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NCIS

2004…

Abby's Death Metal crap screamed at Gibbs when he entered her lab. His eyes screwed up at the mere sound of each piercing shirk, but Abby was so into the music she barely noticed he arrived until Gibbs crossed the room and switched the stereo off.

"Gibbs," she whined looking up from her computer. "That was the best part."

"You always say that," he replied moving toward her. "So, what have you got for me, Abs?"

"You can't rush my babies, Gibbs. Impatience leads to unhappy computers." She turned to face him, her eyes lighting up when she noticed the Caf-Pow in his hand. "For me? Oh, Gibbs you shouldn't have."

He moved it just out of her reach and said, "So, nothing at all?"

"You are so mean." she playfully pouted before turning to her computer. "Well, the symbol you found matched another symbol from a murder in Kansas a few weeks ago."

"Another murder?" Gibbs moved forward as Abby brought up the information on her computer.

"Yeah, another marine. He was found in his home, beaten and shot. I called Kansas PD and they're sending over as much of their evidence as they can." She turned back to face him, reaching for the Caf-Pow.

"When will you have the finger prints and blood samples?" he asked still not relenting the giant, big gulp sized cup.

"A couple hours," she said practically bouncing on her size ten boots, waiting for her caffeine fix.

"You have one," he said and handed her the cup.

"But Gibbs…"

"Have McGee help you," Gibbs said heading toward the door just as McGee wandered in with a lost puppy dog look on his face. He was taken aback when Gibbs said his name, but instantly perked up at the prospect of helping Abby. "One hour, Abby," he reminded the Goth before letting the door close behind him.

He rode the elevator back to the bullpen, sipping his coffee, only to lower the cup when the doors opened. Tobias Fornell stood on the other end, an impatient look on his face. So, maybe McGee was down in Abby's lab for something more than just to be there.

"Tobias, been waiting long…?"

NCIS

Present Day…

"I don't know what to tell you, Gibbs," Tobias Fornell said looking down at Gibbs from the big screen in MTAC.

"Why not your computers and phones were down and that is why we weren't informed of DeFeo's escape," Gibbs snapped. "Because that is the only thing I can think off…"

"Gibbs we were only informed yesterday," Fornell argued.

"Yesterday?" Gibbs was taken aback for a second, something that didn't usually happen to him. "When did he escape?"

"Two days ago a riot broke out at Leavenworth, six guards and five inmates were injured, three inmates and a guard were killed. The guards did a head count when everything calmed down and noticed DeFeo was missing."

"Anything else you're neglecting to tell me?"

"What?" Tobias' eyebrows furrowed.

"I'm just saying first you forget to mention Ari had come back to the states and now DeFeo's free. It's like you want my team dead or something."

"What does…?"

"Two of my men are missing and DeFeo has them."

"Are you sure?"

"No, Tobias, I'm not. But I'll be sure to take a second look at his calling card," Gibbs snapped sarcastically.

"Gibbs, what do you want me to do?"

"Nothing, Fornell. You'll just get in the way," Gibbs retorted. He made to take off the headset, but stopped. "And let me tell you another thing. If anything happens to my men, anything at all, you and your whole organization will be paying for it out of your asses!" He then threw the headset on the ground and stormed out of the conference room, slamming the door behind him…

NCIS

Tony had been working on the ropes, every so often checking for DeFeo. He didn't know where the psycho went, but he knew it couldn't be good. DiNozzo gave up on his bindings after a few more seconds and turned his attention to the barely conscious McGee.

His usual pale complexion was paper white tinged with a grayish hue, and he had managed to slump deeper into his chair despite the ropes tied around his hands. But nothing, nothing compared to the alarming amount of blood.

The left side of McGee's white shirt was crimson, along with the chair he sat in and the dirty floor around his feet. It worried Tony, a lot, but he had to keep the Probie from panicking. And the only way to do that was to piss him off…

"Hey McSleepypants, wake up," Tony called quietly. "McGee…"

"Shut up, Tony," McGee snapped keeping his eyes closed. That was easy.

"Touchy, touchy McMeanie," DiNozzo cracked, hating how weak Probie's voice sounded. "What's up with you?" Wrong question, DiNozzo.

McGee managed to throw Tony an annoyed without opening his eyes. "Your mouth got me shot…" Tim trailed off as heavy foot falls echoed off the wall. DeFeo rounded the corner a wooden baseball bat resting on his shoulder.

"Did you go out and make that yourself?" Tony questioned before his brain could tell his mouth to shut the hell up.

DeFeo chuckled once and said, "It was between this and a shovel. I figured I would need the shovel later."

"Not really your M.O., DeFeo. Don't you usually leave the bodies out in the open?"

"At the rate McGee's going…" DeFeo trailed off letting his eyes rest on Tim.

Tony forced himself not to look and opted to say, "What are you talking about? He's fine." Okay, McGee wasn't fine, DiNozzo knew this, but he wasn't going to admit it because admitting it was the first step towards 'we are screwed' land. And Tony would rather like to avoid that land for as long as possible.

"Oh, 'he's fine', huh?" DeFeo nodded once then swung his bat into McGee's wounded side. Tim gasped as his eyes flew open.

"What the hell!" Tony shouted pulling at the rope binding him. "He did nothing…" DeFeo hit Probie again, cutting Tony off. Tim jerked violently with the hit, tears of pain welling in his eyes. He breathed deeply through his nose, no doubt trying hard not to make a sound.

"Keep talking, DiNozzo. I've got no problem breaking his ribs," DeFeo growled keeping a tight grip on his bloody bat.

"I hope Gibbs will forgive me," Tony snarled meeting DeFeo's eyes.

"For what?" DeFeo hissed.

"For killing you. Because believe me, when I get free, even if I rip your head off with my bear hands, I will kill you."

DeFeo's lip curled before he swung his bat a third time, straight into the side of Tony's head. DiNozzo's chair tipped over with the force, spilling the agent onto the floor. Tony barely felt the pain, from the collision, spread through his side before everything faded to black…

NCIS