-1Okay, chapter ten! This came faster than I thought it would. And, honestly, you guys have not met your review limit for me to post! I'm a bit disappointed. L You can do better than that, if people like this story so much. But, lucky for you, I'm too hooked into it to just stop writing. Besides, here's where the 'catch the terrorist' plot can finally get going! Stupid twenty-four hour limit. But, there's still much to come, and it's all planned out here in my head! So, review, 'cause next time I may not be nice enough to post before you meet your limit, guys!
Chapter Ten
Gibbs glanced at his watch for probably the twentieth time that minute, then directed his gaze back towards the computer tech - Gibbs hadn't bothered to remember his name; Harris, maybe? - who was currently setting up a trace program on Tony's computer. "This had better work," he muttered.
"It will. The second anyone calls your cell phone, I'll be able to trace where they're calling from. You'll just have to keep them on the line long enough for it to locate them," the tech explained. Gibbs gave a noncommittal nod. He didn't trust anyone but Abby behind a computer for something as important as this. But Abby couldn't do it, so he was fourced to put the task in the hands of this rather young man. And he wasn't very happy about that.
He checked his watch again. Three minutes till one. He wanted to be back in Abby's lab with her, but he didn't want this all set up in her lab, didn't want her hearing this conversation. At least she wasn't alone; Kate was sitting with her. But, the second this was done, he was going to be right back in the lab. He glared at his cell phone, willing it to ring.
"We're sure he'll call at one?" Tony asked, looking over Harris' shoulder to watch him work on the computer.
"Security tapes put him in Abby's lab at 1302 yesterday. He said he'd call in twenty-four hours." Gibbs put his cell down on his desk, took a step away, spun around and picked it back up. "And he'd damn well better be punctual."
Tony nodded. He and Kate had poured over those security tapes for hours yesterday. The guy knew what he was doing - it was as if he'd known where every camera was, and had skillfully avoided them. He was mysteriously absent from the tapes until he showed up in Abby's lab, and disappeared again shortly after leaving it. Even while inside the lab, he'd avoided facing directly towards the camera, so they couldn't get a good shot of his face - but they had more than enough of Abby's, and he knew Kate felt the same way he did about the terrified expression she'd worn. It'd be quite a race to see who would get the privilege of shooting this guy first.
Gibbs had been reduced to pacing once again, staring at the phone in his hand. Tony's eyes flicked back and forth from the computer screen to the clock to Gibbs' phone to the computer screen again. If this worked, maybe they could cut this drama short, get the antidote, shoot the guy, and make Abby go home for a well-deserved vacation.
Tony shot a look at Harris. This guy was as bad as McGeek, and he wished it could be Abby typing away at that computer. In fact, even McGee would be better than this - at least they knew him - but he was back at Norfolk. And it was immensely annoying, Tony decided, how a person's mind wandered when they were trying to be patient. He joined Gibbs in staring at the cell, his eyes following his boss as he paced back and forth.
Even though they were all waiting for the ring, everyone jumped when it came. Gibbs froze, glanced at the caller ID - unidentified number, of course - shot Harris a pointed look, and flipped open the phone. "Talk."
"Answered on the first ring, I am impressed," came the smooth, accented voice. "You were awaiting my call, I assume?"
"Trace started," Harris reported, keeping his voice low.
"Forget the formalities. Tell me what you want," Gibbs growled.
"Eager, aren't you? Becoming worried about dear Abigail, yes?" A small chuckle followed the words. "Wonderful. It is always encouraging to know that my creations are working as planned."
Gibbs was gripping his phone tightly, trying to keep himself calm enough to avoid yelling. Reading his expression, Harris glanced at Tony. "He's got to keep him on the line for the trace."
"He will. You just concentrate on finding this guy, or that anger you see there?" Tony glared at the tech. "That'll be taken out on you… and I will hold you down for him."
"What do you want from NCIS?" Gibbs spoke clearly and concisely, though perhaps a bit louder than necessary.
"Oh, a report, first. How is the lovely girl holding up? What path is my illness taking? Of course, it is very useful to keep up a running report on how such things work in humans, as all my testings until this point have been on lab rats…" He paused for a moment, then laughed, as if he had made a joke. "I mean the furry ones, of course, not your Abigail."
Gibbs' grip on the phone was so tight his knuckles had turned white, and he was gritting his teeth to bite back the million responses whirling in his mind. How dare he talk about Abby that way? A report? He wanted a report? She wasn't a test subject, she was… she was Abby! The only thing that kept him from completely breaking down and telling the guy off was the knowledge that he needed to keep him on the phone.
"Giving you reports was not a part of the deal," he growled through gritted teeth. "Now tell me what you want if you'd like any chance at getting it."
The man chuckled. "Oh, I'll be getting it, Agent Gibbs. I have no doubt of that. But if you will not give me a report, I shall give you one, based on my knowledge. By this point, I would expect, her fever has probably reached a point near, oh, 100°, at least?" Gibbs glared at nothing in particular; Ducky's last check had put her temp at 100.6°. "She's probably coughing a good bit, as well, perhaps finding breathing more difficult than it should be. And would I be right to assume her heart rate is faster than you might prefer?"
Gibbs was silent. He didn't like how accurate this report was turning out. This guy knew how this illness worked, and from the sound of it, there was little chance Gibbs would be able to make him think Abby was doing better than she was. They would need to get that antidote, and both men knew it.
"Almost got him, Boss," Tony reported, eyes on the computer screen. Gibbs nodded.
"So, as to what I want from you. I'm sure you've guessed that I'm after money, no?"
"I'd thought as much," Gibbs admitted.
"$1,000,000."
Gibbs glanced over at Tony and Harris. Keep him on the line; he'd made his demand; he could hang up at any time now. "That's a lot to ask for in less than 48 hours."
"Oh, you'll get it, Agent Gibbs. You will if you want your dear little Abigail to survive. You have 12 hours to think it over; I'm sure you won't mind the early call. Have your decision ready by then."
"Got him!" Tony announced triumphantly.
Good thing, as the next thing Gibbs heard was a click as the call was ended. He flipped his phone closed, a good deal more forcefully that was necessary. "You know where he called from?"
Harris nodded. "Got a number and a location." He squinted at the screen. "Looks like a payphone number."
Turning his glare on Tony, who was scribbling the number and location onto a notepad, Gibbs barked out, "What the hell are you waiting for, DiNozzo? Get Kate and get out there!"
But Tony didn't need to be told; he was already moving. "On it, Boss!" he called over his shoulder, running for the elevator.
Gibbs tossed his cell onto his desk and fell heavily into his chair. His look was enough to send Harris hurrying away; he wasn't needed anymore and he knew enough not to stick around, lest Gibbs turn his anger on him. With a heavy sigh, Gibbs dropped his head into his hands. Tony and Kate wouldn't find their guy - he'd be gone by the time they got there. But with any luck they'd find evidence that could lead to him. Not that Abby could process it; it'd have to go to another lab, and they only had 48 hours… Where would he get a million dollars?
No, he shouldn't even be thinking that. He wouldn't be getting the money. He would never give into the demands of a terrorist; that was the strictest rule in his book. And, anyways, Tony and Kate would bring back their finds, and then they'd use that to find this guy and save Abby. He was tempted to rush after Tony, go with them, but he knew they could manage this without him. Besides, he had a more important job to do here. He stood, headed for the elevator. Kate was going with Tony, and he wouldn't let Abby be left alone.