Disturbing Behavior
By: Raven612
Chapter 2: Dire Straights
A/N: Sorry this update took so long, it's finals week in college, but I'm finally all done now!! So on with this story!
……………………..
The two employees previously interrogated by Gibbs were sitting handcuffed to chairs next to each other. McGee's eyes kept darting to them, they hadn't moved a muscle since being seated, and both just kept looking down. Gibbs was watching the feed from Abby's lab; she was hugging Bert and standing near Ducky. Clay was off to the side, it looked like he was talking to Herrera. A beeping on Gibb's computer signified another e-mail. He called it up on screen.
Gibbs, you think you can win? I am growing a little frustrated with this situation; I think I need to get through to you and your team. What will it take Leroy? Will I have to hurt Abby or Ducky, who do you value more? Which shall I kill first? I can't kill both at the same time; maybe I need you to see that this situation is very serious.
"Damnit!" Gibbs cursed as he slammed his fist against his desk, he was about to go to Abby's lab when sudden movement on the plasma caught his attention. Abby was standing stiffly against her computer table, a scared look in her eyes. Ducky was trying to grab Clay's arms, suddenly a flash and Abby was on her knees. Ducky was instantaneously at her side.
"Wha…what just happened?" McGee stammered as he put his phone down.
"The bastard," was all Gibbs could choke out between his clenched teeth. He hastily flew down the stairs to Abby's lab.
McGee turned back to the plasma, Clay had slid down the wall and had his feet sprawled out in front of him, a dazed look on his face.
……………..
Gibbs was pounding on Abby's lab doors; ducky was the first to notice and approached him.
"What the hell happened?" Gibbs barked.
Ducky shook his head grimly, "She's lucky it's not Herrera here himself, the bullet Clay shot off only grazed her upper arm. I've tied some material from her lab coat around the wound, but she will need stitches. Jethro, we haven't got much time, I believe the next move will involve death."
Gibbs nodded, "Is she alright?" he asked, almost too quietly.
Ducky nodded, he then stepped aside as Abby approached, her uninjured hand was holding her wound, and Gibbs could see the liquid crimson seeping between her fingers. "Hey Gibbs," she muttered.
"Abby, we'll get you two out of this, I promise," his voice was strained, he tried to keep it calm and even, but a tremor of worry seeped in.
Abby winced and nodded, "We need to save his family Gibbs."
"I know Abby, I know," he sighed, he rested his palm against her door, she fitted her smaller hand in his and smiled sadly.
"Be careful Gibbs," she smiled weakly for him and winced when her wound protested. Ducky was back and steered her away from the door and into her computer chair.
"I'll look after her Jethro, but I think Daniel is getting restless, I do not think he will stick to his original forty eight hour deadline, not if he ordered…" Ducky cringed and Gibbs only nodded.
"We've got two leads, so far they're of no use, Tony and Ziva are watching Feller's house."
Ducky nodded and turned away from Gibbs, as Ducky walked away Gibbs caught Clay's eyes. Clay immediately averted his gaze; Gibbs wished he could kill with a look. Gibbs made his way back to the squad room. McGee was talking with Raphael, who promptly shut-up when Gibbs entered.
Gibbs was about to question Raphael when McGee interrupted him, "Raphael just admitted that they had a third person in on this whole situation, they don't know what his job was, just that he worked on the janitorial crew."
"Name?" Gibbs demanded.
"Uhm, Derrick Velasquez, he didn't show up for work today, I have his home address," McGee handed Gibbs the paper he had printed.
Gibbs didn't want to leave NCIS, he wanted to be around to make sure Abby wouldn't be hurt again, but he knew it was crucial for Tony and Ziva to stay on lookout at Clay's house. "C'mon McGee, we're going to talk to Derrick," Gibbs grabbed his coat, as he already had his SIG.
"Uh, but what about lockdown?"
"What about it?"
"Right," McGee mumbled as he followed on the heels of his boss, he cast one last glance at the plasma before rounding the corner.
………………………….
"Tony, there are only five guys, we can take them, how do we know that Herrera is not one of those guys," Ziva was exasperated and wanted to kick some ass.
"I want to kick their ass just as much as you, probably more, but we don't need our asses to go back to NCIS in bags, not until we know no one else is watching the house, we'll make our move then."
Ziva let out an annoyed sigh and slumped back further into her seat. She raised the binoculars to her eyes and watched a man pace the kitchen; another man emerged from a side room carrying the baby. Ziva's breath caught in her throat as she watched the men. She watched as the man with the baby yelled at another man. The mother was straining against her restraints and tears were running down her cheeks.
"Tony I can't sit here and watch this, there are children in there."
"I thought an assassin had no room for feelings," he hadn't meant it, but with his emotions and nerves on edge he couldn't stop it before it was out.
Ziva turned to him with an icy glare, "We are not heartless Tony."
"Sorry, I didn't mean it, you don't think they'd actually kill a baby, do you?" he asked, hoping she would say no.
"A man like Herrera would, I also think he has killed many innocent women and children," Ziva was about to continue with more startling information, but a car pulling into the driveway caught her attention; she smacked Tony and motioned to it.
"Shift changes?" he wondered aloud, two men emerged from the car and entered the house. None of the other men left, the car backed from the driveway and drove east. Tony wanted to follow, but he had to keep surveillance on the house.
"I think they're amping up security, you don't think they know we're here; do you?" Ziva asked turning back to Tony.
"No, if they knew we were here, we wouldn't be breathing, I think something might have happened and Herrera is starting to feel uncomfortable," Tony stopped, he knew Herrera had done something to highly upset Gibbs and that Gibbs was raging and leaving no stone unturned, no crime is ever perfect, except if Abby were to commit it.
"What could he have done?" Ziva wondered aloud as she rubbed her aching eyes.
Tony opened his mouth to answer her, but the ringing of his phone cut him off, "DiNozzo."
"DiNozzo, anything changed at the house?" Gibbs asked.
"They amped up security, did something happen?"
Gibbs sighed, "Yeah, something happened."
"What?" Tony snapped.
"Abby was shot, the bullet only grazed her upper arm, left a deep wound, she's lucky Ducky is in her lab with her."
"Son of a bitch," Tony mumbled, Ziva turned to him wondering what happened, he held out his finger to her as he listened to what Gibbs had to say.
"McGee and I are working on a lead, I want you to stay where you are, keep watching the house, call you when I know more."
"Alright boss," Tony sighed and snapped his phone shut, he then recounted his conversation to Ziva.
Ziva balled her fists, "I swear Tony, there is no one else watching this house, we need to get in there and secure the family, once we do that Clay is free and will have no reason to hurt Abby or Ducky."
"He already hurt Abby, and we're staying here until we get orders otherwise, there could be more of Herrera's men in the houses surrounding Feller's. For instance, the house across the street, no one's been there for at least three weeks."
"And how do you know?" Ziva asked.
Tony smirked, "The grass is high, the shrubs are starting to look messy and there are five newspapers sitting on the stoop."
"And how does that tell you no one has been there for three weeks?"
"Three weeks is just an estimate, and as you can see the shrubs had been trimmed a while ago and they're starting to grow out, the flowers along the walk would signify maybe an old woman's touch, and the grass, every man takes pride in his lawn and would have had it mowed by now." He quirked his eyebrow at her.
Ziva nodded, she turned the binoculars towards the house, she then noticed a man peeking through the curtains, watching Feller's house, "I guess he does have his own surveillance, maybe best if we sit tight, until they figure out we're here."
Tony only nodded.
……………
Gibbs and McGee arrived at Derrick's apartment.
McGee knocked, "NCIS open up Derrick," he called pounding on the door. No answer.
"Special agents Gibbs and McGee, open up!" Gibbs yelled as he pounded on the door, still no answer. He crouched down and worked his lock picking magic and the door popped open.
Gibbs and McGee entered with their guns pointed in front of them.
"Clear," McGee called; Gibbs was heading down the hall and entered the bedroom.
"In here McGee," he called holstering his gun.
McGee entered and saw the body. Derrick had shot himself in the head; there was a note on the desk. McGee put some gloves on and grabbed it. He read it and his eyes went wide, he then handed it to Gibbs.
I'm sorry agents, but I couldn't handle it anymore. Daniel had too much control and I needed out. I will share one secret with you; Daniel has two small bombs planted in the Forensics Lab office. They are small enough so they won't bring the building down, but small enough to cause a great deal of damage to the Forensics Lab and anyone in it. Daniel has the switch. One bomb is under the desk and the second is on the wall near the entry. I doubt you can get to them though, I jammed the locking mechanism to Abby's office, and no one gets in or out. All you can do is kill Daniel.
Gibbs crushed the note in his grasp and cursed brightly under his breath, "What're we going to do boss?" McGee asked in almost a whisper.
Gibbs was about to say 'call Ducky,' but that wasn't going to happen, "Bag and tag, we're going to treat this like any other crime scene, call Palmer, see if he can operate alone."
McGee nodded and flipped open his phone and pressed his speed dial for Palmer. Jimmy had grimly agreed to come and collect the body. Gibbs paced the apartment, searched for more clues, something to let him know where Herrera was and how he could find him. He then called Abby.
…………
Abby had been sitting in her computer chair for over an hour, Herrera had figured out her fake data running scheme, she had details from the case displayed on her screen. Herrera wasn't happy with it and the fact that Abby wouldn't destroy it. That was why she now had a painful wound on her arm and a bloody lab jacket. The ringing of her phone made all present jump.
"Hello," she said hoarsely.
"You feeling okay Abbs?" Gibbs asked.
"Could be better, tell me you have some good news," she had a pleading tone in her voice.
Gibbs sighed, "Afraid I've got some bad news; it seems as insurance to make sure something drastic happens because of all this; Herrera had two small bombs planted in your office. Herrera has the switch; do not do anything that might make him want to set the bombs off."
Abby gulped and nodded, "Okay," she weakly whispered back.
"Put Ducky on," Gibbs said and he heard slight shuffling on her end before Ducky grabbed the phone.
"Yes Jethro?" Ducky asked.
"Herrera has bombs in Abby's office, I want you two to do whatever Herrera orders; I do not want either of you seriously injured."
"Will do Jethro, you can count on us, just as we can count on you," Ducky replied grimly. He wasn't sure how good their chances were now. He sighed as he gently hung up Abby's phone. He turned to her and saw the stunned look on her face.
"We have no way out Duck," she muttered quietly, a tear ran down her cheek.
Ducky wiped it away and offered her a sad smile, "My dear Abigail, Jethro is working hard and he'll figure out how to get us out of this mess, Daniel will not know what hit him once Jethro gets through with him."
"Herrera says that if you value your life, Dr. Mallard, you won't talk about him like that," came Clay's raspy voice from where he sat still on the floor.
"Clay, you need to remain positive, that is the only way we can beat Daniel."
"Ducky's right, think positive, though it's hard with an injured arm," Abby sneered, hoping Herrera would get the point.
"How will agent Gibbs get us out of this? We are pawns in a game, Herrera is winning." Clay said hopelessly as he rose and shoved the gun back into his waistband.
Abby shook her head, "Gibbs will get us out of this; he always does."
'The little lab rat is too confident in her boss, I thought she'd learn with the wound to her arm she'd be a bit more cooperative.' Herrera said with a chuckle.
"We can't help you Daniel, Abby said they have no physical evidence here, you need to deal with the base in Cuba."
'Not a good answer, you wouldn't want me to do something harmful to your daughter, or daughters…' Herrera trailed letting his words sink in.
"What?" Clay asked, a form of hope was evident in his eyes and Abby watched him intently.
'Your daughters, Clay, you wouldn't want me to hurt one, or possibly your son…' Herrera chuckled slightly, a realization dawned on Clay.
"You leave my children alone, Herrera, just tell us what to do," Clay said.
'Tell that lab rat to send all information she has to this address,' Clay motions for a pen and paper, Ducky hands it to him. Clay jots down the information and hands it to Abby.
Ducky reads over her shoulder, both he and Abby's eyes go wide. Clay pretended to take down the e-mail address; in actuality he wrote out that Herrera was in his house with his family. Abby was now presented with the trouble of telling Gibbs. Her lab was bugged and she couldn't figure out a safe way, then it hit her. She had her cell phone, she pulled it from her lab coat and quickly texted the information to Gibbs. She knew Herrera probably saw what she had done.
"What did you do?" Clay demands turning to Abby.
"Nothing, I turned my phone off," she lied shoving it back into her pocket.
Clay held his hand out for it, she reluctantly handed it to him. He placed it on the floor and shot it. The pieces flew everywhere striking all three people.
Ducky went to Abby and put his arms around her hunched shoulders, "We'll be alright Abigail," Ducky said trying to sooth her.
Abby nodded and reached up with her good hand and squeezed his hand, "I know Duck, I know."
……………..
Gibbs was about to pull out of the apartment lot when his phone started to beep. He pulled it out; a strange message was telling him he had one new text. He held it up to McGee, "What's that mean?" he asked.
"Uh, it means someone sent you a text message, it looks like it's from Abby," McGee answered, Gibbs turned the phone back so he could look at it.
He hit okay and read the message, "McGee, we have a location on Herrera," he said and slammed on the brakes.
"What, where?" McGee demanded.
"He's in Clay's house," Gibbs responded stepping on the gas as he hit the speed dial for Tony.
"DiNozzo, update," Gibbs barked.
He nodded along as Tony told him about the others in the house across from Feller's. Gibbs then told Tony where Herrera was. He heard Tony curse and Ziva slammed her palm against the dashboard.
"We're on our way, we'll park outside the house across from Feller's McGee and I will secure that area, you pull up in front of Feller's then. As soon as we secure the adjacent house we'll assist with Feller's." Gibbs was speeding down the street, narrowly missing oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
………………..
Tony snapped his phone shut, "I knew Gibbs would get him!" Tony said enthusiastically.
Ziva nodded, "They'll all be okay," she sighed as she let herself untense for a moment.
Tony nodded, "We just need to position ourselves in front of Feller's house and wait for Gibbs' signal, and here they are now." Tony watched as Gibbs came flying down the street and immediately stopped in front of the neighbor's house. Tony watched both McGee and Gibbs approach the house, their weapons drawn. Gibbs knocked on the front door while McGee went to the back.
"Looks like we'll take up our new post," Tony started the car and drove so that they were now parked in front of Feller's house. Tony continued to watch the activity across the street while Ziva watched Feller's house, so far no one on the inside had noticed them.
………………………..
"NCIS, open up!" Gibbs shouted as he kicked in the door, he didn't want to give them a chance to call over to Herrera. As expected he was met with a hail of bullets. Gibbs quickly took down the first two men while McGee came from the back taking out three. They walked through the entire house securing the area.
"DiNozzo, we're clear over here, how are things over there, did they find out?" Gibbs asked as soon as Tony answered.
"No, want us to wait for you guys?" Tony asked as he and Ziva loaded their guns.
"Go on, we're on our way," Gibbs informed him as he and McGee made their way out the front door.
Gibbs and McGee ran across the street and ducked on the side of the car pointed away from Feller's house. Tony and Ziva emerged; Ziva and Gibbs took the perimeter of the house while Tony and McGee were to go in the front.
Tony was on one side of the door and McGee on the other, McGee knocked.
"Who's there?" a gruff voice called.
"NCIS!" Tony yelled kicking in the door; McGee shot the man at the door before he could pull his weapon. They heard Ziva and Gibbs coming in through the back.
Three men burst into the living room; one held one of Feller's children, a gun pointed to her head, "Guns down," he ordered, and the little girl was shaking and tears fell from her round eyes.
Tony and McGee dropped their guns and raised their arms. The three men then ushered the agents into the kitchen where the wife and other little girl sat. The other little girl had a black eye; the wife had some more abrasions on her face and bruising.
"It looks like I am in the lead again," A larger man said with a chuckle as he emerged from the hallway, he used the barrel of his gun to stroke the chubby cheek of the baby boy in his arms.
"Let the family go, you've got us now," Gibbs said between his teeth, he felt the barrel of the gun tap his forehead.
"No, special agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, this just makes the game all the more interesting. I will not quit until I get what I want."
"You already know we can't help," Ziva seethed, she jerked her shoulders as one of Herrera's men tied her hands tightly behind her back. The other men did the same with Gibbs, McGee and Tony.
"Take them to the back, I'll deal with them soon, put Jessie back in her chair," Herrera ordered and dropped the baby into the mother's arms; she was barely able to catch him.
The remaining three men led Gibbs, Tony, McGee, and Ziva down the hall to the master bedroom. They shoved all four agents onto the bed. Two of the men stayed behind for guard duty. Gibbs was already calculating his next move; he knew Ziva was thinking along the same lines. They needed to take out the two men quietly.
…………………….
Clay was pacing the lab, his nerves were fried and he wasn't sure how much more he could take. He had received the photo messages showing what had happened to his wife and daughter when Herrera found out Clay didn't take down his e-mail address.
'Clay, you'll be happy to know that, not only do we have your family, but we now have Gibbs and his crew. It's sickening how the threat of a child's life has four federal agents dropping their guns and becoming putty in my hands.'
Clay paled and stopped his pacing immediately, Abby noticed and turned to him, her arm still hurt but the bleeding had stopped. "What's wrong Clay?" she asked. She had sent an e-mail to Jason Greene's commanding officer asking for information from the case be sent to her, ASAP.
"Herrera has special agent Gibbs and the others, Herrera said he was going to shoot my children if they didn't give up." Clay couldn't believe the turn of events.
Ducky muttered something under his breath. He had just looked Abby's wound over and he went to the distressed agent, "Look at it this way Clay, Gibbs is on the inside now, as are the rest of his team. He has an advantage now, it may not seem like it, but he will be okay and so will your family. Herrera made a huge mistake by inviting the enemy in."
Clay nodded; he needed to believe what Ducky was telling him. He drug his hand across his face. "It wasn't supposed to get this complicated."
"I'm waiting for a reply from Greene's officer, then I can send whatever he sends me to Herrera," Abby replied. She was standing next to her computer table, her arms hung at her side.
Abby wouldn't let herself worry about Gibbs and the others, she trusted them all with her life. She looked to Ducky and he offered her a sympathetic look. She wasn't sure if she would be handling the situation as coolly as she was now if Ducky wasn't with her. She walked over to the ME and without explanation hugged him and he squeezed her tightly to him rubbing her back.
"We'll be alright Abigail, Jethro would fight the fires or hell for you," he whispered.
"He'd do the same for you to Duck," she said at an attempt to be humorous.
Ducky chuckled, "Abigail, he might, but he doesn't love me like he loves you," he quirked an eyebrow at her.
Abby, in spite of herself, blushed slightly, "But Ducky," she stammered.
He chuckled lightly and squeezed her good arm, "Please Abigail, I can read the two of you like a book, it is clearly evident that you two love each other very much."
Abby smiled and nodded, "Maybe Ducky, maybe," and that was all she would admit to, for the moment.
Ducky only smiled and turned from her and went to sit on the stool. He was very tired, but knew he wasn't going to get any sleep; he had to watch over Abby. They had been in her lab for twelve hours now, Abby's stomach rumbled, she looked to Ducky sadly, and he only shook his head. Abby sighed and leaned back in her chair.
Clay slide down to the floor again, he watched Abby and Ducky. The voice in his ear had been quiet for the past hour and he was going crazy with wanting to know what was going on. He leaned his head against the wall and let his eyes fall shut, but only for a moment as a voice shot through his ear ordering him awake.
Abby watched Clay fall asleep and then startle awake, "We have to figure something out," Abby sighed, "it's the only way we can get out of this mess."
"Abigail, it's not that easy," Ducky sighed, "what can we do from here? Daniel can see and hear us; our every move and plan will be seen and heard."
"Thanks for raining on my parade," Abby said with a frown.
"We're doomed, that's all there is to it, we're not going to get out of this alive," Clay said sadly from his corner. Abby and Ducky turned to look at him. He had his gun drawn; he was looking at it, and then turned his gaze back on Ducky and Abby. Abby was standing slightly in front of Ducky, but Ducky was slowly edging his way closer to Abby.
"Clay, don't, this is what he wants to happen, he wants to break you down," Abby went to take a step towards the agent, but Ducky stopped her.
"So he wins, he's already hurt my family, it's my fault they're in this situation," he was close to breaking down and Abby could sense it.
"It is not your fault, do not blame yourself, you're just trying to save your family. Put the gun away Clay and we'll figure this out." Abby tried again.
"There is no figuring it out, he's got us," he looked up and pointed his gun towards her again. Without a second thought he fired and Abby's scream pierced the static air along with a cry from Ducky.
…………………
A/N: Looks like everyone is in a spot of trouble! And, oh no, a little cliffie!! Well if you want to know what happens and how everything works out, leave me a review and I'll update! Let me know how you liked it!!
