Nico poured more coffee for McGee, "I better go check on Connor."

McGee gave him a grateful glance, then kept working on his laptop.

Ellie had papers surrounding her as she sat on the floor in the living room. She had a bunch of different snacks around her.

Nico slipped down to Connor's bedroom, closing the door behind himself.

Connor was sitting in his chair, staring blankly at a page in his book, not turning the page, not reading, just staring.

Nico went over and put a hand on the older man's shoulder, "Stop it."

Connor flinched, and looked up at him. "What?"

"You're thinking too much." Nico squeezed the shoulder. "Gibbs will be back soon. He wants to go over the interview you gave back then."

He nodded, "They really bringing over Travis and his family?"

Nico nodded, "They think it will be safer."

"So they found a threat at my brother's house and they wanted to be able to focus their manpower on one location without terrifying Zoey." Connor summed up.

Nico hesitated, "Connor…"

"I know. It's bad." Connor looked at Nico.

Nico met his eyes, "Are you going to be okay?"

Connor nodded, "Yeah. I'll be fine. I might push you away. Don't let it get to you. I'm just trying to…"

"Stay together. I know." Nico gave him a hug. "I've got you this time."

Connor nodded, loosely hugging him back, then they heard the front door close and an all-too-cheerful voice calling for her Uncle Connor.

Connor smiled, "Well, at least she doesn't seem aware."

Nico nodded.

They went out.

Katie looked nervous. She was very pregnant. She was due in just a couple weeks.

Travis was holding Zoey, still managing a facade of indifference to the situation. That they were just visiting his brother.

Zoey grinned and reached for Connor.

Connor took her and held her tightly, "Grr, you're getting so big!"

"We stayin over!" She grinned up at him, then kissed his nose.

Connor smiled and tossed her into the air, then set her down, "Why don't you go put your bag in your room?"

"Okay!" She bounced, then gave Nico's legs a hug, "Hi, Nico!" Then she darted off down the hall.

Nico shook his head, smiling.

Travis had pulled his brother into something of a bear hug.

Nico squeezed Katie's hand, "You okay?" He whispered.

She nodded, her free hand rubbing her stomach, "Doctor said I could conceive any day, Nico. I'm…"

"It'll be okay. Travis, Connor, and I will keep you and the baby safe, so will these agents."

She nodded.

Travis pulled away from Connor, and glanced toward the hallway, "It's too quiet."

"Zoey?" Connor called.

She came running out with an armful of stuffed animals, "Yes, Daddy?"

Travis smirked, "You aren't making a big mess?"

"I'm playing Vet, daddy."

"Okay, go ahead." Travis said easily.

Connor gently hugged Katie, "You guys stay in my room. Bed's all made."

"Oh—"

"My bed is the best in the house. You need rest. Go. I've got the munchkin and your husband. You want some tea?"

She nodded, "Still have that mint stuff?"

Connor nodded, "Definitely."

"I'll put the kettle on." Nico told him.

Connor nodded and grabbed her suitcase, "Come on, Katie."

Travis waited until she was out of the room to address the agents, "She's due soon. Please tell me that this is just a precaution."

Nico glanced back to see that the agents looked mildly uncomfortable.

Except Gibbs, he just shrugged a bit, "It's just a precaution."

Travis winced, "Man, that lie hurt more than I thought it would. Nico…"

Nico glanced back, "He's taking it pretty well so far."

"Well, meaning?"

"He hasn't had a panic attack or any sort of mental breakdown. He hasn't reverted to his kleptomania, and he hasn't shut me out yet. Warned me that he probably would."

Travis sighed.

Connor came back in, "You wanted to go over the transcript from my interview, Agent Gibbs?"

Gibbs nodded, "If you're up to it."

"Have to get it over with eventually."

Nico's phone rang, and he answered it after McGee gave him a nod. They had to monitor all calls, just in case.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Nico, it's Peter. Wondering if you were okay since you weren't here?"

"Oh, hey Peter. Yeah, I'm fine. There was just an issue at work, I'll try to make it next week."

"Alright, best to the hunky roommate."

Nico rolled his eyes, "Bye Peter."

"Oh, hey, Sam's guy finally talked to him."

Nico smirked, "So, he's passed out from joy and embarrassment from making a fool out of himself on your couch, you're the designated driver, and Adam's drunk as a skunk? Doesn't sound like I'll miss much."

Peter laughed, "See you next week."

"See you." Nico hung up. "Sorry, that's a friend. He doesn't know where I work. We don't talk about work."

Tim shook his head, "We have to investigate everyone in your lives."

Nico nodded, "I'll get you their names."

Connor had a faintly amused smile.

Gibbs nodded toward the spare bedroom, "Let's talk in there. McGee, you go over the transcripts with Travis here."

McGee nodded, "And the wife?"

Travis looked a little alarmed, "Whoa, Katie didn't even know about what happened until after it happened back then, and she never knew the details. I didn't want to scare her. Please, she's already upset. At least wait until morning? Please?"

Ellie and McGee looked to Gibbs.

He nodded, "Fine."

Nico looked at Connor.

Connor's stance looked relaxed, easy, but his hands were shaking. He glanced back at Nico and gave a slight smile which betrayed his nervousness. His fear.

Gibbs hesitated, "Nico, come on. You should hear the details of this so that you can better help Abby."

Nico swallowed, then nodded.

Then went into the guest bedroom, Nico's bedroom.

Nico sat on the floor to listen.

Connor sat on the bed, letting Gibbs take the desk chair.

"When this happened, you were sixteen years old?"

Connor nodded, "Almost seventeen by the time it ended."

"And they managed to grab you by…?" Gibbs squinted at him.

"They outnumbered me. I was getting over a bad case of bronchitis. I couldn't run, not very far. And fighting wasn't an option because I had been so sick. They also didn't give me a chance to grab my knife." Connor had his eyes closed for a moment, "I think they used chloroform. I woke…woke up in a cold, dark room. Cement floors and walls. No windows. I was in there for three days, with just a little water. In the dark. Then they opened the door, and brought me out and…"

"That's when they started beating you."

"No. They…" Connor's jaw set and his fist clenched, then he released it, "They had their way with me. It always started with that."

Gibbs was looking at the papers in the folder, "Then they beat you?"

Connor nodded, "Never so much that I wasn't able to…be their…entertainment."

Nico closed his eyes, frightened by how vividly he could imagine it.

"They fed me on Wednesdays and Saturdays. I got to rest on Sundays. Then it would be right back before the sun rose on Monday."

"How do you know it was before the sun rose?"

"There was a window, high up in the warehouse they kept me in. They would always get me up while it was still dark outside. I would be forced to watch the sun rise while they beat me and…" Connor trailed off again, his breathing a little labored. He looked terrified. Like he was there again.

Nico practically crushed his own hand. He didn't want Connor going through that again.

"There was never any deviation."

Connor started to say no, then stopped. His gaze was fixed on the floor, and he was frowning. "There was…one time. I was…too messed up for them to do anything with. So they let me heal for a week, I think. I don't really know how long it was. I was unconscious most of the time. I passed out every time I tried to walk. They brought me out and showed me how they transport their goods. A gelatin mix in nail polish bottles. That was the day that my rest ended. They talked about having another location. Mentioned something about a girl."

Gibbs eyebrow arched, "You're just now remembering that week?"

Connor shrugged slightly, looking upset, "I'm sorry."

"You gave us the information about the transportation, but you didn't know how you knew." Gibbs said, his tone surprisingly light.

Connor shook his head, "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize—"

"I know, it's a sign of weakness. I should have remembered." Connor clenched a fist.

"You were traumatized." Gibbs said simply.

Connor sighed, "Who knows what else I could have forgotten?"

"Connor, it doesn't matter what you forgot back then if you can remember now. Past is over. Back to the present." Nico said.

Blue eyes met his. Then they blinked.

Nico nodded.

Connor looked back up at Gibbs, "Keep going."

Gibbs nodded, "You gave us sketches for quite a few people. And we caught some."

"But not all. Not nearly all. I gave a rough estimate of twenty or so, and only ten were caught." Connor went back to a neutral tone and face. "They didn't trust the faces I gave hem because of the trauma. They wouldn't let my family to see me for over a week after. That's what my brother said. I just remember waking up in the hospital and wanting my family. And they wouldn't let Travis in to see me because they were still trying to make sure that he wasn't involved."

"Can you remember exactly how many people you were able to identify from others?"

Connor frowned, then started pressing his pointer to his thumb. Slowly and deliberately. "Faces, seventeen. Figures, twenty one. Which is why they only searched for seventeen. But I know…I know there were twenty one. Four never showed their faces. Whenever they were around, they were careful to make sure to wear masks, or make sure I couldn't see. Voices…twenty one different voices, one of which used a voice modulator."

"Positive?"

He nodded, "Yes. I'm positive."

Gibbs pulled out some papers, photos, and handed them to Connor, "These are the ones who were caught."

Connor looked through slowly, hands shaking.

Nico picked up the ones that he set down, studying the face.

Connor frowned at the last one, hands steady, looking confused, "Who the heck is this?"

Gibbs pointed to it, "One of the guys arrested."

Connor shook his head, "This isn't the right guy. I mean, he's mostly right, but the guy who got me had a scar on his face, a big ugly scar."

Gibbs looked a little alarmed, "You're telling me that this isn't one of the guys that got to you?"

"If he is, then he's one of the ones that didn't show his face." Connor answered, shaking his head.

Nico got up and looked at the photo, feeling his breath catch, "Connor…that looks like the guy…except the scar is on his forehead, crossing his left eye…"

Connor's eyes widened, "What are you talking about Nico?"

"Connor…that's the guy that killed Will!"