A/N: I am so sorry about how long I took to update. I've had ridiculous amounts of homework, unrelenting parents, a broken computer…Not to mention this site refusing to let me upload my new chapter. Well, to make up for it, I've sped up the action in this chapter.

I hope you like it, and thank you very much to those that have reviewed my story.

-----------------------------------------------

They say that sleep is when your thoughts are clearest. "What about when you're in a coma?" she wondered.

Kate knew what her thoughts were now.

A part of her wanted to come out of this perpetual sleep. She was sick of this… nothingness. Maybe, on the other end, there wouldn't be Ric or Frankie. Maybe she would be in a proper hospital, and Abby would be there… or Ducky… or Gibbs.

But she was afraid. Like most, Kate feared the unknown. And so, she refrained herself from waking up. In a way, this coma was a haven, somewhere she could be safe. They couldn't get her here. There was no way they could.

Ric… God she regretted ever knowing him. But at least he was better to her than Frankie. Ric never hit her, never tortured her, never physically abused her. But sometimes he chilled her just as much as Frankie did.

Kate's thoughts drifted back to the team.

She missed them. They were the reason she wanted to wake up.

But even though they were her closest friends, she couldn't help but feel betrayed. How long had Ric and Frankie held her captive, awake and vulnerable? Two, three, four months? On the first day, she had held strong. The team would rescue her. In the first week, she kept faith, refusing to oblige Ric and Frankie's wishes. But by the second month, only a thread of hope had remained. After that, she had accepted that they weren't coming. Frankie read her well, rubbing salt in the wounds of betrayal.

Tony's betrayal stung the most. She loved him, even if he didn't know it, and he hadn't even cared about her enough to rescue her.

But she knew she was being unreasonable. She was sure Gibbs was trying. He would've never let his team give up on her. Never.

A question she had asked herself plenty of times repopped into her head. Maybe she had been rescued. Maybe she should try to wake up. Maybe she would awake to find McGee looking at her, or Gibbs, or even better, Tony.

Out of Kate's hearing, and beside her bed, the brain activity monitor beeped in a frenzy.

Kate felt a wave of conciousness seep into her. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if Tony could possibly be on the other side.

But eventually, her fears of Frankie and Ric won. She fought the growing conciousness, trying to regain that sense of nothingness. She desperately didn't want to wake up. Finally, drowsiness overcame her once more and her thoughts blurred out of existence. Beside her, the brain activity monitor grew silent.

Unfortunately for Kate, we don't always get what we want.

-----------------------------------------------

Gibbs sat quietly at his desk, contemplating. The sounds of his team typing away filled his head.

This was all a big mess. It was too much for him to handle.

First of all, there was Kate. They had to find her.

Frankie had sent back his evidence of her being alive yesterday. Photos. Medical records. Showing Kate in a coma, bruises on her face.

That bastard. He had told them she was alive. Well, she was, but had never mentioned her being in a coma. That made things even worse. Besides the possibility of her never waking up, it also meant she was utterly helpless.

Gibbs shuddered, wondering if Frankie had done anything to her whilst she was vulnerable. He had seen the bruises on her face. What if he had gone further than just punching her? What if he had…?

Gibbs shoved the thought aside. He couldn't face the possibility that Frankie had done that.

He moved on to his second problem.

Tony and Nick Ferenazah.

Tony claimed he had no idea who this Nick was. But according to the letter, he did. "You know who I am"

Bu Tony didn't know who he was, or why a terrorist would specifically target him.

A thought popped into Gibbs' mind. What if Dinozzo is hiding something?

Gibbs erased the suggestion. Tony wasn't that stupid…

So that meant one of Gibbs' agents was in a coma and being held captive and another was the target of a deadly terrorist?

And what about Gibbs himself?

Frankie had tried to kill him. Gibbs had no idea why. But it meant that he was in possible danger as well.

He had three skilled agents: Tony, Ziva and McGee. Ducky could be considered as being on his team as well, but Gibbs hoped he wouldn't be needed. Unless it was Frankie Chezna's body…

He had three very personal cases to solve.

Three cases. Three agents. It seemed impossible.

Save Kate. Protect Dinozzo. Stay alive. It was all too much for him and his team.

But they would make it.

He hoped.

-----------------------------------------------

Frankie Chezna snuggled against his plush, leather chair, smiling complacently.

I am too smart.

Kate was going to wake up soon. Today. Tomorrow. Next week at the latest. Her brain activity levels proved that.

But NCIS had no idea she would awake soon. And he was going to take advantage of that.

The medical records he had sent them were two months old. They showed no brain activity. Their M.E. would examine them and wouldn't be able to say there was a high chance of her waking up. Frankie had changed the dates, making them seem recent.

He chuckled. NCIS was just so fun to mess with.

Frankie dialed a number on his phone.

It was time for some games.

-----------------------------------------------

The phone on Tony's desk began to ring.

Bring bring. Bring bring.

Tony paused, then picked it up.

"Dinozzo," he greeted.

"Ah… Anthony," a faintly familiar voice said coldly. "Remember me?"

Tony thought for a moment. Then, the voice registered. Frankie Chezna. The bastard that has Kate.

Tony composed himself. "Why, hello Frankie," he said calmly. His voice may have been placid but his gestures weren't. Frantically, he pointed at the phone. McGee got the message and began tracing the call.

Frankie chuckled. "I trust you got my package?"

"You bastard," Tony growled. "You never told us she was in a coma"

"You never asked," Frankie replied breezily. "I didn't realize you considered it to be important".

Tony didn't reply, glancing over at McGee. He was typing furiously, trying to trace the call.

"So Anthony…" Frankie chuckled. "Seen the photos of Kate? Doesn't she look so pretty, all vulnerable and helpless? I must say, she's a lot more fun when she isn't all feisty and resistant. I mean, it's so much better now that I can do whatever I want with dear Caitlin. By the way, have you seen how she looks in that sheer nightie? Such a fine woman."

Tony's hand shook slightly. Oh god, what if this bastard had…?

"We'll find you," Tony threatened. "And when we do, there'll be hell to pay."

Tony's jaw clenched as he heard Frankie laugh.

"Well," Frankie sighed. "It's been lovely to talk to you but I must hang up before I'm traced. Is McGee urgently telling you to keep me on the line for a bit longer? Don't bother trying. How long before he finds where I am, eh? 10 seconds? Oh, wait no… its five now… four… three… two-"

The line went dead.

"Damnit!" McGee shouted. "I was literally one second away from getting him," he said exasperatedly.

"I know, McGee," Tony said softly. "I know."

-----------------------------------------------

Ric gazed at the photo on his desk.

He picked it up. In the photo, a pretty brunette stood beside a teenage Ric, kissing him on the cheek.

That had been a long time ago, when he and Kate had been a couple.

A long, long time ago.

But now, he wanted her back. And so, he had enlisted Frankie's help. Except something had gone ridiculously wrong.

Instead of her falling in love with him once again, she had fallen into a coma. Perhaps bringing in Frankie hadn't been a good idea. Now Kate hated him even more.

Ric sighed. This was all a big, big mess.

His phone suddenly rang, piercing the heavy air with its shrill cry.

Ric picked it up. It was a text message. His heart pounded as he read it.

Things are about to become even more complicated.

The text was from a computer connected to the medical equipment in Kate's room. It sent automated messages to the appropriate people when important events occurred.

Ric's pulse throbbed in his ear as he read the message again.

Subject has awoken

-----------------------------------------------

A/N: Dun dun duuuun. See, I really did speed up the action. The next chapter will be out soon, I hope. Just a note, I know a ridiculous amount of Tate fics have the whole crazy ex-boyfriend thing, but this will be different.

Please review.