Gibbs was somewhat surprised to find Ziva standing outside of Autopsy when he arrived to see if Ducky had found anything useful. Without turning to look at him, she explained, "He did not like me hovering and asked that I wait outside."

He tried to look over her shoulder through the glass doors without setting off the automatic sensor. Everything looked to be business as usual, with the recently deceased Lt. Cmdr. Gold being subjected to autopsy and Ducky's running commentary. "Some reason he didn't want you in there?" He stopped short of a joke about her wanting to assist with her knife instead of a scalpel; he was glad he'd left Tony upstairs.

She remained with her feet fixed to the floor, standing at an angle that allowed her to observe without being observed. "I believe he felt I was rushing him."

Gibbs tried not to take immediate offense. "Do you have somewhere better to be, Officer David?"

She finally looked at him gravely. "His widow asked that we conduct the investigation as quickly as possible so he can be buried without a long delay."

The red flags shooting up were almost visible. "And you didn't think that was suspicious? Get upstairs and find out everything you can about the wife and why she might want to put a bullet in…"

"We have already confirmed she was in seat 10A on United Airlines flight 7173 from New York at the time of his murder."

Gibbs had no doubt she could rattle off at least another few pages of details regarding the case without actually consulting any notes, but said, "Then go through her phone and bank records! Unless you can think of a damn good reason that she's trying to speed up the process…"

"It is the way things are done," Ziva stated calmly, fiddling with her necklace. "His wife specifically requested…"

"Since when do you take orders from suspects?"

"Even if she is involved, will we not have all the samples and x-rays and…and…whatever else we need by the time Ducky has finished?"

"That's not the point."

"So we arbitrarily hold onto the body without good reason?"

"Ducky might have to go back and re-check something."

"It would only be to confirm something he was already sure of."

Not being entirely sure of the processes that followed tox screens, Gibbs had to concede that particular point. "What's really going on?"

She sighed, continuing to play with her necklace. "I had never met the Golds personally, but they are very highly regarded within the local Jewish community – charitable work and contributions. When I spoke with her she asked me to try and have his body released so it can be buried…"

"Soon, yeah." He looked at her carefully. "Just so we're clear, are you telling me you're giving her a pass because she's a nice Jewish lady?"

"No! I would never suggest that we…I am merely trying to…" She took a few steps down the hall before turning. "I am trying to respect the beliefs of the deceased. The body needs to be purified and buried as soon after death as possible. It is," her voice dropped to an inaudible whisper.

Gibbs felt some of his suspicions dissipate, but his annoyance remained intact. "It's what, Officer David?"

"Written in the Torah, all right? Mrs. Gold saw my necklace when I was interviewing her and gave me the number of the chevra kadisha so they can pick up Lt. Cmdr. Gold's body as soon as we have finished with it. She asked for my word, and I did not feel that I could say no to such an important…we have made exceptions for religious beliefs before, and if it does not compromise the investigation, I do not see why the body cannot be released sooner than…" she trailed off with a sigh.

He waited for the color to disappear from her cheeks before calmly saying, "Some reason you couldn't just say that to begin with?"

"I did," she protested before amending, "though perhaps not in enough words for someone not familiar with Jewish burial customs to appreciate. I am sorry, Gibbs."

"Don't apologize."

"I know, it is a sign of weakness."

"I meant you don't have to apologize for anything. You already confirmed the wife's alibi and now you're trying to respect the victim's beliefs."

She looked at him carefully. "You know I am not religious, but this is important. To the family, I mean."

"I didn't say anything about you." He laid a hand on her shoulder.

"It is not just because he is…"

"Ziva, let's just see how much more time Ducky needs, okay?"

She nodded but retreated to the other side of the hall. "I think it would be best for you to ask."

He entered Autopsy to the greeting, "Ziva, I will be finished as soon as possible, but with the…" Ducky turned. "Oh, Jethro, my apologies. I've just sent the bullet to Abby."

"Anything else?"

"Nothing of significance. He appeared to be in good heath, with the traditional American collection of cholesterol in his arteries, naturally, but no other issue to speak of." Ducky made a face that wasn't quite a frown, waving his gloved hand over the body. "I need to make the smallest incisions possible and ensure that all fluids and tissues not needed for the case are returned to the body, including anything on my instruments and…"

"Ziva told you to do that?"

"What? No, she merely encouraged me to speed the process along because the family was religiously observant. I took the liberty of looking online to see if there were any other procedures of which I should be aware. As it turns out, I'm glad I did."

"You haven't done autopsies on Jewish people before?"

"Well, I'm sure I have, just not within the strict parameters of…it's not a problem, Jethro, it just takes a little getting used to. If anything, I'm actually a bit embarrassed I never thought to check before. I believe I shall be finished within another hour, assuming there's nothing anomalous."

Gibbs nodded. "Lemme know if you need to sneak into Bethesda for another MRI." When he passed Ziva in the hall a few moments later, he reassured her, "No more than another hour."

"Thank you." She caught his arm. "I did tell Mrs. Gold it would not be possible for a rabbi to observe the autopsy, but in the future…"

"Ask Ducky," Gibbs recommended, although the answer would almost assuredly be yes. "And I want you back upstairs after that hour."