Dangerous Measures

AN: Thankyou all for your reviews.

Thankyou also to Kate for her fantastic work and inspiration!


Kate and McGee returned to the bullpen, looking tired. Tony looked up from his computer, silently asking the unspoken question.

"Wicks' friends spoke of somebody new in his life, somebody who could change his life. Apparently Wicks was very excited about this new person and said he'd be meeting them on the weekend as they were up here for a holiday," Kate replied

"From where?" Tony asked

"Baltimore," McGee replied, "They met over the internet…"

"Gibbs doesn't know how to use the internet, that's good news," Tony interrupted, "Any idea what their name is?"

"No. That was the only thing they didn't know about the guy," Kate replied

"Okay, anything else?" Tony asked

"Not from his friends. His parents last saw him a few months ago, but he had to rush off because something happened with one of his patients, they weren't sure what. But they keep in regular contact with their son and say that he hasn't been happier in a long time," McGee responded

"How about you? Did you find anything?" Kate asked

"Yeah, a birdie delivered the file that the Feds have. They found Gibbs' blood and fingerprints at the crime scene, and they have an eyewitness placing him there. Eyewitnesses name was," Tony quickly looked through the folder on his desk, "Brett Hobson. The Feds were going to put him in a witness protection program, but he made it quite clear that he didn't want protection,"

"Scared them into changing their minds," Kate commented with a frown

"Something like that. Doesn't have a reason for why though," Tony said, then sighed, "Anyway, before they found the evidence condemning Gibbs, they were looking at Wicks' psychiatrist as the primary suspect. Wicks started seeing a new shrink a few weeks ago. He suffers from depression," Tony replied

"Why did he change psychiatrists? Difference of opinion?" Kate asked

"No, the psychiatrist he'd been seeing for seven years suddenly died of a heart attack," Tony explained, "Or so it seems,"

"The Feds suspect foul play?" McGee asked

"The guy was in perfect health, McGee, seems a bit strange for him to just die. But anyway, the new shrink didn't seem to be all that concerned with Wicks' death and apparently exhibited 'strange, antisocial behavior'" Tony quoted

"Define 'strange, antisocial behavior'" Kate said

"I can't," Tony replied, "They didn't say what happened, it seemed to be a 'gut' feeling. I would ask them, but they don't know we have their files, so…"

"So, we interview the shrink tomorrow," Kate responded, "And try to find out who the person he met over the net is,"

"What about his financials?" McGee asked

"Nothing out of the ordinary. Phone records showed nothing unusual either," Tony replied, "Don't know if Abby turned anything up,"

"Well, let's have a chat with her, then," Kate said, leading the way to the elevator

Tony and McGee exchanged looks before following, getting inside just before the door closed. As they walked into the lab, Tony ducked and quickly turned off Abby's music before he burst an ear-drum.

"Hey!" Abby called out indignantly

"I think you're going deaf, Abby," Tony said with mock-concern

"What?" Abby shouted

"You heard me," Tony replied, narrowing his eyes

"What?" Abby shouted even louder

"I said you're going deaf, Abby!" Tony said, raising his voice

Abby signed something in sign-language, laughing evilly to herself. Tony gave her a blank gaze, "Ok"

"So, Abs, what have you got for us?" Kate asked

"Gibbs pissed off a lot of people. My list is already, like, a hundred pages long, and I've only gone back a year," Abby replied

"Well, you know how much he loves living up to the second 'b' in his name," Tony replied

Kate slapped Tony over the upside of his head, grinning widely.

"Hey!" Tony exclaimed, spinning around, "Only Gibbs is allowed to do that!"

"Well, Gibbs isn't here at the moment, so I decided to take over his role of keeping you in-line" Kate explained

"And how do you plan on doing that, Agent Todd, a way-ward agent like me…you may need to," Tony grinned widely, wriggling his eyebrows suggestively, "Punish me…"

Kate slapped Tony over the upside of his head again, this time, leaving her hand there longer than necessary, "In your dreams, DiNozzo,"

"Oh, you don't wanna go there, honey," Tony responded, grinning

"Umm, guys, you wanna focus here?" McGee asked tentatively

"I'm focusing," Tony said innocently

"On the case, Tony," Abby responded

"Oh, right," Tony said, snapping out of it

"Anyway, as I was saying, I've gone through Gibbs' records and stuff since he worked here and turned up…a lot of people who may hold a grudge against Gibbs. I deleted those who were dead, who haven't been in the country this month, who were still incarcerated or in a mental institution or were in some way incapable of doing it," Abby explained, "Then I put the rest of them in order of seriousness and how much of a threat they are,"

"And…?" Tony asked when Abby didn't say anything

"I'm waiting for a drum-roll here, Tony," Abby said indignantly

Tony rolled his eyes, "Today, Abs,"

Abby cocked her head on the side, "How very, Gibbs, of you. Um, anyway, thirty names jumped out, and I further narrowed it to fourteen as some of them were in the lock-up the day Wicks died, a few others were in hospital or at some boot camp thing the government is running."

"Fourteen?" McGee asked

"That's what I said, Timothy," Abby replied

"Ok, we'll check their alibis and interview them tomorrow," Tony told them, "I've gotta report to the director. I'll see you all bright and early tomorrow morning, go home, try to get some sleep"


Gibbs jumped off the train and rolled. He came to a stop and slowly got to his feet, looking around. Smiling, he walked the short distance to the city, trying to remember the name of the motel he'd stayed at last time he was here. He walked through the streets, feeling the cold night's air run through his shirt, making him wish he'd brought another jacket. He shivered and walked into a crowded bar, he pushed through to the bar and waited for the bartender to serve him.

"What can I get you?" the man shouted over the music

"You got anything to eat?" Gibbs shouted

"What?" the man shouted back, holding his hand to his ear

"Food," Gibbs shouted, making gestures to make it clearer

The man looked at his watch and shook his head, "Kitchen closed an hour ago,"

Gibbs nodded and walked out of the bar. He went down the street till he found another pub, this one was less crowded, only a few people having some quiet drinks. Walking through to the bar, he asked the bartender the same thing.

The man sighed and looked at his watch, "Nah, the kitchen's closed. There's a McDonalds across the road though,"

"Not really into McDonalds," Gibbs confessed, "I was hoping to get a good pub meal; steak and chips or something,"

The man smiled, "There's a good place just around the corner from here. Take the first right, it's down about three shops, you'll see it, looks kind of dingy from the outside. But they have some good tucker," he looked Gibbs up and down, "And they have some cheap rooms if you need a place to stay,"

Two hours later, Gibbs ran a towel through his hair, vaguely wondering if he needed to consider disguising himself. Then shook his head with a snort, "Like hell I'm gonna dye my hair,"

He lay down on the bed and sighed, what a day. Closing his eyes, he quickly drifted off to sleep.


That's it for chapter 4...Hope you liked it! Please review!