''Hey, boss.''

''Ah, hello, Agent Gibbs'' the second one added, both men focused on what used to be Abby's lab table, hundreds of dark pieces lying on it.

Tim closed one eye and raised the hand prisoner of his white glove in the air, now looking stupidly happy.

''What are you doing ?'' Gibbs asked, neutral.

''Mrs Swanson's phone. I found it.''

''What ? In the middle of this ?'' Jethro sighed, pointing a finger at the numerous pieces.

''The SIM card, boss" Tim explained, smiling. ''Look at this. The corners are a little damaged here and there, but I'm pretty sure I can still do something.''

''Well, I can't see anything anymore'' Rowanson continued. "I squinted my eyes so much I think I'm gonna have a headache.''

''Yeah, tell me about it...''

''Couldn't his telephone operator have given us a copy of his messages ?''

''I already called them, boss. Now what I hope to do with this is to find how someone hacked the item and pretended it was Officer Swanson speaking.''

Jethro took a new sip of his coffee and approached the duet a bit closer, staring at the small SIM card his agent was showing him. He furrowed an eyebrow and tried focusing more on the recent discovery, but things always remained the same when it came to electronics : he had no damn idea how this could be useful.

''Can you check the infos all by yourself ?'' he finally asked, ready to leave.

''Of course, boss'' Tim instantly answered, taking off his gloves. "I can work on it upstairs, I only need to...''

''I meant him'' Jethro corrected, raising his head in Rowanson's direction.

''Of course, Agent Gibbs.''

''Alright. Let's go, then.''

Tim froze for a second and took a look at Jethro, unsatisfied.

''Wait, boss, I can perfectly do it. As you know, accessing data is part of my job.''

''I know'' Gibbs simply pronounced and drank again, still inviting Tim to follow him.

McGee then obeyed and followed Jethro to somewhere he had no idea about, disappointed. Indeed, after all the time they had spent looking for that SIM card with Rowanson, including the fact that he had known about where was Mrs Swanson's phone...he couldn't help but feel frustration running through his veins.

— — — — — — — — — —

''Hey, Ducky'' Tim slightly smiled as he entered the ME's work place, still wondering why he was here.

''Ah, hello, young lad, I am glad to see you there. Well, then I leave you both to it, I am gonna look for Ziva and give a call to Mr Palmer, as well. Will you tell Mr Rowanson, too, or should I, Jethro ?''

Gibbs nodded a different way as if to say 'later' and silently watched Ducky head outside and leave the space they were all standing in.

''Wait, why is he... Boss, are we supposed to have a meeting or something ?''

''McGee.''

''Why there, boss ?'' Tim mumbled a bit. ''You know I usually feel sick in th...''

He felt the hand on his shoulder but no emotion came out of it. Or maybe was he supposed to feel something, himself ? The palm left its spot after some time and he heard Jethro's footsteps move from the entrance to one of the silver refrigerated cells, finally understanding. Gibbs then begun speaking slowly, as if to show respect and comfort.

''Everyone is gonna come over and hear the news, but I thought you might be the first to know about this.'' He wrapped his hand around the handle. "They called earlier, after they contacted the family. McGee, Bo..."

"I know, boss."

Gibbs furrowed an eyebrow and momentarily delayed the small door's opening, facing his agent.

''How ?''

Tim looked away from Jethro and pressed his fingers on one of Ducky's tables, thinking. He didn't really know if Gibbs' question was due to simple curiosity or a blame for what he already knew.

''When I've come to my senses in Bethesda, I asked for him. Boss, he was covered in burns, they weren't sure he would make it. They didn't say anything specific, but I'm not stupid, boss. I've faced enough situations to know how some people end up after such trauma.''

''Why didn't you call me ?''

''A nurse told me you visited me, when I was quite in a daze. I'm pretty sure you knew both diagnostics'' Tim added, slightly smiling.

''I mean after that. When you heard, yourself, about the pronostic.''

The young agent softly raised both arms in the air, thinking.

''I don't know. I was tired, and I needed to rest. That's all. It had been quite a day, you know.''

''I know.''

Jethro felt like Tim could have maybe said something else if they hadn't been bothered by anyone, but they both suddenly heard someone coming in their direction. A man quickly walked near the automatic doors and Tim immediately focused again on where he really was, making a few steps backward.

''Can I go and work on Mrs Swanson's phone, boss ? Please ? I'd rather not see him like this.''

Gibbs sighed and strangely looked at his agent, disconcerted. McGee's face almost seemed empty of any feeling, the man obviously being mostly preoccupied by his duties...

''Okay. Go.''

''Thanks, boss'' Tim answered straight away and nodded, his body's movement creating a new space between both doors.

He took a few steps forward until the voice resonated again inside.

''Hey'' he said a bit louder, this time, Tim turning back in order to face him. ''Is this a joke, McGee ?''

''What's wrong...?''

''What's wrong ? Really, McGee ? You're not gonna see the man who died in front of you, nor at least react to his death ?''

''I have to go, boss.''

''What, you're so busy you don't have two minutes to spare for your former colleague ?''

''Standing here next to Bower's dead body isn't gonna help find our killer'' Tim retorted, exhaling deeply.

"Which one, McGee ? You've been so busy working I don't even know which case you're on.''

''I'd better go'' Tim insisted, bored, already looking away.

''Yeah'' Gibbs reacted from afar. ''Go home !''

Tim didn't listen to the man's voice and barely noticed Ziva's face, feeling in the end extremely thankful for her arrival. He rubbed his neck and started to leave for the second time, reflexively nodding as he noticed a few more people coming behind. He then definitely let them stay together and simply headed upstairs, desperately looking for the bullpen. Gibbs' tricky discussions... He wasn't soulless, he just didn't like to converse about dead people when there was work to do, that's all.