Abby looked up as the doors to the lab opened. Hey Tony! Who's your friend?Hey Abbs, I'd like you to meet Leah Hecht, on loan to us from the Arlington PD. Leah, this is Abby Sciuto, our forensic genius.

Leah smiled and reached out a hand before realizing the dark haired girl was gloved. Nice to meet you. I hope we're not interrupting, she said, pulling her hand back.

Like that's ever stopped anyone here before? Abby smiled at the newcomer and nodded at the objects she carried. Got something for me?Sure do, Abbs. Blood sample from John Doe and his prints. Think you can get the blood test going right away? We think he's going to show the same poison Ducky suspects killed Willard. Tony gave Abby one of his mischievous grins as Leah handed over the items.

Abby signed in the evidence and smiled back at the man. For you, Tony, I'll see what I can do.Thanks Abby. C'mon Leah, we'd better get back upstairs. They both waved to the lab's resident as they headed out and Abby looked after the redhead with a grin. I have the feeling things are going to get interesting, she said to herself.

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Kate and McGee stood at Leah's desk sorting out files from the meager evidence included in the boxes. Should I run this down to Abby? McGee looked at the two small piles doubtfully.

Wait until Leah gets back; we'll make sure this is everything. Kate was sorting through the reports, ordering the two cases. Boy, there sure isn't a lot here. No wonder they went cold.Well, no, there wasn't a lot, but this looks like less than there was. Damn! Leah walked up just as Kate finished speaking and peered at the unboxed contents. Something's going on. Maybe I should thank Ritchey for getting me out of there after all. She looked up at Tony who stood silently behind her.

Tony's thoughts were ones of complete disbelief. She went to work in an atmosphere of sheer hatred every day, but it was something related to a case that made her glad to be out. She was definitely made of stronger stuff than he was; he craved the camaraderie of his coworkers far too much to be able to survive in a hostile atmosphere for long.

You mean someone took evidence from the case files? Kate caught the look that went between Leah and Tony, but didn't comment.

Leah pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. And I'll bet that same someone took two files from a locked drawer in my desk, and bugged my office. You know, this has been a lousy day.

Gibbs had been sitting at his desk trying to clear some open reports in order to focus on this latest case. Leah's irritated words carried easily to him, however. Before he could think about it, he was on his feet and moving over to the desk he'd assigned to her.

Leah, anything I can do to help? The minute the words were out of his mouth, he knew they'd been the wrong thing to say. Her eyes snapped to his and as she opened her mouth to speak, he held up a hand. Forget it! I'm sorry I even offered. This only happens to concern the case we're working on, so far be it from me to want to make sure that all the evidence is accounted for, Detective Hecht. He bit down hard on the last two words, trying not to say anything else.

Don't worry, Agent Gibbs. I'll handle it. Leah's tone was equally hard, before she turned her back on him.

Gibbs stood there, staring at her back, hands curling into fists to keep from doing something stupid. Like reaching out, stroking the shoulder-length copper silk, and apologizing. Why did they always end up like this? He pressed his lips into a hard line and turned away, heading back toward his desk.

Kate, Tony and McGee stood staring at each other. Tony mouthed to Kate, and she nodded back. McGee cleared his throat and picked up the evidence.

I'm going to take this down to Abby and then I'm going to see about getting some dinner for the two of us. Why don't you guys do the same? He nodded in Leah's direction.

Sounds like a great idea, McGee. And I did promise to take Leah to Belissima, Kate. What do you say the three of us get out of here for a little bit... Tony looked over at Leah hopefully, but she shook her head.

Sorry, I'm not in the mood for wine and pasta anymore. Her expression was oddly unreadable.

Kate wasn't about to let her sit here, though. Fine. How about Mexican and margaritas?

At that, Leah gave a grin. Now, that I could go for. Lead the way.

Gibbs listened to them chatting as the elevator doors closed and then rested his head in his hands. Why did it have to be her here? Why couldn't it have been any other damned detective? Why did the sound of her voice have to remind him so much of all the nights they spent talking?

They could talk about anything. Many were the nights they would talk through a case, the picture coming clear as they walked through the evidence together. Sometimes they'd talk about life, quietly asking why boyfriends battered and wives cheated. They learned a lot together; learned how to go on no matter what, how not to show what you feel. She'd learned that last lesson too well. He could remember a time when they would've leaned on each other, trusted each other completely. A time when asking for and giving help wouldn't have been so difficult. A time when seeing her and wanting her wouldn't have been impossible. No, that road wasn't to be traveled. Not now, not ever again.

He stood and walked over to her desk. Her fragrance haunted the air and he cursed it even as he tried to define it, capture it. He grabbed one stack of case files, sat down in her chair and applied himself to long dead bodies instead of long dead love.