A/N: I appreciate the traffic this story is getting as well as the alerts, favorite story status and the reviews. I will try to respond to each of your reviews as soon as possible. I had hoped the real action would start in this chapter, but I needed just a little more set up. Not to worry though, it is coming for sure in Chapter 4.

Disclaimer: I own nothing of NCIS.

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Twisted Brother

Chapter Three

"Someone GOTS To Pay!"

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Tony DiNozzo turned toward Ziva as Gibbs left the room. They both knew he was going after Tim. Taking the clicker, Ziva moved the screens backward until the face of young Rebecca O'Bryant was showing. "Think Tony. She remembers me of someone. Who is it? I just cannot quite….."

Tony corrected her English without giving it a second thought. "Reminds you of someone, Ziva; reminds you."

"That is what I said, DiNozzo. But who?" Tony peered at her thoughtfully for a moment, and then almost jumped out of his skin when Bryce suddenly appeared at his shoulder.

"Whoever it is, she's pretty," Bryce commented. "Don't do that Mallory!" Tony demanded. "Gives me the creeps. You're always sneaking up on me. Yeecchhh." And Tony shook himself all over.

"Makes me a good agent, DiNozzo. Keeps everyone else on their toes. You never know where I might be; where I might sneak in from." Ziva turned toward him with a slight frown, as his words seemed to take on a faintly menacing meaning. However, Bryce then grinned, a remarkably charming and boyish grin. "See? Works every time." He sauntered a short distance away.

Tony continued to shudder slightly, but ignored the man, squinting at the picture of the Lieutenant from several different angles. Suddenly, he straightened up. "Sarah," he whispered. "She looks like Sarah McGee."

The elevator doors opened and McGee exited, followed by Ducky and Gibbs. "You just now figured that out, DiNozzo?"

Ducky looked at the picture on the plasma and nodded, thoughtfully stroking his chin. "Hmm, yes, I see it more now. It was harder for me to pick up when I was working on the unfortunate young lady's face. Rather remarkable really. Reminds me of a case in Edinburgh, oh, many years back. At least three of our victims had doppelgangers. That case was extraordinary, let me tell you…" however, Ducky's voice trailed off as he noted that all the agents, including Bryce Mallory were now fixated on the plasma.

"Yes, well, Jethro, you will be wanting to hear what I and young Abigail have determined from our rather disturbing study of the Patters' file, don't you? He IS very disturbed, Jethro, although I'm sure you already knew that."

"Yeah, Duck, when he started slicing and dicing people we kind of had that part figured out." Gibbs' voice could be exceedingly dry when he wanted it to.

"The profile does show he is quite capable of desiring revenge, and holding onto that revenge for a very long time. It shows a man possessed of the ability to remain patient and wait for circumstances to play out in his favor. Circumstances that I believe may have finally changed for him when his brother, Ian Patters, returned from overseas. Ian Patters used to be much more controlled; he took the rage both the brothers likely had built up from their childhood abuses and neglect and channeled it. It is what made him a very good Navy Seal. But the same rage had nowhere to go when that channel went dry. Though I don't have proof, I suspect he turned it inward, thus his likely descent into drug use. And if his brother told him he had to murder in order to continue with his drug use, Ian would not hesitate."

Agent McGee cleared his throat. "Ducky? There's just one problem with that theory. He didn't do it."

"Didn't do what, Timothy?" Ducky inquired.

"Didn't kill these two." Gibbs responded. "He didn't kill them, because 'Timothy' and I had eyes on Ian Patters last night between at 0200 and 0400 when you say the deaths occurred. He was passed out on his couch, in full view. Went down about 1100 and never moved until 0600 this morning. Wasn't him."

McGee moved over to his desk and grabbed a report. "In fact, we've been tailing him for almost two weeks now, and other than being a disgusting sort of pervert, he hasn't really done anything overtly horrible. A drug deal or two, but nothing like what we're looking for."

Gibbs sighed in frustration and then began to regroup. He quickly made assignments, instructing DiNozzo to keep digging through the personal lives of all their recent victims, looking for connections. McGee was tasked with doing a more thorough search of the financial records. As the two agents headed to their respective desks, Gibbs headed for the elevator. "David, with me. We're going to pay John Patters another visit. Ian may not have killed those two last night, but my gut tells me they're still involved."

The day passed quickly as everyone went about their respective tasks. Abby continued to run tests on the evidence, but as in the cases before nothing conclusive showed up. Tony ran down every possible lead that might show a connection between any of the victims, but aside from the obvious naval connection and the warning notes, there was nothing. Tim had similar experiences as he worked with the banks and financial institutions.

Finally, at 1800, the sound of the elevator ding broke the silence that had reigned most of the afternoon and into the early evening in the normally noisy bullpen area. Both Tony and Tim looked up and were glad to see Gibbs and Ziva exit. The only other person on and off the elevator all day had been Agent Mallory, as he took a few breaks from his protective detail assignment. DiNozzo had been glad to see him leave.

"Anything boss?" Tony asked, standing up and stretching, rolling his neck to try and get the kinks out. "Did Patters have much to say? I thought maybe he'd open up to Agent Ziiivvaaa Daaviidd," Tony drawled her name out in the manner he knew irritated her the most. "After all, he really likes the cute young things like our Ziva." His outburst earned him an elbow in the ribs as Ziva passed by him to put her pack on her desk. "Oof," was his inelegant response.

Gibbs sat down at his desk and leaned back. "He didn't admit to anything, not even that he's been in touch with Ian, though the records and surveillance tapes confirm that he has been. " Ziva also sat down and rested her arms on her desk, her chin in her hand. "He is a low life scum pail, and I know he knew something about the murders, but he said nothing, just laughed when Gibbs accused him."

"Scum pail?" McGee had stood up and was leaning on Ziva's desk. "I think she means scum bucket, McWordsmith," Tony grinned. "Ziva, are you ever going to figure out our idioms? No wait, don't even try, they're part of what makes it so much fun to tease you." Ziva just tiredly threw a pencil at him.

Gibbs face grew serious as he powered his computer down and stood. "He did have one more message though. When he was leaving, he said he'd just been kidding before, but now we should really beware. He's still involved, I just don't know how yet."

With that Gibbs headed toward the elevator; then turned toward his tired team. "Where's Mallory?"

"Here, boss," came the reply, as Agent Mallory moved from around the corner. "Just waiting where I'd be out of the way, until it was time to leave." DiNozzo wearily stood up, gathering his things. "I don't suppose, boss, you'd let me just go home tonight? I mean, come on, there's absolutely no evidence this thing is pointed at me anymore than anyone else. I don't need a babysitter."

Gibbs hit the button for the elevator, then held the doors as the rest of the team scrambled to get inside before they closed. "Sorry DiNozzo. Babysitting stays until further notice. David, Mallory, don't let him out of your sight. And everyone, take an extra hour in the morning. Get some rest. That's an order," he held his hand up to stop the protests.

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That evening, Timothy McGee picked up a chicken salad, then headed home. He couldn't get the image of the young woman, Rebecca O'Bryant, out of his head. Finally, knowing he wouldn't sleep until he talked to Sarah, he called her. His relief when she picked up on the second ring was inordinate. After talking for a few minutes, he asked her if anything unusual had been going on. Though she was reluctant to mention it, Tim pulled information from her until he finally got her to admit she had felt like someone was watching her.

"Sarah, I'm coming to get you," was his response as soon as she uttered the words. "Waverly isn't that far, I'll be there in a few hours." But Sarah could be as stubborn as her big brother, and refused, stating she felt perfectly safe. "I'm almost finished with this term, and I'm not leaving just before finals." Tim argued, but knew he had lost when she simply declared she wouldn't stay at her apartment, but would take herself somewhere Tim couldn't find her. He knew she would, and that she had time to do so before he could get her. After making her promise to be careful and to let him know of anything unusual that happened, he finally hung up, still not happy with the results.

A/N: I put Sarah McGee's home in Waverly, Maryland after doing some research trying to find out where she lives. One of the Wikipedia sites states Tim McGee's sister, Sarah, went to college at Waverly College, but I couldn't find it. I did find a Catholic Boy's school in Australia, called Waverly College, but didn't think that could be it. Therefore, I decided Sarah McGee lives in Waverly, which I understand is an area in or near Baltimore. Hope this is not too confusing. Since I don't live anywhere near the east coast/ Washington, D.C. area, I don't have a good idea of towns and locations. Tim McGee is supposed to live I Silver Springs, so it didn't seem too much of a stretch that he could reach her in a few hours.

McGee finished talking with his sister and finally headed for bed, planning to report the conversation to Gibbs in the morning. How was he to know that all hell would break loose before he would get the chance?

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NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs arrived at the office at 0700, and was surprised to see that for once his team had followed his instructions. None of them were in yet. He turned on his computer, pulling up the emails that he had finally started checking first thing each morning. Before he got through even a half dozen of them, his team began arriving. Ziva and Tony, with Agent Mallory in tow were first in. This time, Tony brought coffees for everyone. As they were getting settled, Gibb's phone rang. From the look on his face, Tony knew it was serious.

"Another body, boss? Male or female this time?" Gibbs looked mildly shell shocked as he hung up the phone, just as Tim McGee got off the elevator. "The call was for you McGee. Do you know a Connie Bailey?"

Tim stopped short, his face registering his surprise. "Connie?" he frowned. "She's one of my neighbors; why boss?" He slowly came the rest of the way into the bullpen; dropping is backpack beside his desk and easing down into his chair.

Gibbs sighed. "She just called here to report a murder. She found a body, in the laundry room of your apartment building. Since she knows you are a "Navy cop" as she put it, she called here to report it." Stunned silence greeted Gibbs' words. He stood, heading for the elevator. "What are you waiting for? Gear up; we're checking it out."

The team arrived at McGee's apartment complex and flashed their IDs at the local LEOs. Explaining briefly why they are there, Gibbs pushed his way past the crime tape. Tim slowly followed, reluctant to see who had been murdered. The city's medical examiner had already turned the body over and was checking her liver temperature. Looking down, Tim closed his eyes. "Boss, that's a woman who lives a floor above me. I don't remember her name, and I think she's a school teacher. She's not navy at all. Are you sure this is connected to our case?"

Tony stepped around both Gibbs and McGee, and started poking into corners, searching the area. It only took him a moment to discover what he was looking for. "It's related," he stated in a subdued voice. Pointing at the sign half hidden behind one of the washing machines, Tony waited while Ziva took pictures, and then pulled it out. "There's no doubt, it's related." He held the handmade sign up for everyone to see the stark word. In block letters, cut from magazines as before, the word almost leapt of the page at them.

"B-Ware!"

Gibbs had his phone out and was reporting to the Director before he finished reading the word. The snap of his phone shutting was the signal the rest of the team seemed to be waiting for.

Without being given assignments, they sprang into action; Tony and Ziva canvassing the scene, taking pictures and collecting evidence; McGee, talking to the neighbors, starting with the very distraught Connie Bailey, who had had to lie down in the lobby after discovering the horrendous scene. Gibbs instructed the medical examiner to stop and wait for Ducky to arrive and finish processing the body, and advised the police sergeant they were taking the case over.

Hours later, the team gathered in the bullpen to try and piece together what had happened. Tim had spent the day talking to neighbors and tracing the recent activities of the victim, one Ashley Comstock. As he had thought, she was an elementary school teacher, was in her mid-thirties and wasn't married. She had been quiet and Tim had only spoken to her in passing. But none of them could miss the resemblance she also had to Tim's sister, Sarah. Though not looking as much like her as the last victim, her coloring and appearance were close enough to not be considered a coincidence.

As the long day wore on, the team grew more and more frustrated. Try as they might, the just couldn't connect any of the dots that strung the cases together. The only things linking them were the nature of the killings and the warning notes.

Tiredly, Tim continued to comb through various financial documents. It took him a moment to register that a new email had popped up in his inbox. Unlike Gibbs, who routinely ignored his email except for his daily early morning check, Tim was meticulous about checking it and usually responded immediately every time he heard the small chirping sound his computer made when a new email arrived. But this day had been hard on all of them; he was still mildly in shock from the grisly discovery in his own apartment building. So it took him a minute to check his inbox. But when he did, the hairs on the back of his neck stood straight up.

"Boss, look at this," Tim's voice sounded strained. Gibbs, Tony and Ziva all quickly gathered around his computer, watching as the message appeared. If the others had felt menacing, this one was ominous.

"You were warned. You shouldn't have ignored it.

B-WARE. I'm not kidding this time.

Someone GOTS to pay."

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A/N: I know, I know. An evil place to stop. Not to worry, chapter 4 is all written and I am editing it now. I will post it very, very soon. Like before the night is over.

Comments, suggestions and reviews are very welcome. Thanks for reading.