AU stories for NCIS episodes. Each is independent from all the others since this is all based on the possibility of parallel universes and multiple timelines... many, many of them. Later on some may seem to follow something that happened in an earlier AU episode story, but it's probably coincidence unless I say otherwise in the beginning.

This is #5 - a short alternate universe story/scene for Season 1, episode 5 The Curse

The original episode aired on October 28, 2003

The dialogue in the first part is from the episode.

Rating: K+

Category: General

Warnings: Spoilers for episodes, probably just the one that the AU story is about. But down the road who knows?

Disclaimer: I own nothing NCIS. I'm just borrowing the characters for a bit.

And finally, all mistakes are mine.

"She and Martinez stole that money, not Lt. Schilz."

Tony jumped in. "Kate, incriminating her doesn't exonerate Schilz. She could have played him."

"No, they forced him to open the safe, they murdered him and they stuffed him in a pod."

"Unless Martinez or Toner admit Schilz had nothing to do with the robbery, there's no way to exonerate him."

"I'll get them to confess."

Gibbs had listened to Kate and Tony go back and forth. Now he wanted to chime in.

"Hm, how are you going to do that?"

"I don't know...yet," Kate admitted.

"Whoa, Martinez was murdered in a Piedro Negras motel," Owens, agent who conducted the original investigation. announced excitedly. He'd continued to search for information while the others talked.

Surprised, Kate guessed, "My God. She's a black widow."

Tony was confused for a few. "I don't think she was ever married."

Gibbs smiled. "We got her. Kate, go back to Pennsylvania and bring Erin Toner in."

"How? I can't arrest her." Ever hopeful, Kate pressed. "Can I?"

Gibbs delivered the bad news. "No, no, she has to come voluntarily."

Kate's anger kept her from thinking straight as she practically threatened everyone at the country club. Now she had a call to make. She'd been so close to maybe getting justice for Lt. Schilz and benefits for his daughter. And for Martinez too, though she didn't have any sympathy for him since he was probably a murderer and had stolen the money.

"Yeah, Gibbs."

"I think Erin Toner is gone. Nobody has seen her for several hours."

Kate listened as Gibbs barked orders.

"DiNozzo, get a search warrant for Erin Toner's house. Owens, put out an APB on her car. Get an arrest warrant. Charge is murder."

Tony and Owens both had questions, but Gibbs stopped them cold.

"Looks like she took off. Now get to it. Kate, warrant will be there soon. Process her house."

Kate leaned her head on her hand and wrist as she listened to him on her cell phone.

"I'll call local LEOs to get you backup and secure the house. Anybody have any idea where she went?"

Kate had talked to several people including a couple of women at the country club who thought she would be there playing golf or tennis. The men in particular had no information.

"No. but I don't think the ones I spoke with were being truthful. They like her... a lot."

"You talking about the country club guys?"

"Yes."

Gibbs had a pretty good idea about where to start looking for her.

"Kate, send the names of everybody to Abby. I bet a private plane is missing."

End

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