DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NCIS OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS!

Darkness. That's what he used to his advantage. The victims he chose thought they were safe, that nothing evil lurked in the shadows. He carefully selected those that heeded none of the warnings of the previous attacks. He'd had a few attempts thwarted before he was able to act, because his 'chosen ones' had altered their patterns.

This night's beauty would be his prize. He wanted to treasure her for as long as possible. It had been weeks since he'd been able to acquire his mark. She was perfect. The long wild curly hair, the emerald eyes, the pert mouth; she would struggle and he looked forward to the tussle. She'd be a fine conquest. If only he could have her forever, but he knew not after too long she'd be too damaged and complacent and he'd have to do away with her and find a new playmate.

She was alone, as she'd been every night he'd watch her. Her textbooks held tight against her chest as she plodded along toward her dorm. He had only a few minutes and only one place that would work to grab her and carry her off unseen. No one else was in sight as she neared his waiting spot and his heart raced as the adrenaline kicked in. This was the rush of the hunt, the tracking of the prey. When she reached him, he'd be ready to pounce.

As she stepped into his ideal spot her phone rang, he lunged hoping to snatch her even more unaware and before she could answer. But as she turned to find the phone in her pocket, she sensed his presence at the same time she pulled the phone out and flipped it open to answer. Her scream pierced through the quiet, empty night, but was silenced as his large hand cover her mouth and his arm wrapped tightly around her waist dragging her into the darkness.

She was no match for his strength as she flailed, kicking and twisting her body. The last sound she heard before losing consciousness was the voice on her cell, which had fallen to the ground near her books, "SARAH, What's wrong?"

'Tim' was her first thought as consciousness began to loom. She needed help, but she wasn't sure why. As she tried to bring her hand to her head to quell the ache riding there, she found she was unable to move her hand no matter how hard she vainly pulled. Her other hand was equally as immobile.

It was too dark to see what bound them, but Sarah soon realized her feet suffered the same treatment. Who had done this? Where was she? How could she let this happen? How many times had her brother warned her to not walk alone at night, especially since the latest rash of kidnappings and murders?

'Oh God,' she felt the tears well up and pour from her eyes. 'He's going to kill me. Timmy save me!' Her brother had always been there for her, ever since she was a kid. Now she needed him more than ever, not only as her brother, but as the successful NCIS agent he was.

Timothy McGee returned to the bullpen to use his computer, knowing there was no time to go home. He had to find his sister. He knew in his gut that she was in serious trouble. Maybe it was all the years working with his lead agent, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, famous for his gut feelings, or maybe it was the familial connection, but he knew time was of the essence.

Logging in and punching in all the numbers it didn't take long to determine her phone was where he expected her to be- on campus. So why wasn't she answering and why did she scream when she answered his call? Dread filled him.