-NCIS—
Tony stared at the bomb in his hand. Three minutes. That was all he had. Three minutes to climb four flights of stairs, run down three corridors and pass through five doors. Nothing too hard, really. Except of course that to do all that he had to let go of the bomb which would mean the timer that was on currently counting down at a second a minute would go back to real time. That would be one hundred and eighty seconds to go all that distance.
"I need you to leave," Tony whispered, his back still turned to his team.
"Tony, no," protested Ziva. "The bomb squad-"
"We both know they won't make it in time," Tony interrupted her.
"Then let me have another look at it?" she pleaded.
"You already did, I believe that's why we're down to three minutes, sorry, two minutes and fifty-nine seconds."
"Tony, I-"
"It's okay, now get going," he urged.
"We're a team, no man gets left behind," said McGee.
"Noble thoughts McLord, but I'm faster," Tony smiled.
"You've said that before," McGee muttered.
"And I was right," Tony said, his grin getting wider.
"Tony, I can't let you do this," said Ziva, frowning at him.
"I'm not asking. Now go," Tony ordered. "Go!" he shouted.
The three agents stared at each other, none of them wanting to back down. "Alright," said Ziva giving in. "But don't you dare leave it till the last moment to let go. You give yourself as much time as you can. You hear me?" she said jabbing him in the chest with one finger.
Tony grinned widely, "You better get going then."
McGee nodded grabbing a hold of Ziva's arm and pulling her towards the door, pushing her ahead of him, he turned back to Tony. "You better be right behind us."
Then he was gone. Tony breathed a deep sigh of relief, it was his job to make sure the team was safe, and he'd done that, now he just had to worry about himself. He looked back at the clock on the bomb, two minutes and fifty-eight seconds left. He would give Ziva and McGee five minutes to get out of the building and to safety. Then he would make his move.
Two minutes and fifty-three seconds. He would have two minutes and fifty-three seconds to climb four flights, go down three corridors and pass through five doors. The clock ticked over to two minutes and fifty-three seconds.
Dropping the bomb he started to run. The first door was open, skidding round the corner he dashed down the first corridor towards the stairwell. Flinging open the second door he started to climb.
Grabbing the rail he propelled himself around the corner and up the second flight. His blood pumping through his body, pounding inside his head. His legs burned with the effort, his knees screamed under pressure.
Third flight. Fourth flight. His breath coming in harsh gasps as he pushed himself harder and harder. Two minutes and fifty-three seconds, ran through his head, over and over. Two minutes and fifty-three seconds.
He was at the top of the stairs, reaching for the handle of the third door, only pausing for a moment as he wrenched it open and passes through, and then he's running again. Legs pumping, arms swinging he's on the second corridor. Not much further to go now. He's almost there, he's almost there.
He can see the fourth door, using his shoulder he crashes into it. His momentum not halting, he carries on going, flinging himself round the last corner, he slips.
His left knee crashes into the floor, the pain barely registers as he collides with the opposite wall. Cursing himself for wearing his designer shoes today.
Scrambling up he starts to run again. The fifth door. The last door, it's in sight. He made it, he actually made it. Putting on an extra burst of speed, he pushes himself those extra few metres.
Two minutes and fifty-three seconds and he's pushing open that final door, the sunlight cuts across his eyes as he carries on running. He's not safe yet.
He's running across the parking lot as the ground begins to tremble, then he's flying. Flying in a world of heat as his vision goes white. Two minutes and fifty three seconds. He can't feel anything, and then everything goes black.
Zero.
-NCIS-
AN: I hope you enjoyed this, I'm not sure whether to continue this or just let you all keep guessing. Thoughts and opinions welcome.