Gibbs looked at the building and was stunned at the damage. He looked over at Abby. The medics were pouring sterile water over her face, trying to keep her hands down.

He looked back at the building, eyes scanning for some sign of Tony, Ziva and McGee. "Where are you?"

Chapter Twenty: "Soon we'll be safe."

Fornell grabbed Gibbs shoulder. "Let's get you looked at. When we are allowed in the building, I will personally get a team and go in."

"To Hell with be allowed to get into the building, Tobias! There are people in there who can't afford to wait for some Army fancy pants to decide the ceiling isn't going to come down!"

"This is no different than a war zone. You don't wait until it's safe, you go in, and you go get your people!"

Fornell looked at his friend. "What do you want to do?"

"I want to go in there and find my team, Fornell! Dammit! I want to find this son of a bitch and send him to Hell! What do you think I want to do?" Gibbs' face was red, and hands clench so tight his fingernails were cutting into his skin.

"Ok, look Jethro. Whether you realize it or not, you've been injured. You have a nasty slice above your left eye. Let's get that cut looked at, then you and I will go in."

Gibbs waved him off. "I am fine, Tobias. I will live. They may not."

It was a staring contest. Gibbs knew he was going in, with or without the FBI agent. Fortunately for Gibbs, unfortunately for him, Fornell knew that as well, and knew it was no use arguing with Gibbs once he had his mind made up."

"Ok, I'm probably going to regret this. Let's go."

"Abby," Gibbs spoke quietly to his young charge, by now placed on a stretcher, and was being made for transport. He held her hand. "I'll make sure everyone else is ok, alright Abbs?"

"Ok, Gibbs." Abby's voice sounded far away. "Shock." Thought Gibbs. He kissed her forehead, and watched as the medics took her to the ambulance.

Gibbs looked at Fornell. Together, they headed back to the building the way Gibbs and Abby had escaped. In the evidence garage, Gibbs located some flashlights, a bolt cutter, and some rope.

"Ok, Gibbs. Where do you want to start?"

"Third floor." That was the last place he saw his team. He really doubted anyone was still up there, but you go with what you know, then make conclusions based on the preponderance of evidence.

They took the stairs, slowly. This stairwell was empty of people; either they had all gotten out, or no one thought to use it. There appeared to be very little damage, some cracked plaster on the walls and ceiling. The earthquake last August had left more damage. Gibbs looked at Fornell as they finally reached their destination.

Taking a deep breath, Gibbs tried to open the stairwell door to the third floor. It was jammed, somewhat askew as if it had been hit by a tremendous force. They looked over the door and realized that it was now jammed into its frame, stuck in its closed position.

Gibbs handed Fornell the bolt cutters. "See if you can cut the hinges, maybe we can get the door off the frame."

Fornell looked at Gibbs, unsure. "Won't the door fall if I do that?"

"Well, yeah Tobias. That's why we are going to cut the hinges." Gibbs looked at his friend like he was an idiot. Fornell took a deep breath and lifted the bolt cutters.

"Do the bottom one first." Gibbs advised. Fornell stopped, as he was raising his arms toward the top hinge. "Thanks." He replied.

Carefully, he inserted the phalanges of the bolt cutter just below the head of the bolt that was inserted into the hinge. Slowly, with as much strength as he had, he exerted pressure and closed the handles.

Amazingly, the bolt cutter worked its way through and the head popped off. Gibbs bent down and pulled the bolt up and out. The bottom hinge was now free.

"Ok." Gibbs nodded. "Middle hinge." Fornell once again placed the bolt cutters underneath the pin head, and applied pressure. After two tries, the head broke off, and Gibbs removed the pin.

They looked at other. The door had already shifted a bit. Gibbs reached for the door handle and found that they could swing the door open just enough for them to squeeze through, and into the large area.

It was eerily quiet. Gibbs immediately saw that the large window had been destroyed, glass and panes blown to smithereens, cast as far away as twenty feet. Gibbs looked carefully at a woman who was laying at the edge of the window.

He thought he recognized her as one of the analysts who work with George Bartlett's team, but he really wasn't sure. He bent down to check her carotid pulse, shuddering as he took in the bloody mass that had been her face.

Gibbs looked up at Fornell and shook his head. He pulled out a handkerchief and placed it over her face. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a shoe. Jerking his head up, he half stumbled to his bullpen.

"Oh, Tim…" Gibbs fell to his knees beside his junior agent, mindless of the glass that was cutting into him. There was blood everywhere. McGee had been hit full on by the blast, pierced by hundreds of glass shards, mostly in his side and back.

Trembling, he felt for a pulse, and almost cried when he felt one. "He's alive, Tobias. Find something to put him on; we have to get him out of here!"

Fornell looked around and found a partition that had come apart. Although it was made with fabric, it had a steel frame. If they got McGee centered on it right, it should hold.

They positioned the panel down beside Tim and discussed the best way to move him onto it without causing further injury. Finally, they decided to ease him onto it an inch at a time, gently lifting, then scooting him over.

After about twenty back and forth motions, McGee was laying on the makeshift stretcher, the rope tied around him to keep him from moving too much.

Gibbs took a deep breath. "Let's see if this holds." Together, they gently lifted the panel, and McGee. It bowed slightly in the center, but looked like it was going to hold.

"Ok, let's get him down to the evidence garage, then we can get him some medical help."

The way down was treacherous, trying to keep McGee flat and prevent any extra movement that could cause further injury.

After several tense minutes, they finally got down to the lower level.

"Stay here. I'll go get help." Fornell instructed Gibbs.

Gibbs wiped his face, and placed his hand on McGee's forehead. "Hang on, Tim. You're going to make it. You're going to be fine. Abby is waiting for you."

He thought he saw McGee twitch, but when he looked again, he decided he had been mistaken. Just then, several medical workers came running in, followed closely by Fornell.

Gibbs backed away, letting the medical team take over. They practically ripped McGee's jacket and shirt off, looking for deep impales and lacerations.

"Uh-oh." One of the medics spoke up. Gibbs raised his eyebrows. "What is it, what's wrong?"

The doctor looked up at him. "He has a large shard of glass in his back, close to his spine. I can't tell how deep it is, but its proximity to the spinal cord is very serious. We need to keep him on his side and make sure we don't cause any further trauma to that area."

Gibbs closed his eyes. What if he and Fornell had caused further damage by man-handling McGee onto the panel?

North Elevator

Tony held Ziva gently, stroking her hair. He was telling her some stupid story, anything to keep her awake, and keep him occupied.

"I am cold, Tony." Ziva whispered. Tony stopped talking and felt her forehead. There was a slight sheen of perspiration.

"Here, I'm going to get my jacket and put it around you, Ok? Let me just get out of it…" Tony struggled to wiggle out of his jacket without disturbing Ziva too much, or bothering his back.

Finally successful, he placed it over her, tucking it underneath.

"How's that? Feel better?" Tony tried to be as normal as possible, but inside he was terrified that Ziva was going into shock from the loss of blood.

He checked the tourniquet again, loosening it a little to keep circulation to the leg, then tightening it again.

"Thank you, Tony. I…Tony, I need to tell you something."

"Sshhhh…we have plenty of time to talk later. Save your strength." Tony rubbed her arm, the word "Pregnant" vivid on the fabric of her sleeve.

"No, Tony. I must say this. Before, before it is too late." Ziva looked directly at Tony, her eyes wide, but slightly unfocused.

"Ziva…" Tony whispered, his voice husky with emotion.

"I…just want to tell you…I…I love you very much. I wish I could be with you forever."

Tony started to cry. "Ziva, listen to me. You are not going to die. Do you hear me? I lost you twice before and got you back. You are not leaving me. You are not leaving me. I love you." He bent his head over her, his lips brushing her face as he affirmed his love.

"Tony, I am so sorry. I really wanted…I…our baby. I…" Tony started sobbing. "No, Ziva. Please. Don't stop fighting. Sweetheart, Ziva, please…"

Tony's body shuddered as he tried to contain his emotions, to be strong for Ziva. He looked at Ziva. Her eyes were closed, her face serene.

"Oh, God. Ziva!" Tony screamed. In anger, he hurled another piece of metal against the door of the elevator.

Evidence Garage

Gibbs watched as the medics placed an oxygen mask on McGee. They were starting two IV's when a loud bang could be heard, coming from the hallway.

Gibbs looked up, confused. "Tobias! With me!" They both made their way to the hallway.

"What?" Fornell asked.

Gibbs cocked his head. "Did you hear that?"

Fornell looked all around. Suddenly, another sound, not quite as loud as the first was heard.

They looked at each other. "The elevator!"

"Hey! Hey! Any one in there?" Gibbs and Fornell both pounded on the doors.

North Elevator

Tony sat listlessly after throwing the metal debris at the door for the second time. He absently stroked Ziva's hair.

"Hey! Hey! Any one in there?" The voice was muffled. Tony wasn't sure at first he heard it. But he turned his head toward the door.

"Hey!" He yelled as loud as he could.

Gibbs looked at Fornell with disbelief. "DiNozzo?"

Tony's pulse started racing. "Boss! We're in here. Ziva's, Ziva…"

Gibbs could only make out a few words. "Hang on, Tony. We're going to get you out of there." He went back to the evidence garage, and looked around. He returned with a crowbar.

"Did he say David was with him?" Fornell asked.

"Even if he didn't, she's with him." Gibbs answered. He saw Fornell's questioning look.

"Don't ask…"

Together, they inserted the crowbar in the seam between the two doors.

"Push!" Gibbs and Fornell leaned against the crowbar, using their combined weights to separate the doors. Slowly, by inches, the two doors came apart.

The elevator car was above them, between the floors. Gibbs looked at Fornell. "Do you think we can bring the car down, or should we try from the top?"

Fornell had turned and was running back out of the garage. Gibbs waved his hands. "Where are you going?"

Before he could get another word out, he could hear Fornell yelling.

About two minutes later, he returned with some of the Army engineers.

After discussing the problem, they decided that they were going to try to release the car from the top, guiding it down to the lower level. This plan was not without risk: the cables could break, and the car drop. The good news was that the drop was a relatively short distance, unless you were inside.

"Tony, listen to me." Gibbs yelled up into the shaft. "We got some guys who are going to release the car and lower it down so we can get to you."

"Just hurry!"

Gibbs nodded at Fornell. Fornell spoke into his walkie-talkie: "Go!"

The sound of screeching metal against metal filled the small hallway, making Gibbs cringe. He saw the car start to descend, slowly, inching its way down. He looked at one of the engineers. "Get some medics in here, now!"

Tony closed his eyes. They didn't tell him where the elevator was, so he didn't know how far the car had to go before they could get clear. A sudden jerk caused him to snap open his eyes and hold Ziva more closely. "We're almost there, Ziva. Soon we'll be safe."

After a few minutes, he saw some light appear at the edge of the floor.

"Just a bit more."

Gibbs moved closer to the elevator, getting a glimpse of the debris surrounding his agents. When the elevator lowered enough to give them space to work, he saw Tony and Ziva.

Tony was sitting somewhat upright, his back to Gibbs, leaning against the short wall in the front of the elevator. Lying across him, in his arms, was Ziva. Neither was moving. Neither made a sound.

Gibbs took in the blood and the tourniquet and made a mental picture of DiNozzo frantically trying to save the life of Ziva, the woman he just admitted to being in love with. He watched Tony start to stroke her hair, turning his face toward Gibbs. His face was dirty, wet streaks tracing a roadmap of sorrow. His eyes were red and puffy.

"She's gone, Boss." Tony voice sounded like it came from someone else, disconnected.

Oh, my…I had a hard time finishing this chapter. Keep your eyes open for the next chapter!