A/N: The goal of this story is to have a chapter published each week or so. I'm still writing this so it's my fervent hope that I can stay on schedule with it. I've already got the first few chapters written. Just hoping to refine them before I post. I haven't gotten the end written but the first four chapters should give me a month to get my act together. Reviews always help speed things along, or at least keep me motivated :-p
Disclaimer: As always, I own nothing and just borrow Gibbs and the team so I can abuse and return them!
The suspect had been a pain in the ass from the get go. The guy was paranoid, probably high and damn hard to track down. The team had finally gotten a break by talking to one of the local D.C. narcotics police officers who had some known associates on file. One of which had been recently busted for possession. The guy's supposed friend had flipped for a deal.
Gibbs always rankled at making deals with criminals. He liked to bust them outright and then nail them to a handy wall. In this case, however, he was willing to make an exception. Metro narcotics had brokered the arrangement that let the guy in for possession off on a much lighter sentence in exchange for information about Robert Groves. Groves had left some DNA on his victim, a Chief Petty Officer who he had robbed and murdered. Abby had enough evidence to tentatively link Groves to the scene based on fingerprints. With a DNA match to seal the deal the MCRT team could send the scum in to jail for a long, long time on the robbery and murder of an enlisted man who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
All that, had led to this. Gibbs was on foot racing after the suspect. DiNozzo, was about 10 yards behind him sporting an impressive shiner. This guy had weaseled his way out of their custody once and Gibbs was determined to make sure it didn't happen again.
Groves cut to his right and skidded around a corner with Gibbs less than 20 steps behind. Unfortunately that was enough time for the man in question to locate a piece of discarded and broken two by four leaning against the brick wall. As Gibbs turned in hot pursuit Groves swung as hard as he could and a horrible crack-pop sound reverberated down the alley as the lumber made contact with Gibbs' weak right knee.
The addict wasn't a genius and hadn't taken into account physics or geometry. The angle he took Gibbs' leg out from under him meant the NCIS Agent was still moving straight at the suspect. Gibbs tucked his shoulder and barreled straight into the man he was chasing with a bellowing yell.
DiNozzo picked up speed and reached the scene just a few seconds behind to find that in his surprise the suspect hadn't resisted being flipped over onto his stomach by a still mostly prone Gibbs who was now reaching for hand cuffs behind his back. Rolling into a sitting position Gibbs watched as DiNozzo first patted down, then hauled the suspect to his feet. In the meanwhile, with his agent's back turned, Gibbs slid over to the brick wall which offered up the cool comfort of its support. Slowly, using only his left leg and arms Gibbs attained vertical while the suspect, who seemed to have finally realized his predicament, struggled and managed to distract the normally observant senior field agent.
Finally, Ziva David and Timothy McGee skidded into the scene. McGee seemed out of breath but the Israeli agent maintained her air of calm.
"Good of you to join us." DiNozzo seemed equally out of breath from dealing with the struggling suspect.
"We were detained. We attempted to do an end over and found ourselves instead in a dead end."
"She means end around." Replied McGee automatically which earned him a glare. "We were trying to go up another alley but turned too soon."
"David, McGee. Escort our esteemed guest to a holding cell," ordered Gibbs from where he was propped against the wall.
Ziva quickly stepped forward and relieved Tony of his burden. The trio then turned and walked back towards the car the two agents had arrived on scene in.
"DiNozzo, go get our car." Gibbs and DiNozzo had arrived separately and the intimation that DiNozzo would be driving a car that Gibbs was going to be in caused him to do a double take. He looked his boss up and down and made a mental note that the wall was doing much more propping up than he had first realized.
DiNozzo's could never said to be suicidal though so his only response was, "on it Boss."
Minutes later the car arrived with the passenger door closest to Gibbs for which the agent was silently thankful. He wasn't entirely sure he'd be able to make the one hop step as it was. Going around to the other side was out of the question. Leaning away from the wall planting his left hand on the roof of the car for support Gibbs cautiously opened the door of the Charger before swiveling on his good leg and perching himself on the edge of the seat then swiveling his legs inside. Even that small motion sent a massive jolt of pain up his leg the likes of which he hadn't felt since the first time he was blown up and the knee was originally injured. The older agent closed his eyes against the pain while the younger one became increasingly worried.
The drive back to the Navy Yard was uneventful and DiNozzo's only attempt at conversation, an inquiry as to their destination in the hope that his boss's response would be a hospital, was shot down with a glare. Tony turned the music on just loud enough to be able to hear it and give them an excuse not to talk.
Pulling into the garage DiNozzo cut the engine. "Go."
"Are you sure Boss? I can go get someone."
"I'm fine, go."
Reluctantly DiNozzo put his hand on the interior door handle and glanced again at the silver-haired man. A glare. He pulled the handle and made a bee-line for the morgue. If the Bossman wanted to get pissed he was willing to face those consequences. Gibbs was scary but if Ducky found out one of the team was trying to hide an injury he was a force to be reckoned with.
Gibbs sighed and leaned his head back against the headrest. His knee was fucked and he knew it but he couldn't admit that to DiNozzo yet. He flipped open his thrice-damned cell phone and pressed the numbers for autopsy.
So it was that when Tony burst into autopsy, as much as one can burst with automatic sliding doors, he found Ducky pulling a pair of crutches from the supply cabinet already preparing to make a visit up to the garage.
"Ah, Anthony. Unfortunately, I must ride to the rescue of our fearless leader at the moment. Although don't think I will not find you to take a look at that eye. Always into trouble you are."
DiNozzo spun around as Dr. Mallard bustled past him and the snap-hiss of the doors left him alone and stunned. He pressed a cautious hand to his right eye and flinched. He'd forgotten about the punch and resulting contusion in the melee. Gibbs was in good hands and obviously hadn't wanted his help. The only thing left to do was nail the bastard who'd attacked two federal agents that day.
Ducky found Gibbs once again perched on the edge of the seat with his legs out of the car. He carefully adjusted the crutches to the correct height but knowingly set them out of Gibbs' reach ignoring the obvious give me gesture being made by the impatient waves of his hand.
"Jethro what have you done? I must take a look. You're not going anywhere until I see the damage that's been wrought this time. The last physical showed both your ACL and MCL hanging on by tender threads so you can imagine my concern."
"Duck no. Just give me the crutches. I'll go to the hospital after we finish this. We've got the guy and by now Abby's got the DNA that her machines will match to the blood on the scene. I saw the cuts in this guy's knuckles when I was cuffing him. He beat that Petty Officer to death and got what!? A hundred bucks? Is that what a man's life is worth?"
"You've said it yourself the evidence will prove out. It is completely unnecessary for you to traipse up to interrogation. Young Anthony can handle it."
Gibbs leaned his shoulder and head against the open door frame looking the most defeated Ducky had seen him in quite some time. The next words out of his mouth were even more alarming. "He's going to have to. My knee is done Ducky. I felt the whole thing go. Snap. Crackle. Pop."
"Come now Jethro perhaps it isn't all that bad. Let us get you to the hospital where we can get a better look."
Resignedly Gibbs swung his feet back into the car.