It was now 5pm and the guys had been working nonstop for fourteen hours. A re-canvass of the area around the bar had finally turned up the girls cell phones. They had looked for security cameras other than the ones the agents had already identified. Both their search and the cell phones revealed nothing new. They returned to the Navy Yard and tried again to research the companies that had shown up on the vehicle ownership information.
Gibbs had made a supper run for the two men who had worked tirelessly without complaint. They had all just about reached their limit. When Tony's phone rang, cutting the ominous silence, they all jumped.
Gathering his wits, Tony answered, "Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo." Gibbs and McGee watched as Tony's body language began to change subtly.
"Yes? Yes, that's correct," Tony replied to the voice on the other end of the line. He was quickly making notes and then looked up to pierce Gibbs with a grin. "Thank you very much, Officer Lindley. We'll take it from here."
He hung up the phone and was immediately surrounded by Gibbs and McGee, each armed and ready. He handed Gibbs the paper, "Got a hit on the BOLO for the black van. Warehouse district. Locals have secured the area but made no attempt to approach. They're waiting on us."
"Let's roll!" Gibbs called as they headed to the elevator on an almost dead run.
Thirty minutes later, they had made the warehouse. Thanking the Officer in Charge, Bryce Lindley, the three Federal agents approached the rear door cautiously. Gibbs gave Tony a nod and he kicked in the door to the darkened building. With lights and weapons drawn, they quickly and methodically searched the rooms.
"Clear!" McGee called.
Tony answered back, "Clear!"
"We've got one more door, down here." Gibbs called back. The two agents joined their leader quickly as Tony, again, took down the lock.
Once inside, each of their three lights illuminated something different. Gibbs saw the two bodies, still piled against the wall. McGee's light glinted off the different machines, beakers and vials still on the lab table at the back of the room. Tony's light found the very still, black-clad, redhead, chained to the ceiling. The men moved instantly. Gibbs and McGee went back outside, the younger agent to call Ducky and Palmer and get them moving to the warehouse. Gibbs grabbed blankets and bolt cutters and ran back to join his Senior Field Agent.
Tony had gone immediately to Callie. He could see the large, bloodied gash across the back of her head. He also noticed dried blood around the shackles where her body had hung, causing the metal to cut deeply. He felt for a pulse and breathed a sigh of relief as he realized his Red was still alive. Grabbing her around the waist, he lifted her slightly, taking the stress off of her injured arms and wrists. He was joined by Gibbs who quickly snapped the chains. He then dropped the tool and helped Tony lower the agent. McGee joined them, bringing a bottle of water which he now tossed to Tony.
As soon as the water touched her lips and face, Callie was in a fight. She could sense that she was no longer hanging but had no awareness of who was around her and whether or not the people holding her were friend or foe. Trying not to injure her further, but needing to communicate, Gibbs yelled the first thing he could think of that would penetrate Harris' foggy brain.
"Snap to, Petty Officer. That's an order."
Callie stopped instantly at the Drill Instructor's command. Blinking, she looked into the worried face of her boss and her boyfriend. Images came to Callie in rapid succession – the bar, the virus, Abby.
"Where's Abby?" She struggled to sit up and look around.
Tony held her tightly, restricting her movements. Whispering into her ear, "Nice and easy, Red. Understand?"
She glanced at him, not admonishing him for the use of the nickname, and nodded slightly. He helped her into a more upright position.
"She's not here," McGee spoke, bitterness in his tone.
"But?" Callie was confused, "Is it dark outside?"
She looked to Tony for confirmation, "Yeah, Callie. You and Abby have been gone almost 24 hours now."
"What time is it?" She asked, still searching to make sense of the situation.
"About nineteen hundred, Cal." Was Gibbs clipped reply.
She closed her eyes, willing the information to come back. Tony and Gibbs shared a look over her head.
"Hospital, Boss?" Tony asked.
He gave a quick nod only to watch as Callie was in full flight again, "No! No hospital." She reached across and grabbed Gibbs frantically, "Don't make me do that. Just let me go back to NCIS and Ducky can check me out."
Gibbs didn't like it but he could see the panic still in Callie's eyes. Something had happened here and the last thing she wanted was to be left alone. Taking both of her hands in his, Gibbs answered quietly, but firmly, "Okay, Harris. Back to NCIS. But, if Ducky says you're worse than what we think, there won't be anymore arguing. It's straight to the hospital."
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." Callie's military response so ingrained in her being, she did it without thinking.
Tony helped her stand and continued to support her frame. He reached for the bindings only to have Callie stop him.
"They're evidence, DiNozzo. Get gloves."
Gibbs smiled. She might be addled but she was still a field agent, first and foremost. Tony gloved up and then worked to remove the shackles, bagging them as evidence. He then led her back to the car, where he secured her in the front seat. An hour later, they were back at NCIS.