A/N: Hello from DC! I'm having a fabulous time--our flight went smoothly, and things are going great. It's wonderful being back here! I even got to watch NCIS last night and tonight, so I'm not even deprived. It's awesome!

This chapter is short but it's gettin us along, so be patient! I'll see you all soon!


"He refused to talk to anyone but you. He knew we'd trace him if he stayed on the line while he waited," McGee explained as Tony jogged in quickly, Abby tailing him in her clunky black platform boot. "He's going to call back in… five, four, three, two, one,"

Tony's cell phone rang. McGee nodded, signaling that he had begun the trace. "Agent DiNozzo," the now familiar voice answered.

"Yeah, I'm here,"

"I'd like you to meet me,"

"Where?" Tony asked, pen poised over paper.

"The Vietnam Memorial. Be there in exactly one hour. Come alone. No partners, no earwigs, no bugs. Do you understand?"

"I do,"

"Perfect," he replied, hanging up. Tony looked to McGee.

"No trace. But I did get his number. I think I can triangulate that number with the cell phone we found on Lev to find a common location,"

"How long?"

"Maybe twenty minutes?"

Tony nodded. "Do it," Tony opened his desk drawer and began collecting his things. Gibbs came up behind him and gently closed the door. "I have to, Boss. Traffic is gonna suck and if I don't get there--"

"You're not leaving until we know if McGee's got anything,"

"Boss, I need to be there, and I need to go now," he insisted.

Gibbs looked at him for a long moment. His eyes were desperate. Gibbs shrugged. "Take a vest. Levin and I are coming,"

"He said to come alone," Tony reminded him.

"And you will be. Levin and I will be down the street. But once we get there, we don't move until we hear from McGee, got it?"

Tony nodded. "Let's roll," he called, walking down to the elevator.

"On your six," Gibbs said. Tony looked over his shoulder and smiled a little.