Disclaimer: As usual the copyrighted material that may be used in this work of fanfiction does not belong to me.

Authors Note: I wrote this chapter on the same day as the preceding one. I saved it for after the first of the year to get my stats off to a good start. However after seeing the poor showing of the last chapter I'm not too sure about that. The first episode of this season was full of good stuff for me. It showcased my favorite character so we're still in that time frame. The chapter title comes from the Johnny Cash song that was playing at the end of "Patriot Down". It took me a while to find it, but it was worth it. This story is part of my ongoing effort out stretch out some. It's my first attempt at having one character carry the entire dialog. I'd really appreciate feedback on this one. I'd like to write a few more like this.

Spoilers: Well, if you read the previous chapter you know I mention "Spider and the Fly" and my story "Murder Most Foul". John Bailey was the agent who drove Shannon and Kelly. And if you didn't read the previous chapter why not?

"There ain't no grave Can hold my body down There ain't no grave Can hold my body down When I hear that trumpet sound I'm gonna rise right out of the ground Ain't no grave Can hold my body down…"

St. Joseph's Cemetery, Toms River, NJ 1215hrs

Two men stood over the grave in the early spring chill. The older, wrapped in an old bridge coat was smoking a cigarette.

"Gimme a few will ya Brett?"

NCIS Senior Special Agent Brett Place nodded.

"Sure Mike. Take your time."

Place moved off towards the car, leaving retired Senior Special Agent Mike Franks looking down at the grave.

"Hello John. Sorry it's been so long."

The grave of Special Agent John Bailey was well tended. The grass was newly cut and there was a small American flag waving in the slight breeze. Franks exhaled a thin ribbon of smoke through his nose.

"I've been thinking of you a lot these past couple of months John. When Junior brought up comin' here, I jumped right on board. I really should have stopped by sooner, but something always seemed to come up."

Mike shook his head.

"You probably know all about what's been goin' on. Some shit, huh? Even dead, that bastard Pedro Hernandez reared his ugly head. His spawn tried to screw over Gibbs, but we managed to stop it. Too bad you weren't around; it would have been right up your alley."

Mike took a final drag on his smoke, field stripping the butt. He allowed the shreds of tobacco and paper to sail off on the wind, putting the filter in the pocket of the bridge coat.

"I've always regretted that you never got to come down to Mexico. We coulda had a helluva time. Cold beer, warm sun and great fishin'. Hell, I'da even let ya try to teach me how to surf fish. Remember how you used to carry on about the great fishin' here on the Jersey Shore? Man you could be annoyin'"

Franks chuckled at the memory. He reached into his pocket and came out with his cigarettes and lighter and lit another smoke.

"Camilla's been on me to quit. Don't think it's gonna happen. If the last four months are any indication, I'll die of lead poisoning before lung cancer. Two bullets in four months John. First one cost me half the trigger finger on my right hand. The next almost punched my ticket. I think I'm startin' ta get too old for this shit."

Mike stuck his hands into the pockets of his coat, cigarette dangling from his lips.

"You know John; the whole thing never would have happened if I'da just walked away once Hernandez got over the border. But I couldn't. I couldn't let him get away with killin' you and Jethro's wife and daughter. That and he just had to rub our noses in it by grabbin' his crotch at the crossing. That was the last straw. I decided then and there, I'd get him no matter what. I was lucky Gibbs hated Hernandez just as much as I did. That day in my office, I knew exactly what would happen when I went to the head. Hell, I wanted it to happen."
Franks sighed, putting out his cigarette and field stripping it.

"I started the ball rolling and Gibbs did what I knew he would. Only neither one of us realized the ball kept rolling. It damn near rolled over us too."

Mike reached into the inside pocket of his coat, withdrawing a pint bottle of Jameson. He twisted off the cap.

"But it all ended relatively well. Here's to you John Bailey, you were a fine friend and a helluva cop."

With that Mike took a generous swallow of whiskey, capped the bottle and placed it next to the headstone. Straightening up Franks looked down again at the grave of his friend.

"Adios compadre, we'll be meeting again soon enough. Put in a good word for me with the Big Guy will ya?"

Mike turned on his heel and walked to the car. Brett Place, who had been leaning against the vehicle straightened up.

"Let's go Junior; it's a long ride back to DC."

"Well, look down yonder, Gabriel Put your feet on the land and sea But Gabriel, don't you blow your trumpet Until you hear from me…"-American VI, Ain't No Grave, Johnny Cash

A/N: When I first heard "Ain't No Grave" during "Patriot Down", I didn't realize it was Johnny Cash. Then I did a little research and found it was his last studio album before his death. The song is on YouTube, and you should give it a listen.