Chapter Two: Questions

"Taken for ransom?" Gibbs's question made McGee look up. He was doing paperwork while his boss was talking to Tony about Ziva. But the anxious worry in his voice automatically warned the young agent something was wrong.

Gibbs sighed, "alright DiNozzo. Secure the area. McGee and I will be there in a minute." He paused. "Yes, DiNozzo. We'll find her." He hung up and got his gun and badge out of his desk.

Tim followed suit and grabbed his gear. He glanced at his boss, question's in his eyes but never once did he voice them.

"She's missing McGee. DiNozzo found a note." Gibbs explained as they walked to the elevator. "Let Abby know. I'll go tell Vance and meet you there."

Tim nodded and took the elevator to Abby's lab. His questions never-ceasing to be asked in his head. Who would take Ziva? Why? Was Ziva okay? Would they find her in time?

"Hey Timmy. Any evidence?" Abby looked at Tim as he walked into her lab. She noticed his confusion. "Timmy?"

"Ziva's missing. Tony went to find her this morning and found a note in her apartment. Someone took her." Tim explained slowly.

Abby's eyes grew wide with fear. "Who? Why?"

"We don't know Abs. Gibbs told me to come tell you. We're on our way to find her now.

Abby hugged Tim, "be careful. Find her soon."

"We will. I'll be back with evidence to. Me, Tony, or Gibbs."

Abby nodded. "Timmy, do you think it was the person who was trying to kill me?" Her voice was quiet, but Tim was worried of the same thing.

"If it is, I'll kill them. Or something. They won't get away with this." Tim promised. He kissed her forehead. "We'll be back Abs."

Abby nodded and watched as he left. Silently she prayed the team would all return safely.

Tony looked around Ziva's room trying to find anything that would show him who the attacker was. He saw her pillow had been moved and so had the gun she had kept underneath. She probably grabbed it but whoever took her had stopped her.

That bastard! Tony thought. He hoped Ziva would be okay. Especially since he needed to talk to her about their argument. The last words he said to her he didn't want to be the last ones she'd remember.

"Well Tony, if you really cared about this case, you'd work harder!" Ziva had snapped. She was overly stressed and tired. She wanted to keep Abby safe.

"I do care Zee-vah!" Tony spat. "I just hate having to deal with you every damn day!"

"Well maybe after this case I should just go back to Israel."

"Maybe you should! That way I wouldn't have to see you ever again!"

"Fine! I will!" Ziva snapped as Gibbs walked in. That was the end of the argument for them as head-slaps were administered to them and Gibbs gave them each a warning look.

Tony sighed and sat on the floor staring at Ziva's bed. How could he have let the stress get to him? He should have been more careful. Should have gone to the bathroom when the argument started, calmed down, and then come back and tell Ziva he was sorry. He should have pulled her aside while Gibbs was interrogating the guy. He should have walked her to her car when she asked for someone to come with her. He should have. But he didn't.

Now it was too late. According to the kidnapper, they only had, well now 47 hours, to find Ziva. Tony had no doubts in the team, but he was scared there was a chance they wouldn't make the deadline.

"Tony. You here?" Tony heard Gibbs call from the front of the apartment.

Quickly, Tony got to his feet, "her room boss." He called. "Area's been secured, no one was here when I got here. Only thing I touched was the note."

Gibbs' footsteps came closer, until he came into the room, in full view of Tony. "Find anything we could use for prints? Other than the note?"

Tony shook his head, "not yet. Decided to wait till you and McGee got here boss." Tony led the way back to the kitchen. "The note's back where it was so you two can see." He pointed out.

Gibbs looked and nodded, "good job. Now let's get the evidence over to Abby so she can process and get fingerprints."

McGee was already getting the note in a bag for Abby. "Good idea. So any ideas of who did it?"

Gibbs looked thoughtful before he walked back to Ziva's room and began to take a few pictures. After he got gloves and took Ziva's pillow, gun, and blanket to see if fingerprints were on any of the items.

Tony began to help McGee with dusting and trying to get fingerprints off the door lock, door handle, and door jamb. They weren't taking any chances of not finding Ziva.

Abby paced her lab impatiently. Where were they? They had to have been there and back by now! She groaned worriedly. Was the team okay? What had happened? How much evidence would she have to go through? Would she find any traces of the guy?

Suddenly McGee and Tony came in carrying a box each of evidence. Ziva's blanket taking up one whole box on its own."Where you want this Abs?" Tony asked motioning to their boxes.

Abby took the boxes and set them on the floor. Then she tackled both boys in a hug, "You guys okay?"

Tony and McGee hugged her back as soon as they regained the breath that had been knocked out of them. "We're fine Abs." Tony promised.

McGee waited until she released. "We're fine. Gibbs decided her bedding items would be good, we also got the note, and a few finger prints from the door."

Abby nodded. "Alrighty boys." She signed off the sheet. "Find her. Please."

Tony nodded. "We will Abs. Just get the finger prints for us."

Abby nodded, saluted him and began her work. They were going to find Ziva. Abby wouldn't accept any less.