A/N: Sorry- I've been really busy and had way too much homework. And I'm running low on chapters, because I'm vaguely stuck, but I do have through chapter 16. So, in order to space these out (although I'm sure this'll backfire), there's a number in my head and once I get that number of reviews, I'll post again. The amount of stuff in the chapter determines the reviews necessary- a chapter full of just Kate and Tony that I use to take up space will have less than the one with Gibbs' conclusion.
Gibbs stood awkwardly by the elevator. He knew he needed to go and talk to Abby, but so many things could go wrong. He was having a bad case of the what-ifs. What if she kicked him out? What if she wasn't there? What if she was mad at him? What if he suddenly went tongue-tied and couldn't even remember why he was there? What would he do if McGee was in there? What would he do if McGee wasn't in there? What would Abby's reaction be to his apology for avoiding her? What if all she wanted was a reason for what he had done earlier? How would he explain this one away? He couldn't even explain it to himself, much less her.
The elevator came and Gibbs chickened out. He stepped into the elevator and pushed the button to go and see Ducky instead. Abby wasn't going anywhere; she'd still be there when he worked up the courage to say something. The elevator stopped on Ducky's floor and Gibbs walked into his lab.
"I was wondering when you'd come and visit me Jethro," said Ducky, without even bothering to turn and look at Gibbs. Carol's body was lying on the autopsy table, which made Gibbs usually strong stomach lurch. He looked away quickly. A blood covered bullet lay next to a scalpel on Ducky's tool tray.
"Did you get this from her body?" asked Gibbs. He leaned in and examined it closer, though he didn't touch it.
"Yes, and it needs to go to our favourite lab rat," he replied. Gibbs guiltily remembered his promise to Kate. Ducky moved over next to him and picked up the bullet with his gloved hand. He held it up to the light so that Gibbs could see it at least a little better.
"Well, I don't know how helpful this is going to be, but it's looking like our best bet. Did you find anything interesting about it?" wondered Gibbs, not expecting much.
"I don't know much about guns or bullets," Ducky warned him.
"Continue..." prodded Gibbs, knowing how much Ducky liked to be persuaded to share information.
"Well, I can almost definitely assure you that this came from a standard government-issue gun," supplied Ducky.
"How standard?" Gibbs wanted to know.
"That's something you're going to have to ask Abby," replied Ducky. Gibbs recognized that as Ducky's way of saying that he had no idea.
"Well, then how do you know that it's government-issued?" countered Gibbs. What if Ducky was just guessing and really had no idea?
Ducky held the bullet in front of Gibbs. "Do you see the serial number written across the bottom of the bullet?" Gibbs nodded and focused intently on the tiny markings. "The government puts their serial numbers on the bottom. All other issuers have to put theirs on the top."
"Ah..." Gibbs was yet again impressed by Ducky's extensive knowledge of seemingly pointless facts that all too often became highly useful, if not vital in a case. "So we almost definitely have ourselves an inside job?" assumed Gibbs.
"That would be my guess..." he agreed. "Of course it could just be a government conspiracy." He put the bullet in a plastic evidence bag and snapped it shut. "Take this to Abby on your way upstairs please," requested Ducky as he handed it to Gibbs.
He took it and left.
