Chapter 13
Music was playing when Natalie got off the elevator and she glimpsed Abby walking around in her lab, "Hey Abby," Natalie said softly while she leaned in the door way.
"Oh My God, Nat!" she rushed over to hug her. "I'm so glad you're here."
"Grandpa called, I thought you might need a friend." Natalie came into her lab with her and took a seat on a stool while Abby worked on the computer.
"Gibbs needs some work and I have to get it to him ASAP. Pachi was family. I'll work all night if I have to." Abby was clearly into a cafpow. Nat found her endearing when she rambled. "But I still, I can't even think about him. It's so sad."
"I know, Pachi was a good man. And he has the best team working on his death, he has the best medical examiner to find out what happened and he has the best damn forensic scientist on his case." Natalie looked at Abby as she stopped typing for a moment, "Remember that while finding everything out is important that Chris would not want you to forget to take care of yourself. Have you eaten dinner yet?"
Abby looked to the side, "Yes?" she questioned.
"That's a no," Natalie said, "I'll make sure to get you guys some food. I doubt Gibbs and his team have eaten either." She got up to leave, "And Abby, Chris would want you to be okay. It's sad, its horrific and it's completely unnecessary that he died, but he would want to be honoured."
Abby nodded her head and went back to work and Natalie went to check on Ducky.
The autopsy doors wooshed open and Natalie walked in. "Dr. Mallard, may I?" She always asked for permission when he was doing an autopsy. She respected his work space as well as the dead.
"Miss Kane, I figured you may show up, please come in. I can cover him if it's too much for you." He was standing in the way of Pachi so Natalie didn't have to see him if she didn't want to.
"It's alright. He's a friend. It's intimate but he's not the first dead body I've seen that I knew." Natalie walked over and saw that Dr. Mallard had already opened Chris. Knowing Ducky would understand she put on gloves and brushed her hand over Chris's head, "I'm so sorry Chris. Gibbs's will get whoever did this." Tears filled her eyes and she choked them back. "How are you holding up Ducky?"
He smiled his sad smile at her, "As well as can be expected. It's never easy when it's someone you know, but its my duty by him to make sure it's done properly and thoroughly."
"You are the best man for the job." She put a hand on his shoulder, "I was gonna get everyone some food as they likely haven't eaten. Have you?"
He shook his head, "I've been distracted by our friend because I think I found something in his esophagus."
"I'll add you to my list of food needers then. What did you find?" she asked curiously.
"I think Christopher swallowed something. I'm waiting on X-rays to be sure where it is before I dig it out. I noticed some irritation at the back of his throat here," he said while showing her. She could see the reddness. "I called Gibbs and my X-rays should be ready, wanna wait to see?"
"Sure. Knowing you guys you won't eat what I get right away anyways" she said while he grabbed the X-rays and put them on the screen. "Is that….what is that?" she said looking at the item that darkened part of the esophagus. Ducky took some measurements and measured Chris and marked where he needed to make his incision.
Gibbs walked in, "What did you find Ducky."
"We were just about to find out." Ducky started cutting while he spoke, "It appears Christopher swallowed something."
"Okay.." Gibbs watched as Ducky pulled it out. "Is that a memory card?"
"Has anyone seen his camera?" Ducky asked putting the chip into an evidence bag for Abby.
"Ducky do you think whoever cut him open was looking for this?" Gibbs asked.
"You can bet on it," said Nat, "sorry, it's just, disemboweling someone you've shot that bled out or is bleeding out is pointless. Not unless there was other mutilations going on. The psychology of it doesn't match, but disemboweling someone to look for something does."
"Absolutely," Ducky concurred.
"I wanna know what's on that and why someone would murder for it." Gibbs took off to head back upstairs and Natalie followed.
"Gibbs?" she asked sneaking into the elevator. "I'm sorry if I stepped on any toes. I'm not an investigator but I have studied the way people think, even criminals and murderers."
"Don't apologise," Gibbs said.
"Sign of weakness" she replied with a smile. "McGee may have mentioned something."
Gibbs chuckled, "Your insights are always welcome."
The doors opened and before Gibbs could step out Natalie stood in front of him. He gave her a glare, "I know you won't talk, but I'm gonna say it anyway, I'm here whenever you need me." And with that she turned and walked away. Talks with Gibbs were always difficult. He wanted to help with her study but he hated the psychology unless it suited his investigations. The most they had talked about was that he did wood crafts and was building a sailboat in his spare time. She knew he was a Marine and felt responsible for keeping the men and women in the navy and marines safe. He took his job seriously but also enjoyed teasing people.
She grabbed her wallet and left to go to the cafeteria on base. It would still be open and she could grab some food for everyone. The "Mess" as they called it was shutting the hot food sections down so she went to the coolers to grab things. She grabbed a few sandwiches and wraps as well as some veggies and dip. The selections were limited so she went back with two tuna salads, a chicken salad, a roast beef, a veggie wrap and a chicken wrap. She snagged some protein bars as well. They were all currently in a bag and she had two trays of drinks. She had coffee for everyone the way they liked it and a tea for herself. She tossed a couple bottles of water into the bag before she left as well. An off-duty officer offered to help her carry everything but she declined.
Walking into the bull pen she noticed everyone busy and started dishing out food. She had an idea on what people liked so it wasn't hard. Though the men gave her strange looks when she put the veggies and dip in front of them as well as Kate. "They are good for you, just eat them" she ordered before taking off with the rest of her deliveries.
She decided to go back upstairs with her own snack and worked on her own doctoral thesis. She needed a rough outline and examples to be completed by next week and she was getting along wonderfully. She would glance at the only people still working this late and knew she would wait all night for them if she needed to. Her cell rang and it was her grandfather.
"Hey Natalie," he said when she answered. "I spoke with George, he had actually met Chris's mother and she told him something had happened. He was still very grateful that I stopped by. It was hard. They've made arrangements and I'm e-mailing the details to NCIS personnel and you. George may call you and I hope that's alright. I'm still with him."
"No of course, I'm here if he would like to talk." Natalie hung up shortly after and warned the team that the arrangements had been made.
Her phone rang again and this time it wasn't a number she recognized and assumed it was George. To get a little privacy she walked away and went upstairs on the balcony. "Hello, Natalie Kane speaking."
"Natty, baby, I finally found you." Said a male voice.
"Excuse me do I know you?"
"Aww I'm hurt." He chuckled, "I've been waiting a long time to talk to you. Look I'm sorry about everything and you know I have only every cared about you. We are forever you and I."
Natalie's hold body went cold. She new that voice, "Leave me alone, never call me again." She hung up and called her cell carrier to block the number. So he was alive. He survived the crash. I always felt like it wouldn't be over until the found your body, she thought to herself.
"Everything okay?" came a deep voice behind her and she jumped.
"Gibbs you scared me!" she admonished. "Yes, everything is fine. Or will be." She smiled and went back downstairs.