Sitting alone in the silence I reach for my gun. The door knob is rattling as they try to pick the lock. Finally, they decide that force might be a more appropriate and quicker way to get into my apartment. I have been deprived of sleep for at least three days now. I am on edge, angry, tired, and armed. The sound of a gun shot below my apartment window reaches my ears. This is getting out of control. My life is in danger and I am putting all the other tenents in my building in danger as well. I hear my door crack as they kick it a first time, and then a second. With the fourth kick my door comes crashing down into my living room, splinters of wood flying everywhere. A few hitting me in my hiding place under the kitchen table. The six men that enter my apartment make no effort to be quiet. Knowing they will search everywhere for me, I climb up and lay across three of my chairs, my gun close to my head and my face toward the table cloth. Just as I begin to think they are not going to look, light from the table cloth being lifted hits me. I hold my breath, hopping they don't take the time to get down on there hands and knees to check for me.

'She's not here boss. We have looked everywhere. Her keys and her purse aren't even here.' Says one of the guys. I hear the sound of high heels clacking as the woman walks onto the tiled floor of my kitchen.

'Is her gun here?' She asks in an irritated voice.

'We didn't see it anywhere, boss.'

'She still hasn't been home. She is probably at that other agents house. Well, I guess it's time we paid that overbearing marine a visti.' She throws one of my coffee mugs against the refrigerator before storming out of the apartment.

'I think she's mad guys. We better streer clear till she needs us again.' One of the guys says as they all head out of my apartment. I slowly, quietly roll off the chairs watching there feet as they leave. As soon as I see the sixth pair of feet leave, I go to crawl out when I hear a sound coming from my bedroom. I freeze as I hear glass shatter against one of the walls and then a man walks out. Combat boots and fatigues are the last thing I see before a sickening feeling lurches through my body and then everything goes black.

I open my eyes to find that I am still under my table I go to move and the pain that hits me is overwhelming.

'Boss, she's not here. Do you think they...' A familiar voice filters into my thoughts.

'Tony, she is a good agent and a smart woman. I'm sure she got out of here before they got here. Her keys, purse, and gun are gone.' My boss, thank god. I can see his feet. He is only inches from me. I puch my gun out from under the table with as much force as I can muster up and it hits it's target. He moves suddenly when the gun hits his shoe but is on his knees and pulling me out from under the table in what seemed like a millisecond.

'Call for an ambulance, tell them it's critticle. She's lost a lot of blood. Grace, listen to me. It's going to be okay, you got that.' Gibbs says, his eyes a little glossy with tears.

'I'm fine boss,' I say weakly, 'I just need to change my clothes and I can help you get them.'

'Yeah, right probie. Like he is going to let you come with us.'

'Tony, come here for a second.' Tony kneels down next to me. 'Closer Tony, I can't lean up to kiss you ya know.' Tony gets a big smile on his face as he leans down closer to me. As soon as he is within range of my hand I smack him on the back of the head.

'Hey, that's not fare. You lied to me.' He says as he jumps up, rubbing the back of his head. I can hear sirens in the street below approaching quickly.

'Tony, go down and meet the paramedics. Get them up here quick. And send McGee up would you.'

'Sure, boss.' Tony says as he slowly walks to the door, or what is left of it at least.

'TODAY, TONY!' Yells Gibbs. Tony takes of running. 'So, did you shoot yourself or what?'

A tear runs down my cheek as I try not to laugh. 'Yeah boss, you know me. I'll do anything to get out of work.'

'Yeah, and what are the odds that you would get shot in the chest twice?' Gibbs says as he leans over and kisses my forhead. Tears now visibly clear on his face. Just then, McGee comes running through the door panting.

"Grace, oh god, are you...' He stops mid sentence as he see's all the blood. ' No.' He whispers as he sits down next to me and grabs my hand. His eyes are burning with saddness and anger. 'I'm gonna kill them. I swear on our marriage that I will.'

'Tim, killing them is not going to solve a single thing. You have to catch them and throw them in prison. I want justice, not revenge.' I squeeze his hand as he closes his eyes. When he opens them again, there is a look I have never seen before. 'Timothy?'

'Grace, this isn't just about you. If they had killed you...'

'But they didn't...'

'But they could have, Gracie. This affects all of us on a personal level and on a professional level as well. You are one of the best damn agents, next to your dad that is, that I have ever seen. If I lost you, Gracie, my life would be over as well.' I reach up and pu my hand on his face just as Tony comes through the door way with the paramedics in tow. They push Gibbs and McGee out of the way as they start checking my vital signs.

As they transfer me from the floor to the stabilizing board, one of them loses his grip. I cry out in pain as they push him out of they way and get me onto the board and then the gurny.

Through my tears, I see McGee lunge at the young paramedic who dropped me. Gibbs and Tony grab him and tell the young man to go. Gibbs is in McGee's face. I can not hear what he is saying but the red in his face tells me enough.

TO BE CONTINUED...