Callie had changed clothes for the second time in less than six hours. Now she was in her workout togs of Capri sweats, sports bra and tank top. She didn't take the time to put on shoes so she was barefoot on the mat. It was 2 am Sunday morning. The guys had been working the case, non-stop, for close to 24 hours. At least now, on the plane to Canada, they would get a couple of hours sleep. Callie was still chaffing under Gibbs' order to remain behind. So, she had ventured down to the gym and here she was, in the wee hours of the morning, beating the hell out of the punching bag. She was just taking a breather.

"Weren't your orders to remain at your desk?" The rich Scots burr of Doctor Mallard echoed across the empty gym.

Jumping guiltily at the sound of the voice, she peeked around the bag and smiled, "Does he tell you everything?"

"Only those things that he expects to be followed and knows probably won't be. Is it helping?"

Callie shrugged and walked toward the medical examiner, "It certainly worked out the stiffness in my arms. My head? Not so much."

The Doctor chuckled and then motioned for Callie to join him. He handed her a towel and a bottle of water as she sat down next to him. He then held out two more aspirin.

"No, thanks, Ducky. I'm okay."

"If that were true, Callie, you wouldn't be down here. Out with it, my girl."

"I don't know. Some things just don't make sense. I thought if I could get away from my desk, I could get away from the problem and maybe see it more clearly."

Doctor Mallard nodded approvingly, "Did it work?"

Callie shrugged again, "Maybe. I've got three questions that keep repeating. If I could answer those, I might get a handle on the situation."

He leaned in conspiratorially, "I'm a very good listener, Agent Harris."

Callie smiled back, "I know, Doctor Mallard. Okay, so here goes. Why does this guy kidnap Abby? She's a lab tech for a lesser known government agency. She's not really a high profile target."

"Mm…hm." Was the doctor's reply.

"Second, why am I still alive? This is a guy that plays for keeps. He doesn't do anything in half-measure. The lab in that warehouse is a good example. It may not have been state of the art equipment but it was still sufficient for Abby to formulate an antidote to his serum."

The doctor nodded as Callie continued, "And, finally, why allow Abby to formulate an antidote anyway? He's ultimately going to want me dead so why not just let me die?"

The doctor thought quietly as Callie took another drink of water, "Alright, Callie, let's answer these questions in reverse order. Why allow Abby to formulate an antidote when he ultimately wants you dead?"

"Because, in order to be sure that she's developing a true formula, he's got to give her something that makes it worthwhile. Someone she doesn't know, she may be tempted to help because it's the right thing to do, but when it's a person she's obviously close to…"

"It gives her more of an impetus to work," the doctor finished, "Besides, if she fails to come up with the antidote, you die, and that solves his problem. If she does come up with the antidote, Abby's everything he believes her to be."

"So, why am I alive?"

The Doctor looked at Callie over his glasses, "You know the answer to that one; you just don't want to admit it."

Callie looked down at her bare feet and sighed, "Yeah, she made a deal with the devil, didn't she, Doctor?"

"Your life for her obedience, I'd say, judging by that Customs tape. But," he pulled Callie's chin up gently, forcing her to look at him, "if she didn't want to do it, Callie, she wouldn't have."

"Doesn't mean I have to like it."

Again, the medical examiner chuckled, "Very true. Now, for your last query. While Abby is not a high value asset as you put it, she is a published scientist. She does have a reputation."

"But not necessarily the kind that draws international arms dealers to your door, Ducky." Callie stood and stretched, trying to limber the muscles that had tightened up while she cooled down. "No, there's some other reason that I'm missing altogether. I can just feel it."

The Doctor stood up next to Callie, "Well, if anyone can figure it out, it's you, Special Agent Harris." And he patted her triumphantly on the back.

Callie paused in her stride to leave and then turned back to the Doctor, "What did you call me?"

"By your full title, Special Agent Harris." Doctor Mallard watched Callie's face. He knew the minute the puzzle pieces fell into place. He smiled. "You've got it?"

She hugged the doctor, "Maybe, Ducky, just maybe." And kissing the older man on the cheek, she finished, "You are a prince among men."

And Callie left the gym on a dead run. Ducky smiled at her departing form, "Yes, my dear, I know."

Callie hadn't bothered to change or put on shoes to make her run to the lab. She was calling for the temp tech, Carla Johansson, the minute she exited the elevator.

"Carla!"

"Hey, Callie!" The older lady came out of Abby's office, smiling, "I haven't had a chance to talk to you yet. I just wanted to thank you for your help with getting this position."

"Oh, yeah, well, Carla, you were the best person for the job," Callie replied, "I was happy to do the recommendation."

"Well, thanks, and I'm sorry we have to work under these conditions. Abby's such a super person. So, what's up?"

Finally catching her breath, she asked, "Where are the shackles that I was held in?"

Carla quirked an eyebrow at Callie but turned to the boxes of evidence and pulled out the manacles. "Right here. Why"

Callie took the bag and ripped it open to the temp tech's dismay. Trying to grab the bag back, Carla asked, "What are you looking for, Harris?"

"Fingerprints, Carla. Did it get fingerprinted?"

Looking at the agent as if she were daft, Carla replied, "Of course, it was. There wasn't anything."

Grabbing a pair of latex gloves, Callie replied, "No," and pulling the cuffs out, she finished, "I mean the insides." And Harris opened the cuff to reveal no fingerprint powder on the inside.

Carla smiled broadly, "Apparently not. I guess no one thought of that. How did…"

"I suddenly remembered he had grabbed me by the cuffs when he injected the virus." Callie returned the smile.

The temp grabbed the evidence and started checking for prints. She smiled as she found two viable samples. Printing the card, Johansson scanned it in to begin a search.

"I need you to check a couple of really random data bases, Carla. The CIA/FBI sites, focusing on old Iron Block nations – all types of perps, alive or dead."

Carla spun around to look at the agent, "Dead ones, too?"

Callie smiled, "Uh huh. Because sometimes, they're not as dead as you think."

Quirking a brow, she replied, "Okay."

Callie left the tech to her work and went to shower and change back into her t-shirt, blue jeans and boots. She stopped in the medical examiner's office before going back to the lab. Ducky had finally left but Mr. Palmer was still around. He did a quick bandage job on Callie's wrists and knuckles that she had managed to bloody from the punching bag. He also had her new phone which he gave her before sending her on her way.

She entered the lab just as the computer signaled results.

"Wow! Your timing is excellent." Carla replied, hitting the button to reveal the final report.

Callie saw the image flash on the screen and immediately smiled. "Okay, Carla, print it out and then erase the search from your computer."

"What?" Again, Carla questioned the agent's instructions.

Callie took the printed results and turned back to the new scientist, "Those results are going to create some furor. People will come looking for you and, ultimately, me, if you don't erase that search. Give me the fingerprint card and go lock those shackles in evidence right now."

Carla could tell, from the tone of Harris' voice, that this was serious, "Okay. Am I in trouble?"

Callie shook her head, "No, but don't wait. Do it all right now. And if anyone and I mean anyone asks you about this, you know nothing. If you can't lie, then tell them you were following my orders. Do not take responsibility in any way. Do you understand?"

Carla nodded, "Alright, Agent Harris. I'm on it."

Callie nodded and left the lab. Stopping at the door, she turned back, "Carla, thank you. You may have just helped me uncover the key to getting Abby back."

The tech smiled, "That's what we want!" And she returned to boxing up the evidence as Callie had ordered.

It was now 4 am. The guys would just be landing in Montreal and they still had nearly a two hour drive to Baie-Comeau. Hopefully, Abby would be there but Callie didn't think they were going to be that lucky. With the information she now had, her question as to why Abby was targeted was answered. However, there were now more inconsistencies that would have to be corrected before she would have the final picture to present to Gibbs. And, there was only one person that she knew of who could give her those answers. Abby had made her deal with the devil to spare Callie's life. It was now Callie's turn to return the favor.