Boston- Boston PD

Rizzoli was back down in Autopsy, Korsak and Frankie briefing most of the agents upstairs. Except, two people from the NCIS team remained.

Dr. Mallard was working on the autopsy, while Officer David was watching as he and Maura worked. She looked slightly confused at the antics of their team.

"Is something wrong, Officer David?" Rizzoli asked, curiously watching her reaction.

"No, nothing is wrong. It is just…. My team is acting…." She scrunched up her face in confusion, as though thinking deeply. "They are acting hinky."

Rizzoli raised an eyebrow at her choice of words. "Hinky?"

"It means strange. At least I think it does. Our forensic scientist uses that word. English is not my first language." She seemed almost annoyed. "They all acted so surprised when they walked in. Gibbs does not freeze up like that. He is always so level-threaded."

Rizzoli was confused for a second, exchanging a look with Maura. But Dr. Mallard merely chuckled.

"My dear Ziva, I believe the term you are looking for is level-headed." He said calmly.

"Thank you, Ducky." She said calmly.

Maura hid a smile, as she looked him over. "Dr. Mallard, what is this?" She asked.

"It's…. Well hello." He used tweezers to pull out a bullet. "What's this?"

"Bullet. Looks to be standard 9mm." Maura rattled off the facts instantly, as Ducky looked up in surprise.

"Do we have an evidence jar, Maura?" Rizzoli was surprised how easily he managed to say the words. But it still looked painful for him to speak to her. Rizzoli had to wonder why.

"Of course, here you are, Dr. Mallard."

"Please, call me Ducky. No one calls me Dr. Mallard anymore."

Maura looked up at that. "Everyone is used to calling you that?"

"Yes." He said, surprised. "Even if it took some longer than others to remember it." He smiled over at Officer David, who smiled back. "Isn't that right, Ziva?"

"Yes, Ducky, that is correct." She said back.

Maura looked at her, and for a horrifying second, she was struck with an image:

A man leering at her, with dark skin, black hair and a cruel grin. Ari.

She blinked, and found herself staring at the lung, which she was holding in her hands. She swallowed hard, before turning to Rizzoli. She looked pale.

"Maura, you okay?" Rizzoli asked worriedly.

"Yes." She said quietly. But she wasn't. She didn't know who the man… Ari… was. She only knew that he terrified her. She vowed to research him later. But she didn't have a last name… Was he a well-known terrorist? She doubted it.

Rizzoli could see the fear in Maura's eyes, knowing she'd get the truth out of her friend with the inability to lie sooner or later. It was silly, but she knew there was something wrong. She didn't want her friend to be afraid. Rizzoli had to protect her.

Her heart throbbed at the thought. Protect…. Your best friend. And if there was a threat to Maura, Rizzoli sure as hell wouldn't let her be harmed.

"You seem quiet." Dr. Mallard said to Officer David. "Do you like having your own room?"

"Ducky, you have no idea. I almost pity McGee, for having to share with Tony. I think he'd rather share with Jethro." They both chuckled.

"Why would Special Agent McGee want to stay with Special Agent Gibbs?" Rizzoli asked, having missed the joke.

"Oh no." Officer David smiled. "We're talking about McGee's dog, Jethro."

"Why is his dog named after Special Agent Gibbs?" Maura asked, trying to forget the warm feeling she had felt when she'd seen Gibbs, the salt and pepper hair and blue eyes somehow familiar. She was drawn to him, that she could not deny.

"Our forensic scientist, Abigail named him." Dr. Mallard explained. "She is Jethro's favorite, our Jethro, so she named the dog after him. But McGee ended up owning him. He's a German Shepherd. Good working dog, with training as a drug dog."

"What's the deal with Special Agent Gibbs, anyway? He seemed the most struck with Maura." Rizzoli couldn't help herself.

Dr. Mallard looked down at the body. "I'm afraid it's not really for me to tell."

"Why don't you tell us anyway?" Rizzoli cut in impatiently.

"Why is Gibbs acting so strangely?" Officer David asked, clearly concerned. She was talking to Dr. Mallard, who looked clearly uncomfortable.

He turned to Officer David, and said quietly. "Ziva…. You do remember who sat in your desk before you?"

"Yes, Ducky, but I do not see how it relates to this." She said, looking at him, as though he'd grown a second head.

Rizzoli was watching the exchange, curious. Who had sat in Officer David's desk before she had?

"My dear, I will explain later." He said as if to clearly say. Not here, in front of them. He was uncomfortable.

"Seriously? You're pulling the Fed card. As in "that's need to know!"?"

Dr. Mallard looked at her in surprise. "You've worked with the FBI then?" He asked, before chuckling to himself.

"She had a bad experience with an FBI agent." Maura explained for her, as Rizzoli glared at her.

"Gee, thanks Maura." She muttered, annoyed.

"Sorry Jane." Maura sighed.

The door banged open, causing them all to jump. It was merely Special Agent Gibbs.

"Ziva." He said. "DiNozzo's looking for you."

"Why would Tony want to speak to me?" She asked.

"I'm not a messenger pigeon! I don't know. I came down here to speak to Dr. Isles." He barked, annoyed. "Now go find DiNozzo."

"Yes Gibbs." She quickly made haste to leave.

Once she left, Dr. Mallard chuckled. "Really Jethro, your bark is becoming stronger than your bite."

"Oh, thanks Duck." He grumbled, watching the autopsy. "We got anything?"

"Bullet wound lodged in the aorta. Certainly killed him."

Maura stared at him for a second, then glanced at Special Agent Gibbs. She was struck so suddenly, it hit her like a lightning bolt.

She had jumped in the way of a bullet for him, for her boss, because she couldn't let him die. Regardless they were wearing Kevlar vests. She jumped on instinct to protect him. Because it was easier than admitting her feelings.

And right when they'd helped her up- it had happened. The bullet flying towards her before she finished her sentence. And then she died. She never got to tell Gibbs.

She jumped a little, making the cart covered in her tools rattle.

"Y'alright there?" Special Agent Gibbs asked, at her side in an instant.

"Just a little spooked is all." She said, smiling weakly.

"Why?" She realized then that he was touching her arm protectively, and she relaxed at his touch.

"Just… I don't know." She shook her head. "Honestly, it's fine. I'm fine."

"Are you sure, Maura?" Her name fell from his lips like honey, sounding perfectly enunciated with his lips. She swallowed and pulled away.

"I am perfectly sure."

Rizzoli, watching the whole scene, had only one question:

What the hell had she just seen?