"Tony, Ziva, what have you got for me?" Gibbs asked, rushed, as he walking into the bullpen, sitting in his chair.
"Boss!" Tony exclaimed.
"Tony, if you don't give me something good in the next five seconds I'm going to do more than head-slap you." Gibbs threatened.
"The dead Marine's name is Petty Officer Wilson McDaniels. He just got back from serving a tour in Iraq. He was honorably discharged after his leg was blown off in a car bomb explosion. He's got an ex-wife, Sherrie McDaniels, who lives in Georgetown with their daughter, Melissa. His lieutenant said he was a great officer, totally dedicated to the service. Maybe that's why the wife left him." Tony added the last part, smirking.
Jethro glared in his direction, shouting, "David!"
"His best friend and roommate, Petty Officer Jeremy Cliveston, says that he was out with other friends the night McDaniels was killed. I have yet to get a hold of these so called "friends" to verify his alibi." Ziva replied, well rehearsed.
"Keep calling, make sure you verify that goddamn alibi. Tony, you and Ziva go to the ex-wife. You find out everything you can about the petty officer. McGee, I want you to run down his credit cards and bank statements, track his every monetary move for as far back as you can find it. When you're done with that, which better be soon, help Abby." Gibbs yelled, his anger showing.
His team just stood there, struck by his sudden anger. Even Tony was speechless. Gibbs usually wasn't this pissed this early. Maybe he just hadn't had his coffee yet.
"Boss, you want coffee with that?" Tony asked, only half-joking.
"Damn it, Tony, don't you fucking push me today! What the hell are you three still doing here?! Move it!" Gibbs yelled back, inches from Tony's face. He puffed out an angry breath and strode to the elevator, smashing the down button, heading for autopsy to see what, if anything, Ducky had.
Tony had a meek and slightly scared look on his face. That was unlike Gibbs, even for Gibbs. Ziva stood there, her mouth half open, a little struck by Gibbs' outburst. McGee, knowing it could be his badge and gun if he didn't start working, immediately sat down, typing away.
"That was…" Ziva started.
"Just plain scary. Anybody know what's up with Gibbs today?" Tony asked the room.
"I haven't the slightest idea." Ziva said, returning to her old self.
"Me neither." McGee said quietly, still typing furiously.
"We better go, Ziva. I don't want what just happened to me to happen again." Tony said, grabbing his stuff.
Ziva nodded, grabbing hers too, and following Tony into the elevator. Fortunately, Gibbs wasn't still in there. They got in the Charger, Tony driving, both a little worried about their boss's well being.
**********
Gibbs walked through the sliding doors into autopsy, finding Duck standing over the body of Petty Officer Wilson McDaniels, his chest cut open in a "Y" shape, Palmer nearby.
"Got anything for me, Duck?" Gibbs asked, calmed down a bit.
"Well, I believe the cause of death was exsanguination. The bullet entered his abdomen at an upward angle, pushing up into his superior vena cava, and lodging there. His heart continued pumping, pushing large amounts of blood through the open wound. Death was nearly instantaneous."
"You said it entered at an upward angle?" Gibbs asked, watching Ducky demonstrate the bullets path with his fingers.
"Yes. Thusly, the shooter was below him. On their knees or their back."
"Signs of a struggle?"
"Judging from the condition of his house, and the scratches and bruises on his arms, I would say yes. I scraped underneath his fingernails and had Mr. Palmer send the evidence down to Abby."
"How was that Jimmy?" Gibbs asked, wondering if Abby threw another Caf-Pow at him.
"It was great. Abby was much more receiving today than a week ago." Palmer smiled.
"Really?"
"Yep, she must be in a good mood today."
"Hmm." Jethro replied, realizing it must be only him she was mad at.
"One more thing, Jethro." Ducky said, stopping Gibbs from walking out.
"Yeah?"
"I found signs of recent sexual activity. Our dear boy was not careful at all. I collected a DNA sample and had Mr. Palmer take that down to Abby, too."
"Guess I'll be heading there next."
"I thought you enjoyed seeing Abigail?"
"Not when she's mad at me, Duck." Jethro replied, walking out of the room.
"He must have done something very bad for Abigail to be mad at him. Something very, very bad." Ducky replied, somewhat morosely, pointing the bloodied scalpel in his hands at a half-smiling Jimmy.
**********
Gibbs breezed into Abby's lab, catching her off guard. She stood there, shoulders hunched, leaning over her desk passed the glass sliding doors. She looked up as a single tear started to roll down her cheek. She'd been crying, and quite a bit, Gibbs could tell. One look at him, and he saw the dam about to break. Her lip quivered a bit, biting her tongue, trying not to crumble in front of Gibbs, her silver-haired fox.
"Come here." He whispered softly, motion for her.
She was in his arms quicker than he could pull her into them himself. She buried her face into his chest, her head settling just below his neck. She sobbed silently, too consumed in her tears for words. Jethro said nothing, just held her. He knew she was crying because of him, he knew it was his fault, and now, he was here to fix it.
**********