Summary: While investigating the grisly murder of a Petty Officer, the team finds themselves captive of their worst fears... can they pull together and find the source?

Genre(s): Horror/Supernatural, Suspense

Warnings: Disturbing Imagery

Chapter 1

There wasn't much that could render the entire MCRT speechless. The crime scene before them, however, stopped them all in their tracks.

The team had been summoned to a warehouse in Anacostia to investigate the murder of a Petty Officer. No one was expecting to see the sickening amount of blood on the floor of that loading area. Tony stood frozen, camera in hand, as he stared at the symbol on the ground underneath the Petty Officer's body. The most disconcerting thing was the Petty Officer's face. It was frozen, as if he were screaming in terror.

What in the hell happened here?

Tim stood motionless, holding a sketchpad in his shaking hand. It wasn't as if he'd never seen blood before – God knows he has – but this – it was beyond anything he could have imagined in his nightmares. The Petty Officer was white as a ghost, and there seemed to be gallons of blood – everywhere.

Ziva had seen much blood and death in Mossad, but nothing prepared her for the sight before her. The blood and the symbols drawn on the ground sent a shiver up her spine. She could have sworn she felt a cold sensation coarse through her body. She jumped a mile when she felt a hand on her shoulder, and spun around on the offensive. She relaxed when she realized it was Gibbs who had touched her.

"What in the hell – "

"That is what we are all thinking, Gibbs."

Gibbs stared out at the devastation in front of him. What on God's green earth could have caused all of this?

"L-let's get to work," he managed to fumble out. Ziva was the only one who was able to move. "DiNozzo! McGee! Now!"

DiNozzo came out of his trance first, and started to snap pictures. Tim came out of it moments later, and shakily started to sketch the symbols on the ground. He'd picked up some art lessons from Kate years back, and often brought a sketchbook to the crime scene, as he'd seen her do. The symbols were starting to give him a feeling of dread as he continued to sketch them.

"What have we – Oh my God…"

Everyone looked up to see Jimmy Palmer standing in the entryway, gripping the side of a gurney. He looked pale. Gibbs, who was speaking to the responding officer on scene, stopped and made his way to Jimmy.

"You all right, Palmer?"

"I—I think so."

"Where's Ducky?"

"Not well," Palmer replied, trying to push back the sudden fear that had enveloped him. "He's back at NCIS—Agent Gibbs, what happened here?"

"I was hoping you could help us with that, Palmer."

"I—it looks like all of the blood has been drained from his body," Palmer said, looking over the scene. "He's been – exsanguinated."

Gibbs regarded Palmer's statement with unease.

Who in the hell are we looking for?

NCISNCISNCIS

It took the MCRT some time to process everything and get what was left of the body into the Autopsy van. Tim and Ziva had taken as many blood samples as possible to take to Abby for processing. When they were finished, Tim climbed into the back of the truck, while Ziva and Tony took the front with Gibbs.

Tim sat against the side of the van, knees to his chest. He clutched the sketchbook in his hands the entire ride back, as if someone were going to take the drawings away from him. The anxiety within him was intense… immense feelings of dread consumed his mind. His eyes darted nervously around the darkness. He had the feeling he wasn't alone back there. The truck hit a bump, and Tim was immediately transported to another place in his mind. He was being shoved over a cliff, and he was falling fast… he tried to reach his hands toward the person who had pushed him, toward the edge of the cliff, but it got further and further away from him. Tim opened his mouth to scream, right before everything went black.

~*~*~*~*~

A piercing scream from the back of the van startled the three passengers in the front seat. Gibbs pulled the truck over and leapt out, bolting for the back of the truck. Tony and Ziva were on his heels. He ripped open the back door and found Tim lying on the floor of the truck, unmoving.
Gibbs got into the truck and slowly knelt at Tim's side.

"Tim," he said gently, reaching out to touch his Agent's shoulder. He didn't move, and Gibbs shook him harder. "Tim! Wake up, damn it!"

"Help!" Tim shouted, shooting up into a sitting position. Upon feeling Gibbs' arms restraining him, he began to fight.

"Calm down, McGee! It's all right!" Gibbs said, "You're all right!"

Almost instantaneously, Tim started to calm down. He blinked a few times, and looked at Gibbs, who was still on his knees right next to him.

"What happened to you, McGee?" Gibbs asked as Tim took a few breaths.

"I-I have no idea…"

TBC…