Returning to the bullpen, Gibbs startles McGee with his booming voice.
"McGee! Where are we on the boat theory?" he demands.
"It's really starting to make sense, Boss. If they had a boat here…," he says, indicating a position on a map on the plasma, "they would have no problem slipping away through this channel and then they could make their way all the way up to here if they wanted," he continues, pointing to DC.
"Right, we have to presume that they'd stay away from busy docks to avoid drawing attention to themselves. Concentrate searches on quieter docks with road access. Circulate Zamir's photo to all LEO's. We gotta stop them before they hit another target," Gibbs advises.
McGee gets to work smartly, investigating possible hide out areas. Ziva and DiNozzo begin contacting other law enforcement agencies and issuing them with photos of Zamir. Gibbs sits back in his chair and stares at the map. Something was bothering him. Zamir would hit a target but he would make it memorable. He looks at the coastal map hoping that something would jump out at him. He looks a little south of DC, following the Virginia coast. He stops at Norfolk. Of course, the naval base, a prime target. Why didn't he think of it sooner?
"McGee, get me a list of naval vessels in port in Norfolk ASAP!" he yells out of the blue.
"What are you thinking Boss?" DiNozzo asks, as McGee furiously punches keys on his computer.
"An attack on the Navy," Gibbs announces, trusting his gut instinct.
"The USS Monteray is in port since Friday, USS Cole is also docked. The USS Scranton is due back from a tour next Thursday and tomorrow the Harry S. Truman is due in," McGee says efficiently.
"I gotta talk to the Director," Gibbs says, standing up stiffly and heading upstairs towards Jen's office.
He walks straight into Jen's office without knocking, as usual. Jen looks up from her desk to check who's barging in.
"I thought I told you to go home," she says glaring up at him.
"There are 2 destroyers in port in Norfolk at the moment. The carrier, Harry S. Truman, is due back tomorrow. If Zamir is out there sitting on a boat full of explosives, they are all potential targets. You need to contact Sec Nav now and put them on high alert," Gibbs tells her urgently. Jen stops and considers what he's telling her.
"Do you really think he'd go after such a large target?" she asks. Gibbs shrugs.
"This guy wants to make a name for himself. Maybe he won't but do you really want to take the risk?" he replies.
Jen thanks him and makes her way to MTAC to contact the powers that be. Gibbs returns to his desk. He is about to sit when his cell phone rings.
"Yea, Gibbs!" he answers quickly.
"You disappoint me Agent Gibbs," a now familiar voice says, prompting Gibbs to signal furiously with his hands to McGee to trace the call. "I thought we understood each other. I cannot respect a man who does not keep his word."
"Well I can't respect a man who kills innocent people," Gibbs replies irately.
"There are always casualties of war, Agent Gibbs. There is still time for you to stop this you know. Get me the information that you promised me and no one else has to die. We will hit our next target tomorrow. You have until the morning to get it to me," Zamir offers.
"How do I contact you?" Gibbs asks.
"You don't. I will contact you," Zamir answers before terminating the call.
"Did we get him?" Gibbs asks McGee.
"No Boss. Sorry. He wasn't on long enough," McGee answers.
"Damn it!" Gibbs shouts, kicking his desk hard in frustration and instantly regretting it. The sudden movement causes a surge of pain and despite his best efforts he cannot help but cry out. He leans his full weight on the desk and closes his eyes tightly, waiting for the pain to subside.
"Are you alright, Boss?" DiNozzo asks, looking very worried. Gibbs doesn't respond, concentrating on his breathing to help cope with the pain.
"McGee, call Ducky, NOW!" DiNozzo orders as he approaches Gibbs, half expecting him to collapse into his arms. DiNozzo manoeuvres Gibb's chair behind him, just in case.
It isn't long before Ducky comes racing into the office. Gibbs is sitting in his seat, protesting that he is okay and giving out to his team for making a big fuss. He looks pale with beads of sweat evident on his forehead.
"That's it, Jethro," Ducky announces. "I'm taking you home. No arguments. Let's go," Ducky insists, taking his friend by the arm and helping him shakily to his feet. The fact that Gibbs doesn't put up much resistance shows how poorly he is feeling.
"Call me if anything crops up," Gibbs says to his team as he gets to the elevator.
"No problem, Boss," they reply in chorus. As the elevator door closes they all look at each other, each as concerned as the next.
Once they get to Gibb's house, Ducky takes him straight to his bedroom. He helps Gibbs take off his shirt and shoes. He notices that the dressing over his wound is soaked in blood again. He cleans and redresses the wound and administers the morphine. It doesn't take long for Gibbs to fall asleep. Ducky decides to stay the night to look after his friend. Gibbs sleeps soundly into the night but wakes early the next morning. He carefully hauls himself out of bed and slowly descends the stairs. He is greeted by the smokey smell of bacon. Ducky is busy preparing breakfast.
"Ah, good morning Jethro," Ducky says cheerfully, when he see the figure in the doorway.
"Mornin' Duck. Have you been here all night?" Gibbs asks, drowzily.
"I made myself at home on the sofa. Had to make sure you stayed in bed," Ducky tells him, smiling.
"Thanks," Gibbs says, genuinely grateful for all he had done. "How long have I been sleeping anyway?" Gibbs asks.
"Let's see. It was close to 10pm when we got here. Almost 10 hours then," Ducky replies.
"Ten hours? What time is it?" Gibbs asks, getting worried.
"7.15am. Why? What's wrong?" Ducky wonders, sensing Gibbs worry.
"You should have woken me earlier. Where's my cell phone?" he asks, rushing into the living room, searching frantically.
"Jethro, whatever is the matter?" Ducky asks again.
"He said he'd call," Gibbs replies.
"Who?"
"Zamir! Where the hell is my phone?" he shouts, getting agitated.
"Try your jacket. I left it hanging in the hall," Ducky informs him.
Gibbs grabs the jacket and searches the pockets and is relieved to find his phone. However his relief is short-lived when he realises that he has missed calls. The number is withheld on them all.
"Damn it!" he curses, as he eases himself to sit on a step of the stairs. Ducky is thoroughly confused by the whole episode.
"Will you please tell me what's going on?" Ducky again asks, getting more worried about Jethro.
"Sorry, Duck. I didn't tell you but before we left last night, I got a call from Zamir. He said that their next attack would be today and that only I could stop it. He said that he'd contact me. Looks like I've missed his calls," Jethro explains, slouching dejected on the stair.
"He still might call back," Ducky says, hoping to raise his spirits.
"Sure, or he might not."
"Timothy called me just before you got up. He wanted to know if you were planning on going to Norfolk today. Said something about a carrier and a submarine, I'm sorry, I was still half asleep when he called," Ducky tells him. Gibbs returns McGee's call and asks him to arrange for Ziva to pick him up. Together they would drive to Norfolk and liaise with base security.
When Gibbs finishes his call, he looks at Ducky and tries to stand up. Even with the aid of the banister, he struggles. Ducky helps him up.
"I don't know what you hope to achieve, Jethro. You're in no shape to be chasing terrorists. There are plenty of other agents that can do this, agents who can stand unaided!," Ducky says, concerned for Gibbs.
"I pissed him off, Duck. Maybe if I hadn't, this wouldn't have escalated. I can't just sit here and do nothing," Jethro answers, a look of determination in his eyes.
"You are impossible sometimes, you know that? Will you at least let me give you another shot before you leave?" Ducky asks, resigned to defeat.
"Morphine and coffee, sounds like just what the doctor ordered," Gibbs replies.
Ducky administers the morphine and soon they are drinking coffee and eating the bacon and eggs which Ducky has cooked. Ducky is busy trying to get Jethro to eat something. He's not having much luck. Soon, Ziva arrives and she and Gibbs are hurriedly on their way to Norfolk.