Author's Note:
Thank you for all the reviews, favourites and followers … and apologizes for the delay in updating.
But it is worth the wait.
Here's the next chapter. Enjoy…
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Gibbs paced outside the cabin. It was bitterly cold but the rising sun brought light and helped Gibbs calm down ever so slightly.
Come on Abby. He prayed.
You have got to find us now.
He stretched his arching fingers, wincing over the bruises as he continued pacing.
DiNozzo, you've got to hang on.
I'm not going to lose you… not now.
God … how do I get you out of this!
Gibbs' anger rose again. He hated being helpless. Hell, what the hack could he do to get Tony the help he needed. He couldn't stand to see Tony in this state. He stopped pacing and closed his eyes for a second.
Think Jethro.
You promised not to leave him…
And his too weak to move…
But there's got to be something you can do!
Gibbs growled in frustration as he opened his eyes and started pacing again. Then he took stock of his surroundings.
The clearing in front of the cabin was a few yards wide and was covered in dirt not vegetation. When he looked from the ground up, he noted that there was a clear line of vision from the ground to the sky. He also noted that the smoke rising from the cabin's fire place was floating up beyond the tree line.
Finally.
Gibbs moved around the cabin quickly gathering branches and rocks.
"The air search better spot this." He stated as he laid the items out strategically in front of the cabin spelling out the word HELP.
"Now let's increase our heat signature." He stated and headed back into the cabin intending to build the fire up.
But his gaze automatically fell on Tony.
Shit!
Tony's eyes were closed, his skin looked pasty and his body trembled uncontrollably.
"Tony!" Gibbs shouted as he lightly tapped Tony's cheek. "Hey, come on. Wake up."
But Tony only moaned softly.
"DiNozzo!" Gibbs said again, this time placing a hand on Tony's forehead and caressing his head. "Please... Son… wake up."
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"Hey, come on. Wake up."
Tony could hear Gibbs. But he just couldn't open his eyes. They felt like they were glued shut.
"DiNozzo!"
Boss… Tony wanted to respond. But he couldn't. The cold and pain trapped him, overpowered him, engulfed him.
"Please… Son... wake up."
Ah Boss…
Gibbs...
Dad...
I'm so sorry…
Tony's body was no longer his own to control. He had never known pain like this. His shoulder felt like it was completely ripped apart, his head throbbed incessantly, his chest felt compressed and it was so difficult to breathe. And the cold, it wrapped around him tightly and he feared it was squeezing the life out of him.
He felt Gibbs' warm hand on his forehead and wanted to cry.
I love you…
I'm gonna miss you…
Gibbs...
Dad...
I'm gonna…
Tony took a shallow breath as complete and utter darkness engulfed him.
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"Ms Scuito?" Vance asked as he entered the bullpen.
"The satellite will be in position within the next ten minutes, Sir." Abby replied as she tapped her fingers impatiently against the desk.
"That's ten minutes too long." Vance replied as his mobile phone rang. "Agent David?"
"Director we have arrived at the Rock Creek Park." Ziva said as Vance put her on speaker phone.
"Did you find them?" Abby demanded.
"Not yet, Abby." Ziva replied. "But the Park Rangers have indicated that we should fly over the southern and eastern ends of the park. They have patrols combing through the other areas. They don't think Gibbs and Tony could have gotten much further overnight."
"Have you found out what they were doing out there in the first place?" Vance asked
"We suspect they were looking for Mr DiNozzo." McGee replied.
"Mr DiNozzo?" Vance said.
"Tony's dad?" Abby gasped.
"Yes," McGee replied. "According to the Park Rangers Tony's father arrived at the park just over a week ago and there has been no sign of him over the last 72 hours."
"Oh no!" Abby exclaimed.
"We think Tony and Gibbs came out here to look for him." Ziva said.
"The Rangers already had patrols out looking for Mr DiNozzo and now they are looking for Gibbs and Tony too." McGee said.
"You find my men and then you get to the bottom of what's going on." Vance ordered.
"Yes Sir." Ziva and McGee replied simultaneously.
As Vance cut the call, the elevator dinged and Agent Fornell of the FBI entered the bullpen.
"Director, Ms Scuito." Fornell greeted. "Any news?"
Vance and Abby filled him in on what they had thus far.
"I have additional air support on search and rescue. They should be at the park within the next 15 minutes." Fornell said.
"Can you gather data on DiNozzo Senior's movements and find out what he was doing at Rock Creek Park."
"You'll have a report within the hour." Fornell stated.
"The satellite's in position." Abby shouted.
Vance and Fornell moved to stand behind her and all three watched the screen.
"Please, please, please be working…!" Abby whispered as her fingers flew across the key board.
The image on her computer screen zoomed in every few seconds until a clearer image appeared.
"It's working!" Abby said as she waited with bated breath while the screen zoomed in further.
Suddenly a cabin came into view and the word "HELP" came into focus.
"Yes! I've found them! I've found them!" Abby shouted as she grabbed the receiver of the phone on McGee's desk.
"I'll get a medivac dispatched to those co-ordinates asap." Fornell said as he made eye contact with Vance and retrieved his mobile phone.
"Good job, Abby." Vance said, his voice laced with concern.
Abby nodded her head as she started speaking very quickly to McGee, giving him the co-ordinates of the cabin.
"Please hurry McGee. They're in trouble..." Abby said as tears rolled down her face blurring the screen in front of her.
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