So I'm thinking that there will just be an epilogue after this so for those who've been reading, thanks for putting up with the sporadic updates. I had originally intended for this to be a one-shot but it sort of took on a life of its own, as you can obviously see.

McGee wasn't all that surprised to find Fornell waiting for them in the squad room the next day, Dominguez may have abducted and raped a Naval Commander's daughter but he was also responsible for the abductions, rapes and subsequent deaths of eleven other girls that crossed multiple state lines. Still just because he understood why Fornell was there didn't mean that he had to like it and judging by the looks on Tony and Gibbs' faces they agreed with that sentiment.

"Conference room," Gibbs snapped, not even giving Fornell the chance to say hi, before heading back towards the elevator but not before giving Tony a look that clearly said 'behave' and McGee and Ziva a look that said 'make sure he doesn't do anything stupid to Sacks'.

As soon as Gibbs and Fornell had disappeared Tony immediately sat down at his desk, a brooding expression on his face. Out of the corner of his eye McGee saw Sacks open his mouth to say something but quickly closed once he saw the threatening glare that Ziva shot him, Sacks may not have picked up how Tony's body language practically screamed 'leave me the hell alone', or cared going by past interactions between the two, but he apparently had enough self-preservation to not piss off a trained Mossad assassin. Sacks wandered over to the free desk they used for TAD agents in their area and sat down with a sour look on his face, obviously not happy about being at NCIS but really, when was Sacks ever pleased to be at NCIS?

"Do something!" McGee urged Ziva silently after glancing over at Tony who was looking more morose and tense with each passing minute. While McGee had ceased being scared of Tony years ago and could give as good as he got now he still didn't want to try to poke at an angry or tense Tony, that was something that Ziva would do.

'And what do you expect me to do, McGee?' asked Ziva after signing on to AIM.

'I don't know but we can't just let him stew like that until Gibbs comes back.'

'But he is not in the kitchen; he is at his desk working.'

'No, I'm not talking about Tony making stew; I'm talking about his being agitated over the case.'

'Well, then say so the next time.'

"But I did!" he retorted, realizing just a second too late that he had spoken out loud.

"Got something to share with the class, Probie?" asked Tony, raising an eyebrow in McGee's direction.

"No," he responded, the blush rising and he quickly ducked his head in hopes that Tony would just leave it at that. Luckily for McGee Tony didn't say anything else and the four of them were left in that slightly uncomfortable silence until the elevator doors opened and Gibbs and Fornell reappeared.

"DiNozzo," said Fornell pronouncing Tony's last name in that particular way that he liked to do. McGee had once asked Abby if she knew why Fornell pronounced Tony's last name the way he did and she had speculated that it was probably the proper, or close to, way to pronounce it in Italian.

"Fornell," Tony returned before the two of them locked gazes and had what had to be one intense silent conversation if the slight tightening of their jaws was any indication.

"McGee, what've you got?" demanded Gibbs.

"Well, after looking at maps of all the locations I think that these three locations are the most likely, they're all far from main roads and either abandoned or secluded," he said pointing to three locations on the map.

"Why you have these locations circled then?" asked Tony pointing to three other locations on the map.

"They're possibilities but they're not as good as these three," McGee replied, "they're closer to main roads and not as secluded so there's a better chance of discovery but they're also significant to Dominguez so there is that."

"We'll get agents to all six. The Bureau's been chasing this bastard for almost seventeen years, no way are we leaving any stone unturned," Fornell said before moving towards the windows to make the call. "So it's settled, teams are being dispatched to the three possibles," he said after returning to the group, "So that leaves the three most likely locations, McGee, which is the most likely location?"

"That would be this one," McGee replied pointing to a remote location near the Virginia/West Virginia border. "His family is originally from that area and his first victim Megan O'Neil was from there too."

"Okay, that's where we're going. Agent Sacks, you coming?" asked Fornell as he made his way towards the elevator.

Sacks quickly followed his boss but not before throwing a smug grin at Gibbs' team. Gibbs moved to his desk and began to gather his own gear leaving the rest of very confused.

"Boss, what are you doing?" asked Tony.

"What does it look like I'm doing, DiNozzo?"

"But why?"

"You heard Fornell; you plan on waiting for an engraved invitation?"

When he looked he saw his team gathering their gear and for the first time since this whole sordid ordeal started he saw a smile Tony's face, it paled in comparison to the usual DiNozzo smile but it was a smile nonetheless.

--

The ruins of the 1800s farmhouse and surrounding property would probably be fascinating under different circumstances but today Tony couldn't see the historic beauty of the place, all he could see were the ghosts of eleven girls.

"Is that the last of them?" asked Ziva wearily, looking at the newest uncovered set of human remains.

"God, I hope so," blurted out Tony.

Ziva looked at her partner and could see how being here, at the dumping ground, where Michelle Nead probably spent her last living moments was wearing on Tony.

"How are you doing, Tony?" she asked gently.

"I'm fine, Ziva," he snapped before taking a picture of the human skeleton. 'It's so small,' he thought idly.

"It has been a hard day for us all," she reminded him, "there is nothing wrong with saying that you could use a break."

"I told you, Ziva. I. Am. FINE!" he snarled before walking away.

--

"How long until they positively identify the remains, Duck?"

"Well, with the large number it could take weeks, even months," replied Ducky, addressing the weary group before him. Tony inwardly groaned, why did the universe hate him?

"Is there a 'but' in your explanation, Duck?"

"Actually there is, Jethro, normally the waiting period would be that long but there are a couple of forensic anthropologists that Abigail and I know who have volunteered their time to help the FBI identify the remains."

"How many forensic anthropologists would that be, Ducky?"

"Four and that's not counting any that usually work with the FBI on these types of cases and that could drastically cut down the waiting period as long as they can get all they need to identify the poor souls."

"Now what?"

"Now you go home, DiNozzo. You heard Ducky, even with the outside help it could still be a while and nothing's going to happen tonight so go home people."

--

It was nearly three weeks before they finally got positive proof that one of the eleven skeletons that they had found at that remote location near the Virginia/West Virginia border belonged to Michelle Nead.

Tony was already thoroughly drunk by the time McGee found him.

"McGoo! Take a seat!" Tony exclaimed as McGee stopped him from falling off his barstool.

"Tony, how long have you been here?" asked McGee worriedly after he took a seat.

Tony shrugged his shoulders. "Not long," he slurred, the multiple glasses in front of him disagreed with that statement.

"I think that you've had enough, Tony," McGee replied as he waved off the bartender. "Come on, I'll take you home."

Once in the car Tony seemed content with just staring out the window without really seeing the scenery flying by.

"I failed," Tony said quietly, his words still slurred by the alcohol.

"What?"

"I promised the Neads that I'd find their daughter."

"But you did find her, Tony," he reminded his friend.

"They wanted her alive; I promised that I'd find her alive."

The rest of the ride was made in silence and they made it to Gibbs' house without incident. To McGee's relief Gibbs was waiting for them on his front porch.

"'Lo, Boss," Tony slurred when Gibbs opened up the passenger side door.

"Let's get you inside, DiNozzo," Gibbs said gruffly as he pulled the younger man to his feet and helped steady him as they made the walk into Gibbs' house. Once Gibbs returned to his living room he saw McGee standing there looking almost like a lost little boy. "You're welcome to stay, McGee."

"No, it's okay. Sarah's coming over tonight so I better go."

"Door's always open, McGee," replied Gibbs. Perhaps it was selfish of him but Gibbs was happy that McGee wasn't going to spend the night; he didn't want to be responsible for the emotional well-being of both his agents when he was barely able to deal with his own emotional well-being. He was relieved that McGee had someone outside of the team to turn too when the job just got to be too much.

"I know," McGee said smiling. "Oh yeah, the bar's keeping Tony's car over night."

Gibbs nodded. "Get some sleep, Tim."