Hidden Enemy
Disclaimer: I don´t own any characters or anything
Summary: Someone attacks Kate, almost killing her. Why is her blood found on Gibbs´ shirt and just why is his DNA under her nails?
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10- Visitor
Tony and McGee returned to the office after making sure that Kate was okay and Gibbs was taken care off as well. Kate had been moved to a different room and Ari´s body had been taken to morgue. They would have a lot to finish off. Abby was waiting for them as they returned. She hugged both in turns. "We really did it!" She exclaimed and smiled widely.
It was only noon and both agents started on their reports. Morrow dropped in about three hours later, telling them that they had done well and that Gibbs had been cleared of all charges immediately after discovering the frame-up, which was why he had been able to intercept Ari before he could harm Kate. Paperwork for this case was really a lot -they had more requests for evidence re-evaluation and analysis sheets than ever before. With both Gibbs and Kate out, it would take them forever. McGee got them some coffee and sandwiches. Tony had just taken one bite from his when a familiar voice sounded from the elevator. "Don´t you dare to drop any relish on that report, Dinozzo."
Both looked up and saw their boss and Ducky coming in. Gibbs was limping quite a bit and his left arm was in a sling. The cut on his head had been stitched and his face was bruised. "I tried to talk him into a few days of leave, but..." The doctor started and got a darting look from his friend. He disappeared into the elevator again and waited for the doors to close.
"I told you there´s too much to do, Duck, if you would excuse us now." Gibbs dropped onto his chair and pulled a face. "Kate will be back in a week, so if you want to live up to that, you better get going." He ordered and pretended to read something until he heard the elevator close again. "Are you going to do it all by yourself or will you give me something to work on?" He asked and met puzzled faces.
"Boss, you should really go home. It´s enough to have you passing out on me once a week." Tony said, but handed him a report to proofread. He ducked away, fearing that he might receive a slap to the back of his head again, but none came.
Gibbs smiled a bit, at least as much as he could without the bruises hurting him. "I´m not planning on it. So, will you tell me how you found out it was Ari?" He asked and both men grinned.
"Actually, it was Abby who found out." McGee said and was interrupted by an outcry from the other side of the bullpen.
"Gibbs!" Abby came running in from the staircase and flung herself around his neck, causing him to wince in pain. She backed up a bit. "Oh, sorry, bossman. Wow...Ari really got you good, didn´t he?" She then asked and carefully examined the bruises on his face. She noticed the questioning looks on the faces of McGee and Dinozzo.
"Stop staring. I thought there was some more paperwork to finish." Gibbs said and winked at Abby. He wasn´t going to keep them here all day long. The strain in their features told him enough to know that they had spent too much time here already. As he watched both men concentrating on their reports, he looked at Abby. "Now, when was the last time anyone of you slept?"
She smiled a bit. "Last night, boss-man." She replied with a smile and their eyes met.
"Abbs, in a bed." He told her and tried to read her eyes. She was almost the only one who could hide her feelings about as good as he could do it himself. It was hard to read her when she didn´t want him to. Today it was rather easy though as she seemed too tired to stand his gaze.
"I don´t really remember...Hey, Tony, did we sleep at home yesterday or was it the day before that?" She called at Dinozzo, who looked up.
"Uhm, wait a second... I think it was on Monday, after that party, but I wouldn´t place a bet on it." He replied and noticed the confused look on Gibbs´ face.
Gibbs looked at them in turns. Of course, he knew that they had worked hard on this case -Ducky had told him, but he had not expected this. It explained why all three of them looked like hell. It explained why Tony had seemed absentminded during the last interrogation at the hospital. And it explained the damage on his car. "You´re going home right now -all of you." He said and pulled himself up from his chair. Three pairs of eyes looked at him. "Was there anything that made it sound like a suggestion?" He snapped at them and saw a little smile on Abby´s face.
"No way, wonderful wizard. Except when you´re going home as well." She told him and crossed her arms in front of her chest. The look in her eyes told him that she wasn´t joking and when he looked around for help from his two agents, he met the same gaze. "Now, deal or no deal?" Abby insisted and continued to look at him.
Gibbs sighed and smiled. "Okay, okay, you win, but I don´t want to see any of you in here before Monday." He said and walked back to the elevator. He didn´t notice the figure slipping into the elevator right behind him before the doors closed.