The haar moved slowly up the Forth, swirling. It was painful. It seeped through your clothing to your bones; you suddenly felt cold, your skin damp. It was like a silent cloud enveloping everything it touched. If you had never felt the fingers of death, then maybe this was how it would be, but there was something comforting about it, was this how those who died of hyperthermia felt, a feeling of euphoria within this blanket. Dr. Mallard looked down at the cloud from the bridge. It relentlessly rolled under the steelwork, he heard the horn, the fog horn. Only on the East Coast of Scotland would the haar appear when the cold air from the North Sea met the warm air of the central belt. Ozone how do you, explain the smell of ozone…it was a smell unto its own, and one Dr. Mallard knew so well…that and the smell from the brewery, oh yes his University days…his thoughts were interrupted by a voice.
"Dr Mallard, wow this is something."
"Mr Palmer, this reminds me of September the 4th 1964…the Queen, Queen Elizabeth the Second opened this bridge. The weather was very much as it was today, but due to the fickleness of the Scottish weather at 11.00 o'clock on the dot, the haar moved aside like a huge theatrical curtain to show the bridge and the Queens car cross. She was wearing blue that day." Ducky so theatrically showed.
"Wow, you were there Doctor?" Jimmy oozed.
"I was Mr Palmer. I was one of the many spectators in small craft under the bridge. They say Edinburgh has four seasons in one day, I would say more like one hour…..I remember one June day sitting in Princes Street Gardens listening to a Brass Band, who were entertaining from the Ross Bandstand….and it hailed. Yes Edinburgh and Scotland has a strange climate."
"But then again Ducky, is Edinburgh not strange? I mean a city of two halves, the old town and the new." Tim now added joining the conversation but from as far from the railings as possible, "Could I not have just stayed in the nice pub down there?" he now asked waving his hand.
"But Ducky, how are we going to see Gibbs and Ziva in this weather?" Abby now asked camera in hand.
"Don't think McScaredy is going to see, he has his eyes closed." Tony laughed.
"Anthony….Abigail, the haar will clear and we will see. The heat from the sun will disperse the sea fog." Ducky now replied as he watched the cloud begin to roll back.
"So you reckon our illustrious leader will survive?" Tony now asked.
"Jethro is a Marine…..sorry was a Marine he has done this sort of thing before." Ducky replied.
"But not bungee jumping," Jimmy laughed.
"Mr Palmer, Jethro and Ziva are not bungee jumping, they are abseiling from the Forth Rail Bridge," Ducky replied looking out to the second bridge.
"I have been reading about this place, and the Forth Rail Bridge has been invited to prepare a formal bid for World Heritage Status after it was included on a shortlist submitted to UNESCO earlier this year." Tim whispered, "It could gain equal kudos to the Taj Mahal in India and the Great Wall of China."
"You have been doing your homework." Dr Mallard answered.
"But Duks, could I not just have sat in the Hawes Inn, I could have got some inspiration for writing. Robert Louis Stevenson wrote part of Kidnapped there and it was mentioned in the book?" Tim now asked.
They watched, well four pairs of eyes watched as the mist cleared and the Rail Bridge came into view.
"This reminds me of the 1959 version of "The 39 Steps"." Tony added.
"Would do Tony, Abby just make sure you get good video pics so I can look later." Tim now replied.
"Ok I'm off to the foot of the Rail Bridge, catch you all later," as Abby now skipped off the bridge and down into South Queensferry.
"Wait for me," as Tim now sank to his knees and half crawled after Abby.
-oOo-
"You guys ready?" the Sergeant asked of Gibbs and Ziva, from the rail track.
"As ready as we'll ever be," Gibbs replied looking at Ziva who nodded.
"There is another Sergeant at the foot ready to catch, but when you're ready," as he watched Gibbs and Ziva jump.
The Marine stood at the base, "Good guys…..you done this before?" he asked laughing.
"Yep, I was a Gunny." Gibbs replied.
"And I was Mossad," Ziva added, smiling as she began to unclasp the harness.
"Gibbs, Gibbs , Gibbs…..I got it all on the camera, now I need to get somewhere to down load and send to DC. Is there a café around here?" she asked looking about.
"There is one just down the road does a real good latte too." the Marine replied.
"Cool" as Abby turned and walked to the Internet Café, while Tim headed for the Inn.
100 hours earlier.
"What you think Gibbs, would Director Vance let us?" Abby had asked as she threw the flier onto Jethro's desk, "It says Inter-Agency jail break challenge."
"It does doesn't it….so what you want me to do?" Gibbs asked looking t Abby.
"Ask Director Vance if we can do it?" Abby pleaded.
"Ahha Jethro I see you too have been given a flier. I must say I could maybe do something for you. Remember Lachie?….he owes me…and I was thinking…."
"So was I Duks." As Gibbs picked up the phone and dialed a number, "Tobias, have you seen this Inter Agency Jailbreak Charity Challenge?...You up for it?...good I'll ask my Director."
88 hours earlier
"I really do not look good in orange," Tony commented.
"I am beginning to think this is not a good idea," Tim added.
"This ball and chain is kinda light," Jimmy now commented picking up the ball.
"Hey guys it is goin' to be fun," Abbs laughed looking at the boys, "And yes Jimmy it is only a prop. But where are Gibbs and Ziva," she now asked looking about.
"We're here Abbs, just finalising some details with the Director." Gibbs replied.
"And my father will not buy it so sorry there." Ziva continued.