Popcorn

A plain black panel truck was gaining speed as it barreled down the street. It had no headlights, noticed an EMT hanging around outside the emergency room door at Bethesda. The chilly November night had been relatively quiet in D. C. That was about to change as the van skidded to a halt. Great, he thought, the last thing he wanted to do tonight was be an eyewitness. The tinted windows confirmed his suspicions. The EMT heaved a sigh of relief but before he exhaled he heard the rear doors open and something, or someone, being shoved out onto the pavement."

"There goes my night" he muttered then he signaled to a nurse, who he'd been sitting outside with smoking, to bring a gurney. When the van peeled out the EMT discovered it was a female who'd been dumped in a garbage sack with ropes around her wrists and ankles. It can never be simple he thought kneeling down to check for a pulse.

DiNozzo had successfully sneaked his intended target. He had nothing against its previous owner but the snack machine had not been filled in the break room since last week. The director must be cutting corners. Yet he admired McGee, his attention to detail, the way he took all of the new terms of endearment DiNozzo wrought on him, but more importantly, his total lack of the things going on around him.

"Sorry Probie, it's every man for himself," he mumbled sitting back down at his desk with his newly acquired doughnut. McGee hadn't noticed him spiriting it away because he was wrapped up in checking his emails for the umpteenth time this morning. Wanting to enjoy the fruits of his labor, Tony pulled out a napkin slowly and picked up the pastry just as the phone across the bullpen rang. It was Gibbs' phone, he knew he would suffer if he didn't answer and take a message. Casually he looked over to the unsuspecting McGee, then chuckled, McGoo wouldn't notice anything when he was gazing into his computer screen, he thought, besides I don't want him to notice his breakfast is gone.

So he stowed his stolen prize in the top drawer of his desk and strolled over to the Boss' desk, "Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo, how can I help you?" he began, "No Agent Gibbs isn't here," he paused to grab a pen and paper, "What? Yeah sure," he began to write, "Excuse me? Did I hear you right? OK, yeah Thanks." He slammed the phone down forcefully, "That was weird." Oh well, back to the task at hand, he marched back over to his desk and resituated himself, all the while McGee was obliviously engrossed in his own little cyber world. His loss, Tony thought, bringing the doughnut out into the light.

In the distance the elevator bell chimed, signaling the completion of the team as Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Ziva David walked onto the killing floor. Gibbs with coffee in hand was all business however the saucy ex-Mossad officer saw the opportunity to strike, and strike she did. "Hey!" grumbled Tony, mid-doughnut. He had only just sunk his teeth in before having his prize slapped from his clutches, "I was in a good mood until you showed up" he declared, crumbs spraying from his mouth, as he began collecting the pieces of his obliterated prize.

"Thief" snapped Ziva, "McGee gets the same type doughnut every day so don't tell me you bought it and were sitting there happier than if you were poking a pig."

She may speak five languages but Ziva sometimes got her words mixed up. She had been getting better. Tony and McGee had been working with her, actually messing with her, before she had been sent back to Mossad by Director Vance the first time. Then their tutelage had to start over only to have to begin yet again after she returned, this time for good, from being a hostage.

"That's 'pig in a poke' oh cranky one"

With his morning, as well as his doughnut smashed Tony cleared his desk, "DiNozzo!" came the all too familiar voice of their leader.

"Yeah Boss?" he responded snapping to attention. Gibbs waved the piece of paper that Tony had earlier written the cryptic message for Gibbs on, "Did you take this note?" Tony nodded sheepishly. "I wrote down just what the caller said."

With that, Gibbs turned and walked out; "You need backup Boss?" came McGee, who'd been silent all morning. Ziva and Tony looked at him then to the trail Gibbs had left, "Boss?" He'd gone. Not a word or explanation. McGee finally looked up, "Where's my doughnut?"

Bethesda Navel Hospital smelled clean. Gibbs hated hospitals; he'd spent too much time in them at one time or another, so having to voluntarily enter one made him uneasier, if there was such a thing. Hospitals always had bad memories associated with them. This time wasn't going to be any different. "Agent Gibbs" called a crisp-husky voice. He turned to the location and found a tall Marine waiting, clearly security. "I'm here to pick up the package someone called about. With no more than a nod the Marine motioned for him to follow.

"What do you suppose that was all about?" asked Tony.

Ziva was using her time to catch up on paper work, "Next time buy your own doughnut." He shook his head, man did she have a one track mind, "No, I mean the thing with Gibbs."

She looked up at him; Ziva had seen that look before. "You know more than I do."

"Not really," Tony was up and out of his chair, "The day started off like any other one. First I confiscated some contraband from McGee's desk."
McGee cut in, "I knew it! What is it with you?"

Tony held up his hand, "Cool your heels McGiggles, I was saving you from yourself. Then you two entered stage left and you" He pointed his finger at Ziva, "Destroyed a beautiful breakfast."

That was all she needed, she'd done worse with smaller fingers, Ziva grabbed Tony's index finger and twisted hard.

The Marine led Gibbs to a service elevator. On entering he inserted a key into the elevators control panel, signaling to Gibbs that they were going to a secure floor – psychiatric, "Going somewhere special?"

The Marine gave him a sour look, "Precautionary. Your package was moved this morning after acting out."

Gibbs shook his had, that was the nice way of saying that to avoid any insurance problems, the problem in question was moved up stairs and sedated heavily. When they reached the top floor they received a surprise meeting. Not quiet and tranquil, as most psychiatric floors go, but a floor in chaos. Nurses and staff were all running into the observation room, nearest the nurse's station. There were screams and shouts and an occasional bang of equipment being knocked over. Gibbs shook his head as an orderly was knocked out of the room. "Sir if you want I can get Security to suppress the problem" offered the Marine beside Gibbs. "Won't be necessary" he handed him his coffee then pulled out his gun.

"Uncle! Uncle!" Ziva released Tony's finger, "Now what have you learned?" He was still on the floor rubbing the feeling back into his finger, "Pointing's rude" That was met with a head slap, "Ow! OK I get it" he grumbled, "McGee tomorrow I'm going to buy you a damned doughnut!" Then Tony got up and walked over to his desk and sat down just as McGee tried to change the subject, "Do you remember what that note said?"

Tony looked over at his persecutor, and then to McGhee, "Popcorn" was his response. Ziva flashed his a quizzical look "Excuse me?" McGhee looked from Tony to Ziva, "No really what'd it say?" Having tired of the game and secretly praying for lunch Tony turned his chair slowly to face McGee, "That's all it said – Popcorn – then a phone number."

Two more nurses had cleared the room at Gibb's request. Leaving the one patient with an orderly in a headlock. Then he took a deep breath and walked inside pointing the gun point blank at the patient, "That's enough Katie, let him go." His gaze fell upon a thirty-year-old woman with straight long brown hair and pale skin. She looked to weigh ninety pounds dripping wet but she had strength because she still held close to the orderly who had about twenty pounds on her.

"Turn him loose" Gibbs asked but she didn't respond, "Katie!" he barked.

Her cool blue eyes shot up at him, "I heard you the first time."

Gibbs sighed as she slowly released her hostage. "Thank you" he mumbled to Gibbs as he rubbed his jaw, walking out of the room. Gibbs watched him leave and waved off the Marine who had escorted him up to the floor, "You got anything to say for yourself?"

Katie had crawled back up onto the bed. Gibbs could see that she was getting lethargic, med must be kicking in. "I wish they wouldn't have called you, I mean I wanted then to call you, but you're the last person I want to see right now."

He holstered his weapon, "You're not exactly number one on my favorite list either kiddo."

It was at this time that Gibbs noticed her lip was split and she had bruising around her neck. Her wrists were bandaged as well as her ankles, "What have you gotten into."

Katie shook her head, "I need your help."

That feeling he got in his gut started to squirm, "Get yourself together you're coming with me. Five minutes." Katie looked up at him but did not say a word. Instead she obeyed, slid off the bed and started picking up her things that she had strewn off the floor.