Ducky rolled his eyes as Gibbs strode into autopsy followed eagerly by Tony, Ziva and McGee.

"What have you got for me Duck?"

"Gibbs really, I have only had the poor unfortunate for a short time. I haven't even started the autopsy yet. I have been documenting some rather strange marks on our murder victim's body"

"Marks?" Gibbs questioned

"Yes. Obviously there is the bruising around the neck and the rope burn marks around the wrists but there are also these strange marks around the man's nipples. Look"

Ducky pointed out the slightly swollen tiny puncture marks as Gibbs frowned.

"Do you think he was tortured Ducky?"

"Possibly"

"There also seems to some sort of clear substance smeared over his chest. I have sent that up to Abby's lab for identification"

Tim leaned forward and studied the body lying naked on the steel table. Something didn't seem right. Ok a body found dumped with no wallet, watch, phone or keys. The only thing he had been wearing when the body was found were his military dog tags and combat boots.

Tim sniffed. And then sniffed again. Now that he thought about it the smell was extremely strong to him. Strawberries. Why would a dead body smell of Strawberries?

"Does anyone smell that?"

Ducky looked curiously at him and then leaned over and sniffed deeply.

"Why yes. Its rather faint but it does remind me off something familiar"

"Strawberries?"

Ducky smiled at Tim "Why well done Timothy. I wonder how I missed that?"

Tim grinned happy to pick up something new while Tony poked his tongue out at him behind his back. Tim began to consider the marks on the dead lieutenant's chest. They reminded him of when Dante got a bit carried away licking and tasting him when he was hungry and bit his nipples a bit too hard. It had healed quickly as it always seemed to do with Dante and sometimes gave him a bit of a thrill but…

A light bulb went off in Tim's head and he stepped back for a second and considered the body again.

"Gibbs? What if this wasn't a murder?"

The entire team suddenly turned to look at him. Palmer pushed his glasses up his nose curiously while Gibbs gave him his Well? Look.

"Well McGee?"

"I mean what if it was an accidental death made to look like a murder?"

Tony snorted "McGee he has choke marks around his neck and rope burn marks on his wrists. I would hardly say an accidental death"

Ziva agreed "Besides who would want to make an accidental death look like a murder? If it was accidental they would simply report it, not dump the body in a used car yard."

"Ah ha that's just it Ziva. Someone who would be more shamed by the accidental death than if they HAD intentionally killed someone."

"Mind letting us in on what you're thinking Sherlock?" Gibbs was trying not to smile at his bright eyed young team mate.

"Nipple clamps" Tim stated factually

Tony raised an eyebrow "I'm sorry? Did you just say nipple clamps?"

Tim stepped back up beside the body and pointed at the small puncture marks.

"Nipple clamps used on the body. I suspect that the substance you found smeared on his chest Ducky will prove to be Strawberry flavored lubricant. That's what made me suspect that this was actually a sex act rather than torture. His wrists were bound but I believe it could be voluntary."

Tim frowned and studied the body carefully snapping on some latex gloves

"Look here"

"Ewwww McGee I'm sorry but I'm not checking out the dead guy's dick"

Tim frowned at him and Gibbs gave Tony a head slap

"Sorry Boss" Tony continued to pull faces as Tim poked at the body's sexual organ and then picked it up between his latexed fingers.

Tony made a gagging sound 'McGee seriously that is so gross" and even Gibbs gave a warning "McGee…"

"Look! The ultimate in Body Mod. I knew the Lieutenant wasn't the choir boy his record was saying he was."

Everyone leaned over the table to see what McGee was so excited about.

"What am I looking at McGee?" Gibbs asked

"Except a dead mans dick?" whispered Tony with a snicker and Ziva elbowed him in the stomach.

Tim sighed and moved the skin slightly and there was a responding "ewww what's that?"

"That is small beads placed under the skin of the penis, a small stitch applied, and once it's healed up then the beads move up and down stimulating the muscle during intercourse. It's what's called Body Modification. Some people put silicone under the skin to create shapes or even horns. Now the Lieutenant here may not have obvious tattoos or piercings but I would consider beading pretty hard core so perhaps he is into this sort of scene a lot more than everyone else around him thought? He just didn't have anything obvious that would raise any questions? I suspect that the poor Lieutenant wasn't murdered but it was a case of auto erotic asphyxiation gone wrong"

Gibbs stared at Tim "I'm sorry auto what?"

Tim was nodding to himself now as he worked it through in his head examining the science for flaws.

"Auto erotic asphyxiation? You know where you limit your intake of oxygen during orgasm to heighten your sexual experience?"

Tony's mouth was hanging open while Gibbs blinked. Tim paused and then flushed but decided to continue on.

"It's a kink. Generally people stuff their face into a pillow during sex to make breathing more difficult but sometimes S & M practitioners take it to extremes. The bruising around the neck could be due to a choke strap tied around his neck. He could control just how much airflow he received by pulling on the strap. That's why he was naked when we found him. He was playing out a sexual scene with someone and it went too far and he suffocated himself. The other person panicked, did not want to be identified as being involved so they dumped the body and made it seem like murder."

"And what on earth are nipple clamps used for?" Gibbs asked an eyebrow up near his hairline and Tim found himself blushing a deep red as he tried to explain.

"Well uh Gibbs…I believe as the nipples are extremely sensitive on both sexes they are used as a pleasure/pain toy to overly stimulate certain areas or used as punishment in a sadomasochism scene."

Tim stopped and looked at his team as they stared at him with various forms of curiosity or interest. Tim found himself faltering.

"It's just a theory. I might be wrong and it could be murder. But I thought it might be worth considering. As rather than a murderer we might be looking for the Lieutenants possibly distressed partner"

Gibbs studied Tim deeply for a moment before he nodded "Alright then. We should consider all angles."

Tony meanwhile was studying the body, his face twisted into a grimace.

"He cut open his…..and put little beads inside?? Ok NOW I have seen everything"

Tim laughed quietly "Oh trust me Tony you haven't seen anything yet"

*****************************************************************

"You are most welcome to stay and listen to our marvelous choir. The rehearsal will be finishing soon and you will be able to speak to Lieutenant Jackson's friends. He was a wondrous Tenor. Unfortunately his service in the Navy meant he wasn't always able to attend but we tried to include him where we could. It was such a terrible thing when we heard about his death. The choir of course will be singing at his service. They are rehearsing a piece for that purpose at the moment. Now please excuse me."

The Cathedral Administrator gave them a pleasant smile and left them to return to her tiny office

Tim sat in the large timber cathedral pews with Ziva and waited.

Ziva leaned over and whispered "So I will take the Sopranos and the tenors and you should speak to the altos and the bass's"

Tim frowned "Why can't I speak to the tenors? They are more likely to know the lieutenant well."

"I called them first McGee. Besides I think one of the altos is checking you out"

Tim peeked up to find half the choir checking him out and the other half eyeing Ziva off.

"Well it's not surprising they are looking at us as we are the only people in the entire church Ziva." Tim whispered

"So…do we just ask if they had heard anything about Jackson's sexual preferences? If he kept it so quiet I do not think anyone here will know"

"Don't judge a book by its cover Ziva. One of these people might know exactly what went on behind closed doors. Now shush."

Ziva sat back slightly affronted that she had been shushed.

Tim listened in rapture as the choir started to sing. It was a familiar song somehow and yet he didn't know how he knew it. It was an ancient Latin chorus to summon an angel down from heaven to save a woman from her mortal plight and terrible pain. To ease her grief in her time of need with the angels power of light and goodness.

He could feel the growing swell of music as the different parts complimented each other and built to a growing crescendo. The strength and the power made Tim think of Dante, in all his magnificence and beauty. Tim remembered the story Dante had told him all those months ago of the man who begged him to kill him and ease his pain. He had christened Dante his own Dark Angel even as he died with a smile on his face.

Suddenly the music stopped, the last notes floating through the air and the soloist stepped out from the front row and began to sing.

The soprano's voice soared with need, pleading with the gods to do her justice and Tim found himself being almost pulled towards her. He blinked back the tears that suddenly filled his eyes at her immense sorrow. His heart rushed and fluttered to take up arms to defend her even as he shook his head at his own response. What was he thinking? It was a choir rehearsal not a battle cry. Ziva leaned forward and gave him an odd look as he tried to settle his breathing down.

The soloist threw one last mighty cry out into the cavernous cathedral and it rang clear and true, bouncing off the stone walls and marble floors and filling the space with sound. Then she stepped back and the entire choir joined in softly at first and then built into a swelling joyous rapture that announced the glorious angels approach.

Tim swallowed hard and tried not to let tears spill down his cheeks as the music tugged at his soul. There was such longing, sadness and grief that seemed to be calling to him somehow. A mortal's wail of ultimate sorrow pleading with an all powerful being for endless bitter revenge.

The final note rolled out consuming the cathedral and left ringing silence in its wake.

Tim took a deep breath and clapped loudly, followed by Ziva. The choir Mistress turned around with a pleased smile and acknowledged them with a nod before dismissing the choir to their break.

"Come on McGee we need to start speaking to….are you alright?" Ziva asked with concern.

Tim smiled. Now that the choir had finished everything seemed fine again. He shook his head wondering why he had felt so affected by it. He missed Dante so much it felt like an actual ache in his chest even though part of him could sense him safe asleep in his coffin far below his house.

"I'm fine. Really. Let's go before they start wandering off" Tim gave her a reassuring smile and stood to follow her.

***************************************************************

"I was not crying Ziva"

"Yes you were! The soloist started singing and it was like she was calling out to you. You got this strange look on your face and you were leaning forward. I thought you might be feeling sick, even your breathing changed."

"Ziva, please stop you are making a big deal out of nothing."

"What's up Probie?"

"Nothing Tony"

"The choir was so beautiful it made McGee cry!"

"Ziva. I did not cry. The music was very beautiful I admit. Can we get back to work please? The choir Mistress I suspect takes her title rather seriously. When I asked her how well she knew the lieutenant she said not well but she was definitely lying. I think we should bring her in for questioning."

"Ohhhhh so you think she's into a little after rehearsal slap and tickle then?" Tony wiggled his eyebrows eagerly.

"More like tie me up and spank me" Tim responded confidently

"McGee! And you used to be such a nice boy. What happened to you?" Ziva admonished pretending to be scandalized.

"Tony. He corrupted me. I could only stand so many years of dirty jokes and sex talk before I succumbed" Tim hung his head sadly and peeked out sideways at Ziva with a cheeky smile continuing the game.

"Hey don't you go blaming your kinkiness on me" Tony threw his hands up in the air and objected.

Gibbs looked around his team fondly shaking his head at their antics and teasing as they heckled their way through the bullpen throwing wads of paper and paper clips at each other.

Tony and Ziva seemed to be managing their relationship well and keeping it out of work. He figured they would come and tell him soon enough but for now he liked to keep them on their toes by pretending he didn't know. Although how DiNozzo thought he hadn't figured it out yet when he kept catching Tony patting Ziva's bottom at the photocopier he would never know.

McGee seemed happy and seemed to be more confident and self assured than he had been which was in fact making him a better agent. Gibbs figured it was due to his increasingly settled relationship with Dante. It seemed a little strange to him still but it seemed healthy enough and if it made Tim happy then who was he to argue with it?

Most evenings when he was free McGee seemed to be heading off with Dante to a museum or a lecture or an astrological event or some such thing so they seemed to suit each other intellectually. Sometimes he would join the team for drinks after work and Gibbs would catch him laughing his sweet boyish laugh, his eyes twinkling as he relaxed with his friends

Even Abby seemed happy. She was playing her music and practically skipping around her lab with a little smile permanently on her face. She was being particularly secretive for the last few weeks which probably meant she was seeing someone again. She had become a bit hesitant about introducing her boyfriends to Gibbs after the last few bad examples so Gibbs wasn't too worried yet.

It was rare to have every member of his team happy and content all at the same time without some drama complicating their lives.

Gibbs found he would look back on this happy moment and remember it as something bitter sweet. It would be the last time his team, who had become like a family to him would be that relaxed and happy.

It was the last time that he had every member of his team alive.