A/N: Sorry this last chapter is so short. That's the way the story broke up; I had to end the last chapter with Gibbs' line. Thanks for all the wonderful reviews, they're greatly appreciated.

Chapter Seven

The DNA from the blood on Gibbs' head matched the sample taken from the first victim, over twenty years before. Staff Sergeant Dennis Friberg was taken into custody pending arraignment for the murder. Because he was a minor at the time of the young girl's death, Friberg's lawyer was trying to get his client acquitted using a loophole.

It was a sunny Saturday afternoon and the team was visiting Tony at the rehabilitation center. The remnants of a Chinese feast lay scattered around the room as everyone lounged in chairs after the heavy meal.

Not having to go through the rigorous therapy on a weekend, Tony was in a pretty good mood. He felt relaxed and happy, surrounded by his teammates and friends.

Narrowing his eyes, he looked at Gibbs' battered face and asked, "So, what does the other guy look like?"

Gibbs shrugged. "Except for a broken nose there isn't a scratch on him."

Surprised, Tony said, "Not one?"

"Nope," Gibbs replied.

"That was pretty sneaky of you," Ziva said admiringly. "The way you got Friberg's DNA sample.

"It worked, didn't it?" Gibbs grinned.

"Yes, it did," Ducky said. "You were lucky he didn't kill you. We still don't know if he'll actually get indicted for the murder."

"What set him off anyway?" McGee asked.

"Gibbs cast aspersions on his mother, albeit obliquely."

"Friberg worshipped his father," Gibbs explained. "But his father was chronically depressed. He had gotten his girlfriend pregnant and was obligated to marry her. Apparently, he had dreams of traveling around the world and doing 'great things' but he was stuck with a wife and children."

"By all accounts, he was a good man, and he loved his wife and children, but I guess deep down he felt trapped," Ducky continued the narrative. "He died a very sad, very dissatisfied man." He shook his head sadly.

"Friberg didn't consciously blame his mother for his father's depression," Gibbs said, "but he was aware of the reason for his father's state of mind. According to an old schoolmate, Wendy Fleischer, the first victim, liked Friberg and was very aggressive about wanting to be his girlfriend. Something inside him snapped and he killed her; he didn't want to be trapped the way his father had been. Killing her was cathartic, and whenever he felt pressured, he picked another victim.

"The district attorneys in the towns where the other victims are found will be watching his trial very carefully. If he's found guilty, they have enough circumstantial evidence to get him indicted on the other murders."

"And if they don't?" Tony asked.

"Then we try him in military court."

"Isn't that double jeopardy?" McGee asked.

"Two different courts of law," Tony replied, "two different jurisdictions. I have a feeling more concrete evidence on the other murders will show up, though."

Gibbs was silent.

"When are they going to release you, Tony?" Abby asked.

"Now that I can get around by myself fairly easily," Tony replied, "I'll be able to do my therapy on an outpatient basis. They said they're letting me out of here in about a week, maybe less. Then I'll take the medical transport they have to and from the center for rehab. I should be back at work pulling desk duty in maybe two or three weeks."

"You are not being driven by some service," Abby said firmly. "We've already discussed this, and we're going to take turns driving you to and from your sessions, unless there's a case, but even then we're going to work around it."

"You've already decided this?" Tony asked, surprised. "Don't I get a say in any of this?"

"No," was the resounding reply.

"We're family," Abby said. "Family takes care of family."

Tony looked at Gibbs helplessly, who said nothing, sitting in his chair, drinking his coffee and looking enigmatic.