The next two weeks went by fast. Ellie managed to keep her little secret quiet and Nick was so overwhelmed by his thoughts that he found it best to push them back and focus on work for the time being.
"Bishop, Mcgee, Torres, get your bags, we are meeting Palmer on the ship in a few hours." Gibbs instructed.
They all grabbed their gear and ran to the elevator at Gibbs heels. Once aboard the ship Ellie and Tim were instructed to speak to the ship's XO.
"We are going to need full access to Lieutenant Malor's bunk and any other personal effects signed onto this ship." Mcgee said
"Right away sir, I can lead you there now." The XO replied, leading them through a small hallway.
The ship was lurching and Mcgee and Bishop were being thrown from wall to wall, stumbling and grabbing onto large hunks of metal.
"Hell of a day to be aboard the ship." The XO said, turning back to face the agents.
"Hah ya" Ellie faked a laugh. Along with her daily dose of morning sickness Ellie had a hard time with any sort of motion beyond walking and sitting up. Even the elevator trip to the bullpen had her stomach churning. But being on a ship in the middle of the storm was not exactly her idea of a fun day trip while pregnant.
The XO had led them to a Lieutenants bunk and left Mcgee and Bishop to look around. A few minutes into searching Mcgee came across a small book hidden just underneath Malor's mattress.
"Bishop check this out" Mcgee said, lifting the paperback book and turning around to show his fellow agent. Mcgee proceeded to run his fingers along the edge of the book until he hit a small snag in the paper. He lifted it up to reveal a pocket area containing dozens of photos of Malor and a man. As well as a heart shaped locket. Mcgee lifted it up, the silver chin catching the light and studied it.
"We better get this to Kasie, have her run facial recognition on the photos." Bishop suggested.
Gibbs and Torres were with Palmer, taking photos of the body while Palmer worked his magic.
"Time of Death?" Gibbs asked
Palmer crouched down near the body and replied "somewhere between 1 and 2 am last night."
Just as Torres was going to take the last of the photos Mcgee and Bishop came running in.
"Gibbs I think you should see this." Ellie said, showing Gibbs the book.
"Who is that?" Torres asked, peering over Ellies shoulders.
"We don't know, but whoever he is, he seems important to our Lieutenant, we are sending the pictures to Kasie to run facial rec." Mcgee interjected.
The boat took another steep lurch and Ellie clutched her stomach and prayed that she wouldn't lose her breakfast in front of her coworkers. She shoved the book into Mcgees hands and ran out of the room covering her mouth. When she found a door she shoved it open and found herself outside on the boat's deck. Just in time she ran and leaned over the railing, coughing up her breakfast from this morning. The wind pulsated through her face as sweat drenched her forehead and she took a deep breath.
Gibbs shoved through the door and came over to Ellie who was still leaning over the railing coughing.
"Bishop, you ok?" Gibbs had a concerned look on his face, one he reserved only for his younger agents.
Ellie finished coughing and looked up at Gibbs, fixing the cap on her head.
"Ya I'm fine, just getting over a virus and being on a boat in a storm isn't a good mix." She sighed. Only half of that statement was true.
"You need to go home?" Gibbs asked, raising a brow.
"No boss, I'm good to keep working." Ellie looked up at him.
"Good, let's head inside, I'm about a minute away from falling over the edge." Gibbs joked.