Gibbs walked back through the bullpen past his new team. His agents were at their desks trying to find more information on Corporal Garcia. Gibbs decided to let the team keep working on the marine's case for now, although he knew it would not be long until he would have to inform Vance of the current situation in order to pass the case onto another team. He had to focus on finding Tony, but Vance could wait.

"Special Agent Gibbs?" came Agent Lee's meek voice. Gibbs stopped in front of McGee's, no, Agent Lee's desk.

"What is it Lee?" Gibbs answered gruffly.

"Well, I was just wondering if Abby has found anything yet on Corporal Garcia?"

"No she hasn't Agent Lee, have you found anything?"

"No sir, I mean Gibbs."

"Then stop worrying about Abby's work and get back to your own." Gibbs replied abruptly, as he made his way back down towards Abby's lab with 2 cups of coffee and a Caf-Pow!. As soon as he got down to the lab he handed Tim one of the cups of coffee, and handed Abby her Caf-Pow!. He took a swig of his own coffee, before putting it down on the counter.

"McGee, did you trace that phone call?"

"I did boss, but-"

"But what, McGee??"

"Well boss, the call came from a disposable cell phone, which is off."

"Can you trace it, McGee?"

"No...but if he turns it back on I should be able to-"

"Abbs, did you find Detective Carbone?" Gibbs turned his attention to Abby after cutting off McGee.

"Yes, and no"

"Abbs!"

"Sorry Gibbs, I found a Detective Carbone listed in the Philly P.D. database as a former employee. But when I tried to get more information from our database I was blocked Gibbs."

"What do you mean blocked, Abbs?"

"Blocked Gibbs. My clearance isn't high enough, and we got flagged trying to get past the firewall. It completely froze up my system."

"Some one doesn't want us accessing her information, Boss."

"Ya think, McGee. Who?"

"It could be anyone Gibbs," Abby replied, "F.B.I., N.S.A., C.I.A. it'll take forever to hack this through this!"

"We don't have forever! Find a way!" Gibbs barked.


At a classified location, far away from Washington D.C., a cool breeze passed over the rooftop where an M24 riffle was pointed at a building 500ft away. Looking through the scope, the woman could see four men gathered around a table having what seemed like a heated conversation. She squinted her right eye and shifted the rifle slightly to maintain a better view of the man who sat at the head of the table.

"Alpha One, Bravo 7 has the target acquired," spoke the woman calmly as though unaffected by the task at hand.

"Copy that Bravo 7, you may proceed," responded the voice in her ear.

Bravo 7 rechecked her aim, and without any hesitation, fired one round from her rifle. A clean shot, that soared through the night sky, shattering the glass of the observed room, and making its way straight through the forehead of the intended target. Bravo 7 maintained her view from the scope for a few more seconds to verify a job well done.

"Alpha 1, this is Bravo 7. Target has been taken out."

"Good work Bravo 7, now get out of there, and head for the airport. You are needed in Washington."

"Another assignment?"

"No, it seems as though NCIS has been trying to access your information. We need to find out why."

"Copy that, Bravo 7 out."


"Special Agent Gibbs!" declared Director Vance as he stormed into the lab where Abby, McGee, and Gibbs were attempting to break through the block on Detective Carbone's information. Gibbs turned around quickly and offered up a angry glare towards the Director as a response.

"Would you mind telling me what it is exactly that you are working on?"

"A case, Director" Gibbs put slightly more emphasis on the last word of his statement.

"Is this the Garcia case?"

"No."

"Then what case is it Special Agent Gibbs? Because I distinctly remember assigning Corporal Garcia's case to your team. And what the hell is Special Agent McGee doing here?"

"We are working on DiNozzo's case, Director, and McGee is here, because I asked him to be," Gibbs stated simply.

"Might I remind you that Special Agents McGee and DiNozzo are no longer on your team."

"Believe me, I am reminded of that every day," Gibbs stated sarcastically.

"Perhaps this 'case' is the reason why I have the C.I.A. calling my office, demanding to know why MY agents are trying to hack through their firewall?" Vance's tone increased only slightly as he stared accusingly at both Abby & McGee who were standing over by the computer. Gibbs looked over at Abby and McGee, then back to the Director offering no reply.

"Special Agent Gibbs, my office, now!"

Director Vance left the lab heading towards the elevator. Gibbs turned to Abby and McGee, and spoke softly, "Keep working on it." He then exited the lab and walked over to Vance who was holding the door to the elevator open. As soon as the elevator started to move upwards, Gibbs pressed the stop button, setting the elevator to a halt. Gibbs looked in Vance's direction, glaring. Vance seemed unfazed by this tactic, and began to speak.

"I believe I said MY office, Special Agent Gibbs."

"You did."

"Then why are we standing in the middle of a stopped elevator, when my office is on the top floor, with comfortable seating?"

"My office is closer," Gibbs responded as if it were obvious.

"Special Agent Gibbs, I realize that since I have split up your old team, there has been quite some animosity between us. The fact of the matter is that I don't really care. This is my agency, and I will assign my agents to whatever jobs I feel that are necessary. This case you are working on, 'DiNozzo's' case as you so put it, had better not be some sorry attempt to undermine my authority, and get your team back together. It will not work Special Agent Gibbs, and it is about time you understand that."

"You done?"

"Not by a long shot, Gibbs"

"Well, then here is the situation," said Gibbs completely ignoring Vance's comment, "at 13:05 today I received a phone call from some one whose phone we can't trace announcing that he has kidnaped Agent DiNozzo, and intends on killing him, if we don't not play his 'game.' The only link we have to this SOB is DiNozzo's former partner in Philly, a Detective Carbone, whose information is being blocked by the C.I.A. Now since one of your agents is missing, I would suggest that you back off and let me do my damn job!"

Director Vance stood dumfounded at Gibbs' tirade momentarily. This was not what he had expected. "You are sure this man has Special Agent DiNozzo?"

"What do you think, Leon?"

"All right, but we do this one by the books. We do not negotiate, and when you find this asshole, you bring him in. Are we clear Agent Gibbs? This agency does not need you going vigilante."

"Clear, sir," Gibbs answered aggressively.

"Good. I'll see what I can work out with the C.I.A. Meanwhile, why don't you and your team go check out DiNozzo's apartment. Maybe you'll be able to find some information on his whereabouts." Vance flipped the switch of the elevator, and pressed the button for the floor with his office. Gibbs watched him as he exited the elevator, before pressing the button to return to Abby's lab.


Tony had been drifting in and out of sleep for a few hours. His head was still throbbing, and his hands felt like they were on fire. Tony was lost in his thoughts wondering how the hell he was going to make it out of this place alive. He was jerked back to reality, when the door before him opened. In walked the man who had abducted him. Tony tried to swear at him, but was once again blocked by the gag. The man walked over to him slowly, with an odd look of admiration for his handy work. He stopped in front of Tony and pulled back a closed fist. With a hard blow he struck Tony on his left cheek, causing his head to move backwards sharply. His attack continued, as he struck more blows to Tony's face and abdomen. Muffled cries escaped Tony's gagged mouth before he lost his fight with consciousness. The man stepped back once more to admire his work. Taking a camera out of his back pocket, he snapped a photograph of the battered agent, and smiled. He laughed aloud as he turned to leave the room, "Your time is running out, DiNozzo."

To be continued...