Chapter 2

TWO DAYS EARLIER

"Hey McTardy! You're here late, run into an old girlfriend?" teased Tony. McGee glared at Tony as he dropped his bag by his desk and plopped down into his chair. He was exhausted; his car hasn't been working right and he stayed up all night trying to fix it. Luckily, it had brought him to work today, but he didn't know how long that would last.

"Hey! You didn't answer my question!" yelled Tony. But before McGee could answer, Gibbs strolled into the room telling them to gear up. As they got up, Gibbs stopped McGee and looked him in the eyes. "Are you okay McGee?" he said with slight concern.

"Yeah...yeah I'm fine, Boss. Just tired." McGee said sleepily. Gibbs nodded his head, but didn't look, at all, satisfied.

When they finished the case, it was about midnight; Gibbs told everyone that they could go home and rest, but he was particularly telling this to McGee. Everyone piled into the elevator and rode in silence. Once in the dimly lit parking lot, everyone said their goodbye's and drove off. McGee barely got down they street, before his car started sputtering and slowing down.

"Damn it!" he growled. He turned of his car, took his phone, jacket, and keys and locked the car door, before walking home. Sarah, suddenly, texted him about having lunch tomorrow and McGee wondered why she was still up. "Probably studying,"McGee thought. He was just about to text her back when a gloved hand came out of nowhere; dropping his phone is surprise, he barely had a time to gasp before he was knocked out and fell into darkness.

PRESENT DAY

"Well, McGee is late... again." Tony said not looking up from his case report.

"This is not like McGee," Ziva said looking around nervously, "he is usually here before me."

"Well, he did look a bit tired yesterday; maybe he slept late." Tony said remembering McGee's face. The Boss is not going to be happy about this."

As if on cue, Gibbs walked in and said, "I'm not going to be happy about what, DiNozzo?"

"McGee is late again, Gibbs," Ziva said. "It is the second time this week."

"DiNozzo, call McGee and tell him to get his ass out of bed and into his desk chair," Gibbs said annoyed.

"On it, Boss," DiNozzo said picking up his phone and dialing McGee's cell. "I bet he is playing one of his elf games and lost track of time," joked DiNozzo. One ring...two rings... three rings... four...then his usual voice mail message came up: "Hello, you've reached Timothy McGee. I'm sorry I can't answer the phone right now, so please leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as I can. Thank you." The voice mail ended and Tony hung up the phone and turned to Gibbs. "Boss, McGee's not answering his phone." Gibbs looked up from his paper and looked at Tony, but before he could speak, the news report came on and the team turned to look at it.

"Dinozzo, turn it up," Gibbs demanded. Tony did as he said and turned the volume up.

"...Sounds of a struggle were heard outside of Quincy's bar," began the news reporter, "there is evidence that there may have been a fight and kidnapping of an NCIS Agent. Keys, badge, smashed phone and a small puddle of blood was all that was left. To avoid publicity, we will not mention the Agent's name, but Metro PD is contacting NCIS as I speak. This is Sandy Yuan with the news, and there will be more info ab-" Tony turned off the sound just as Gibbs hung up the phone. "Quincy's. Now." he said as he packed his badge and sig; along with Ziva and Tony. They headed for the elevator, praying that it wasn't Special Agent Timothy McGee's blood and badge. Praying that he was gaming or sleeping and not missing with possible injuries.

When they got to the crime scene. Gibbs recognized Tim's phone and badge, but hoped it wasn't his. Ducky took a sample of blood and asked Tony to run it through the portable blood analysis. Everyone waited in fear until they heard a ding. Tony looked at the device, then sighed and looked up at the group.

"Words, DiNozzo," said Gibbs impatiently.

"It's McGee's blood, Boss," said Tony worriedly.

"Damn!" yelled Gibbs as he threw his hat on the ground and turned towards the car. Where was McGee?