I have used the USS Elrod as the ship a character worked on. Obviously, I have no actual knowledge of what it does, I just needed a name. =) Also, let me know if I made any mistakes in American words. I'm English, so while I'm not changing my spelling, I am trying to use words like 'cell' instead of 'mobile' and stuff like that.

A whistle rang loudly throughout the bullpen. The four heads that had been huddled together pulled back to look up. Nell stood at the top of the stairs, looking tired.

"Guys? I've got something you'll want to see."

The agents hurried up the stairs, a glimmer of hope sparking in them.

It was early in the morning. All the team had gone home late the day before, after waiting around in case something came up. They had reluctantly headed out at 11pm, Hetty ordering them home; to rest up for when something came up the next day.

"This is Henry Jonathon Paris. He is a Commander, based on the USS Elrod, but currently on leave, following the birth of his fourth child."

"He's lucky they were in the area in time for that, but what has this got to do with Eric?" Kensi focussed her dark eyes on Nell, willing her to give them something useful.

"Commander Paris is Eric's brother-in-law, and he hasn't been seen since yesterday lunch time."

"They went missing within a couple of hours of each other, then." Callen frowned at the screen, considering this.

"Nell," Sam's attention remained on the photo of the man, "what was this guy working on?"

"Something to get both him and his brother-in-law kidnapped?" murmured Deeks.

"Umm... Nothing that immediately stands out. He isn't the only one on leave though. Ensign Blake and Petty Officer Stevens are both in the city as well. His quarters were next to Blake's, so you might want to see if he has much idea. I'll keep digging."

"Agent Callen, Agent Hanna, you two will go and speak with Blake and see what he has to say. Agent Blye, Detective Deeks, you will go and talk to Paris's wife. Remember, she does not know Eric works for NCIS, and we want to keep it that way."

Hetty stood beside Nell as the teams hurried out; the necessary information being relayed to their phones. She kept her mask in place, the worry she felt for the gentle young man, though great was hidden.

It was dark, and it was cold. He was huddled in the corner of a windowless room, holding himself as still as he could while shivering, attempting to avoid tugging the stitches just below his shoulder. He was still wearing his damp board shorts.

In many ways, Eric mused, it was an almost stereotypical way to keep a kidnappee. All that was missing was the part where they tortured him for information, though he desperately hoped that wouldn't happen. Maybe they just wanted him for a ransom...

A slight giggle bubbled from his lips; he had a preferred reason for kidnapping. However, if someone wanted information from him, they may have realised he worked for NCIS. He pretended not to work for them for his own safety. If someone knew his job, it was possible there was a leak somewhere.

He turned his attention to a spider that was spinning a web in a corner of the roof.

"Mrs Paris? Hi, I'm Agent Blye, this is Detective Deeks. We're with NCIS. May we speak with you?"

"Are you here about Henry? Please, come in." A pretty woman with brown hair that fell to her shoulders answered the door. She was pale and her eyes were red-rimmed.

Once inside, they were led into the sitting room. There was a young woman sat in an armchair. She waved a shaky hand up at them.

"This is Rachael, my little sister."

They greeted her, before sitting down.

"How're you holding up?" Asked Kensi gently.

"We've been better." She took a deep breath. "We were supposed to be going out tonight. It's Rachael's birthday."

"Happy Birthday. I hope it gets better." Deeks turned his attention to the unhappy blonde; she gave him a tight smile in response before turning her eyes to the Moses Basket sitting underneath the window.

"We haven't heard from my brother either. Eric. He had sent an email yesterday morning, but that was the last we have heard from him."

"He's missing as well?" Kensi managed to inject some surprise into her voice, remembering Hetty's warning about Eric's cover.

"Yeah. I wouldn't have noticed, I'm afraid. I don't talk to him too often. It is Rachael and Henry that have the most contact with him."

"Do you know what your husband was working on?"

"He was working with the engineers about some development, but he doesn't tell me what he is doing properly."

"Ok. Umm..."

"I'm afraid I really can't think of anything else. Like I said, he doesn't talk about his work with me, and we don't normally talk about life onboard the freight. Once he is home, our attention goes to... other matters."

Kensi smiled slightly; four children during the day, and an attractive wife whenever they weren't vying for attention, no wonder he was busy.

"He's away a long time, I'm sure it does." Deeks spoke what she was thinking, and she scowled slightly at him. However Alice Paris took no offence at the implication, just grinned at him.

"He loves to spend time with the children, he misses them terribly. And he always makes time for Eric. We are 10 years older than him, 14 years older than Rachael, so they knew him when they were growing up. Somehow, they both ended up closer to him than they are to me."

"Well, if you think of anything..." Said Kensi, standing up.

"I'll let you know."

As they stood up, Rachael jumped to her feet as well, both hands spread wide in front of her, before one went to circle over her heart. Confused, Kensi and Deeks looked at the older sister.

"She is asking you to wait."

The young woman then pointed to her temple, before miming a tall thin box with her index fingers and her thumbs. Alice nodded, and the other hurried of into another room.

"She's getting a memory stick."

"A memory stick?"

"I don't know. Rachael and Eric are computer whizzes. Maybe they found something they weren't supposed to. Or maybe Eric hacked into another database he shouldn't have and it backfired this time."

Minutes later, they were climbing back into the car.

"What did you think?"

"I'm not sure. She seemed willing to help, but she was stressed." Kensi fastened her belt, her attention on the house they had just left.

"Her husband and her brother were kidnapped the day before her sister's birthday, less than 2 weeks after her fourth baby was born. I'd be worried if she wasn't."

"I guess. Let's give this to Nell and see what she thinks."