A/N: Yay summer holidays for the win! :D
Please review and enjoy. If anyone is out of character, I apologise. But… This is only the result of a small but feral and feisty plot bunny aptly named Sam running wild havoc around my brain… A lot! So yeah… I blame Sam. And I give Sam credit for this story. Along with my friend Sunah who gave me the original idea which turned into the title and EJ (LadyArnoulet on this site, please check out her stories - they are very good.) who helps with it and gives me a lot of the names. Thank you all and goodnight!
P.S. Don't own anything except some of the characters (the unfamiliar ones of course), what they do and say and what happens to them in this story. Sad, isn't it?
Chapter 20
Once the three agents had left, Abby turned to Ducky who had stayed to deliver some forensic evidence. "So, what have ya got for me, Ducky?" she asked, sighing tiredly. Ducky smiled warmly at the two pregnant women he knew well "Well, my dear, or dears" he added, chuckling softly then suddenly growing more serious "There's no mystery as to what killed him, single gunshot wound to the head. And not surprisingly" he continued, fishing a small canister out of the pocket of his white lab coat and leaning against the table "Some bullet fragments were left over. Can you identify the type of weapon they came from? I think the others will have the weapon back soon for you to test them against as well." Abby nodded, taking the canister from Ducky "Yep! That's easy, eh, Ziva?" Abby replied, winking at both Ducky and Ziva. Placing the piece of bullet on the board, she began typing furiously on her keyboard, wanting to begin analysing the bullet. Ziva smirked tiredly and nodded "Yes. The phrase to use would be it's a 'child's day', correct?" Ducky paused before he figured out what she meant and smiled, patting her shoulder. "Child's play my dear. I do believe you mean child's play."
Ziva considered this and was about to reply when Abby's computer began to beep loudly. Surprised, all three turned to the computer as Abby began typing once again. She frowned in concentration as she tapped away to get to the result. Her computer suddenly beeped again and she stepped back, satisfied, as she read the analysis the machine had given her. "Are the results as you predicted, Abigail?" Ducky asked and Abby nodded "Yep! It's from a 19x9 caliber Glock pistol" Ziva frowned "Isn't that the type of semi-automatic handheld pistol that some police forces and the FBI use?" she stood up and began to pace (as well as she could) around Abby's lab, thinking aloud. "So, that would mean that our perp is- " "An ex police officer who stole the gun he was licensed to use for his work?" Ziva was promptly interrupted by the arrival of Gibbs who placed a strawberry milkshake in front of Abby and handed Ziva a photograph. She looked at her boss with one eyebrow raised "I was going to say somehow connected but yes, that makes sense" Gibbs nodded curtly. "Likely perp – name's Paul Vittorio. He's an ex police officer from the town where the victim lived. DiNozzo and McGee are backgrounding 'im now"
Ziva noticed he was carrying a laptop which he then handed to Ziva, who was still processing everything he had just said "Wasn't that the guy who shot Tony? And vice versa" she added. Gibbs nodded "Yup. He's at Bethesda right now. Secured and drugged" he added, as he watched the disbelieving expression flicker over Ziva's face "And the laptop is for…?" she questioned slowly "You" he replied simply, "To help DiNozzo and McGee in the investigations. You are backgrounding Mr. David Smith" "The victim, dear Ziva" Ducky added by way of explanation. Ziva suddenly understood and nodded, pacing once again as she thought aloud "So McGee would be dealing with the electronic side – bank records, cellphone. Tony… probably won't be doing much... Hmm... I'd guess I'm looking at Mr Smith's family and known associates, yes?" Gibbs nodded "Better get cracking there Ziva. Clock's about to hit 1800 hours… Gonna be a long night…"
Gibbs looked around at that point and, noticing the two piercing glares he was receiving, he smiled and changed his mind, surprising the two women. "I'm oOnly joking, Ziva. This time. Guy's secure enough, almost guaranteed to be the perp – we can pick 'im up tomorrow and finish the case up then" he paused, smiling at the disbelief on Ziva and Abby's faces "What? Go get the others and go home. You lot have had enough drama in the last few months. Now go home!" Ziva and Abby finally managed to compose themselves, smiling at Gibbs. Ducky meanwhile was leaning against the doorframe, watching the trio's interactions. He smiled to himself at the way Gibbs addressed them like his children, and quietly slipped out of the lab, leaving the three of them to it.
*
Ziva and Abby could not believe what Gibbs was saying and the disbelief still clearly evident on their faces. "Go!" Gibbs growled a little firmer this time. The two women looked at each other and shrugged, getting up and following a little behind Gibbs as he left to visit Ducky. Ziva lingered a little, pausing to look at the calendar, quiet and deep in thought. They left Gibbs heading to Ducky's lab and caught the elevator up to the bullpen.