Back at NCIS headquarters, it was late evening when Gibbs received a call on his cell. It was Lt. Commander Harris, the officer whom he had met at the scene of the original robbery and murder.
"We have a situation here, Agent Gibbs," he started seriously.
"What kind of situation?" Gibbs asked somewhat perplexed.
"It involves two of your agents. Information is still sketchy but from what I've heard so far, Petty Officer Lopez is holding them hostage in his home. Some shots were heard from inside the house. I'm on my way there now. I just thought you should know," he explained.
"I'm on my way," Gibbs replied hanging up and cursing their luck. This couldn't be happening. Not after everything that had happened to his team over the last few days, he thought. Just as he was gathering himself together Ducky appeared, his hat and coat on, ready to go home.
"Now, Jethro, what are you still doing here at this hour? I thought I told Ziva to make sure you got home at a respectable hour," he began chastising before Gibbs cut him short.
"Duck!" he shouted. "Tony and Ziva are in trouble. I need you to drive me to Quantico."
"Quantico? Oh my! Of course. My car's in the parking garage. Let's go," he replied eager to help.
The ride to QUantico was painfully slow. Gibbs thought they'd never get there. Ducky drove ever so carefully, much to Gibbs frustration. His agents were in trouble. They needed him. Right now he needed to feel useful although he wasn't quite sure what he would do when he got there. All he knew was he had to get them out, he just wasn't sure how.
Lopez house
The situation was looking grim inside the Lopez home. Tony was slowly coming back to his senses. He sat up leaning on his elbow and rubbed the back of his head. He could feel the stickiness of the fresh blood in his hair. As he looked up he could see Lopez pacing anxiously around the room. He noticed a wound on Hernando' arm but it didn't seem to be adversely affecting him. Then he turned his head and he saw Ziva sitting on the ground with her back against the sofa. Beads of perspiration were evident on her brow and she was trying to breathe through the pain of her injury. She had tied her belt around her thigh to act as a tourniquet. The amount of blood on her clothing and the floor didn't go unnoticed to Tony. It didn't bode well. He knew she needed his help. He started to crawl over to where she sat.
"Move another inch and I'll finish you," Lopez shouted rushing towards him and pointing the gun at Tony's face when he noticed him moving.
"I need to help her. She's losing a lot of blood," he said staring down the barrel of the weapon. He wasn't dissuaded by Lopez's threats and continued to move closer to her. Lopez relented easily and lowered his weapon letting him go to her.
"Hey, are you okay?" he asked when he reached her, trying not to appear too worried.
"For now," Ziva replied, experience telling her that if she didn't get medical assistance soon, she would eventually bleed to death. Tony reached up onto the sofa and removed the few pillows that were on it. First he stripped the covers from the pillows and applied one to Ziva's wound. She flinched from the pain it caused her but said nothing.
"Sorry," Tony apologised. "We need to slow the bleeding. Keep pressure on it. If we raise your leg it might help," he suggested. She agreed and took the pillow cover in her hand and continued to apply pressure. Tony gave her one of the pillows and he helped her lie on the ground. He placed her head on the pillow. Then he placed the remaining pillows under her knee and raised her leg slightly.
"You're going to be okay. I'll get you out of here," he whispered into her ear. Tony sat back and leaned against the sofa and prayed he could keep his promise. He sat and observed Lopez. He hoped that Hernando's wife had gone for help and that it would get there soon. Lopez was unstable, Tony could see that. He would try talking to him and hoped that his words wouldn't send him into a rage and make things worse.
"Hernando," Tony called, getting his captor's attention. Lopez turned pointing his weapon at the pair once more.
"Shut up, I need to think," Lopez shouted, the realisation of his predicament starting to sink in.
"Hernando, listen to me. We can work this out. No one else need get hurt," Tony said offering him a way out.
"I told you to shut up," he replied walking over and hitting Tony in the face. Tony tried in vain to protect himself but the blow hit him on the cheek and mouth. His lip was split and he moaned as he held his hand to his bleeding mouth. As Tony was recovering, he thought he heard a noise from outside the house. However from where he and Ziva sat, they could not see out the windows. A few moments later, a voice boomed over a megaphone.
"Petty Officer Lopez, this is Lt. Commander Harris. I am ordering you to release your hostages and come out with your hands up."
Lopez ducked over to the front window and peeked out through the curtains. Outside there were three naval SUV's and about a dozen armed M.P's. He felt sick to the pit of his stomach. He had really blown it. Panic rose within him. He wanted his wife. He wanted to say sorry to her. He needed to hug his little girl. He glanced over at the two agents. Right now they were a sorry sight but they were also his ticket out of this.
"Do as he says, Hernando," Tony advised the flustered sailor. He turned and looked at Tony.
"No. You're my way out of this. As long as I still have you they won't try anything," he explained as he tried to mentally take stock of the situation.
"No, Hernando, they won't. We're federal agents. They don't negotiate, especially not for us. Risk is part of our job. We're pretty low on their list of priorities," Tony explained knowing it wasn't quite true but hoping to show Lopez the futility of his actions.
"I'll ask for a car. Once I can get off base I can figure the rest out," Lopez said naively.
Tony shook his head. He wasn't getting through to him. He looked at Ziva. She was pale and clammy and from what he could tell she was displaying the first signs of shock. He hoped help would get to them soon.
Unbeknownst to him, Ducky and Gibbs were just arriving at the base. They were given directions to the Lopez's house and could see it well before they got there. Several vehicles were pulled up at odd angles outside the house. Their headlights shone onto the garden and front porch. Several armed naval personnel stood watching the property. A few armed M.P.'s stooped awaiting instructions down the side. Ducky parked his car neatly at the side of the road. Gibbs was quickly out of the car and hurried over to Lt. Commander Harris.
"Sit rep?" he said as soon as he reached him. Harris turned startled by his rapid approach.
"Ah, Agent Gibbs," he said shaking his hand. "We have eyes on Lopez in the living room. No sightings of your agents yet. We've tried communicating but he hasn't responded. We've requested a negotiator on site. Just waiting for him," Harris explained.
"Yeah? Well he's here," Gibbs replied confidently.
"You?" Harris asked a little surprised. Gibbs nodded in response. "Okay then. What do you need?"
"I need a direct line to that house and eyes in that room," he replied.
"No problem. Give me a few minutes," Harris said as he turned to another officer and explained what needed to be done. Gibbs turned back and walked over to Ducky who was observing from the sidewalk.
"Any news?" Ducky wondered hoping there was.
"Nope. I'm going to try and talk to him. Here, get his thing off me," he said as he struggled to remove his sling. Ducky helped him knowing there was no point in objecting. Gibbs made a fist and released it, repeating the exercise few time to get the circulation pumping through his injured limb. As he straightened out his arm he felt the recent wound stretch and the throbbing worsened. But he hadn't time to think about it. He had a mission. He needed to concentrate. There could only be one outcome from this situation. Another could not be contemplated. Harris waved him over and Gibbs trotted back towards one of the SUVs.
"The line is ready. It's all yours," Harris said handing Gibbs a field telephone.
Gibbs took it in his hands and paused, taking a deep cleansing breath. He lifted the receiver and the phone rang on the other end.
Inside the house, Lopez was caught off guard by the ringing phone. He didn't know whether to answer it or not. He watched it ring for a few seconds then he looked over at the two agents as if he needed advice. Tony nodded towards him encouraging him to answer it. Eventually he did.
"Yeah," he said gruffly.
"Petty Officer Lopez, my name is Special Agent Gibbs, NCIS. Is everything okay in there?" he asked, trying to remain impartial and relax the subject.
"We're fine in here," Lopez replied.
"Good, that's good. It's just your neighbours heard shots coming from inside and I wanted to be sure everyone was okay," Gibbs explained. "So no one is hurt?"
Lopez didn't respond. There was silence on the line.
"Hernando, are you still there?" Gibbs asked.
"I'm here."
"Is someone hurt?" Gibbs asked again with slightly more insistence.
"Yeah. That girl agent got herself shot," Lopez told him calmly. Gibbs stomach flipped and his mouth suddenly went dry. He gritted his teeth and fought his initial instinct to rush the front door guns blazing and rescue his agents.
"Is she alive?" Gibbs asked doing his best to remain calm and not betray his personal involvement.
"For now. But I'll kill both of them if they don't back off," Lopez shouted.
"Who do you mean?" Gibbs asked wanting to be clear on what he wanted.
"Harris and those M.P.'s. Tell them to back off or I'll do it. I swear," Lopez shouted again sounding more agitated.
"Okay, we can do that Hernando. You just need to stay calm and this will all work out," Gibbs said trying to diffuse the situation. "Is there anything else I can do for you Hernando?"
Lopez paused and thought for a few seconds.
"I need a car," he said nervously, "And safe passage off the base."
"I don't know Hernando. I'll see what I can do. I would help if I could tell them that you are co-operating. How about you release the injured agent?" Gibbs suggested, hoping Lopez would agree.
"No, not until I see the car," he replied much to Gibbs disappointment.
"Okay, I'll work on the car. Will you at least agree to letting a doctor go in and check on her?" he proposed. Lopez hesitated. He was suspicious of the request but decided to allow it.
"Okay, just a doctor but if he tries anything I'll put a bullet in his head," Lopez told him vehemently.
"Good. I'll arrange it. I'll call you back soon," Gibbs replied and then hung up.
Harris and Ducky stood looking at Gibbs trying to gauge his reaction to the call.
"Well?" Ducky asked impatiently.
"He'll allow a doctor in to treat Ziva. Harris I need you to organise a car for him. He wants safe passage off the base," Gibbs explained.
"That won't happen Agent Gibbs," Harris interrupts.
"I know that, Commander. I just want him to think it will. I'll go in as the doctor," Gibbs decided.
"No you most certainly will not," Ducky intervened. "What good will you be to that girl, Jethro? I will go in," Ducky insisted.
"I have to agree with Dr. Mallard," Lt. Commander Harris said much to Gibbs annoyance. "We need you out here to keep Lopez talking. You're building up a rapport with him. Thats important in these situations."
Gibbs looked over at his friend. He knew the situation was volatile and hated putting Ducky in any danger. Ducky met his gaze and it was as if he understood his thoughts.
"I'll be fine, Jethro. I can help," Ducky insisted. Gibbs placed his hand on his friend's shoulder and relented. Ducky was going in.