Sorry for taking so long time between my updates, but I am really busy at the moment. Still I promise that when the holiday comes along chapters will appear more frequently.

After driving around for hours, Gibbs had returned to NCIS, only to find out his worst nightmare was coming true. Someone was targeting the people he loved because of him...

The whole team was now on lock-down. Tony and McGee, who had been surprisingly insightful into Ari's mind, had now ordered everyone to stay inside. Extra guards were patrolling the building and they had all been notified about the pressing danger that threatened the team. After moments of silent accusations for his betrayal of running away, Tony had briefly informed him that they would go down and work in Abby's lab. He hadn't made any attempt to stop them from leaving the bullpen, only nodded to them in approval. Without a word, they had turned away and marched down, not offering him a glance. Previous, such open rebellion against him as a leader would not be taken lightly, but he had felt it was justified. For a moment, he had failed them and now they made him pay for it. He would have done exactly the same thing if he had been in their shoes.

Outside it was pouring down, making it hard to see anything, still he had ordered the labwindows to be covered, just in case if someone tried to make a hit. He had not forgotten that Ari was an excellent sniper and a coldblooded killer. Other preparations were also made to ensure the safety of the team. A bunch of Caf-Pows was stored in Ducky's freezer so that Abby would not have to go outside. Everything going in to the lab was thoroughly examined for any potential dangers. After ensuring that Abby was indeed safe, he had slumped down at his desk, the thoughts of a captured and scared Kate nagging his mind. Since they had received the photo of Kate, he had been in a daze. It was as if nothing around him meant anything anymore. People had been moving by, talked to him but they just could not break through his shield. It wasn't until the safety of his loved ones were jeopardized he snapped back into reality. He could not afford to lose his focus now that was exactly what Ari wanted. He could not do anything good for his team, Kate or Grace walking around like a bloody zombie! He had to remain in control over the situation, cause if he broke down, he would never see Kate again... His glance was fixated on her desk. It was neat as always, not a single paper gone astray. But that was tyhe way she liked it, order had always been important for Kate. Kate...He growled, if Ari as much as touched her he would kill him. A quick glance at his watch and he estimated that it had been around 24 hours since he discovered that Kate was missing. That meant she had been in the hands of that monster for over a day and a night. He was going to kill him. The fact that he had had his chance to kill him, but did not do it because of a bloody order, was almost more than he could take. If he had only shot him through his heart, not the shoulder, then Kate and Grace would be safe. It was because of him that Ari had them, and he swore that he would return them alive. Though he had all the faith in the world that Kate was strong, he knew the evil inside Ari. A man without remorse, a man without compassion who only lived to cause pain... From their previous encounters it was clear that he had been well trained. Ari knew how to cause maximal pain with minimum effort. He was the worst kind of killer, the type that would do anything to achieve his goals, despite the destructions that followed his path. If they found Kate too late, she would have lost her fire, lost the sparks that gave her a will to live and fight on. No one could fight a battle against the devil forever...

The thought of her broken and wrecked forced him to move. He could not just sit there and dwell about his misery; he had to do something about this! After a quick stop to get a Caf-Pow, he stood outside the lab. It was so quiet down there you could hear a needle drop. The only sound was the buzzing from the machines and the clicking off a keyboard. The music that normally pounded from the speakers was dead and he found that curiously enough, he missed the dreadful noise. The normal chitchat among his team was also absent, it was as if someone had died in there. . As he entered the room, he could see McGee sitting at the computers, searching for something among a list of figures and numbers. Tony was behind the glass, writing something on a piece of paper, he did not even lift his head as his boss entered the room. Finally his eyes found the one person he was most anxious to see. Abby was sitting on the floor, hugging Bert tightly to her chest. Her eyes met his and he could read the disappointment in them. The accusations he felt himself could easily be read in her eyes. The pain, agony and anger floating towards him in a wordless accusation. She blamed him as well...

Never before had he seen his team so in pieces. Usually, it was their tight bonds that made them so special, but now they had lost their collaboration. They had drawn back into their shells, working separately instead of combining their individually skills. As their leader, boss and friend he could not watch them do the same mistakes as he earlier had done. The fact that he ran away earlier, did not set the best example. After the brief moment of success with finding Ari's next move, they had sunken into the same misery as him. With a heavy sigh, he knew what to do. Better to shake them out of it, than to cuddle with them he thought before slamming the Caf-Pow on the table. McGee jumped, but Abby sat still until he dragged her up from the floor. Behind the glass, DiNozzo had discovered his boss's presence and quickly made his way to the others. Soon they all stood in line, like neat, but a tad reluctant soldiers. Though they all respected him as a boss, the resentment for his earlier betrayal could easily be read in their eyes.

"What do you got?"

No one answered his question. Tony was looking at Abby, obvious hoping that she had something good. McGee turned his fixation to his shoes, hoping that someone else would be the first in the heat. Abby was only one staring back at him, silently daring him to ask her.

"Abby, you first"

With a flat, but steady voice, she began summoning up her findings.

"The door had no signs of being forced open, nor were there any signs of it being picked. Whoever opened it had to have a key, or it was Kate who opened it from the inside. Being her friend I can say that both of those methods are very unlikely, Kate is the most careful person I know. She always carries her keys with her and would never lose them. If she were to lose them, she would not have slept at home until the locks had been changed. And I promise you that she would not have opened the door to a freak like Ari, or any person who appeared threatening. If Ari was the one who abducted her, he is working with someone who appears trusting enough so that they could get Kate to open the door. No way Kate would open the door to danger!"

At the end, her voice was shaking and she took a moment to compose herself. After a deep breath and a solid squeeze on Bert, she continued.

"There were no fingerprints on the door; it has been wiped clean with something very strong, as I cannot find any traces of anything on it. Not sweat, rainwater, not even a trace from Kate. I tried testing it for chloride or any other known chemicals that remove traces in such a way, but I have yet to find a match. The blood on the floor matches Kate. After I examined the carpet, I found a small hair sample in the blood, also matching Kate. Making it most likely a head wound. Judging by the splatter Kate was hit while she was moving, indicating that she was fighting back whoever hit her. She did not give up without a fight The blow came from above, making it a very tall person who hit her. We all know that despite Ari being a real bastard he is not very tall, probably around my height, but not much taller. The person who fought Kate was nearly 2 meters high, and unless Ari was wearing high-heeled boots, I seriously doubt that he was the one doing the fighting.. "

A moment of silence followed her last comment, everyone was busy digesting the facts she had just presented, then Tony started to talk.

"A large person would stand out would they not? And a large person with fighting skills good enough to beat Kate would definitely stand out. If we compare that to any known accomplices with Ari than we could find this man?"

"I could do a search boss, McGee hopped in. By determine his height and skills we could have a possible accomplice."

"Okay, do any of you have anything else?"

They both looked at each other; the answer could be read in their eyes.

"No boss, we don't"

"But we will, soon."

He sighed, wanting to slap them both for not coming up with anything useful, but the twitch of guilty consciences, told him that it was truly his own fault stopped him. He sighed, what he was about to do, needed to be done, but he still resented doing it. It had never been easy for him, admitting his own mistakes, and now here he was, doing it for the second time in one week. It truly couldn't be healthy...

"I am not proud over how I acted earlier today, for letting you down and running off"

Whatever they expected, hearing Gibbs admitting he had done something wrong, was definitely not what they had in mind. Shocked they stood there, staring at their boss.

"I should not have left you like that, and I won't do it again. I left you in the moment you needed me the most and left the control to you. You took responsibility when I did not. You figured out his next move and did everything right. But after that, I can see how you are affected by my behaviour. Sitting around separately? Working alone, while moping in your own misery? This is not how we do it here on my team. We communicate; we do what we need to do so we can make progress. Now I need all of you to think outside the box again. We need to tie Ari to this abduction so we can make our case. So far, we have no evidence that he is the one behind this, and I need the proof that Ari's stinking ass had something to do with this. If I get it, we can put pressure on the director, who then can put pressure on Mossad. If we don't present evidence they will not admit in having a rouge agent."

It was not the best apology, it was more admitting that he had done something wrong and they accepted it.

"DiNozzo! You will dig up every little bit of information on Ari you can find. Call his old friends from his school; call his teachers, women, everyone you can think of. I want to know everything there is to know about the bastard. How he thinks, where he would go, what he would buy. Anything to help us trace him. It is time we get into his head. McGee, you go over her computer again. If Ari used it to spy on her, I want the proof. If the computer is dead you look into her pocket ting, PGA or something."

"It's a PDA boss"

"It don't matter what it's called, you know what I mean. Abby, I need you to go over every, last trace of evidence one more time. You have done a good job, but look for anything that can help pin Ari's ass to floor.

A moment of silence followed his speech. It took a while absorbing what he had just said, but then, almost instantaneously, they all aye'd and saluted him with a "Yes Boss".

"Good"

Then he turned around and walked back to the elevators. As he hit the button, the steps of someone running could be heard. His breath was almost beaten out of him as a pair of arms slammed against his chest.

"I am sorry for being so angry with you!" Abby sobbed. "It was just that when you left I thought you gave up. And you Gibbs you don't give up. You're supposed to be strong and good. And Gibbs doesn't leave when I need him. I needed you earlier and you let me. And now that psychopath is after me too, and you weren't there. You said that you would always protect me, as you would protect Kate. And then Kate is gone, taken for the third time by that man. And then I thought... I thought you would never come back. That Ari had you too. I don't know what I would do without you. And... and... and..."

The rest of what she was trying to say became incomprehensible as she sobbed into his back. Silently he turned around and put his arms around her. For a long time, they just stood there, clinging to each other. Abby weeping into his chest yearning for some comfort and support, while Gibbs was calmly stroking his hand, up and down her back, whispering comforting words in her ear, trying to ease her pain.

"It's going to be fine Abs. We will find her. We have to find her"

Sobbingly she nodded before looking up at him with glistening eyes.

"You stay strong for me and I will be strong for you. Together we will pull through. I have said it before, but I will say it again, we will find her. We will find Kate and save her."

Her head was aching. Mouth was as dry as cotton. What the hell was going on? Something was pressing into her back. Uncomfortable she wriggled around and realised that it was the sheets on the bed that was curled into a bump under her back. What had happened yesterday? It felt ten times worse than when she and Abby had gone clubbing. Slowly she tried to focus on the last thing she remembered. Blue eyes... Gibbs... There had been a kidnapping. Then...? She focused harder; something about a giant? Suddenly it all came back to her. Ari. Tariq. The knife. Interrogation. There was something important she needed to remember. It had something to do with Gibbs, but she just could not grasp it. They had to have drugged her with something, but it was impossible to remember. Had she eaten anything or drunk something? Had they injected something in her? God her head hurt! It felt like Tariq had used her head for a ping pong-ball and then sat on it. She wondered where she was. She was lying in a bed, that much was clear, but when had she gotten a bed? As she slowly opened her eyes, she could see she was in a different room. They must have moved her from her previous cell, not that she complained about that, this room was a serious upgrade from the dap cell, but it made her wonder. What had she done to be rewarded with a more comfortable room? It was terrifying not being able to remember what she had done. God she hoped she hadn't betrayed Gibbs. The room seemed familiar, but the memory was faded. Confused she tried to move only to discover her hands and legs tied together, and the ropes were digging into her flesh. It took a moment to realise that she was pinned to the bed like a giant human x. Feeling utterly exposed and vulnerable she dragged in the ropes, but they were tightened too taut.

The room lay in darkness, but her eyes quickly adjusted. She could distinguish the contours of two chairs in the corner with a small table. Slowly, so not to cause more pain she turned and saw a curtain covering the corner in the room. It reminded her of a shower curtain but she highly doubted that there was a shower behind it. More likely a toilet, or a potty or something. God she needed to pee. It had been over 24 hours since last time she went, and now she was aching. Her bladder pressing into her jeans. She hadn't needed it before, but then she hadn't drunk anything for a while. Clearly, she had been drinking something in the time she couldn't remember and now she had to pay for it. Though as much as she resented it, she started to yell for someone to get in. There was no way that she would pee all over herself. The fact that her legs was spread to the widest and adding extra pressure, did not improve the situation, but she bit her teeth together, trying to stay calm. She was disoriented, nauseas and really, really needed to go. She would do what she needed to do to keep herself calm and not at least clean. After about a minute of screaming, she could see the door began to move. It was difficult to see who entered, but his voice was familiar.

"You rang?"

His voice was dripping with sarcasm and detest. Obviously, this person did not like her. Well, fine by her, she didn't like anyone who abducted her either... They way he stood and his relaxed arms told her that he enjoyed the power he held over her. It was annoying to not being able to see his face, and it truly bugged her being in a position where she needed to beg for help, instead of fighting free.

"I need to go."

"Go?"

"Yes go. You know. I am in need of a toilet."

Though it was difficult to spot, she could feel that the man in the doorway was grinning to her.

"Then by all means, just go."

"And where do you suggest I go? The bed? That's just disgusting. And very unhygienic? Could you please untie me and let me use a bathroom?"

She resented the begging tone in her voice, but it clearly was the best way to get what she wanted. By giving him power and making herself subordinate he was more reclined to give her what she wanted. Win them over with charm. From what she could tell, he clearly enjoyed his situation and the position she was spread out in did not improve the situation. She thought it best not to provoke him, indicating that he held all power might make him succumb to her wishes. She knew it was bad psychology but it was the best she could think of in her drugged state of mind.

Slowly he approached the bed and she could not hold back a gasp when she saw who it was. Bassam...1He smiled when he saw she recognized him, but it was an evil smile that didn't reach up to his eyes. Obviously he had been looking forward to this. Pure hatred radiated from his eyes and she steeled herself for what to come. Seeing him again was something she had not expected. She had thought he was behind bars in Gitmo. She had thought she was safe from him. One look at him and she could see that he hadn't forgotten how she punched him. Anxiously she waited for him to make his move.

"I have waited for you to come back you know. When Haswari told me that we were going to take you back, I was very pleased. You are going to get what you deserve now. First by Haswari, and when he is done with you, it is my turn. I am sure we will have very much fun together."

He put extra pressure on fun and smiled wickedly to her as she tried to hold down a shiver. Surely Ari wouldn't give her to him? Though he was a mean bastard who tortured her and all, but she had always had the feeling that she cared somewhat about her. Not that she trusted him or anything, after all he was the one who tortured her, but at least she knew what to expect from him. Bassam was an entirely other case. More like a dog with rabies, than the cool calculated snake Ari was.

As he bended over to her, she tried her best not to look scared. He had said himself that he would get her after Ari was done, and clearly, he wasn't done yet. From what she remembered she hadn't told them any vital information and that meant that she wasn't broken. As if he could smell her fear, he slowly let his hands run over her body. She twitched away from him, as if his fingers burned her skin, but it was of no use. His fingers slowly caressed her skin working its way from her stomach and up to her breasts. She held back a whimper as he suddenly dug his fingers hard into them. Then, leisurely he started massaging them while he whispered in her ear:

"We will have plenty of time doing this later won't we? When you have learned your true place. Then you will eagerly succumb to me and you will enjoy it. You American women are all just the same. On the outside, you act like these prude bitches, but you truly love it, don't you? You just want someone to take control over you. Like whores..."

His words came out slowly, almost as he tasted the words before letting them leave his mouth.

"But you needed to go you said. I think that it can be arranged as long as you act nice to me."

His breath became shallow and deep and slowly she could feel his hand making it way down her body. As he caressed her lower abdomen, he pressed it lightly and laughed as he saw her struggle. The urge to go was growing and she was afraid that she could not hold it back anymore. She had bit the inside of her cheeks to blood while he was talking, trying her best not to spit on him. If she only remained quiet perhaps, he would let her go. She watched him draw out a knife from his boot and cut through the ropes holding her down.

"Get up now. Behind that curtain is toilet you can use. Even though you are a filthy whore, there is no reason for you to smell like the animal you truly are. But I warn you, if you try to play any tricks on me, any tricks at all, I will hurt you. It is my right. And afterwards, when I am tired of you, I will just pass you on like the piece of garbage you are. You are worthless..."

His words stung, but she tried not to let him get too her. If he managed to make her feel less than she was, he would win. It is you who are worthless. Slowly she stood up; her feet were shaking from exhaustion and her head was spinning. Whatever they had given her earlier it had been something powerful enough to knock her out. Combined with the lack of food and water, made it difficult to see straight. Bassam did nothing to help her, just stood and watched her, enjoying her struggles. Slowly, so not to fall over she managed get over to the curtain. Behind it was a very old toilet, it looked like something she would have imagined belonging on Alcatraz. It was not filthy, but years of use had clearly taken its toll on it. As she turned to close the curtain, she heard the one thing she hoped she would not hear.

"Just leave it open will you? Cannot risking having you doing something you are not supposed to do."

She wanted to go as far as to beg him, but in his eyes, she could see it was helpless. This was just a way degrade her, to make her feel humiliated. Her bladder was pressing so hard into her jeans that it was hurting. Never mind him... If he wanted to degrade her, she would just show him that it was not possible; she was stronger than him. Honestly, she was too tired to fight him as well; exhausted and still drugged it was difficult to care about a bastard like him. As she sat down, she could see the anger growing inside him. Clearly, he had expected her to beg and plead him, not shrug her shoulders and continue...

"You disgust me...Filthy little whore. "

She ignored his insults that came rambling down on her. He is nothing. He is nothing. He is nothing. It became her mantra as she tried to lock him out of her head. She had to go, and it was he who didn't allow her to close the curtain. She had always been a survivor and he was nothing. Merely a guard to watch her, not high on the rank, obviously. As she finished up, she tried her best to hide her more intimate parts. Though he had seen her on the toilet, it did not mean that she would show him everything. As catholic, she had never been the kind of girl who just showed everything to anybody. And after his little show-off and indications off what he wanted to do with her, she could not be too careful.

With a nod towards the bed, she understood that he wanted her to lie down again. She dreaded being unable to move again. Being held down defenceless by this man, this man who truly hated her and wanted to humiliate her. The anger she felt towards him made her blood boil and it became hard to breathe. She could not just let him take advantage of her.

"Get in the bed now."

His voice was commanding, but it lacked the magnitude that Ari possessed. In some way Bassam seemed dumber than Ari, he lacked the class and witty comments. While Ari could send chills down her back by a simple "hello" Bassam was low-class and vulgar. He was brutal, but only showed his cruel nature when his victims could not hurt him back. Coward.

"Move! Now!"

She realised she had been lost for a few minutes and he was clearly annoyed over not having her entire attention. Now he stood swinging his knife carelessly and from what she could see, he was clearly skilled with it. She was not afraid of the pain, but found it best not to aggravate him anymore. Playing the helpless victim could make them loose their guards around her and she could more break free. Let them only see my mask... As she laid down on the bed and prepared herself for the coming torment, he took up the ropes and made a new knot before securing her arm. He smiled wickedly to her before tightening extra around her broken wrist. The sticks used to support her broken wrist pressed into her flesh and she struggled to keep her breath even, but she could not hold in a gasp as he tightened it one last time. Bassam smiled, pleased with her gasp of pain, but her vision was becoming cloudy. Her head was dizzy from the exhaustions and she wanted nothing more than to rest, but as long as Bassam was in the room, she would not give herself the pleasure of closing her eyes. They stared at other for what seemed like forever, a battle between two strong wills. She did not want to give up, but as she watched him, a plan slowly took place. Let them think you are breaking down...She looked away from him and pretended to try to hold in a sob. Faking a sob was not too difficult and she could hear him standing up and looking down at her. A large gob of salvia hit her face the instant she tried to look up at him. The feeling it running slowly down her face dripping down on her body was disgusting but she froze still.

"You disgust me!"

Then he marched up and slammed the door behind him. Hastily she rubbed her head against the pillow, trying to get rid of every last trace of him. His salvia smeared into the pillow and she could swear it smelled of pure evil. She would give her life for a shower she thought, but as things were, she had to settle with rubbing it off as best as she could. Then she struggled to push the pillow away with her head and was satisfied as it hit the floor. Exhausted from the efforts she laid back panting. As she drifted off to slumber, the plan settled in her mind and a smile appeared on her face. At least she would go down in a fight.

In the next chapter, I plan to have Kate doing something razy. Are you ready for that? ;)

1 Bassam – The terrorist who punched Kate in Reveille and whom Kate punched back. Holds a grudge against her.