##hope you're still with me, thanks for all the wonderful reviews please keep them coming! Well if i owned them i would be famous and in America not a South African teacher. oh yeah, the bad guys, they are definately mine (evil laugh) along with any and all mistakes (shame face)...enjoy!

As Vance was sitting there reminiscing about what he and Abby did (or tried to do) in her lab, Gibbs was trying to keep his mind of the pain that ran through his entire body. His eyes were closed as he sat next to Vance on the floor leaning against one of the bars of their cell. It felt like a battering ram was used against his body and he knew there were some broken bones at least, one of which he was sure is his right shoulder. He sat there suddenly thinking about the case that they were working on that ended up being part of this whole nightmare, little did he know that the Marine whose death he was investigating was in fact the unlucky soul who had to play guinea pig…..

THREE DAYS EARLIER:

On the way to the crime scene, Gibbs was driving his usual way; Tony was actually praying to make it to the crime scene alive. McGee and Ziva was behind them in the truck and judging by the car hooters behind them, McGee was also praying.

Once they arrived at the scene they saw a couple of local LEOs standing around, one looking greener than the other. "If they cannot handle the sight of a dead body, maybe they are not made out for this job." Ziva scoffed as one officer ran for the nearest dumpster.

"cut out, Zee-vah, not made out" Tony corrected with a grin "and not everybody had your Mossad, super ninja, kick-ass training!"

Ziva looked at him with an amused smile, "yet you and McGee do not bring up your lunch at the sight of a dead body."

"It's throw up," McGee pipes up, "and we were trained by Gibbs."

Tony opened his mouth to say something but was silenced with a firm pat on the back of the head, McGee tried to laugh but was silenced with the same firm pat. Ziva was clever enough to keep a straight face.

"if you kids are done, can we start doing our job?" Gibbs said in a flat voice. He silently enjoyed it when his "kids" played like this but he had to keep a tight rein on them. Now, however, it was time to work. Just as he was walking over to the body that was lying next to a dumpster in the alley, Ducky's truck pulled up and Ducky's voice became louder as he ranted to Palmer about getting them lost again.

"oh my" Ducky said as he saw the body, "this poor man. He must have suffered a great deal. Give me a minute with the body Jethro and I will be able to tell you more."

Gibbs turned and walked back to where the rest of team Gibbs was getting the things ready to start processing the scene.

"Ziva, pictures and sketch. McGee, bag and tag. Tony go get a statement from the witness. They apparently found the body while dumping last night's trash."

And with a chorus of "yes, boss." The team got into work mode, ready to prove why they were the best. Satisfied with his team getting their six into gear, Gibbs made his way back to where Ducky was getting acquainted with the body.

"I think this poor man was begging to die."

This statement was made with a sad voice but it still made Gibbs' blood run cold, Ducky didn't make statements like that often so it had to be bad.

"I still need a time of death Duck," Gibbs went down on his hunches next to Ducky and couldn't help the anger rising up as he saw the marine in front of him. The young man was beaten savagely and judging by the way his clothes hung around his body –whoever did this horrible thing took their time doing it.

"I'd put it roughly between 8 and 9 hours ago. But he was beaten long before that. I will give a better idea of what we are dealing with once I get our guest back to Hotel Mallard." With that he straightened up, called Palmer over and with Gibbs' help got the Marine on the gurney and into the truck- ready for the trip back to NCIS.

Almost three hours later, the four weary agents got into the truck and car and drove off – ready to start analysing their evidence they had collected.

What they didn't know was that they were being watched the whole time. The two men in the car had been taking very good notes and were now discussing it with a third person on the phone. They were speaking their native tongue from South Africa, a language not many people have come into contact with and therefore something that worked in their favour.

"there are four of them, meneer."

"Which do you think will do, Koos?"

"I think it is a tie between two people – a young, arrogant man. He looks Italian – of so iets. The other is the front runner – a grey haired man. He looked like the leader and a very important ou."

"nou goed dan," Meneer answered, "get back here so we can prepare for the showdown tomorrow. I think the leader will do just fine."

"Goed so, meneer." Koos answered, he ended the call and looked over to his friend.

"Did you get his name, Jan?"

"Yes, Its Jethro Gibbs and before you ask the search is running."

"Mooi, soon we will meet face to fist…"

***anyone know the language they use? review if you do and even if you don't review anyway! this is me running away, reports needs to be finished.;-)* till next week- cheers.