Hey everyone, sorry about the confusion last night. This was supposed to be uploaded last night but there was a glitch in my account and it didn't post right. So here is chapter 8! This is a shorter chapter but I need it to bridge a gap. I hope you enjoy and please review!

Thank you so much to everyone who let me know the chapter didn't upload! Thanks for reading!

Chris Pacci rubbed his forehead, sighing, grateful for the quiet that had finally descended. The bullpen had been like a war-zone the past few days. Gibbs had stormed back into headquarters and taken over a temporary team to try and find Senator Peterson's missing daughter and the link she had between a dead marine. Four days later a murderer had been apprehended and Jennifer Peterson had gotten back home with minor injuries.

All in all- A happy ending.

For Gibbs.

For his temporary team? Not so much.

One of the agents quit half way through the case and was now working at a downtown post office. Another begged for a transfer and was assigned as agent afloat. The last had made it to the end of the case, left the building and was never seen from again.

Yup. That was Gibbs.

He chuckled to himself and turned back to his computer.

He growled at the screen and pounded some keys. His team was on cold cases for the moment, and he was stuck on one that had always given him trouble. He always came back to this case.

One day he was going to solve this.

One day.

The elevator dinged and drew his attention away from the case files he had already memorized, names and faces he knew by heart.

He looked up at the man stepping out of the steel box and registered surprise before the the name connected.

The man nodded at Pacci and then turned to Gibbs who stood. Seeing the file in the new man's hand, Gibbs looked to the elevator the man just vacated. The two stepped back into the box and left the building.

Chris looked at the now empty elevator in confusion. There were hundreds of questions swirling on his desk. Who murdered his victim, where did the marine's mother go, how was the step-sister involved, why was the uncle poisoned?

All these questions faded in the background as he faced the one he now couldn't escape thanks to Gibbs and his friend.

Why the hell was the FBI here?

NCISncisNCISncis

Tobias looked at his friend from across the table.

The two men sat at an outdoor cafe not far from NCIS headquarters, watching the rush of people around them, listening to the sounds of everyday life.

The two sat quietly, both waiting for the other to speak first.

Tobias couldn't take it anymore.

"Why did you ask me to do this?"

Gibbs took a slow sip of his coffee.

"Don't have a team at the moment, I've been busy, Abby is biased."

Tobias quirked an eyebrow and smiled. That definitely sounded like the forensic scientist. She didn't think anyone was good enough for her 'silver fox' and would use any excuse imaginable to keep someone she felt was hinky away from her bossman.

"She doesn't think he's right for your team?"

Gibbs smiled around his steaming coffee.

"Actually she adores him. Needed a third party."

Fornell nodded thoughtfully and slid the file over to Gibbs waiting hands.

"I have the feeling you owe me a story but this is everything I could find on one Anthony D. DiNozzo Jr. If he's someone you're considering, you're going to have your hands full. The kid has bounced through three different precincts in the past six years. He was just let go from Baltimore because of an undercover mission. Although I have to admit, something with that job doesn't make any sense, I'm still not sure why he was let go, it doesn't seem to be his fault. Still he seems to be nothing but trouble. You sure he's worth it?"

Gibbs smirked and took a long drink.

NCISncisNCISncis

Daniel Alexander made an extreme effort not to slam his front door. He was so...furious. Furious was a good word for it. The captain had assigned him a new partner and the man was about as intelligent as a brick. Actually he thought a brick might make better conversation.

Daniel rubbed his hand down his face wryly, he had been spoiled with DiNozzo. If there was thing he good at-it was talking. True it had driven him nuts the first few weeks of their partnership, but after an especially trying case Tony had managed to stop a fight between Daniel and another officer and was somehow able to make a young girl, who had her entire life ripped away, smile. After seeing the girl, with blood and tears mingled on her cheeks, smiling at the Italian man, Daniel found he didn't mind Tony's chatter so much.

Besides, the kid was brilliant. He found trails and connections where other saw nothing. He had almost single handedly solved several cases before Daniel was assigned to be his permanent partner, back when he had no credit and no support. Tony still wasn't given enough credit but for some reason he liked it that way. He was a better partner than Daniel had ever had before. He was almost family.

And now Daniel had...that instead.

He muttered and kicked his shoes off, pushing the slide-bolt shut as if he could lock the dead bodies and empty stares outside, as far away from his family as possible.

Daniel began walking through his house, checking windows out of habit, making sure all the seals were safe. He made it to the kitchen and found a plate of food sitting on counter waiting for him.

He smiled, Marissa was always watching out for him.

He had been out all night on a stake-out and things had come to a head before he had managed to eat supper. Popping the plate of pork roast in the microwave he read the note she left.

D-

Tonight the little boy down the street told Tessie that babies come birds when mommies and daddies are too busy. Apparently he got the stork story a little confused. Tessie then ran outside and began screaming at the pigeons in the street "Make me a little sister, Mommy and Daddy won't do it!" The neighbors didn't stop laughing for over an hour. I can't show my face around here anymore, we should move to California with Tony. Speaking of which, Tony called. He didn't leave message, he said it wasn't important, but I have a bad feeling. Call him back when you can.

Hurry up and eat and then get your butt up to bed, I miss you.

~M

Daniel chuckled and folded the note sliding it in his pocket. He could see his daughter doing just that. She had been asking for a little brother or sister for a while but now it seemed like she had moved on to asking birds. Wonderful.

He sobered as he thought of Tony.

Danny glanced at the clock and saw that it was almost two in the morning, he couldn't call now.

But then again...It was Tony.

He pulled his phone from his pocket but before he could dial he was surprised to see he had a voicemail.

Danny, something doesn't add up. Stephan contacted me, he needs help, the girls need help. Bergan said everything wrapped up and everyone was found but they weren't. He lied Daniel. I'm not leaving the kids behind. Time's running out. Look at the evidence again, get it out of Baltimore, something's missing. Get it to Washington, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, NCIS. Ask him to help. If he doesn't...well I suppose I'm screwed but it's worth a shot. I'm going back in Danny. I have to. I'm not leaving them behind. I'll contact you. If I can.

The voicemail cut off.

Daniel stood in the kitchen. Not moving. Barely breathing. He could hear the microwave beeping, his phone asking what he wanted to do with the message, but he couldn't acknowledge any of it.

All he could hear was Tony's words.

I'm going back in.

I have to.

Leroy Jethro Gibbs...help...if he doesn't…

I'm screwed.

I'm going back in.

He lied.

Needs help.

I'm going back in. Back in. Back in.

Danny tightened the grip on his phone until the plastic cracked.

Marissa came into the kitchen bleary eyes and confused but paused when she Danny frozen next to the microwave.

"Danny? Honey, it's...two in the morning, what are you doing?"

He turned to her and she took an involuntary step back at the look in his eyes.

"Danny?"

"Marissa...Tony's in trouble."