Searching for Trouble
Rated PG-13 for language (minor -- nothing we all haven't said after dropping something breakable)

AN: This was written as a response to a challenge in which I was provided the first and last lines. The only other requirement was a minimum of 500 words. That part wasn't a problem. I need to thank m.a.c. for being my beta and psychic link. Without you, my twin, this would not be here! And thanks to jo for proofing us both.

Is it meant to be this slimy? Kate asked. She looked with distaste at the scummy buildup in the disused hot tub.

How do you know it's slimy? You haven't even stuck your hand in there yet, Tony grinned back at her. C'mon, we're never gonna get that rifle if you don't...

Why do I have to go fishing around in that disgusting mess? You know, Tony, you look like you could do with a rinse. Kate smiled as she looked over her rather mud covered partner.

Oh, no. We split the jobs up fair and square. Heads digs out under the porch and tails gets the hot tub. Now I've done mine; mud, spiders, and even a few rodents. Are you telling me you can't handle a little scum? Tony offered her a wicked grin and stepped closer, Does Kate need a big, strong man to...

All right, DiNozzo. Knock it off. I'm not helpless. Kate looked around. If she couldn't get Tony to do it for her, she was going to have to find herself a tool. No way she was getting in that water. Hey, how about that long branch over there? Think I can make a pretty fair sweep of the tub with it so we can see what's in here?

Tony looked at the branch in question and back at the tub. He gave her a slight grimace and a shake of his head. I don't know, Kate. It's an irregular bottom and that branch might be too heavy. It's not a bad idea though, but it's probably not going to keep you out of that tub.

As he spoke, Kate located a more suitable branch a few feet away. I bet this one will work! She carried it back and set it carefully in the tub. Gingerly, she swept it around, feeling for the rifle and disturbing the algae and scum. She caught brief metallic reflections through the murky water and felt her stick bump something. Oh, crap,' she thought.

Tony's acute vision detected the same thing Kate had, and he snickered at her reaction. Looks like you're going swimming in the green stuff.

Not if I can help it. Now that she knew where the rifle was she was relatively sure she could snag it by the trigger guard. Whipping out her knife, she whittled at the tip of her stick, carving a rough hook. Granted, Gibbs could do this quicker, but she was satisfied with her own efforts. She swirled the customized stick into the water, making a small vortex to clear it briefly, and on her third pass, she snagged the rifle. Pulling her prize from its slimy tomb, she grinned triumphantly at Tony. He took the rifle from her with one hand and patted her enthusiastically on the back with the other. Unfortunately, Kate's foot found a slick puddle, and she wound up in the slime nearly up to her shoulders before she could right herself.

As he walked toward the front of the dilapidated cottage, Tony looked down at the mud thoroughly coating his jumpsuit and tried not to think about the spider webs he was certain infested his hair, despite the cap. Sorry, Kate, he called back to her. He tried to sound sincere, but why should she be the only one to get to go back clean?

A ghostly Gibbs stepped through the main door as Tony reached the front corner of the house. Hey Boss, where were you searching? The flour bins?

Gibbs gave the younger man a wry look. Attic, actually. Dust up there was a foot thick. A great sneeze suddenly overcame him, and dust became briefly airborne before settling back on him. I see you had some luck. Where'd you find the rifle? In the mud pits?

Actually, no. It was Kate who... Tony glanced over his shoulder as the agent in question stomped toward him. Oh boy. Now, Kate... don't be like that...

Tony, is there even one square inch on you that's mud free? Because I'm going to smear this algae...

Kate! Nice to see you stayed so clean. Everyone else is going to be quite envious. Now, about the rifle? Gibbs voice, as usual, cut right through Tony and Kate's pseudo-marital wrangling. He started down the steps of the large wraparound porch, intent on inspecting the team's most recent find.

Oh, uh, I found it in the hot tub. Kate glanced around to take stock of the other agents who had been searching the rundown property. One was nursing numerous bee stings, another either hives or poison ivy. Kate shuddered; don't ride back in that truck, she told herself. Yet another agent was having his leg splinted by EMTs -- either a bad sprain or a break where some floorboards had given way. The place looked little better than a war zone.

Tony saw the direction of Kate's gaze and reflected on Erickson, the little puke they had in custody. Five Marine training groups struck by what appeared to be a stomach virus, later proved to be deliberate sabotage of their water tanks. Eighteen months the case had sat cold and then three weeks ago an odd piece of intel had crossed his desk. It didn't connect to anything, but it was a boring day in the office and a nice day outside. Tony had conned Gibbs into letting him check it out. The result? Four days ago they caught the weasel. Interrogation got them nowhere, until this morning. First thing, bright and early, he wanted to talk about this place. Wanted to tell them what they'd find. And where to look. Should have known he'd have hidden the stuff in treacherous places. If he'd booby trapped the place, he probably couldn't have done better.

Did we find everything we were looking for? Or did the House from Hell' win? Tony watched as Gibbs came around from the bottom of the steps to join him and Kate, sneezing a couple more times along the way. They backed warily away from the dust storm their leader brought with him. No offense, Boss, Tony offered at Gibbs' look.

The older man sighed and nodded his understanding. Everything but the poison lab. We believe it's in the basement, but no one's willing to go down there. Gibbs said as he tried to brush the dust out of his hair and off his clothes. Kate and Tony tried to suppress grins as their leader was shrouded in a halo of dust particles that only seemed to land right back on him. It added to the uncanny resemblance Gibbs now bore to a certain cartoon character usually enveloped in a cloud of dirt. Gibbs ignored their ill-concealed humor as he continued, We're the only ones who are just dirty and not injured, but it's likely going to take more than one person. We suspect the stairs leading down there are more rotten than the floorboards that got Terry. We're not sure, though; we haven't been able to get back there.

You must be joking, Tony looked at Gibbs, stunned, then glanced at Kate. I'm all for going for the prize, but I've got mud in places no man should have mud! Kate's algae, no offense, Kate, is starting to smell a little funky. And you -- bless you, again -- want us, Sneezy, Muddy and Stinky, to wade our way through weakened floorboards, brave the cellar stair nasties and then into who knows what? His partners chuckled at his colorful description. I have a better idea. Let's all go home, get clean and come back with a wrecking crew. Once we demolish that house I'll feel a lot better about trying to take on that cellar. Tony would probably never have spoken like that about something so important, but the mud was starting to harden, and itch. Not to mention crumble into awkward places. His growing discomfort made him just a bit testy.

Kate discreetly sniffed herself and wrinkled her nose. Stink she did, and it wasn't like she could just change shirts. The crud had soaked all the way into her clothes to her skin. She'd probably have to incinerate all three layers and fumigate herself. Bless you, she said automatically, as Gibbs sneezed again. Are you sure this isn't an allergic reaction? You're not looking so good.

Gibbs waved away Kate's concern and considered Tony's comments. The younger agent was definitely right about one thing; they had no intel about the contents of the basement. And looking at what had happened to the rest of them just searching for the minor items they knew to be here, he didn't trust Erickson not to have booby trapped the basement. He'd certainly chosen his hideout well and used the property to its best advantage to stash his deadly material. Perhaps it was unfair to ask his team to risk themselves right now. But his gut told him they didn't have unlimited time. Their slimebag gave up this location exactly when he did for a reason. Gibbs believed if they didn't get down in that basement extremely soon they would lose their biggest and most important piece of evidence. All practical thought was lost, however, when another sneezing fit overcame him, leaving him vomiting violently on the lawn.

Hey, Boss.... Tony began, as Gibbs sagged to the ground. Kate, help me! Tony and Kate flanked their woozy boss and helped him over to the ambulance. We cannot go scouting for the poison lab with Gibbs like this. And this mud is getting more uncomfortable by the minute.

Tell me about it. I'm not sure about the smell, but I'm really starting to itch, Kate replied. She realized that whatever was wet with scummy water was becoming seriously uncomfortable. They sat Gibbs down on the ambulance fender; his sneezing had subsided, but his face was reddening and he had started to rub at it. He looked miserable. Without warning, Gibbs lunged off the fender and fell to his knees, upchucking again. It's all right, Gibbs. We can fill the EMT in on... Kate reached out her hand in comfort but Gibbs smacked it away with some vehemence as he curled up in a ball of human misery.

Gibbs grunted out. God, but his head was starting to really hurt. As if the nausea wasn't enough, his face began to burn. Pain wove through him again and he was unable to suppress a groan.

Yes, Gibbs, the lab. We know. Kate said absently. She looked at Tony quizzically. What do we do now? We can't just go down there ourselves. We're going to have to call for backup. Kate noticed Tony wasn't quite listening to her. Tony? What's wrong?

Tony stood still and let it all flow around him for just a moment. Then he turned toward Kate, who was unconsciously rubbing and scratching. I don't think Gibbs is talking about the lab. I think he means he was poisoned. Maybe we all were. Erickson's a poisoner. We haven't reached his lab yet, that's the prize. Gibbs said the attic dust was a foot thick. No way that could be true unless it was planted. It's probably poisoned. And I'll bet anything so's your algae. Sorry, Kate, he added when he remembered he was the reason she was wearing it.

Tell you what, be sorry later. Right now, let's just get Gibbs taken care of. Hey, what about your mud?

I have no idea about the mud. You'd better get out of that shirt and anything else and get thoroughly washed off. Gibbs, too. Ask the EMTs for help in rigging up some kind of temporary shower or something and see if they have something for you and Gibbs to wear. But bag and tag the clothes. I'm calling Abby and Ducky. I want Ducky out here now, and I need to know what Abby needs to help you both out. I'm also getting another team in here with some extra equipment. Gibbs wanted that poison lab today; I think maybe time is of the essence.

Kate just stared at Tony for a second, a small smile crossing her face. Sometimes it was easy to forget that the guy with the killer grin and devil-may-care attitude could turn practically into a Gibbs clone in an instant. She thought about complimenting him on both his quick thinking and decisive action, but decided against it. While it would please him, it would also distract him. She turned to talk to the EMTs who were working with Gibbs and filled them in on what they knew, what they suspected and what they needed.