Chapter 5: Who's that girl?
Both Tony and Kate huddle together to watch McGee gently guiding Ms. Mills to one of the conference rooms. That's how Gibbs found them five minutes later, as they chattered as little children planning to take over the world. The old marine glared at them who scattered to their own desks, each sitting ramrod straight but bubbling with energy, willing to share the news as fast as possible.
Gibbs rolled his eyes and sighed. "What?"
"McGee knows the widow. The woman… the…" Tony got confused as he tried to figure out the proper name to call Ms. Mills, but he failed so he looked desperate to Kate who came into his rescue again.
"McGee has met Ms. Mills before."
"How?" Gibbs enquired, seeing Kate shrug in response.
"Apparently they've met while at high school, more than ten years ago." Kate saw Gibbs' eyebrow going up, but after seeing the interaction between the young agent and the grieving woman, she tried to downplay the situation. "Apparently they were … friends… back them, but they haven't seen each other for years."
"And he didn't deem it important enough to warn me he knows the fiancée of the victim?" Gibbs was almost growling, glaring in the direction he knew the conference rooms were.
"Apparently their separation was not amicable. Blood was spilt. They were seriously miffed to see each other again and she can barely look at his face without growling." Tony said, a small teasing smile appearing on his face. "He apparently pissed her off greatly before disappearing from her life. Bad Timmy."
"Tony!" Kate hissed at him, who just shrugged, not afraid of her wrath.
"I'm telling the truth."
Gibbs let both agents hissing and biting at each other and walked down the corridor, wanting to take over the interrogation while they still had an investigation. He stopped at the door of the conference, watching McGee gently talking to a blonde woman who was crying softly, her hurt gaze on him as she whispered something that Gibbs couldn't hear.
The conversation halted when she noticed Gibbs at the door. McGee released her hand which he was gently holding, stood up and approached his boss, not before sending an apologetic glance towards her. He gestured to Gibbs so both left the conference room, shutting the door slowly and leaving a sepulchral silence in the corridor.
Gibbs stared McGee who bit his lower lip before sighing deeply and stared with clear green eyes at the older man, his gaze clear and firm, not backing down under the marine's scrutiny.
"Wanna tell me what's going on, McGee?"
"Ah…" McGee glanced towards the door, as if he could see the woman through the wood. "I've met her in high school, Boss. I wasn't sure if it was the same person when I first saw the picture – she has a different name now - but… ah… it was a long time ago. It doesn't mean anything anymore."
Gibbs raised an eyebrow, noticing the sadness heavy like a cloak weighting down the younger man's shoulders.
"You sure?"
"Yes, Boss."
"Have you told her yet?"
"Yeah. She…. Didn't take it well." McGee said softly, completing in a whisper. "As always."
"What do you mean by that?"
McGee bit his lower lip, lowering his gaze to the floor and refusing to answer.
"McGeeeee?"
The younger agent casted green chagrinned eyes towards Gibbs. "She hates changes. And surprises. Always have. Always will."