Gibbs is running easily along the sidewalk. Not being able to sleep and not feeling like working in his basement; he put his tennis shoes on and left the house. Only sound as he runs is the sound of his tennis shoes hitting the pavement in a rhythmic pounding that soothes him. Thoughts of the team are flitting through his mind. His breath huffs out in a white spiral in the cool air as he veers off the pavement and onto the path of the slightly wooded area near his home. The earthly smell of the woods beckons him. He can pick out pine and oak easily in the aromas. His feet make no noise on the dampened leaves. As he runs deeper into the woods, his gut starts churning. He pays closer attention to his surroundings. As he gets closer to the next bend in the path, he speeds up. The view on the path has his blood boiling and freezing at the same time. A man is bending over the prone figure of a woman and he is slicing her clothes off. Gibbs picks up speed and barrels into the guy. The guy comes up swinging a switchblade. Gibbs swings his foot in an arc and feels satisfaction from the grunt of the attacker as the blade flies from the gloved hand into the leaves. The hooded guy takes off and Gibbs kneels by the woman to check her pulse even though he wants to run after the attacker. He sighs as he finds the steady beat. He looks at the tattered remains of the cloth on her pale skin. Could you even call what was left clothes? He starts running his hands over her arms and legs lightly to check for broken bones. Suddenly, his feet are swiped wide and he lands on his butt. Pain in his ribs has him jumping up quickly. The victim is on her feet and striking out again. Gibbs blocks this one easily, "Ma'am. I'm a federal agent." He blocks another jab and sucks in a breath when another one finds its mark.

"Really? That's a new one." Oh God, her head hurt. She punches forward again only to be blocked once more. Her ribs hurt badly but she isn't going without a fight. He'd already got her down once. Her heart is flying and icicles of fear trip through her pounding blood. She can taste the fear in her mouth. She's never been so scared. She sucks in a breath and kicks hard toward her attacker's knee.

Gibbs deftly steps aside as she strikes toward his knee, "Hey. I'm trying to help you! I'm a federal agent. Lero…." Gibbs grunts as her foot connects with a rib. He resists counter measures as they would hurt her and he was sure she was already hurt enough. He holds out his hands flat to show her he does not have a weapon. Just as she is launching another foot, Gibbs sees the guy coming back. He is aiming a gun. Gibbs lunges forward and plows into the lady just as the gun goes off. Pain slams through Gibbs head and he doesn't have time to regret the sharp cry from the woman as her other foot twists under her. His elbows hits ground first to keep the majority of impact from her body even as he grips her tight and rolls them as the gun goes off again. He sees the flash from the barrel and gets his bearings on the guy who has made the mistake of coming closer to shoot them. Gibbs rolls once more and takes the guys legs out from under him. Gibbs jabs the guy in the throat as he falls. The guy tries to bring the gun up and Gibbs hits his hands. The gun falls and Gibbs grabs it. He hits the guy over the head with the gun. Gibbs is breathing hard and blinks a few times. His vision isn't right. He gets up anyway and stumbles over to the woman. He puts the gun in his waistband and gets out his cell. Dogs are barking and lit windows can be seen through the woods. He is sure the gunfire has awakened quite a few in the area. He kneels down beside her, "Hey. Lady. You ok?" He reaches over to feel her pulse and she sits up.

Her teeth are chattering so she swallows to answer, "Yes. I think I am." Pain lances through her ribs with each breath.

Gibbs dials Ducky, "Duck. I need you. Near my house. Probably will be able to follow the local LEO's." He hangs up. He dials 911 and rattles off the street address and tells them a federal officer needs assistance. He takes off his red sweat jacket, "Here. You are in shock. This will help. I am going to check you for injuries." He looks into her pale face and meets her eyes. He runs his hands lightly over her limbs checking for breaks, "Anything hurt?"

Ashley blinks hard at the tears trying to surface and says through her teeth, "My left ankle doesn't feel right and it is very painful. Hurts to take a breath."

Gibbs eases his hands down over her lower leg, "My badge is in my right pocket if you want to check it. NCIS. Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs." Gibbs feels the already very swollen ankle and winces as she flinches. He had probably been the reason for this break as he had bowled her over to keep her from getting shot. "What's your name, Ma'am?"

Ashley swallows to answer shakily, "Ashley."

Gibbs knows she's barely hanging on, "Ashley. I'm going to take your shoe string out of your other shoe to tie that monster with. You stay very still and I will be right back to you." Gibbs has been unlacing her other shoe as he talks. "Was there any others or just him?"

"Jjjust hi him." Ashley gets out between the teeth chattering. She feels the badge in the pocket of the hoodie but doesn't get it out. I attacked a federal officer who was trying to help. "I'm sor sorry for for attackkking you."

Gibbs smiles for her, "No problem Ashley. I will be right back." He gets up a little unsteadily and grits his teeth as sharp pain knifes through his skull. He pulls the guy roughly into position and ties his hands behind his back tightly. Gibbs walks back to the young lady.

Ashley holds herself as she watches the agent tie the man up. She was freezing but the fear was slowly leaking away to leave her feeling very weak. The adrenaline was gone. Pain throbbed all over. The agent was back beside her.

Gibbs looks down at the young lady who was unconsciously rocking to comfort herself. She was trembling. He sat down behind her. "Ashley. You are in shock. I'm going to wrap my arms around you as gently as I can to lend you warmth."

Ashley cringes at the thought of him touching her but then he was behind her and his touch was very gentle. He pulls her to him and soon she feels heat invading her from his body. She relaxes slightly.

"It's ok Ashley. You can lean into me." He pulls her back against him. "Help will be here shortly. Is there anyone I can call for you? Family?" Gibbs feels her go completely still before she starts shaking violently again.

Ashley, "No. I don't have any family."

Gibbs is alarmed at the icy fill of her skin. And she was now trembling so hard, she was causing his arms to bounce. Need to get her mind off of the attack. "Hey. Ashley?"

Ashley, "Hmm?"

"Do you run often?"

Ashley, "Yes. Every evening but I was late tonight. I was trying to get dinner ready and burned it. I left to get us something to eat and came home only to find a note from …." Ashley clamps her mouth shut immediately. Wil is going to kill me.

Gibbs caught the sudden stiffness. Interesting. Gibbs let her alone. They sit in silence for a few minutes. "You hear the sirens? They will be down here shortly. I'm getting my badge out of the jacket pocket to show them. K?" Gibbs gets his badge and turns when he sees flashlights hitting trees. "Here. Over here." The first police officer arrives and is shining the light in Gibbs face. Gibbs winces, "NCIS. Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs. The attacker is there. She's in shock." He shows the officer his badge.

The officer shines his light where Gibbs points and the light uncovers the attacker still lying where Gibbs dropped him. The officer speaks into his radio, "Officer Timothy Dale. We have an attacker and two vics. Federal officer with head trauma. Shock. Female injuries undetermined. Shock. Thirty feet into the woods." The officer kneels next to Gibbs. He places his hand under Gibbs chin and moves his head slightly. The officer shines a light on the head wound pouring blood. He nods at another officer who comes to him with a clean cloth. More lights are shining around them but no one shines lights directly into Gibbs face again. "Agent Gibbs, I'm Officer Dale. This is Officer Jonathon East. He's going to keep pressure on your head. EMTs are almost here. Hang on a bit longer Agent Gibbs."

Hang on? What? Gibbs tries to focus on the young man's face and doesn't register what he is saying. Need to give him details fast. "I couldn't sleep. Went running. It was almost two. I came around the bend there and he was leaning over her slicing her clothes. We fought. I kicked the switchblade out of his hand. He took off. I came back to help her and she came to and fought me." Gibbs stops and chuckles. "I was trying to calm her and let her know I was a federal agent when he came back with a gun. I bowled her down just as she was pivoting to kick me. We went down just as he fired the gun. I rolled us over and then I rolled back towards him as he was coming at us. Took his feet out from under him and took the gun away from him. I tied him up with her shoe lace." Officers had immediately started combing the area at the mention of the switchblade. Gibbs reaches into his waistband, "Here's the gun." The officer takes the gun from Gibbs. "Her left ankle is broke. Not sure what other injuries she sustained. I gave her my jacket to try and keep the tremors down. Her name's Ashley."

"Ashley. I'm Officer Timothy Dale. I just want to take a look…" Ashley jerks away from his touch and cries out in pain. She shrinks into Gibbs.

Gibbs tightens his arms around her protectively, "Shhh. Shhh. It's ok. Officer Dale's just trying to help." Ashley turns her face into Gibbs neck. Gibbs feels the moisture on his neck. Gibbs and the officer exchange a look. Gibbs tries again, "Ashley. Officer Dale just wants to make sure you're not injured badly other than your foot. Ok?"

Gibbs tries to take his arms from around her and Ashley grips his arms tightly to keep him from moving away from her.

Ashley is terrified. The metallic taste of fear was thick in her mouth. "Don't." Said so softly Gibbs could barely here her. "Don't leave me."

Gibbs softens his body and tightens his arms back around her, "Easy. I'm not going anywhere. Shhh. No one is going to hurt you, Ashley. You have my promise." Gibbs looks squarely into the officer's eyes as he says this. Gone was the injured man. This was all Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs.

The officer finds himself standing taller when those blue eyes bore into his. He nods to let the man know he understands.

Gibbs sighs inwardly. Hammers are attacking his skull and he didn't know how much more he could handle. He relaxes even more as he hears a familiar and dear voice, "I don't care. Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs called me and told me to come. Now. If you don't let me to him immediately, I will contact your superiors." Moments later, Ducky is kneeling next to Gibbs where Officer East has been. A sigh. "Jethro. What on earth…"

"Thanks for coming Duck." He winces as Ducky probes the wound on his head. "The EMT's have just arrived Jethro. I am not suggesting you go with them so much as ordering you to." Ducky looks at the officer, "I'm Dr. Donald Mallard. I work with Agent Gibbs."

"Officer Timothy Dale. Glad you are here Dr. Mallard as I have a feeling he would not let me talk him into going with these guys so easily." The officer nods at the techs coming down the path. As they get near, Officer Dale comes to the EMT and whispers in her ear. She nods and kneels down next to Gibbs and Ashley.

Ashley feels more people near her. She tries to burrow deeper into Gibbs, "Ashley. Easy. It's ok." Gibbs rubs her arms. "These people are here to help you." She doesn't know why she can't handle anyone else but it is like once she trusted Gibbs and could feel the protectiveness in him towards her, she couldn't trust anyone else. She wasn't good around people.

Susan directs her conversation to Gibbs seeing that the young lady is in an obvious state of fear but needing to see to her immediately, "I'm Susan. Let me take a look at you. What is your name?"

"I'm Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs." Susan looks at Ducky while she looks Gibbs over quickly.

"I work with Agent Gibbs. Dr. Donald Mallard." Susan checks Gibbs eyes and frowns. She exchanges a look with Ducky. "He has already agreed to go to the hospital."

Susan nods and looks at the girl burrowed into Gibbs. Gibbs looks at Susan, "Her name's Ashley."

Susan softly, "Ashley. My name is Susan and I'm here to help you. We need to get you to the ambulance and take you to the hospital. Can you hear me?" No response. "It's ok Ashley. I am going to look at your ankle." Susan can already tell her ankle was bad. It was very swollen. She looks at Gibbs. She turns her hands and shows Gibbs what she needs.

Gibbs shifts Ashley in his arms, "Ashley. It's ok, hon. I'm not going to let anyone harm you. I won't leave you I promise. Susan is going to put an IV in you. You don't have to move."

Susan has already got what she needs out of her bag. She looks at Gibbs as she works. "It's a mild sedative to get her calm so we can check her out good. Will you ride in the ambulance with her?"

The quiet yes into his chest makes his heart ache. Gibbs looks at Susan, "Of course." Gibbs looks back at Ducky who nods without Gibbs having to ask.

Ducky smiles, "I'll bring a change of clothes for you."

Gibbs keeps his hold on Ashley. He feels her body slump.

Susan reaches for her, "It's ok Agent Gibbs. You can release her."

Gibbs looks at Susan with an intense stare that promises retribution if she doesn't care for the young lady and then he too slumps. Both are quickly loaded into the ambulance while a worried Ducky hurries to Gibb's house dialing the phone.

.