The several bodies didn't actually move a lot in the bullpen, but the different pairs of arms still gesticulated quite often, the numerous NCIS agents keeping attacking each others with unanswered questions…yes, it was clearly easy for anyone around to understand they were all facing a lot of troubles and had quite a hard time trying to take a decision that wasn't really up to them anymore.
Tim silently thought about the previous talk and about how he felt he had managed running a good interrogation. No spontaneous, unwanted reaction, this time. Good, right ? At least Gibbs hadn't given any bad comments about it…yet.
— …come on, Gibbs, freshly over eighteen, resentful, like Ducky said, and with computing skills ? It has to be our man ! the man's voice brought Tim to reality again.
— And what can I do about it, Tony ? Jethro heavily sighed. I do not have any proofs against him !
Tim took a quick look a his boss. Yeah, Gibbs was definitely not the good guy to talk. He needed answers but hated more than anything to be looking for them with useless, never ending speeches…he was a field agent. He was a Marine.
— Wait, you seem to be forgetting his father, who was the one supposed to have posted the picture of his wife and that dead Marine online ! Ziva added. I have to be dreaming…isn't he supposed to be our suspect number one ? Why are we even discussing that point ?
— But how can you know if one of his sons didn't access his laptop's session, uh ? Tony asked, raising both arms in the air. It's the 21st century, David, everyone can get a password easily.
— You are wearing blenders, Tony !
— 'Blinders', Mrs Carla Hall !
— Oh whatever, Tony ! So what about Mrs Gregson, then ? You talked about Ducky's opinion, right ? So what about what he said concerning the fact that she might have been jealous because she thought she was the only one to matter ? Are you gonna say that women are not capable to kill ?
— Okay, guys, let's have a break for a minute, Tony sighed. God…! We've already spent a lot of time on several cases, that's never been a surprise, but something like this one ? Really, it seemed so easy from the beginning, and now I feel like it's like a huge can of worms.
Thwack !
— You're not paid to be an undecided agent, Dinozzo, and I'm the one telling you all when you can take a break ! Gibbs got mad from behind, slapping him behind the head. So try taking a damn decision or go back to work !
— Of course, boss, Tony jumped. Thank you, boss.
Ziva sticked her tongue out as she walked next to Tony and finally sat down behind her desk, trying to focus again on her screen. They needed a miracle. Otherwise it would be Mr Grovers who'd be responsible for everything, and this whether or not it was true to say so.
Gibbs finally approached Tim's desk and spoke again, tired.
— McGee, he seriously asked, can we really be sure that this picture and threat are coming from this laptop ?
— Well…I'd rather say so, boss, Tim said and raised his head.
— But ?
— What, Tony questioned, there is a 'but' ?
Gibbs heavily exhaled, briefly staring at him before listening to Tim. Tony's facial expression instantly turned neutral and he then waited in turn to get some more informations.
— Well, remember the Wilfried case ?
— What are you talking about again, probie ? the question escaped his mouth. Sorry.
— The Wilfried case, Tony ! Four years ago, we arrested a man who had posted terrorist threats against the United States. The ip address led us to a computer, but it was a complete trick…
— …someone had managed to hack the system and pretend it was coming from this computer, yeah, I remember now, Ziva stood up and walked to McGee's desk, pointing a pen in his direction.
— It doesn't ring a bell…
— Tony, I had just arrived at NCIS, it was one of my first cases !
— Oh, yeah…he chuckled, that's probably why I don't remember any of this ! I was too busy teaching you English…
— You miserable…
— Hey !
Gibbs took an additional sip of his large cup of coffee and tried to think about all of this, momentarily getting rid of all the noises around, including all these childish confrontations between his agents he was already so bored of…they were all turning crazy in here... Well, maybe Mr Grovers was guilty. But then who could tell he had been the killer ? They had proofs for his computer, not about any murder, so who could tell he hadn't maybe hired someone in order to not dirty his own hands ? That was still a good reason enough to directly send this man to jail, but definitely not the truth he wanted to obtain.
— Okay, any chance for Louis Gregson to know about Louisa Grovers ? Tony desperately sighed and rubbed his face, desperate. Gosh, these names...
— Not that we know of, Ziva said.
— Alright, he sighed again. Good. Let's try, at least, to eliminate a few accused ones, because I'm getting tired of it…
— It doesn't work like that, Tony…!
Gibbs furrowed both his eyebrows and quickly approached him, ready, this time, for a new head slap.
— Tired, but not enough to stop, boss ! I…Tony revealed a large, forced smile. I really want that case to be solved, of course !
— Alright, Gibbs said. Then let's leave it to his lawyers for now, we know the picture was posted from his computer, so whether or not he hired someone or did the job himself, he'll have to pay the price for something.
— Seems a little unfair, boss, I mean, in case he…
— Then there is nothing I can do about it, McGee ! Gibbs suddenly turned madder and stared at the agent. I can fight for the truth, but if I do not have anything else to work with, I have to let it go, at least for now ! I have as much reasons to think that he's guilty as I have reasons to think he might be innocent.
— Got it, boss, Tim finally reacted neutrally and soon restarted working behind his computer, hiding.
— And I want all your reports on my desk ! Jethro ordered the group.
Gibbs briefly turned back and looked at Tim from afar, but didn't add a thing, now simply keeping walking to the elevator. He heard someone asking him where he was going and if he might be needing some help, some offer he refused instantly, and finally headed to Abby's lab, hoping for some additional informations in exchange of a drink...
— Louis Gregson, Louisa Grovers, Nick, Peter…why not sending them all an invitation and starting a game of Clue together, Tony sighed again with desperation, sadly playing with his pen.
— Oh yeah, and to tell them what ? Ziva asked him, Tim reflexively raising his head in his direction, interested as well by the line to come.
Tony immediately opened his mouth, willing to say something…but nothing finally came out. He just heavily breathed out for the umpteenth time and hunched his back, lost in his thoughts.
— I don't know…he strangely said. Actually, I think I'm running out of quotes…
