So, a marine, a son, a husband and father. Gibbs grabbed his coat and started for the elevator. "C'mon, let's go talk to the family."

After a couple of seconds they grabbed their coats and packs and trailed after Gibbs to the elevator.

Ziva was suddenly feeling the same exasperation as DiNozzo and whispered, "All of us?"

Before pushing the down button, Gibbs half turned and growled, "All of us."

If he had to work then so did they. There wasn't any reason right then to go to the hospital because Ducky would take care of any needed autopsy and a review of the medical records, so that left the home and family and the man's work place. No way were they going to get statements from anyone at the Pentagon this late in the day, especially for a death that was not the result of a crime, at least probably not. Gibbs ignored his team and concentrated on Vance's instructions. "Investigate his death, but find out everything you can about his job. SecNav wants to know everything, Gibbs."

The eight or nine mile drive, accomplished in strained silence, took 19 minutes. All things considered the traffic wasn't too bad, just a little sluggish. Gibbs drove fast as usual, DC's skyline view behind them, and they arrived in good time. Posted signs in the residential area warned that parking on the street was restricted, but Gibbs knew that their government vehicle being used for official business would be exempt from any laws like that. He noticed at least six other vehicles on the street with government plates, but it was probably a government employee neighborhood so he didn't go any farther with the thought.

He pulled to the curb in front of the home behind one of the other government cars. The sun was going down fast leaving everything in shadows as they made their way from the car, pulling on gloves or putting hands in pockets in the frosty air. Mature trees without leaves were like silent sentinels all around them. There were lights on in the home and two large, dark, seven passenger SUVs were sitting in the long driveway, parked close to the double garage doors. As they passed by, Gibbs heard a ticking sound and he put his hand lightly on the hood: the engine was still a little warm in the cold evening air. Not wanting to crowd the family with four agents all at once on the front porch, Gibbs flashed a look behind him and DiNozzo and Ziva, the two who had been the most vocal and upset about the drive to Arlington, stopped at the edge of the walkway, letting Gibbs and Tim go alone the rest of the way.

Ziva and Tony wanted to scream at Gibbs. Why did the four of them have to come at all? Why did everyone have to get out of the warm car only to have two of them left behind? Just as Gibbs was about to press the doorbell button his body language changed and suddenly Ziva and Tony were on high alert. Instead of pressing the button Gibbs moved to the side and was looking through the thick glass into the foyer of the home. Tim saw what he saw and immediately drew his weapon.

Rushing up to the porch the two agents arrived in time to hear Gibbs whisper, "One armed male, just standing there."

Stepping back down from the porch, Gibbs took a moment to think.

McGee noticed the home security and whispered, "Expensive lock to go with the expensive door."

"How do you know the guy is armed?" Tony wanted to know how they'd gone from talking to a family to a guy with a gun.

Gibbs kept his voice very low. "Well DiNozzo, the glass is thick, but it's clear enough. The guy isn't wearing a coat and it's easy to make out the sling holster against his white shirt."

Tony raised an eyebrow. "Fed?"

"Maybe, but what's he doing here?"

"We should kick down the door and take him by surprise." The three men stared at Ziva as she came up with yet another option in a loud whisper. "Or we could get him to open the door and then overpower him."

Ignoring her suggestions Gibbs quietly announced, "DiNozzo, David, go around back." The two looked like they wanted to protest, but they left without another word.

A font of information, Tim quietly told Gibbs, "Reinforced frame, steel door and that's an Ultimate lock. It can't be picked or broken."

With a smug look Gibbs told him, "I thought I'd just ring the doorbell."

Tim looked alarmed. "Boss?"

"McGee, we have no warrant. We have no probable cause. What do you want to do?"

Tim looked uncertain. "It's a guy with a gun."

Even after about eight years as a field agent, Tim still wasn't completely sure of himself around his boss. Gibbs always made him question himself... and it was always nerve-wracking to go into a situation where someone besides them was armed. On the other hand, it was better to know that the man had a gun than to not know. He had to admit it was a private home and they didn't have exigent circumstances. Finally he gave a nod to Gibbs. "Okay, I guess we ring and see who answers."

Tony and Ziva walked quickly around the side of the house where security lights turned on as they moved, following and leading them at the same time. There wasn't a fence and the walkway was level so in only a short time they were in the backyard. Tall trees provided privacy on three sides and there were lights on in the back of the house, but curtains kept them from seeing anything inside. Splitting up, one headed to the door while the other intended to go farther down to a large picture window. Neither one made it to their destination.

Gibbs and McGee stood on the illuminated porch. Tim was nervous and had his weapon out, concealed at his side while Gibbs had his credentials in his left hand. He didn't pull his gun, he didn't even have his right hand that close to the holster, but he was prepared. The man inside was still visible in outline and Gibbs decided to knock rather than ring the bell. One knock and the man reacted immediately, stepping away from their view and Gibbs almost reached for his weapon. Almost.

"May I help you?"

The door hadn't opened, but the deep male voice from behind and to the side gave them a start and Gibbs whirled around to face the unknown threat. McGee was only a fraction of a second behind Gibbs in turning and he stood in a two-handed stance getting ready to fire. The threat turned out to be one man. It had gotten quite dark and his black overcoat blended into the background leaving only his face and hands somewhat visible.

Gibbs displayed his credentials saying, "Special Agent Gibbs... and Special Agent McGee. NCIS."

"Secret Service, gentlemen. Agent McGee, lower your weapon."

The man could be SS, but without proof, well, a federal agent always wants proof. Gibbs told him, "Let's see your credentials."

"We will shoot you," another voice warned. And suddenly two more men stepped out of the darkness and were visible. They too were dressed in black overcoats, but as they stepped closer he saw their white shirts, ties and lapel pins. Gibbs watched as the first man held up his own creds while the other two kept their weapons pointed at himself and McGee. With his brain spinning about secret service agents at the dead General's home, Gibbs spoke soft and low to his younger agent.

"McGee."

Tim didn't like it, but he let his weapon drop from his hand so it was only supported by his index finger and then he raised his right hand to show it was empty. He was slow to return the gun to the holster and the man closest to them took it from him. Gibbs scowled, vowing to talk to McGee later on.

"Why'd you wait so long to find out who we are?"

With a cocky smile the first agent replied, "You weren't a threat...yet." Then he stepped closer. "Truth is I wasn't concerned about you being on the porch." He looked from Gibbs to McGee, "until you pulled your weapon."

They heard sounds and looked around to see Tony and Ziva arrive from around the side of the house, escorted by two men.

"Sorry, boss. They caught us by surprise and kind of disarmed us."

Gibbs gave them a pointed look and a minute shake of his head. All three had given over their weapons, but it wasn't the time to discuss it. Secret service meant the team had obviously interrupted a visit of some kind at the residence. The deceased had been a general, but there were lots of generals so why was he so special and if the SS agents weren't there for the family, who was there at the house that ranked secret service protection? That was the $64,000 question.

The agent with McGee's weapon spoke up. "What are you doing here, Special Agent Gibbs?"

"Need to talk to the wife, or family, in the home."

"This about General Wheeler's death?"

Gibbs scrutinized the agent, who was tall, dark and about 35 years old.

With a scowl the agent pressed. "You didn't call first."

Gibbs did his best to keep from smirking. "No, no we didn't."

The agent kept looking at Gibbs, but he was clearly listening to someone speaking to him through his earwig. Then the four NCIS agents watched as men and women appeared from the darkness around the house and across the street. A car from the street pulled into the driveway and four more vehicles materialized under the glowing streetlights on the street.

Obeying a hand wave, Gibbs and Tim stepped off the porch and with Ziva and Tony behind them, they were herded over to the far side away from the door and walkway where three agents stayed with them. The door to the house opened and four men came out. Two were uniformed soldiers, but the NCIS team stood in awe when they recognized the highly decorated Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

With wide eyes, DiNozzo couldn't keep his mouth shut and asked, "Who's the other guy, boss? He looks a little familiar."

Gibbs wasn't surprised and it was kind of dark. In a low voice he revealed, "White House Chief of Staff."

Ziva mumbled, "Why would he be here?"

DiNozzo couldn't resist and replied, "Because the President is on a date night trip to New York City?"

They watched the Chairman and the Chief of Staff get in a SUV with the soldiers and two men in top coats while five others piled into another SUV. Both cars pulled out of the driveway and left, sandwiched between two more big SUVs from the street. The yard and street now had fewer people standing around, but it was still an impressive presence of protection. Another SUV pulled into the driveway and parked behind the one that was still there. The driver stayed put, but a uniformed marine got out and stood waiting.

The front door of the home opened again and three men stepped out to the porch. McGee gasped, "That's the Secretary of Defense," before DiNozzo quietly quipped, "First the head general and the white house guy... and now the Secretary of Defense? Just who was our dead guy?"

Gibbs ignored his SFA. Instead he noticed the airmen with dark blue berets and he leaned forward to look inside the house through the still open door. A man and a woman were standing, talking, and neither seemed aware that they were being observed. Ziva saw Gibbs looking and peered into the home too. The couple spoke for only a couple more seconds and then the guy reached out and warmly hugged the willing woman, one hand snaked around her back while the other hand went to the back of her head. They stayed that way for many seconds before separating, and then the man moved to the entry where he spoke briefly to someone they couldn't see. The two shook hands before the silver-haired man walked out the door with one of the airmen closing it gently behind him.

None of them could see his features very well because of his cover, but the man wore a blue all-weather coat with stars on his shoulders. They watched the general get in the car with the SecDef, the airmen get in a car with the marine, secret service agents piled in cars and in only a few seconds all the vehicles from the driveway and street had driven off leaving only one man, a SS agent, with the NCIS team. The second caravan had disappeared from sight when the front door opened again.

"Special Agent Gibbs, Mrs. Wheeler will speak to you now." The others seemed startled when the lone agent spoke, but Gibbs had been ready. He figured if they were not going to see the family that evening that they would have been sent on their way long ago.

"My agents need their firearms returned to them."

Tony piped in with, "Phones too, boss," while Ziva grumbled, "And my knives."

tbc

Thanks very much for reading. Please review. I'd really appreciate it.