Chapter Two

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8:35am
NCIS HQ

McGee exit's the elevator. Then Tony and Ziva. Gibbs lingers behind his team; watching them.

Tony lingers around Ziva's desk. He is badgering her for shits and giggles. She mocks annoyance until a loud noise escapes Gibbs's area of their offices.

"I was just asking Ziva what her opinions were on…"

Tony trails on. He notices that the deeper into explanation he goes, the deeper the shade of red on Gibbs's face becomes.

"Going to my desk. Right now."

He rounds his desk and takes a seat.

"What have we got?" Gibbs questions Ziva.

"No identification on the body. We need to wait for either Ducky or Abby."

Gibbs grunts like Tony had had earlier. He gives a half-disgusted look in Tony's general direction. Tony catches the look, but he does not question it. He knows better.

"McGee!"

"Uh, yes boss?!" Mcgee shoots out of his chair.

"Find out if other agency's have dealt with the same type of murder in the last month or so."

"You think it's a copy-cat murder?"

"I don't know." Gibbs answers annoyingly. "It's your job to give me answers to these questions. Get a move on it!"

"I'm on it boss!" Mcgee types feverishly at this desk.

"No wounds found on the body. I assume it's poison." Tony was matter-of-fact. "Everything else seems unlikely.

"DiNozzo, find out if Ducky needs your assistance."

Tony knits his eyebrows. His feet descend from his desk.

"Me? Boss…" He smirks. "Why would Ducky need my assistance?"

"Why would you be questioning what I am telling you to do?"

Tony stands from his desk and follows the orders he is given.

"Abby should have the fingerprints by now." He tells Ziva.

"Are you so sure she has the results already?"

"No, but waiting for them couldn't hurt."

Ziva nods slightly before following the orders she was given.

Gibbs glances quickly at McGee who is engrossed in his work. Leaning back in his chair, he tries to control his anger. He feels that it has slipped all morning.

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10:15am
NCIS HQ

McGee announces his discovery. He reaches for the clicker, but Tony grabs it out of his hand before he clicks the button to display the information on the big screen.

"I found it, Tony!" McGee is upset.

"We're a team, McCryBaby. What's yours is mine and what's mine is mine." Tony shakes his finger at McGee. "Haven't you any respect for your Senior Agent?"

Gibbs whacks the back of Tony's head. The clicker flies out of Tony's hand. Ziva catches it.

"Do you mind, McGee?"

"No." McGee is honest.

Ziva clicks the button. The information presents itself on the big screen.

"What am I looking at?" Gibbs asks.

"Six Navy Officers found dead through what we still assume to be poison…" Ziva nods in Tony's direction. "Nothing in common besides their race."

"This is a Hate Crime, then?" Gibbs asks.

"From the looks of it…it's the only thing we have to go on." Ziva agreed.

Gibbs felt frustrated. Ziva stood, waiting for more questions. Tony lingered behind Ziva; more interested in finding out what she kept in and on her desk. McGee stood by his boss waiting for new instructions.

"Where'd you find this information?" Gibbs asks McGee.

"…FBI database."

Gibbs shudders as Fornell flashes across his mind. McGee notices the slight shift in the air.

"I wormed my way through without them knowing and I wormed my way out without them knowing."

"DiNozzo!" Gibbs shouts.

Tony drops Ziva's cell phone on her desk. He looks at her sheepishly.

"Tony, what are you doing?"

"I was uh--" He is not quick enough.

"Ducky should be finishing up right about now." Gibbs speaks to Tony. "Stop screwing around and get down there."

Tony ponders for a moment. He wavers on the idea of asking Gibbs why he does not do it himself, but he decides to keep his mouth closed.

"Ziva, you're with me."

"Where?"

"Someone's got to inform his family." Gibbs reaches for his gun and badge inside his desk drawer. "McGee, find his address, then call me."