Part 26

A big thank you to all the people who have reviewed or chosen this as their favouite story. I noticed one mistake I made I gave Sir Michael's 2nd wife two different names. She should be Margaret. Still a few chapters to go.

Tony had been watching the men who were in the dungeon. The father was definitely the leader, the two younger men seemed to need him to tell them what to do, in particular the younger one. That was the one he needed to work on.

They heard footsteps going up the steps and then two raised voices. "Dad said you were to stay here too."

"He's away. I'm only going to be away for 30 minutes at the most."

"You're not supposed to be drinking."

They heard a thud," You don't speak to me like that little brother. I'm going and don't you dare tell father that I left. And remember don't go near them and you'll be fine."

"Come here Finlay, I've got a plan," Tony said.

Gibbs got ready, "I can't go with you and get the boys at the same time," Gibbs said. I wish my team were here."

"I'll look after Sir Michael," James said. "I used to be in the army, I can do it."

"Ducky you'll need to come with me, at least one of those boys is in need of medical attention, if not both."

"Where do you want me to go?" Jack asked.

"You need to stay here."

"Not on your life Jethro," Jack protested.

"I need you here in case something goes wrong. If we don't phone you by at least 3 o'clock you have to phone the police and explain what happened. It's vital dad."

Jack didn't look convinced but agreed to stay. "What about us?" Robbie and Jamie asked.

"You stay here," their father said.

"NO! He's our brother."

"You stay with your ma," he saw Jamie about to protest and said," I mean it Jamie. I need you to stay here and look after your sister. Don't argue with me son."

Sir Michael took a pistol out of the drawer and tucked it into the band of his trousers. He handed a rifle to James. "You won't be able to get too close, this should do."

Gibbs picked up a rifle and a shotgun, he handed the shotgun to Ducky. "Ready?"

Sir Michael went out and got in his 4 by 4, James got in the back and lay down. Michael was going to let him out a distance from the hunting lodge. "Good Luck Michael," Gibbs said.

"Just get the boys back safe and sound," he said.

Gibbs and Ducky took two horses and rode towards the old castle. They couldn't take the chance of a vehicle being heard. "Jethro we will get them."

"They better be alive or so help me I'll kill the lot of them," Gibbs said his face showing no emotion. Ducky sent up a prayer, he knew that Gibbs could not cope if he lost Tony and that he wouldn't be able to stop him killing the men.

Tony and Finlay began to put their plan in action. Finlay lay down and started to groan,"Help!" Tony shouted. "Something's wrong." He shouted again until the younger man appeared in front of the cell holding a flashlight.

"Get out the way," he said waving the gun. Tony moved to the side.

"For God's sake help him."

"I...," the man hesitated.

"You have to do something, your dad will be angry if you let him die. I think he wants that pleasure himself."

It worked. He put a key in the lock and turned it. As soon as he walked in Tony grabbed the gun and pulled him in. The gun went off hitting the wall behind Finlay's head. The two of them quickly got out and slammed the door shut. They picked up the flashlight that the man had dropped. They went into the next cell looking for the key to open the grating. Then they heard it being opened. "Run!" Tony shouted.

Finlay grabbed another flashlight and he and Tony took off down the tunnel. They heard someone running behind them. They came to a fork in the tunnel and took the left tunnel. They kept going until they didn't hear anyone, they hid in a small cutting into the rock and turned off their lights.

They pushed as far back into it as they could when they heard footsteps. A light shone around but did not go low enough to see them. They heard someone shouting and the man with the flashlight took off back up the tunnel. They breathed a sigh of relief and slowly crawled out. "Looks like you got your wish Tony, we are going to have to find another way out of the tunnel," Finlay said.

Gibbs and Ducky arrived at the entrance to the dungeon, "Why have they left it open?" Ducky asked. "You don't think they've moved them?"

"I hope not Ducky." Then they heard voices from inside. Gibbs put his finger over his lips. He didn't want to give away their position so he slowly crept down. He heard one angry voice shouting," You stupid idiot, did I not tell you to stay away from them. What's father going to say?"

"It wasn't my fault. You left me on my own and one of them was hurt. I just went to check on him."

"And let them get away."

"Don't let me interrupt your family squabble," Gibb said. Both men turned round. Gibbs and Ducky stood at the entrance to the cell their guns pointed at them. "I wouldn't," Gibbs said as he saw the older one move to raise his gun. "Throw them here." The two men threw them. The look on the man's face was empty. He looked dangerous.

The younger man said,"It was our father's idea. I didn't want to do it."

"Shut up," the other one said.

Gibbs pointed the gun at the younger one," Where is Tony and Finlay?"

"They.." The older one punched the younger one in the face.

"Shut up."

"I'm only going to ask this once more and then I'm going to shoot you."

The younger one started to snivel,"Please I don't want to die. It wasn't my fault. They ran off down the tunnel."

Gibbs swung the cell door shut and locked it. "I may tell people you are down here but if I don't find them you can stay here and rot."

Gibbs went into the other cell and picked up a flashlight, "Ducky go up to the surface and phone my dad. Tell him I'm going to need help to find the boys."

"I'll be right with you Jethro," Ducky said.

"No, you wait for the others to come, I'll mark on the wall where I've gone. You can follow it."

Ducky went up the stairs. "Leave us a light please," one of them asked.

"Did you give Tony a light?" Neither answered. "Thought not," he said and walked off.

Michael drove as close to the hunting lodge as he could before dropping James off. "I'll keep you in my sights," James said.

He walked towards the lodge house. James took up position as close as he could. The he saw a figure making his way to the back of the house. Damn the boy, he thought watching Jamie crawl close to the back of the house. Sir Michael went to the door and pushed it open, James crept closer.

"Come in father," a voice said from inside. "Sit down." He pointed to a chair in front of a long table. "I would say it was a pleasure to see you but then I'd be lying."

"Are the boys alright?" Michael asked.

"You care? I thought they were just pawns in your game to stop me from having my rightful inheritance. Your way of denying your other grandsons from getting what is rightfully theirs. What did I do that was so wrong?"

Michael didn't answer. He knew the man was mad and he did not want to provoke him. "You can have it all as long as they are released. I don't want it."

The man laughed. "You expect me to believe that. Sir Michael MacKay who would do anything to win a deal or make a lot of money. You were even selling your daughter off to the highest bidder until she defied you. I laughed when I read about her marriage. She was the easiest target of all."

"What?"

"You didn't realise? I knew her husband you know. A vicious man, he didn't know that his wife liked to sleep around with other men, took it badly. Only thing was I thought he would kill the brat as well but he didn't. That was a mistake, I should have made sure of that. Murdo's was easy. He had no idea who I was. I was a very good skiing companion until we came to the edge of the cliff. Down he fell, another tragic accident."

"They did nothing to you," Michael said standing up. "Why not just come after me?"

"That would have been too easy. Now I have a statement here declaring that I was a true son of the marriage. It says you divorced my mother because you wanted to marry someone else. It also states that the adultery charge was false. Sign it!"

Michael lifted the pen and signed the bottom. "There, now will you let my grandsons go."

The laugh sent a chill down Michael's spine. "I'm not stupid, if you could prove this was signed under duress it is not legal. So I'm afraid there is going to be another tragic accident in the MacKay family. You and your grandsons are going to die in a drowning accident on the lochan."

"No one will believe you. The people back at the house know what has happened," Michael said.

"Your private investigators will tell the world that I have been in New York the whole time. There will even be pictures to prove it. So kind of you to hire them. Let's go. The reunion will take place at my ruined castle." Michael headed out the door. Just as Patrick reached the door he saw James. He lifted his gun to shoot," Down," James shouted. Michael dove to the side. Patrick lifted the gun to shoot and a shot came from behind him. He fell to the ground. James ran forward and kicked the gun away. Jamie came through the door.

"I had to do it Da," he said. James pulled him into his arms.

"You did fine boy."

Michael got to his feet and took out his cell phone. He phoned the house to tell them he was fine and that they needed an ambulance and the police. "Have they found Finlay and Tony?" he asked.

"They're lost in the tunnels," Jack said. "I'm just getting everyone together to go look for them. The police are on their way."

TBC