Karl was lounging against the outside of the limo as Gibbs and DiNozzo approached, deep in conversation. Gibbs looked up as the older man spoke, "Well, whad'ya think?"

"Great choice," Tony answered.

"Know she made sure you had the chicken fried steak but next time try the chili cheese burger. Amy adds avocado slices and with a side of waffle fries, it'll make your momma cry." the older man answered.

"So, Karl," Gibbs began, "what happened to Callie the summer before her senior year?"

DiNozzo watched the driver's body language shift ever so slightly although his position against the vehicle did not. The black man answered, "Ask Callie."

"I'm asking you," was Gibbs' comeback.

Karl straightened up and leaned in towards Jethro, "Why do you care?"

"She works for me but more than that, she's my friend."

Karl nodded, "If she's as close a friend to you as I think, she'll tell you when she's ready. After that, I'll fill in any blanks you still might have."

Gibbs started to speak again but was interrupted as Tony called, "You coming, Harris?"

The other two men broke apart and turned back to the female agent. Callie sensed, immediately, a change in the atmosphere as she neared the car.

"Everything okay?" she asked tentatively.

Karl responded, "Couldn't be better. Any other haunts you want to show them tonight?"

Callie shook her head, "Don't want to pile too much on them at one time."

Karl nodded as she smiled and then climbed into the waiting vehicle with Tony right behind. Gibbs and Hunter shared another telling look before the senior agent followed into the vehicle. Karl closed the door and then went around getting in and driving them back to the apartment.

The ride was blissfully short and eerily quiet. As they pulled into the garage, Karl rolled down the dividing glass, "See you at 11:00, Cal, and thanks for the burger."

"Anytime, Karl," she responded.

The two men nodded their thanks and followed Callie to the elevator and then back into the apartment.

"I'm so full I can't breathe," Tony spoke, "I'm heading for a shower then the rack." He looked back at Callie, "You coming?"

"In just a minute. I need to check one thing."

Tony nodded and then glanced at Gibbs before retreating to the bedroom. Callie turned on the senior agent, "I am not a case you need to investigate."

"No, but you sure act like some criminals I've had to interrogate," he countered.

Callie stepped up as close to Gibbs as she could, "You need to leave it alone. You've already seen more and know more than I'm comfortable with."

"And that's only the tip of the iceberg, if I had a guess," Gibbs refused to back down.

"Please, Jethro," Callie's voice wavered, "just drop it."

Gibbs put his hands on either shoulder and lowered his forehead to hers. Whispering, he answered, "Can't do that, Cal. Care too much." And he squeezed her shoulders and left her standing, alone, outside the bedroom door.

Everyone was up, dressed and ready to go well before 10:00am. That meant another hour before Karl would arrive to take them to the church for the funeral. Gibbs nursed coffee and read the paper, glancing up ever so often at a pacing Callie. Tony was lounging in one of the overstuffed chairs in the living area, also watching Callie. Finally, he couldn't take it any longer. She never saw DiNozzo leave the chair and come over to her path. As she turned to make another pass, she was stopped in her tracks by the tall agent.

"Enough," he said quietly.

"I want this over with."

"Well, pacing like a caged cat won't accomplish that."

Callie mumbled, "But it makes me feel better."

"Really? Cause you look like it makes you feel better," was Tony's smart ass reply.

She slugged him in the gut. "I don't need this right now."

"No, you need a good…" Tony began.

Gibbs interrupted, "Don't even say it." Putting down the paper and pulling off his reading glasses, he replied, "Callie, take a shot of something. I don't care what. Anything that'll take the edge off."

She nodded and walked to the bar as Gibbs continued, "And DiNozzo, don't agitate. I know what you're doing and so does she but she's not in the right frame of mind to appreciate it. Cal's only going to beat the crap out of you if you keep on."

Tony nodded. He had hoped the juvenile humor and teasing banter that they normally shared would ease Callie's tension. As she threw back the shot of tequila, the intercom buzzed signaling Karl's arrival. A few more hours and there would be one more hurdle behind them.

The church was large and old. The parking lot was still empty, only the family vehicles which included three chauffer driven limousines were present. As Gibbs, DiNozzo and Harris entered the church, they were met by Kyle and Blevins.

"Nice to see you again, Gibbs. Tony." Kyle spoke, shaking hands with the two agents. "The family is through here." And Kyle took Callie's arm to lead the way.

As Tony and Jethro started to follow, Blevins stopped them. "I'm sorry. This will be family only. Unless you're married, you gentlemen will need to go on inside the church."

Callie threw on the brakes and turned on Blevins, "They go where I go."

Blevins turned back, the superior smile on his face, "Not this time, Callie. Only the family will be seated together."

Kyle tried to diffuse the situation, "Mitch and Nick aren't inside either. They're both already seated."

"I don't care," Callie was adamant, "I'm not going without them."

"Callie," Blevins began.

"Harris." Gibbs sharply spoken address pulled Callie up short. Looking at Blevins and Kyle, L.J. continued, "I'll handle this. You two go on."

Kyle gave an appreciative nod towards the older agent and then grabbed Blevins and led him away.

"I'm not…" Callie started only to be stopped by Gibbs' glare.

"Suck it up, Harris," Gibbs stated in that drill instructor tone he knew Callie despised. "You really want to give Blevins the satisfaction of knowing how much this bothers you?"

Callie thought for a few minutes and then shook her head.

"I didn't think so," Gibbs continued, "Now, get your butt in there and act like the agent I trained. Not some sniveling, weak-kneed female who can't handle a difficult situation."

Tony watched as the transformation was instantaneous. Callie straightened her back and shoulders and leveled her glance at the Senior Field Agent. Her voice was clear and precise as she replied, "Yes, sir."

Gibbs nodded as Callie turned away and then turned back to add, with a small smile, "Thank you, sir."

Gibbs returned the smile as they watched her head towards the room designated for the rest of the family.