The words came instinctively out of Gibbs' mouth before he could even think. As Andrews turned to look at him, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes, the former marine knew it looked like he had made a rookie mistake. All his training warned about showing too much concern for fellow prisoners, in case it singled them out for special attention, or encouraged their captors to use their loyalty to one another against them. Frankly, Gibbs didn't think they could be any more screwed than they already were.
Andrews would have to be an idiot, not to realise that his team always had each others' six. And this man was anything but stupid.
"It is interesting," Andrews did indeed look fascinated, as he tightened his grip on Tony's jaw, pressing his cheeks inwards so that Gibbs could almost see the bruises rising. "That your Boss here seems to care more about your welfare than you do. What could possibly have made such an articulate and attractive young thing feel so utterly worthless? Never mind, we will have plenty of time to get to know each other."
"I'm looking forward to it already." Tony managed
"But first," Andrews abruptly released him with an arrogant little shove, so that the back of Tony's head cracked painfully against the wall. "I need to make sure that your noble leader understands his proper role in all of this."
Gibbs honestly didn't feel anything but relief as Andrews turned his attention to him. Even the deadly looking flick knife that the man produced from his jacket pocket didn't cause him more than a flicker of unease. He had lived with pain every day of his life since Shannon and Kelly had been murdered, nothing this man might do to him could begin to match that agony. And his continued survival owed a whole lot to the four other people in this room. He lifted his chin definitely, determined to honour that debt with courage.
"Oh no," Andrews smiled evily. "You didn't think I would make it that easy did you? Choose. Not your boy over there but one of the others to pay the price for your arrogance."
"Too much of a coward to pick on somebody your own size?" Gibbs tried to goad him into focusing his energies on him. "Need to attack women and younger guys to make you feel like a real man?"
"Do you want me to choose both of them?" Andrews threatened.
"No," Gibbs assured him hastily. The more injured his team was the harder it would be to effect an escape. Not to mention the guilt he would feel if his failure to make a command decision caused one of them needless pain. "I'll choose."
"Pick me," Ziva instructed tonelessly. "This would hardly be my first time being tortured. I doubt a man such as this can come up with anything I haven't already endured."
"Which is exactly why you shouldn't have to go through anything like that ever again, do you think it was easy just laying there as Saleem had his fun with people I care about?" McGee protested. "Choose me, Boss, experiencing it sure as hell can't be any harder than having to stand by and watch."
Gibbs felt his chest tighten with pride. His people's willingness to save each other only made any kind of decision like that even more difficult. He noted that the henchmen were looking bored and uninterested. Clearly Andrews' activities were nothing new to them. Now if only he could get their captor to move one step closer to Ziva they might have a chance. Going with his gut he could only hope he was making the right decision.
"McGee," He decided. "I chose him."
"Very well," Andrews allowed. "Then let this be your first lesson. You are not in control here. I will not be manipulated. And your preferences mean nothing to me. I am in charge and so I choose the woman."
As Andrews moved towards Ziva, Gibbs did not even need to make eye contact with team to know that they were poised and ready. As soon as Andrews made the fatal mistake of putting himself between his henchmen and his prisoners, effectively blocking their shot Ziva pulled the scarf from around her neck and proceeded to strangle him. Taking advantage of the henchmen's indecision Gibbs laid one out cold with a single punch, whilst Tony and McGee swiftly incapacitated the other.
"Go," Gibbs ordered, snatching up one of the henchman's guns as DiNozzo picked up the other and ran up the stairs. McGee armed himself with the weapon which had fallen out of Andrews' jacket. "Ziva, come on."
"I just need another moment," Ziva protested. "He is not yet dead."
"Don't think we have another minute," DiNozzo called back down from his vantage point at the top of the stairs. "All this fun and games has attracted some attention, two men closing in on our two o'clock Boss and they have really big guns."
"Ziva now," Gibbs ordered. "McGee, move out."
As a team they moved up the stairs and across the warehouse floor, finding what cover they could behind the crates and machinery as the two gun men closed in and began to lay down fire. Taking a position up by the door, Tony gave a broad grin, not at all in keeping with their present rather desperate situation.
"I think I found us a way out of here," Looking at his partner who was already covering the other side of the door, he nodded at Andrews' large showy Mercedes parked outside. "Ziva, think you can hot wire that baby?"
"In a hot second," Ziva grinned at him. "If it will get us out of here."
"I never thought I would actually say this," Tony admitted. "But for once I might even be glad that having you behind the wheel makes Gibbs' look like a Driver's Ed teacher. Ready?"
At Ziva's nod Tony laid down covering fire, swiftly joined by Gibbs who took up Ziva's vacated position, whilst McGee covered their rear. It only took the Israeli a few moments to unlock the car and pull out the wires to get the engine going.
"Damn," Tony pressed himself back against the doorway as one bullet came a little too close. "Is it my imagination or are there more of them? I think there are more of them."
"Then the sooner we get out of here the better," Gibbs decided. "McGee, go."
The bullets continued to fly as McGee raced towards the car and drove into the passenger seat. Just as he arrived safely DiNozzo's gun gave a hollow click, indicating that he was out of bullets.
"Go." Gibbs ordered.
"What happened to not leaving a man behind?" Tony challenged. "We go together, or not at all."
"DiNozzo," Gibbs scowled. But in truth he expected no less from his senior field agent. "Alright, on three."
It was only a short distance. Ziva had the car's engine running. McGee was providing covering fire. All they needed to do was sprint across and as DiNozzo might put it, 'not get dead'. At first it looked like they would actually make it. Tony saw the car looming closer, he could almost feel his hand closing on the door handle and nearly allowed himself to hope that they would all get away. Just when beside him Gibbs gave a grunt of pain, stumbled and fell, as a bullet grazed his gun arm and knocked him off balance.
"Boss," DiNozzo didn't hesitate as he stopped and turned on his heel, ignoring Gibbs grunt of pain as he hauled the former marine to his feet. "S'okay, I've got you."
He risked a look behind him, to see four, five, six, gunmen closing on their position. Looking ahead the car with McGee and Ziva's anxious expressions looked impossibly inviting. Safety was tantalisingly close, but frustratingly just not quite close enough. Alone, Tony might have made it in time. Helping an injured Gibbs there was no chance that they would both get there safely.
"Go," He yelled at Ziva and McGee. "Get out of here now."
He knew they wouldn't like it but there was no point in all four of them being recaptured. Tony watched as the Mercedes containing his team mates accelerated to safety with only a small pang of regret as he supported the weight of a semi-conscious Gibbs. However, his heart sank as he heard an already all too familiar voice behind him.
"You thought you could outwit me?" Andrews' voice, was raspy from recent lack of oxygen but still oozed pure venom. "Rest assured, I will enjoy punishing you both for such impudence."
