Unearthed Secrets
AN: Thankyou to Kate for her help and inspiration
Tony groaned and leaned back in his chair, staring at the open folder in-front of him. He'd finished his report just before lunch time and had caught up on three weeks of paperwork, now he was looking through cold cases, to see if there was anything they'd missed or overlooked. It was boring and tedious. He looked across at Kate and saw the same expression that'd been on his face for the last few hours.
"Feel like getting dinner?" Tony asked her
"Tony, we finish in half an hour or so. I'm sure we can wait" Kate replied, without looking up
"But I'm hungry" he whined
Kate looked up and looked at him as if he was stupid, "It's thirty minutes, Tony"
The elevator dinged, causing them to look up as McGee stepped out of the elevator. He grinned when he saw them and walked to the bullpen
"What are you doing here, Probie?" Tony asked
"Well, I figured you'd still be here doing paperwork…" he answered
"So you decided to pay us a visit?" Tony finished for him
"Well, in a sense. Abs got a parcel in the post that she wasn't expecting, so we decided to open it up in the lab. I figured that since you guys don't have anything better to do…" McGee responded
"Sounds good, let's go" Tony said and got up, Kate mirroring his movements
"So, where's Gibbs?" McGee asked, looking over his shoulder as they entered the elevator
Kate and Tony exchanged looks, "He's at home" Kate finally replied
"Why? Is he sick?" McGee asked, genuinely concerned
"Yeah," Tony replied, taking the easy way out, "You could say that"
Before McGee could question them further, the doors opened to the lab.
"Hey, Abs. Heard you have something sus" Tony said as he walked in
"Hey, Tony, Kate." Abby replied, turning off her music, "You have to check this out. I opened the packaging and then the box. But there's a receiver on the box, or more specifically, the opening of the box"
"Any idea what it's for?" Kate asked
"It looks like a simple receiver, it sends a signal when the box is opened" Abby replied
"So, technically it's not a receiver, because it sends messages?" Tony asked
Abby rolled her eyes and ignored his question, "Anyway, that's about as interesting as it gets. Inside the box I found this cassette."
"Have you played it yet?" McGee asked
"Easy there, McGeek, I know I'm superwoman, but I can't move that fast. Besides, thought you all might like to be here for the show" Abby responded, scooting on her chair to her computer and pressing play.
For a while, there was silence, followed by an old man's voice, "Hello, Abigail. My name is Leroy, I'm sure you know my son, after all you have worked with him for some time now, nowadays he goes by the name 'Jethro'…"
"Abby, turn it off. I don't think we should listen to this" Tony said
"But it's addressed to me" Abby responded, confused
"Yeah, but it's private" Tony told her
"…I also know that you are very good at what you do, so I expect that this message will eventually get to my son. I would ring him, but for some reason, he never really liked me, something about teenage rebellion taken too far. Tell him that in order to see Jake again, he has to revisit his past…" the cassette continued playing
Abby hit the stop button and frowned, "What happened to Jake?"
Kate and Tony exchanged looks, then Kate sighed, "He was kidnapped"
Abby's frown deepened, "Yesterday? That's why boss-man left early"
"Yeah" Tony replied
"Who's Jake?" McGee asked
"Gibbs' son" Abby responded, staring at her monitor, "I might be able to enhance the sounds in the background and try to locate the area. Gibbs doesn't need to hear this"
"Gibbs has a son?" McGee asked
"Ok, I'll stay and try to help. Kate, if you want to tell Ducky? Or do you wanna stay here and I'll go?" Tony asked, ignoring McGee
"Actually, if it's all the same with you guys, McGee would be of more use to me" Abby said
Tony nodded, as Kate turned to Tony, "I think we'd better mention this to Ducky"
Half an hour later Kate and Tony were back at Gibbs' house. They exchanged glances and quietly opened the door, knowing that Gibbs always left his place unlocked. They heard a faint muttering from inside the house and gave a faint knock on the door. The muttering continued as they walked through into the lounge to see Ducky in the armchair reading quietly.
"No, I'm sure that date is wrong, Jethro. If I recall correctly, it wasn't until 1849 when…" Ducky consulted the book, frowning
"Ducky?" Tony said softly
Ducky looked up, slightly startled. Then when he realised who it was, he put down the book and showed them into the kitchen.
Kate gave him a strange look, "Reading the encyclopedia, Ducky?"
"Yes, actually. However they have the dates wrong…" Ducky answered
Tony and Kate chuckled. Tony's expression turned grave as he interrupted, "How's he been, Duck?"
Ducky sighed, "He's not eating and he's drinking a lot more coffee. But, he mainly slept today"
Kate nodded, frowning, "Okay, that's physically, how is he mentally?"
Ducky looked at Kate sadly, "Not with us. Several times today, I had to call his name a few times before he acknowledged my presence. He's not coping with this at all"
Tony and Kate exchanged looks before Tony told Ducky what had been sent to Abby.
"It was sent to Abigail's apartment?" Ducky asked softly, not wanting any of their conversation to reach Gibbs' sleeping form
"Yeah, she was babysitting McGee when a delivery man showed up" Tony replied
"I see. Were any threats made on the tape?" Ducky asked
"Abby and McGee are listening to it now. The only thing that could be deduced as a threat was when he said that the only way we'll see Jake again is if Gibbs revisits his past" Kate responded
"I don't think he met literally, Kate" Tony commented
"I'm not so sure. Leroy was very cryptic with words" Ducky argued
"You met him, Ducky?" Tony asked
"Yes, unfortunately, just after I met Jethro. We had a case close to his home town and…" Ducky explained
"I never thought his words were cryptic. I got the meaning crystal clear" Gibbs interrupted, walking into the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee
"Jethro, I thought you were still asleep" Ducky said, wondering how much he'd heard
"Couldn't sleep with all the racket you were making" Gibbs replied softly
They stayed in an uncomfortable silence for a few minutes, whilst Gibbs made himself coffee and giving everybody else a mug as well.
"Your pasta is in the fridge, Jethro. There should be plenty to see you through for…" Ducky told him
"Ducky," Gibbs interrupted him, "I'm not hungry. Hell, I don't even feel like…coffee. I don't feel like anything"
"Boss, you can't just stop eating" Tony said
"Why not? You gonna stop me DiNozzo? I said I'm not hungry" Gibbs responded, walking back to the lounge room and calling over his shoulder, "And Ducky, you should stop reading those encyclopedia's…or maybe write one"
That's it for chapter 8...Hope you liked it. Please review! Tell me whetheror not Ishould continue..