Woot! First chapter guys! Isn't this exciting...
I don't own any of this and I'm not getting paid for it. (I don't know why not tho)
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"I don't think I can…"
"Sure you can. It's easy. "'Cept for the hard bits," he added, and Kate heard some rocks fall.
"Oh, thanks, Tony, that makes me feel so much better." She scowled as she went closer to the edge, and looked down into the valley. It was darker down there than it was up the top, but she could see Tony about halfway down the steep side. He beckoned her.
It couldn't really be called a valley, not really. A small canyon, maybe. The sides were steep, and high. The case that the men had thrown over had to be recovered, if they wanted to keep their heads when they got back to NCIS. Gibbs was furious enough that they had let the gang get away, but to not bring back the case… Kate shuddered. Part cold, part the horrible thought of telling Gibbs they didn't have it, but part something else too. She felt a shiver down her neck and turned, feeling eyes on the back of her neck. For a second she thought it was just the cold and the dark, she was just getting freaked out… no. Kate Todd had never had a nightmare, never been scared. There was someone watching her.
"Kate?" Tony called.
"Tony," she hissed, drawing her gun out of her holster. "There's someone else here!"
"That's stupid," Tony said, not believing, but whispering anyway. "Why would anyone come out here?"
"To get the case, perhaps?" Kate asked sarcastically, and flung herself to the ground as a shot rang out.
"Kate?"
"Yes Tony?"
"I think you were right,"
Kate rolled her eyes. "You'd better get out of there; you're an easy target"
"I should find the case…"
Another shot was fired, skimming into some bushes near Kate's head.
"Tony! Get out now!" she yelled, but he was already halfway up the side. She squatted behind a thick bush, waiting for Tony. When he peered over the edge, she beckoned him over.
"D'you think it's the same guys?" Kate whispered.
"Maybe. I should have got the case!" Tony cursed himself as they heard some frantic shuffling in the valley.
"How'd they get down there so fast?" Kate asked.
"Must have been less steep over the other side. C'mon." He stood, his back bent to keep behind the bush.
"Tony! I don't have any rounds left! And neither do you! We finished them in the shoot out before!"
"Damn!" Tony swore. "But we have to do something. Don't you have any ammo?"
"No. Maybe they've left their get away vehicle unattended." She tried not to get too hopeful. Gibbs had decided to leave them to walk to the bus depot when they had the case, as punishment for not getting the gang. They hadn't suspected there to be anyone coming back.
"I doubt it."
"So what do we do?"
He question was answered as a deep voice cut through the silence.
"Come out, NCIS agents."
Kate and Tony exchanged a look.
"And don't even think about pretending you're not there. Come out now, and I might be nice."
Kate sighed and started to stand. Tony dragged her down.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Kate pointed to a spot to their left, and another right in front of them. Metal gleamed. "They've got their guns trained on us. They know we're here, Tony."
Tony let her go and stood up himself.
"How can we help you sir?"
The man laughed. "There are two of you, yes? One man and a woman?"
Tony glanced at Kate. "Why?"
"Oh, just interested, Special Agent. If you would care to step over here, and we'll sort out this business."
Kate and Tony looked at each other, and jumped as a gun was poked into each of their backs. "The boss said move," said a nervous voice. This man wasn't as sure of the outcome of this as his boss was, obviously. They were walked over to a clearing about 100 metres away, where there were two four- wheel drives, and about 15 armed men. Kate and Tony looked shocked. How had so many people been able to be here, and they not have known?
A tall, thin man came out. He came and stood in front of them, and looked them over.
"Thank you for joining us… I'm sorry, I don't have the pleasure of knowing your names."
Neither answered. He turned his attention to Kate. "And what is your name?"
She glared at him, and he laughed, cupping her chin in one hand. "Come now," he laughed. "I'm not going to hurt you. Unless you don't tell me, of course. And if I found out you've told me a false name, it will hurt later." Kate still said nothing. The man's grip on her chin tightened, and she winced. He twisted her face side to side, holding hard enough to bruise. Then, suddenly, he sent a hand snaking down to pull her badge and wallet out of her belt. He flipped her wallet open, his eyes on her face. "Caitlin Todd, I see. Well, let's see what the other one's name is, shall we?"
Tony twisted, to keep them from reaching it, but the man holding the gun to his back twisted his arm around, and the tall man pulled his wallet out. "… And Anthony DiNozzo. Well, now that we all know each other, let's talk about our case."
"What's your name?" Kate asked painfully.
The man ignored her. "We know you have it. I don't know why your boss sent you back here, when you would have had it far away by now. But I want it back," he snarled, and brought his face close to Tony's. "So I'm going to send you back to your boss to get it, while I keep Caitlin here, to make sure that you come back." Tony glanced down at Kate, whose face was unreadable.
"And if I don't come back?"
"What do you think, Mr DiNozzo? We kill her. It would be a waste," he said, turning to Kate again. "I do hate to kill beautiful women. But sometimes, it is necessary." He smiled at Tony.
"So make sure you come back. And don't take too long, or Caitlin will pay the price."
R&R :)
