Back at NCIS headquarters, Gibbs strides purposefully into Abby's lab.
"What have you got for me, Abs?" he asks impatiently.
"Gibbs? Did I call you?" Abby asks, surprised to see him.
"Evidence from Tony's apartment, what have you got so far?" he asks presumptuously.
"Nothing," Abby replies meekly.
"Nothing? What do you mean nothing?" Gibbs demands irately.
"Exactly what I said. Nothing, nada, nil, zip, squat. It's like whoever took them levitated into the room, touched nothing and vanished into thin air. No prints, no trace, no witnesses, like I said…nothing," Abby rambles.
"Damn it, Abs!" Gibbs shouts letting the stress of the situation get to him.
"Gibbs!" Abby replies, the hurt evident in her voice. "You have no idea how much I wish I had something, but I'm sorry the bad guys weren't kind enough to leave flashing neon sign," she says sarcastically.
"How the hell did they manage to get two adults out of that apartment and to a waiting vehicle without anyone seeing anything? We must be missing something," Gibbs rants as he paces around the lab. Abby watches him and follows him around the room. She has a way of seeing into Gibbs soul, knowing what he's feeling. Right now, not knowing what has happened to Tony and Ziva is killing him. He'll be blaming himself as usual, she assumes.
"It's not your fault, you know," she says sweetly. Gibbs stops pacing and turns to Abby, his eyes reflecting the turmoil inside.
"Of course it's my fault, Abs. What the hell was I thinking? I should have taken her to my place. It was up to me to keep her safe," he explains. Abby is at a loss for words, so as usual, when words fail her, Abby speaks by her actions. She slowly approaches a dejected looking Gibbs and puts her two arms around him and holds him. She is still holding him when McGee walks in.
"Eh, Boss?" he says, somewhat embarrassed to have witnessed what he just had.
"Yeah, McGee?"
"The director wants you in her office ASAP," he tells him.
Gibbs leaves the lab without saying another word, leaving McGee looking curiously and silently at Abby.
"What? He needed a hug," Abby replies dismissively before returning to her work.
Up in the director's office, Gibbs takes a seat at the meeting table. Fornell is there as well as another man he doesn't recognise. Jen introduces the other man as Morgan Stockard from Homeland Security. They quickly get down to the business at hand.
"I just received this by e-mail from Mossad a few minutes ago," Jen begins, before pressing a button and an image of Ziva appears on the plasma screen. She plays the entire three minute statement. Gibbs watches closely, relieved to see that she was unhurt. He watches carefully, hoping that she might be able to give a signal or a sign that could lead them to her. There is none. He can't help but grow concerned when the footage ends and there is no sign or mention of Di Nozzo.
"That's it," Jen says switching off the screen.
"So what sort of response can we expect from Mossad?" Fornell asks the room.
"I haven't spoken to Assistant Director David, but I know it is a policy of theirs not to give in to terrorist demands. They won't deal," she explains.
"Not even for his own daughter?" Gibbs asks in dismay.
"No exceptions, Jethro, you know that," Jen reminds him.
"Great! So, what do we do now?" he asks with amazement.
"You find her, Jethro, and you have 48 hours to do so," Jen warns.
"I'll need extra man power," Gibbs replies, knowing that she's right. "I'm already down two agents."
"Whatever it takes," the Director responds, knowing deep down that Gibbs didn't have to be told twice.
"And if there's anything I can do …" Fornell offers. Gibbs nods in acknowledgement of the offer from his FBI counterpart, knowing that he can depend on Tobias to be there if and when he was needed. Gibbs and Fornell leave Jen's office together. They discuss the best approach at Gibbs' desk. Fornell arranges to have all airport security tapes examined in the hope that it might offer an insight into where Zamir went from there. He also arranges for his team to trace and account for the movements of known sympathisers in the DC area. Zamir didn't orchestrate this alone. He had to have help stateside.
Gibbs asks Abby and McGee to comb through footage from traffic cameras on the roads surrounding DiNozzo's apartment, hoping to catch a break. The clock was ticking.
Unknown Location
Meanwhile at the warehouse, Ziva tries to help Tony. It's obvious to her that he is hurting, but in typical DiNozzo fashion he plays it down. She rips off the bottom of her t-shirt and tears it into a few pieces.
"Mmm, I'm feeling better all ready," DiNozzo comments as he stares at her now bare midrift.
"Shut up, Tony," Ziva snaps, as she wets a piece of the cloth and gently wipes the blood form his cheek and lip. Tony winces away from her, still cradling his left hand in his right, his broken finger grotesquely swollen and positioned.
"Give me your hand," Ziva orders calmly.
"You're not touching it," Tony replies childishly, turning his injured limb away.
"Oh, don't be such a baby, Tony. If I immobilise it, it won't be so painful. Trust me," Ziva explains almost humanely.
"Is it going to hurt?" Tony asks innocently.
"A little," Ziva replies. "But once it's cone it will be much less painful."
"Less? Less is good. Okay, do it," Tony says, holding out his hand and squeezing his eyes shut, in anticipation of the pain.
Ziva takes hold of his hand and quickly and expertly resets it. Tony screams aloud, unable to contain the scream. Ziva then uses another piece of the cloth to secure the broken finger to the one beside it and immobilises it. As she finishes, Tony leans his head back against the wall taking deep breaths.
"I think I'm gonna throw up," he warns before he suddenly turns his head to one side and duly vomits on the floor. Ziva initially turns away in disgust, but quickly returns to comfort her partner.
"Sorry," Tony apologises, looking at the mess he had made.
"Don't worry about it. You sit over here. Take some water," she offers, hoping to herself that the vomiting was only brought on by the pain and not from a concussion or worse.
Hours pass quickly in their prison cell. Tony is pale and quiet and curled up in an awkward sleep. As it begins to grow dark the door to the room opens. Two men enter. They each take hold of Tony's elbows and haul him to his feet.
"Where are you taking him?" Ziva demands jumping up quickly. The two heavies just laugh at her as they drag Tony out and secure the door behind them.
"Eh guys…I'd kinda like to know where you're taking me too," Tony says cheekily. They don't answer him, just haul him back to the chairs where Zamir is waiting.
"Well, Special Agent DiNozzo. Time is running out for your partner. I realise that your agency might be willing to exchange something for your lives. It appears that your boss, Leroy Jethro Gibbs has had a few encounters with a good friend of mine, Ari Hashwari. I believe he lost a female agent in the process. I have a feeling that he won't wish to repeat the experience," Zamir dictates.
"Kate," Tony interrupts.
"What?" Zamir asks, flustered that his dramatic monologue had been interrupted.
"Her name was Kate," Tony says deliberately.
"Whatever. Now I need you to deliver a message to this Gibbs for me. You must give him this," he says, handing him a USB device. "You will warn him that his refusal to co-operate will cost Agent David her life and that she will be the first in a series of federal and military targets."
"I feel I should warn you that Gibbs doesn't really like being pushed into a corner," Tony says with bravado.
"I'm sure he'll cope," Zamir grins. "Okay, take him," he orders his compatriots.
With that they pull a hood over Tony's head and frog march him outside before bundling him into a transit van. One of the guys sits in the back with Tony while the other drives. Tony is determined to remember as much about his journey as he can, knowing Gibbs will expect him to. They drive for what seems like an age. At first there are no sounds of other vehicles but slowly he realises they are driving through a built up area. The traffic volumes have increased. After what seems like an age, the van slows and Tony is on the receiving end of a kick.
"On you feet," his escort orders, grabbing Tony's arm.
Tony struggles to his feet, with the help of his captor. He unties his hands. Then he hears the side door of the van open. He feels the wind on his bare legs as the van is still moving. Just as the realisation of what was coming hits him, he feels an almighty push in his back which sends him hurtling through the open door. With a bone crunching thud, he lands on the road spinning and rolling painfully. As a myriad of pain engulfs his body, oblivion is a welcome escape and he slips into the darkness.
Reviews are always welcome. I'll try not to keep you waiting too long for updates.