Gibbs entered autopsy to find Tony on Ducky's table, getting his blood pressure taken. Ducky looked up at Gibbs as he now approached the table slowly. Gibbs watched as Tony avoided eye contact, by looking down at the floor.
After taking Tony's blood pressure, Ducky lifted his hands in resignation. "Well, I can't find anything really wrong with you Tony." Ducky said, addressing Gibbs, since Tony was only staring at the floor.
"If it was food poisoning---again." Ducky grunted showing his disbelief in that idea. "Then you seem to be recovering--again." Ducky stated.
"Nothing. . .on the blood test?" Gibbs said in amazement.
"Nothing to be concerned about." Ducky added. Gibbs glared at him in disbelief.
"You are now free to go, Anthony." Tony nodded, still looking at the floor, as he hopped off of the table. He quickly headed for the elevator.
"Nothing?" Gibbs repeated.
"Jethro?" Ducky turned in curiosity. "It sounds as if you are disappointed."
"Why does he keep getting sick? The nausea, the sweating, the heavy breathing. . ." Gibbs asked. "He was complaining of a scratchy throat last week." He turned away from Ducky ready to join Tony waiting at the elevator. Then, he stopped and turned around again to face Ducky. "Hold that elevator, DiNozzo!" Gibbs shouted through the door.
"Well, you know his eating habits, Jethro." Ducky said with a chuckle. "He most likely was eating healthier while he was afloat. Then, when he returned, he reverted to his old habits. It is just taking him longer to re-adjust."
"Are his symptoms consistent with those of someone who is suffering from withdrawal?" Gibbs asked.
"Withdrawal? Tony? What would he be withdrawing from? What are you suggesting here, Gibbs?" Ducky asked in horror.
"Duck, just please answer my question." Gibbs asked.
"Nausea and sweating are symptoms. But, those symptoms could be from many different things." Ducky stated. Gibbs nodded in thanks and quickly made it over to the elevator. As Gibbs exited, Ducky contemplated Gibbs' words. "Scratchy throat? Mmmh." Ducky returned to his desk.
Gibbs entered the elevator with DiNozzo. Gibbs reached over and hit the emergency stop button.
"Boss." Tony quickly said in worry, trying to avoid the Gibbs' stare.
"Tony." Gibbs said very slowly as he regarded him. "I want to show you a picture."
Tony was relieved at the change of subject, since he was expecting the conversation to be about Ducky's examination of him. Tony's jaw dropped when he saw the picture that Gibbs held in front of him.
"The FBI sent us this. This is our mobster. Here is the current bank manager, where our marine was shot." Gibbs explained. "What is your father doing in this picture with them?"
"Uh." Tony chuckled nervously. "Well, you. . .you know that my father has a history of funding the mob. We never would have met, if he. . ." Gibbs stared at him harder. "This picture has to be ten to fifteen years old, though."
"Tony?" Gibbs redirected Tony as his mind started to wander under Gibbs' pressure. "Hey?"
"I don't know, Boss. I really don't." Tony finally answered. Gibbs noticed that Tony had moved his hand toward his stomach, again. Gibbs released the emergency stop, as he watched him. When the elevator doors opened near the squadroom, they were greeted by Vance.
"What is the status of this investigation?" Vance asked directly, as the two exited the elevator. Gibbs began to give some detail as to what the metro detective provided, the witness statements from Ziva, and the FBI file. Vance finally left Gibbs' side to return to his office, as he did that, Gibbs finally noticed that DiNozzo had disappeared.
"Hey!" Gibbs shouted at DiNozzo as he reentered the squadroom.
"Boss?" DiNozzo replied.
"Where did you go?" Gibbs barked.
"Just, . . .to the bathroom." Tony answered.
"Go back down to see, Ducky." Gibbs ordered.
"What?" Tony whined. "I was just there."
"Tell him, you just vomited again." Gibbs ordered as he approached Tony, tempting Tony to begin an argument. Gibbs grabbed his shoulder as he started to sway.
"Hey." Gibbs said softly again as he pointed his head in the direction of the elevator. "Go."
"Gibbs." Fornell entered the squadroom from the other direction. "You got our file?" Gibbs nodded to his question.
"Did the file help?" Fornell asked.
"It seems to be raising more questions than answers at the moment." Gibbs stated.
"How so?"
"This picture." Gibbs pulled the photo out of his pocket to show Fornell.
"Yes." Fornell stated with a grin. "That photo was taken approximately ten years ago. That is our mobster with two former associates. The man that currently runs the bank where your marine was shot, and we have been unable to place who this other gentleman is. According to our inside source, we believe that our mobster is trying to kill both of them. There are more details about their association in the file."
"Gibbs?" Fornell tried to read his expression.
"How close are you to getting this guy?"
"We have nothing." Fornell said in disgust. "That is why I am handing this case over to you. You have the contact information for our inside man."
