This is a long A/N: (Sorry) I just need to clarify some points here and reply to a guest reviewer.

First: I'm not a Tiva fan and like I said, I don't even really like Ziva! I respect her fans, but the character is just not my fave! So there's no TIVA, no slash and no other kind of relationship in this story. ;)

And finally to another Guest; thanks for pointing out my mistake! Originally, my victim was a male, but then I changed it and clearly I missed that one pronoun. Thanks; it's fixed. :)

Thanks a lot for your support, everyone. Hope you all enjoy this chapter. :)

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Three hours later, when they were all in the bullpen trying to find a lead or something to crack the case, the phone on Gibbs' desk rang.

"Yes, Abby?" He answered the phone and from the amused look in his eyes, you could say that once again Abby had wondered how Gibbs knew it was her calling him. "Abs? Is there any reason you called me?" He frowned. "Alright." Hanging up the phone, Gibbs stood up. "DiNozzo, with me."

Tony didn't say anything; no 'yes, Boss' or 'on your six, Boss'. Nothing. He just stood up and followed Gibbs to the elevator.

Once McGee and Ziva were alone, they both sagged further in their chairs as a heavy sigh left McGee's lips.

"I have never been scared of Tony before." Ziva sounded annoyed, but McGee couldn't tell if she was annoyed merely because she had been forced to confess her fear, or just because she couldn't get this new Tony. "I have never seen him like this before. Not even when his old partner was killed."

Tim shrugged. "I can't really blame him. This case is way worse than that; almost worse than anything else."

"Why would you say that? Tony has dealt with many worse cases."

Tim frowned; how could he explain this to someone like Ziva who once had been an assassin? "An innocent's been brutally murdered because some sick bastard has a grudge against Tony; of course Tony'd be beside himself with anger."

"Are you sure that is what it is?" Ziva raised an eyebrow.

"What else could it be?" Tim narrowed his eyes.

She shrugged. "I do not know. Maybe he is still upset about the party you held and is just sulking."

Tim winced. "Whatever Tony does, he never mixes his personal problems with the job. He might get a little distracted if his father is around, but he never put his feelings or personal issues before the case. You know that." He might not admit that to Tony, but they couldn't lie to themselves.

Ziva sighed; she did know it. "This is going to be one hard case, no?"

"One of the worsts." McGee nodded and looked towards the window, the day was still young and he doubted that anyone of them would get any real rest till this case was closed, and just by the look of it, he could say it wouldn't be easily closed.

And when it was, he still had to make it up to Tony. He couldn't deny that he would've felt terrible if anyone had treated him the way he'd treated Tony; he didn't think he'd want to talk to them or even be around them anymore.

He didn't like to admit it, but Tony was really patient with them and pretty forgiving. The older agent might've teased him mercilessly during the years, but he also had always had his back and never had let him feel abandoned or isolated and that was exactly what they had done to Tony, more than once.

Everyone had a breaking point and for all he knew, Tony might've reached his after that stupid party.

Tim couldn't forget that, earlier that morning when he'd asked Tony if they were friends, the ex-cop hadn't given him the answer he'd hoped for. It seemed like Tony had finally given up on them and their friendship; and knowing how truly alone Tony was, he felt even worse for hurting Tony and then mocking him.

He just hoped he, or rather they, hadn't gone too far this time.

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Exiting the elevator, Tony wasn't prepared to be attacked by Abby. Before he knew what was happening, Abby had her arms around his shoulders, squeezing him so tightly that he was sure he'd turned blue.

He was literally on the edge and it was taking his everything just not to snap at Abby; he really wasn't in the mood.

Fortunately, Gibbs could read him pretty well and before Tony would lose it and do something that he'd regret later, he pulled Abby away and shook his head firmly to stop Abby from jumping back towards Tony.

Abby looked between the two of them for a few seconds and then nodded. "I'm so sorry, Tony."

"Nothing to be sorry about." Tony said with a flat voice, which totally ruined the effect of his reassuring phrase. "What do you have?"

Abby looked at Gibbs worriedly and using sign language, she asked him if Tony was alright.

"I'm alright." Tony replied instead, with a hint of annoyance in his voice. "What do you have?" He asked more slowly, more forcefully.

"You know ASL?" Abby's eyes were wide and despite his effort, Gibbs couldn't help looking a bit surprised.

"No," Tony sighed. "But it doesn't take a genius to know the signs for 'he' and 'All Right'."

Had it been any other day, Abby would've gone all emotional, but that day everything was different; Tony had never seemed so impatient with her before, so she suppressed the urge to talk about how cute it was that Tony knew those signs and just nodded her head. "Are you sure? I mean you look a little pale and you know the victim and it's always harder when-"

"Abby, please." Tony said tersely.

Gibbs gently pushed Abby towards the lab and took the matters into his own hands. "Why did you want us here, Abby? Have you found anything that could help us?"

"Oh... Oh. Yes." She said excitedly; her mood had changed so suddenly that if some strangers were there instead of Tony and Gibbs, their heads would've spun. She hoped what she'd found could help them close the case sooner so Tony could take a break. "I found you a name."

"A name?" Tony and Gibbs asked simultaneously.

"Yes, it was written on the back of the card and it was written with invisible ink." She announced proudly and showed them the card under ultraviolet light and just like she'd said, a name appeared on the white card; Martin.

"Martin?" Tony frowned.

"Do you know any 'Martin'? It seems like he's signed his name to show how confident he is; I think he's mocking us and-"

"Anything else, Abs?" Gibbs stopped her before she could start her rambling.

"No. No fingerprints or anything else." She shook her head sadly, "but I'm still going through the evidence. I thought this one was important so I called before being done with everything else."

"Thanks" Tony tried to smile, but it really was hard at that moment.

"OK, let's go, DiNozzo." Gibbs turned on his heel and strode out of the lab.

"Tony." Abby called before Tony was out of her lab, "I'm here if you need to talk, you know?" She said when Tony looked back at her.

Tony blinked and just smiled bitterly before walking out. 'Too little, too late.' He thought to himself.

"Does that name ring any bells?" Gibbs asked once they were in the elevator.

"Martin?" Tony looked up at the ceiling, jogging his memory; after a few seconds, as the elevator door opened to their floor, Tony sighed tiredly and shook his head. "Not really. Can't remember arresting someone with that name and can't remember that particular name in any of my cases. But then again-"

"You've worked too many cases to remember every single name." Gibbs finished for him and Tony just nodded.

"OK, let's start with that name. Any idea where to begin?"

"I... I don't know, I think it has something to do with one of my cases in Baltimore."

"Then you start with those cases." Gibbs ordered. "McGee, David, I want a list of people named 'Martin' and I want it fast. Go through every single case Tony has worked, here or before his time in Baltimore."

"Martin?" McGee asked. "Just that? No surname? Or is that his surname?" He was confused; the senior agents had gone to the lab and were back with just a single name. 'Just what was going on?'

"That name was written behind the card we found... In the crime scene." Tony's voice was low and emotionless.

"It was?" McGee had looked at the card before handing it to Abby; he sure would've seen it if a name was written there, wouldn't he?

"With invisible ink."

"Wow." McGee looked impressed. "Oh, I mean-" he immediately regretted his reaction when both Tony and Gibbs sent dead glares at him. "I... Well-"

"Just find those people, McGee." Tony sighed.

"Those you arrested?" Ziva asked.

"Everyone." Gibbs answered instead. "Arrested. Killed, even the witnesses. Everyone with that name."

"That'd make a long-" McGee started to protest but Gibbs cut him off.

"Oh, excuse me, Agent McGee. I didn't know you were being paid to do nothing. This is your job. Do it or get the hell outta here." Gibbs all but shouted before storming out of the bullpen.

It'd been a few years since the last time McGee had seen Gibbs that angry and he really didn't know what the Boss' problem was. Tony; he could understand. But what had gotten into Gibbs?

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... TBC ...

A/N: Share your thoughts with me?! :)

Once again, many thanks to anyone who's reviewed, faved or followed this story.

A special thanks to XX-Samantha-XX. Xoxo

All mistakes are mine.

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