Usual disclaimer applies.

This chapter picks up exactly where chapter one finished.

"So," said Gibbs, struggling not to smirk at Kate's intense scowl, "What exactly happened?"

"We went up to the room "Max" was supposed to meet Staunton in, and a guy ran out of it. We lost him on the stairs. Don't ask me how that happened," he added, to Gibbs' confused stare. "He trapped us in the corridor, and threw a grenade in after us. I hit the fire alarm, and –"

"And pulled me out of a third floor window, into a stinking swimming pool," interrupted Kate.

"Yeah, and saved your life!"

"You could at least have warned me first!"

"Right! 'Kate, do you mind terribly if I – whoops, we're dead'!

"Oh, but you had plenty of time to make some dumb movie reference!"

Gibbs decided to intervene before things got physical. "What movie reference?"

"Long Kiss Goodnight," explained Tony. "Practically exactly the same thing happens in the movie, except they're in a station, and they jump into a lake or something."

"Lucky," mused Gibbs.

"What?" asked Tony, "That I'm so cool and calm under pressure?"

"No," answered Gibbs, "That you have such a crap taste in movies."

Tony was too insulted to speak.

"So," continued Gibbs, completely ignoring Tony's look of shock, "This guy, do you reckon it was Max?"

"I don't know," said Kate. "If it was, why the hell would he be trying to kill us?"

"Maybe he wasn't. Did he get a good look at either of you?"

Kate thought about it. "No, I don't think so. Why?"

"Could have heard voices and figured that one of you was Staunton."

"But," said McGee, a little nervous to be pointing out the obvious, "Petty Officer Staunton's already dead."

"Which leaves us with the question – just how many people did he piss off?" said Gibbs. "Okay, McGee, I want you to talk to the receptionist who took the booking for the room. Tony, check who saw "Max" sign in, and anyone else who might have seen him. Kate, you're coming back to HQ with me for a change of clothes, and then we'll start talking to Staunton's friends and family."

"Er, boss, I could do with a change of clothes. I fell in the pool too," said Tony.

"No," replied Gibbs, "Kate fell. You jumped."

Kate grinned widely as Gibbs led her to the car.

NCIS NCIS NCIS

Kate stretched out happily behind her desk, as Tony and McGee entered the bullpen.

"Hey guys."

"Hey Kate. You look –"

"Clean," interrupted Tony, "Warm, comfortable, smug. Choose any of the above."

"I was going to say 'better', but whatever," said McGee.

"What have you got?" asked Gibbs, seemingly appearing, as always, from nowhere.

McGee went first. "The guy who took the booking couldn't tell me much; he hardly even remembered the call. Turns out the credit card details were from a stolen card."

"I hope you're going to tell me you have better news, DiNozzo."

"Well, the receptionist who was on duty gave us a description of "Max", and we got copies of the CCTV tapes. There were no clear shots, but I've sent them down to Abby to see what she can do with them."

"Kate?"

"I've spoken to everyone I can think of, and no one can think why anyone would want him dead. He's had no rows with anyone recently, no family feuds. He was a good sailor; popular on base, hard-working. Perfect, really."

"Apart from being dead," said Gibbs. "I'm going to go and see what Abby can tell us from the CCTV tapes."

"Boss, can I change my clothes now?" asked Tony.

"Of course."

Tony watched in disbelief as Gibbs walked off.

"Tony?"

"What?" he asked shortly, turning to face Kate.

"Thanks for saving my life."

"That was hard for you to say, wasn't it?"

"Harder than you can possibly imagine."

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