Disclaimer: The show NCIS and its characters do not belong to me. They are the property of Donald Bellisario, CBS, Paramount and whomever else I may have omitted.

A/N – Sorry that this chapter is so very short. Work has been so very busy and I haven't had much time to concentrate on the story. This is short but at least it keeps the story moving if only slightly.

WARNING This chapter contains extreme bad language used by one Special Agent Jesmond. (well who else would be responsible hmmm)

Chapter Six

(1)

'Oh my,' Ducky shook his head as he approached the spot in the forest where Cottell and Collins bodies lay. 'Nasty,' he looked down on the two severely mutilated bodies. 'Is it so wrong Jethro to feel that they got their comeuppance for what they did to Tony.'

'No Ducky it's not,' Gibbs shook his head. 'For just a moment I was feeling the same way but then I remembered that they only ended up like this because they didn't kill Tony.'

'The intention was there though,' Ducky crouched beside Cottell's body and shook his head. 'They intended to for Tony to die out there alone and cold in the rain and it was only a miracle that the patrol passed when it did otherwise,' Ducky didn't finish his sentence he didn't have too. 'Well now,' he looked at the numerous injuries and the fact that both men had been decapitated and disembowelled. 'You never expected this did you,' he talked to the two bodies.

'Come on Kate,' Gibbs moved away and allowed Ducky and Gerald to take over the scene. 'We've done all we can do here. There are some things to be done back at the office.'

Kate nodded as she followed him. It was all getting so damn complicated and each time they thought they had something the case took another twist. It was all very frustrating and as they headed back to the car she hoped like crazy that McGee and that that jerk Jesmond had discovered something useful.

'Oh Jethro wait a second,' Ducky seemed to remember something and came hurrying after them. 'Abby wanted me to tell you that you owe her because she owes Cameron,' he seemed a little bemused as he passed the message on. 'Anyway the bottom line to her message is that the results are negative.'

'Good one,' Gibbs gave a tight smile. 'I'll talk to Abs when we get back.

'What results?' Kate asked him when they were finally alone

'DNA results on Anita Johnson's foetus.'

'You thought it was Tony's?'

'I didn't believe it was Tony's Kate but I had to be sure. No it's not his child, but I couldn't turn a blind eye to the possibility especially with Jesmond around, who might seize on the fact that there could have been a relationship between the pair.'

Kate nodded she could see the sense in that and while she had never really considered that the baby could have been Tony's the relief that it wasn't, was overwhelming.

(2)

'Hey boss,' McGee entered the office ahead of Jesmond and waved to Gibbs who looked up from his desk. 'We've found a few very interesting things from our visit to Anita Johnson's base.

'And that would be.'

'That would be that Brad Cott is actually Braden Cottell,' Jesmond announced loudly as he approached giving McGee a look that said I'm the one who does the talking or have you forgotten.

'Tell me something I don't know,' Gibbs snorted. 'Cottell and his cousin Collins were found slaughtered about an hour ago. It seems that they paid a high price for not finishing the job off properly.'

'They're dead!' McGee frowned.

'Yes McGee they're dead.' Gibbs said tightly, then, glaring at Jesmond. 'I hope you found out more then that in the time you've been gone.'

'Yes,' Jesmond smirked. 'We found out some interesting things including the fact that Anita Johnson had a secret lover whom she only ever referred to as T. Now isn't that interesting. T for Tony.'

The look that Gibbs gave the other man was enough to have vaporised him 'Wrong!' he growled standing up and starting to walk away. God it was getting so bad he couldn't even stand being in the same room as this man. He was really going to have to talk to Morrow.

'Hey don't dismiss it like that Gibbs,' Jesmond snapped. 'Anita was involved with a secret lover whose name started with T and DiNozzo's first name starts with the same letter so. '

'It's not him,' Gibbs rounded his face hard. 'Are you deaf or don't you understand the English language. Just what part of what I'm saying to you don't you understand?'

'Now of it' Jesmond was furious and his face was turning red. 'How can you say with so much certainty Gibbs? DiNozzo has a reputation we all know that and he's certainly not Saint Anthony so just what give you the right to dismiss my theory like that,' he snapped his fingers. 'It has to be considered at least and...'

'Enough!' Gibbs hand came down hard on his desk cutting him off mid sentence and causing everyone in the office to jump slightly. 'You want to know why I know it's not Tony. Do you want to know why Jesmond. D N A.' He spelt out the three letters slowly. 'You've heard of it haven't you. D N A tells me that Tony isn't the father.'

'So you also thought it could be him,' Jesmond smirked slightly.

'No but I wanted to run the test to protect him from evil gossip mongers like yourself,' Gibbs literally hissed.

'You bastard,' Jesmond yelled and then turned white as he saw Director Morrow standing not twenty feet away. 'I mean,' he swallowed hard realising that he'd probably gone too far.

'Special Agent Jesmond,' Morrows tone was soft but deadly. 'My office please, now,' he beckoned to the man with his hand. 'We need to talk.'

Jesmond shot a savage look to the other agents. 'Fuck you all you arseholes,' he snarled as walked towards the Director knowing what was coming but also ready to have his say about Gibbs and the others in his team. He might be going down but he'd go down fighting and maybe take a few with him.

Everyone stood there in silence until the elevator doors closed behind the two men and it was McGee who broke the silence.

'There are three other possible lovers boss. One of them is an enlisted man so that would account for the secrecy '

'Really,' Gibbs hiked an eyebrow and walked back to his desk. 'Sit down McGee and fill me in on this new information you have and your take on these developments.'

'Yes boss,' McGee sat down just as the elevator doors opened again and a man in his late forties stepped out. He was tall with close cropped dark hair, sapphire blue eyes that looked around the office before spying Gibbs.

'Hey boss it's been too long,' he walked towards Gibbs, McGee giving Kate a look that said who the hell is this but Kate was likewise in the dark.

'Vince,' Gibbs stood and moved towards the new arrival. 'You heard about Tony.'

'Yeah such a shame but from what I was told the kid is going to make it. He was always a tough cookie'

Vince! Kate's radar went up. This must be Vince Jackson the man who'd worked the original case with Tony. This was the man who'd completed the interview with Cottell when Tony had backed off because to the Baltimore history.

'Well it's looking hopeful,' Gibbs told him. 'I'm glad you could make it. You're one person who might be able to help us get a handle on all of this considering you were here during the original investigation.

'Hey boss,' Jackson smiled. 'It will be like old times and I want to help in any way that I can. So you want to introduce me to the newbies,' he glanced from McGee to Kate then back to Gibbs and fill me in on what we have so far and maybe we can get to the bottom of all this.'