Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, or any plot ideas borrowed to make the story flow.
Spoilers: 7x22 aka Borderland with mentions from all that follows though AU from it.
Summary: What if Paloma made her need for vengeance known sooner? One of the team may pay the ultimate price for Gibbs actions so many years ago.
A little on the short side here, more team scenes, the next couple of chapters is when it really picks up. Yeah I caved, I had to write something for Abby, but I think it I did it just right, because it really would have been an injustice to the story to ignore the emotions going on with her.
The Plight of Vengeance Ch.10
"Hey, hey, Franks, stay with me."
"Trying probie, blood loss is making it hard though."
"Yeah I know, having that problem myself. Vance emailed back, they should be here within the next ten minutes."
"Impressive, he moves quick."
"Only when he wants to." Tony muttered. "Franks, you with me? Franks? Dammit." The man had lost consciousness. Tony tried to shake him with his good arm but he had no energy left. He heard noise behind the door.
"Agent Dinozzo, are you in there? Director Vance said you were in need of some assistance."
"Yeah." He mumbled while to get to the door, he managed to unlock it before collapsing in a crumpled heap. The door pushed open.
"Ah man, these two are bad. I got him, grab the other, we gotta move."
AAA
"Yes, and thank you again. You gave the hospital the contact up here?"
"That I did sir."
"Thank you again, have a good night." He dropped the phone on the cradle and headed for the bullpen. "Gibbs, David, you'll be happy to know Dinozzo and Franks are safely over the border and in a hospital in Texas."
"How were they?" Ziva asked.
"Not good, Franks was already out cold before the agents got there, Dinozzo passed out when they got there, there both in surgery now. They have the contact for up here there, I'll let you know when I hear something." Leon turned to leave and walked directly into Abby. He gave her a half smile and a shoulder rub before taking off up the stairs. Abby's lip quivered and she headed back to the elevator. Ziva threw her hands up and looked at Gibbs.
"Leave it alone Ziver, leave it alone. She has to deal with her guilt in her own way."
AAA
Tim's head lolled around slightly on the headrest, he wasn't paying much attention to anything, he knew they were stopped and he knew Paloma had stuck him like a pig seven more times since departing, so that totaled eleven times. Eleven times in maybe six hours, it wasn't even the blood loss affecting him that had been minimal; the pain associated with them though another story. Someone came up to the door and said something in Spanish that Tim didn't care to attempt to understand what and the next thing he knew Paloma was nudging him to get out of the vehicle. He got out and swayed slightly, Paloma grabbed his arm and led him to the room they'd gotten. Once in the room he fell back onto one of the two beds. Paloma watched him closely and just when she thought he was going to fall asleep she jabbed his thigh again.
"Did I say you could sleep Timothy?"
"No," He whimpered in pain. The door opened and two men walked in, Paloma walked over to them for a moment and returned. She put a soda and burger on the nightstand.
"Eat, and then maybe I'll let you rest." He glanced at the nightstand and pulled himself further up the bed into a sitting position. He ate the food quietly while trying to listen to what was being discussed, but most of the conversations were kept to Spanish so he didn't understand most it. He'd finished the burger and was sitting quietly when his head started to drop again. Paloma walked over and shoved his head upright.
"Do you want to sleep now?" His head dropped again.
"Yeah." He mumbled.
"You may lie down." He looked strangely at her, and she gave the motion to lie down while backing up herself. Once he was flat she sat on the edge of the bed, he shifted uncomfortably as she grabbed his hand. "You can sleep, I'm just making sure you stay put." That can't a good thing. She pulled out another piece of metal and stuck it right though his left hand and into the bed. "Rest now, but that stays put while you do." Yeah I'm gonna rest great with that there.
AAA
"You gonna wake the hell up already? I'm getting restless here." Tony cracked open an eye and groaned.
"Should you be in a bed?"
"Yeah if I hadn't signed out AMA, we don't have time to be sitting down here. Now get up." Tony glanced out the sole window in the room.
"It's night time Franks, my body wants to sleep." Tony mumbled, the drugs in his system clearly still doing their job. A doctor walked into the room.
"Ah, agent Dinozzo, you're awake. And what do you know mister Franks is in here, you convince your friend here to leave?"
"No. I'm getting there." Mike muttered.
"Well if you don't get there; get back into your bed because you definitely shouldn't be running around with a gut wound." He turned his attention back to Tony. "The bullet tore through some muscle but everything seems to be fine beyond that. Keep that arm there in that sling and you shouldn't have too much trouble with the healing. Unfortunately you won't know until later if you'll require any physical therapy for it. I do recommend you stay until morning though, we've got you pretty drugged up."
"See Franks, even the doc says I should stay put." Mike rolled his eyes.
"I swear you bastards came and gave the boy extra drugs just to keep me here."
"If that's what you have to think to get back into your bed then fine." And he left with a laugh. Mike turn back to Tony.
"Damn you probie, first thing in the morning, were out of here."
AAA
"Doctor Mallard?"
"Mister Palmer, it's Sunday what are you doing here today? I was told everyone was to just be on call for the impeding situation."
"They are but you know everyone will straggle back in before any calls, Gibbs and Ziva haven't shown up yet, but Abby has."
"Well she is probably here for the same reason I am, backed up paperwork, doing it keeps the mind busy."
"No I don't think she is. I think she stayed all night, she's taking this whole situation really personal, I'm starting to get worried."
"Oh dear, have you tried to talk to her about what you're feeling?"
"The other night, I went over to her place but she basically avoided talking, about that anyway. Maybe you could?"
"Yes, that may be a good idea, though you should come with." Ducky rose from his chair and headed towards the door, Jimmy shrugged but followed anyway. When they walked into the lab Abby was typing a mile a minute on the keyboard. There were several empty caf-pow containers on the counter.
"Abigail?"
"Oh hey Ducky." She responded, never looking away from the screen.
"Have you been home my dear?"
"No, I can't go home. Gotta find Tim."
"Abigail."
"No Ducky, I screwed up and now I have to help fix it. " She turned away from the screen. "Tim might not want to ever speak to me again, but at least he'll be here to not speak to me, rather than dead. I have to do this."
"There is nothing for you to do now, go home and rest otherwise when Tim does need your help, you won't be here to give it. The body can only take so much before it crashes on its own." The look on her face said his reason had reached her. "Mister Palmer, why don't you take her home." Jimmy nodded his answer.
"C'mon Abby, time to get out of here, at least for a bit."
AAA
Gibbs frowned as someone cleared there throat at the top of the stairs. He looked up to see Ziva descending the steps.
"Where were you Friday?" She questioned; he stayed quiet. "Well? I can understand why McGee wasn't there, I understand why Tony wasn't there, but why weren't you?"
"I'm sorry Ziva."
"Don't be sorry, tell me why. Tell me why I pushed away my real family and accepted all of you as a second family to me and you couldn't be bothered. Tell me why." He frowned and leaned back on the counter.
"I was dressed, ready to leave, when I, I starting thinking about Shannon and Kelly. I lost track of time. I'm sorry."
"Dammit Gibbs I want to be mad at you and your making it difficult." He laughed slightly.
"I'm sorry. I am really, I should have been there, I've got a lot going on in my lately though."
"Yeah, we all do. Do you see this ending well for… Mc… Tim?" She looked so hopeless when asking.
"I want to say yes, but honestly I don't know."
"Oh maybe I should ask do you think he'll live through it? Since living and being okay are two entirely different things." He looked at her.
"And we would both definitely know about that. And that I really don't know, this is McGee were talking about here, this is entirely new territory for him, I'd like to think he's strong enough to overcome this but I can't say I know."
"This is going to get far worse before it gets better."
"McGee's being held hostage and possibly tormented and Dinozzo temporarily down an arm, don't think it can get much worse than that." Ziva smiled sadly at him.
"It can get much, much worse than that, and you know that. I'll see you at the office." She turned and headed back up the stairs.