Donald Mallard sat at his desk and poured himself a glass of whiskey. The last time he had done so was when his dear Caitlin occupied one of his tables. He had shared that glass with Jethro, but he again realized that soon another table would be occupied by a man he loved dearly. He poured a small amount in, took it down, and poured himself another, then another. Every time he stood up to begin the prelimary autopsy he sat back down and poured himself another, then another and another…

--- ---

McGee sat as his desk and followed Tony's example of destroying office supplies as he awaited his arrival. Ziva was keeping a close eye on him and let her own mind wander to what Tony must be going through at Gibbs's home.

--- ---

"You sure we can't let them in on this boss?"

He shook his head. "It's the only way to keep them safe Tony, I'll be damned if I lose someone else to this bastard."

"Okay," He sighed. "Boss listen…"

He put his hand up. "Unless you're gonna tell me a plan on how to get Steeples crew, I don't want to hear it."

"But…" He resisted the urge to continue and peered into Gibb's eyes. He realized now was not the time to offer sympathy. "We don't have a lot of time; Ziva will be calling any minute now to check up on me."

"Yeah, it's like you two are married, the way she keeps tabs on you…listen, call her before she calls you, tell her you're waiting for the team, and to have McGee give you the address on the trace."

"She'll think I'm going after him myself…and she won't let that happen without a fight boss."

He sighed. "I don't give a damn what fight she gives you…you're the senior agent, make sure she does what she's told."

Tony hadn't been yelled at like that, since Gibbs wanted Ari in a body bag. He nodded and flipped open his phone. "Yeah Ziva, it's me."

She sat up at her desk. "Tony…how are you?"

He smiled at her uncharacteristic concern, but it changed to a frown the moment he made eye contact with Gibbs. "I'm still waiting on the team, listen have the Probie give me the address on that trace he pulled…"

She shook her head. "You're not going after him alone Tony."

"Ziva, let's be clear who the Senior agent is here…I need you to get the address from McGee, and I will call with further instructions."

"Tony…I…"

"Officer David…are we clear?"

"Crystal boss." She clenched her teeth. "But it might take me some time to get it from McGee; he's been staring at the same spot for the last twenty minutes."

He sighed. "I understand, just call me when you have it."

"Tony wait…you did not answer me, how are you?"

He smiled softly. "I'm alive." He replied and took a few steps away from Gibbs. "After you get the address, I need you to check on Ducky. Sometimes that stiff upper lip thing can do the man more harm than good."

"On it." She replied quickly. "I will call you when I have it."

Tony closed his phone and turned around to find Gibbs inches from him. "I just wanted to make sure all the bases were covered…I know it's now what you asked me to say, but Ducky he…well you know …"

"You'll make yourself into a team leader yet DiNozzo."

"You really mean that boss?"

He placed a hand on his shoulder. "Wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it."

"Thanks." He said simply. "Have a hell of a teacher."

Gibbs shook his head. "Yeah, that got your Dad and Abby killed? One hell of a teacher." He turned around and started to pick up the remains of his recent outburst. Tony knelt down and started to help.

"You told me yourself, that a teacher is only as good as his finest student…so it's just as much my fault boss."

"What? You remember every word that comes out of my mouth DiNozzo?"

He shrugged. "Only the nice stuff…"

"Must be a short list."

"That's not true boss…over the last four years…I've almost filled a whole page."

They shared a short laugh, before Gibbs picked up a familiar tool. One that reminded him of the night he and Abby had shared in that basement only months before. He let his back lean against the boat and slid down to the floor, as he gripped it in his hand. "You know DiNozzo, today, when I watched that video, I was scared." He took in a breath. "And believe it or not, I'm not an easy man to scare…" He watched as Tony resisted the urge to respond and he continued. "I was scared to lose her, and now I have."

Tony leaned his back against the boat and slid down beside him. "She really loved you boss."

"Not as much as I loved her Tony." He tossed the hammer a few feet away from them. "But that doesn't matter now, no matter how much you love someone, it doesn't bring them back."

Tony sighed and wasn't sure what words to speak, a predicament he didn't often find himself in. He loved the man sitting beside him, but knew he wasn't the kind of guy you have heart to heart talks with. So he decided to say nothing, and for once in his life, he simply listened.

"Even killing him won't bring her back." He clenched his fists. "But it will sure as hell feel good."

Tony patted the saw dust off his hands, and sighed. "Like my dad used to say…revenge is profitable."

Gibbs nodded. "Smart man." He reached over, gripped the same tool in hand and repeated himself. "Smart man."

--- ---

"McGee…" Ziva invaded the space he had been staring into and looked into his eyes. "I need you to focus for a second; I need the address you got when you traced the last call."

He met her eyes and nodded, as he opened his desk drawer and grabbed his weapon. "We're going to get him."

She shook her head. "I just need to give it to Tony…"

He looked up at her. "Uh, I might be out of it. But I'm not letting him get the satisfaction of killing this guy."

"McGee, he was clear that he would call us later with instructions, now please, the address?"

He stood up slowly. "No." He looked down at his computer. "If he wants it, we're meeting him there."

"McGee." She stood in front of him now. "Tony made it clear, we were not to leave the building, and so until he says otherwise, we will stay here."

He sighed and took a step back. "Maybe you misunderstood my English, I said, no."

She was taken aback by his tone, but knew that Abby's death had shaken him up more than just a little. She tried to be cautious with her next choice of words.

"Abby would not want us to be in harms way, this man has shown he is very smart and very well prepared. If we act rashly, it could mean another one of us losing our lives. Now would she want that Tim?"

He nodded. "She wouldn't….but I can't sit by and let Tony get the revenge we all deserve to have a part in."

"I agree with you McGee, but right now, we are down a leader, and Tony has taken his place. And if we don't follow our leader, what kind of team can we be?"

He grabbed a pen and wrote down the address. "We're not a team any more Ziva….not anymore." He left the bull pen and headed towards the elevator. He needed comfort and hoped the place he was headed would give him some.

--- ---

After Ziva phoned Tony, she made sure to follow up on her order to check on Ducky. When she entered autopsy she found him slouched over a glass, and a nearly empty bottle of whiskey beside him. "Doctor?" She spoke softly as she approached. He turned around to meet her.

"Well hello there my dear." He slurred his way through the phrase. "Care for a drink?" He slapped his forehead with his hand. "What am I thinking…you're on duty, you cannot take part in such festivities."

"Are you alright Doctor?"

"For heavens sake Ziva…call me Ducky…everyone else does…did…" he corrected himself. "What can I do ya for?" As he got up, he stumbled slowly and grabbed a hold of her for balance. "Oh, seems I might've had one too many sips…I am quite embarrassed." He steadied himself and stood up straight. "But more sad than embarrassed, if I do say so myself." He put one foot in front of the other slowly and paced towards the second table. "Are you here to see Abigail? If so, there isn't much to see…her precious smile, her kind eyes, they're no longer in existence…" He pointed to the empty table. "Then again, perhaps you're here to see Jethro…well he hasn't arrived yet…I trust he'll be here shortly."

She hadn't managed to get a word in edge wise, as she listened to him ramble on. She opened her mouth for another attempt but was cut short.

"What has happened today my dear? I feel as though I've missed something….being down here with the dead, I usually miss most of the story…but Jethro…oh Jethro…he always comes down, fills me in, as it were….but now, there's no one left…Abby would fill in the missing pieces…she would bring it all together…and me, I'd chip in my two cents, and voila, we'd solve the case…the very essence of teamwork…but now, oh no, now, we aren't much of a team at all…"

"Doctor!" Ziva almost shouted as she stepped closer to him. "Please, try and calm yourself…you are, how do you say? Pipsy?"

He looked towards her confused. "Tipsy perhaps? I really must have you over for dinner…tutor you some…I am a great teacher…well I used to be…I fear these losses have already caused me to lose sight of what I do this for…Now I don't doubt for a second that Anthony, and Timothy, and You will avenge their deaths…but no matter… it will not bring them back…" He took in a breath as he fought back a short sob. "No my dear, nothing will bring them back."

--- ---

"There." Gibbs pointed. "Got a box of extra magazine clips, grab 'em would you?"

Tony stepped around some of the broken glass . "Got 'em."

The two stood in the basement for a few moments in silence.

"Ready to get him Tony?"

He re-holstered his weapon. "Do you even have to ask?"

--- ---

Timothy McGee stood in the elevator for almost ten minutes before he gathered up enough nerve to hit the floor that would take him to his destination. His stomach turned as he stepped off and headed into the place that had once given him butterflies. As he stepped in, he took a deep breath and before he knew what was happening, the room started to spin and the floor began to close in on him. "Abby?"