Chapter 4

As the doors to autopsy slid open, Ducky was finishing off with the body. "What ya got Duck?"

"Ah, Jethro I was about to call you, young Anthony not with you I see?" "Dinozzo's with Abby and that jar of blood, C.O.D Duck?" Ducky sighed "This poor fellow died a most terrifying and awful death Jethro, he was systematically beaten and tortured over a three day period, if that wasn't enough they broke his neck".

"They?" "Yes Jethro it looks like two maybe three people, these wounds are too deep to be done by one person, this person used so much force that the hilt of the blade has left an impression on the skin, also the tip of the blade has broken off between his fourth and fifth intercostal rib.

Abs lab was full of her music, Abby was doing something on her computer when Tony arrived, "Abs" "TONY!" yelled Abby as she raced over to turn the music down, "you down for a visit or have we got a case?". Tony chuckled as he handed over the caff-pow "Abs I always visit, but yes we do have a case, I need you to examine this note and pull DNA on the blood, Ducky send you anything yet?" "Yeah this weird finger, no print too badly damaged sorry, no prob Tony, Tony you okay, you seem a little edgy or something?". Tony was half way to the door when he answered, "yeah Abs, I'm fine, got a lot on my mind at the mo, plus a killer headache", with that he left the lab and Abby holding her caff-pow looking deeply troubled.

Kate was at her desk doing background checks on the petty officer and the motel owner, when Gibbs marched into the bullpen, coffee cup in hand "find anything useful?" he growled "the petty officer was stationed on the USS Jefferson, been in Baltimore two weeks on leave, no know enemies, family ain't from here, they're flying in from Miami in the morning". "When they arrive go visit them, take McGee" barked Gibbs "Where's Dinozzo?" "In the lab with Abby" Kate said irritably as she dialled McGee's number.

McGee was in the land of nod when he heard a faint chirping sound 'go away' he thought, but the chirping sound continued, he realised it was his phone and reached out lazily for the nightstand, "Hello" he said sleepily

Kate sighed, tomorrow was gonna be a fun day "Tim, its Kate, I know your sick but……" McGee cut her off.

"Kate, why you calling this late at night, we get a case or something?" McGee asked wearily.

Kate looked at her watch it was 8.30 pm, "um Tim, its 8.30 pm, and yes we got a case Gibbs wants you here in the morning, we got a dead petty officer in a motel" she didn't elaborate further.

McGee knew Kate was holding back "right Kate I'll see ya in the morning" and hung up before she could reply, and fell back in to the land of nod.

Gibbs looked at Kate, "McGee will be here in the morning, flu or no flu is up to him" she quipped.

Just at that moment Tony walked into the bull pen, straight to his desk not saying a word to anyone, he stared at the computer screen before typing. Kate and Gibbs looked at each other covertly, Gibbs could see the worry in Kate's eyes, something was definitely wrong with his senior field agent.

Gibbs was curious what was Tony hiding, if anything, what was he not saying. He noted that Tony looked as if he hadn't slept in a month, his eyes were sunken and bleary, his appearance was dishevelled and he didn't like the look of Tony one bit, he was pale with a fine sheen of sweat starting on his forehead and he kept massaging his temples. What clenched it was that Tony had hardly spoken since they got the case, and he was completely oblivious to Kate calling him.

Kate looked at Gibbs, Gibbs looked at her his eyebrows raised, Kate gave a meaningful look and he understood.

"Dinozzo" nothing, the lights were on but no one was home, "Dinozzo" slightly louder, "DINOZZO" followed by a head slap startled Tony out of his oblivion.

"Uh, did I miss something? Gibbs gapped at him, something was wrong, really wrong, "Conference room NOW!" Gibbs said in that ever threating tone that meant no arguments, with that Tony slowly followed Gibbs to the elevator knowing full well what was about to happen, and he hoped he was wrong.

Gibbs stabbed the button to any floor then pulled the emergency switch 'great! Just what I don't need' thought Tony. "What's going on Tony, you haven't said a word sine we took the case, and why did the captain act like that when he saw you?" Gibbs asked his voice laced with concern when Tony turned another shade of white, Tony looked at Gibbs the mere determination on Gibbs face speaking volumes, he'd wait all day for an answer if he had to. "B..Boss, I can't I need to make sure!", "make sure of what?" asked Gibbs a little harshly, Tony wasn't gonna get away that easily, he also noted that Tony hadn't answered the second half of the question, and the distinct feeling that he would never know.