Guardian Angel -Chapter 8
"Timmy!" Tim smiled at the exuberant greeting Abby threw at him when she answered his late phone call. "You missing me already?"
"I always miss you, Abbs. You know that." Tim sighed heavily. "Listen, honey. We're going to Shenadoah Park because we think that Natasha has taken refuge in the cabin. It's gonna be a long hike when we get there so we're going to set up camp. I'm on my way home to pick up my gear, but I'll drop the car keys off to you before I go."
"Wow! That sucks in the biggest way. Do you have to go?" Tim hated the dejected sound of her voice and wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms and comfort her.
"I do, Baby. I'm sorry. Sarah doesn't have any classes tomorrow so why don't you have her over for a girly night. I know she'd love to try out some of that stuff you bought." Tim pulled up at some traffic lights and waited patiently for them to change.
"You think she'd want too? I mean, I'd rather not be on my own and the nun's are out of town at a convention."
"Why don't you ring her? I know you two didn't get on at first, but look at you now. You're pretty much best friends." Tim said with a smile that he hoped infused his tone. "Look, I'll even stop off quickly to get you some ice cream and chocolate."
"Really?" He grinned at the excitement that he heard in his wife's voice and felt his heart warming.
"Really. Hmm, let me guess...Cherry Garcia?"
"Perfect! Ooh ooh and get some cookie dough as well."
"You got it, Baby. Now, go. Ring Sarah and get it organised."
"Love you."
"Love you too, Abbs. I'll be down to see you before I leave."
"Okay, Timmy. Bye."
Abby hung up leaving Tim feeling better about leaving her. Hopefully, they would only be gone tonight and would be making their way back tomorrow. Knowing his luck though, it'd take a couple of days. He took a quick detour to the Ben and Jerry's ice cream parlour on 7th street Southeast and parked the car so he could run in to grab the ice cream that Abby wanted...Hell, if I'm gonna be away, then I'm gonna make damn sure my girls are taken care of! He thought and entered the store feeling a wave of gratitude wash over him when he saw that the store wasn't busy.
***NCIS***
Gibbs walked down to Abby's lab to make sure she was okay and frowned at the silence that reined in the lab. With a cursory glance around, he saw that she was holed up in her office hugging her favourite farting hippo as if her life depended on it. With a shake of his head, Gibbs decided to go and comfort her as much as he could, but as he got closer, he heard her talking excitedly on the phone.
"Ooh it's gonna be so much fun. Timmy's stopped off to get us ice cream...I know, I ordered you cookie dough...though so, yeah...I'm not sure, I mean, I bought a load of stuff when I was in London and I'm pretty sure there's some face packs in there...really?...perfect, see you then." She hung up and turned to see Gibbs standing there with a bemused look on his face.
"While the cat's away?"
"The queen will play." She giggled and threw her arms around Gibbs making Bert fart.
"Queen?"
"A female, un-spayed cat...and a perfect way to describe me." Abby pulled away with a grin. "Sarah's gonna come round tonight and we're going to have a girls night in."
"Uh-huh. That the reason McGee's gone getting you ice cream instead of going grabbing his gear and getting back to work?"
"You gave him an hour and it's on the way." Abby answered dismissively. "And if your stealing my very new husband away from me, then I need something to get me through the long, lonely night...Oh my God, please tell me it's just one night?"
"That's what we're aiming for, Abbs. Don't wanna be up there for any longer if we can help it." Gibbs took Bert off Abby when he heard the flatulent noise coming from him. "I need you to do me a favour."
"Anything for you, Gibbs. You know that."
"I know." He answered quietly. "I need some of your dohickey's to boost cell phone signal out there. I don't want to be cut off completely and we might need reception. Tim mentioned something about struggling and you having some gizmo's that might help."
Abby bounced on her heels once and moved back into her small office to look through one of the draws and let out a small cry of triumph when she found what she was looking for. "These little babies should give you a strong enough signal to call if you need help. Tim'll know how to set them up." She handed over the boosters and saw Gibbs' eyebrows knit with confusion.
"He definitely knows?"
"Gibbs! I'm offended; this is Timothy McGee we're talking about." The team leader grinned at that comment knowing that she was right; after all, what didn't Tim know about gadgets?
"Alright. Look, I've given everyone an hour to get their gear, but we're not gonna leave for another hour and half. That'll give you and McGee a bit of time together. I'll send him down."
"Thanks, Gibbs." Abby said happily and threw her arms round his neck once again. He took the opportunity to kiss her on the cheek and pulled away and turned to walk out of the room.
***NCIS***
Gibbs sighed and turned onto the Skyline Drive that ran the full length of the park. It was just typical that there was only one road that passed through park and the team leader just knew that they were in for a long hike if they were going to get to the area on Hazel Mountain that the cabin had been built on.
"Ziva, wake DiNozzo up, will ya." Gibbs ordered. He heard Tony yelp beside him and grinned broadly. "Good job."
"What the hell, Zee? You couldn't just give my shoulder a shake, could ya?" Tony grumbled over his shoulder and glared in Gibbs' direction.
"Quit glaring at me, DiNozzo. It's never worked and ain't gonna start now."
"Fine!" Tony spat out before looking at the vast expanse of road. "We okay to leave the car on the road, Boss?" Tony asked from beside him. "I mean, the Rangers aren't gonna mind?"
"McGee!"
"Tony, I've already cleared it and the car won't be left on the road. There's a parking lot just down from the Hazel Mountain Overlook and we've been told we can leave it there as long as we need. The only problem they had, was them trying to figure out how the hell someone built a cabin in the middle of a National Park. My guess? Money passed hands to keep it quiet."
"So, we need to get out and hike, yes?" Ziva asked with glee. "You do know where we are going?"
"Yes, Ziva. I have the hiking maps here." Tim held them out so she could see them. "The Hazel Mountain Trail pretty much comes straight off the parking lot. We just need to hike down there until we hit the White Rocks Trail and then follow that down to the River Trail. The junction between White Rock and Hazel River is the point where we get off and take a hike through the woods. The cabin is pretty deep in there so it can't really be seen from the trails. I spoke to the rangers, and they want us to check in when we're gonna set up camp for the night because this park is renown for black bears."
"Bears? No one mentioned bears!" Tony said indignantly.
**thwack**
"Ow! What was that for?"
"For askin' stupid questions, DiNozzo!" Gibbs spat out. "If we meet bears, then make sure you know how to run and climb."
Tony snorted out a laugh and glanced at his boss. "You can't be serious? Boss, you're serious?"
"Black bears can climb, Dinozzo. You need to be 10ft up so they can't getcha."
"Do not worry, Tony. I will protect you from the big cuddly teddy bears." Ziva grinned playfully. "The only thing you need to be worried about is the fact that you will be sharing a tent with me."
"Boss, I think I wanna go home." Tony said with an audible gulp. "I'll take bears over the Ninja any day! and can someone tell me why the hell I get to go in with Ziva?"
Tim couldn't help but laugh at that. "Because I called tentgun with the Boss. Wanna swap?" he said playfully.
"Hell yeah! She snores like a damn chainsaw. You know, they say to make a lot of noise when you're in bear country. In fact, I'll stick with Zee; going by what she was like when we had to pretend to be the married assassins, it's probably safer."
"Do not get your hopes up, Tony. If you keep saying I snore like that, then you might wake up minus some of your appendages."
Tim and Gibbs laughed loudly at that leaving Tony sitting there fuming to himself. "Not funny, Ziva. Anyone got ear plugs?"
Gibbs pulled into the parking lot and found a space nearest to the start of the trail. He figured it would be easier than trying to find the car exhausted with a prisoner in tow and decided to make it easier on his team. Once he pulled over, they stepped out and took a moment to enjoy the sheer beauty of the landscape laid out in front of them.
"It is beautiful." Ziva said with wonder. "I just wish we were here for enjoyment."
"Maybe we can convince, Abbs to come up here one day, Zee. We can all go for a short hike for the day." Tim replied with a smile. "That is, if you can put up with Tony again after this little adventure."
"Hey! Probie! Get your gear out of the trunk." Tony snarled. Tim walked round and grabbed his large backpack out and placed it on the ground to open it ready for the water bottles.
"Boss, how much water did you bring?"
"There's enough here McGee. I got 2 large bottles each so make room in your packs." Everyone scurried round momentarily, making room and putting the large 2 litre bottles in their packs. Tim grinned when pulled out his fleece jacket and saw four huge chocolate bars sitting underneath it.
"Looks like Abby's making sure we got supplies." He said and pulled them out, handing one to each person. "Huh...MRE's? She packed MRE's in my bag?"
"Nope. That was me." Gibbs said as he slung his pack over his shoulder. "Easier to carry."
"Oh, thanks, Boss." Tim's said happily, thankful that they didn't have to carry anything perishable.
"We all got them, or they all in Mcgoo's pack?"
"You've all got four in your packs. Just in case." Gibbs replied and glared at Tony. "DiNozzo, you got that inhaler Ducky prescribed?"
"What?" Tony had been too busy looking through his pack to really hear the question.
"Inhaler! You got it?"
"Yes, Boss. Ducky came up and made sure it was there. Said something about the air being thinner." Gibbs nodded and dragged the four sets of walking poles out of the trunk.
"It is, but it's not too bad." Tim agreed with Tony. "We're on a 2770ft elevation give or take which is one of the smallest elevations around here."
"Geek speak, McGee."
"It's not geek speak, Tony. It's called knowing your surroundings. You know, you'd do better learning about stuff rather than watching nothing but cult classic movies in your spare time." Tim threw back at him with a grin, something that just got wider when he saw Tony's scowl.
"You know what, Probie? Marrying Abby has given you a new-found confidence...and her smart mouth."
"I have a lot to thank her for, but I think you'll find I was answering you back way before we got together again."
"HEY! You kids done, or do we have to wait till nightfall to get this show on the road?" Gibbs growled. "All of you! Make sure you're waterproofs are to hand. Looks like rain." Everyone glanced up at the sky and could see darkening clouds rolling their way.
"It is strange to see them rolling in like that. I find it slightly mesmerizing." Ziva's voice held the awe and wonder of a small child and Gibbs couldn't help but smile.
"Sure is. You don't have anything like this in Israel?" he asked.
"Probably. My family were all Mossad. I never really got to enjoy the finer things in life because my father was too busy making sure I could survive easily. Even as an adult, I never get the chance to just enjoy things like this." Ziva answered sadly. "Even now, we are on business."
"Zee, that offer wasn't hollow. Anytime you wanna come up here, let me know. There's a couple of lodges that we can all spend the night in." Tim reminded her and smiled warmly when she stood up and laid her hand on his shoulder.
"Thank you." Those two little words were filled with more gratitude than anything else that she could have said and the sentiment tugged at Tim's heart strings slightly.
"You're welcome. Come on, I think Gibbs is getting antsy." Ziva glanced over and saw the glare he was shooting their way. "You never know, even DiNozzo might come join us."
"Maybe, Probie. Depends on what this little adventure decides to dump on us first."
"LET'S GO!"
All three Agents jumped and strapped their packs onto their backs before moving to grab the poles from the Boss. They stood beside Gibbs and with a nod of his head, he took the map of Tim and starting making his way down the trail to find the one person that could potentially, close this case and have them all home for dinner in a couple of days.
