NCIS Season 9

Episode 9.9.1

Paradox

By: Lady JenDragon

Disclaimer: We know the drill!

Author's Notes: Awe…they finally did a SWEET episode with Abby and it felt like NCIS. It was so touching. May the remainder of the season see similar writing!There's so much to do with these characters! Okay…onward with my own version of NCIS!

Do tell me if something's off, a character doesn't feel right or there are serious editorial errors. Guess I could use an editor every now and then. All criticism is considered constructive here.

PARADOX

Part One

Chapter One

Bethesda Medical Center Psyche Ward appeared calm and quiet at eight o'clock in the evening. Many of the patients were settled in their rooms for the night. Only a few were allowed to stay out past eight since they were usually the least dangerous of the building. One of them stood below the television aware of the events unfolding under the media coverage. She wore a white tank top and white pajama pants. Her face was grotesquely disfigured on the right side leaving hardly any visible beauty she once possessed. The lone woman stared up into the newscaster's face.

The pretty, young anchorwoman was dressed in a blood red suit with white shirt and pearl earrings.

"AND THE LATEST NEWS, SERIAL KILLER RYAN NICKSON, WELL KNOWN AS THE D.C. HAUNT KILLER WILL BE IN ROUTE EARLY TOMORROW MORNING TO THE SUPERIOR COURTS IN WASHINGTON D.C. TO ATTEND A FINAL APPEAL HEARING SINCE NEW EVIDENCE CAME TO LIGHT LAST YEAR. HE'S CLAIMED THAT HE IS INNOCENT OF THE CRIMES HE WAS CONVICTED MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS AGO. HOWEVER, MANY IN THE D.A.'S OFFICE SUSPECT THIS IS JUST AN ATTEMPT TO CAUSE A MEDIA FRENZY DESIGNED TO ONLY REMIND THE PUBLIC OF THE TERROR THAT KEPT MANY IN THEIR HOMES OVER THAT INTENSE SUMMER AND FALL. MORE THAN TWENY YEARS HAVE PASSED AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE COURTS HAVE ALLOWED TO HEAR THE EVIDENCE THAT NICKSON'S LEGAL TEAM CLAIMS TO HAVE FOUND THAT POINTS TO HIS INNOCENCE. THE ONLY SURVIVOR FROM HIS REIGN OF TERROR WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT. IN FACT, SHE HAS BEEN OUT OF THE PUBLIC SPOTLIGHT THESE LAST TEN YEARS AFTER A VICIOUS ATTACK DURING A TRAINING MISSION. THE COURTS EXPECT A LARGE TURNOUT OF PROTESTORS TOMORROW MORNING UPON NICKSON'S ARRIVAL TO PROTEST THE HIGH COURT'S DECISION TO HEAR THE NEW EVIDENCE. IN OTHER NEWS…"

The woman seemingly stood frozen at the news. She could read between the lines. There was obvious worry and concern in her body language that made every muscle suddenly tense. Her right hand was fisted tightly, gently patted against her thigh in a silent rhythm. She began to pace back and forth not as a mental patient. But someone worried for personal safety.

She glanced up at the screen and whispered. "He's coming for me."

The story continued to unfold on the screen and she watched eagerly. She stared up at the TV until an orderly walked up. He was a thin man with light brown hair, sunken eyes and darkly circled, his features fine but average and severely scarred from teenage acne. But he was a kind guy who usually offered advice to the occasional patient or two.

"It's okay, Gwen." Ralph smiled. "Nothing will happen to the bastard he doesn't deserve."

"The courts are listening to him." She pointed out.

"Everyone has a right to be heard." But Ralph disagreed. "He's good at manipulation, that one is. Lawyers listen to him because they think he's going to make them a household name. All the evidence proved his guilt. It's irrefutable. This is just a publicity stunt. A last ditch effort to save his ass from the needles waiting with his name on it."

"You believe he's got an ulterior motive?" Her voice was quiet.

"He's always got something on his mind." He nodded.

Gwen said nothing pondering.

"Time for lights out." Ralph reached up and turned off the television. "Always bad news they show. Nothing good ever comes from them over-paid people." He leaned towards her and whispered. "No one knows you're here."

The woman simply known as Gwen stood unconvinced. She nodded towards Ralph then decided it was time to leave. As she walked under the ceiling lights, her red hair popped then dimmed as she padded her way down the hall.

Chapter Two

Two kids in jeans and t-shirts with light coats chased one another through the forest along the wide dirt trail. It was a glorious Tuesday morning with overcast and temperatures in the mid-sixties. For once, nature agreed sending people outside on this wonderful fall morning.

Jacob Nameth glided along the dirt path on his push scooter. "Come on!"

His African-American features and medium build for his age range made him capable of out running his friend. Jack Addison, the lanky Caucasian kid behind him suddenly skidded to a halt on his own scooter. He thought he saw something white a few trees back.

"Wait Jake! There's something over here!"

Jacob backtracked to Jack wondering what he thought he saw this time and teased him often. "See another Sasquatch again?"

Jack pointed his face surprised by the find. "Look!"

Jacob looked at the woman dressed in white dangling from a thick branch, her head looking down from a rope tied in a figure eight before the knot. Her arms hung at her side as if she waiting for someone to take her down. Her fingers were curled slightly, her index finger pointed towards the ground. It appeared she was sleeping but the boys knew better.

"That's not…good." Jacob agreed for once.

The two boys backed up several steps and then ran for it. Neither said a word as the scooter was left behind to put some distance between them and the scene. But they would do the right thing.

Chapter Three

Ziva watched Tony do his morning grooming routine at his desk. Tony sat in front of a mirror as he looked closely at his skin in the reflection. He was seriously searching for anything that might cause a minor inflammation or a zit to appear out of nowhere.

Ziva sat back behind her desk amused. "After all these years, haven't you learned to do that at home?"

Tony did not even give her a glance. "I didn't have enough time to groom myself if I didn't want to be late, Ziva. It's my first official day back on duty."

She pouted her lips. "So I wouldn't get to drive?"

He smiled widely at her. "The perks of being senior field agent."

McGee walked in with four coffees in a drink holder, his daily bag hung on his shoulder. He distributed each coffee as he passed their desks, aiming for his own knowing there would be nothing waiting for him on the Reaper. The third cup he took from the holder and planted on Gibbs' desk despite their leader being noticeably absent this morning.

McGee smirked as he sat down with his own coffee and discarded the drink holder in his wastebasket. "Still grooming?"

"He never stopped." Ziva smiled folding her hands together. "Do you see all that hair?"

Tony suddenly became self-conscious.

Ziva motioned across her chest with a finger then pressed both palms on either side of her face and made a horrified expression. Tony glared at her knowing it would make him more self-conscious then looked quickly into the mirror at his face and then his hair. Ziva laughed at her desk.

Tim laughed silently enjoying these moments since his two teammates almost died a few weeks back during their first encounter with the Reaper that ended in an explosion. The alley was rigged to end the pursuit the Reaper arranged with NCIS on purpose. Tony dived and covered Ziva with his own body to keep his partner safe. Dr. Hature, Hach, went into surgery to aid with the removal of the debris from Tony and took charge of his recovery since she was a member of NCIS.

"Gear up!" Came the morning call.

Gibbs stormed through the office past McGee's desk in a blue jacket, a light blue polo with the Gibbs t-shirt beneath, dark charcoal gray slacks and his boots. He went to his desk, opened the drawer removing his SIG and badge then noted the new coffee on the desk.

Setting his coffee cup down and picking up the one Tim delivered, he continued. "Let's go! Got a hanging petty officer."

Tony, Ziva and McGee grabbed their field bags, weapons, and IDs. McGee picked up the phone and dialed quickly. The other party picked up replying they were already aware of the situation. Setting the phone down, he walked away from his desk.

"Ducky's already on his way, boss." McGee checked his watch to note the time.

McGee had to run to catch up to the others already at the elevator waiting for him. He barely made it before the doors closed.

Chapter Four

McGee and Ziva carried the equipment towards the crime scene through the forest. Gibbs led with Tony following their leader. Dr. Mallard and Mr. Palmer dressed in coverall suits were already on scene watching the LEO's work around the hanging corpse of the female in white t-shirt and pajama pants. Her red hair glistened in the sun.

Gibbs noted the scene. "What have we got, Duck?"

Ducky stood with his hands on his hips obviously annoyed he was kept from the body. "Nothing as of this moment. I haven't been able to get near the body yet. We've been waiting for you to arrive, Jethro."

Ziva and McGee began taking photographs of the crime scene then set about collecting evidence following bag-and-tag protocols. Tim took out a notepad for some quick scene sketching, finding something familiar about the victim but he could not place why she felt familiar. Tony stood talking to the kids who found the body taking their statements.

"DiNozzo drove." Gibbs suspected Ducky wanted to wait for him.

"Ha." Ducky began his story. "An excellent start for a first day back. I feel this reminds me of that case ten years ago of the poor Commander who stumbled into a lesbian bar."

Gibbs looked to the Doctor. "How many times are you going to tell that story, Duck?"

Ducky smiled. "It never gets old, Jethro."

Jimmy Palmer stared intensely at the body now being removed from the tree. "It doesn't seem like there's any extraneous injuries to the body, Dr. Mallard."

Ducky leaned closer for a better look. "I don't see anything amiss either, Mr. Palmer. From the outward appearance, I'd say it looks like we have a suicide here. Once we get her home I can give you more answers, Jethro."

"The sooner the better." Gibbs moved several feet before stopping, checking the numbers on the ground where some evidence was found.

McGee walked over to Ducky and Gibbs. Tony followed McGee and joined the group having completed his initial interviews with the witnesses.

McGee nodded. "Okay. You can have her, doctor. We got everything we need now."

Ziva walked over the Gibbs. "We just ran her prints. Gwendolyn Benack, petty officer but there's no other information in the file. No background, no current address, nothing. Her records were sealed by order of the SecNav." She paused to glance at Gibbs. "And the Director of NCIS…Morrow not Vance."

Gibbs nodded knowing something was special about this one. Something jogged his memory of a disfigured woman yet he could not clearly recall the exact connection. He took a drink from his coffee as he sifted through his memories.

Tony flipped through his notebook noting the disfigured face. "Our sailor certainly looks like she's been through hell. Her face is…"

Ducky realized he had seen these wounds before but where eluded him. "Nothing recent, I assure you."

He nodded wondering what the petty officer went through to become like that. "The kids, Jacob Nameth and Jack Addison discovered the body shortly after eight twenty on their way to the park. They were going for a game of baseball with their friends. They cut through the crazy people's yard since it's a quick shortcut. When they found her, they left their scooters behind and immediately called police who then called us." Tony squirmed at the distortion of the face. "Damn, that's…"

"Watch what you say, Anthony." Ducky warned. "Those who speak ill of the dead often find themselves on the dark side of karma."

Tony pursed his lips and shrugged. "Is this some relation to bad luck I should be worried about?"

"All it means is show some respect." Ducky requested politely. "She's had a tough life. Though some might argue yours hasn't been easy these past few weeks since meeting the Reaper."

"Yeah." Tony understood Ducky's meaning.

There was nothing more to say so he nodded then winced looking at the woman's scarred face again. He turned away and walked off quickly to join Ziva in evidence collecting. McGee smiled and continued with his task.

Ducky noticed Jimmy Palmer was distracted from his duties. "Any idea where she's from, Mr. Palmer?

Jimmy snapped back to reality. "Judging from her outfit, my guess is the local psyche ward."

Ducky glanced at Gibbs. "Very good, Mr. Palmer."

Gibbs patted Ducky on his way back to the car. "I'll see you later."

He suspected where the petty officer resided since they were on the Bethesda Medical center grounds. The psyche ward was not far from this location and made the most sense to begin his search there. It was time to pay someone a visit that could answer some questions.

Chapter Five

Inside the Bethesda Psyche Ward, Gibbs walked beside a forty-something doctor in a white coat, black slacks and white shirt with a green tie. They walked down the hall towards the social room of the psyche ward. They passed patient rooms and busy nursing and orderly staff.

The Doctor appeared perplexed. "We changed her name upon entry to keep her identity anonymous. Even if I could tell you what her real name is I could lose my license. You'll need a warrant to unseal those records, Agent Gibbs." He paused then changed the subject wanting to cooperate as much as possible. "I don't understand how Miss Benack escaped last night."

"There's no need for the warrant. I know who she is." Gibbs eyed every patient he passed. "How long has she been under your care, Doctor Zackey?"

He sighed relieved Agent Gibbs figured it out. "Miss Benack wasn't under anyone's care during her stay." Dr. Zackey was an honest man even if he was a bit flustered at having NCIS show up out of the blue this morning to tell him one of his tenants was missing, now dead, and no one knew about it. "We call them tenants, those who check themselves in here to keep the outside world away from them."

Gibbs frowned. "She's in a psyche ward."

Dr. Zackey shrugged. "It was decided that she needed a place away from society. After her attack by her CO, her mental stability was questioned, yes. However, she recovered quickly. Once we declared her a non-threat to herself and the public we tried to release her but she didn't want to leave the safety of the ward. She often said it was the perfect place to hide. No one could or would find her here."

Gibbs noted the environment in the ward where Petty Officer Benack resided. "Did she mention who wouldn't find her here?"

They passed a set of double doors. Gibbs searched for clues but found nothing that immediately popped. Everything appeared serene and calm.

"Miss Benack was a private person and rarely shared her inner thoughts with any of the staff." Dr. Zackey sighed. "We assumed it was her CO, Ron Banks, since he attacked her. She fought him off and won."

Gibbs shrugged. "I would've killed him."

Zackey smiled. "She almost did, caused severe wounds to him. Nearly cut his lungs out."

Gibbs smirked. "Good for her. No sign of any psychological trauma following the attack?"

It was clear Dr. Zackey liked Miss Benack. "Initially I thought so but she recovered remarkably well. I remained skeptical after our first six months in session. After her history, I thought there would be lingering nightmares and delusions from the attack. But she showed no sign of distress in the following months. My hands were tied legally there. The FBI wouldn't put her in witness protection so instead she asked if she could stay here until she could figure things out. She always felt safe here. My superiors agreed to allow her to stay."

"And you let her?" Gibbs found that odd.

He shrugged again. "It's the least we could do for one of our own. I doubt Ron Banks would bother seeking her out now. No one knows she's here…was here."

Gibbs needed more to go on. "Did she have any friends in the ward?"

He shook his head. "I'm afraid not. Miss Benack knew that to keep her location secret, it was best not to let anyone know where she was. None of the other patients bothered her and she left them alone. She was a model tenant."

Gibbs had much to think about. "For being a non-patient, was there any family who came to see her?"

"Just a mother but she died last year in a car accident, I think she said." Zackey paused remembering only a few details. "Miss Benack went to the funeral and returned here immediately afterwards. I don't know of any other family members who knew she was here."

"No siblings?" Gibbs had to cross off the list of questions. "What about her father?"

Again Zackey shook his head. "None that I'm aware of, Agent Gibbs. If you don't mind, I have a group session in ten minutes. I need time to prepare. Her room is the last one down the hall to the left. However, I doubt you'll find anything of interest there. She was good at keeping secrets, Agent Gibbs."

Gibbs felt something was off. "If I have any more questions, I know where to find you."

He nodded towards the agent. "You can call me anytime, Agent Gibbs. I'll make myself available if you need anything else." Dr. Zackey paused. "Gwen was showing the will to leave here, Agent Gibbs."

"You think she would've left?"

Zackey nodded. "I do believe that. Find her killer please, Agent Gibbs." He shook his head. "This is one person who didn't deserve this."

Gibbs nodded and left Dr. Zackey to the rest of his daily schedule. "They never do."

Chapter Six

McGee took a photo and did one last visual sweep of the room when Gibbs filled the threshold. He looked around the tiny room as McGee took several more pictures. There was little to nothing here in the room to indicate that a long-term tenant lived here at the Bethesda Psyche Ward. Miss Benack kept her secrets away from others. She feared someone finding her and others knowing about it.

McGee shrugged. "I found nothing suspicious in her room. I've bagged a few things but she kept her room clean and spotless."

Gibbs felt something was off but could not lay a finger on it. "I can see that, Tim."

Tim initially thought that and searched everything in the room for something remotely like a letter, written or typed. "Nothing like a suicide letter either."

Gibbs did not want to spend too much time here. "Bag everything and send it to Abby."

McGee hesitated. "Uh…Abby's off again to upstate New York. She's been..."

Gibbs glared at McGee knowing that meant Dr. Hature was back working with the team. A fact that still left a bitter taste in his mouth. He got the distinct feeling the smartest woman at NCIS despised him for some reason though it was never stated 'why'. He had yet to ask but then, did he really want to know? The younger agent took a deep breath and nodded.

"Just get it to the lab, McGee."

Gibbs watched McGee continue with job then nodded he was done for the time being. His eyes lower to the floor. He left the room for McGee to finish the remainder of the sweep. There was something that bothered him about the Petty Officer.

Chapter Seven

Gibbs entered the office with a fresh large coffee in his hand. His last cup went empty quickly since his visit to the Psyche Ward. He breezed past Tony and Ziva then sat behind his desk. On a pause, he looked to his team for answers.

Gibbs hesitated then asked. "Well?"

McGee spoke up first. "Boss, there's nothing on Petty Officer Gwendolyn Benack."

"Stillman." Gibbs offered. "Rerun it."

McGee frowned but did as he was told and was flabbergasted at what he found. "Petty Officer Gwendolyn Stillman was honorably discharged from the Navy ten years ago for psychological trauma. Her CO at the time, Captain Ron Banks, was dishonorably discharged after he tried to rape the petty officer. She got some serious injuries but then so did he during the attack. Her CO was high on cocaine at the time. He works at a mechanics shop in northern Virginia now. Petty Officer Stillman was disfigured as a result of the attack and was admitted to the psyche ward at Bethesda for evaluation."

Tony sighed almost sad. "And she never left."

Ziva nodded in agreement. "Explains the facial trauma we saw at the scene. She fought hard despite her injuries."

Tony held up his notebook. "She's also the famous Stillman from the DC Haunt serial murder case." That caught Gibbs attention. "Twenty-two years ago, she was the only survivor of serial killer, Ryan Nickson, at the age of fifteen."

Gibbs did not make the connection. "Stillman?"

Tony paused. "You know the case, boss?"

Gibbs shook his head. "The FBI botched it and the media had a field day. Before my time at NCIS. It was a department nightmare for years. He's due in DC today."

McGee tapped his fingers finding the information he sought. "Our old friend, a rookie FBI Agent back then, T.C. Fornell was the fourth agent assigned to the case."

Tony smirked then said sarcastically. "He does pop up at the strangest times, doesn't he boss?"

Gibbs ignored DiNozzo.

Ziva's face turned to an expression of surprise as she typed in the name and hit 'search'. "Gibbs! Nickson made a narrow escape this morning. His transport bus overturned on its way to the DC courts. He's been on the run since seven-thirty this morning."

"Ryan Nickson's escaped and his only survivor just happens to commit suicide." Gibbs thought it was more than coincidence.

"The media gets wind of this…" Tony did not have to finish the rest.

McGee shook his head bringing up the location of the bus on the plasma screen for the team to look at the data he was running at the moment. "Plausible but unlikely. Where the bus overturned is more than sixteen miles from Bethesda. I hate to say it, but Nickson couldn't have done this even if he knew how to run a two-minute mile. Thirty minutes to get to Bethesda hang a Petty Officer and leave without being seen? That's not enough time, boss."

Tony glared at McGee. "And how do you know that, McAntiRun?"

McGee smirked and gave his head a little attitude nod. "From eyewitness accounts he was headed in the opposite direction of Bethesda Medical Center." He lifted his eyebrows at Tony. "Bet I could still beat you in a race, Tony."

Gibbs knew not to take too much for granted at the moment. "What about the kids who found the body?"

Tony perked up. "They didn't see anything or anyone around the crime scene. They were on their way to the park when they found the body hanging."

Gibbs suddenly left his desk and the Gibbs' Den. Tony, McGee and Ziva looked between one another. Tim smiled then set his attention on DiNozzo.

"Awe, look what you did Tony!" McGee smiled. "You made Gibbs leave."

Tony took a deep breath then sulked.

Chapter Eight

Ducky shut the door on drawer 110. He turned and leaned against the door somewhat disturbed by his latest victim. It was rare that a case hit home and this one was certainly one of them. Taking a deep breath, he sighed. Looking up, he found Gibbs watching him.

Gibbs held his coffee cup in his right hand. "What have you got, Duck?"

Ducky shook his head grimly. "I never thought I'd see the Stillman girl in my autopsy room, Jethro. What that girl must've gone through in her life."

"Duck, it's nothing personal."

He disagreed. "It was very personal for me back then."

Gibbs frowned. "You assisted on the DC Haunt murders?"

Nodding his head, Ducky moved to sit down in the chair at the tiny assistant's desk near the drawers Jimmy set up this morning. "Much to my disgust, yes. I was brought in later on during the investigation. The other M.E. was overwhelmed and needed a break. NCIS kindly offered their services readily back then. They aren't nearly as willing these days. It was difficult for me back then since I was a still a young man. I wanted to roam the world. I believe I was returning from France at the time."

Gibbs did not come for stories. "Ducky. What. Have. You. Got?"

His head perked up. "Oh yes, yes." Pausing before continuing. "Back to the present. I'm afraid nothing unusual. From first glance, I'd confirm my initial guess of suicide."

He did not find comfort in that assessment. "You think its suicide?"

"Cause of death is strangulation." Ducky nodded 'yes-no'. "However, there was the lack of bruising on her hands and feet that causes me to doubt my initial assessment."

He knew Ducky would find the truth. "Means she didn't get up there by herself."

Ducky never found solace in the dead. "Certainly not. But someone wanted us to think she got up there by herself."

Gibbs agreed. "There would have been scrapes and cuts on her hands from climbing the tree."

Ducky nodded. "Plus the tree she tied the rope to was a bit thick for someone her size. Someone had to help her up there either just before her death or just after. I can't tell from the wounds. Time-of-Death was a six-forty this morning, Jethro. Nickson's bus overturned at seven thirty. He didn't do this."

"But we still need to catch him." Gibbs knew one case out weighed the other. Ducky's assessment left quite a few questions. "So who would want the survivor of the DC Haunt murders dead?"

Ducky frowned. "Not Ryan Nickson. He wasn't finished with her yet."

Gibbs thought this as well. "He would've tried again though."

Gibbs left the room onto his next target.

Chapter Nine

Gibbs entered the Forensics Lab, and rather surprised, to find his Goth forensic scientist standing at her computer. He smiled that she was back where she belonged despite being told she was off again on the Perfecto case. The glass enclosure would be in the lab for another few weeks until the leak was confirmed found and repaired then the wall repaired and painted.

Gibbs liked having Abby back. The computer screens searched the AFIS database in one window, chemical analysis popped up in another window and three photos were laid out side-by-side up top to complete the analytical portion of his visit. Abby turned towards the door suddenly alarmed.

"Geez, Gibbs!" A hand over her heart. "Make some noise when you come in next time! You scared me!"

He smiled and replied. "I thought you were in upstate New York?"

Abby appeared disappointed. "I was. Evidence trail went cold again last night so I came back." She clenched her fists together and raised them skyward. "It's so frustrating!" She brightened then and circled her arms until her palms were face-up. "Have you seen my new lab?"

Gibbs glanced around quickly and felt it appeared the same as it always had. "Yeah."

Abby clapped her hands happily. "She's amazing, isn't she? Hach hooked me up with all the latest top of the line equipment! I don't know how she did it! I'm so psyched! My new master mass spectrometer is unbelievably fast! It'll cut my analysis time in half now!" She could almost dance. "I'm so glad I had time to come check everything out before we got the case this morning!"

Gibbs took a drink of his coffee. "Did Ducky send you anything?"

Abby lost her enthusiasm suddenly. Her foot twisted to the side and she dropped her shoulder. This brought on the Abby sigh and it was deep. She turned away from Gibbs.

"I checked everything from Stillman's room, got nothing but her prints. No one else was in there recently, not even the cleaning crew. Ducky also sent me some tissue samples to confirm a DNA match. He wanted to be sure since her CO disfigured her face so badly after that attack. Wouldn't want to have the wrong person identified and they pop up alive later on, now would we? Our Ducky doesn't make mistakes." Abby needed to change the subject. "Anyway, I'm glad she didn't give up. I'd have killed him myself personally, her CO. But you know, all the imposters we've had over the years, I didn't wanna screw this one up. The DNA's still running and the prints are running through AFIS."

"Abby, it's okay." Gibbs put an arm around her and kissed her forehead. "You'll catch the bastard."

Abby wanted to scream moving to the plasma screen for answers. "I'm glad you feel that way, Gibbs. Right now I feel like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. Both in my own lab and on the Perfecto case."

Gibbs followed and turned Abby to face him.

"He'll mess up eventually, Abs." Gibbs knew she wanted to desperately catch Perfecto. "Pray a victim fights him off like Petty Officer Stillman did with hers and gives you what you need to catch his ass."

There was a sudden crash of glass and wood echoing through out the lab. Gibbs glanced around looking for the damage, his hand on his SIG hilt, the other firmly around his coffee.

Abby smiled, her gloominess over. "Relax, Gibbs! It's just my new master mass spectrometer. Hach thought it'd be funny to have a crash sound to signal my results. Don't you just love it?"

"Yeah…" Was all he knew how to say in this moment of confusion.

He crossed the floor and stood next to Abby reading the mass spectrometer readout. According to Abby's face there was nothing conclusive from the samples she ran from this morning's crime scene. Another beep from the computer indicated results from the AFIS search.

Gibbs squinted back at the computer screen unable to read it completely despite squinting. "You ran an open search through AFIS for DNA?"

Abby shrugged and went to her calling computer. "Ducky told me to in case something unusual popped up. I wasn't sure what his motives were but I'm more than glad to do as he asks. He doesn't ask for much very often, our Ducky."

Gibbs noted something was off. "What the hell is that?"

Abby was shocked. "What? That's not possible! Two hits from AFIS for the same DNA?" She looked closer and was shocked. "No way!"

Gibbs smiled realizing Ducky knew something he did not. "Yes way."

Two photos appeared on screen one of Petty Officer Gwendolyn Stillman of the Navy and one of Dr. Guinevere Hature of NCIS. Abby stood beside him with both hands over her mouth, eyes bulging.

"We have twins, Gibbs!" Abby did not know how to feel at this moment since one was dead and one was alive, frowning. "Hach never mentioned she had a sister. Let alone a twin one, at that." Abby suddenly had a thought. "I wonder if she knows?"

Gibbs left the lab immediately and slightly annoyed.

Chapter Ten

Ziva arrived back at the office and walked over to her desk. Unsure what was transpiring in their office, she looked to Tony, who sat at his desk, for clarification. Tony shrugged and pointed to Dr. Mallard. McGee tapped away at his computer pretending to work on something important. Clearly they were avoiding being involved in the conversation between Ducky and Gibbs.

Ducky sat calmly in Gibbs' chair facing Jethro who stood in front of the plasma screen. On screen were a picture of Petty Officer Gwendolyn Stillman and Dr. Guinevere Hature. Gibbs turned and leaned towards his friend.

"You knew there were two of them?" Gibbs wanted to be a bit more aggressive.

"Of course." Ducky was surprised by Jethro's anger. "As soon as I completed the autopsy, I realized the bone structure was something I'd seen before. Hach once mentioned her parents divorced when she was a child. At around the age of six, I think. They must've separated them then. I remembered the girl's face and thought Hach reminded me of her." He shrugged. "I did some checking."

Tony stood up at that moment and walked over to Gibbs desk. "Dr. Hature and Petty Officer Stillman are twins?" He whispered with a smile on his face lifting his chin. "My dream fantasy…twins."

Gibbs and Ducky turned and glared at DiNozzo.

"You done, DiNozzo?"

Tony shook himself back to reality. "Sorry, boss."

Ducky reasoned. "Before the disfigurement, yes they were, indeed, identical twins in appearance. During Ryan Nickson's apprehension the girl received fingernail scratches across the right eye. He left three scars, I'm afraid. I found those on our victim."

McGee finally found what he was looking for and transferred it to the plasma for everyone to see. "Captain Samuel Hature, ex-Navy Seal, took one Guinevere Hature into custody, age six." He paused. "I didn't know Hach's first name was Guinevere." Tim paused at Gibbs' expression. "Not important. His ex-wife took Gwendolyn in the divorce. The attack by her CO left the right side of her face barely recognizable."

Ducky felt a little pang of pity for Gwendolyn Hature Stillman. "Not even plastic surgeons could piece what was left back together again."

Ziva was amazed. "What she must've gone through."

Gibbs looked at DiNozzo. "Find Dr. Hature!"

Hach walked towards the office from the direction of the lab. "Relax. I'm right here, Agent Gibbs."

Ziva, McGee, Dr. Mallard, Gibbs, and Tony faced Dr. Hature now standing next to McGee's desk. Her angle was one where she could not immediately see the plasma. Judging from the look in everyone's eyes, something was going on with their recent case. Moving forward she turned to find the name of a Gwendolyn Stillman on the screen.

Tony went all smiles at her, his arms out wide in a 'come get a hug' manner. "Hach!"

"Can it, DiNozzo." Hach turned and glared at DiNozzo that he lost his fake excitement at seeing her. "Why does everyone think I'm Petty Officer Stillman?"

Ducky stood up, his eyes set on Dr. Hature. "There's a lot you don't seem to know, my dear."

Ducky wondered how much Hach knew about her childhood? Did she know about Gwendolyn? If she knew, then the name would have gotten a very different response. Only the dead were shown here. Hach looked at him then.

"Then I suggest you bring me up to speed, Doctor." Her eyes shifted to Gibbs. "Agent Gibbs." Hach refused to be placated until she knew what was going on, folding her arms.

TO BE CONTINUED…