All the King's Horses

Rated: T

Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS or its characters. I do like to play with them, however.

Summary: When their fearless leader goes missing, Gibbs' team battles to find him before his time runs out...

A/N: This is for my one-year anniversary for writing NCIS fanfiction (2/8). Hope you enjoy :)

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Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo stealthily exited the elevator and made it to his desk, all the while being observed by a slightly amused Special Agent McGee.

"Good morning, Tony," the younger agent greeting with a slight smirk. "You're late," he pointed out, thought it was obvious that the senior field agent was already aware.

"By five minutes, Probie. Don't start with me; I've had an incredibly craptastic morning. Where's Gibbs?" he asked as he tucked his backpack beside his desk and sank into his chair to boot his computer. "MTAC?"

"No, I haven't seen him this morning," McGee replied. "Craptastic? What's the matter; coyote ugly experience?" he grinned.

"Coyote ugly would still be more action than you're getting, McMakingitworse. But no, that's not got anything to do with it. And what do ya mean, 'you haven't seen him'? His car's in the lot."

Tim furrowed his brow, "Well, I've been here for over an hour, and he hasn't been down here or in Abby's lab..."

"Did you try his cell?"

"I don't really have a reason to bother him just yet... Why are you so eager to find him? This is your perfect opportunity to get away with being late."

"As if a silly thing like him not seeing me come in is gonna mean he doesn't know," he scoffed. At that moment, the elevator dinged again and out stepped Ziva David, looking disheveled and rushed as she hurried to her desk. "Good to see I'm at least not the latest one in today," he smirked.

"Sorry," she proclaimed as she situated herself at her desk. "I did not anticipate being attacked by a dog on my morning run."

"Oh my god, Ziva, are you okay?" McGee asked as he stood and walked to her desk with concern written all over his face.

"I am fine, McGee," she said, glancing up at him from her seat, and then to Tony, who had also gotten up and approached her desk to appraise her. "The dog, however, is not so lucky."

"What'd you do to the dog?" Tony asked.

"Oh god...whatever it is, don't let it get back to Abby," McGee warned.

"Let what get back to me?" Abby Sciuto bounced into the bullpen.

"Uh...nothing, Abby," Ziva smiled. "What can we do for you?" she asked, quickly changing the subject as the other two agents retreated back to their desks.

"I'm looking for Gibbs. He was supposed to come down to my lab... Well, not supposed to, but he usually does, by now. Unless you're really busy with a case and you're not waiting on anything from me. Which is pretty rare, honestly... Not- not that you're never busy with a case! But that you wouldn't need me for something while being also busy with a case-"

"Abby!" Tony hushed her rambling.

"Sorry... But anyway, yeah. Gibbs always comes to see me by now... It's just a little strange, is all."

"You sure he's not up in MTAC or with Vance?" Tony asked Tim.

"Pretty sure," McGee replied. "Nothing was scheduled in MTAC, and Vance was down here looking for him, too."

Tony's gut began to churn. He walked to Gibbs' desk and quickly surveyed the area. "He hasn't been here," he concluded. "No empty coffee cups in the trash. Desk hasn't been touched since last night."

"How can you tell that?" Tim asked.

"Because I'm observant," he retorted. "Part of my job," he glared for a moment. Tim dropped his gaze; a bit ashamed he hadn't figured that much out. "His car is in the same spot it was yesterday. Did he not go home?"

"He said he was heading home around 1900 hours," Abby told them. "He stopped by the lab to say goodnight. Had his pack and everything."

"That's it; I'm calling him," Tony went back to his desk and picked up his phone, punching in Gibbs' cell. After a moment, he met the eyes of his teammates, "Goes straight to voice mail."

"No one is answering at his house," Ziva told them as she hung up her own phone.

"Gibbs never turns off his phone," Abby said, worriedly, "Except on his anniversaries, and today's definitely not one of those days..."

"McGoo, can you get into the security feed?" Tony's heart was racing in his chest, now. "1900 hours is the last he was seen; Abby's lab. Start with the elevator on that floor."

Black and white footage appeared on Tim's computer screen and Tony leaned on the desk, one hand on its edge, and the other on the back of McGee's chair, watching intently. Ziva and Abby stood behind them to observe.

Sure enough, Gibbs came walking on camera toward the elevator. There was a cup of coffee in his hand that he'd gotten in the break room, Tony noticed. He punched the button for the elevator with his free hand, then adjusted the pack on his shoulder as he waited. Once he entered the elevator, McGee went to switch camera shots, and Gibbs could be seen taking a long sip from his cup before the doors closed and the camera switched over.

"Here's the ground floor," Tim verified as the picture came up. The elevator opened and Gibbs came strolling out. He stopped for a moment, looking around, then finished his coffee and threw the cup into the trashcan beside the elevator doors.

Tony narrowed his eyes as Gibbs wiped a hand down his face and yawned, shaking his head as if trying to wake himself up.

"It was a long day," Ziva commented.

"Mmhm," Tony replied, shortly. Once Gibbs walked off camera, Tim changed the view again, taking it from a camera in the parking lot. They watched Gibbs come out the door and head toward the lot. He seemed to trip over his own foot, and regained his balance for a moment before leaning on the trunk of a nearby car.

"What's wrong with him?" McGee asked.

"That is more than just tired," Ziva agreed.

They watched in horror as Gibbs collapsed to the ground. And suddenly, from out of the camera's view, a masked man appeared and casually picked up the unconscious lead agent, and carried him away.

"Other cams, McGee," Tony pressed as he studied the screen intently.

"Other cams were down for maintenance last night between 1800 and 2100 hours," Tim reported, reluctantly.

Tony stood and ran a nervous hand through his hair, gripping it in the back out of frustration. His colleagues stood just as afraid as he. Speechless from the truth they'd just witnessed...

...Gibbs had been kidnapped...

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Tbc...