Gibbs didn't hear much of the explanation, other than "He escaped."
"How in the hell…"
"Ambush." The Director said simply. "Three agents are down."
He shook his head, his fury clearly evident on his face. "Where?"
She didn't answer him, until McGee and Ziva repeated his question. "Where?"
She looked at the two of them, then back at Gibbs. "At the corner of 8th and Rivera…Agents are on site, there's no need to…" But before she could finish McGee had already began to follow his boss towards the exit. "Go yourself." She finished, looking back at the three who remained.
It was then; Gibbs turned back and stopped McGee. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Going…with you boss?" He replied.
"Not without Ziva you aren't…"
McGee sighed. "Boss, her fine motor skills…she can't…"
"She can't what? Help at a crime scene…get her will you? We got a bastard to catch." McGee nodded and turned back down the hallway. "And give me the damn keys."
--- ---
Gibbs was still clearly battered, bruised and a step slower than usual. However, much to McGee and Ziva's shock, his driving skills had not wavered a bit. He may be a step slower, but his mind was as sharp as always.
"Leads." Gibbs demanded from the Agent in charge at the scene.
"One of the agents was vocal when back up arrived…said they were ambushed by about ten men, all of Mexican descent…he said it was strategic and clearly planned out."
"Leads." He repeated, hoping there was some clue as to where he was headed.
The Agent shrugged. "Nothing yet." He responded, and watched as Gibbs turned to walk towards the car they'd used for transport.
"McGee!" He hollered, but the Agent was standing directly behind him.
"See if there are any trackers on the car… on it boss."
Ziva then approached. "Interview witnesses and get descriptions of the assailants, on it."
Gibbs stood staring at the back of the car, and noted the blood stains on the street of his fellow agents. His gut was wrenching, but there was nothing he could do now, but wait. His mind found it difficult to focus on anything more than finding Jorge, and bringing him in…to autopsy. His thoughts still occasionally wandered to his own fallen agent, for whom he was directly responsible. He reached for his phone.
"Ducky, its Gibbs…How's DiNozzo?"
"Progressing nicely Jethro, we are here with him…anything at the scene?"
"No bodies."
Ducky sighed. "I was referring to the man hunt, any leads?"
"Not yet, working on it."
"Well, I will hold down the fort here. Do call if you need me."
Gibbs nodded. "I hope I'll need you real soon."
He closed his phone and looked up to see McGee coming towards him.
"Got something boss."
--- ---
"Was that the boss?" Tony asked, lifting his head slowly.
"Yes, asking about you." Ducky responded, taking a seat.
Tony tried to hide his appreciation, and attempted to stay all business. "Leads."
He smiled slightly, and almost imagined Jethro lying there in front of him. "You're sure Jethro is not your surrogate Father?"
Tony grinned. "I don't know if that's a compliment or not Ducky…"
Ducky nodded. "Believe me it is, my boy…but no leads as of yet. I'm sure it won't be long…"
"Until Gibbs is calling you back." Tony concluded, and laid his head back down. "Just hope that call comes, sooner rather than later.
--- ---
"Tracker, under the back right tire…cheep, could buy em anywhere boss."
Gibbs took it from him, examined it and handed it back. "Bag and Tag it…and call Duck to get Abby released, we're gonna need her back to work sooner rather than later."
"On it." He replied quickly.
Gibbs then stared over at Ziva and began to head in her direction. She met him half way.
"So far it co-oberates with what the Agent remembers, group of at least ten men, seem to be carrying automatics…nothing real heavy duty. Each of the them were wearing some type of green thingy on their arms, possibly a patch…around the ages of 20-25…got a description of the get away car, was just about to put a BOLO…"
Gibbs looked her up and down. "No notes?"
She shrugged. "I'm uh…I can't…write too well right now…just memorized it." Her eyes found their way to the pavement, and Gibbs lifted her chin back up.
"You have nothing to be embarrassed about Ziva…we'll just requisition a tape recorder." He shrugged. "I'm sure DiNozzo still has his from those camp fires he put you guys through."
She smiled. "Why do you have me here Gibbs? You know I can't run around obstacles, I can't fire a weapon, I can't drive…"
The last one on her list put a grin on Gibbs face, but he fought the urge to make a comment on it. "Listen, best thing for you to do is get back at it; you'll be surprised how the brain can train itself."
She sighed. "You're sure about this?"
"This bastard hurt us, you, me, McGee, Tony…Abby, and if we're gonna get him…we're gonna get him together."
She smiled at his response. "I'll get back to the interviews."
He nodded and turned to head in McGee's direction.
"Oh and Gibbs…" She shouted back at him.
He turned. "Yeah."
"What you said earlier, at the hospital, about laying your life down…we would do the same."
He nodded towards her and slowly turned around. No words needed to be said in response, it was plainly and simply, understood.
--- ---
"Abigail, Gibbs needs you back in the lab…are you up for it?"
She stood up as if at attention. "I am."
"Yes, well, come with me, the Doctor will need to give you a once over and release you into my custody."
She nodded. "Lead the way Duck man."
He put his arm out for her to take it and she did. "Don't know if I've told you yet my dear, but welcome back."
They shared a smile as they continued down the hall.
--- ---
""They're impounding the vehicle as evidence boss, Ducky is taking Abby to HQ now, Director just phoned and said she'll be ready for us when we arrive."
Gibbs nodded. "Get Ziva."
Something would break eventually; Gibbs just hoped it would be before he needed to take another trip to Mexico after him. Though the way things had been going lately, he just as well, book a ticket.
--- ---