Ok, quick word before we get to the chapter: did anyone see the previews for next week's episode? I can't wait to see Cowboy!Tony. On to the main event; no rescue yet, but it is coming, I promise. Thanks again for the reviews, love some of the ideas presented.

****NCIS****

Hell of a way for his gut to announce its return.

He continued to stare at the gently lapping waves as he tried to compose himself. He could kill Tim and Ziva later, right now he needed them to help him find Tony. Gibbs turned back to face the two soon-to-be former NCIS agents, a smoldering fire warring with the ice blue of his eyes; to say he was pissed would be the understatement of the century.

"Ziva," he ground out, "call the Coast Guard, or whoever the hell you need to, to get me a God Damn boat to go after them. McGee, you tell me how to track them, NOW!" He stepped even closer to the other two, his voice almost impossibly low. "And you two better be counting your lucky stars that I need your help to find Tony right now; but rest assured, we will finish this as soon as we get Tony back home safe."

Tim and Ziva immediately whipped out their cell phones to comply with Gibbs's orders. Two minutes later they both had answers for him.

"Boss, Abby's checking to see if they have low-jack on the boat. She checked Saunders's and Tony's cell phones; she can't get an exact fix since they're out on the water, but she can tell that they headed south." The words tumbled from McGee's mouth, hurriedly trying to make even the slightest amends for his mistake.

Ziva followed quickly on his heels, "the Coast Guard is sending a helicopter to pick us up, we will meet with a cruiser that is 10 miles east of here. They are already moving south."

"ETA?"

"Twelve minutes."

Gibbs growled, that wasn't nearly fast enough, but he knew it was the best they could do. He really couldn't lose Tony right now- hell, he couldn't lose Tony ever, but especially right now. He needed his second in command's intuition and insights to cover the fact that his own weren't quite up to par yet. Plus he just liked having the younger man around; Tony kept life interesting, made the day worth coming into work for- simply solving the crimes just didn't seem to do it for him anymore.

Ziva paced the dock unable to contain her nervous energy as they waited for the chopper to arrive. This was her fault; Gibbs was right, you never leave your partner alone, especially at a crime scene. And the sad thing was that she knew exactly why she'd done it, she was jealous of his position on the team. Before coming to NCIS, she hadn't been the boss, but she'd always had the option of calling some of the shots; here she didn't have that, Tony did and she was jealous. She was envious of the close and easy relationships he had with Gibbs, Abby, McGee- hell everyone in the building liked him on some level, even the baggy-bunnies as much as they complained about him.

She had let her emotions overpower her training and now Tony was paying the price. She could only hope that he'd be around for her to apologize to; he deserved at least that much from her.

McGee had to make a grab for his hat as the helicopter flew overhead on its way to the open area of the parking lot. "Boss, the chopper's here."

Gibbs turned a scathing look in his direction, "No shit Sherlock."

Tim flinched, as soon as the obvious statement had departed his lips, he'd expected the annoyed but still slightly amused 'Ya think McGee'; but Gibbs's comment had been as harsh as anything the former Marine had ever said to him. He knew Gibbs was worried about Tony, but there was a desperation lurking beneath the surface that Tim hadn't seen any of the other times Tony had been missing.

They boarded the helicopter in silence; in fact, not a word was spoken until after they had landed on the deck of the Coast Guard cruiser.

****NCIS****

"Ducky!"

The elderly ME suddenly found himself with an armful of very upset forensic scientist. "Abigail, my dear girl, what's wrong?"

It took a minute but Abby finally lifted her head. She nervously swiped at the tear and mascara stain she'd left on his pristine white coat, "The bad guys have Tony, again! Why does it always have to be him? I mean, not that I want it to be any of them; as much as I love Timmy, he'd never survive half the stuff Tony has." She paused long enough to bury her face back in his shoulder before she continued her mumbled rant. "He's always getting kidnapped, or hit on the head, or blown up, or poisoned… he can't be that lucky forever."

"I would hardly call that lucky, my dear girl," Ducky chuckled. Although, he did have to agree with her; the entire team had seen their share injuries, but Anthony did seem to take the lion's share.

"But he's always survived; I'd say that's damn lucky."

"And I'm sure his luck will continue. Jethro will never allow Anthony to be lost; he needs him too much."

Abby sniffed, "just wish Boss-man would tell him that before it's too late."

"Too late?"

Abby's hand flew to her mouth, knowing that she'd said too much. She wanted to tell someone else, have a partner in her scheming to keep Tony with them, but she simply couldn't betray her best friend's trust like that. "Oh Ducky, I can't, I promised Tony.

The ME nodded sagely, "I understand completely my dear. But rest assured, I have spoken to Jethro on the subject and he does intend to speak to our boy." He pulled the young Goth into a tight embrace, "have no fear my dear, Jethro will bring him home."

Abby gave him a half hearted smile. "That a question or a statement, Duck?"

"That, my dear, is a statement."