Chapter 4

It was a quiet trip back to the NCIS building, exiting the lift they went straight on the case. With McGee going to take the samples to Abby's lab.

As soon as she saw McGee entering her lab she went over to him and bear hugged him."I heard, this takes priory."

"Thanks Abbs."

"How's Jimmy?"

"He took it badly, Ducky sent him home but don't worry he will be fine."

"How are you? All of you?"

"I'm fine, but Abby?"

"Yes McGee?"

"You're crushing me!" Abby let go and apologised. "So what have we got?"

"Some blood samples, from the walls, clothes this..." Holding what was left of Simon Karnes jogging attire. "...The victim... This..." Holding the unidentified man clothing. "The unidentified man clothing. We also collected the rope that was used to tie the victim's arms..."

"Okay as soon as know anything I let you know."

"Thanks."

Gibbs was with Ducky hovering impatiently he wanted answers no matter how small, he needed something to start solving the case and bring someone to justice, the unidentified man was not good enough. He wanted to bring everyone that was involved down. "Any luck duck?"

"Jethro, I just barely arrived and I know how much you want this, but if you want precise details you have to be that little bit more patient. Besides I have sent Mr Palmer home so I got double the work."

"How is Jimmy?"

"The poor boy could barely talk, traumatised, I set an appointment for him to see the counsellor. When he returns."

"That's a good idea, I might have to do the same for Ziva, Tony and McGee."

"How have they been since they came back?"

"Pretty shaken up, I seen things like you said you don't expect to see that sort of thing here. Ziva has been the quietest one."

"What are you thinking?"

"I don't know, she must have seen some things in her life time whilst serving in Mossad. I see if Tony knows anything. He's been more protective over her since we brought her back."

Tony was upstairs with Ziva looking at the plasma, on show was the crime scene photos Tony watches Ziva, she starting to twiddle with her fingers. Over the years working with her he notices her little habits like the twiddling when she's uncomfortable, agitated or hiding something.

"You okay?" He asked. "Yeah, why?"

"You're twiddling with your fingers, you do that when something's on your mind. "

"I did not notice that I did that." She gave a little smile back at him, as she tried to stop her little habit. "Is there something on your mind?" He asked

"No why do you say that?"

"What did you mean when you said you can 'feel' a ghost's presence? You thinking someone is watching us?"

"That is not what I meant."

"Then what did you mean?" Both Ziva and Tony turned and saw Gibbs with McGee. McGee looked at Ziva then back at Gibbs. "I hear a vending machine calling me." Gibbs stared at Tony. "I got... I got nothing, but like Rhett Butler I'm Gone with the Wind."

Watching both men go and out of ear shot he stared down at Ziva. "Is there something you want to tell me?"

"No, nothing... Why would you think that?"

"You been distracted since we left the crime scene and what's this about feeling like we are being watched?"

"What do you want me to say Gibbs?"

"The truth..."

"The truth..." Gibbs stares at Ziva. "You know that stare of yours is a kind of creepy..." she threw a smile at him. "Ziva." Gibbs warned. "Gibbs, I swear I'm not hiding anything...Why won't you believe me...?" Gibbs takes a sip from his coffee whilst still staring at Ziva, he knows what he will say next is a low blow, he knew how guilty she still feels about it all but he didn't like secrets. "Rivkin, Africa...Salaam..."

He knew once those words were said there was no taking them back, he could see how pissed Ziva is, he saw her hands ball into fists at the mention of Salaam's name. "You know I expect this from Tony, but not from you Gibbs, not from you." She turned her back on him and began to walk off, Gibbs gently grabs her wrist to stop her, and Ziva places her free hand on top of Gibbs'. She looks hard at Gibbs, for that spilt second he saw in her eyes the Mossad agent returning, the cold hearted, soul less killing machine who would kill without a moment hesitation. But only for a spilt second. Ziva closed her eyes to calm herself down, she worked so hard to lose that image she couldn't afford to lose it now. "Gibbs please..." Gibbs can see her tearing up, he knows that he had pushed his luck. "Okay, okay...I'm sorry, remember I'm always here for you. If you're in trouble, you know where I am. " Ziva managed a smile and reassured him. "I'm not in any trouble, but thank you."

Gibbs releases his grip and she goes.

TBC