Ziva

I'm standing alone. I can see everyone from where I stand. I can't kill Cussler without the risk of hitting Abby, and that is a risk I am not willing to take. I look at the rest of the team. No one has their weapons drawn. Unsurprising really, we were told that if we didn't drop them Abby would die. The blood on her face and the gun in his hand were enough persuasion. We dropped them but didn't let on about our spares. I can feel my knife against my back, and I know that this will be my weapon of choice for when the "situation presented itself". A face draws my eye and I study it more closely. McGee. His face reminded me of home. Of the faces of countless civilians, who had lost all hope of living happily, save one farfetched idea that they believe will save them. I study his face, those expressive green eyes, and I know what his going to do. I know he doesn't care about what happens to him, so long as she survives.

"No." I whisper under my breath. This shouldn't be happening. That look didn't belong on McGee. I have never seen him give up on himself, on his life. Not even in the other hostage situations we've been through. I realise that my suspicions from earlier are true. Something is wrong with Tim.

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Gibbs rang the director, as I studied the note and my co-workers. Tony was acting as I expected he would, scared, shocked, angry. McGee on the other hand did nothing, the only movement he made was the slow blinking of his eyes, his face empty, expressionless. Maybe he was in shock, which would be understandable, but... I couldn't distinguish what it was, but something was wrong. McGee had been absent all day leaving a robot in his place. I was going to say something when I heard Gibbs:

"That SOB! His got Abby! I can't believe this! I'm going to kill Vance! I warned him and he still loses her! DAMN! McGee!"

No response. I look at him.

"MCGEE!!!"

Even I had to hide my flinch at Gibbs' tone of voice, but McGee didn't even jump. I watch Gibbs walk over to him and slap him upside the head. I flinch again, in sympathy. With the anger Gibbs put into that slap it had to hurt. But Tim showed no acknowledgement of the pain. He just slowly turned to look at Gibbs.

"NOW THAT YOU'VE FINALLY JOINED US, PERHAPS YOU CAN HELP US FINDS ABBY! GO BACK TO BASE AND FIND HER! I DONT CARE WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO, JUST DO IT!" Gibbs yelled.

Tony was backing away from Gibbs and I didn't blame him. He was loud enough to make your eardrums bleed, and scary enough to make you pee your pants. Not that I was going to admit that to Tony. But McGee just stood there, his face blank, ignoring Gibbs and increasing the wrath.

"GET BACK TO BASE NOW! IF YOU DON'T FIND HER SOON SHE'LL BE DEAD AND IT WILL BE YOUR FAULT!"

I gasped. I can't believe he said that. I watch stunned as McGee turned around and walked to a car, got in and drove off.

"Erm...Boss..." I hear Tony mumble.

"I know." sighed Gibbs. "Let's just finish off collecting the evidence."

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I get my knife ready, waiting for a signal. Cussler is focussed on Tim who is walking towards him and Abby. She is crying, screaming, pleading. 2 shots. I throw my knife, as Tony also shoots and Gibbs pulls Abby to the ground. Cussler falls, but all I can see is Tim, bleeding. I hurry over to him as Tony checks the body. Gibbs quickly joins me, helping to put pressure on the wounds. He's unconscious, his blood trickling through our hands. I glance up at Gibbs meeting his eyes. Guilt, shame and fear look back at me. This is not good. If we lose Tim, we will lose our leader, our team, my family. I look back to McGee, amazed to find his eyes open, pupils dancing round the room. I signal to Gibbs that he's awake, he looks down and Tim's green eyes lock onto Gibbs' blue ones. Tim opens his mouth, and then shuts it.

"Abby." he mouths soundlessly.

"She's safe." Came Gibbs' reply. "Now I want you to stay with me. Tim. Stay with me. Don't go to sleep."

"Sorry." He says as he shuts his eyes.

"No! Don't do this to us Tim. Don't do it to her. She needs you."

I kneel there in shock, my ice queen persona slipping away from me. I hear Tony running over. Then I'm pushed roughly away as the paramedics do their job. I move towards Tony, who's frozen at the sight of his Probie. I gently take his arm and take him back to Abby, who's being checked over by another paramedic. She isn't responding to any of the questions she's being asked. Shock, I say to myself. I pull Tony down and we sit beside Abby, ignoring the paramedic that started looking over us too.

A movement catches my eye, Tim on a stretcher being transported to the ambulance. Gibbs following in his wake. Suddenly were all on our feet following them, leaving the paramedic alone, stunned and nervous. Outside Tim is being loaded onto the ambulance, Gibbs is arguing with a medic. They won't let him ride with Tim. Gibbs sees us standing there, lost. He sees Abby, blood still running down her face, covering the dry blood. He came over to us.

"You two stay here and process the scene. I'm going with Abby to the hospital. Call Ducky."

He grabs Abby, and takes her over to the waiting ambulance. I ring Ducky, Tony isn't up too it yet. I also call Vance. We need another team down here to process. We need to be there for McGee. I need to find out why Tim did what he did. Why he gave up on hope.