Ok. This chapter has been re-posted because I was able to get a beta and make it better than before thanks to great help of jerseybelle! Thanks to them, it now has more detail and better descriptions.

Disclaimer: no own NCIS. If I did, I'd be rich, McNozzo would be canon and Abby would be fired (I don't really like her. Tim is my favorite character and I hate how she gets away with how she treats him)

Chapter 1:

"Pack your bags," Gibbs said as he walked into the bullpen.

The team looked at him with surprise. "What for, boss?" Tony asked.

Gibbs walked behind his desk and grabbed his gun, badge and bag. "We're going on a trip." He straightened up and looked at his team as they walked over to stand in front of his desk, a questioning look on each face, "We're going to Indiana for a while."

Tony, McGee and Ziva looked at each other.

"Why?" Ziva asked, confused about the unusual locale.

"I know it's a little out of our area but Vance got a call from the SecNav who got a call from some important Senator who demanded the "best" team be in charge. That's us. Apparently a Navy dependant was found dead on some ranch. We've been called in to investigate." he explained.

"What?" McGee demanded. They looked at him.

"Something wrong, McGee?"

"Well...it's just...I know someone in Indiana who owns a ranch," he said nervously. "You don't happen to know the name of the ranch, do you?"

"Lakeside Meadows." Gibbs watched him when he said the name, as did Tony and Ziva. The sudden loss of color to Tim's face gave them a hint as to his next words.

"Oh god...I know where that is, boss. I know the owners."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* AU ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ducky and Jimmy had also been requested to the scene, so the six of them headed to the airport. Gibbs notified them that vehicles would be available for their use in Indiana.

McGee offered no further information during the plane ride. He wished he had more information about what had happened, but for now he was just trying to keep calm and ignore the looks Tony was giving him. He took another sip of the coke the flight attendant had set on his tray table and wished for once that it could have been something a little stronger. He didn't want to think about what he'd find at the other end.

The flight seemed to take forever for him but finally they landed at the airport. There was an NCIS agent from Great Lakes to meet them with an SUV and van for their use. The four agents stowed their gear and climbed into the SUV while Ducky and Jimmy got into the van.

Although Tim said he knew the way, Gibbs insisted on driving, not quite sure of Tim's emotional status at that time.

They were forced to park behind all the other police cars in front of the main gate. They got out of their vehicles and Gibbs surveyed the crowd ahead of them.

"Ducky, Palmer, stay with the van until we see what's going on up there."

Ducky nodded then Gibbs and his three agents weaved their way to the front, where all the cops were gathered, staring at the large house on the other side, but not making any move to get closer.

"What's going on?" Gibbs demanded. The cops looked at the newcomers dressed in civilian clothes. Gibbs flashed his badge. "NCIS. Who's in charge here?"

"I'm Lt. Simmons. We can't get in."

"Why not?" Tim asked, continuing towards the gate.

"Hey, I wouldn't get any closer!" One of the policemen tried to grab him as he passed, but Tim easily dodged around him, with Tony, Ziva and Gibbs following close behind.

"Again, why not?" Ziva asked, watching as Tim stood two inches from the gate.

Before anyone could answer, the air was filled with the sounds of barking, echoing in the clearing.

Tony looked around, face a little pale and eyes wide. "Those sound like big dogs." His experience with dogs left him a little, well maybe a lot, nervous in their presence.

Tim smiled. "They are." Suddenly, five large dogs came barreling around from the back of the house and straight for the gate. Several cops, as well Tony, Gibbs and Ziva, backed up a few steps, knowing that large dogs such as these were protective of their land and would attack if strangers were to get too close.

"McGee! Back up!" Tony hissed, reaching for his arm. Tim let him, but stood his ground, refusing to move, so when the dogs reached the gate and started to jump at it, still barking and growling, Tony froze and subconsciously moved slightly behind him.

"Hey, guys," Tim said softly, reaching a hand through the gate. Everyone held their breath, Gibbs ready to step forward and yank his agents back if the dogs moved to rip McGee's hand off. But instead, seemingly like magic, at the sound of his voice, the dogs' ears perked forward and their tails started wagging furiously. The growling stopped, but the barking kept up, this time in greeting. Tim unlatched the gate and walked forward, Tony still attached him, his wide eyes watching the dogs warily. Tim knelt on the ground, the dogs surrounding them, causing Tony to press even further against Tim's side, his hands clenching the back of his shirt until his knuckled were white.

Tim chuckled, reaching back and pulling him forward, ignoring his protests.

"It's ok, Tony, they're not going to bite."

Tony looked uncertain, and Gibbs and Ziva inched forward. One dog noticed and started growling, making the three of them tense.

"John (pronounced like Jean)!" he commanded. The dog immediately stopped and sat down, still staring at them. Tony jolted at the name and looked at Tim in shock. *did Tim pronounce the name Jean?

"No Jeanne, but John. His full name John Claude." Tim explained. Tony nodded, looking at the large German Sheppard.

"Boss, Ziva," he looked up at them, "Tony, meet John Claude."

Said dog whined a little before trotting over to them to say hi, knowing that they were friendly now. They patted his head before looking at the other large dogs, knowing that one was a Rottweiler.

"The Rott is Simba, and the other three are a Rott German ShepardSheppard mix. He pointed them each out as he said their names "These are Lucky, Daisy and Alexander." They were all a mix of brown and black, but Lucky had more brown than black and was slightly fluffy, Daisy more black than brown and Alexander a perfect mix of both colors.

Tony looked at Tim. "And you know this how?" he asked, not yet moving away from Tim, something they all noticed but ignored in favor of hearing Tim's answer.

He didn't look at any of them when he answered.

"I told you I knew the owner, it's someone I grew up with."

He grew quiet for a moment.

"John," he called. John ran over, sitting down in front of Tim. Tony had backed away slightly, still not entirely sure about the large dog. Tim reached over and placed both hands on either side of John's neck, grabbing his fur.

"Can you show me where mama is?"

The three looked at him in confusion. 'Mama'?

John licked Tim's face, and as soon as he was let go, took off towards the house, the other four immediately following, barking the whole way.

"Now we know where she is." Tim stood, which forced Tony up, as well. Tim looked at Tony over his shoulder and smiled slightly.

"You going to hold on to me the whole time?"

Tony started, as if just realizing what he was doing. He quickly let go and cleared his throat, trying to pretend that nothing happened.

"Come on. Let's go," he said, marching towards the house. Tim, Gibbs and Ziva shook their heads and followed closely behind.

When they got closer, they noticed that the dogs were acting up again, getting agitated and growling ferociously. Tim grabbed the door handle, and just as he turned it, a shot rang out, sending wood splinters and blood flying.