Chapter 2

Tony sat down at his desk and dialed the extension for the security guard station downstairs.

"Security, this is Hawkins."

"Dan, it's Tony DiNozzo. I need to ask you a few questions about what you saw when Agent Gibbs got in this morning."

"He wasn't acting like himself at all, Tony. He ran past me without showing his ID. He looked scared out of his mind. I checked to see if anyone was coming behind him, but there was no one there."

"Did he say anything?"

"No. He just ran past and got onto the elevator before the doors opened all the way."

"Is there a camera in the elevator, Dan?"

"Yeah. The main elevator is the only one with a camera running 24/7."

"I'll be right down."

Tony hung up and went straight for the elevator. He had to see what happened to Gibbs in the elevator.

Dan had the feed queued up when Tony arrived.

"Here's the feed from the elevator. It starts the minute he stepped on."

He hit play, and Tony leaned in to watch. They observed Gibbs as he practically tumbled into the elevator. He started jamming the button, wanting the doors to close faster. Tony mentally noted that Gibbs looked scared out of his mind, as Dan had reported.

"Who are you!" they suddenly heard Gibbs shout. "Leave me alone!"

"What in the hell?" Tony said as he watched his Boss shouting at no one, and darting every which way in the elevator, looking for someone. The elevator opened, and Gibbs ran off.

"I took the liberty of pulling up the feed from the squad room, too," Dan said, clicking his other link. They watched as Gibbs bolted for his desk and pulled something up on his computer, before falling into his chair.

"Can you e-mail me that feed? I want to see the two hours he was alone, before I got here."

"Absolutely. I'll do it right now."

"Thanks, Dan. I owe you lunch," he said, shaking the guard's hand.

"I'll hold you to that, DiNozzo," Dan said with a smile.

When Tony got back upstairs, Ellie was at her desk.

"Morning, Tony," she said cheerily. Tony waved at her as he walked by, and sat down at his desk. Ellie got up and went over. "Is something wrong?"

"I'm not sure," Tony replied, eyes on his e-mail. He looked up briefly, and noticed that Gibbs had not returned yet. "Have you seen Gibbs?"

"No. Why? Is something wrong with Gibbs?"

"I got a call in the middle of the night from the night guard. Gibbs came into NCIS at three in the morning, scared out of his mind."

"He doesn't usually get scared, does he?"

Tony shook his head as Ellie leaned in to watch the camera footage with him. They watched Gibbs practically bum rush his desk, and look around cautiously before he fell asleep in his chair.

"Is he drunk?" Ellie wondered aloud.

"I've never seen alcohol do that," Tony replied, staring at his computer screen. They watched for a bit as Gibbs slept without incident. A few minutes into the video, Gibbs stirred in his sleep, and started mumbling. Seconds later, he screamed like Tony had never heard him scream before.

"Who are you! What do you want from me! Leave me alone!"

"Is he having a nightmare?" Ellie asked.

"It looks like it," Tony said, watching the video with intrigue. "It's a pretty violent nightmare." He stopped the video and clicked 'forward.' "I'm sending this to Ducky. I think he needs to see it."

"See what, DiNozzo?"

Tony sent the e-mail and lowered his inbox.

"Nothing."

"Right. Grab your gear... we have a body. McGee is getting the car."

Tony and Ellie grabbed their packs and followed Gibbs into the elevator without a word.

Gibbs was silent the entire ride to the crime scene. They arrived to Rock Creek Park, and started processing the scene - the body of a female Marine. Gibbs rattled off orders and left them while he spoke to the local LEOs.

"NCIS," he said, holding up his badge for the Officer. "What can you tell me about the crime scene?"

The officer started to explain how he'd found the crime scene upon arrival, but Gibbs was only half listening. His eyes sporadically darted toward the body.

"Agent Gibbs? Did you hear me?"

Gibbs brought his attention back to the Officer.

"What?"

"I said we didn't move the body when we got here. Are you all right?" The officer asked with concern.

"I'm fine. Thank you, Officer." Gibbs hurriedly turned and walked away as Ducky arrived.

"What do you see, Duck?" Gibbs asked as Ducky examined the dead marine.

"From the ligature mark on her neck, she seems to have been strangled. I'll know more when I get her home."

When he didn't get a response from Gibbs, Ducky looked up to find him staring at the body, a strange look on his face.

"Jethro, are you all right?"

Gibbs didn't respond. In fact, he didn't even move. Ducky pushed himself to his feet.

"Jethro," he said, gently shaking his friend's shoulder. Gibbs came out of his trance, and looked around, as if he'd just arrived.

"Where am I?"

"You don't remember where you are?"

Gibbs stood there for a second, taking in his surroundings.

"Rock Creek Park. Crime scene."

"That's right," Ducky said gently. "Are you feeling all right, Jethro? Maybe you should go and sit in the car for a few moments."

"I'm fine, Ducky," Gibbs replied in his usual voice. "Let's just get this thing processed."

Ducky turned his attention back to the body, but his thoughts were on his friend.

No one talked on the ride back to NCIS. As soon as Tim parked the car, Gibbs got out and took off ahead of them toward the building. Tim gave Tony a look as they watched Gibbs scurry away.

"What's wrong with Gibbs?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out, Probie," Tony said, opening the back doors of the truck. He reached in for an evidence bin, but Tim caught him by the arm.

"I know you want to go after him, so just go. I'll take this stuff to Abby."

"You sure, Probie? There's a ton of stuff here."

"I can handle it. I'd rather you find Gibbs before he has a nervous breakdown or something."

"Thanks, Probie."

"Anytime."

Tony left him and took off in the direction Gibbs had gone. He ran up the stairs to the squad room. Ellie was the only one in the bullpen.

"Did Gibbs come up here?" Tony asked her.

"No, I haven't seen him since you guys left for the crime scene," she said. "Is he all right?"

"He took off when we got back from the crime scene, and I don't know where he went."

Ellie thought for a second.

"Doesn't he like to stop the elevator?"

"Call Abby. Tell her to expect a feed for the elevator security camera in her lab."

Tony picked up his desk phone and called down to the security desk.

"This is Agent DiNozzo. I need someone to patch the camera feed for the main elevator down to Abby's lab, right now."

"Why-"

"Don't ask me any questions! Do it!"

Tony hung up and beckoned Ellie with him as they went to the back elevator to get down to Abby's lab.

When they got to the lab, Abby launched herself into Tony's arms. Tim was standing behind her, obviously unsuccessful at keeping her calm.

"What's happening to him?" she said through tears.

Tony turned to the plasma screen Abby had up with the elevator security feed. Gibbs was sitting in the corner of the elevator, knees up to his chest, rocking back and forth.

"Call Ducky," he said to Ellie. He called the security desk again. "Ed, keep this feed running, and turn on the audio. Agent Gibbs is in there with the emergency stop on, and he isn't well."

"Should I call an ambulance?"

"No. Let me handle it."

"Good luck, DiNozzo."

Tony hung up the phone as Ducky came into the lab. Ducky took one look at the plasma, and turned to Tony.

"We need to get him out of there. He's having a breakdown."

"He's got a loaded weapon in there. If we try to go in there and get him, he could freak out and shoot someone."

Ducky observed the screen for a moment. Gibbs was rocking back and forth, with a terrified look on his face. But what was terrifying his friend this badly?

Gibbs' incoherent mumbling finally started making sense, and Ducky caught a name.

"Viv? Does anyone know a Viv? Or a Vivian?" he asked.

Everyone shook their heads.

"He's saying something else," Ellie said quietly. They all gathered around the plasma and listened.

"I'm sorry Viv… I couldn't find - I tried - please, Viv, leave me alone - I'm sorry…"

Ducky turned to Tim.

"Tim, do you still have Jackson Gibbs' phone number?"

"Yeah."

"Call him and find out if Jethro knew a girl named Vivian. I think we're dealing with a very painful repressed memory."

Tim stepped aside to call Jackson.

"Hello?"

"Mr. Gibbs… it's Tim McGee. I work with your son, at NCIS."

"Tim! It's nice to hear from you. What can I do for you?"

"It's your son. He's having a breakdown, Mr. Gibbs. He's locked himself in the elevator, and he's mumbling the name Vivian. Did he know someone with that name?"

There was silence on the line. For a moment, Tim thought the call had dropped.

"Mr. Gibbs?"

"Vivian-Vivian was Leroy's sister."

TBC