A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews and follows! They are truly appreciated. (: This chapter is a bit lighter, as we need to get to the heart of the story, but the next one...maybe not so much.
Tony rounded the corner, whistling cheerfully. He briefly glanced at Ellie's desk as he passed with breakfast burrito and to-go cup in hand. He studied the blonde closer when he realized that she hadn't bothered to acknowledge his presence.
He stopped at his chair, tilting his head to one side as he took in the typical scene; her surrounded by a sea of scattered papers. Likely, she would have been on the floor if she could have found a way to bring the desktop down with her, he thought to himself. He waited there, but she still did not look up.
He frowned and noisily tossed his gear bag to the floor behind his desk, clanked his keys into the drawer, and crinkled the take-out wrapper now spread out on the desk before him. Still nothing. Even Tim wasn't bothering to greet him. He shrugged and took a hearty bite.
"Morning,'" he murmured through a mouthful of scrambled eggs and sausage.
Slurping his drink to see if he could at least annoy someone for a bit of negative attention, he was still met with nothing but silence. Tim hadn't even moved at his desk telling by what he could see through his peripheral vision.
Finally, Ellie glanced up over the top of her monitor briefly, just long enough to confirm his arrival. She'd been fervently researching suspects since she'd left the office the night before, and being forced to actually come in to the office to continue the task was a distraction to her methods.
"Morning," she finally said, devoid of enthusiasm.
Tony exhaled the breath he held, relieved that at least he wasn't completely invisible that day. He, himself, had a good night and he was dying to share it with some unwilling victims. He snickered before taking another hefty bite.
Glancing over at Tim, he took a double-take when he found him transfixed with whatever, or whoever, was on his computer screen. He shoved the over-sized bite that he'd bitten off, deep into the pocket of his cheek long enough to find out. The man definitely looked like something was bothering him over there.
"Whatcha' got there, McGee?" he asked, hoping it was something that he could use to razz him. Tim's eyes never left the screen, and he looked more than a little shocked by what he saw there.
"Hmmm," Tim mumbled. There was no way to tell if the agent was replying to him, or simply talking to himself.
"What's the matter, Timmy? You look as if you've seen a ghost!" Tony roared, laughing now at his bulging eyes. Tony blanched when Tim jumped at the sound of his booming voice, turning terrified eyes his way.
"I-I think I may have."
Tony immediately wheeled his chair over to see what was spooking his co-worker. He curiously leaned in to study the monitor. Tim's fingers hovered over the keyboard, almost afraid that any contact with the keys might somehow bring him closer to the elderly woman's image.
Tony's eyebrows knitted together, his green eyes scanning for any clue as to why this seemingly harmless and rather matronly looking woman's photo was putting Tim into such a catatonic state.
"Blink, McGee. She can't virtually bite you, regardless of what those multi-player geeks you converse with might tell you. Actually, I think that she looks rather nice and grandmotherly. Not an 'ex' though, I hope?" he asked with a smirk.
"NO!" Tim practically shouted, startling Tony backward. He was appalled by the thought. "And, she's no grandma! So, just stop being so obnoxious!" he blurted out, feeling his skin crawl.
"Geez, McSpazzie! Don't get your panties in a twist! She's probably somebody's grandma, by the way." He pouted. It was way too early to be yelled at. Tim still stared at the screen, shaking his head adamantly. "Okay! Spill, McGee!" Tony demanded.
"I m-mean she might be somebody's grandma, b-but I certainly hope not," Tim continued, At least for the sake of-"
"Spill, McGee!" Tony said louder, growing even more curious as his partner withheld vital information.
"Ms. Crabtree," he said flatly, instantly wan as he uttered the name forbidden for so many years. "My home room and science teacher. An absolutely terrifying woman."
"Crabtree? Seriously? That can't be real!" Tony hooted.
"Oh, it's real. Ms. Agnes Crabtree. Widow, of course," Tim said with a quirk of an eyebrow.
Tony chuckled, but he had already lost interest in the revelation, and was promptly wheeling back to his own desk. However, Ellie was still eyeing him with interest.
"Someone you didn't get along with, Tim?" she asked kindly.
"No one got along with her. She happens to be one of the scariest teachers I've ever had," he said somberly. "She might look grandmotherly now, but let me tell you, she didn't look that way before. She wielded a pointer like a skilled marksman wields a gun. Many times she had one of the students reduced to tears. Just by swishing that thing through the air like a maniac..."
"Like you, McCrybaby? Did the other kids call you that too, Timothy?" Tony asked, grinning devilishly at Ellie.
"No, Tony. Only you ever called me "Mc" anything. And, for your information, I only cried once when she actually hit me with that darn thing. Right across the-"
"Ha! You got spanked at MIT with a pointer stick!" Tony exclaimed, howling with laughter at his own joke. Tim rolled his eyes.
"No, Tony. She was a high school teacher, not a college professor. Annnd, I was going to say, right across the knuckles. Couldn't write all day long, and it left a big, red welt that lasted for hours."
"Ouch," Ellie said with sincere empathy.
Tony's belittling grin instantly faded as he rubbed mindlessly at his own knuckles. He recalled the way his piano teacher liked to keep her ruler handy for rapping them when he messed up the notes during his lessons. At last, Tim clicked the image away with a sigh.
"Apparently, she's been honored with a lifetime achievement award for helping under-privileged children learn to read and write. Poor kids. To top it off, she's here in D.C. to accept the award which will be presented by the president, himself. Go figure."
"Niiiice!" Tony said, leaning way back in his chair as he laced his hands behind his head and stared up at the ceiling, deep in thought.
Ellie winced as she watched him teeter about, wondering if he'd ever leaned back too far and fell. He was so close to going over at the moment that she could scream. She bit her tongue and turned away.
"Ahhhh, I bet she was nothing compared to my old football coach!" Tony announced, still wobbling about.
Tim looked skeptical until he saw the new look etched upon his partner's face. The jovial look was replaced by one of pure contempt. He waited for him to continue his latest tale. Ellie too, became interested in what he had to say. She leaned forward at her desk, and rested her chin in her hand impatiently.
"Go on," she prompted.
"He had a three-foot long paddle with a hole drilled through it for every year he coached," Tony continued with disgust. Tim's eyebrows rose to an all-time high. "Coach Zimba." The name seemed to leave a bad taste in his mouth.
"Oooh," Ellie said, appearing shocked. "How many years did he coach?"
"Eleven at the time." He fell silent as he leaned forward and shifted awkwardly in his chair, clearly reliving the sting it could leave behind. "Even named the darn thing."
"Well?" Tim prompted when the silence continued for far too long.
"Well what, McGee?" Tony asked irritably.
"Well, what did he name it?"
"Well...it was often referred to as 'The Board Of Education', but he liked to call the delightful experience 'catching holy hell...' Actually engraved 'Holy Hell' on it himself, come to think of it," he said shuddering.
"Surprised he got away with that one in a high school," Tim said.
"Who said anything about high school?" Tony asked, perplexed.
"College?" Tim asked, surprised. Tony nodded weakly, and Tim suppressed a smile. "Well?" he pushed.
"Well what!" Tony asked in exasperation, indignant that his bitter thoughts were once again interrupted. He just knew that he couldn't have deserved all that paddling he'd received.
"Well-did he actually hit you with it, or what?" Tim spurred him on. Tony's eyes shifted about aimlessly.
"I may have been on the receiving end of it a time...or two," he said carelessly. "Pun intended," he added with a wince. He rubbed at his backside.
"Bummer," Tim said.
"You could hear that thing whistling from a mile away." He stood, acting out the dreadful scene for his captive audience, imaginary paddle and all.
"First, he did this!" To Tim and Ellie's horror, he wound up. "Next, he did this!" He drove the invisible paddle forward, complete with whistling sound effects. "Thennnn..." It was time for his grand finale.
"WHACK! Wood on flesh!" he shouted dramatically, releasing years of pent-up tension through the public theatrics. The two onlookers had a difficult time closing their mouths after their jaws had dropped. Tim recovered.
"Oh! So, you're going to say that your eyes didn't even water a teeny bit when that happened?" he asked with a scoff, rather doubtful.
"Who said it happened to meeee, McGeeee? Assume much, do ya'?" Tony asked sarcastically. Tim shook his head, then rolled his eyes again.
"Did it, though?" Ellie asked innocently.
Tony avoided eye-contact with the wide-eyed blonde as he suddenly began to rummage through his top drawer. "I know I had a chocolate bar in here somewhere..." he muttered, determined to change the subject. "Loan me a dollar, anyone?"
Ellie rummaged through her handbag, and pulled one out at the same time Tim removed one from his wallet. Tim flashed the bill before his eyes first. Tony shot from his chair and darted to Tim's desk to claim it. He snatched at it desperately, but to no avail.
"Yep!" Tim said, dangling it just within reach of Tony's eager fingers. "Nuh-uh-uh. Not until you admit that you cried, too," he said coyly, enjoying the ball landing in his court for a change.
Tony looked panic-stricken under their watchful eyes. He spun in a complete circle, debating how much to actually share with the pair. Dinozzos do not cry, he reminded himself.
"Ellie! Do you have a dollar?" he asked instead, deciding to call Tim's bluff.
She started to say yes, since she was obviously still clutching the bill in her hand, but Tim peered around Tony and gave her a look, shaking his head.
"Um...um...I guess not?" she said uncertainly, slowly wadding the single up into her palm, and stuffing it back into her handbag.
Tony glared at Tim. He really needed the comfort of chocolate after rehashing those painful memories. Tim smiled, and held up the dollar bill again.
"It's all yours, Tony! But, it's your turn to spill," he said sternly. Tony stomped his foot in frustration.
"Oh! All right! Yes, I did! Okay? Happy now, McMeanie? I'd like to see you get blazed by the board of education and not bat an eye! I bet you would be all like; 'WHAAAA! Mommy, my teacher paddled me! WHAAAA!'" he wailed loudly, grinding his eyes with his fists, and making all other eyes in the office turn his way.
Next, he ran around in circles, clutching the seat of his pants for full effect, still wailing loudly. Ellie just stared at him in pure amazement.
Tim, realizing that the subject had clearly hit a raw nerve, was also rendered speechless while watching the trade. He sympathetically handed over the dollar just as Gibbs came around the corner with a fresh coffee in hand, the sight of him instantly silencing the senior field agent.
"Good morning, boss!" Tony exclaimed way too cheerfully, heading back to his seat and looking rather guilty. "We were just reminiscing about the good ol' school days!"
"Well, you're gonna' get a refresher course in a minute DiNozzo if you don't stop that racket and grab your gear," Gibbs said meaningfully.
Tony's eyes popped wide, and he hustled to arm himself, jamming his weapons in to their holsters. Then, he slung his bag over his shoulder to join the other agents in their clamor for the elevator. The three of them were bottle-necked between the desks in no time, following close on the heels of their leader.
"Same MO, boss?" Tim asked.
"Yup. Heading out to Parris Island. Another badly beaten, and terribly confused recruit. Need to check out the chain of command there."
"What's the flight status?" Tony wasted no time in asking, as they entered the elevator.
"Leaves in twenty minutes. Gonna' have to punch it," Gibbs said. Tony paled slightly. He was already anticipating a gut-twisting ride to the airport.
"Actually boss, I was referring to class, as in hopefully 'first'," he clarified breathlessly, jogging now to make it in before the doors closed.
"I know what you meant, Tony." Gibbs jabbed the elevator button, and threw him a fleeting sideways glance intended to end the conversation.
"You see boss, I still have a stiff neck from-" he continued anyway, only stopping when jade-green eyes met icy blue. "Never mind."
Inadvertently, Gibbs had answered his question already. They were clearing flying military. It was Tim's turn to pale. His stomach had given him grief ever since he'd seen the evil teacher's face gracing his screen that morning, and it was sure to be a turbulent flight as usual.
"Ready for this, probie?" Tony asked Ellie, curling his lip.
"Yes?" she said uncertainly. Being ready wasn't optional, she told herself.
Gibbs looked straight ahead as the elevator descended. He was silent, but a small, crooked smile was now dancing on his lips.
After the plane landed, Tony and Tim walked cautiously along the base's tarmac behind Ellie and their boss. Surprisingly, she had not been nearly as affected by the thrashing about during the flight as the two of them. The fatty, sugar-filled breakfasts they had each opted for, along with the unpleasant walks down memory lane, had them both utterly nauseous.
"I need to find a restroom," Tim whispered hoarsely.
"That makes two of us!" Tony retorted, clutching his stomach.
"McGee! Dinozzo! What's the hold-up back there!" Gibbs bellowed.
"Coming, boss!" Tim responded, breaking a sweat as he lunged into action and caught up.
"On your six!" Tony called, also sweating as he fast-walked up behind Tim.
"He's going to kill us before this day is through," Tim moaned. Tony nodded in agreement.
"Hey...about that little outburst earlier...sorry about that. I guess it just brought back some very painful memories."
"No problem, Tony. I understand. Maybe you can make it up to me by-"
"We'll have to kiss each others' boo-boos later, Timmy. I need to find a bathroom, pronto!" Tony interrupted with an urgency. He groaned as he felt another muscle spasm in his stomach. He was beginning to wonder if he'd eaten something tainted.
Gibbs shook hands with the silver-haired man who stood waiting, anticipating their arrival. "Good to see you again, Lieutenant Whitehall," he said warmly.
"Long time, no see, Agent Gibbs," the Lieutenant said. He shook hands with the three agents, exchanging names and titles with a curt nod aimed at each. Another plane descended for a landing. "Let me get you folks settled in to a quieter place! Right this way, agents!"
Enduring another jaunt across a broad parking lot, they entered a building not far from where the recruits gathered for training. They were led down a long corridor to a cool, private room with a polished table situated directly in the center.
"Make yourselves comfortable, gentlemen. And, ladies," he added with a smile. "Feel free to look around when we are through here. This is the last place the recruits were seen before the assaults occurred, I'm afraid."
"Thank you. Nice of you to take the time out from your busy schedule to meet with us," Gibbs said with a faint smile. The Lieutenant took a seat and the others followed suit.
"Being appointed Series Commander over these men and women, you can well imagine how urgently I need to get to the bottom of this. It's my head. Ending the string of attacks on our recruits takes precedence over all other business, as far as I'm concerned."
"Of course," Gibbs said, studying the man's demeanor carefully. "You feel certain they're all related then, Lieutenant?"
"Well I can't know that for sure, but they do seem to be similar in many ways. I'll brief you on what I do know, which isn't much I'm afraid." Gibbs nodded, and the agents prepared to take notes. The Lieutenant's face was grave as he relayed what little he knew.
"We lost one recruit just this past week. Went missing right in the middle of the day. I understand that he wound up in your autopsy. Another had to be discharged from the Corps following hospitalization. He had some mysterious injuries that we couldn't account for, and was out too long being treated to complete the necessary training. This latest young man was also severely beaten, although not to the same degree as the others. Unfortunately, he already shows the first signs of PTSD from his ordeal, according to the psychiatric evaluation."
"Same intel we have. Can you tell us anything we don't know, Lieutenant Whitehall?" Gibbs asked. No one bothered to take notes. "Anything odd going on with the recruits the day they went missing?"
"Not that I'm aware of. Typical day of training."
"No signs of insubordination or unusual discord among recruits?"
The Lieutenant chuckled. That would be a typical day of training. These youngsters aren't marines, yet. Still stuck in civilian mode. But, I don't need to tell you that." Gibbs just smirked.
"The only thing that doesn't add up in this whole thing," he continued, "is that I hear a Seaman recruit was also targeted in a similar fashion that these young men were. I don't know how this maniac could be in two places at the same time. Real hat trick, I guess."
"Maybe they're not related, or it's a copycat," Gibbs said.
He leaned forward and looked directly into Gibbs' eyes. "I can't afford a scandal like this om my watch, Agent Gibbs. I need to have this bastard caught ASAP."
Gibbs nodded again. "We'll find 'em, Lieutenant. Won't stop til we do."
"That's what I needed to hear, Agent Gibbs. I knew that you were the right team for the job."
"Know where we can find our latest victim and ask him a few questions?" Gibbs asked.
"I understand that he's being treated as an outpatient since his release last night. I think you'll find everything you need to know right here." He pushed a file towards him.
Gibbs leafed through the first couple of pages, glancing at the photo of a handsome young man. "They released him awfully fast. Usually keep 'em longer for observation. Is he still considered in training here at Parris Island?"
"I'm afraid not. He would need clearance to stay on, and with the symptoms he's experiencing...Unfortunately, it would be too late."
"Just happened yesterday. Seems a bit abrupt," Gibbs said quietly. "Couldn't have missed much if he's already out."
"Well...it appears that he may be a bit unstable. Apparently, he went into a fit of rage when he was ordered to seek medical care. Broke up a few things before he could be restrained. It's all documented there in his file."
He stood to shake hands again. Gibbs took the man's hand firmly in his, and offered him a reassuring smile.
"Be seein' you again real soon."
"I'm looking for-" His speech was cut short by an attractive woman wearing a Sergeant's uniform who rapped twice before entering. She seemed surprised to find others still in the room. "Sergeant Schafer," the Lieutenant greeted.
"Lieutenant Whitehall, I'm sorry to interrupt, but there is a situation that needs your immediate attention," she said, slyly eyeing Tony. He in turn, looked her over and smiled.
"Thank you. I'm just finishing up here with these good people. Let them know I'm on my way, Sergeant."
"Yes, Lieutenant," she said, leaving as soon as she had returned Tony's smile.
She exited quickly, and the man gave his full attention back to Gibbs. "Agent Gibbs, I know I can count on you. I assume I'll be the first to know when you have anything at all to report?"
"Of course. Like you said, this was on your watch."
"Thank you," He said gravely, nodding and turning on his heels, to leave them alone in the empty room.
"Busy man. Come on. We've got a job to do," Gibbs said.
"What do you think was so important that it couldn't wait until we were through here?" Tony wondered aloud, referring to the pretty brunette's entrance.
"A million things. But, that's what you're going to find out," Gibbs said.
"Boy, word sure spreads quickly. Another branch is already sharing information about their own investigation," Tony mused. "I realize that plenty more gets passed along than should be, but-"
"Check that out too, DiNozzo. Find out who the informant is. You're with me, McGee."
Tim frowned. He was really hoping that he would be paired up with Tony this time so that he could get to a bathroom first. His stomach was still growling in protest. He vowed to never eat junk food again.
"Right, boss."
Tony was already whisking Ellie away to find one for himself. Tim stared as his back enviously, then gathered up his gear to follow his boss. It would be a long day.