Try your best to overlook typos? Touch screens are not my line of expertise yet. (:
Ducky scanned the body of the latest victim. He lifted one rigid hand and studied its jagged fingernails with his hi-powered lens, scraping a bit of debris from underneath one to place into a vial. The pattern was the same as before; defense wounds, torn nails, bruised wrists and ankles, and some painful looking welts and contusions along the hips, thighs and buttocks. Maybe this fellow would have more to share with him about his attacker than the last, he thought hopefully.
Jimmy Palmer entered autopsy with a mysterious shopping bag tucked under his arm, and quickly shoved it into the back of a slide-out drawer. To his relief, the older man did not appear to notice him.
'Doctor Mallard," Jimmy greeted nervously, sounding muffled.
"Mister Palmer."
Jimmy approached his mentor and peered over his shoulder curiously. "Does our friend have anything new to tell us?" he asked curiously.
"Hmmm..." the older man said simply, deep in thought.
"Assaulted in the same way?" Jimmy pressed for more information.
"Why don't you suit up and help me find that out, my dear boy," Ducky suggested a bit crisply, leading Jmmy to glance down at his attire sheepishly; tee-shirt and jeans.
"Oh! Yeah...about that-I mean these.." he laughed nervously, it echoing back at him hollowly in the cavernous room. "I-I just had to run some quick errands just before I—well, never mind. It's probably not important. Be right back!" he called suddenly, racing off to get ready for another day's work.
Ducky shook his head before returning his attention to the body. "Why, I believe you put up even more of a struggle than your predecessor did. Fought to the bitter end," he said, clicking his tongue at an especially deep tissue bruise along the victim's jaw where he had likely been slugged during the struggle.
The delicately handsome features of the recruit were somehow hauntingly familiar, but he couldn't fathom why. He studied the name on the clipboard once more. "Jordan Thurston..." he murmured aloud, attempting to jar his memory. It did not.
He rolled the cadaver onto its side and sighed heavily. He abhorred this part of the assessment most of all. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to get very personal with you now, poor fellow. But, I'm sure that you understand how vital it is to finding your killer."
Jimmy reappeared just as Ducky had retrieved the last sample. He grimaced and rubbed the side of his neck before reaching out to accept the packaged swab from the doctor.
"I'll-um-just...run this over to Abby," he said somberly.
Jimmy stood staring at the body a moment longer, still wondering if this one had been attacked in the same way they believed the last one had. The thought made his skin crawl. He found himself much more vigilant as he left the evening before. He may not be a recruit himself, but the whole sexual assault thing was simply horrifying to him.
"That would be a magnificent idea, Jimmy." Ducky's curt tone cut through his wandering thoughts, and he turned on his heels at once to visit Abby's domain.
Ducky smiled curiously at the young man's back as it disappeared around the corner. He wondered what on earth was in the fancy pink and white striped bag that he had sneaked into the back of the drawer. The smile slowly faded as he had a sudden recollection. He looked at the recruit's face with horror. He knew it! He had seen this man before.
A rather distinguished looking gentleman sat straight and rigid in his spotless uniform at the interrogation table. Gibbs observed him through the glass for a long while, squinting up his eyes as he took in every facet of the man's personality without his knowledge. Of course, one could always assume that he was being watched under the circumstances, but this man never let on. Although impatience lurked just beneath the surface, he did not seem abnormally nervous; merely an indignant man who believed that he had better places to be.
Gibbs finally entered the room and nodded at the Captain, then pulled out a chair to sit.
"Captain Saddler," he said warmly, sliding into his chair and laying a thick file down before him.
The Captain's eyes landed on the file where they remained fixed. "How is he?" he wasted no time in asking.
"Seaman Blythe is pulling through like a real champ, despite some pretty serious injuries. Wish I could say the same for the other two men," he said quietly, obseving his demeanor.
"Who would do something sick and twisted like this?" the distinguished looking man asked in a sincerely disturbed tone, a deep frown wedging its way between the two bushy, white eyebrows.
"That's what we intend to find out, Captain. Any enemies in his unit?" Gibbs continued.
The Captain hesitated. "Nothing that I wouldn't chock up to the typical, carefree hazing among-"
"Carefree? Care to elaborate on what you mean by that?" Gibbs asked.
The Captain shrugged, then laughed hollowly. "Of course I do my best to keep the kids focused, but you know how it gets, being a marine yourself. There's the occasional shaving cream prank and such." He snickered. "Of course, some pranks can get a bit out of hand, at least for the softer rookie who's just left the nest."
Gibbs said nothing, but his eyes said plenty. He wasn't buying it. Hazing always went further than it should, and he knew management tended to look the other way. It was no secret.
"I pick and choose my battles," Captain Saddler said, shrugging.
"No unusual rivalry, or not so friendly banter, going on that stands out in your mind?"
"None that I can recall. Basically, a good group of young men this round. Haven't given me much trouble at all."
"Do recruits typically give you much trouble, Captain?" Gibbs asked with a smirk.
The man's eyes shifted away as he sighed heavily again. "Not really, Agent Gibbs. I'd say that I've been fairly lucky when it comes to having to discipline the guys for anything other than a few minor infractions."
"Feel like they might have been too much trouble for someone else? Someone else who had to discipline them for you?" Gibbs continued.
"No."
"No disciplinary action whatsoever documented in the past-say... six months then?" he pressed.
"Haven't you looked into that for yourself? I can't keep track of every little report about hazing. If a complaint was drawn up then I'm sure you'll find it in there," he said a bit flippantly.
Gibbs opened the file and leafed through the first few pages. "Actually I did find one.. .Says here that a recruit reported directly to his supervisor about being groped on his way to the showers. Says that he was very nervous about using them after that."
The Captain chuckled. "Gee, that never happens." Dark eyes full of sarcasm met with pale blue ones full of scrutiny. "Aw, come on now, Agent Gibbs. Those kids find that kind of stuff funny for the most part. Mess with the smallest and weakest, often nerdiest guy and it makes the others laugh. It's mostly in good fun."
"This one doesn't look like a smaller, weaker, or nerdier guy to me. In fact, he looks like a rather buff, attractive, and admirable guy to me. Was doing well in training according to the benchmarks he met."
He pulled out a photo of the young man, now lying in autopsy. His blue eyes twinkled as he smiled and waved for the camera, clearly caught off-guard as he balanced on the side of a ship. His thick golden hair was tousled by the wind, and his bulging bronze biceps glistened in the sunlight.
Captain Saddler glanced down at the photo briefly. "He isn't the stereo-typical victim, I admit,'" he acknowledged gruffly. "Maybe he was just a little too pretty for the other guys to not tease."
Gibbs smiled a bit but it wound up as more of a sneer. "Maybe. But all of the victims seem to fall into this same stereo-type. Not the weakest of the bunch by any means." He turned stern eyes as he opened up the file of a document. "States here that he didn't report the incidents until the groping turned into a painful 'credit-card swipe" with an object that actually led to physical injuries. Know what that is, Captain?"
"I've heard of it," he said in a dismissive manner. "Guys run their hand between the butt cheeks of another like a credit card being run through a reader, right?. A harmless little razzing. Never heard of anyone actually being injured by it," he said with a scoff.
"You condone this sort of behavior, Captain?"
The Captain's eyes went steely as he slammed his palm down on the surface of the table. "No, I don't condone it! But, I sure as hell don't think that some fraternity-style shenanigans should reflect on my ability to do my job! I can't babysit these boys 24-7!"
Gibbs folded his arms across his chest and leaned far back in his chair. "Just wondering why the hazing didn't stop when the report was filed, and why it continued to be an issue. Didn't anyone follow up on it?"
"Look, I run a tight enough ship! I can assure you that whatever happened to these young men did not happen on my watch," he said hourly.
"Good to know, Captain. Because someone needs to be looking out for these young recruits. Now these men are dying before they can even make it out of basic training, and even a little 'hazing' can get out of hand when it borders on sexual assault."
Tony listened intently at the window, his hands shoved deeply into the front pockets of his slacks. Tim was beside him and took a long swig of his coffee.
"This guy knows something," Tony thought aloud.
"You think?' Tim asked, leaning into the glass in the hopes that he might discover just what it was that he was clearly missing during his own observation.
"See the way he squirmed in his chair when the big, bad bear asked him about the shower incident?"
"Yes. And, I saw that report for myself," Tim said. "Poor kid claimed that he didn't know who the perpetrator was, but said that it had happened more than once. How can you not know who is doing that to you? I mean was the person hiding somewhere in the shadows...wearing a ski mask...or what?"
Tony nodded. "Likely, he knew that he'd wind up hurt, or worse if he told who it was. Probably was just hoping that it would launch some sort of an investigation, and they'd catch him in the act. Or maybe that he'd just back the hell off." Tim nodded.
"Thank you for your time, Captain Saddler," Gibbs said, standing to shake the other man's hand.
"My pleasure, Marine. And, if there's anything else I can do for you at all, you know where to find me."
"That I do," Gibbs said dryly.
The two men exited, smiling warmly at one another as if the tension between them in the room had never existed. Once the captain had been walked from the building, Tim and Tony caught up with their boss.
"Whatcha' think, boss?" Tony asked eagerly.
"He's hiding something," Gibbs said with confidence, quickening his pace in his quest for hot, fresh coffee.
"Aha!" Tony shouted victoriously, tossing a smug smile Tim's way.
"I never denied that claim," Tim said with a roll of his eyes, chasing after them.
"DiNozzo! McGee! Bishop!" The agents practically trampled one another to reach their bosses desk for orders.
"DiNozzo, I want you and McGee to keep a tail on Captain Saddler. Stake him out if you have to. I still think he's hiding something. Bishop, you keep eyes and ears on the guys with me." She nodded earnestly, already planning how she would proceed.
"You mean back to Parris Island?" Tony asked, looking a bit surprised.
He had planned on asking the cute redheaded bank teller out that weekend. He was disappointed, and it showed plainly on his face. He forced a mirthless laugh when his boss stopped dead in his tracks and spun around to stare at him. Clearly, he was not amused.
"I mean we just got back from th-there..." Tony stammered. "On it, boss!"
He returned to his desk to don his weapons, first throwing Tim a disgruntled look. The clownish expression he wore next made Tim instantly uncomfortable, and he frowned at his co-worker.
"W-what?" he asked warily. It was never a good sign when Tony looked like this.
"Oh, nothing..." Tony said deviously, swaggering his way with the grin of the Cheshire cat. "Just, that it looks like we might be shacking up together again, Timmy." He looked him up and down for full effect. "Remember all the good times we shared on stake-outs in the past?" Tony leaned in close, breathing heat into Tim's ear, making him rub it in annoyance.
All he could remember was long, tedious hours of watching shadowy figures through thick lenses, bad fast-food, and a whole lot of childish bickering going on between himself and Tony. Juvenile bickering that he certainly wasn't proud of.
"Stop being creepy, Tony!" he spat back. "He didn't say that we had to share a bed or anything!"
"Aw, nuts!" Tony exclaimed with a snap of his fingers, and an exaggerated pout. Suddenly, losing interest in the teasing, and instead focusing on the top of Tim's head. Tim tried to back away. He plucked a hair out with a violent jerk of his wrist before he could.
"Ow!" Tim squealed. "What was that about?" he asked indignantly, clutching his tender scalp.
"I thought I found a gray one," Tony said innocently, holding the hair up to the light to examine it. He slowly twirled it between his fingers. "False alarm. I guess it's just a blondie. Sorry about that!"
Tim shook his head, and followed behind, already dreading the excursion with all his heart and soul. Tony was clearly miffed about a lost weekend with a potential, new conquest, and he was about to pay the price for it.
Ellie stood at her desk, watching the two men prepare for their departure. "Bye, El,' Tim said awkwardly, assuming that she was jealous that she hadn't been chosen to go.
"Bye, Tim," she said, coming around to give him a quick hug.
She reached for Tony next, who willingly accepted the embrace. He patted her back, quirking an eyebrow over her shoulder at Tim until she released finally him.
"And...for what do we owe this display of appreciation and adoration?" he asked with a cheesy grin plastered upon his face.
She had a far-off look in her eyes. "I don't know." She flashed them a crooked grin. "I guess I'll just miss you two around here, that's all." The words coming out of her mouth sounded strange even to her own ears. She wasn't sure what she was feeling.
"Alrightythen!" Tony exclaimed wearing an odd expression. "Let's go then, Mcgee! We have a flight to catch."
Begrudgingly, Tim entered the elevator. Ellie was still staring at them with wide eyes as the doors slowly closed.
"What in the world was that all about?" Tim asked.
"I have absolutely no idea," Tony answered honestly.
Tim felt as if he'd endured a long voyage on rough seas by the time they arrived at the car rental agency. Tony had been far more annoying than usual in his opinion; purposely talking non-stop even though he had tried to intterupt him several times.
"Tony!" Tim finally snapped. Tim had managed to fully tune him out earlier, but now there were rental papers to sign. "Just sign the papers, will you?" He tossed him the pen he had finished using.
"Are you going to sign zee papers!" Tony boomed in his best German accent, laughing rambunctiously at his own joke, much to Tim's horror.
The young woman at the counter just stared back blankly. "Hogan's Heroes," Tony explained with a toothy grin. There still wasn't a glimmer of recognition in her expression. "Probably way before your time," he mumbled.
Tony watched the Captain exit his car to enter the armory. "There's our man, McGee," Tony whispered.
"I can see that, Tony. Do you really think we should be parked so close, though?"
"I've done these stake-outs far longer than you have, McGee. You seem to forget that I am a seasoned agent."
"How can I, when you keep reminding me?" Tim shot back.
"Shhhh. He's looking this way. Act casual."
"Right. Putting on your shades certainly threw him off." Tim opened the glove box and pretended to search for a map. "You parked right in plain view...and definitely too close," he muttered under his breath.
"Should I be concerned here?" Ellie asked through their earwigs.
"Everything's fine, El," Tony assured her. "Our guy is heading inside...right about... now."
The man continued on in, glancing around suspiciously as he went. Tony decided to move the car further up the road after all, and parked again.
"Good idea," Tim hissed. Tony scowled.
Dusk was approaching, and Tony checked his cell for the time. "Six o'clock, already. I'm famished."
"I brought snacks. They're in the bag back there, help yourself," Tim offered, taking over the lenses to keep watch.
"As in snacks, do you mean veggie crisps? Because, that rabbit kibble won't sustain me. You can't pass that off as food, McEarthmuffin. Ever since you've been slimming down-"
"DiNozzo!" Gibbs cut in.
"Yes, b-boss?" Tony asked.
"You can't figure out a way to work a quick meal into your stake-out, seasoned agent?"
"Right, boss. Got it under control, boss." He threw Tim another daunting look, obviously blaming him for the chastising. "Why don't you go get us some real food?"
"I can't eat rich food anymore since that one day. Besides, I'm not hungry, you are. You go get it," Tim retorted.
Tony mouthed his words back mockingly, yet silently, so that he couldn't be heard by his boss. Tim just started at him without flinching.
"Fine! I will."
"Make it quick, DiNozzo," Gibbs warned.
Tony readjusted his sunglasses, climbed from the vehicle, and continued up the street, taking long strides and making good time. Tim shook his head, amazed by Tony's behavior on this stake-out. It was worse than usual. He scoffed to himself and wiggled the earwig out to rub the soreness away. And, sunglasses at dusk. Very inconspicuous, he thought.
However, Tony instantly blended into the crowd walking alongside him, and just around the first bend, he found a pizza place. He grinned happily. Just what he needed, comfort food.
He entered the restaurant, met by a trendy atmosphere filled only with young patrons. He scanned the room, taking in the light sculptures depicting abstract works of Italian art. A group of recruits were seated at a large corner booth, already eying him curiously. He nodded politely before turning his attention to the pretty blonde behind the counter.
"Hello. Dining in tonight?" she asked politely, while reaching for a menu.
"No, no. Just want something to go," Tony said with a classic DiNozzo smile, as he removed his shades. "I have a date tonight, you see," he added wistfully. He might as well fantasize about it, even if it couldn't be the real deal.
The blonde smiled. "Well then, what would you like, sir?"
"I'll have a large pan-tossed, half veggie, half sausage," he ordered.
"To go order!" she shouted through the window. Tony winced as all eyes turned his way. So much for blending in.
"That will be sixteen, fifty."
Tony whistled. "Wow, you drive a hard bargain."
She smiled wider, then winked flirtatiously. "oh, you have no idea," she teased.
Surprised by her sudden flirtation, Tony's eyes widened, and he laughed nervously. "Oh?"
"If you change your mind about that date, I get off at ten-thirty," she whispered, leaning forward to deepen the cleavage peeking out over the top of her uniform.
Tony couldn't help but notice, and looked on appreciatively. "I just might take you up on that offer," he whispered back, wishing he could mean it.
"You can wait right over there," she said, instantly professional once another man stepped up behind him. She pointed to a sign hanging above a bench that said 'waiting area'".
"Thanks," he said, glancing briefly at the man. The man looked straight ahead.
Tony sat and observed the recruits. They were already packing up, but as they left they glanced his way once more.
"McGee," he whispered.
"Where are you, Tony?"
"Getting the grub, where do you think?" he said, leaning down to tie his shoe. "A gang of five will be coming around the corner. See where they go." He remembered to sink at the blonde on his way out.
Tim was watching through the binoculars. "Yep. I see five recruits now, and they are heading South...toward the armory."
Tony was already headed back with the pizza box in his arms. He wrestled with the gooey cheese and expertly shoveled a piece of it into his gaping mouth.
"Gooth. I'm comingarun the cornth now," he mumbled.
"What? Tony I can't understand a word!" Tim scolded.
Tony swallowed hard, coughing on a string of cheese. "I said I'm coming! Don't lose sight of them!"
"They already went in."
Tony opened the car door and tossed the pizza box down between them. "For crying out loud, Dinozzo! Where did you have to go to get that pizza, Italy?" Gibbs barked.
Tony looked crushed. "How did you know, boss?' he asked, hoping for a laugh.
"Pizza again, Tony? Really?" Tim said with obvious disgust. "There's no way. I can't eat it again."
"You said you weren't even hungry!" Tony reminded him.
"DiNozzo!"
"Sorry, boss. They're inside the armory, too." He took another big bite, puffing his cheeks out like a happy squirrel.
"I got that much, DiNozzo! McGee filled me in. Just keep an eye on this clown, and follow him when he leaves."
"Got it, boss."
An hour later they were still waiting with no sign of his departure. Tim had grown even more tired of Tony's movie talk.
"I don't care about The Godfather," Tim whined, "I had to hear every moment of it on the last stake-out!"
"That's because we had pizza then too, and pizza always makes me think of The Godfather. Why are you suddenly such a McCrankypants, anyway?" Tony demanded to know. "I think you just need to eat something other than that cardboard you brought. This new diet of yours is making you all surly."
Tim huffed. "You always eat pizza! Come to think of it, I am a little bit hungry now," he admitted.
"Ha! I knew it! Here, take a piece," Tony offered again.
Tim shook his head. "No. I want something else."
Tony reclined in his seat, rubbing his distended belly with a loud and obnoxious groan. "I've had my fill."
Tim sighed. "I'm going to go grab a quick bite. I can't eat cold pizza."
"What is this? snack time at the kindergarten?" Gibbs demanded to know.
"No, boss. I'm just going to go grab something to eat that I actually like. If-if that's all right-"
"Suit yourself," Tony said sleepily, sounding sated as he slid even lower in his seat. He was fighting to keep his eyes open now.
"Go. Make it quick, McGee!" Gibbs snapped.
"Got it, boss."
He slid out of the car, and made his way along the same road Tony had traveled earlier. The pizza place logo on Tony's box, was on the sign just around the corner. He wrinkled up his nose and kept walking. There had to be something else. He liked pizza, but he had eaten it twice in the past week thanks to Tony. He spotted a small bistro down the road and smiled. That was his cup of tea, and the extra distance would be well worth it. At least he hoped.
"I see him leaving!" Tony suddenly whispered. "McGee is still gone, boss! And he's not wearing his earwig!"
"Dammit, McGee!" was the reply.
"He's leaving with one recruit. They're getting into his car, and he's looking like he's up to something! Should I follow without McGee?"
"Dammit, Tony! I don't want you tailing him alone!"
Tim was already heading back to the car with a white paper sack pressed to his chest. He whistled nonchalantly as he passed by two men. Tony spotted him, and was instantly torn between waiting for his partner, or tailing the Captain on his own. He grunted in anguish.
"Boss?"
"Get McGee!" Gibbs ordered, already anticipating a bad situation.
The car pulled away before Tim could even open his door. "Way to go, McGee! We just missed him!" Tony spat out amusingly.
"I know! Step on it!" Tim cried, tugging frantically at his door to shut it behind him.
Tony turned the key just as a hand reached around the open door, and placed a black cloth over Tim's nose and mouth. The engine roared to life, but Tim was being dragged away from the passenger seat right before his eyes! Panic took him over, and he hit the gas pedal, only to realize that he might have just run over his own partner in the process.
"What's going on?!" Gibbs wanted to know.
The door on the driver's side opened even though the vehicle was in motion, and before Tony could draw his weapon, or determine what his next move should be, he was grabbed by the arm, the earwig ripped from his own ear. He watched in a daze as an unconscious Tim was tossed into a black sedan, and although relieved that he hadn't actually run him over, instantly regretted that neither of them had been on their game that evening...
"We have a problem, here!" Tony attempted to shout out.
His words were swallowed up by the black cloth covering his face. He gasped as the chemical smell consumed him, and his world tilted sideways. Everchanging patterns of light spun wildly around him as he succumbed to the chloroform, too.
"Guys? Ellie here. Is everything all right?" she asked warily. She was met with the sound of doors slamming shut, then nothing but silence. Her stomach dropped instinctively, but she labored on.
"Uh...uh, I think there's something that you guys should know. Another recruit has turned up missing there..." Her warning fell on deaf ears. "Tony? Tim?"
Gibbs was already shrugging into his jacket. "Bishop! Let's go!" he shouted, racing to the elevator.
Sorry I haven't updated in so long , but my life has been a bit of a shambles. Writing helps. Happy Holidays to all!
Crumpet