Plip, plip, plunk.

Tim cringed as another drop fell on his neck and slid under his shirt collar. Shining his flashlight around the tunnel in an attempt to find some definition in the darkness, he began to wonder if it was really necessary to follow the mysterious path that appeared to be a sewage pipe. Thinking back, yes, this was definitely necessary. The face had come down here.

Three nights ago, he had been decorating the tiny tree he managed to fit in his apartment every year when he had looked up and seen a face in his window. He caught only a glimpse before the face faded back into the black of snow in the night. He had tried to dismiss it, tried to let it go as a figment of his imagination, but it just kept eating at him.

Then he had seen the face again, staring right at him as he was about to get into the elevator. Immediately, he had given chase. Tim didn't even remember how they had gotten to this pipe but this was where he had lost the face.

"GAAAAAAAAHHH!" Tim was snapped out of his memories by Tony's yelp.

"What?" Tim rounded on his partner, annoyed. It was bad enough that he wasn't sure they could find their way out; he didn't need Tony jumping at everything. Tony looked at him with a grimace.

"A rat just ran across my foot. It was huge. Like something out of The Princess Bride. That makes me Cary Elwes and you Robin Wright. Great movie. Do you think Ziva could be Mandy—? "

"TONY." Tim cut him off. Tony scowled.

"Well excuse me, McButtercup. Is there even anything down here?" Tim sighed.

"Yes, Tony, there is. I told—."

"Yes, I know, you saw a man in your window and now you've seen him again. Can we hurry up and get out of here?"

"I would love nothing more." Tim agreed and the pair continued edging their way along the pipe. After a few moments of silence, Tim once again became irritated at the sound of Tony whistling. "Tony, could you please cut it out? I would really prefer quiet right now."

"Are you sure? I find whistling can really cheer you up especially when you're hallucinating."

"Tony, please."

"Alright." The whistling stopped. Tim didn't get much relief though, for within a few seconds it began again. Tim turned around and glared at his partner. Tony held his hands up in defense.

"Probie, that' not me."

"Come on, Tony, you were just—."

"I'm serious, that's not me." The whistling picked up again before Tony finished his words. Both men looked around for the source of the sound. Turning back to Tony, Tim shrugged only to see Tony's eyes widen with alarm. "MCGEE, GET DOWN!" He shouted. Tim turned around to see a small red dot flitting across his chest.

The thunderous crack of the bullet shook through the tunnel and Tim slammed into the floor. The impact pushed all the air from his lungs and he heard the bullet ricocheting through the pipe. Then he could feel Tony dragging him across the ground.

"Come on, McGee, use your legs!" Tony hissed as he pulled Tim through the slime. Catching his breath, Tim scrambled to his feet and the two pressed themselves up against the wall of the tunnel. "Where did that—?"

Another bullet whizzed past, narrowly missing Tony's head. Tony quickly pulled out his gun and began firing in the general direction of the shot. Tim followed suit. A bullet bounced between their feet, splashing them with the mucky waters of the pipe. Crouching against the walls, Tony and Tim darted forward along the tunnel. Shots began to fly by, zooming past them with less and less time in between.

A bullet whistled by, nicking Tim in the calf, and he gritted his teeth against the pain. They were close. Taking a quick sweep with his flashlight, Tim spotted a branch off only a few feet away. Tony rushed forward, swinging his gun around the corner, with Tim on his heels.

"Drop your weapon!" There was no reply. They faced an unmanned sniper rifle bolted to the wall, wires running between. Dumbfounded, they slowly lowered their guns. Tim turned toward Tony, opening his mouth to speak but his words were cut short by a sudden, blinding light from behind. Whipping around, Tim found himself staring down the dark barrel of a handgun. The face smirked.

"Boo."