Nico opened the door, "Hey, guys, come on in!"
Abby hugged him, "Oh my gosh! Your house is so cute!"
"Yeah, we like it. Hey, Ellie, Tim. Agent Gibbs." Nico's heart did a little dance, excited that Agent Gibbs actually came. "Dr. Mallard, hey Jimmy. And you must be Breena, it's nice to meet you. I'm Nico, that's my roommate, Connor."
Connor waved, "Hey, welcome y'all. We've got a ton of good food, and there's still some on the grill." He shook Tim's hand, then Gibbs.
Gibbs followed him out to the grill.
Nico found himself talking forensics with Abby, talking about how their crime scene seemed impossible.
"Maybe we should have you look at the body," Ducky joked.
It had become a common joke, especially since Nico had a feel for who the dead people were. He managed to use his abilities to guess passwords, to look at suspects and just instinctually be suspicious of the right people. To be able to analyze evidence in a different way from Abby.
He knew that science was factual, but he could usually tell exactly where to start. And he was improving in his ability to use the machines, create faces, use facial recognition software, and use programs to help recreate the incidents based on what Ducky told them about the body.
He also was excelling in the study of blood splatter stains, and weapon identification. Especially blades.
Their current baffling case made him wonder if it was actually related to the side of his life he didn't dare bring up around his coworkers. It reminded him of a spatha. In fact…
Nico frowned, "Connor, do you still have that display sword? The roman spatha?"
"Um…yes…" Connor replied slowly.
Everyone looked a little confused.
Nico bit his lip as he ran through it, "Tim, help me move the couch. I just realized something. Connor, get the spatha."
Tim helped him move the couch, and Gibbs caught on and moved the coffee table.
The others stood off to the side.
Connor came out with the spatha still sheathed, "You want me to handle it, or…"
"Yeah, you're better with it. Maneuver Gamma-Delta-Pi," Nico instructed, standing Palmer in the spot he needed.
Connor arched an eyebrow, then unsheathed the sword, "Don't worry, Palmer, I won't actually hurt you."
Jimmy nodded, but still looked concerned.
Nico watched, called out what block the victim must have used, watching as Connor naturally reacted to it in the Roman way, stopping when he got to the stab that would kill Jimmy, and which almost definitely—
"That's why the angle is so weird. It's a sword thrust," Ducky said, getting closer, "But why would a petty officer be in a sword fight?"
Nico shook his head, "I only know two places that teach that type of sword-play. Connor, let's go through it again. This time I'll play the victim." He grabbed a sword from their wall display.
"Those are real swords," Ellie said, her concern growing.
"Don't worry, we actually know what we're doing," Connor reassured, "I've been training in sword play since I was nine, and he's been training with it since he was…ten?"
"Something like that," Nico responded easily.
Connor nodded, then took up the stance once again, "Try not to kill me, Di Angelo."
Nico smirked, "I'm playing the victim remember? Go through it again. Faster. Abby, record it."
Abby nodded, realizing the importance of what they were doing right now.
Connor started again, still going slower than they would if they were actually sparring, but still fast and accurate, fighting in the style of a Roman legionnaire.
They ran through it, with Nico defending himself in the roman way…then realized that it wasn't right.
"Connor, Alpha-Beta-Gamma."
Connor withdrew slightly, then came back, fighting in the greek style.
Nico did an advanced Roman move that Reyna and Jason had taught him, and that—as Connor immediately did—Nico had outwitted in the usual Greek way. Stepping in, going for a deadly swipe at the side.
But because of the close proximity of the couch, the victim and murderer stumbled and instead of the swipe to the side, which the murdered could get away from…
Connor was much faster than the murderer, thankfully, and caught himself on the couch. "Good?"
Nico nodded, accepting the hand up. "Ancient Greek fighting against Ancient Roman fighting style. Of course it would be this."
Connor shook his head, "Not good, man. Not good."
"You said that there are only two places that teach these fighting styles?" Gibbs asked.
Nico sighed, "That I know of, and only because I went there. We went there. Sh—" He stopped himself when he saw Connor adjust his grip on his sword. "—oot. I'll get you the director's number."
Connor had an apprehensive look.
Nico understood why. It was hard enough for halfbloods to stay safe, and for camp to protect them. Not only were they seeing evidence that there was a fight between a roman and a greek, but that a greek had killed someone, and they were bringing the attention of a federal agency to their safe place. This was just bad news all around. Nico shouldn't have said anything about what he had realized until he had reached work again.
"I better go check on the grill." Connor left, looking a little upset.
"You two went there?" McGee asked, "So they would talk to you?"
Nico shifted, "I don't know…they would talk to me, but I'm not exactly a good candidate to be asking questions. Mr. Brunner would probably cooperate easily, might even come in to help us. Or at least send a representative."
"Food's done. Let's eat while it's hot." Connor brought in a platter of food.
Everyone got plates of food and found seats, still sort of talking work.
Nico was carefully avoiding telling them about the camp, and changing the subject to a different aspect of the case, then off that track to more interesting topics like movies, then sports, and finally onto whatever seemed to please everyone.
It became comfortable once again, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Connor was an expert conversationalist, and he had a way of drawing everyone out of their shells. He made people feel all comfortable.
And He and Gibbs got along really well. Surprisingly well.
Nico was ready to write this dinner off as a success.
Connor's phone rang, loudly, and he scrambled out of his seat to grab it, "Holy Hera, that's loud. Hello?"
Nico shook his head, "I've got to hide the Hercules movie."
Tim looked amused, so did everyone really, "He watch Disney movies a lot?"
"His niece adores that movie, so we've been watching it every time she's over," Nico explained, "Though, he does have a Disney CD in his car."
"Nico," Connor said sharply, "A word."
Nico hesitated, but recognized the urgency in Connor as soon as the older man switched to speaking in Ancient Greek to the person on the phone. Something about battle.
That wasn't good.
Nico excused himself, "I'll be right back. It's probably nothing."
"Of course," Ellie gave him a smile.
He walked back to where Connor was hanging up his phone, "What the heck, Connor?"
"Clarisse is dead," Connor stated bluntly.
Nico froze, "What? But she's…hang on, she was pregnant…"
"They saved the baby, but I have to head out there. Chris is hospitalized, critical condition. Chiron wants me to head out, do what I can. Be there for the baby."
Nico closed his eyes, "They think he's going to die as well."
"Yeah, they do. He's awake, I have to hurry. Chiron already booked me a ticket there. You'll be on your own for a while. I know the timing isn't the greatest, but I'm the closest thing to family that Chris had, and I'm the baby's godfather. Clarisse wanted it that way. Couldn't tell you why, but it is what it is. I have to leave, now." Connor's face was sad.
Nico gave him a hug, "I get it. Call me when you get there. I'll tell our guests why you had to leave."
Connor kissed the top of his head, "Thanks, Nico." He squeezed, then released and started quickly packing.
Nico went back out, shaking his head, "Sorry. Some friends of ours were in an accident or something. She died, he's in critical condition and they have a baby. Connor has to fly out to take care of their baby." It was hitting him harder than he thought it would.
"Oh no!" Abby looked distraught, "Was the baby hurt?"
Nico shook his head, "Not that we know."
"Why is it Connor that's flying out?" Ellie asked, looking confused.
"Um, the guy is technically Connor's brother. Half-brother, on his dead-beat dad's side. They bonded over it, and Connor and Travis were good friends with her, went to summer camp with her for…seven years."
"Ten," Connor corrected, "We were camp counselors together for the summers after we graduated high school as well." He grabbed his book from the living room and his phone charger.
Nico nodded, "Let me know when the funeral arrangements are made. She did a lot for me."
"I know, I will. Dont forget to eat, and lock up at night." Connor grabbed his last bag, "I'll text you when I land, and again when I find out how things are. Sorry I'm running out on y'all."
"It's fine, you go take care of that baby." Abby got up and gave him a hug.
He smiled a bit, "Hopefully I won't be needed long. Nico, tell my brother where I've gone and that I won't be able to watch Zoey and William?"
Nico nodded, his heart aching at the namesake of his dead fiance.
A car horn honked outside.
"That's my ride. I'll talk to you later, Nico." Connor darted out of the door.
Nico felt anxious. He wasn't a good host. Will or Connor always made it easier. He was awkward—introverted, Will and Connor called it—and didn't know how to keep things moving. For now they could keep eating.
"Did you know her well?"
Nico looked up at Ducky, then back down at his plate and nodded. "Fairly well. She's one of the campers that is a role model for so many others. She came from a crappy situation and made a better life for herself. Her and Chris…they were pillars of strength at camp. She got a degree in criminal psychology and law enforcement. Worked at a juvenile detention center for girls. They loved her, and she loved her work. She got to order people around." He found himself chuckling. "She was always a fighter…it's hard to think that she didn't go out fighting. That she's gone…why do I keep losing people?"
Abby squeezed his hand.
They didn't even know about Bianca, or everyone else that they lost in the wars they fought.
"Mr. Di Angelo, if I didn't know better I'd say you had some war related PTSD." Ducky clasped his hands over the table.
Nico shook his head slightly. "When would I be in a war?" Heck, he'd been in two. Not that he could admit that. "I don't have PTSD."
"Interesting," Ducky said with a smile. His psychological profiling degree was showing.
Nico was pretty terrified of that.
AN: Sorry it's been forever again.