Chapter 3

Ziva and McGee are still in the town questioning people, namely the racist white residents. The rest of the team is back in Washington D.C. Ducky is down in Autopsy performing the autopsy of Seaman Jamar Wilkinson. As Ducky is examining the body, Gibbs enters.

"Do you know how many crime-scenes aren't processed properly each year?" Ducky asked as Gibbs approaches the autopsy table.

"No I don't, Doctor." Gibbs replied. "How many?"

"I don't know. I was hoping you could tell me."

"I think if I knew the actual statistics for incorrectly processed crime-scenes, then I'd most likely turn into more of a bastard then I already am."

"Being a bastard brings out the best in you."

"It definitely doesn't seem to work in marriages."

"Maybe you just haven't found the right woman." Ducky looks up at Gibbs and sees the expression on his face. "Oh dear… I didn't mean that the way it sounded. I know with Shannon it was…"

"So what do you have for me here, Doctor?" Gibbs interrupted again in order to change the subject.

"We have one pretty mangled victim. There's a lot of facial and body tearing of the skin which is consistent with being dragged down a road by a vehicle. It reminds me of a time when I was a consultant on a case down in Georgia…"

"Ducky, please."

"Right… The fingernail scrapings seemed to only be dirt. But Abby can tell you if there's anything more." Ducky stated. "I know at the origin of the crime-scene, a switch blade was found. If it was the attacker's, he wouldn't have left it. Our sailor must have tried to defend himself. But he never had the chance to use it cuz he was taken down very quickly." He added. "In this area…" Ducky begins to say as he moves the head of Jamar Wilkinson in order to show Gibbs. "…There's blunt force trauma which I was able to match to the surface pattern of the rock that was found at the origin of the initial attack. I sent the rock up to Abby."

"What about this bruising here?" Gibbs points to the bruise.

"Our victim was smacked with a steel chain in order to take him down. It was quite easy to determine what weapon was used." Ducky answered. "The chain appears to have whipped around the head. It started here at the cheek..." He begins to say as he points to the area of the left cheek. "…And ended at the back of the right ear. Due to the force, the majority of the skin surface tore. But this area on the left cheek, closest to the mouth is only bruised cuz after the chain whipped around his head… The ending force of the blow pushed his head to the left, toward the chain. It was an aftershock effect that only caused this area to bruise and keep an imprint of the chain."

"We find the chain, we find the attacker." Gibbs said. "Is that what killed him?"

"When I examined the bruise marks around the neck, there's blue skin color and I see signs of inflamed edges. Also, there are blood vessels in the eyes that burst. These are signs that show our sailor died from a lack of oxygen." Ducky paused for a couple seconds. "Our sailor was alive when he was lynched."

"Thanks, Doctor."

Gibbs walks away in order to leave Autopsy. Ducky leans down toward the body.

"He's going up to see Abby now." Ducky said. "He's in for a rude awakening once he gets up there. She has a lot more extra work then I do."

Meanwhile, up on Forensics Lab, Abby is frantically working on all the evidence that was brought to her.

"Arg!" Abby exclaimed. "No, no, no! Don't do that!" She yelled as she hits the computer. "You're supposed to do as you're told. Not do as you wish." She added. "Why are you doing this to me?! Why can't you act more like…"

"Who are you talking to Abs?" Gibbs asked as he enters the room while holding a Caf-Pow.

"…Gibbs." Abby finished her sentence. "I was talking to my computer cuz its acting up. It's not listening and basically doing what it wants." She said. "With the overwhelming amount of evidence you brought me… Which shouldn't be an overwhelming amount, but those dumb cops don't know how to process a murder scene cuz they're trying to sabotage my operations by creating an extra amount of work that my computer doesn't seem to like… It appears my computer is rebelling and refuses to act accordingly. But I'm gonna get them back, Gibbs. Oh yes, they shall pay dearly." She snatches the Caf-Pow from Gibbs' hand and begins drinking.

"You need to earn…" Gibbs begins to say as he tries to grab the Caf-Pow back.

"Don't mess with me, Gibbs!" Abby exclaimed as she smacks his hand. "Don't deny me Caf-Pow when I'm agitated. If you want a more efficient Abby, then I need this now. No having to earn it!"

"Well… What do you have for me?"

"Other then nothing?" Abby pulls the Caf-Pow closer into the protection of her arms.

"You mean to tell me you have nothing?!"

"I matched the blood on the rock to Seaman Jamar Wilkinson." Abby stated. "But that was kind of an obvious thing to begin with."

"You mean to tell me… The only thing you've done is matching the DNA on the rock to our dead sailor?!"

"What do you expect of me, Gibbs?!" Abby exclaimed. "I have a lot of evidence that those cops touched when they had no gloves on. I'm spending most of my time eliminating them from what's actually useful to the case! And do remember, Jamie is my assistant and guess what… I'm in the lab all alone right now."

"You want me to get you a…"

"No way!" Abby exclaimed. "Jamie is my assistant. No one else!" She stated. "Come to think of it, Jamie isn't full-time. She's still only a temp. Can you talk to the director cuz I want Jamie here as a full-time assistant."

"I'll do that."

"By the way, how's Jamie doing?" Abby asked in concern. "I went to see her two days ago and she wouldn't even get out of bed or talk to me. She's so depressed over losing the baby."

"I know, Abs." Gibbs agreed. "I'm going over there later to get her out of bed."

"Wait… You mean you're literally gonna get her out of bed?"

"Yes."

"You must have a death wish. Forcing a depressed woman, especially Jamie, to get out of bed means you better be prepared for the consequences."

"It can't be that bad."

"I heard about this husband who tried to get his depressed wife out of bed. She stuck a knife in his throat." Abby stated. "The woman is now in prison. She's one of my ex-boyfriend's sisters. Jake was such a bum. I never understood what I saw in him." She added. "Did you know that racial discrimination accounts for more then half of all hate crimes in America? It's true."

"You're really trying to keep me here, aren't you?"

"And what if I am?" Abby grins. "I'd work more efficiently if I got a little you know what." She winks at Gibbs.

"You already said you'd work more efficiently by having Caf-Pow."

"But I'd work more, extra, super efficiently if…"

Gibbs places his lips on Abby's lips to shut her up. After half a minute, Gibbs takes his lips off of Abby's.

"Now… If you want a lot more then that, then I suggest getting back to work." Gibbs winks at Abby.

"Yes Sir!" Abby exclaimed in excitement.

Abby immediately goes back to working on the evidence. Gibbs smirks as he leaves the lab.