Chapter 10 – Dead or Alive

Jenny's hand shook as she placed her phone back on the kitchen table. Tony was the first to notice.

"Mom, what's wrong?" Tony asked, placing his arm around his mother's shoulders.

"That was your father. They found blood at the abandoned house where the police said the van was. It was your sister's blood," Jenny said, slowly sinking into the nearest chair.

"How much blood was there?" Ziva asked.

"A small puddle," Jenny said, using the words that Jethro had used.

"She probably cut herself on something," Ziva said. "If this man has managed to break out of a high security prison then there is no way he'd make a mistake as big as that. If they had hurt her, you can guarantee that they would have cleaned it up. They probably didn't even notice that Abby was injured," Ziva said.

Abby winced as the van went over yet another bump in the road. The slightest jarring motion was aggravating her leg. Tali would squeeze her hand occasionally. Finally, the van came to a screeching halt. The doors flew open and the sudden light that filled the back of the van made both girls cringe away.

"Get up," Doherty demanded, pulling both of them by their arms to their feet. Abby's leg gave out almost as soon as she put weight on it. Doherty didn't fail to notice. He rounded on his men. "I thought I told you not to hurt them," Doherty practically screamed. Silently both girls thought about how he was drawing attention to himself and hopefully someone would notice.

"We didn't do anything to her," the one man said indignantly. Doherty rounded on the girls.

"What happened?" he asked, grabbing Abby by the collar.

"When they put us in the van," Abby said. "There was a piece of metal sticking up from the door. When they threw us in the back, I caught my leg," Abby said, making sure that she emphasized the word threw. Doherty once again rounded on his men.

"See what you did, she probably bled at the scene, now they defiantly know we were there," Doherty yelled. Suddenly, the skies opened up, pouring water over everyone.

"Get them inside," Doherty yelled.

Both Tony and Ziva looked up from the TV as lightning flickered across the sky. In the distance, thunder rumbled. Tony picked up the remote and switched the TV off. He got up and walked to the bottom of the stairs.

"Hey, Tim, shut the computers off," Tony yelled. In the Gibbs household there was only one rule concerning the computers; turn them off during a storm. Tony returned to the couch and a few seconds later, Tim appeared in the family room.

"Heard anything yet?" Tim asked hollowly.

"Nope," Tony said lying. There was no reason to worry Tim. "And if Mom did she's not telling." Just then, a huge clap of thunder sounded. Ziva nearly jumped off the couch. Tony could see that the noise had visibly shaken her.

"You okay, Ziva?" Tony asked.

"Yes," Ziva replied. "But I don't like thunder that much." Suddenly, the lights went out.

As Tali tried to help Abby re-bandage her leg, the over head lights of the basement they were in flickered. Abby shivered with a feeling of dread. Tali, who had been hiding her fear very well faltered slightly.

"Abby, what will happen to us if they don't find us?" Tali asked.

"I don't know," Abby said, not really wanting to think about it. Tali finished bandaging Abby's leg and helped her stand up.

"How does that feel?" Tali asked. Abby gingerly put her weight on her injured leg. She was surprised when it didn't hurt that much.

"It doesn't hurt to bad, but I doubt I'll be running in any marathons soon," Abby said, a small smile coming to her face. For a brief moment, they allowed themselves to relax and giggle. They're giggles were cut off, however when the lights in the basement went dark and they were plunged into complete and utter blackness. Tali got an idea.

"Abby," Tali whispered. "Follow me and be quiet." Tali took Abby's hand in her own and, using her photographic memory, led Abby to the stairs of the basement.

Hugging the wall, the girls began to quietly scale the stairs, only stepping on the outside of the planks for fear of being given away by a squeaking stair. Finally they reached the top and Tali stopped to listen. Hearing nothing that indicated there was someone in the room, Tali and Abby slowly stepped onto the floor. Right in front of them was the door they came in and their way to freedom. Taking the opportunity, they ran for it, Tali matching her pace to Abby's gimping one. Once they were safely down the block, Tali walked over to a house that had children's toys strewn across the yard and knocked on the door. A young blond woman answered the door.

"Can I help you?" she asked, eyeing Tali's dingy appearance up and down and then eyeing Abby behind her.

"We need help; we need you to call the police. Me and my friend were kidnapped and we just escaped, you have to help us," Tali said. Recognition crossed the women's face.

"You're the girls from tv," she said. "Hurry up and get inside." Tali turned and waited for Abby to cross the threshold first and then followed her into the house.

Jethro looked down as his phone vibrated. It was from the office.

"Yeah, Gibbs," Jethro said.

"Jethro, a woman just called into our hotline saying that she had both of the girls at her house," Balboa said on the other end of the phone.

"Where?" Jethro asked, signaling one of the probationary agents to get him something to write with.

"425 Logan Street," Balboa said. Jethro snapped his phone shut.

"Let's go," he yelled to the agents surrounding him.

Jenny jumped as her cell started ringing with the sound of Meatloaf, Jethro and Tony's idea of a joke.

"Jethro?" Jenny asked when she answered the phone.

"Mommy," Abby said on the other end.

"Oh Abby," Jenny said, collapsing into a chair. "Are you okay, sweetie?" Jenny asked.

"I'm okay, Mommy, I just cut my leg," Abby said, sounding like she was about ready to burst into tears. "Tali's okay too."

"Sweetie, I'm so glad you're okay. When's Daddy going to bring you home?"Jenny asked.

"When we're done at the hospital for my leg," Abby said. "I love you, Mommy."

"I love you too, Sweetie," Jenny said, tears now forming in her eyes.

Tony, Tim, and Ziva ran into room, having heard the commotion. Jenny was closing the phone as they walked in.

"Mom, what's wrong?" Tim asked.

"They found them," Jenny said quietly. Ziva let out a strangled sob and collapsed into Tony's arms. "They found them," Jenny repeated.

So, I am now officially an English major with a concentration in writing. Now, I'll have an excuse to write. Please review, it makes me happy and I won't post the next chapter until I have at least 15 reviews… I know, I'm mean, but I didn't get as nearly as many reviews for the last chapter as I have for previous chapters.

Much Love, Vamp

(P.S. Thanks to Cable Addict for being my sound board. I don't know what I'd do without you!!)

(Also, I would just like to say GO MICHAEL PHELPS!! I think he's a hottie with a body, and being one of the most decorated Olympic athletes doesn't hurt either.)