The dark blue Charger came to a sliding halt when the headlights brought the burned out shell of an SUV into view. Bits and pieces were strewn all about. The shell was still steaming but the fire seemed to have burned itself out. It was clear by looking at it that someone had attempted to blow it up. They only partially succeeded. The person must have been an amateur. Anyone with real bomb making experience would have easily made sure there was nothing left of it.
Gibbs and Ziva got out of the car. Both seemed to be holding their breath as they approached the charred remains. Both released a sigh of relief when they saw that the vehicle was empty and did not contain bodies. Gibbs pulled his cell phone out of the pocket of his green Carhartt jacket. He again hit the dial number for Tony's cell. A ring and a glow came from the direction of a patch of snow near the SUV. Gibbs ran over and almost grabbed the cell phone. "Ziva, get the kit out of the trunk."
As Ziva ran for the Charger Gibbs again opened his cell phone. There were two calls he had to make. He dialed the first. "Hey Abs. Has McGee got anything for me?"
Abby looked across the bullpen as McGee's fingers still clicked over his keyboard. "McGee, its Gibbs."
"I am into the White House Server. I am attempting to get into the email program and will use a password program to hack into her account when I do." McGee did not once take his eyes off the screen to answer the question.
"He's almost in Gibbs. Did you find Tony or the cell?" She was trying to hide the worry in her voice. She wanted to be supportive for Gibbs but he knew her better than anyone and she knew he could hear everything she was trying to hide.
"Abs I need you to grab some equipment and get down here. Found the SUV that took them to Ford's tonight. It's charred to a crisp. Looks like an amateur attempt at a bomb. There are no bodies." He quickly adding the last sentence before Abby could interrupt him with more concern. He just did not have time for concern. "Secret Service is gonna be stepping into this as soon as they figure out Molly is gone Abs. I want what we can get out of this car before they do. It's gonna take too much time to have it towed to you."
"On it Gi-" The phone went dead in Abby's ear. She hated when he did that but knew she had to forgive him this time.
Gibbs took a deep breath. The next call was the one he did not want to have to make. He was going to have to call Vance. There was a missing agent. Molly was a close friend of his. But beyond that, Gibbs knew there was going to be a showdown between Secret Service and NCIS on who was going to take this investigation. There was going to be a war over evidence and leads. Neither agency played well with others. Gibbs was going to need Vance for that fight. He didn't have time to play politics. He needed to find his family.
Ziva made her way back over to Gibbs. "Make sure you bag Tony's cell. I doubt he threw it on his own accord. May have the suspect's prints on it." Ziva nodded as she began putting gloves on. "Also there are tire marks over here near the Escalade. Make sure you get those as well." Gibbs then walked towards the Charger and dialed Vance's number. "Leon, we have a situation."
When Vance arrived at the scene Abby and Ziva were busy going through what they could of the SUV. Gibbs was taking as many pictures as he could. He was trying to keep busy all the while waiting for his cell phone to ring. He was hoping McGee would call any minute. "What do we got so far?" Vance asked as the cab pulled away.
"It's definitely the Cadillac that took them tonight. Found DiNozzo's cell over there. There are tire tracks from another vehicle here. The bomb did not destroy the whole SUV but took pretty much any evidence there was with it. McGee is back at the office working on hacking-"
Vance threw his hand up. "I do not want to know or hear what McGee is working on. I think it's better if I don't."
As if on cue, Gibb's cell phone rang. A glance at the ID told Gibbs it was McGee. "What ya got McGee?"
"I'm in Boss. There does not appear to be any emails from any stalker. I went through all her deleted emails too. I have something else though. Tony said something about Molly's cameo in the movie and mentioned the political media message. She has received emails from a group called CAMS. Citizens Against Media Suppression. They were threatening some kind of action if she did not release certain information to the media." The ding of the elevator in the office made McGee look up from his computer. Two men exited and just by looking at them McGee knew who they were.
"That's good work McGee. Start looking into-"
"Uh Boss?" McGee sounded very nervous all of a sudden. His voice dropped to a whisper. "The Secret Service is here. I may have tripped something off when I hacked into the White House."
"Put them in the conference room. Tell them Vance is on his way. Do not say anything more than that McGee. Shut down your computer and go lock yourself in Abby's lab and keep working. Do not answer their questions. Do you understand me McGee?" Gibbs could hear another man's voice in the background on the other end of the line. "McGee do you hear me?"
"Got it Boss. But- uh- can you hurry?"
Gibbs hung up his phone. "Secret Service is waiting for us. McGee is putting them in the conference room.
Vance followed him to the Charger. "And he is locking himself in the lab because?"
"He may have tipped them off when he hacked into-" Vance's hand went up again. "Well ya asked Leon. Either way I don't want them interrogating my agent without me there. Last time McGee was interrogated he admitted to murder."
"Guess I am riding back with you Abby," Ziva said when she saw the two men get in the Charger and leave. "I will start boxing up the evidence." Not that there is much, Ziva added in her mind. She looked up strangely at Abby when she heard the scientist start to giggle. "What is so funny Abby?"
"I was just thinking of the ride home the night we took Molly out for a Girl's Night." Ziva smiled as well as she began closing up the kit and they loaded up Abby's car.
"Thanks for coming to come get us Timmy." Abby planted a kiss on the agent's cheek. She had convinced Ziva that they needed to take Molly out for a Girl's Night. Gibbs had been seeing Molly for nearly 3 months. They had spent time with her as part of the group and she seemed cool. However, Abby was very protective of Gibbs and she needed to know Molly was being real. The best way to see someone's true self was to get them hammered. Or at least that was Abby's way of thinking.
Molly had said yes instantly to the invitation much to Gibbs dismay. He knew how the girls of his team could be. Crazy. Yet Molly insisted that she wanted to fit in with the group of people who not only got to share most of Gibbs' time but were also the closest to him. They were the closest thing to family he had and she wanted to get to know them all.
Of course all the women had had too much to drink to drive home. McGee had volunteered earlier in the day to come get them if they needed a ride. Molly had never been much of a drinker. She was more of a wine kind of gal. So when Ziva and Abby started her with drinks like "Irish Car Bombs" she knew she was in trouble. But she insisted on holding her own. She was now stumbling drunk being supported by Tim as he helped her into the front seat. "You know Gibbs is going to kill you two," he added looking at Ziva and Abby as he shut the car door.
Abby had gotten most of what she hoped to achieve out of the night. She really liked Molly. She was legit nice and got this look in her eye whenever she mentioned Gibbs. She clearly was head over heels for the silver haired Marine. That made Abby happy. Molly had even somehow survived the anniversary of Shannon and Kelly's death. The team was lucky if they made it through that day alive. None of Gibbs' relationships ever had.
Abby thought this was the perfect opportunity to get some answers to some questions she had always had about Gibbs but never had the relationship with any of Gibbs' women to ask. "So Molly one time Gibbs was interrogating the DC Madam Holly Snow. You would not believe what she asked him. She was like 'You like it rough don't you Agent Gibbs?" and I thought for sure Gibbs wouldn't answer the question. He looks her dead in the eye and says 'there's a time and a place for everything.' So can I ask you? Does he like it rough? I've always wondered."
"Abby!" Tim's face turned red. "Gibbs is going to kill you!"
"First of all Tim Gibbs would never kill me. I'm his favorite. Second of all, if she doesn't want to answer that's fine. If she does, I'm not going to tell him I asked. Are you?"
Molly's was just plain drunk and she knew it. She knew she was going to say something she shouldn't but couldn't stop herself. "Have you ever watched him work on his projects in the basement?"
"Of course." Abby answered a bit disappointed. She did not think Molly was going to answer her question and thought this was Molly's way of changing the subject.
"That's what he's like in bed. He can be forceful and strong or smooth and gentle. Each touch is deliberate and moves towards the end result which is always a beautifully crafted experience."
"Wow." Abby was in a bit of awe. Even drunk the chick had a way with words. "I think that's a tie Ziva. No one wins."
"I agree Abby." Ziva nodded.
"Are you two seriously betting on what kind of lover Gibbs is? Really?" Tim's face was now scarlet with embarrassment.
"Does he talk a lot in bed?" Ziva asked. She had imagined him being just as silent in bed as he was throughout the day. Abby on the other hand imagined him being a dirty talker.
"Trust me Ziva, words are not needed." Molly slurred.
"Dammit." Abby dug her wallet out and fished out a twenty for Ziva.
"And neither are accessories." Molly threw out just in case they were wondering. She then closed her eyes and put her head back.
"Double Dammit." Abby pulled out another twenty.
"Thank God. We're here Molly." Tim looked over at Molly. She was snoring a little bit. He got out of the car. He jogged up the steps to the house and knocked on the door before entering. "Uh Boss?"
"Living room McGee." Gibbs voice came from the couch where he was reading.
"Hey Boss. The girls called for a ride home. I got Molly in the car and well… she needs a little help. She's passed out in the front seat of my car Boss."
Gibbs got up from the couch and followed McGee out to the car. Ziva and Abby were in the backseat with guilty looks on their faces. He was sure that it was not simply because they had managed to get Molly wasted. He was also sure he really did not want to ask what they had to feel guilty about. He picked Molly up out of the seat. When he straightened she put her arm around his neck and curled her head up to his chest and sighed. She was going to be so hung-over in the morning. McGee opened the front door of the house once again to let Gibbs in. "Thanks Tim."
"No problem boss." Tim returned to his car and sternly lectured Abby all the way to her apartment. Not that it did any good except make him feel better.