Gibbs tried to console her for a while.

He felt immeasurably sad, and empty, after losing control with Maura. He still couldn't figure out how it had happened.

Maura tearfully asked him if he had heard something of a yell or scream while they were having sex.

Having sex.

He pinched his eyes closed. The guilt was eating at him. How could he do that to Tony? And he came in her. Was he no better than a horny teenager?

He hadn't hated himself this much in a long, long time.

After Maura had calmed down, Gibbs broke his own rule, and uttered a broken, "I'm sorry, Maura...I didn't come here to-"

"I know Jethro. I'm not sure…what just happened between us…and...I'm sorry too. I...it's ...everything's wrong, right now…And, I don't know when it will be right again...so...let's focus on getting Tony back," he heard the quiver still in her voice. "We'll sort the rest out later."

He left her apartment, feeling ashamed, and bereft, because he needed her comfort.

But he didn't deserve it did he?

He went home, and drank bourbon in the basement, until he passed out on the floor.


The next day, he was unbearable at work, succeeding in making things more stressful for everyone.

He bristled if they asked him anything, and by midday both Ziva and McGee, with dark shadows under their eyes, decided not to approach him unless they had a solid lead.

He ignored Ducky's request to get some air at lunch, and never brought Abby her Caf-Pow.

They were all beyond worried, and feeling incredibly helpless.

He didn't return Maura's several concerned calls. And after an aggravating day of too much useless information, he left the office, needing to get away from all the tired eyes and sorrowful expressions.

Before he could think about it, he found himself driving to Maura's. He knew he had to see her, tell her he was sorry again.

He kept thinking about Tony. He was letting him down. In every way. How could Tony ever forgive him? If they even got him back...Gibbs punched the steering wheel, resting his head on it for a moment while he choked back a gasping sob. He gripped it with his hands, knuckles white, willing himself to get a grip. He was parked in front of the Victorian house now.

He needed to tell Maura, that if they didn't find something soon, he still needed to go into the mirror... and try. Tony couldn't be left to think no one cared about him. He prayed Tony knew they would never give up on him.

As he came up the porch steps to her door, he began to hear screaming. Instinctively, he drew his gun, and kicked it in.

She was standing in front of the huge stone altar.

Tony was so pale, lying on it, face down, with his head turned towards her.

There was almost no color in his lips.

His usually expressive green eyes looked dull and empty.

His body was mottled with dark bruises and finger marks, the dotted half moons almost black in the strange light of the place.

Blood was trickling from a fresh bite on his back, down his side, making its way down onto the altar, and over the edge of the stone.

The girl leaned down, to lick the dripping blood off the marble with her tongue.

She didn't see Maura.

Tony did.

She wanted to run to him, take him away from this place, but she couldn't move.

The blonde man suddenly walked by, and the dark haired one, who leaned down over Tony to sink his teeth into the back of his neck.

"No! Don't! You have to stop!" She screamed.

The blonde man was stroking Tony's head, watching the other two.

"Maura," he whispered, brokenly. "Please..."

Tony didn't move, he just continued to look at her, with sorrow.

"Maura," he cried softly," you have to find the red wolf...before it's too late..."

His eyes started to flutter closed, and she knew he was dying...she screamed his name…over and over, trying to get him to open his eyes again…

Then someone was standing over her, shaking her, as her screams were fading in her throat.

It was Gibbs.

She wept wildly, clinging to him, as he sat beside her. She was unable to make coherent words. He held her, and tried to soothe her by rocking her a little, stroking her hair.

After a few minutes, she choked out the message, "We have t-to find the r-red...wolf."

"The what?" he asked softly, wondering if she was fully awake.

She took a deep, shaking breath, and pulled away, looking at him. "Tony...he told me...we have to look for the red wolf…and...he's...running...out of time..."

Gibbs felt his chest constricting, and a chill run through him.

Maura' cell rang.

She quickly wiped her face, before looking at it, and answering it with trembling hands.

"Sam."

"I have the picture Maur. I got it!"

"You do-how?" she asked, in her stuffy sounding voice.

"You okay, Maur?"

"Yes. Are you at the shop?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Stay there. We're coming down."

Before Samuel could say anything else, she hung up, running for her shoes.

"Maybe we still have a chance," she said to Gibbs, who was right behind her as she grabbed her jacket and bag, and ran down the stairs, tears not yet dried on her face.

She looked at her front door, busted off the hinges, and threw a scowl at him.

He shrugged and said, "I may have...overreacted...I'll make you another one..."


When they got to Oracle, Samuel had already put the "closed" sign out on the door.

"Hey!" he smiled at them as they walked in.

"Where is it?" Gibbs asked, not in the mood for niceties.

Samuel sighed and stooped under the counter to his printer, producing five copies of the same picture, and placing the stack on the glass in front of them.

Maura saw Gibbs' expression as he looked at the image of the sword. It was an illustration of an ornately carved wooden handle, and long, wavy blade. The handle had an eye carved on it, and in it was the indication of a red gem.

It was the one Gibbs had held in his hand…in his nightmare…

"You've seen it." Maura stated, rather than asked.

Gibbs swallowed. And nodded.

"No coincidences…" he seemed to be lost in thought for a quick moment. "I dreamt about it."

She looked almost like she would collapse with relief.

"There's still time, Jethro. " He smiled a little at that, feeling her words were right. "We have to get everyone looking for this." She grabbed the stack of printouts off the counter.

"My friend in Boston had this awesome book, turns out, and-" Samuel had turned to finish closing his register out for the night, and heard the door close behind them before he could finish.

"Dude," he said softly, "so rude." He shook his head and turned back to finish what he was doing.


After giving the image to Abby to run, it was only a short time before they had places and people to see in regard to the very unique' sword. A similar image came up in only three known places.

Cooper Auctioneers in DC and Gravelers Amsterdam had the same illustration of the sword in their archives, as did the Metropolitan Museum in New York City.

Unfortunately, they had to wait until morning to be able to speak with the auctioneers and curators who seemed might have more information on the sword, and its worth. And Gibbs hoped, its whereabouts.

He told Abby to follow up by calling Amsterdam when Gravelers was open, and had Ziva and McGee book a flight to New York to speak to the curator at the Met.

His gut told him though, it was here, in DC, at the Cooper Auction House that some lead would make itself known. He could feel it.

They were all existing on fumes and caffeine, but eager to find something to lead them to their missing friend.


Cooper Auctioneers was in an old historic part of town, the building reminiscent of larger plantation style houses built in the south. It was a shame that the surrounding neighborhood was pretty rough. The Auction House had been there for almost 150 years.

Maura and Gibbs were on edge as they walked up the marble steps to the double front doors. They opened up to a vast, dark interior, a hallway that spanned the whole length of the structure, with burgundy carpeting and dark grey walls. Two armed security guards eyed them as they walked past. The hallway was lined with lit glass cases, which sparkled with fine estate jewelry. As they passed several doorways to larger rooms, they saw endless displays of furniture, art, lighting, and even antique industrial machinery.

"May I help you?" a plain looking silver haired woman in a black suit and glasses asked, as they came to a desk along the wall.

Gibbs took out his badge. It couldn't hurt. "NCIS, ma'am. I'm Agent Gibbs. We're looking for someone who may be able to tell me about this," he held up the picture, and she eyed it. Maura shifted anxiously on her feet.

She took it from him, "Looks ancient Greek or…even Mycenaean. Give me a moment." She stepped around her desk, and started looking through files on her computer.

After a few moments, she tilted her head, "That's strange."

"What is?" Maura asked quickly.

"I'm sorry…I didn't catch your name?" the woman asked.

"Ms. Torino," Maura responded, giving no explanation of her position.

"A pleasure to meet you both. I'm Sandra Dressler. Well," the woman looked back at the screen, "we have this image in out database, under our swords collections, but, it has no directory, or history listed. It only has a name, "Sword of Apollyon". I apologize for that…I'll need to speak to the manager about it. We typically don't have any images in our system without pertinent information regarding the item recorded."

"Ms. Dressler, do you have your full collection on display? Of arms or swords?" Gibbs asked, feeling they were so close.

"Yes, and we are in between auctions, so all the current collection is there. Follow me."

She gave a disdainful look to Maura as she passed her.

Maura scowled at Gibbs, who only raised a brow and shrugged.

She led them to the last room in the grand hallway, where there was a huge collection of everything from guns, to armor. She took them through a maze of glass cases containing arrowheads and smaller items, until finally there was a longer glass case, and swords hung upon the wall over it.

"All of our swords and knives are here. If I may be of any further assistance, just let me know." She took a small bow, which Maura rolled her eyes at, and left.

Gibbs couldn't help the smile at Maura's obvious dislike of the woman. Maura looked up at him, and for a moment, their eyes remained locked on each other.

He suddenly felt like a bastard again, after remembering how incredible it was to be inside her, and looked up at the wall.

Silently, they took in the details of each and every piece in the collection.

Gibbs sighed heavily. Maura walked beside him to the street corner. They were both deep in thought.

He was so sure, that today would lead them to that sword. He couldn't understand it. He was confused now. Was it his famous gut telling him they were close today, or just the terrible ache of not having Tony back?

They slowed at a hotdog cart. "I could use a water," he said, looking at her to see if she was also thirsty.

"No," she sighed, "I'm okay."

But that's a big, giant lie, she thought, as Gibbs turned to get the attention of the hotdog vendor.

Just then, she spotted an old man, carrying a bag of groceries, walking in the direction they had just come from.

He looked like he was struggling with the bag, and several oranges dropped out, rolling away from him.

She quickly jogged over, picking them up for him as he knelt down, setting the bag on the pavement.

"Oh thank you, young lady," he said, smiling with kind blue eyes on her.

She smiled and placed the oranges in the bag for him. Then she lifted the bag, and placed it back in his arms. "At least I helped someone today," she said, a little sadly, knowing the old man would have no real idea where her comment came from.

"Oh, my dear,' he said softly, "I'm sure you do much more than you even realize."

Someone tapped her shoulder from behind. She turned to Gibbs, who looked at her with a bit of concern.

"Whatcha doing?" he asked.

"I was help-" she turned to the old man but he was gone. "I…"

"You okay," he asked now, becoming tense at her confusion.

She looked off in the direction he'd gone.

"Jethro!" she gasped.

He saw it too.

"Come on!"

They both caught the back of a man wearing a concert tee shirt, the band name, Lupine, was in letters made from swords, over a large image on the center. It was the snarling head of a red wolf.

They lost the image as they ran back past the auction house, and the man wearing the tee shirt disappeared around the corner.

As they rounded it, they saw him disappear into a larger crowd, and struggled to keep up with him. Gibbs swore under his breath at how busy the street on this side was, probably due to the retail shops, check cashing places, and restaurants.

"Don't lose him!" Maura said breathlessly.

"Ya' think?" he growled at her, dodging and weaving through the slow moving pedestrians.

He saw the man enter a double door to the Westridge shopping mall, which really wasn't a mall per se', more of an array of little indoor shops and "hole in the wall" type establishments, not owned by larger chains.

They tore through the doors together, looking for him.

But he was nowhere to be seen.

They jogged down the hall of seedy looking stores.

Gibbs swore again angrily.

"Jethro…" Maura's voice came out as a sort of quivering gasp.

He turned to see her looking in the window of Jay's Pawn Shop.

She was laughing now, tears streaming down her face, as he walked over to see what she was pointing at.

There in the window, lying against a myriad of assorted secondhand junk, was the wavy blade, topped by the ornate wooden handle, and sparkling ruby eye.