Sorry this is so late. L But hey, we're late on the Virtual Season, so this is definitely gonna be late. Sorry. The V.S. is late because (A) I got the idea off the top of my head organized after 'Reveille'. (B) One of us went on vacation, then another, some of us had to work, I went to my aunt's for a week. {C}I was really sick this past week. I completely slept through Thurs and Friday without eating. I didn't know what day it was when I got up on Saturday and I couldn't even wake up for church on Sunday, even though my alarm clock was right at my ear. Liv came down with almost exactly the same thing when I did. Star, if you're reading this, I tried to email you, but it sent it back to me. Gimme a…ring, -mail, whatever. Lol. Sorry to all of you who're waiting, but jet jock and I are on this next chapt and it'll be out this week.

Hey, you can't rush perfection(ists). On to the story.

"Her license says her name's Leta Shale. He tossed it in the bin with the Commander's purse." Tony informed the team. Gibbs turned to Ducky, who was kneeling by the body.

"Cause of death, Ducky?" Ducky tentatively glanced at Kate.

"This woman was manually strangled. From the blood on her skirt and the ripped panty hose, I'd say she was sexually assaulted also. Liver temperature indicates she was murdered in the last 18 to 24 hours. I won't know more until I take her back to the lab."

Gibbs nodded. "Thanks, Ducky." He replied, patting the pathologist on the back on his way to speak to the agents securing the crime scene. Ducky began packing his medical bag as Kate walked around to the other side of the building, arms folded across her chest. Tony quickly followed.

"Kate? You okay?"

"No." Kate turned around, tears visibly welling in her eyes. "No, I'm not." She repeated and pointed in the direction of the crime scene.

"That girl; how old did her license say she was?"

"Turned 21 two months ago."

Kate bit her lip as she nodded. "That 21 year old girl is dead. Probably killed by the same guy who killed Commander Scott. The same guy, who attacked me! This is because of me! He killed two innocent women-this one's barely old enough to be called that-he killed them because I got away."

"Kate-"

"The bastard wanted me, but he settled for them! I-" Kate broke off, sobbing, as Tony wrapped his arms around her.

"This is not your fault. There're a lot of sick people out there. That's not your fault. We'll catch him. And when we do, he'll have Hell to pay. I promise."

Kate hiccupped into Tony's chest as he soothingly rubbed her back. "I promise." he repeated.

Kate sniffled as she looked up into Tony's eyes, her own shining with tears.

"You're a mess." Tony admonished as he wiped mascara from her cheeks. "Much better."

"Yeah, well," she sniffed. "We'd better get back to work."

"Can you handle this? If you need to drop-"

"No. I've got it. Thanks."

Seven hours later, Gibbs stood up from his desk. "I'm going to watch the rest of the autopsy. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye, Gibbs." Kate smiled from her desk, then returned to her computer work. Gibbs stopped at Tony's desk.

"Take care of her." he whispered.

"I will, Boss. I won't let anything happen to her." Tony promised.

Gibbs nodded rounded the corner to the elevator.

"Sorry, sir." The young man gruffly apologized as he righted his mail cart. Gibbs nodded at him and continued to the elevator.

A moment later Kate looked up at the delivery man.

"Got something for me, Craig?" she asked.

The young man simply smiled and pointed to his throat as he handed Kate her mail.

"Bronchitis?" she guessed.

Craig nodded.

"You aren't contagious, are you?" She teased.

Craig smiled as he shook his head no.

"Thanks." Kate replied and returned again to her computer.

Tony waited until Craig was out of earshot before grinning at Kate. "I think he likes you."

"The killer had a handspan of nine and a half inches from thumb to the middle finger. Abby's trying to salvage any prints he may've left." Ducky sighed in frustration. "The man's a ghost, Jethro."

"Does that make us ghostbusters?" Abby chimed in as she strolled through the morgue doors.

"Found something?" Gibbs asked.

Abby winced. "Sorta. The fluid we found in the Commander was from a condom. Unfortunately, it was only the lubricant from the outside. I traced it to a generic brand. They sell them at Wal-Mart and CostCo. I'm still running the blood from Commander Scott and tests from this victim. Sorry, Gibbs."

"1700." Tony peeked over the top of Kate's computer. "You ready to go home?"

Kate signed at the bottom of her paperwork and rose. "Yeah. I-" The ringing of her office phone cut her off. "One second." she sighed. "Todd… Yeah. I'll be right down."

Kate frowned as she hung up and grabbed her purse.

"What is it?"

Kate tilted her head. "There's a package waiting for me in the mail room. They want me to come get it. Do you mind?"

Tony shook his head. "Nah. Five minutes won't kill us."

The mail room door was closed when they got there. Kate knocked twice before going in, Tony in tow.

"Hello? It's Agent Todd. I was told to pick up a package…"

Tony pointed to the far end of the mail counter. "Maybe that's it." There sat a large white box.

"Maybe… Anyone here?" Kate persisted. "Why would they tell me to get a package, but not be here to give it to me?"

Tony walked over to the counter to check it out. It had no return address. "Kate," he slowly said, backing from the box. "Something's off. I've got a bad feeling about- mmph!"

Kate whirled around in time to see Tony drop limply to the floor. Standing over him was a slight young man with brown hair and eyes.

"Hello, Caitlyn." His voice grated.

Kate's eyes widened in shock and she stood rooted in place as the man advanced on her. He shoved her back against the wall and pressed a rag over her mouth and nose.

"Nighty-night."

AN: Now, talk to me peoples. I can't wait to hear it. Any ideas of where to go from here?