"What the hell were you thinking?" demanded Gibbs as he struggled against his bonds.

"It might have worked," said George as he also tried to wriggle free. "It was worth a try."

"And may I say that I commend your quick thinking, Mr Clarke," said Ducky. "It was really most ingenious."

"Didn't work though, did it?" said Gibbs sourly.

"Perhaps somebody will notice that the shop is closed," said Ducky optimistically, "Or someone will notice that we are missing."

"Who? The dog?" asked Gibbs crossly.

"We won't have to wait long," said George serenely, "Celia will have called the police."

Gibbs relaxed minutely at the news that he would soon be released and began to turn his mind to what to do next.

"Don't suppose you injected DiNozzo with anything, Duck?" he asked.

"I beg your pardon?" asked Ducky.

"You know. Some sort of radioactive thingummy that we could trace," explained Gibbs.

Ducky stared at Gibbs, "That would be most unwise, Jethro. Even if I had access to such a compound it would be medically unethical for me to administer it …"

"OK, Duck," said Gibbs with resignation, "Didn't really expect …

"Which is why," said Ducky speaking over Gibbs majestically, "Which is why Abby and I fitted a tracker device to Anthony's watch when we brought it from his apartment."

"What?" asked Gibbs.

"Was that not in order?" asked Ducky innocently.

"Duck," said Gibbs, "When we get back to DC I'm going to buy you a whole crate of tea."

"That is very generous of you, Jethro, but I would prefer a bottle of single malt Scotch," said Ducky. "Hark, I believe I hear our rescuers at the door."

Gibbs barrelled past the police officers who opened the door to the store room and made straight for his cell. He cursed when he saw that it had been smashed.

"Where's the landline?" he demanded of George.

George pointed the way and Gibbs ran towards it. He dialled McGee's number first but got no answer. He slammed the phone down and rang NCIS instead trying to curb his impatience as he waited to be put through to Abby's lab. While he waited he ordered Ducky to liaise with the police officers to put out a BOLO on Tony. Finally, he got through to Abby.

"Abby Scuito. Forensic scientist extraordinaire," she began.

"Abby," said Gibbs, "Listen, don't talk. Tony's been taken. Ducky said you put some sort of tracker in his watch. Get on it now." It said much for the tone of Gibbs' voice that Abby said nothing but did as she was told.

"Bringing it on-line now," she said. "Gibbs, what's happened? Is Tony OK?"

"Three guys showed up. They locked us up and took Tony away," said Gibbs. "You got this number? My cell's been smashed. Call back when you have something." He was about to put the phone down when George offered him another cell,

"Take this one. It's Celia's. It'll be easier to keep in touch with it. Shall I hold on for Abby?" he asked.

Gibbs nodded in approval and took the proffered phone. "Uh," he said, "I'm not good with these cleverphones. Can you call this number?"

George nodded. "Smartphones," he murmured, "Not cleverphones. It's ringing," he handed it back to Gibbs.

"McGee," said Gibbs, "Where are you?"

"Luxton, Boss," said McGee. "About 30 minutes from where you are."

"DiNozzo's been taken," said Gibbs.

"Is he all right?" asked Tim.

"He was OK when they took him," said Gibbs. "Abby and Ducky put some sort of tracker in his watch. Abby's on it now. Tell the Silverdale people we'll need them."

"I just had a call from them," said Tim, "They've got an incident at Kitsap Naval Base. They haven't got anyone available to support."

"Damn. OK, the local police are putting out a BOLO on DiNozzo. I'll get on to Fornell. Tell him to get the local FBI to help. My cell's been smashed so call me on this one."

"On it, Boss," said Tim. "Um, …"

"What, McGee?" snapped Gibbs.

"Nothing, Boss," said Tim, "No point speculating now."

Gibbs nodded and ended the call.

"Abby needs to speak with you," said George holding out the receiver.

"Abs? What you got?" asked Gibbs.

"The watch is still on the move," said Abby a little tremulously. "Heading west on the Magna Highway. Looks to be travelling fast. I'm trying to see if I get any satellite coverage of the area."

"Good work, Abby. Send the co-ordinates to McGee. He'll tell you what number to get me on."

"OK, Gibbs. And Gibbs …"

"Yes?"

"Find him. We can't lose him again."

"On it, Abs," said Gibbs as he ended the call. "Duck, you know how to use one of these brightphone things?"

"Smartphone? Yes, indeed. Mr Palmer was most instructive," said Ducky.

"You're with me then," said Gibbs, "I'll need to make some calls. Your rental still outside?"

"Yes," said Ducky, brief for once.

"Let's go then. I'll drive, you phone the numbers I give you."

A few minutes later, as Ducky and Gibbs hurtled along having made the call to Fornell and with Abby on the alert to tell them if the car left the Magna Highway, Ducky said,

"Why did they take Anthony? It doesn't make sense. If they feel he knows something which is dangerous for them why did they not simply kill him? Is it possible that they believed Anthony when he suggested he was a dirty cop?"

"Don't think so, Duck," said Gibbs. "I think DiNozzo has something they want. It's not something in his head they need, they think he has something of theirs which they're desperate to retrieve."

"Oh my," said Ducky, "But Anthony has no memory of such a thing".

"And DiNozzo is stubborn. He wouldn't tell them anything even if he did remember," said Gibbs.

"Do you think that is why Anthony appeared to have been beaten at the time of his disappearance?" asked Ducky. "I had wondered why he had been assaulted before fleeing. I would surmise that someone tried to beat the truth out of him."

"Guess so," said Gibbs.

"Perhaps this will work in Anthony's favour," said Ducky hopefully. "His captors want something from him; they are not merely out to silence him."

"Not sure DiNozzo's going to be feeling grateful," said Gibbs wryly.

NCISNCIS

An hour or so later, Gibbs, McGee, Bishop, Ducky, some Cedaron police officers and two FBI agents deputed by Agent Fornell were gathered at the end of a rutted lane.

"Abby sure this is where they holed up?" asked Gibbs.

"Yes, Boss," said Ellie. "She tracked the watch all the way."

"She's in contact with Ashton," added McGee. "She said you'd remember Ashton. He works for NASA. She says he got her some satellite coverage for a case before. When I was still at Norfolk, before I joined the team. She's still in touch with him."

"Am I interested in this?" asked Gibbs.

"Yes, well, no. Well yes, because it means that he can get eyes on where the bad guys are," said McGee.

"Seem to remember it kept cutting out," said Gibbs disapprovingly as he remembered the old case.

"Uh, yes. But technology has improved a lot," said McGee earnestly, "The resolution is better and they use … but you're not interested in that either," he trailed off.

"What sort of place is this?" asked Gibbs.

"An old saw mill," said Bishop with a sympathetic look at McGee. "Been empty for a while. The owner started to convert it into holiday accommodation but ran out of money. He rents it out sometimes for people who don't mind it being basic. Said that someone phoned this morning and booked it for a week. He hasn't seen them. it was all done over the phone."

"He emailed me blueprints of the place," said McGee, "He had them drawn up by an architect to help with the planning. There's a door at the front and another at the back."

"OK," said Gibbs, "Listen up, everyone. McGee and Bishop circle round and see what you can observe at the back. I'll take the front. Everyone else, stay here. Keep the noise down. Be on the alert and ready to move if we have to. Keep listening in to the radios."

McGee and Bishop nodded agreement. As they turned to go, Gibbs said, "Quiet and careful. No risks. We don't want to spook anyone. Understood?"

"Yes, Boss," came the reply.

Gibbs walked stealthily through the trees and bushes lining the lane to the old saw mill. When he got to the end of the lane he lay down and observed the house through binoculars. He could see that rooms upstairs and downstairs were lit up but the curtains were pulled across and he could see nothing. Gibbs sighed as he tried to formulate a plan to extricate Tony. Somehow he thought that time was running out, the crooks would know they were being hunted although they could expect to have more time before being found. A SWAT team was on its way but Gibbs was unsure about whether they would arrive in time.

Gibbs was just deciding to return to the others when he heard two shots being fired. Realising that time had run out he began to run towards the house but as he did so he heard an upstairs window being opened, and then saw Tony climbing out. As he watched, Tony lowered himself from the sill and then crashed to the ground. Gibbs ran up with gun drawn and hissed into his radio,

"McGee! Bishop! Tony's out. Shots fired!" He knelt beside Tony and grimaced when he saw that, once again, his Senior Field Agent appeared to be a walking bruise. Tony's eyes were closed. Gibbs put a gentle hand to the back of his head to feel for damage. Tony opened his eyes with a bewildered expression on his face,

"Gibbs! Did you just ruffle my hair?"

Before Gibbs could answer, the local police and FBI agents came running down the lane in time to see McGee and Bishop leading two men out in handcuffs.

"Need an ambulance, Gibbs," said Ellie, "The other one is still in there. He's been shot."

Tim and Ellie handed their captives over to the police and came to peer at Tony who said again,

"Gibbs! Did you just ruffle my hair?"

"Be grateful it wasn't a head slap," grinned McGee.

"What?" asked Tony.

"How you doing, DiNozzo?" asked Gibbs ignoring Tony's question.

"I'm fine," said Tony peevishly, "I've had a great time being used as a punch bag by those three goons."

"What happened?" asked Ellie.

"They underestimated me," said Tony smugly, "Thought I was worse off than I was. I managed to grab a gun. Shot one of them and ran upstairs. The main doors were locked so I couldn't get out that way. How'd you find me anyway?"

"Abby," said Gibbs simply, "And Ducky."

"They put a tracking device in your watch," said Ellie.

"Oh," said Tony. "Oh."

"You OK to stand up?" asked Gibbs.

Tony cast another peevish glare at Gibbs, "Course I am." He shifted uncomfortably before holding out his hand, "But you can help if you want."

Gibbs grinned and took the hand but as soon as Tony put weight on his leg he fell back down.

"Think I might have banged my knee," he said.

"You think?" said Gibbs. "McGee, go get Ducky. See what he thinks."

Ducky's opinion was given briefly and forcefully which mean that Tony was soon on his way to the Cedaron Community Hospital from which he had walked out all those weeks before.

NCISNCIS

"How is he, Duck?" asked Gibbs as Ducky emerged from the ER sometime later.

"Battered, bruised and sorry for himself," said Ducky. "But, remarkably, he has no concussion and no broken bones. He has jarred his knee and will need to use crutches until it has settled down once more. He was very lucky."

"Can we see him?" asked Ellie.

"Of course," said Ducky graciously. "Dr Zib has decreed that Anthony should stay in overnight but, barring any unforeseen complications, he should be released in the morning. He is very tired so I would not recommend a long visit."

Ellie, McGee and Gibbs trailed along behind Ducky as he led them to a curtained cubicle.

"You have visitors, Anthony," he announced as he swept the curtains aside.

Tony was propped up with pillows and did indeed look sorry for himself.

"Hey, guys!" he waved a weary hand. "Thanks for finding me. Not sure what I'd have done if you hadn't shown up. Don't think my escape plan was fully thought through!"

"You did what you had to," said Gibbs approvingly.

"And what was it you said about something in my watch?" asked Tony.

"Ah, yes," said Ducky, "Abby and I thought it wise to do something to ensure you did not slip from our hands again."

"I guess I should say thank you," said Tony, "Although - do we still have laws about invasion of privacy?"

"Yes," said Ducky, "But I assure you that we were not trying to spy on you. Indeed …"

Tony waved his weary wave again, "Relax, Ducky. Just kidding. You can bug me anytime you want."

"I trust that the necessity will not arise again," said Ducky feeling this would be a triumph of hope over experience.

"Me too," said Tony.

"Was it bad?" asked Ellie sympathetically.

Tony tried a half-hearted glare out of a black eye. "Wasn't my most fun time, Agent Bishop."

"Sorry," said Ellie, "That didn't come out right. I know it was bad, I was just … well, sometimes it's good to talk about these things. Not bottle them up."

"Not tonight," said Tony.

"Statement can wait," said Gibbs. "Why don't the rest of you head out. I'll be along later."

McGee, Bishop and Ducky trooped out obediently. Tony seemed to relax a little when the cubicle emptied.

"Thanks, Gibbs," he said. "I know she meant well but, at the moment, I'm trying to forget what happened. Which is ironic."

"How so?"

"I've spent weeks wanting to remember things and now, when I want to forget something, I can't!"

"Did you work out why they were beating up on you?" asked Gibbs.

"What?" asked Tony.

"Were they doing it because they like hurting people or because they wanted something?" asked Gibbs.

"Well," said Tony thoughtfully, "I kinda got the idea that punching me was fun for them. But no, you're right, they seemed to be after something."

"And you don't know what that might be?" asked Gibbs.

Tony's glare was tired but still effective. "No. I don't remember. Believe me, I'd have told them. Probably."

"Leave it for now," said Gibbs mildly. "It can wait. FBI are going to keep an eye on you. I'll go back to the hotel. I've got to report to Vance. I'll see you in the morning."

"Hey," said Tony, "Could you drop in on George and Celia? Tell them I'm all right. And that I'm sorry they got dragged into this."

"Will do," promised Gibbs. "You need anything?"

"No, I'm good," Tony's eyes slid shut. Gibbs was nearly out of the cubicle when he heard Tony say, "Get Abby to look in my shoe."

Gibbs looked back but Tony was fast asleep.

NCISNCIS

Tim collected Tony from the hospital the next morning and, ignoring Tony's protests, insisted on using a wheelchair to transport him to the car.

"You OK?" Tim asked when they were finally ready to drive off.

"Why do people keep asking me that?" asked Tony, "When everyone can see that I'm one big bruise?"

"I just meant, are you all alright to drive off? Do you need anything?" said McGee.

"Sorry, Tim," said Tony. "I'm cranky this morning. I didn't sleep real well."

"Not surprising," said Tim. "Still, I'm glad we got you back, even if you are cranky."

They soon arrived at the World of Wood and went inside to find Gibbs, Bishop and Ducky waiting for them.

"You look worse than you did yesterday," observed Gibbs.

"Thanks, Gibbs," said Tony as he lowered himself on to a chair.

"At least this time, dear boy, the medication will assist rather than harm," said Ducky.

"What's going on?" asked Tony as he became aware of suppressed excitement among his companions.

"Abby looked in your shoe," said Ellie excitedly.

"What?" asked Tony.

"Last night," said Gibbs, "As I left, you said that Abby should look in your shoe."

"I did?" Oh, yes, I did. It was probably a waste of time but I had this idea," said Tony.

"What idea?" asked Ducky.

"Agent Gibbs told me about my concealed knife. And, you know, Ducky perhaps you should have got me another one of those as well as a bugged watch. Could have come in useful yesterday," said Tony.

"I will bear that in mind if a similar situation should recur," promised Ducky.

"Anyways, I remembered that when I was in Philly, one of the detectives who did undercover work showed me this shoe he had. It had a hollow heel that he could stash things in if he needed to. I thought that was a cool idea. So when Gibbs told me I had a hidden knife I got to wondering if I'd had a special shoe made too."

"You did," said McGee.

"I did?"

"Yep," said Gibbs. "Abby looked last night. There was a flash drive in it along with a piece of paper with a password on it."

"You'd put it in a plastic bag for protection," said Ellie.

"Abby got fingerprints off it," said Tim.

"Whose?" asked Tony.

"Not yours. Jake Penrose's" said Ellie.

"And what's on the flash drive?" asked Tony.

"Bank account details, lists of phone numbers, dates and times of meetings … all the workings of the drug deals that Penrose and O'Driscoll were doing," said Gibbs. "Abby's still working on it but it looks as if the whole operation will be blown wide open. Some of the accounts will have been closed but we'll still be able to trace things back to them. No wonder they were worried."

"What do you think happened?" asked Tony.

"I guess you stole the flash drive," said Gibbs. "They realised and went after you. Tried to beat it out of you but you got away. They couldn't risk you using the information."

"Wow," said Tony. "Wow."

"It's turned out to be bigger than just the Navy involvement," said McGee, "So it looks as if the FBI will be taking over some of the investigation. Their first job is to find Gabriella Sciofa."

"I fear they will not find her," said Ducky. "Our visitors yesterday did after all refer to needing a phone line to the afterlife if they were to contact her."

"They killed her?" asked Tony.

"We don't know," said Gibbs, "She might have died and they decided to keep it hidden. She was a useful face, a front, for their scheme."

"What happens now?" asked Tony.

"Now we've found the flash drive we're pretty sure you're out of danger," said Gibbs. "Protection duty is over. We're heading back to DC. You coming?"

Ducky saw Tony's hesitation. "I think it would be wiser for Anthony to remain here for the present, Jethro. Apart from anything else I believe he would struggle to get into a plane at the moment."

"Yeah, thanks, Ducky. I'd rather rest up here for a few days," said Tony.

"Very well. I am always gratified when my medical opinion is respected," said Ducky. "Why don't you go and lie down for a little while. I will be in to conduct a final examination before I leave."

Tony nodded, clearly surprised to feel so weary so quickly.

"Thanks, guys," he said to Bishop and Tim, "For everything."

"We'll see you again though, won't we?" asked Ellie anxiously.

"Yeah, you're coming back, aren't you?" said Tim.

"Sure," said Tony easily, "I'm like a bad penny."

He shook hands with Tim and hugged Ellie gently before going into his old room. Gibbs followed him.

"You OK staying here?" he asked.

"Sure, I'll be fine," said Tony.

"You sure?" asked Gibbs.

"I'm not sure about much at the moment," said Tony. "There's a lot to think about. Decisions to be made. This seems as good a place as any to rest up."

"You're a good agent, Tony," said Gibbs, "Hiding that flash drive thing proves that. You're going to be responsible for bringing a whole drugs organization down. You can be proud of that."

"Just wish I could remember it," said Tony morosely.

"You will," said Gibbs confidently. "You will. And until you remember and can be proud … well, I'm proud of you and for you."

"Thanks, Gibbs," said Tony, "That means a lot. Um, Gibbs, I …"

He stopped as Ducky bustled in at that moment and said, "I don't believe Anthony needs to have an audience for this examination … so perhaps you would like to leave, Jethro?"

"Director Vance sends his thanks and good wishes," said Gibbs. He held out his hand and Tony shook it. "Semper Fi," he said before leaving.

"Now, Anthony," said Ducky a few minutes later as he finished his tests. "That all seems in order. Painful, of course, but in order. Now, Dr Zib and I thought that a painkiller injection might be helpful for you today rather than constantly having recourse to pills."

"No," said Tony, "That's fine. No injection. I don't mind taking the pills. And I promise to take them."

"Oh," said Ducky, "Very well, if you are quite sure …"

"Yes, I'm sure," said Tony firmly.

"Well, in that case, I shall leave you in the capable hands of Drs Zib and Allard. I am leaving them detailed instructions about your medical history, you will be pleased to know," said Ducky.

"Great," said Tony who didn't sound very pleased.

A few minutes later he and George stood at the entrance to the store and waved the MCRT goodbye. George clapped Tony gently on the shoulder,

"Stay as long as you want," he said, "You're always welcome."

NCISNCIS

Three days later Tony was sitting outside the cabin in the forest. He was absentmindedly stroking Doodle who was luxuriating in the attention.

"Mr Clarke told me I would find you here," came Ducky's voice.

"Ducky!" said Tony in surprise, "What are you doing here? Come to finish your antiquing?"

"No," said Ducky. "No. I decided I needed to ask you a question."

"Long way to come to ask me a question," observed Tony.

"Indeed, but this is an important one and I thought it merited the journey," said Ducky.

"Ask away," said Tony. "What do you want to know?"

"I want to know when it was that your memory came back."