interagency cooperation

five

You sat back in the conference room chair, keeping a quiet eye trained on Gibbs and Dr. Servaes.

The doctor was clearly exhausted, but kept up a strong front to answer questions.

"Eris wasn't supposed to be home until next week. I told her it was okay if she missed our anniversary, because all I wanted was for her to come home safe."

"Dr. Servaes, is there anyone who can account for your whereabouts in the last week?"

He stopped, looking straight at Agent Gibbs.

"You think I did this? She was my going to be my WIFE! I love- loved her."

"Doctor, please, we just need you to answer these questions."  You reached over, placing your hand over his in a comforting gesture. JJ did something similar whenever someone was distressed, so you hoped it would help as well.

Gibbs narrowed his eyes ever-so slightly, watching as the other man composed himself.

"I-I talked to Eris about two weeks ago, but I didn't know she was anywhere near U.S. shores." He stammered.

"For those two weeks, I was teaching and working late shifts volunteering at the museum. It's supposed to be field trip season soon, so I've been working with kids and teachers day after day. I was building up my overtime and money so I could take her somewhere nice."

His phone rang, a light chime making him jump with apprehension.

"I, uh, have to take this."

The door shut with a quiet click when he stepped out, leaving you alone with the (unsurprisingly) quiet man.

"So,-" Gibbs finished off a sentence on his notepad before tucking it away. "Pick up anything?"

You tilted your chair to face him. "I didn't think you'd be one to take stock in profiling, Agent Gibbs."

"I've seen what a good profile can get."

You remembered hearing about the death of Agent Todd through the agency grapevine a while ago; she'd attended a few BAU seminars and came close to joining the ranks before deciding on the Secret Service instead.

"Well, he's telling the truth." You tapped on the table to fill the silence.

"People like Servaes are emotionally driven. They empathize and see things from wider perspectives because they can understand both sides. This...is something he can't understand."

"Plus,-" You took out your phone to dial Garcia, giving him a brief smile as you turned back around in your chair. "-My coworker's son hasn't stopped talking about his upcoming museum trip."

Gibbs kept his eyes trained on the back of your chair before turning to his notes, a rare glint in his eyes that rarely showed.

You were certainly proving to be more intriguing than expected.