Authors Note: STOP! I goofed -so the previous chappie wasinserted into the order yesterday. If this chappie below sounds familar, you may have missed the chapter just before this that introduces the bad guy. Sorry! - Chianna.

Chapter 3 - All Too Familiar

The fact that Tony also volunteered Kate for duty in the wee hours did not go unnoticed by the senior agent. Kate's decidedly sour look she shot DiNozzo confirmed her feelings, though she gamely chose to keep her mouth shut.

Gibbs looked for a long moment at the body. Lights had been set up for Tony to take pictures and for Ducky's prelim report at the scene. Distance had blurred the scene to a simple tableau and for a second he was struck with an oddly strong sense of déjà vu. Something was missing. If he mentally substituted a streetlight high overhead instead of the Kleeg lights used to illuminate the scene, Gibbs was certain that he had seen a similar scenario before. He just couldn't place it. Shaking his head slightly, the witness's rough voice tore him away from his thoughts.

"Are we done here?" Warner shuffled the dirt at his feet, not even trying to hide his impatience. "I've told you all I know."

Which amounted to a hell of a lot of nothing, Gibbs thought bitterly. "Yeah we're done here," Gibbs fixed the other man with a pointed gaze, "…for now." Hooking a thumb in DiNozzo's direction, he added, "Give the agent here your name and address in case we need to contact you for anything else."

Tony was already asking the older man for his drivers license when Gibbs raised his hand, palm outward. Without pausing or looking up, Tony lobbed a couple of small black containers with gray lids that had been rubber banded together at his boss. The senior agent deftly caught the film containers and tried to hide a smile by concentrating on reading the younger agent's cramped handwriting on the evidence labels. When Tony started reading his mind…yeah right. That day was never gonna happen if Gibbs had his way. Tony could be smug and the older agent took inordinate pleasure in balancing the universe, especially where Tony was concerned. Could be a flaw in his character, the senior agent mused.

Nope.

Sporting an even wider grin, he caught a confused look from Tony. The universe tilted ever so slightly to his satisfaction and he whistled a little sea shanty. This seemed to deepen Tony's concern into a decided frown.

God, he loved his job.

Without turning his head, he shot over his shoulder, "I'm heading back with Ducky. I'll have these shots developed. I'll be expecting a report by 0900."

Gibbs was sure he heard Kate groan as he lifted a leg up onto the coroner's wagon. He sketched a wave as they pulled away. His momentary lightheartedness evaporated like mercury on a hotplate. Tony and Kate stood with their backs to the witness. Warner's face was a study in congealed malice as he looked at their unguarded backs. Suddenly, he felt the universe tilt on its access. Something was not right - about this case, the body and especially their witness.

TBC…