McGee didn't need to ask who Gibbs was talking to on the phone…he didn't need to know where they were going and he didn't need to entertain the thoughts running through his mind…

But two out of three wasn't bad.

"McGee!" Gibbs bark pulled him out of his thoughts. "Stay in the car."

Tim squinted at the figure in the distance and conceded with a simple nod. He watched from the car as Gibbs made his way in his direction and sat patiently as they conversed. He tried to adjust his position with the hope of getting a better look, but knew better than to question Gibbs orders. There had to be a good reason why he had asked him to stay in the car…but it didn't make Tim feel any better. His hand unconsciously laid over his side arm as he continued to watch the scene unfold. His other hand clenched his cell phone… he contemplated filling Abby in on Tony's disappearance but knew better than to worry her without the full picture. But something told him, he wouldn't have to wait long.

Gibbs returned with nothing to say, except his characteristic silence. But this time McGee wouldn't play along.

"What do we know boss?"

Gibbs started the car and shifted into drive before responding. "You call Abby?"

Tim didn't lose focus. "Not yet…wanted the full picture." He paused briefly. "What is the full picture boss?"

"DiNozzo's not a friend's house."

"Then where is he?"

The car accelerated. "I don't know…"

"You don't know?"

"Did I stutter McGee?"

Tim glanced out the window to avoid the inevitable glare before gathering himself. "He's in trouble." He stated the obvious. "How bad?"

"Bad."

McGee sensed the hint of failure in his voice and suddenly became more afraid than he was ten seconds ago. "Is he…"

Gibbs didn't let him finish before pulling the car to a halt. "Damnit!"

Tim only waited.

"Just listen…whatever I do, say, hell, whatever I think in the next hour…I need you to make sure that no matter what happens, Abby is taken care of."

McGee swallowed. "Boss, what did that guy say?"

"Enough."

"Which is more than you're saying…" Tim didn't flinch. "Boss, you owe me this…right now I'm all you have left…"

Gibbs ran a hand over his face. "I need you to trust me Tim."

"I do."

"Then promise me she'll be taken care of."

"You know you don't have to ask boss…" He tried to read his expression. "But whatever it is you're planning to do…you don't have to go alone."

"Yes I do."

"Why?"

"You said it McGee…you're all I got left."

"So that means I get left behind? To what? To carry on your legacy, not a chance…if you're going to get Tony, I'm going with you…"

"And just when did I start taking orders from you?"

Tim managed a small smile. "The moment it became about us boss…you have a responsibility to Tony, I get that. But so do I. If Ziva were here you'd never dream of leaving her behind…"

"Already did that."

"Then don't do it again." Tim followed. "What is going on boss? Trust is a two way street."

Gibbs almost smiled and for a fleeting moment, wondered what happened to the green Probie he hired in five years ago. "Mossad has DiNozzo…"

Tim didn't seem surprised. "Revenge?"

"Seems that way…."

"Ziva's Father."

Gibbs only nodded before pulling the car back onto the street.

"Airport boss?"

Gibbs shook his head. "One more stop to make first…"


"Hinky?" Ducky stopped his work to give full attention to the forensic scientist standing in front of him.

"Yeah, you know…rhymes with pinky." She held up the cold dead hand on the table and pointed to the appendage.

"I know what it rhymes with Abigail…I'm more interested in its meaning."

"Hinky…like, unsettling, strange, weird, peculiar, odd, wacky, unusual….Hinky."

He nodded towards her. "I see…well you could just call them and put this hinky feeling to rest..."

"I could…but then I might be right…which would be really bad. And I hate being right about bad stuff…and right now is a bad time to be right about more bad stuff…"

Ducky managed a small smile. "I'm sure Jethro would call if anything hinky were going on…"

"No…" Abby voice softened as she watched the doors to autopsy slide open. "He would tell me in person…"