Kate took a breath as she stepped into the hall. Gibbs and Tony were exiting Observation as she stepped away from the door for the guards to retrieve Emily.

You okay, Kate? Gibbs lightly rested his hand on her shoulder.

As she nodded her response, Tony slid his hand down her back and said gently, It's over, Kate.

I'm just numb. I don't think I've felt anything all day. I can't even feel my ribs. Kate sighed. Noises in the hallway seized the agents' attention. All three looked up to see Pederson impeding progress with the guards. Suddenly her eyes took on an unnatural gleam and she twisted one of the guards around, going for his weapon.

Kate watched in horror as Emily drew the guard's weapon. Time slowed as she reached to her hip only to find it bare. The barrel of the revolver glared at her forehead, Emily's scream bouncing insanely off the walls. Swallowing the fear that crawled coldly up her throat, she allowed her legs to collapse under her as the gunshots echoed around her.

Gibbs and Tony, seeing the prisoner draw the weapon each reacted with split second timing. As Kate dropped away between them twinned gunshots echoed, each man executing a perfect double tap into the deadly woman.

As the figure in the orange jumpsuit collapsed to the ground, Gibbs strode forward, while Tony dropped to one knee. Kate? Kate, honey, are you okay?

The brunette, crumpled on the floor, groaned. Tony? Oh, God. Now I feel my ribs.

Laughing in relief, Tony holstered his weapon and reached out to gather her carefully into his arms. Just tell me you're not shot. I like a tough girl, but you're starting to wear me out, here! He looked up as the door to Observation opened slowly and Wallace stuck his head out.

Is it safe? What happened?

Gibbs picked his way past his teammates on the floor, his face unreadable. She's all yours, Wallace.

Suddenly Kate felt an overwhelming need to see Emily. She struggled to rise and Tony helped her, but when he saw her intention he stopped her. No, Kate. Don't.

I have to see this through. Please. She looked in his eyes and tried to make him see that she needed the closure. He relented, and together they approached the body and the two unsettled guards.

Kate looked down at the corpse of the woman that had been Emily Pederson. A double tap to the head and a double tap to the heart. Kate shook her head thinking of all the misery this one female had created. she whispered.

Mine was the shot to the heart, he murmured.

Kate turned away, burying her face against her partner's chest in an effort to regain her composure. Let's go, Tony.

As they passed Wallace, they heard him complaining into his cell phone, Well, she's dead now, do you still want her or not?

---------------------

Kate and Tony were seated at their desks when Gibbs walked up to his over forty minutes later. I've just finished briefing the Director on what happened. He doesn't think there will be a need for an investigation; he's talking to the two guards now. Kate, do you have any idea what set her off?

She let out a weary sigh. I can't be sure because she never really spoke. My best guess is that she blamed me for her misfortune and when she saw an opportunity to punish me, she took it. Beyond that, I can't say. I just don't have enough information about her to know for sure. She grimaced in pain as she shifted in the chair. She didn't like the pain, but it was better than the numb feeling that had saturated her being for most of the day.

Gibbs opened his mouth to speak and was cut off by the ringing of his phone. Snatching up the handset, he answered, Gibbs... What! When... how... all right... no, not your fault...yes, I'm sorry, too.

He hung up the phone and turned to his teammates. That was the lead guard for Jeremy Duvall.

No, Gibbs, no... Kate knew what was coming. Her hand flew to her mouth.

The older man's eyes softened as he looked at her. I'm sorry, Kate. Emily's guards had to report in and tell their supervisor what had happened. Word travels fast.

I thought he was supposed to be under suicide watch. What the hell happened? Tony had risen to lend support to his teammate and lover.

Apparently someone turned their back for a second. Larry Martin was in the cell across from him and it was his shout that drew their attention, but by then it was too late.

Tell me what happened. Kate's voice was low and shaking.

No, Kate. It's enough to know... Gibbs gently tried to dissuade her.

I want to know what happened to Jeremy! She stood up, sucking in a breath at the pain she'd denied all day. Her eyes bore into her superior's, burning with the need to know how the young man died.

Gibbs was reluctant to give her the details; he was battle-scarred and they'd sickened him. He slid his eyes to Tony, but the younger man merely tipped his head faintly in the woman's direction.

I don't think this is a good idea, Kate, he began.

I don't care. I watched him in there today. I saw what it did to him to betray her depravity. Just tell me.

The guard watching him said Jeremy had spent a fair amount of time sitting on his bunk, running his hand along the underside of the edge. When the news about Emily's death came down, a couple of the guards started joking about it. Jeremy became very agitated, and waited until his guard turned to join in the fun. Then he slid himself under the bed and slit his throat on the sharp piece of metal that he'd worked loose from under his bed.

Ugh, Boss! Tony had faced some ugly scenes, but he was grateful he didn't have to witness this one.

Kate's eyes widened and then her stomach rebelled. She clamped her hand to her mouth and took off at a dead run for the ladies room. She barely made it in time to empty the contents of her stomach into a toilet. Retching was painful, but the pain meant she was alive and that was more than Jeremy could say. More than Lynn had. Visions of a bullet-holed Emily swam in front of her as she sagged against the metal divider. God, how she just wanted all this to be over! Slowly she dragged herself to her feet, swallowing the bilious taste that threatened to overwhelm her. She flushed the toilet, and tottered to a sink. Cupping her hands, she rinsed her mouth out as best she could. When she stood up, the woman in the mirror looked like a stranger to her, a calm, competent professional; a person completely at odds with the woman who wanted to lay down and cry for the dead and the lost.

She walked into the bullpen to find Tony and Gibbs exactly where she'd left them. Seeing the concern in their eyes she reassured them. I'm fine. Really. It wasn't how he died that made me ill, it was that he felt he had no other choice than to go so violently. It's just so wasteful. She went to sit down at her desk, but the team leader's words stopped her.

Tony, take her home. Both of you, take a couple of days. The paperwork needs to be done, but I think the toll this case has taken on all of us entitles us to a little leeway. Go home.

No, Gibbs, I can do my job. I'm... Kate protested, but was cut off.

Agent Todd, it wasn't a suggestion. Go home. I'll see you on Thursday. The blue eyes pinned her with an inscrutable gaze.

Okay. Thank you, she said simply. She saw his eyes soften slightly and she touched her hand lightly to the one of his resting on his desk, grateful for his kindness. She received a nod and a faint smile in return as she turned to gather her belongings. Then she and Tony made their way toward the elevators and two days' rest.