Another Fine Mess
NCIS Fan Fiction
by Ahn-Li Steffraini
Author's Note: Written for the "Another Fine Mess" Challenge on the NFA Storyboard. Only almost two years past the deadline for judging, but I saw that there was no answers to this orphaned challenge, and it piqued my interest. So I'll answer it anyway.
Summary: When Gibbs goes missing, the entire team mobilizes to find him. But is there something else to this?
* * * * * * * * *
The day was a clear one, but cold. Timothy McGee was one of the many in the parking lot of his apartment complex cleaning off his car of snow and ice. One of these days he would learn. His boss, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, had seen him cleaning off his car one afternoon and told him to cover the car in a tarp. Remove tarp, remove the snow. Job done.
One of these days he would take the advice.
Speaking of Gibbs...
The night before he had been asked the strangest thing before leaving work. Actually they all had, and the other members of Gibbs' team had been slightly surprised by the request...
* * * *
The night before
NCIS, Navy Yard
MCRT area of bullpen
After Gibbs called it for the day, everyone got up and began to get ready to go home. For a moment Gibbs hesitated, then he asked, "Any of you got a spare seat tomorrow morning for the ride in?"
They had looked at him, puzzled, before Ziva asked, "Why?"
"Well, my truck is finally dead. I have a ride home with Ducky, but he's going to away at a conference after that, so I don't exactly have a ride in," he answered.
"I thought you had a Charger?" asked Tony, and then catching the glare. "Right, classic car and winter equals not a good combination."
"I'll do it," said McGee.
They all turned to him. "It's not out of your way?" asked Gibbs.
"Not really," answered McGee. "Well, not really far out of my way. I don't mind. I know Ziva and Tony live the other way."
"Well, I won't look a gift horse in the mouth. I'll be ready when you get there," said Gibbs.
"You don't want me dropping by earlier?"
"I asked you for a ride," answered Gibbs, with a small smile. "Not the other way around. If you had asked me for a ride, then you'd be on my schedule. But since I'm asking you for the favour, then I guess I have to live on yours."
That was the most words he had ever said to any of them by way of an explanation, and Tim accepted that. "All right, see you tomorrow around eight, Boss."
* * * *
Which was how he found himself about to pull into Gibbs driveway slightly before eight in the morning. Strangely, it was quiet... and even more strange was the grey mini van in the drive. For a second McGee was a bit disappointed. If he'd found another ride, the least he could have done was called me, but a second later, the instinct and observational skills that had awarded him his job in the first place knew that Gibbs would have called and this was not planned.
Just before he stopped, he heard it.
The distinct pop of gunshots, and flash from the front of the house. McGee slammed on the brakes and parked the car, pulling his gun as he did. At the same moment of him getting out of the car, bullets slammed into his windsheild. He ducked as the stuffing in his seats rained down around him from the hits in his headrest.
He brought out his cellphone and called NCIS. "C'mon," he pleaded as he took a cautious look.
He could hear more shots.
Jesus... they sounded like shotguns.
All at once the shots ended after those. McGee felt his heart drop in despair. If the shots had stopped that meant only one thing, and he knew Gibbs didn't have a shotgun in his house. Finally someone answered, "DiNozzo."
"Tony!"
"McGee? What's wrong? You late to pick up the boss?"
"No! But I'm here and there are shots being fired in the house. It's like a warzone. And there is a mid-late model Dodge or Chrysler minivan, grey one, in the drive," said McGee. "They are even shooting at me.... I'm pinned down."
"Shit! Are you hurt?" he had to give Tony credit, when things needed it Tony dropped the silly act and was all business.
"No, I'm not... but the shots stopped in the house after what sounded like shotguns," said McGee. "I think the boss is down, but I can't confirm anything."
McGee managed to move to the opposite side of his car to use it as a shield, and then aimed his sidearm over the hood, pointing it at the van. "NCIS! Drop your weapons!" he shouted as convincingly as he could.
The only answer was more shots fired at his car, but at least he managed to confirm they were definitely coming from the van. He took aim and returned fire, aiming at the tires. "McGee!" shouted Tony though the phone. "What the hell is happening?"
After managing to shoot out a window of the van and the back tire he crouched down as more shots peppered his car. "I managed to take out a window and a tire. Hopefully that slows them down. I can't risk more fire because I might hit someone by accident," he answered.
"Listen, there is local cops on the way, someone in the neighourhood called 911. Ziva made contact so they know you're there. Hold down the fort, partner, help is on the way," said Tony. "I am going to hang up the office phone so I can switch over to the cell if you need to... Ziva and I are also on our way."
"Get here quickly, Tony," said McGee.
He poked his head around the back of his car, trying to get a better view around to the house but there was no movement. He looked through his windows through the car when he saw, from the back and down the driveway, three people half carrying, half dragging Gibbs. The side door to the van opened. McGee peppered the front fender of the van, hearing the distinct twang of one of his bullets striking something in the wheel itself. The van began to leak fluids. One of the three crouched as the other two dragged Gibbs into the van, and began to fire at his car. McGee took shelter behind his car again, moving to the back to return fire.
Three shots rang out and the one firing at him dropped. The van peeled out and McGee took aim as he followed on foot for awhile, memorizing the license plate as he did.