Kate stood at a sink in the ladies' room with a damp paper towel and ran it around her neck. Her hands still shook some and she had the beginnings of what promised to be a vicious headache, but otherwise she had recovered. She couldn't figure out why this was happening. She didn't have nightmares like this after being held hostage in autopsy. Why now? And why were they getting worse? In the car she'd barely been able to take a breath when she woke, which only scared her further. Tony had been the only reason she was able to calm down; it was as if having him there, like the night she fell, was the only thing that kept her from believing she was truly dead. She took a deep breath and looked at herself in the mirror. She wondered if that was the only reason she wanted him around, if that was the only reason he was around. She tried to shake the defeatist thoughts away, but the fear weighing on her made it difficult to find any joy. Turning, she left the tiled room to head back to her desk.

Tony had entered the building and headed to the lab, taking the camera to Abby for processing. He knew the shots from the roof wouldn't likely show much, even when enhanced. The ones he wanted to see were the ones Gibbs took of the damaged fire escape.

Hey, Abby! How was lunch?

Hi, Tony. Didn't Kate tell you? Abby looked at him curiously as she took the camera he offered.

No. As soon as she got back, we headed back out to the crime scene. Why, something happen?

No! No. Well, she did mention that you went to dinner. She was very deliberately not looking at him, concentrating on extracting the memory card instead.

Did she. Interesting. Tony leaned against the wall. He wondered what else they'd talked about. He knew the two women were friends and that they'd talked about both him and Gibbs before. What, specifically, he wasn't sure. So, do you know something, Abbs, or are you fishing?

Tony's question was both direct and unexpected. She nearly fumbled the chip as she inserted it in the computer. While the machine read the data, she turned to face him. I have two very good friends who I love a lot. I don't want to see anyone get hurt. Is someone going to get hurt, Tony?

There was only the sound of machinery for a moment. Then sighing, Tony said, Would it be okay if we sort this out on our own? I'm not sure what's happening, but I don't want it happening under someone else's microscope. And that's not just about you, he added, when he saw her look. I'm afraid I gave Gibbs something to scowl about.

What happened? Abby had gone from upset to curious during Tony's remarks.

Honestly, I don't want to talk about it right now. Besides, he'll probably be down here anyway, growling about the photos or some such thing. Did he ask you to go back over all the lab work from the Holder case?

No, why would he?

That's what this is about. Tony gestured toward the camera. Long story short, Kate thought there was something wrong with the position of the body, Gibbs was bugged by it too, main witness turns up MIA, and the fire escape Kate fell from was tampered with.

Tampered with? So Holder was murdered?

It gets better. We're thinking Holder didn't fall from the fire escape after all. The tampering may have been for our benefit. Tony watched Abby process the information.

If that's true... Abby looked at him in horror. Can you prove it?

Not yet, but Gibbs has photos of the damaged areas.

Does Kate know?

We discussed it in the car, but I don't know how much she really took in. I think going back there was pretty hard on her. Tony wanted to check on Kate, but at the same time he was sure she was fine at the moment. For some reason, he felt like he'd know if she needed him.

Poor Kate! Abby exclaimed as the lab doors swished open. Gibbs strode in looking much less cheerful than he usually did upon entering her lab.

What about Poor Kate'? And where is everyone anyway? The senior team member stopped in the middle of the lab, and looked around as if expecting to find everyone hiding from him.

Well, Boss, I'm here, after dropping off the camera and asking Abby to double check the lab work on the Holder case. She asked me why and I just finished filling her in, so now I'm headed back to my desk. See ya later, Abbs.

Abby waved to the tall man as he headed out the door then turned to face the silver-headed one who usually liked to tease her. Gibbs, lighten up! I'm running the photos, I'll have them all cleaned up, enhanced and printed up in under an hour. Probably less. I'll start on the lab work as soon as I can. And I haven't seen Kate or Ducky.

Gibbs drew in a breath and then let it go. No point in yelling, as Abby had neatly addressed all his present concerns. Thanks, Abby, he said, and left.