NB: I owe nothing of NCIS :(

Sorry for the delay and thank you for your great support.

*A special Thanks to Headbanger Rockstart. You're amazing, girl!*

"Family"

Chapter 14

Victorville, CA

"STAT?" Dr. Josh Kendall asked as he saw the paramedics pushing a gurney through the ER doors.

''Male. About sixty. Gunshot in the lower chest. No exit hole. Lost a lot of blood. Still bleeding. BP 60/40. Breathing on his own,'' the young paramedic answered as they all entered one of the emergency rooms.

In the ER entrance Dr. Lori Miller asked the same things when she saw another gurney entering and another paramedic answered as they wheeled the gurney into another room, ''Female. About thirty-five. Badly beaten. Possible internal bleeding. BP 58/37. Reanimated once. Breathing on her own now.''

After a few minutes both patients were sent to the Surgery Department.

''How is your patient?'' Dr. Kendall asked his colleagues as they saw the elevators closing behind their patients.

''She's in a really bad shape. They beat her almost to death. I'm not sure they'll be able to stop the internal bleeding. And your patient?''

''Gunshot. No exit wound. He lost lots of blood but I'm mildly optimistic. He regained consciousness for a few minutes.''

''Did he say anything?''

''Yes. He said 'Save the child. Save Michael. Call Baltimore PD'.''

Dr. Miller's eyes widened as she asked, ''Are you going to call them?''

''Sure.''

Baltimore MD - Tony's apartment

The night before, Gibbs had called Tony's boss to explain him what was going on and ask him to put Tony on leave. Luckily the man agreed with Gibbs and didn't raise any problems.

Gibbs still remembered his words, "I'm a father of two children and a grandfather of three little boys, Agent Gibbs. I've tried many times to help Tony, but unfortunately all our searching never worked. I'm happy you're there with him. Help Tony to find his little boy, Gibbs. Take care of him. He's such a good man. If you need my help, you know my number.''

After that call Gibbs had gone back to Michael's bedroom and had spent the night lying on the floor next to the armchair where an exhausted Tony had fallen asleep.

As usual Gibbs woke up at about 5am. After checking his former Senior Field Agent and finding him still sleeping soundly, Gibbs checked on all the other occupants of the apartment and found all of them sleeping on the sofas as well.

He went to the kitchen to make some coffee and fix something for breakfast. A long and intense day was waiting for all of them.

Abby, McGee, Ducky and Ziva (when she arrived) would begin searching for that bastard Sam, Morgan and mostly for Michael, while he and Tony were going to DC and talk with Vance.

I'm wondering how Tony'll react to go back to Navy Yard and all its memories... Gibbs shook his head. How I will react of being there again? NCIS and my team have been my life for so many years that... Oh, I missed my guys so much!

''Boss... uhm, Gibbs?" a still sleepy McGee said as he entered the room.

''McGee,'' he greeted him without turning. ''Coffee?''

''Sugar?'' Tim shyly asked.

''It should be somewhere,'' Gibbs smiled as he poured some hot black coffee into two cups.

''In the cabinet over your head, Gibbs,'' Tony startled both of them from the door.

Gibbs and McGee turned to look at their friend. Still pale, but better than yesterday. Gibbs evaluated.

''Tony, how are you?'' Tim asked as he opened the cupboard and took the sugar jar down.

''I'm fine,'' Tony growled as Gibbs snorted. ''What?'' asked Tony at the sound.

''Some things never change,'' the boss shook his head.

''Like your coffee, Gibbs,'' Tim grimaced, ''It's undrinkable.''

Tony and Gibbs laughed softly as they saw Tim adding more sugar into his cup, and for a few seconds they all went back to happier times when a comment like that would have earned Tim a sound head slap. Unfortunately that nice moment quickly faded as the reality came back full force.

Gibbs saw the smile on Tony's face disappearing and knew what he needed to do next. Don't let him think!

''Tony, I talked with your boss. You're on leave.'' Tony opened his mouth, but Gibbs didn't give him the chance to say anything and added, ''Both of you, eat something, take a shower and then,'' he looked directly to DiNozzo, ''You and I will go to DC while McGee,'' he looked at Tim, ''You'll stay here and will start searching with the others. When Ziva...''

''Last night I texted her, Gibbs. Ducky will pick her up at the airport and then they'll get back here.''

Both the younger men nodded and followed their boss' orders.

Baltimore Police Department

''Baltimore PD. I'm Sergeant Japp. How can I help you?''

''Hallo, I'm Dr. Josh Kendall and I work at Victorville Community Hospital, California.''

''Yes?''

''We've just admitted a man and a woman, both badly injured. He has a gunshot in his chest while the woman has been beaten. They're both in surgery now. The man's name is,'' he read the documents, ''Rodney Lemon. He regained consciousness for a few seconds and begged us to call you and to save Michael.''

''Do you know who this Michael is?''

''I guess he's a child because Mr. Lemon also said 'Save the child'.''

''What about the woman?'' asked the Sergeant.

''Wait a minute,'' Josh said as his colleague gave him the other patient's documents. ''Her name's Morgan Sharp. Thirty-five. Her identity card says that she lives in Seattle.''

''How is she?''

''Uhm... We're not sure she'll survive.''

''Did she say anything?''

''No, she was unconscious all the time. Sorry.''

''Okay, sir. Do you have a fax number?''

''Sure."

''Good. Fax me all the documents and I'll see what I can do.''

''Alright...uhm...''

''Yes?''

''I think that the child is in danger, because Mr. Lemon was really upset.''

''Ok. We'll take care of everything.''

Sergeant Japp hung up and just a few minutes later he heard the fax. He grabbed the documents and brought them to the Missing Persons Office.

''Hi, Japp. What do you got for me?'' Detective Lance asked as he saw his colleague entering the Missing Persons Office.

''Victorville Hospital just faxed us these identity cards of two people they admitted,'' Japp explained as he gave Lance the papers. ''They said that the man told them to call us and save Michael. They think that this Michael is a child and that he's in danger.''

''Thanks. I'll start digging.''

Meanwhile Detective Pete Blunt arrived at his desk unaware of what was happening at Missing Persons Office.

TBC

I hope you liked this filler chapter.

More interesting stuff soon. Pinky promise :)