"Boss, we've got the memory stick and the murder weapon, or supposed murder weapon," DiNozzo announced, coming into the bullpen and setting his backpack down by his desk.

"Get them to Abby right away," Gibbs ordered. "McGee, help her with the computer files. DiNozzo, you're with me. Ziva, keep an eye on her." He glanced over at Elle who was sitting in a chair, staring off into space.

Downstairs in the lab, Abby pulled prints from the gun while McGee worked on the memory stick. It wasn't hard, since all the files were merely stored on there. Nothing was encrypted or password-protected.

"It looks like Lt. Rogers liked to keep a detailed journal," McGee observed. "This particular one starts over a year ago. He talks about seeing Elle date another guy and how it really upsets him. He wants to tell her how he feels, but he's afraid she'll reject his affections."

"Aww…"Abby cooed. "It's so sweet and sad, just like those Hallmark movies you watch."

"Abby, I only watched one of them and it was simply because there was nothing else on," McGee insisted. He turned back to the computer and continued. "Anyway, so it goes on every day. It's not always about Elle, but there is usually some mention of her. It looks like he was a key fixture in his life. He talks about the family diamond and how he wants to spend the rest of his life with her, but he knows she doesn't feel the same way."

"What exactly are you thinking here, Boss?" DiNozzo asked as they drove through the city.

"That Scott Harper isn't telling us the truth," Gibbs replied shortly.

"And what makes you think that?" Tony looked a little puzzled as his brain tried to figure out the facts.

"The fact that the gun was dropped several blocks away."

"He got nervous and forgot to leave the gun at the scene." The idea finally became clear to DiNozzo. "He made a mistake and you're hoping we can find something that will incriminate him."

"We're going to talk to his former C.O.," Gibbs announced, turning down a street.

"Agent Gibbs, what can I do for you?" Colonel Thompson asked the grey-haired NCIS agent who was sitting across his desk from him.

"I'm here about a young man who used to be under your command. Private Scott Harper," Gibbs announced.

Thompson leaned back in his leather chair and crossed his arms over his chest. "Harper, huh? Born troublemaker. He had problems from the minute he arrived here. We were finally able to get him dishonorably discharged about a year ago."

"Why?" DiNozzo wanted to know.

The Colonel sighed. "He was sexually harassing a female soldier. We tried to put a stop to it, but he persisted, so we filed charges and had him removed from his post."

"Anything else you can tell us?" Gibbs didn't even look up from the notes he was making on his small pad.

"I'm afraid not, Agent Gibbs. Harper mostly kept to himself. He was not well-liked by his fellow Marines."

When everyone was back in the bullpen, they went over their theories.

"So, Harper is either telling the truth, or he is not," Ziva said, more to herself than anyone else.

"What an amazing theory, Agent David," Tony gasped sarcastically. "You're a regular genius. Of course it's one or the other!"

"I think he's lying," McGee declared. "I went through all of Lt. Rogers' journal entries. He was in love with Elle, yes, but desperate enough to…I don't even know what Harper is trying to accuse him of."

Gibbs came in, fresh coffee in hand. He went to sit in his chair, but he found Elle Charlton fast asleep in his desk chair. He turned and looked at McGee, who instantly began making apologies.

"Sorry, Boss. She was asleep before I even knew it."

"Keep a closer eye on her next time, McGee," was all Gibbs said.

"I think McGee has a point," Ziva declared. "Harper's story makes no sense. Why would Lt. Rogers force him to tie up Elle? It's so…"

"…stupid," Tony finished for her.

"I was going to say ridiculous," Ziva snapped, glaring at her partner playfully.

"Boss, what do you think?" McGee wanted to know.

"I agree with Ziva and Tony. Harper's story is stupid, but it's time to figure out how to nail this guy." Gibbs then walked away. He had a hunch that Abby had something for him.

"One…two…three…" Abby counted slowly.

"Whatcha got for me, Abs?" Gibbs asked, walking into her lab and taking a sip of his coffee.

"Gibbs, you are SO good!" Abby exclaimed, whirling around. It took her black pigtails a little while to catch up with her because she turned so fast.

"You got something for me, Abby?" Gibbs said again, handing his Gothic Forensic Scientist a cup of Caf-Pow.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do," Abby replied smartly, throwing away her empty cup and replacing it's spot with the new one. " Scott Harper has done nothing but tell you a bunch of lies. The only prints on the weapon we found belonged to him. If Lt. Rogers had had the gun, and then they fought over it, I would've found prints from both men on the gun. As it is, however, all Harper has given you has been a load of crap, Gibbs." She looked around for the handsome, older NCIS agent, but he was already gone. He had heard what he needed to hear.
"It's so creepy when he does that," Abby whispered to herself.

"Abby says that there aren't any prints on the gun except for Harper's," Gibbs announced, coming back into the bullpen.

"So we can prove that he was lying?" Ziva asked.

"Yep," Gibbs replied. "But I've got a plan. McGee, let me see your gun."

McGee looked up strangely. "My gun, Boss?"

"Yeah, McGee. I've got a plan," Gibbs replied, finally getting frustrated at having his chair occupied. He lifted Elle up and put her gently on the floor. She never woke up.