sounds great."

As Jackson started to prepare dinner, Tim's phone rang. When he saw the local area code, he stepped into the living room to answer the call.

"McGee."

"Agent McGee... it's Sheriff Waite. We need to talk. About Vivian Gibbs."

"Sheriff-"

"Not over the phone. Can you meet me at my office in an hour?"

"Okay. One hour."

The Sheriff hung up abruptly, and Tim felt a pang in the pit of his stomach. What could possibly be going on after all these years? What happened all those years ago that had frightened the entire town into silence?

A crash from the kitchen sent Tim running. He found Jackson kneeling next to the cabinet, the George Foreman grill at his feet. Tim could see tears staining his cheeks.

"Jackson, are you all right?" Tim asked as he picked up the George Foreman and set it on the counter. He held out a hand to Jackson, who took it.

"I'm fine."

"Jackson..."

"I said I'm fine!"

"Listen, why don't you let me make you dinner?"

Jackson looked into the eyes of his young friend. They were full of concern, and sincerity.

"All right. I'm going to go sit down in my chair for a bit."

Tim smiled and handed him his cane, and Jackson left him to it.

Tim grilled up two hamburgers, and got out a bag of chips, in lieu of fries. He brought a plate in to Jackson, and they ate together in the living room. Tim brought the dishes into the kitchen, and washed them quickly. He wiped down the grill, and peeked into the living room to check on Jackson.

He was fast asleep in his chair.

Tim left a note on the kitchen table, and quietly left the house to go and meet the Sheriff.

The drive to town was short, and he pulled up around the corner from the Sheriff's office. He quickly went around the corner and into the office.

No one was in the reception area when he went inside. He quietly slipped around and went down the hall toward Sheriff Waite's office.

"Sheriff?" Tim said quietly as he approached the door. The knot in his stomach grew tighter as he approached the door to Waite's office, and saw that it was half open. Tim pulled his weapon, and held it out as he pushed the door all the way open.

Sheriff Waite was slumped over his desk, blood pooling from his head.

Tim whipped out his cell phone and called 911 immediately as he rushed to the Sheriff's side. He took a pulse as he talked to the dispatcher.

"This is NCIS Agent Timothy McGee... I need emergency personnel to the Stillwater Sheriff's Office immediately... the Sheriff has been murdered."

A noise brought Tim's gaze up, and before he could see who was coming, white hot pain radiated through his head, and everything went black.

Gibbs tossed and turned on the couch, sweat pouring down his face.

"Leroy..."

He sat up on the couch and looked around his living room. He was sure he heard a voice that time.

"Lee..."

He turned his head, and nearly tumbled off the couch. Vivian was standing at his feet. She was wearing her favorite yellow dress, and looked exactly as she did the day she disappeared.

"Vivian... no, no you're not real... you're a dream."

Vivian moved toward him and held out her hand. Gibbs slowly brought his hand out, and her fingertips grazed his open palm, and he flinched and pulled his hand away.

"Don't be afraid, Lee."

"Why are you here? Why are you doing this?"

"Stop looking for me, Lee."

"What? Why? I can't! I have to find you!"

"No!"

"But why?"

"If you keep looking for me, your friends are going to get hurt, just like me. Please, Lee, let me go."

"I-I can't forget-"

Vivian reached out and put her little hand on his face. He closed his eyes. After all the years without her, Vivian's touch felt the same as it did when they were children.

"I never said forget, silly goose... I said to stop looking."

"I have to know what happened to you... I can't let it go."

"Your friends are going to die, Lee... you have to stop... please... for me."

"I-I don't know, Viv."

Vivian sighed, annoyed. A small smile formed in the corner of Gibbs' mouth. He remembered that sigh... she'd do that when she found him in her bedroom, spying.

"You're an annoying little brother."

"Sure am," he said, grinning at her.

"At least find my dolly," she said, sticking out her upper lip.

"Your doll? That raggedy thing?"

"Raggedy Ann! You never say it right!" She stomped her foot.

"Where is your doll, Viv?"

"When-when they put me in the log house... the man... Mr. Orsen ... he took it. I want my dolly!"

"Okay, I'll find your dolly, Viv. I promise."

"Good. Now go to sleep before the boogeyman comes to get you!"

Gibbs smiled, lay down and closed his eyes.

Gibbs shot up on the couch, sweating profusely, and threw the blankets off of him. He had to get to Stillwater, and fast.

~*~*~*~*~

Tim blinked himself awake, and found himself bombarded by daylight. It made the already killer headache a thousand times worse. He slowly sat up and took in his surroundings. He was in a log cabin, he thought. He tried to stand up, but his body wasn't quite ready for it, and he fell back to the floor.

"What the hell happened?"

And he remembered.

"Oh God... the Sheriff..." Tim tried again to stand, and pushed his body until he was on his feet. He had to somehow get back to town and call NCIS. Whomever brought him to this place obviously didn't want him to find out what the Sheriff knew.

Tim made his way to the only door in the room, and tried it. To his dismay, it was locked.

He was trapped.

TBC...