A/N: Right, so I did read the on the home page that site doesn't want scenes separated by dashes and names. Unfortunately, changing the format now-I think- would confuse and turn away readers. So for now, you will all have to simply bear with me.

Disclaimer: No sudden change in economy (or the stock market). So I still don't own NCIS or it's characters. In addition, I do not own the killer. (Who will be identified in this chapter!)

- Chapter 3 -

Gibbs sauntered into the bullpen, finding all his agents present. McGee and Tony were going over something in the file, while Kate was staring... blankly into space? No. She was staring at McGee?"

"Kate!" He called, making her crane her head.

"Yeah Gibbs?"

He returned to his own desk. "Pay attention. What did you and Tony learn from the captain?"

Kate looked over at DiNozzo, who nodded. "Well uh, there was an investigation pen-"

"Yeah, we know that! What else?" He urged.

"They found a contact li-"

"We know that too! Is there anything new you learned?"

Kate sighed. "Uh well... I guess not."

Tony smirked. "Oh well, I did learn that Kate's doing it with probie."

She snarled.

"For the love of whatever is decent and good in this world, get off it Tony!" He groaned, and rubbing his eyes stress fully. "There is nothing going on between Kate and McGee! McGee... McGee what did you find out?"

Tim nodded. "Right, well I searched his criminal record and... uh... well he shoplifted some candy when he was ten... that's about it."

Gibbs let his shoulders slump. "Am I the only one who found something useful?"

"Apparently."

All eyes turned on McGee.

"Sorry..."

Gibbs nodded. "Well, Abby noticed that the shotgun pellets that killed Petty Officer Rafferty were more spaced out than usual for a shotgun. A way to give shotgun's a wider range is to saw of the tip of the barrel."

"Raff was killed with a sawed-off shotgun?" Mused Tony. "Interesting."

"Yeah. Unfortunately, we've still got no way to identify the killer." Gibbs said. His cell phone began to ring loudly. "Oh, damnit. Whoever is calling, please, shut... up."

The ringing continued, until Gibbs groaned and swept it off his desk into the waste basket.

McGee eyed him cautiously. "Uh boss, there was a witness who was there when the petty officer was killed, should I call him up?"

"You don't need to."

Everyone turned as a man in a brown coat came in through the elevator. He was wearing a green button down shirt, with sneakers on. "Nicholas Collins, FBI." He leaned on the wall that shielded Kate's desk.

"Shit..." Gibbs growled. "Uh... Tony go... get me a cup of coffee. McGee, Kate, go check out... something."

Tony slipped out towards the stairs, while McGee gently took Kate by the arm and guided her to the elevator. "I need to talk to you." He spoke in a hushed tone.

The two of them walked inside, and McGee punched the number for the ground floor. Five seconds into the ride, he flipped the emergency switch. The lights dimmed and the lift lurched to a stop.

"Wow, I'm impressed Tim. I didn't know you were so-"

"It's not that." He sighed. "I'm scared."

Kate looked up at him. He was truly afraid of something. "Tim what's wrong?"

He sighed, and put his hands around her, holding her as close as he could. She did so as well, and they just stood there in an embrace. "If I tell you this, can you promise me you won't tell Gibbs?"

Kate nodded, and rubbed his back. "I promise."

He released her and looked into her eyes. Her loving crystal like eyes. They always calmed him down. "Okay... when I was working with the FBI, there was a case where a local car theft outfit was planning to move about twenty cars across America. The head of their gang was a dangerous hitman who calls himself Jericho. Kate, I came... so closeto catching him." His words came out slow and quiet, despite the fact that no one else in the building could hear them. "The case haunted me, but while I was working I was going out with a girl I met up with at a college reunion. He killed her Kate... and I'm afraid, that if the guy who killed Rafferty, if it's Jericho, I'm afraid he'll try to kill you too."

Caitlin sighed, and snuggled into him. "Oh Tim. Relax, I'll be fine. From now on, I'll make sure Gibbs sets us up together for this case." She looked up at him. "So you can make sure nothing happens, but Tim, don't worry. I'm sure everything will be fine."

McGee nodded, and placed his hand on her back, while she locked her arms around him. "Okay, I... I'm gonna trust you."

They stood and held each other tightly. "So, is that why you use a Jericho when you're off duty?"

Tim chuckled and nodded. "Yeah. I guess it's because I'm an author. I strive for all that dramatic stuff... I thrive on it."

"Killing Jericho with a Jericho." She smiled. "You're right, that would be dramatic."

McGee smiled warmly as he gazed down. He gently brushed a stray hair ouf of her face before kissing her. There were no doubts now, no hidden qualms as to their actions. Just pure... love. The two had indeed fallen in love since their experiences together. She moved her hands up, placing them both on the sides of his face as she moaned.

There heartbeats seemed to be in sync with each other. McGee held her close, as if it all might end right in that elevator. He was truly terrified at the thought of losing her. (a/n: To all the people bitching about Twilight, just shut up before you ruin the fic.) When they finally released each other, McGee was grinning foolishly as she smiled.

"So what do you think we should do?" Kate asked.

"I think you should come over later and we could go out for a while." Came his loving reply.

She smirked. "I meant about the case Tim."

His smile moved to a smirk. "Wanna' go break into Rafferty's apartment to see if we can scrape up any evidence?"

"Sure!"

McGee smiled and flipped the emergency switch, and the elevator jumped as it continued downward. Kate stepped away from Tim, as he reached for her. She saw this and smiled back lovingly. She took his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Relax, it'll all be okay."

- Home of Petty Officer Donald Rafferty -

McGee tapped the window and looked inside the large house of the dead petty officer. "Hello... anyone home?" He stood up. "I don't think anyone's home Kate."

"Gee Tim, I'm shocked and amazed." She watched as he stepped across the lawn, picking up a nice stone. "What are you doing?"

"A little trick I picked up from Tony." He explained. Pulling back, he threw the rock towards the window. Unfortunately, he had overlooked the curve factor, as it went to the right a bit... straight into Rafferty's Ferrari.

Kate snickered as she watched McGee jump from the sound of the car alarm. She watched his amusing antics as other residents in the neighborhood opened their doors at the sighed.

"It... it's okay! I'm a fed!" He fumbled for his badge, which he almost dropped.

"C'mon Timmy." She said, grabbing his arm, and dragging him across the grass towards the door. "It's open, see?" She grasped the doorknob and slid it open.

As Kate stepped through he peeped his head into the darkness. "How did you do that?" He asked. "No really, I want to know. Because while I'm struggling with getting a rock through the window you... you..."

"Relax." She stepped over and gave him a quick kiss on his cheek. "That's why I love you."

He gave a McGee grin and followed her through the house. "Alright, let's go with that."

He drew his weapon and trained in in various directions around the house. "See anything?" He called to the kitchen.

"Nope. You?"

"Negatory." He lowered his P226 and sighed. "Right well, we were here for evidence. What were we expecting?"

"Jericho?"

He sighed and gave her an annoyed look. "No."

She came over, and placed a hand on his shoulder. She rubbed it gently, as she calmed him. "Y'know it's alright to admit your afraid of coming face-to-face with him again." She smirked. "Who knows, maybe you'll get a chance to finish it this time."

"I would like a second chance." He said.

"Come on, you can ransack his bedroom with me." She said, comforting him. "How's that sound."

"Okay." He said in a soft funny voice, earning himself that adorable giggle he loved.

A/N: The evil Jericho is revealed. Mua-ha-ha-ha! Anyway, Jericho is owned by Atari, since he's a character in Driv3r. Chapter four up next Saturday.