Tony and Kate walked into the office together. If their new status as lovers was evident, Gibbs chose not to comment on it as they sat down at their desks. Each went straight to work looking over the information the searches had returned, quiet save for a necessary question tossed to one or another of them.

Tony could find nothing in Lieutenant Lynn Holder's background that would make her a murder target. She had been a good naval officer; not outstanding, but not substandard either. Her college record told a similar story and included the friendship of a now-missing Emily Pederson. The only thing the co-eds didn't have in common was the fact that Lynn went NROTC and Emily didn't. Tony was becoming frustrated. Apparently so was his partner.

Kate was downright sick of Emily Pederson! The search was proving worthless. The woman was a ghost. She was in Maryland, but she wasn't. She was in Virginia, but she wasn't. Her car was registered in three different states, she had four addresses and didn't live at any of them. She slammed down the phone in frustration after politely thanking yet another person. How do you get a car registered in three different states, anyway? I thought there were ways of checking that out?' she fumed to herself. The more she dealt with this woman, the more Kate hated her. She yanked Emily's statement out from the pile of papers on her desk and started to go through it yet again. Something about it wasn't right; flipping back to the beginning she looked to see who took the statement.

Kate's voice was sharper than usual, surprising the man.

he responded carefully.

When did you talk to Pederson, before or after I fell?

After. Don't you remember? He seemed surprised that she would have to ask. They always collected evidence first, witness interviews were done after.

There's a lot I don't remember about that damned night. She turned back to the statement.

After flipping pages back and forth for a few more minutes, she sat unseeing, trying to picture the events of that night. She knew they were in her head, but they refused to emerge. She could feel a nasty pain begin to build behind her eyes. Shoving it down, ruthlessly, she snapped, I need the photos from the crime scene.

The photos appeared before her; she didn't even note which man had given them to her. The throbbing in her head was building, but she wouldn't give in. Somehow she felt she was getting close. She skipped over all the pictures except for the ones from inside the apartment. Those she studied carefully.

Gibbs had begun to get concerned about Kate's behavior. She'd paled considerably over the past several minutes, yet she remained tense and snappish. Not knowing if he should intervene, he flicked a glance toward Tony, curious as to how the younger man was handling her attitude.

Tony had been watching Kate carefully. She's on to something... she just doesn't know what it is, yet.' he thought. He knew if he couldn't help her sort it out before she fell asleep, she'd have a nightmare that would make the previous ones seem like a walk in the park. He caught Gibbs' glance from the corner of his eye and he shook his head ever so slightly in response. He didn't want her thought process interrupted.

Kate suddenly snarled, and shoved the papers and photos violently. She stood up, fingers massaging her temples. I need pain killers. Is Ducky still here?

Tony met her in front of her desk. Don't know. Can I walk down with you? He'd been very casual with the question, but concern showed in his eyes. When Kate's frustrated brown ones met his he could feel her try to let some of her tension go.

As a matter of fact, he is still here; I'm waiting for something from him. Why don't we all go down. Gibbs walked around them and pushed the button for the elevator.

Entering Autopsy, they found Ducky staring at some X-rays. He turned to the three as they approached.

Jethro, I was just going to call you. This is the spinal fracture of your victim. Everything is consistent with a fall.



Just a minute. Now, I went back and I studied the bruising on the back. Here, the coroner held up two pictures of Lieutenant Holder's broken back. As you can see, because of the way she landed on the bed frame, I cannot get any conclusive evidence that she was pushed. Try as I might, Jethro, I just can't tell if there is or there isn't a handprint tangled up with all the rest of that massive trauma. But I did get to thinking about your rooftop theory. So I went back to studying the X-rays.



The damage to these bones could not have been done from a fall of that distance. She fell from the same distance Kate did. Only she didn't have our Anthony to save her.

Gibbs slapped his hand against the wall in frustration. Dammit, they were right back to square one. Worse, because they were sure that Holder didn't fall off that fire escape. But if she didn't fall, could she have been pushed?

Ducky left his friend to his ruminations and walked over to the younger pair of agents. Now, dare I ask what I can do for you? He held the smile in check as he moved past them toward his office.

Duck, my killer headache is back, Kate moaned, and the doctor turned around to look at the woman more closely.

Caitlin, what have you been doing? He started fishing through his drawer for the ibuprofen, but her answer slowed his movements.

Going over the case files. Everything on the main witness. Photos. The more I read, the worse it got. Right now she wanted to rest her head on Tony's shoulder and feel his arm around her. It might not help her headache, but it sure would help her.

Ducky fingered the bottle of pain relievers thoughtfully. Do you remember what we talked about earlier? About the conscious and subconscious minds having different memories?

Yeah. This is part of it, isn't it? Damn! Her head now hurt so much that she could hardly think. She certainly hadn't noticed that Gibbs had walked over and was listening.

Yes, Caitlin, very likely it is. What ever you blocked out about your fall probably includes something that's important to the case. Your subconscious knows it and is trying to get you the information, but your conscious fear is fighting the attempt. Ducky looked at the woman with sympathy. I don't know what to tell you, my dear. One would hope that with this case solved, the headaches and nightmares will end.

That's just it, Ducky! I feel like it's up to me to solve this and I don't know if I can. She sunk down on a nearby chair and dropped her head into shaking hands.

Tony was unwilling to stand by any longer. He crouched down beside her and rested his hand on her knee. A gentle gesture to let this incredible, strong woman know that he was there for her. She shifted so that her head rested on one hand and her other hand rested in his.

Gibbs and Ducky watched the pair as they sat there. They did nothing more than hold hands but it became apparent to both men that the relationship had gone beyond that of friendship. Ducky felt for the team. He knew they were close; he hoped this wouldn't cause an irreparable schism.

Gibbs turned away; he could not bear to watch DiNozzo comfort Kate again, even if he was simply holding her hand. The gestures, however innocent, displayed a new bond between the two. He wanted to hate the other man, hate them both. Unfortunately, it was easy to understand that sometimes love just happened. And he couldn't hate them for that, he'd have to hate himself as well.

After a few minutes of silence, for which Kate was immensely grateful, she lifted her head and asked, So what do we do about what's in my head?

Tony, proud of her for refusing to quit, shifted so that he was sitting on the floor. When Kate looked questioningly at him he just shrugged and she rolled her eyes in response.

Gibbs had turned around upon hearing Kate's question, so he had seen the silent exchange between the two partners. His lips twitched into an involuntary smirk.

Ducky was answering Kate's question, You have two choices. Either you remember the whole sequence of events while you're awake...

Which I can't do, we've just seen what happens when I try. Kate interrupted.

the doctor continued, you go to sleep and let your dreams take over. He watched as the woman shuddered violently and Tony squeezed her hand in response.

Gibbs came over and knelt down on Kate's other side and spoke quietly. Kate, if you want, you can use the futon in Abby's lab. That way we'll all be here for you, if you want or need us.

Kate's eyes widened slightly, surprised by the offer. Don't you think we should ask Abby before commandeering her bed?

I'm sure she won't have a problem with it, but let's go check. Gibbs stood up and waited for Kate. Tony remained seated, eyeing the other man, waiting. Get up, DiNozzo, the lady's waiting.