Tony spent the remainder of the day avoiding Candice. He didn't want to answer any questions she might have. Instead, he hung out in the lab with Abby and helped her with the current case.
They were investigating the death Kate and Gibbs was determined to track down Ari and kill him if it cost him his life. Everyone was still devastated, but returning to normal state so they could help their friend.
"So what's the deal with you and the new girl?" Abby asked while she examined a bullet casing through the microscope. A lump formed in his throat.
"Nothing… Uh.. We-"
"Worked together in Baltimore," a sly feminine voice continued. Tony swallowed the lump and headed for the exit.
"I got to go. I just remembered I got to uh-" Candice stopped him.
"Stay a while Anthony, I would love to catch up," she said as she grabbed his arm.
"Listen, I really have to go, Gibbs-"
"Isn't here. He took that nerd and went to the crime scene," she finished. Tony sighed and backed up.
"You two really worked together?" Abby asked. Candice nodded.
"Yep, for four years we were partners on the Baltimore police force," she informed her new co-worker.
"Wicked!" Abby exclaimed, then leaned in closer and lowered her voice. "So, is there any secrets you can tell me about Tony?" she asked. Candice giggled and turned around.
"Many," she chuckled. "But we'll share later. Gibbs asked me to run an errand for him."
"Coffee?" Tony wrinkled his nose. She shrugged and walked away.
"Maybe." As she disappeared he watched her walk away. She hadn't changed any. Still gorgeous and witty. Memories came flooding back, but he was interrupted.
"So, tell me something about her," Abby demanded. Tony scoffed.
"She… gets around," he muttered. Abby laughed.
"Like you?"
He groaned and shook his head. Instead of continuing his conversation with Abby, he took off to the coroner's lab, where he found Ducky sitting in chair staring at a sheeted body. Kate. Tony swallowed. He couldn't bear to look at it. It was horrible.
"Tony," Ducky whispered. Neither of them knew what to say. This all felt like a terrible dream that they couldn't wake up from. Defying temptation to take one last look at his lovely co-worker, he swung around and left the lab. He felt empty without Kate. It was weird and unnatural, but she had completed him in a strange way. The idea of never watching her wipe the floor with him, was heartbreaking. A loud ringing broke him from his thoughts. Quickly he answered his phone.
"DiNozzo."
"I need you to see something, get up here right away, and bring Abby," Gibbs ordered before hanging up. Rushing back to Abby's lab he urged her to the roof.
"Boss has something for us to see. I think it could be vital to the case." Abby dropped what she was doing and followed Tony. Once on the roof, they caught up with Gibbs and McGee. "What is it boss?"
Gibbs led them a few feet away. There was an unusual marking that was unfamiliar to Tony.
"See that? It's the indentation of our sniper rifle. I'll bet you a hundred bucks it matches our rifle." Abby nodded and examined it.
"Do you want me to do a mould?" she asked. Gibbs nodded as the young scientist ran off. Tony stared at him.
"Indentation? How is that possible? That would mean he was pressing down very hard for a very long time," he pointed out. Gibbs smirked.
"Sweating too."