Trapped – chapter two

Title: "Trapped"

Author: AbbyGibbs Stephjag or Well, I do not own them and that is pretty unfair – they again belong to DPB! Why does he always have to own the best shows and the best characters? Could someone explain that to me? His characters are always suffering too much. So I have decided to borrow them for a little while, the length of a story, but I promise to give them back though I really wish I could keep them for myself.

Classification: I don't really know, except that it is a Navy NCIS fic. There will be some romantic moments. Love comes when you're expecting it the least. Oh yeah, and there will be angst.

Rating: T or maybe K+ (+13 or maybe +16 as always to be on the safe side, isn't it?)

Spoilers: none, but every moment involving Gibbs and Abby

Summery: Gibbs doesn't show up at work and for some reason it doesn't really bother anyone; maybe Jethro finally got himself a private life, who knows? The only member of the team that gets worried is Abby Sciuto; she has some sort of bad feeling about it.

Author's note: # 2. I know that what is happening and will happen in the story will never actually be in the show, but I'm writing this for entertainment only and sometimes seeing how DPB is handling his characters… well maybe my story isn't that bad after all. Normally, I never write a lot of author's notes, but I thought that with this story it was necessary. Please, you guys, don't get mean to me or anything because this chapter contains a among of things that aren't very pretty, but I promise everything's going to be fine… just stay with me on this one, okay? Oh yeah, I forgot: I know Kate is supposed to be Abby's best friend, but in this story she's not really going to be the one to who Abby's going to turn to. Don't sue me…

Many many thanks to those who've read the first part of the story and were kind enough to leave me feedbacks.

Beth, thank you so so much for your support in everything I write and for your help with each one of my stories. You're such a great friend and I'm blessed to know you.

Feedbacks: well, I'd love them, of course – who wouldn't? But please, only if you respect my work because it takes a lot of time and energy to get a story together. I love writing; I wouldn't allow anyone to discourage me from doing so, never. I don't have any problems at all with readers who choose not to go for this, but I decidedly do with those who write disrespectful mails just because they didn't get the ending they would have wanted. If you want to tell me what I might have done better within the story I made up, you're always very welcome to let me know. But if your only concern is to rant about it, then please, do it in private, okay? Thank you.

CHAPTER TWO

Tony was still holding Abby in a tight embrace. After a few more minutes, he decided to slowly disentangle himself from her, but before he completely did, so he whispered in her ear, "It's going to be okay. Come on, let's get out of here." Placing a soft kiss on her dark hair, he added, "It's all going to be fine. I promise."

Slowly they both stood up, Tony carefully helping Abby because she seemed to be a little unsteady. She didn't trust her legs, and neither did her friend. One arm was holding her by the shoulders while the other one was holding her by the waist. The two friends slowly walked out of Abby's lab.

While passing through the lab's doors, Tony scanned the corridor for Kate; when he spotted her his eyes locked with hers. Kate was leaning with her shoulder against the wall, her cell-phone in hand – one look and Tony knew instantly that her calls hadn't been fruitful, just like Abby's midnight calls to her boss and friend.

Something had happened to Gibbs; it was obvious now. Something had to be done, but Tony was also thinking about Abby. She wasn't doing well, which wasn't like her. Knowing her, Tony knew that she would want to help – but in the condition she was in right now, she wouldn't be of much help.

Tony decided to take care of Abby first, praying at the same time that wherever Gibbs was, he was doing okay. Kate switched off her cell-phone and walked closer to her friends. She took Abby's free arm and slid under it to support her. Then Kate slid her other own arm around her friends waist. When she brushed accidentally against Tony's arm, she hastily slid it a little lower.

The three of them walked like this to the elevator. "Tony?"

"Hmm?" Tony mumbled absently.

"Do you have her?" Kate softly asked.

"Yeah, no worries," Tony answered her.

Kate was still holding her friend too, but she'd shifted the most weight onto Tony's side so she could push the button that would call the elevator with her right hand before taking back her initial place under Abby's right arm.

They stayed like this a few instants without saying anything. When the elevator doors opened, they entered it and slowly turned themselves so that they were now facing the sliding metallic doors.

Then without warning Abby started to talk. "He pulled down everything that's in the house. Gibbs is badly wounded – on the head, on his arms, almost everywhere…" She trailed off.

Tony and Kate turned their heads slightly to look at their friend.

The eyes of the young forensic technician were brimming with tears again, but she forced herself to go on. "He fought with his assailant for several minutes – the house is a mess, there is broken glass everywhere, and his attacker finally shot him down…" Her voice caught in her throat; suddenly she couldn't breathe anymore, and she looked deadly pale.

The doors opened a little later. Getting out, the trio headed over to Kate's desk. The two of them helped Abby to sit in the chair, and Tony went to get Abbs her favorite drink, Coffee Pow, leaving Kate with her.

"Abby, what else have you seen in your dream?"

"Gibbs covered with blood. It was horrible, Kate, the door has been forced…" Abby's voice trailed off, and Tony came in with his friend's favorite drink, which he handed to her with a smile.

"I thought you'd like to have one," Tony said softly.

She smiled back at him, but her eyes were full of sadness and fear. And nor Tony nor Kate liked to see their best friend like that.

Tony DiNozzo felt a twinge of sorrow; the person he was looking at was very far from what she used to be – the jovial and always ready to help Abby – that Abby Sciuto had vanished into thin air.

"Kate, you really need to go check on Gibbs, please. I'm fine, please go – both of you…"

"Abby, don't say stupid things. You're not fine at all," Tony observed gently. He'd smoothly put his hand on his friend's shoulder in a comforting gesture.

"Tony, I'm fine!" she claimed before adding, "I'll be better when I'll know where Gibbs is and that he's okay…" Her voice cracked involuntarily.

"Abby…" Tony said softly, once more he came closer to her and took her in his arms again and whispered in her hear, "Don't worry. We'll bring him back to you, Abbs, I promise."

Kate stood up slowly, feeling that same twinge of sorrow she'd felt earlier when Tony had done the exact same thing with Abby. She forcefully tried to reject those thoughts, which she was surprised to discover was easier said than done.

She took out her cell phone again and dialed Ducky's number. She moved a little so she could explain the situation to him without her friend hearing it. After she'd finished, she asked Ducky if he could come over.

Ducky appeared five minutes later. "Ducky? But…" Kate started to say.

"I was downstairs, Kate, at the morgue… I know I should have known Abby was there, but all the lights were turned off, so I thought…" His voice trailed off.

"It's okay, Ducky," Kate told him gently. "Can you stay with her?" She knew full well what his answer would be.

"Of course I can," Ducky replied without hesitation, walking closer to where Abby and Tony were.

Tony slowly let go of his friend, smiling softly at her while standing up, but Abby didn't let go of his left arm. "Tony, promise you'll bring him back… alive."

"Promise, Abbs," Tony said hastily, hope that the fear wouldn't be heard in his voice.

Abby locked her eyes with his and offered him a weak smile. They looked at each other for another few moments, and then Abby let go of his arm.

A moment later, Tony gathered his stuff together, checked his gun, and headed for the elevator at a rapid and determined pace. Kate followed close on his heels.

Once in the parking lot they ran – as if they'd made a silent agreement – to Tony's car. A little before they arrived at the car, Kate threw him keys that Tony had forgotten in his haste.

Five minutes later, they were on the road, heading for Gibbs's house. At first there was a heavy silence surrounding them – a silence full of doubts, worry and lack of understanding.

Kate was the first who broke the silence that was stretching. "Tony?" she started, turning her head to him.

Tony looked at her a few seconds before getting his eyes back on the road again.

"I know what you're thinking, Kate, but if Abbs is right, she has the right to know – she needs to know it. Abby is great at what she does, and something tells me that if she actually right, which I sadly think she is, she'll do everything in her power to find him as well as an explanation."

"Yeah, you're probably right; Gibbs and Abby have always had a very unique relationship. You don't happen to know something more about it, do you?" she asked nonchalantly.

Tony looked at her again before once again switching his eyes back to the road. "Actually, I don't know what they exactly share together, but it's very special – that's obvious," he sighed.

Kate immediately noticed Tony's sigh, and she felt a twinge of sadness sweep through her.

"What do you mean you don't know what they share? You've known them longer than I have, haven't you?" she asked, a little harshly.

Tony turned his head a little to the right, just enough so he could look at her in the eyes. "There's no need to be so blunt, Kate," Tony said softly.

"Sorry," Kate answered simply, looking at her hands.

Tony continued, "It's been over two years now that I've known them, and I'm still wondering about their relationship. I still don't get it, but one thing is sure; it's not a 'father-daughter' kind of relationship, believe me…" He smiled.

"Yeah, I noticed that, thank you. Abby can do almost anything she wants – it's incredible! How does she do it?" Kate smiled.

"Well, it's kinda hard to say 'no' to Abbs. Have you ever tried?" Tony asked her, laughing a bit.

"I know, it's as hard as not loving her, it's impossible not to." Realizing what she had just said, Kate felt like an idiot, scared that he might say that he did indeed like… or more than just like her as the friend she was to everybody she knew.

"Did you know that Gibbs learned ASL to be able to talk to Abby's parents'?" Tony asked her, looking at her for a few seconds again.

"What?" she replied, the surprise obvious in her voice.

"Yeah, he did. Do you remember the 'Seadog' case?"

"The one where "Seadog," who helped teenagers to stay on the right path, was accused of dealing drugs… yeah, why?"

"How do you do that?" Tony asked in awe.

"Do what?"

"That!"

"That what?" Kate asked, smiling at Tony's grimace. "Oooh, you mean remembering the cases like that…" She smirked.

"Yeah," Tony said, almost disgusted by her smirking at him.

"I have an excellent memory. Vitamins, you know. You should take them sometimes…"

Tony ignored that comment and continued, "Anyway, after Gibbs told you to get some information about the 'untied states' banknotes, Abby started to jump up and down and started to wave frantically with her arms in the air to get someone's attention. First I thought she'd gone crazy, I'm telling you – then she finally knocked on the window pane to get Gibbs's attention. Then, as if pretending I wasn't there for a second, they started to talk ASL. It was amazing. Gibbs translated to me what she was saying, and you know what, Kate? It was amazing seeing them like that." Tony smiled.

"Tony, the craziest idea I have ever had just went through my mind…" she told him.

Tony DiNozzo couldn't help the smirk that appeared on his lips. "No, don't tell me – let me guess, all right?"

"Yeah, sure go ahead," she replied a little playfully, sure that he wouldn't be able to guess what the thought was.

"Gibbs and Abby are actually in love with each other…" he said, like it was no a big deal to guess it.

Kate stared at him, surprised. "You mean, you too?"

Tony smiled softly before adding, "Kate, just because you and I have different views about almost every topic, it doesn't mean that we can't think the same things sometimes…" His voice trailed off.

They had arrived at Gibbs's house. Tony parked the car and gazed at his partner. They could both sense that something was wrong – Abby had been right. They both stepped out of the car and carefully closed their doors, and they immediately reached for their guns, walking slowly toward the house.

When they arrived at the door, Tony asked Kate in a low voice to wait there a few seconds because the door had been forced. Abby's words sounded in both their minds…

"He pulled down everything that's in the house. Gibbs is badly wounded – on the head, on his arms, almost everywhere…"

Tony DiNozzo slowly pushed the door open and entered the house, his gun aimed in front of him. Kate entered a few minutes after him, unable to wait outside. She found Tony standing in the living room, paralyzed.

"Oh my god," she whispered.

To be continued…

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