Tony is humming as he crosses the squad room to his desk and sits down. "Good morning Ziva, probie." He greets them with a big grin.
"You are looking awfully pleased with yourself DiNozzo."
"I am?"
"Yes. Like the cat that got the mouse."
"The cream Ziva. The cream."
"But cats catch mice. That is an action a cat would be most satisfied with."
"Oh, never mind."
"So why are you looking so happy DiNozzo?"
"I had a drink last night with a friend from when I was in Baltimore PD."
"A female friend?"
"No. He's in town for a training and told me the best gossip about the devil's spawn at the FBI."
"The devil spawn?"
"Remember Ziva when Tony was accused of murder."
"How could I forget."
"Devil's spawn is his favorite name for Agent Slacks, ah I mean Sacks."
"Thanks for the background Mr McMemory. Anyway as I was saying apparently there was some serious mistakes made on a major case he was in charge of. Luckily it didn't stop them getting the bad guy."
"And why does this make you happy Tony?"
"Because my friend told me the word is that heads are going to roll and as the senior agent Sacks will have no choice but to fall on his sword."
"Is he part Japanese?"
"What? No."
"Oh. I thought falling on ones sword might be taken from the ritual Japanese hara-ki ri. You know suicide by disembowelment when in disgrace. Though in this case I assume it means taking responsibility and not literally falling on a sword , yes?"
"Correct. No matter how pleasant the thought of Sacks being disemboweled is this time he's only going to get in trouble..."
"As are you if you don't get back to work" barks a gruff voice from behind him.
"On it Boss."

NCIS Autopsy. Later In The Day.

"So your initial diagnosis was correct doctor."
"And that surprises you?"
"Ah, no. I was just stating a fact. I didn't mean to imply..."
"It's O.K. Mr Palmer. I know what you were trying to say. Let this be a lesson to you."
"Huh?"
"That the most common answer is usually but not always the right one. As the saying goes if you hear hooves..." He pauses as the doors swish open to admit Ziva and Tony.
"Good timing. I have confirmation on the cause of death. It was exactly as I predicted to Gibbs. Now where was I?"
"If you hear hooves..." Jimmy begins.
"Think horses not zebras."
"He was kicked to death by a horse?"
"No."
"So it was a zebra? Had he been at a zoo?
"No, Officer David. He was strangled. The petechial hemorrhaging in the eyes was a sign..."
"So where do the horses and zebras come into it doctor?" Ziva interrupts impatiently.
"It's an expression. Meaning the most obvious or common answer is usually the right one. In this case the symptoms which could have been caused by a number of things were caused by the most common thing. You know this reminds me of case back in 84 or was it 85? I..."
"Thanks Ducky. We'll tell Gibbs it's confirmed. Do you have anything else?" interrupts DiNozzo.
"I sent some blood up to Abby. It really was the most fascinating case and..."
"We've got to check in with Abby. Thanks Dr Mallard."
"You're quite welcome my dear." They leave and Ducky turns back to the body on the table. "Well maybe you'd like to hear about the case? In the summer of 85 or was it the spring..."