Author's Note: I know that this is a bit shorter then normal but I am having issues with writing these chapters. I have an ending written but I gotta get there and the reviews (or lack of) aren't really helping. I hope this is good. I have been working on other stories too so they might be up soon.

Ok, time to stop rambling and time to get to the chapter.

The team had noticed Gibbs walk back into the bullpen, but not Sarah. He had disappeared into the back elevator. Each member was still at their desks trying to work, but kept getting sidetracked by her behavior.

"What is up with Sarah the past few days? She acts like she is a new girl again," Tony commented.

"If you ask me, she seems preoccupied," Ziva added.

"How did she find the time or ability to skip school to talk to the kids on the list I sent her?"

"I'd sure like to know how she did that too, Probie." Tony looked over at Ziva, who seemed to be lost in thought. "What are you thinking?"

"Could there be a new case she is working on that we don't know about?"

"I could check." Tony and Ziva jumped up and ran over to McGee's desk. McGee looked through open cases. "There are no open cases that she is involved in."

Tony shook his head. "How can that be? There has to be some sort of reason."

"Reason for what, Tony?" Sarah asked as she walked into the bullpen.

"For the email McGee just got. It's really weird."

Sarah set down her bag down by her desk and looked at McGee's screen. McGee had pulled up an email he saved from earlier. "Wow. That is creepy."

Ziva looked down and noticed something different about Sarah. "What happened to you?"

She looked down. "Oh that? I bumped into a girl in the hall. She got mad and kicked me with her high heels on. It's nothing."

"If you say so," Tony muttered.

"What was that, DiNozzo?"

"Nothing!"

"That's what I thought." She smiled. She turned to McGee. "Could you help me with this new program on my computer? It's not installing right."

"Sure." McGee got up and moved over to Sarah's computer. "Let's see what we can do."

Gibbs walked in the bullpen area. "Did you guys find anything while I was gone?"

Ziva got up and grabbed the remote to the monitor. "Colt Gemson. His father, James Gemson, was arrested for battery and assault quite a few times and is on parole. Petty Officer Johnson had made numerous calls to Colt during the past month."

Sarah got up from where she was sitting. "I spoke with him today. I plan to follow up on him later sense something he said didn't seem to fit right with me. I was hoping to go over my notes before I said anything but since it was brought up, I did."

"Well," Tony began, "what about his father? If he was arrested for battery and assault, then wouldn't he be capable of murder too? And what would their motives be for killing Johnson anyway?"

"That's a good point DiNozzo." Gibbs leaned over and slapped the back of his head anyway.

"What was that for? I thought you said it was a good idea."

He simply answered. "For not bringing it up sooner."

Sarah's cell phone began to ring. "I'll be right back." She walked away as she opened her phone and started talking to the person on the other side.

"Who do you think that is?" Tony said.

Ziva looked at him. "I don't think you should be so nosey."

"But she has been so secretive lately. Whoever she is on the phone with could be who she is being secretive about."

"Now you're just being confusing, Tony," McGee said.

Gibbs had been ignoring the team's banter until now. "Would you guys work instead of figuring out things that don't matter?" There was no room for arguing in his tone.

Sarah walked over to Gibbs desk. "Is it ok if I go to dinner with Colt tonight?" She lowered her voice. "I'll still work, I promise."

"That's fine. I just want updates when you get back."

"My car is still at your house."

"He can pick you up and drop you off there. Just say you're staying with me while the apartment you and Abby share is being painted."

She nodded and turned away to continue talking to Colt. The team looked at her curiously.

When she rejoined the team in the bullpen, Tony asked her, "So you have a date? New boyfriend or something?"

"It's none of your business, Tony."

"So I was right! It is a new man. So, what's his name? Where did you meet him? What does he…" He was interrupted by a hand coming in contact with the back of his head. "Sorry boss."

He motioned to Sarah. "Come on. You really need to stop leaving your car at my house," he said as he walked toward the elevator.

"I know." She turned to the team. "I'll see you guys tomorrow." She hurried to the elevator before the doors closed.

AN 2: I hope that was good enough. I would love to read your thoughts. They would make me write faster and get closer to the end.
~This is BellaWriterChic signing off