On the way to DC…

The car was filled with silence. As Felix pulled out on the highway, Jacob asked their destination. When Felix answered "The Navy Yard, in DC," he grunted in acknowledgment and turned to stare out the window. Felix kept sneaking looks at the Doc, trying to figure out what was going on in that head of his.

"Go ahead and ask Felix, I won't bite your head off."

Felix was startled and almost swerved into the oncoming lane. He swore, "Damnit Doc, how do you do that, I mean, how did you know"

"Sorry, can't give away my secrets. So, what do you want to know?"

Felix took a deep breath. "Well, you said I could ask, and I don't mean to pry, but, uh, Doc, was Agent Young wearing a ring? I mean, did you give her a ring? I mean.."

Jacob cocked his head. "Not the question I was expecting, but yes, Felix, Rachel is wearing a ring that I gave her." He smiled broadly. "And yes, it means just what you think it means."

"Wow," Felix mouthed. "That's, well, that's great Doc. I mean it, I kinda always thought there might be something there, I'm happy for you. For both of you."

"Thank you Felix. That means a lot to me, to us."

The two men rode in silence for a few minutes longer.

"Uh, Doc?"

"What is it Felix?" Jacob asked absently.

"Uh, what question were you expecting me to ask?"

"Well I thought you might be wondering when I had begun kissing Rachel good-bye."

Felix squirmed uncomfortably in his seat. He appreciated that the Doc and Agent Young trusted him, that they didn't think he'd rat them out to the Bureau. Felix gripped the wheel and stared straight ahead.

"Far as I'm concerned, what's between you and Agent Young is your business. It's not my business, it's not anyone's business." He added with emphasis, "No one's, not even the Bureau's."

"Again, Felix, thank you." He hesitated a few moments. "Felix, I wanted, that is, Rachel and I wanted you to know that ..." This was harder than he thought it would be.

"Well, that we realized that our being, uh, involved would have put you in an awkward position. We weren't going to lie to you about how things were between us, we consider you more than a colleague. We both think of you as a friend. And we would never have expected you to cover up or, or lie for us. We, um, didn't want you to think we expected you to put your career in jeopardy on our account."

Felix considered the older man's words. "I appreciate that Doc. But," he glanced over at Hood, "how come you're putting it all in the past tense?"

"It's just, well, the Bureau already knows." Jacob reflected, "To be completely accurate, Frank and Ty McGruder know about us. About Rachel and me," he clarified.

Felix once again almost swerved into the oncoming traffic. "Geez, Doc, what do you mean? What are they going to do?" A dreadful thought came into his head. "Aw, man, don't tell me they fired Agent Young?

Jacob shook his head. "Felix, when you spoke to Frank, did he say anything to you about Rachel?"

Felix shot him an exasperated look. "I didn't speak to 'Frank.' The 'Director'," he emphasized the word, "told me to get down to Deale, pick you up and deliver you to NCIS headquarters. He then told me to consider myself at your disposal until further notice. Period."

Jacob nodded. "Yeah, I guess I should have expected that." He took a deep breath. "Felix, there are going to be some changes, but I guess Frank isn't announcing them yet. Rachel's out of the EPD."

"What, they did fire her?" Felix yelped.

"No, they transferred her." Jacob explained. "According to McGruder it would be a firing offense for Rachel and me to be, ah, together, if she was in the EPD. He also said that he didn't think I needed a bodyguard, that the threats to my life were so random. They've transferred Rachel to the Director's office. She'll report to him the same as you and me."

Felix furrowed his brow, "but you and her?"

"According to Ty, no harm, no foul. Rachel and I never acted on our feelings for each other while she assigned as my bodyguard and that's all that counts. No one can say or prove that Rachel violated their rules," he continued with great satisfaction. "Since Friday, she hasn't been a member of the EPD, she, like you and me, is a member of the Scientific Investigations Unit." He grinned. "That's also why it was ok for you to see me kissing Rachel tonight."

Felix frowned. "But Doc, people are gonna talk if Agent Young shows up with your ring on her finger so quick."

"We know. We, ah, have strict instructions that we're to be discreet. Rachel isn't going to wear it at work. I just," he glanced at Felix and continued ruefully, "wanted her to have it. Does that make sense?"

Felix considered this. "Yeah it does." He grinned, "So, I'm the only one who knows the two of you are engaged?"

Jacob chuckled. "Well, you, Alex, and that guy Charlie. And that's the way we need to keep it, at least for now."

All too soon, Felix and Jacob were entering the Navy Yard. As they made their way into NCIS headquarters, Jacob finally showed some signs of interest.

"You're sure you don't know anything? What's so urgent it couldn't wait until morning?"

As they entered the elevator Felix sighed in exasperation. "Like I said, Doc, I'm only the messenger. All I was told was that NCIS requested our, your help, and I was to get you to the Navy Yard ASAP. We're supposed to meet Agent Fornell here. I guess he'll explain everything to us."

"Fornell," Jacob mused, "Is he the NCIS agent we're supposed to work with?"

"Naw, he's FBI, he's supposed to be our liaison."

Jacob looked apprehensive, "why do we need a liaison? Don't tell me Frank has saddled us with another idiot agent? Damn! We should have just brought Rachel!"

"Doc, just calm down, no one's saddling us with anything. What I heard around the Bureau is that Fornell's worked with NCIS before, he's just here to make sure everything goes smoothly."

Jacob was puzzled. "Why shouldn't it.." His voice died away as the elevator door opened and they heard voices loud, angry voices coming from the bullpen area in front of them.

"Damn it Tobias, what the hell is the FBI doing here? The FBI may have an interest in what happens in Quantico, but this is a dead Marine, that makes him mine, not yours!" The speaker was a man with short silver-gray hair. He was glaring at a shorter, balding man who was yelling just as loudly.

"I told you Jethro, your Director called my Director and asked for Dr. Hood's assistance. No one is saying you don't have jurisdiction on this one. He's just here to help."

The one called Jethro snorted. "Well I didn't ask for and I don't need his damned help."

Jacob raised his eyebrows and decided to make his presence known. "Excuse me, but if that's the way you feel, I'll be glad to leave."

His comment caused the people in the room to swing around and face him. In addition to these two, there were three younger agents in the room, two male and one female. These three all looked distinctly unhappy with the situation.

Fornell advanced with his hand outstretched. "Dr. Hood, Agent Lee, I'm glad you finally got here. I'm Agent Fornell."

Hood crossed his arms and looked at the agent coldly. "Excuse me, Agent Fornell, but there seems to be some confusion here. I was under the impression my help was requested?"

Fornell dropped his hand in exasperation. "It was. Here, let me introduce you." Nodding to the silver-haired man, "This is Special Agent Gibbs, he's in charge of this investigation." He gestured to the three younger agents, "and these are his team, Agents DiNozzo, McGee, and David." He waved his hands toward Hood and Felix. "Jethro, this is Dr. Hood, Special Science Advisor to the FBI and Agent Lee."

Gibbs ground teeth. "I don't care who the hell he is. I didn't ask for the FBI and I don't need him or you here!"

Jacob snorted. "Fine by me, Felix, let's get out of here." He turned and started to walk back to the elevator.

Felix grimaced and caught him by the arm. "Uh, Doc, it's not that simple. You can't just leave. I mean, we're here by order of the Director."

Hood shook off Felix's arm. "To hell with that."

Felix narrowed his eyes. "Doc, do not make me call her!"

"Fine, I'll stay" Hood growled. He was furious; he didn't want to be here in the first place and then to be met with outright hostility was ridiculous.

Fornell, for his part, glared at Gibbs. "I told you, you have no choice. Your director is the one who made the call."

Gibbs was seething. How dare Leon Vance go behind his back. Hood and Gibbs stood and stared angrily at each other across the room.

"Fine," Gibbs ground out, "but if Leon called you in, why don't I know anything about it?"

"That would be my fault Jethro." An older man, with a distinct British accent, dressed in scrubs, came into the room. "I asked Director Vance to see if we could, well, borrow, Dr. Hood for a consultation. I'm having some difficulty in ascribing cause of death."

Gibbs looked bewildered. "Ducky, what's going on? I thought you told me cause of death was heart failure?"

Ducky considered his words. "You see Jethro, heart failure is only a generalized cause. It's the specifics I'm puzzled by."

"I don't understand."

"It's simple, really," Jacob approached the older man. "In a literal sense, heart failure is the cause of all death. Your heart stops beating, your body dies. The real question is why did your heart stop beating? Did you receive a blow to the head that caused your brain to stop signaling your heart to beat? Did you bleed out so that your circulatory system didn't have sufficient pressure to keep your heart going? I'm guessing your doctor here can't find a reason for your dead Marine's heart to have stopped beating."

The older man beamed at him. "Exactly. You must be Dr. Hood. It's a pleasure meeting you. I'm Doctor Mallard, but you must call me Ducky, everyone does."

Jacob gave a small smile, he couldn't help it. "How do you do Ducky, please call me Jacob. So, why am I here? I'm afraid that no one has told me anything about this case."

"Again, my fault," Ducky apologized. "You see, I originally thought this would be simple." He looked at Jethro and shrugged regretfully. "From the reports of the medics and my original examination at the scene, it looked like a straightforward case of cardiac arrest. Unusual, yes, in such a young man, but not unheard of. But after completing the autopsy, I'm afraid that it's not that simple."

"Well why not Duck?" asked Gibbs.

"Because Jethro, when I opened that young man up, I found that his heart, along with all of his other organs, showed absolutely no sign of any disease or trauma. Plus, the tox screens came up perfectly clean, along with all the other tests that I could think of. The only abnormality I could find was a slight diminution in the electrolyte levels."

"In plain English, doctor?"

Jacob answered, "It means that aside from being dead, your Marine is in perfect health."

Ducky nodded his head sadly. "You're correct Jacob, I can't find a single reason for that young man to be lying in my morgue. I've been organizing my test results, would by care to come down to the morgue and review them?"

Jacob's face grew thoughtful, "Hmm, no apparent cause, I wonder?" Hood began to follow Ducky toward the elevators with an abstracted look on his face. He turned back toward Felix.

"Felix, I'm going to need," his voice trailed off.

"You got it Doc, I'll have his background for you ASAP."

"Good, and" he once again became lost in thought.

"Yep, medical records from birth to now. I'll get right on it."

"Thanks Felix," Hood replied absently, as he followed Gibbs and Ducky into the elevator.

Felix sagged in relief; he knew that once the Doc's curiosity was aroused wild horses couldn't drag him away.

He turned to see four astonished faces staring at him.

"How the hell did you know what he wanted?" Fornell demanded.

"I've worked with the Doc for awhile now."

Fornell shook his head. "Well, I'm done here. Lee, you have any other problems, let me know." Grabbing his trench coat, he walked out of the office.

Felix looked at the three NCIS agents uneasily. He hoped that they would prove to be more cooperative than their boss. The three agents exchanged looks and silently appointed one of their number spokesman.

"Hi, I'm Anthony DiNozzo," the thinner of the two men said, putting out his hand. "Tim McGee and Ziva David," he continued nodding at his companions.

Felix shook the other man's hand. "Felix Lee, glad to meet all of you. I know this is kinda awkward, but, really, we don't mean to step on any toes. Our focus will be strictly on the COD. Once the Doc figures that out, we're outta here."

"Fair enough," said DiNozzo. "But who exactly is Dr. Hood?"

"I've heard of him Tony," McGee cut in. He's a genius, he used to teach at Stanford, now he works for the FBI investigating scientific abuses."

DiNozzo looked skeptical, "what do you mean a genius, so the guy's smart, so what."

"I'm not just talking smart, I'm talking scary smart."

The three turned to Felix for confirmation.

"You're right about the genius thing. The Doc can make connections, see things, other people can't. Sometimes it's scary. Now," he continued briskly. "I need to get to work, soon as the Doc's done in the morgue, he's gonna want that information. So, can you give me the dead guy's name and social? Plus anything you already dug up on him?" He looked around, "Is there a computer I can use?"

The three NCIS agents looked at him in surprise. "Uh, Felix," McGee said, "it's after ten o'clock. We were all getting ready to go home when we got the word you and Dr. Hood were coming. I mean," he looked at his companions for confirmation, "We thought it was just going to be a meet and greet. There's not much you can do tonight."

"That's not the way the Doc works. Once he gets started, we keep going until one of us is ready to drop or the case gets solved. Hell, last case we were on the Doc went almost three days without sleep."

The three NCIS agents looked at each other in horror, as they quickly got Felix the files he requested. Felix nodded his thanks; he swiftly reviewed the files for the needed name and number, placed calls to his contacts in the research department of the Bureau, flipped on the computer allotted to him, and calmly began compiling a dossier for the Doc. Not willing to be shown up by the FBI, the three NCIS agents began to review what little information they had.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jacob was dismayed as he viewed the body in the morgue. "My god," he said softly, "I thought you said you had a dead Marine. He's just a boy."

Gibbs shrugged. "Graduated basic and was assigned to his platoon about a month ago. He's nineteen."

Shaking his head sadly Jacob turned his attention to the body. Ducky shared his reaction.

"Yes, I'm afraid that young Private Willis showed up on my table much sooner than he should have. As you can see Jacob," Ducky explained as he handed Hood the heart, "there is no trauma or disease evident that would explain a cardiac arrest."

"But there does seem to be some scarring here" he pointed out.

"Ah yes," agreed Ducky. "That damage is consistent with the measures the medics undertook in the field. You can see there is some damage to the ribs and chest muscles consistent with a vigorous application of CPR. The scarring is the byproduct of an attempt to re-start Private Willis' heart with a defibulator."

Jacob considered the body before him. "Any other marks on the body?"

"Just the usual bumps and bruises you would expect on a Marine fresh from boot camp and undergoing combat training."

Jacob picked up Private Willis' left hand. "Combat training? Is that why the back of his hand is so bruised?"

"No, I believe that bruising must be from the application of an IV by the medics. The IV was still attached when I got to the scene"

Gibbs had waited patiently as the two men examined the body, now he broke in. "So, Hood, think you can give me a cause of death?"

Jacob looked at him with dislike. "Maybe, after I review Ducky's findings and run a few tests of my own. What's your hurry?"

"Private Willis was in a platoon scheduled to be deployed to Afghanistan on Wednesday. Until I have a cause of death, I can't say if this is a homicide or not. If I can't declare this death a homicide, that platoon goes away and a killer may never be brought to justice, that's my hurry."

Jacob blinked. "Fair enough. Ducky, I'd like to have tissue samples from all of the major organs, plus blood and bone samples." He turned to Gibbs. "Is there a lab where I can work? And if you could arrange a computer workstation for Felix in the lab that would be helpful."

Gibbs looked taken aback at the sudden briskness in Hood's voice. "Ah, yes, I guess you can work in Abby's lab. How soon do you want to get started?"

Hood raised his eyebrows. "Now, of course."

"Ok, follow me." Gibbs led the way from the morgue.

Jacob turned back as they reached the elevator. "And any x-rays you might have of Private Willis would be helpful as well."

He was impressed with the lab. "I don't know who Abby is, but she maintains her lab in excellent condition."

"Yeah, and you better leave it that way or she'll have both our heads."

Hood smiled faintly as he set out the materials Ducky had brought him in preparation for testing.

"I'll keep that in mind, can we go find Felix? As soon as you can get him set up in here, we can begin."

Gibbs looked at the scientist curiously. "Just how long do you figure you and Agent Lee are going to work tonight?"

Jacob looked puzzled. "Well, until we find some answers." A look of comprehension dawned on his face. "Don't worry, we don't expect you or your team to stay." He shrugged "Frankly you'd be in the way. Just get us set up, we're used to working independently."

Gibbs shook his head with a smile. Either this guy was a genius, or he was totally nuts. Gibbs picked up a phone. "DiNozzo, get everyone down to Abby's lab now. And tell McGee he needs to set up a computer station for Agent Lee down here."

Felix was the first off of the elevator. "Got it for you Doc; full bio of Private Steven R. Willis, USMC from birth 'til his enlistment. NCIS has the information on him since then."

"Good job, Felix, any luck with the medical records?"

"Yeah, and don't even ask me how we got them. But there're in the report too. Anything else you need Doc?"

"Well, Felix, I hate to ask, but."

Felix narrowed his eyes. "What? I mean, I, or rather the Bureau, have already broken about a dozen laws getting you some of those files, now what?"

"Well, like I said, I hate to ask, but could I have a blood sample?"

Felix howled in outrage. "A what? No, no way! I mean it Doc, why don't you use your own blood?"

"I want to compare the results of my tests on Private Willis' blood with the blood of a male approximately the same age," Jacob explained patiently. "I'd use my own," he shrugged. "But I'm too old, I'm more than twenty years older than him."

"You really need that blood, Doc?" Gibbs suddenly asked.

Hood turned to the man, surprised. "Well, yes, it could be very helpful."

"DiNozzo," Gibbs barked, "roll up your sleeve."

"Uh, boss," DiNozzo asked nervously, "you sure about that?" Gibbs raised his eyebrows. "I was afraid you were going to say that."

Gibbs watched in amusement as Hood drew DiNozzo's blood. "At the risk of having you take samples from anymore of my people, anything else you need?"

Jacob looked at Gibbs appraisingly. For someone who had been so belligerent a short time ago, he now seemed to be going out of his way to be helpful.

"Yes, there is something. Will you and your people go over your reports with us? In my experience people always leave things out. Right now, I don't know what's important and what's not. I, we need to know what happened. What your witnesses said, what they didn't say. What your impressions were. I need to know what this young man's last few hours of life were like."

Gibbs considered this request. "Fair enough." He turned to his team. "Get the Doc here copies of everything and then pull up a chair."

It was after midnight before Jacob was satisfied that he understood everything in the NCIS agent's reports. He and Felix had questioned the agents over and over until they knew the material as well as if they had been there themselves.

He finally called an end to the session. "Thank you, that was very helpful. But we don't want to keep you." He turned to Felix. "I need to review Doctor Mallard's results and run a few tests of my own on the various samples. Could you review Willis' past life and compare it with what we know now? See if anything jumps out at you?"

Felix yawned, but nodded his head. "Sure thing Doc." He reached for his files.

"Doc, you really plan on working all night?" Gibbs questioned.

Jacob looked up in surprise. "I told you, this is the way we work. But I meant it when I said you could leave. You've all been more than helpful. But Felix and I are fine here. We should have something for you by the morning."

Gibbs looked at Felix.

"The Doc's right. This is the way we work normally. If I thought I couldn't hold up, I'd make him go home to bed. But right now, we're good to go. Come back tomorrow, like the Doc said."

"Fine, if you say so." He looked at his team. "I'll expect all of you here by 0630 hours tomorrow."

Jacob called out absently, "That sounds good, leave me your number, I'll call if I find anything earlier."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

He and Felix worked steadily for the next few hours. Felix combed the reports and alerted Jacob to interesting facts about Private Willis. Occasionally Jacob would request that Felix run a computer search to verify the information his test results would supply. Shortly after two, Jacob looked up from his microscope to find Felix nodding over his computer.

"Felix," he called softly.

The big man jerked upright. "I'm ok Doc, what do you need?"

"Why don't you get some sleep. There's really nothing you can do right now, I just need to run a few more tests on these samples. I think I might be on to something."

"Really Doc?" Felix yawned again. "I'm ok, just let me know if you need anything."

"Felix, it's really ok for you to take a nap. Even Rachel naps when I'm working sometimes," he teased.

Felix looked at him dubiously. "If you're sure."

"I'm sure, besides, I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be an active day."

Felix was soon asleep and Jacob was absorbed in his research. His hunch was paying off.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jacob sat up and blinked. It had taken some time, but he was making progress. Checking his watch, he was surprised to see that it was a little after six o'clock. Deciding to let Felix sleep a little longer, Jacob quietly went to the far side of the room and took out his cell. He quickly punched in Rachel's number; surprised when she answered on the first ring.

"Hey there," he said quietly. "What are you doing up? Miss me?"

"I've been up awhile, I, uh, couldn't sleep."

Afraid that Jacob would hear the quaver in her voice, she tried to deflect his attention. "So what's the case? Why did they need you to come so quickly?"

Jacob frowned at the catch he heard in her voice. "Umm, a dead Marine, no apparent cause of death. Rachel, what's the matter? Did something happen last night?"

Rachel took a deep breath and blurted out, "I'm not pregnant Jacob."

Jacob was puzzled, how the hell did she …? His brow cleared. "Oh, you..."

"Yeah," Rachel whispered. "I woke up about an hour ago with cramps and, well, I'm not pregnant."

"Well that's good news right? We both agreed that this would be for the best."

"Of course it is."

Jacob drew his brows together in concern, he could tell Rachel was upset. "Are you ok? You sound, do you need me to come home?"

"Of course not! You're working, you can't just drop a case like that."

"Rachel, you're more important than a dead Marine. If you need me, want me, I'm coming."

"No, I'm fine. It's just, I don't know. For the past few days I've been telling myself that if I was, you know, it would be fine, and well, now I'm not and…" Her voice trailed off.

"I understand sweetheart." Jacob tried to lighten the mood. "At least Ty and Frank would be pleased!" He was rewarded with a quiet laugh.

"Look, if you don't want me to come home, why don't you come up to DC? Stay at my apartment. I don't know when Felix and I will be done today, but maybe..."

"No, you're working," Rachel cut in stubbornly. "You shouldn't be worrying about me. Just concentrate on finding out how that Marine died"

"I know I'm not supposed to worry about you, but I do anyway. Are you sure you don't want me to come home?"

Rachel blew out her breath in exasperation. "Jacob, I'm fine, now go back to work. Love you, good-bye!" She ended the call before he could respond.

Turning around, Jacob stiffened. There was Gibbs standing in the door, holding a tray with three cups of coffee. His original dislike of the man came flooding back. Folding his arms across his chest, he looked at the other man grimly. "Make it a habit to eavesdrop?"

Gibbs raised his eyebrows and shrugged. "Wasn't eavesdropping." He hesitated. "Look, Doc, I could tell you're concerned about something, someone? If you need to take off for awhile, we can cover for you." He offered Jacob one of the cups of coffee.

Jacob stood stiffly for a moment, then his shoulders sagged and he accepted the proffered cup. "Thanks, and no, things are, uh, fine." He ran his had though his hair. "I just need to find some more answers."

"More? Then you did find something last night?"

"I found something, but it's not everything. It's a start, I'd say I have about a third of the solution to your problem."

"Give me what you got," Gibbs commanded.