Disclaimer: {This space intentionally left blank}

Authors Note: Back in May I published my take on the events of February 28th 1991. This chapter ends my take on the aftermath of those events. I hope you all enjoyed it. To my 'core readers' thanks as always for comin' along for the ride. To my new readers, yathink1123, DS2010, louise and Housianna, thanks for giving my stuff a look. Hope you thought it was worth your time.

Background: This is really a technical note. In this chapter I'm going to mention SERE training. SERE stands for Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape. This training is given to all members of the Armed Forces. Its severity is predicated on the assignment of the personnel being trained. Special ops personnel get the top end training. The more of a likelihood of you being captured the more dialed up the training.

"Just as every cop is a criminal and all the sinners saints…"- "Sympathy for the Devil", the Rolling Stones, 1968

Provost Marshal's Office, Observation Room, Camp Pendleton MCB, June 15, 1991 0900hrs

Second Lieutenant Lara Macy left the interrogation room and went a short distance down the hallway to the door of the observation room. As she entered, she smelled cigarette smoke.

"There's no smoking in here you know."

In the far corner of the room sat an older man, black slicked back hair, a black moustache, and a black suit. The tip of a cigarette glowed brightly as he inhaled.

"I didn't realize that Loo-ten-ant."

Macy snorted.

"Surrre. So what do you think Agent Franks?"

NIS Special Agent Mike Franks took another drag off his cigarette, then in his whiskey and cigarette tinged growl said, "I think you're overmatched."

Lara Macy bristled.

"What do you mean overmatched?"

Franks stood, taking a final drag on his cigarette before dropping it into a cold container of coffee that sat on the floor next to his chair.

"Well, you've had Gibbs here since five pm yesterday an' you ain't got shit out of him 'cept 'name, rank and serial number'. That's what I mean."

Macy glared at the older man.

"He's got motive, opportunity, and his alibi was weak."

"Okay, so he's not under arrest why?"

Lara Macy sighed.

"Because the Mexican government hasn't provided us with any physical evidence to buttress our case. Without that, my boss won't let me charge him."

At this point Macy glared thru the one way glass at Leroy Jethro Gibbs as he sat, legs crossed, hands in his lap staring calmly straight ahead.

"Bastard."

"Tisk, tisk lieutenant. I guess that means you need him to confess."

"Yes."

Franks grunted.

"Well, that's not happening in your lifetime."

Macy glared again.

"And why not?"

"Ever been thru SERE training?" Mike pronounced it 'sear'.

"Of course."

Mike chuckled.

"Not the puppyshit course you got after commissioning. I'm talking about the 'they chase you thru the woods, finally catch you, then beat the shit outta you to try an' get you to give up intel'. That one."

Macy made a face.

"Of course not."

Franks nodded at Gibbs.

"He has. Sensory deprivation, Sleep deprivation, stress positions, the whole nine yards. He also knows you can only hold him forty eight hours without charging him. So unless you plan on starting to yank out his finger and toe nails you might as well let him go now."

"So you think he didn't do it?"

"What I think doesn't matter Macy. It's what I can prove beyond reasonable doubt."

Lara Macy groaned.

"Okay, okay, I get your point."

"Well good, then my work here is done. Nice talkin' to ya."

With that, Mike started for the door.

Macy gaped.

"That's it? You're leaving?"

Mike turned his head.

"Well yeah. JAG and your bosses didn't want NIS investigatin' this one. We were 'too close to the suspect' since we investigated his wife and daughter's murders. So yeah, I'm outta here."

Mike Franks walked out, closing the door softly.

Lara Macy stood for several minutes staring at the closed door. She let out a disgusted sigh and turned to the tech recording the interrogation.

"After I tell 'Mr. Wonderful' he's free to go, you can shut down."

Parking Lot, Provost Marshal's Office, 0930hrs

When Leroy Jethro Gibbs walked out of the Provost Marshal's Office, he saw a familiar figure leaning against a battered looking Chevy Caprice, smoking a cigarette. He walked up to Mike Franks.

"This isn't part of the interrogation process is it?"

Mike blew a ribbon of smoke from his nose.

"Nah, I stuck around figuring you'd need a ride home."

"Well, you're right. The Military Prick working the desk said all his units were tied up an' I'd have to walk home."

Franks laughed.

"What did you expect? Hearts and Flowers? C'mon, I'll ride ya home."

The ride to Gibbs' house was made in silence. When Mike pulled into the driveway he put his hand on Gibbs' arm.

"Just 'cause you got over on Macy, don't let it go to your head. Remember, I'm the one who left the file on my desk and 'had to take a leak'. See ya around Gunny."

Without comment Gibbs got out of the Chevy and watched Mike Franks back out of his driveway and pull away.

Son of a bitch.

A/N: And the rest as they say is history. Gibbs becomes an NIS/NCIS agent and some twenty years later

the events of the first half of 1991 almost come back to bite him on the ass. Hope ya liked it.