Twisted Justice (an NCIS story)

Chapter Three

"My marines were hurting too and they were my first responsibility. It was just a bad situation all around. Let me know if I can be of anymore help Gunny."

The images went off and Gibbs turned around.

"McGee where were you?" he snapped.

"I got in a little late Boss and decided not to interrupt."

Gibbs grunted and left MTAC. As Tony passed McGee fell in behind. "You've know Wilson that long?" He asked.

"Yeah he kind of kept up with me after that. Even wrote me a letter of recommendation to Ohio State." In a rare moment of opening up Tony confided. "He was supportive of me a lot of ways that my dad wasn't." McGee just nodded.

"Alright" Gibbs said "find me a reason someone would want to kill these Marine."

Tim worked the rest of the day in silence letting Tony and Ziva do most of the talking. He only spoke when his computer dinged or he was spoken to. No one seemed to notice. Late in the afternoon McGee got up and grabbed his coat.

"Where are you off to McQuiet?"

Ok someone had noticed.

"I have an appointment. I let Gibbs know and I'll be back, that's all and really more than you need to know." McGee said to Tony in passing.

Tony and Ziva exchanged a look.

"You know you can't keep a secret McGee!" Tonly yelled after him, "we will find out."

It was 5 pm by the time McGee got done and got back to the Navy Yard. Tony and Ziva were still at their desks

"Bout time McTrouble. Boss was looking for you and did not look happy." Tony chirped.

"McGee! Where have you been?"

"Sorry I'm lat Boss it took a little longer than I expected."

Gibbs got right in McGee face. "This case not important to you McGee?" he asked, his voice dangerously quiet.

"It is important to me Boss"

"Then start acing like it." Gibbs growled. "Go help Abby."

McGee paused for a split second really not wanting to go but knowing better than to argue.

"Now!" He practically ran leaving Tony and Ziva laughing. One look from Gibbs and they stopped

McGee poked his head cautiously in the lab. Abby was working at her computer. He walked in.

"Gibbs sent me to help you" he said uncertainly.

"Help me what? Lose more evidence that could have broken this case by now?"

"Abby please, it was an accident I'm not even sure I did it."

"Oh the evidence fairy wished it away I suppose," she stormed back to her desk. He started to follow.

"You work in there, I'm in here," she barked.

McGee sighed when she was in that kind of mood it was impossible to reason with her. He settled in for a long night because that's what it would be.

Wednesday morning

Dawn found McGee's bloodshot eyes still staring at the computer screen. Abby had fallen asleep at her desk hours ago. McGee was still trying to figure out a way to crack the encryptions, a way to relocate the lost evidence and, oh yeah, a way to not be killed by Abby or Gibbs in the process.

McGee looked at the clock, Ducky might be in now there was something he needed to talk to him about.

"Hey Ducky" he said walking into autopsy, "could I talk to you a minute?

"Of course Timothy. What's on your mind?"

Tim hesitated, "You know the case the kids drowned at the Norfolk crime scene?"

"Yes" Ducky nodded sadly, "such a tragedy."

Tim swallowed. "Would they...? I mean do you think...?"

"Yes Timothy?"

"If that witness had run and pulled them out as soon as they fell in would they be alive?" He blurted out.

Ducky frowned. "It's hard to say, children can survive cold like that better than adults. I can't offer conclusive evidence, but in my opinion if he had acted immediately they would have had a much better chance. Is this very important to you, Timothy?" Ducky inquired gently.

McGee opened his mouth to answer and was interrupted by Gibbs walking through the doors.

"What you got Duck?" He only glanced at McGee.

"This poor fellow was killed in the same way and probably by the same man as our first victim. Wounds are almost identical. I can't tell you much more yet but whoever killed them was at a very close range."

"They knew their killer."

"It's likely."

Gibbs turned his attention to McGee.

"What are you doing down here?"

"I-I-I was just wondering about the kids."

"What about them?"

Ducky interjected, "Timothy was contemplating if they could have been saved if that fellow had acted sooner."

"Well yeah McGee he froze and those kids are dead because of it." Gibbs stormed out.

"Thanks Ducky." McGee smiled sadly.

"Timothy, wait, is there something you would like to talk about?" Ducky pressed.

"N-no, thank you, I had better get back upstairs." McGee slowly walked out.

Ducky frowned. "Something is not right."