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Maggie stared at the computer screen. She wanted to pick up her monitor and throw it out the window. Jethro wouldn't let her help with the investigation, of course. She could understand his position. But it wasn't easy to keep out of something that your life depended on the outcome of. So she was researching everything she could. She had contacted everyone she knew, and was calling in every favor owed her. No one seemed to know of anyone who had the ability to pull off this kind of set up, let alone a motive. At one time her list of people who would do this to her actually contained a name or two, but they were all dead. She was literally shocked to be experiencing this. She focused and listened in on the conversation going on in the Director's office with Shepard, Murphy and McMann. She smiled as she listened to Thom smooth things over. It didn't matter the Morgan McMann was one of the most famous actors in Hollywood, or that Jenny was a personal friend of his, Thom had taken the lead and succeeded in spinning a plausible scenario in which her name was not even mentioned. Gibbs, Shepard and Murphy were all sticking their necks out for her. She couldn't let them down. She needed to find out what was going on. ‘Jethro only told me to stay out of the way,' she thought to herself. ‘He didn't say anything about staying here.' She grabbed her bag and headed to the elevator. She was going to get to the bottom of this, even if she had to do it herself.



"What you have, Abs?" Gibbs said, handing her a Caf-Pow!
"Good news," she answered. "How much to you love me?" she asked.
"More than you know, but I'll still fire you if you don't tell me what you have for me," he said sternly.
"Wow," she responded softly. "You really mean that."
"Abs!" he barked.
"I am going to forgive you for that because after I tell you this, you will never even imagine firing me ever as long as you live, Gibbs," Abby said as she turned to face him.
His expression softened as he realized what he was doing. "Abs, I'm sorry, we just need…"
"No apology necessary," she said. "Now, let me tell you my news!" He motioned toward her with his arm. "We got a match on our missing clubber. His name is Gideon Anderson. I've sent all the information on him through to Noah. He and Ziva are hunting him down as we speak. And," she continued, "The saliva samples have continued to mutate, and are now no longer even close to a match with Maggie. Unfortunately, we don't know what they are a match for, yet, but I'm working on it."
"Where's McGee?" he asked, knowing he had sent him to the lab to help her.
"He left with Tony," she said. "Something about a diner and a woman named Matilda and…"
"Abby…" Gibbs interrupted.
"I'm sorry!" she interrupted back. "I don't know where they went. I know it's about trying to find a link between the victims."
"Thank you Abby," Gibbs said as he quickly left. He wanted to check in upstairs with Maggie before calling the others for updates.

Gibbs walked off the elevator and into the bullpen which, although busy, contained none of his team members. He grabbed his phone on contacted first Ziva, and then Tony.
"It's me, whaddya' got?" he asked Ziva.
"Anderson didn't show up for work this morning, and no one can account for his whereabouts," she reported. "His boss says he's a loner, and isn't close with anyone here. We are on our way to his home address," she continued.
"Keep me informed," he said as he disconnected the line.

"Where are you?" Gibbs demanded of Tony when he answered the line.
"We are making your day, Boss," he responded in an upbeat tone.
"How, exactly, DiNozzo?" he asked shortly.
"The three suspects were all clients of Anderson," Tony explained.
"I thought he worked in a secluded office?" Gibbs asked in confusion, knowing David and Diamond had just left his place of employment.
"Yeah, from 9 to 5 he does," Tony continued. "But he has an evening job. It appears our clubber is a massage therapist. And a pricey one, I might add. McMann was linked to the salon where he works by a tabloid magazine. Apparently the salon's business has increased tenfold since the article came out. Seaman Jones has been going there since she was transferred to Anacostia. Aimee Rega is a salsa dancer and instructor. She has been going to this salon for the past six years. The three victims probably met at the salon, and…"
"Probably?" Gibbs asked.
"It's a link," DiNozzo reminded him.
"You and McGee…" Gibbs began.
"On it boss," Tony interrupted him. "We are pulling in to the salon parking lot right now."
"Good work," he responded as he disconnected. Now he had to find Maggie.

"Ducky, is Sullivan with you?" Gibbs asked Dr. Mallard over the phone.
"I haven't seen her, Jethro," he responded. "I…" Gibbs had disconnected. Ducky shook his head and continued working.

After checking every possible room, the gym, calling her cell phone and her home phone, Gibbs realized Maggie was definitely off the radar. He couldn't figure out why she wouldn't answer her cell at a time like this. Unless… Unless she had left her clothes somewhere and gone furry. Darn it! He knew she had been frustrated at not being able to help. Surely if she had a lead, she would have told him instead of running off by herself. Or not. He remembered how his other team members had reacted when they were the objects of frame ups. But he knew Maggie better than anyone. And he needed to find her before whatever trouble she was in this time found her first. He raced to the stairwell, not willing to wait for the elevator. If she didn't stop getting into trouble, he was going to kill her himself.



Maggie stepped out of the shower and began to towel off. When they received their emergency page that morning, she hadn't yet gotten the privilege. She took the time when she couldn't help with the investigation to come home and think. She was feeling much more clear-headed. She had figured out that there was no one with a grudge against her. If she had been targeted, it had to be because of her connection to someone who cared for her. She mentally went through the list. Gibbs – no one knew about that, so no. Noah – a lot of people knew he had feelings for her at one time, especially in his world. It was a definite possibility. Jaime, Morgan or another werewolf – they did have a few enemies, but none that would do this. Matthew – she didn't think he had any enemies, and he was dead so targeting her for him would do no good. Evan – it was possible, but she doubted he even spoke of her. She certainly hadn't seen him in a lot of years.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of her cell phone. She looked at the screen and smiled. It was Jethro. "Sullivan," she answered professionally, in case he wasn't alone.
"Maggie? Thank God! Where are you?" he asked frantically.
"You asked me to stay out of the way. I wasn't getting anything done there, so I came home to think," she explained, still not understanding to what degree he was upset.
"And not answering your phone?" he asked.
"I was in the shower," she explained.
"Well, I'm here now, so you better let me in," he replied.
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