Chapter 2
Gibbs went back upstairs to the bull pen via the elevator. When he got out the workmen were still there, now there were 3. One was inside on the stairwell the other two on the bull pen side. Gibbs slowed his steps and stood watching them. He frowned and moved a step closer to them.
After another few moments he moved a few steps away then turned and looked over his shoulder at Tony. Tony jumped up and came quickly over, a quizzical expression on his face.
"What's up Boss?"
"DiNozzo, how long does it take for 3 men to repair a door hinge?" he growled.
Tony scratched his head and then shrugged.
"I'm not good on mechanical stuff Boss. I usually just call the landlord ya know?"
"Well, I'm not a locksmith but I know when shit is shit."
Gibbs pulled his weapon. Startled Tony simply followed suit, on his Boss's 6 as always.
"Step away from the door! Now!" Gibbs barked.
McGee had already been watching standing inside his cubicle, he leveled his gun on the room divider. Ziva rose and gun drawn hurried to Tony and Gibbs.
Agents rose from all the other cubicles on the floor and hurried toward their fellows.
The man on the inner stairwell slammed the door. The two on the bull pen side turned slowly and straightened. The largest of the two had his hand inside his coverall as he stood erect.
"Don't do it! Drop it!" Tony shouted.
"Get on the floor, Now!" snapped Gibbs.
Gun out the workman fired, but the shot went wild. He dropped to the floor with a bullet between his eyes courtesy of Gibbs. The second man shouted something and ripped open his coveralls to reveal a mechanism. Gibbs eyes widened as he saw the countdown was almost complete!
"Cover! Take cover! Bomb!"
Gibbs and Tony dove back toward his desk, Ziva flung herself behind Tim's. Somehow they managed to squeeze essentials beneath the desk. Tim pulled the chair as far up over exposed feet and ankles as he could, Ziva lying mostly on top of him.
The explosion was deafening, the floor actually rippling beneath them. As dust settled, papers fluttering through the air, Tony found a handkerchief pressed over his face. His eyes opened and met Gibbs in surprise. He was crouched head first under the desk, more or less on top of Gibbs who had rolled underneath to end face up. His ears were ringing and buzzing.
"Take it and cover your nose and mouth DiNozzo. I don't want you getting sick from all this dust. It's clean, take it!"
"Th…Thanks Boss. For caring, really!"
"I don't want my ass chewed off if you get sick DiNozzo by a certain lovely Goth. She seems kind'a fond of you. Not sure why."
"Boss, I think maybe Abby will know more about this bomb than us. But it looks deceptively simple…
"Stand down Agent McGee. The bomb squad is on the way. Do we have any injuries?"
Leon Vance was on the balcony overlooking the smoky bull pen. Gibbs looked up and took a nod from Leon.
"Squad leaders report!" He shouted in his battle voice.
Bumps, scratches and ear problems were the only reports. As the last team members reported in there was a deep rumbling from beneath them and the entire building began to sway and tremor. Leon directed evacuation from the front stair wells. But Gibbs ran once more toward the back.
"Boss!" cried McGee.
"Abby, Ducky! There was a third man, a third man McGee!"
He flung himself enraged at the door. It held. McGee joined him and still the bar held.
Ignoring the gore covered dead men Gibbs looked through the contents of the tool box. He found a Phillips head screw driver and a heavy hammer. He began an assault on the hinge itself. After an abortive few minutes Gibbs cried out in frustration and flung down the tools. He ran for the front of the room. His team followed behind him, the bull pen now filling with smoke as well as dust.
Gibbs tore down the stairs and out the front door. Ignoring the people milling about and the arrival of police and fire companies Gibbs dashed around the side of the building, down the flight of stairs and into the back of NCIS where the parking was. He leapt up and climbed over the top of the parking area fence, dropping into a crouch then dashing to the back door. His team followed him without pause or question.
Gibbs tried to open the door and it didn't give. Slamming his fists against the surface his mind raced.
"Abby! Can you hear me Baby? Abby!"
Gibbs made an effort to calm himself, center his emotions. It was a difficult thing to do in the midst of all this chaos, in the midst of his terror and fear. He felt her then. She was frightened but uninjured. She was in imminent danger though and she was not alone. Ducky was there and he was hurt.
With a groan of anger and fear Gibbs put his head against the door and slammed his hands again.
"Abby…" he moaned. Tony joined Gibbs.
"Boss…Wait Boss. Look let's get to work on the hinges!"
He held up the screw driver and hammer. Gibbs forced himself to refocus and nodded. McGee was on the phone getting the firefighters to join them.
"We've got 2 people trapped inside, we need to get the back door open! Send help! They're on the way Boss!"
Gibbs was focusing hard on Abby. He nodded to McGee. Abby was crawling through debris of the Autopsy suite looking for masks to help them breathe and for something to splint Ducky's arm. Dust, smoke, she was frightened. A shudder passed through him as he pressed his head against the door. He tried to send strength to his mate. His anxiety kept rising, he fought it down again. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up. Tony met his eyes.
"They're here Boss. They just drove through the fence. Gotta love the Fire department. When in doubt run it over. You gotta let them get at the door. Is Abby OK? What about the Duckster?"
He nodded, his eyes unfocused again as he concentrated on Abby. "Ducky's hurt. His arm I think. Abby's looking for masks because of the debris dust."
The firefighters moved up to the door and after discussion they brought up some sledge hammers and the Jaws of Life. They went to work on the bricks at the edge of the door to make a deeper edge for the Jaws to catch. It seemed forever to the anxious team waiting. The door opened awkwardly. The buildings center had been swayed by the explosion. Two firefighters went in with bright lanterns. Gibbs and Tony followed close behind.
"Which way Agent Gibbs?" The Chief asked.
"Up one flight to the right of the elevator shaft is the Autopsy corridor."
"Well, we're not getting up there from here without some effort."
Gibbs looked up and saw the stairs were gone leading to the above floor. Concrete debris and rebar were everywhere. They could smell smoke.
"Ladders?" he said looking at the chief.
"Gotta check for stability. Paul gimme a hand here."
"Rope." Gibbs said. "Tony get us some rope. We gotta get up there!"
"McGee!"
"On it Tony. Be right back!"