I'm getting good at these long chapter, though seriously they are a pain to edit… :(
Enjoy, it's my bed time now.
Gibbs arrived at the same time the troopers did for the transfer. He shook his head to see the stooped little old woman with a cane hobble out of the backseat of the vehicle. Her face was expressionless. Kyle on the other hand looked terrified.
"Oh, this won't take long." He muttered to himself.
"There all yours, Agent Gibbs." the trooper said handing over the paper work.
Kyle Baird nearly jumped out of his chair when Gibbs opened the door. He watched Gibbs uneasily as he pulled out the chair across from him. Gibbs opened his folder and started shuffling through papers before speaking.
"Who killed Victoria Reed? You or grandma?" He asked still looking down.
"I-I don't…I don't know what you're talking about." Kyle sputtered. Gibbs stared at him.
"You expect me to believe your girlfriend just happened to appear down a mine shaft two miles away from your childhood home and you don't know anything about it? Try again."
Kyle's eyes darted around but he didn't say anything. They became even more frantic when Gibbs stood up and walked behind him. Kyle was visibly trembling now. Gibb just stood for a moment letting the tension build before he leaned in to whisper. "Why don't you make this easy on the cleaning crew?"
"Cleaning crew?" He repeated shakily.
"They hate it when I make someone pee in their pants, all over the floor." Suddenly Gibbs slammed the table right next to Kyle causing him to jump again, this time a whimper escaped.
"It-it was an accident you have to believe me!" Kyle protested weakly.
"What was an accident?" Gibbs sat back down.
"Vicki, we-we were fighting. I pushed her, she hit her head. I didn't mean to kill her, you have to believe me!"
"Actually I don't have to believe you, no. Tell me Kyle how do you dump someone down a hole accidently?"
"She was dead when I-I…"
"Dumped her?"
He hung his head. "She was dead, I swear." He whispered.
Gibbs stared at him hard.
"The two agents you dumped down the hole weren't dead." He growled.
Kyle didn't' look up. "I-I di-didn't dump them." He stammered.
"Oh," Gibbs said once again standing and walking to the door. "So grandma did. Ok I'll book her for that."
"No wait." Kyle protested. "Please leave her out of this she didn't do anything."
"Mmmm, that's not what my agents said." His hand was on the door knob.
"Then they're lying." He yelled.
Gibbs turned and glared at him till he looked down again. "You want to try that again."
"She was just trying to protect me." He said desperately. "Please, she's too old to go to jail."
"I'm sure the courts will keep that in mind. So she drugged them and you dumped them." Just saying it he felt anger flair up again at the thought of two of his men being thrown down a hole like garbage.
Kyle nodded; such an imperceptible movement Gibbs hardly saw it.
Gibbs opened the door. "The DA will charge you tomorrow Mr. Baird."
"Please." Kyle pleaded. "Granny didn't mean it." Gibbs shut the door without looking back.
Tony's phone woke him up. He looked around sleepily, yawning as he opened the phone.
"Yeah, To-."
"Tony! How are you feeling? We need you to settle an argument between me and McGee. What movie was Humphrey Bogart's best performance? "Casablanca" or "The Maltese Falcon"?"
"Umm…" He started thinking blinking awake, trying to process the rapid pace of the conversation. "Well, most people would say "Casablanca", I mean I love it, don't get me wrong. But Sam Spade? Can't go wrong with Sam Spade."
"I win, I win, he said Falcon." Tony could hear her talking to someone off the phone and then the obviously disgruntled reply. "Thanks Tony!" She said back into the phone to him. "You won the bet for me."
"I'm actually really surprised that Tim had even seen any of those movies at all." Tony said smiling.
"He watched them with you." Abby said laughing.
"Oh yeah." Tony said recalling the weekend he had practically forced McGee to spend the day with him watching the classic films.
"How do you feel, Tony? Do I need to come over?" Abby asked.
"I'm good, Abby. Gibbs shouldn't be gone too long. Has he already left?" Tony asked.
"Gibbs?" Abby sounded confused. "Gibbs isn't here."
"What? Maybe he was there before you came. How long have you been there?"
"Like five hours."
Tony didn't say anything.
"Gibbs isn't there?" Abby asked. "Where is he?"
"I don't know." Tony said quietly.
"Are you ok?" Abby asked worriedly. "I can come over."
"No, no Abby, its fine." Tony said trying to sound reassuring. He quickly tried to change the subject. "Are you and McMovie still watching films?"
"Yes! Guess what we're watching next?" Abby asked excitedly. "You're going to be so jealous you aren't here. "Kelley's Heroes"."
"Sounds fun." Tony said picking at some lint absently on his pants. "Can't go wrong with Eastwood, Sutherland, Rickles, and Savalas, all in one pop. Have fun, tell McGee I said hi."
"I will, bye Tony!"
Gibbs was headed toward Interrogation room #2, when he heard his name being called down the hall.
"Jethro," Ducky called catching up to him, "I have some information you'll want to know."
He and Gibbs stood in the hallway while Ducky quietly explained his autopsy findings.
"Thanks Duck." Gibbs said putting his hand on the older man's shoulder. "Hey, would you do me a favor?"
"Of course."
"Would you call Tony for me? Let him know I'm here?"
"Where does he think you are?"
"I was heading toward McGee's place when I got the call."
"I'll let him know. I was actually going to stop by and see the boy on my way home."
Gibbs nodded and turned to leave. "Watch out, he's in a mood."
Ducky frowned. "A mood?"
"Before I left he was moping around the house." Gibbs said over his shoulder.
Ducky chuckled and also headed to leave. "I'll watch out for that."
"I want my phone call." Mrs. Baird said as soon as Gibbs entered the room.
"You'll get it." Gibbs said as she glared at him. He opened his folder for the second time that night. There was nothing of consequence in it but it usually served to unnerve people. Josie Baird seemed to be the polar opposite of her grandson though. She sat across from him cool as a cucumber.
Everyone has a weakness.
"Just had a chat with your grandson." He said casually.
"Kyle is a nervous boy." She said smoothly. "Cal was the brave one. God rest his soul."
"When did you start raising them?"
"Right after their parents were killed. Cal was 9 and Kyle was 7. I told you earlier I hadn't seen Kyle since Cal died in that car accident, lets' see in '94 I guess it was."
"Clearly a lie." Gibbs said shuffling through his folder.
"Today was the first time I've seen him since that day." She insisted angrily.
Gibbs softened his look to sympathy before looking up at her.
"Raised your kids, then your grandkids. Broke the mold with your generation didn't they?" Gibbs said with a touch of admiration. It worked. Mrs. Baird's face also softened.
"We do what we have to do for our families Agent Gibbs." She said wearily.
"Oh yes ma'am I understand that." He conceded. "Sometimes our kids have to be protected from themselves, things they think they want."
She nodded. "Some do, yes."
"Take Victoria Reed for example." Gibbs said. At the mention of her name Mrs. Baird's face darkened. "Military woman, sure of herself, proud, strong personality. Why not? She was successful, pretty, smart, driven. She knew exactly what she wanted." He said studying the older woman. "She wanted a man. A man she could control, boss around, dominate."
Mrs. Baird pursed her lips. "Girls in my day didn't act like that. There was absolutely nothing lady-like about her. She didn't want a man, she wanted a boy."
"It's a shame she fixated on a nice guy like Kyle." Gibbs said off-handedly.
"It was! She didn't love him." Mrs. Baird said angrily. "She just wanted someone else in her life she could order around, like being in the military wasn't enough. She was a control freak!"
"Wouldn't Kyle have just broken if off if he didn't want to be with her?" Gibbs raised his eyebrow.
Baird snorted. "Kyle has no backbone. He didn't know how to stand up to her. I'm just glad I was around to fix it."
"How did you fix it?" Gibbs asked quietly.
Mrs. Baird glared at him but didn't speak.
"Let me guess. Reed wasn't dead when she fell was she?" Gibbs shook his head. "No, but Kyle panicked, naturally, panicking is what he does best. He thought he'd killed her. Luckily you were there to "fix" it for him. You probably sent him for something to wipe the blood up with while you made sure she would be out of his life forever."
Mrs. Baird refused to look at him while Gibbs continued.
"So then, while he was gone, you put a pillow over her mouth until you were sure she was dead. We didn't test before but I'm sure now if we go back with find some of Reed's salivia on one of your throw pillows. Our M.E. found fiber in her lungs and windpipe. We can match them as well. How am I doing so far?" He questioned. Mrs. Baird was shaking but unlike Kyle it was from anger not fear.
"I'm gonna get you for Reed's murder, make no mistake of that, but what really pisses me off is my agents. They weren't close, they weren't there long enough to have suspicions so why?"
She stared him in the eye.
"They knew."
Gibbs raised his eyebrow.
"They knew, my Kyle was there and I couldn't let him go to jail." She glared. Gibbs matched her and leaned forward speaking quietly.
"Mrs. Baird, I don't know how they'll end up charging you considering your age but rest assured I will do everything in my power to make sure you get the maximum sentence."
"I want my phone call." Mrs. Baird said never breaking eye contact. Gibbs stood up to exit.
"You'll get it when they take you to lock up tonight." He said opening the door.
"You will regret this, Agent Gibbs." She said menacingly from behind him. Gibbs turned and studied her.
"I doubt it, Mrs. Baird."
When Gibbs got back to the squad room Vance was waiting for him.
"Watched the interrogation of Kyle Baird. It was almost sad." He said shifting the toothpick from one side of his mouth to the other. "How'd it go with grandma?"
"She admitted to drugging them. Trying to protect her baby boy." Gibbs said sitting down.
"So that's the end of it."
"Yeah, I guess so." Gibbs grabbed his gun and locked the drawer. Both men started walking toward the elevator.
"DA will press charges, should be a slam dunk for them." Vance said.
Gibbs pushed the elevator button and they stood waiting in silence. "When are DiNozzo and McGee coming back?" Vance asked looking over at Gibbs.
"Ducky said McGee is going to come in tomorrow to get checked out and Tony will probably try to get clearance the next day." Gibbs stepped through the elevator doors as they opened and waited for Vance to step in.
Vance shook his head. "I have a little more work to do. Good night, Gibbs, and good work."
"Night, Leon." The elevator door slid shut.
Tony was once again roused from sleep, this time by the sound of knocking on the door. Ducky had called to say he was on his way and that Gibbs was at the office. That had eased some of his anger, knowing that Gibbs had gone to the office because of the case. Ducky had let himself him and walked in the living room.
"Ah hello Anthony." He said spotting Tony on the couch.
"Hey Ducky." Tony yawned.
"How are you tonight dear boy? I think they released you from the hospital a little early." He said as he sat his bag down on the couch and began to unpack a few items.
"It was only this morning, Ducky." Tony protested.
Hmm was all Ducky said as he listened to Tony's lungs for a few minutes. He hummed again taking the stethoscope off.
Both men were silent as Ducky checked his blood pressure. He nodded satisfactorily as he deflated the cuff and dropped it back in his bag. Turning back to Tony he smiled.
"Now, I wanted to get the blood pressure out of the way before I ask my next question."
Tony raised his eyebrow. "Shoot."
"Jethro said you were, as he put it, moping."
Tony snorted. "Earlier it was sulking."
Ducky smiled and began putting away the last of his instruments. "I have some time Anthony, why don't you tell me what's bothering you."
Tony didn't say anything.
"It has something to do with Timothy?" Ducky guessed. Tony looked at him but still didn't speak.
"The two of you acted...strange...in the hospital. You can trust me, Anthony." He assured.
"I know I can trust you Ducky, I just don't know if you can help." Tony said quietly.
"You don't know till you ask. What's this about?"
"Tim…sees things differently than I do."
Ducky chuckled. "Well, that's not surprise, how is this different from usual?" Tony didn't laugh though and the serious expression on his face sobered the older doctor. Tony answered slowly.
"It's different because now I'm starting to question what I'd always taken for granted."
"What do you mean?" Ducky asked curiously.
"Ducky you know Gibbs better than anybody. He-he probably shows weaknesses to you, or you spot them, that no one else sees. I know he loves Abby and he and I are really close. He would do anything for Ziva, but I don't know how to describe his relationship with McGee other than boss and subordinate."
"Is this a concern of yours or Timothy's." Ducky asked gently.
"He was supposed to go to McGee's tonight." Tony said still not answering. "He just doesn't seem to… I mean he just assumed I'd come here and stay, but he let McGee go home."
Tim had his sister to go home with. Ducky reminded
"Yeah but-." Tony sighed. "Do you think Gibbs act differently with Tim than he does with me or Abby or Ziva?" He asked bluntly. Ducky raised his eyebrows.
"I think we all look at everyone differently." He said carefully.
"That's not…that's not what I mean. Damn it Ducky you know what I mean!"
"If you insist on being frank," Ducky said a little sternly, "then I suggest you say what is bothering you so we can solve the matter. Stop this beating about the bush."
Tony sighed and stared ahead.
"In a nutshell it comes down to this. Tim doesn't feel like he belongs in our little family." Tony looked over at Ducky. "I mean that's what we are right. We spend an obscene amount of time together to just be coworkers. We know how Gibbs feels about Abby and Ziva and me, but Tim…" Tony shook his head. "The thing is he wants it, he want to belong, but he won't admit it, even to himself. I think I know Gibbs pretty well too, but I just can't read him when it comes to Tim. And to be honest I never really tried before."
Ducky had been nodding to himself and waited for Tony to finish speaking before he spoke.
"Tony you are correct that I know Jethro very very well. Jethro is a man who will rarely take the first step. He doesn't like to crowd people, especially when he thinks they don't need him. People need to be needed, no matter who they are and Jethro is prey to that more than most people."
"Tim does need him Ducky." Tony said softly. "I don't know why Gibbs can't or won't see that."
"Jethro doesn't push himself on people, Tony. You know that as well as anyone." Ducky said gently.
"It's just going to be a cycle then, Ducky." Tony was so frustrated. "Tim's not going to reach out to Gibbs because he reminds him of his dad and Gibbs isn't going to reach out to Tim because he's…he's just Gibbs."
Ducky was thoughtful. "That must be very isolating for Timothy, to feel as though he is excluded."
Tony nodded. "I promised Tim I wouldn't tell. I'd like for him to tell Gibbs himself, but I'm not holding my breath waiting for that to happen. I guess my plan for now is to look for some kind of opening to nudge those two closer." He shrugged. "We'll see." Suddenly he looked worried. "You can't say anything to him, either of them." He said earnestly. "I actually talked to Ziva about it and now you and I'm not sure McGee would be thrilled about that."
Ducky smiled. "I assumed as much. The secret is safe with me." He tapped his chin. "I do agree it would be best if Timothy spoke his peace with Jethro. He would want to know."
"Tim won't." Tony said dejectedly.
"So what have you been attempting?" Ducky asked suddenly.
Tony frowned. "What do you mean?"
"The moping."
Tony smirked. "I honestly don't know what I hoped to accomplish. I think I want him to get so pissed at me he would make me tell him what I was mad about."
Ducky laughed. "It probably wouldn't take long for that plan to work. I have an alternate suggestion, however, if you wish for some advice."
Thank you everyone for the reviews and alerts. They are wonderful and lift my spirit. :) Once again I am posting when I am really too tired to write anything so have a wonderful night/day wherever you are! :)