Chapter 52
Mike Franks leaned flat against the wall outside the nursery. His 45 pointed to the ceiling as he held it in a 2 handed grip. He inched minutely forward as Gibbs spoke with Sallah and was able to see the 'Pet' who held his gun to Abby's head through the crack of the door. Mike wanted nothing more than to slaughter both of them but contained his rage, putting it in a separate place inside his head. As Gibbs raised his hands and knelt back with bowed head, his eyes slid to Mike. Mike gestured to him 2 to himself, 1 to Gibbs. The barest of affirmative head movement followed. Jethro then raised his chin and met Abby's gaze boldly then looked toward the floor, then back up. Abby blinked once, continuing to pant.
"Je ne crois pas que je puisse la laisser vivant Étienne. Even if you leave with me today the draw to return to her and your whelp would be overwhelming. Would it not Chienne ?" she said while pressing the knife harder again to Abby's belly.
Jethro blinked hard and swallowed as a wave of fear washed through his soul from his son. The blood ran in big tears now to the waistband of her underwear and pregnancy jeans. Sallah had yanked them low under her belly. He saw Abby take a minute step back in toward her male captor.
"Je vous demande la Clémence ma Lady. S'il vous plaît! J'irai avec vous volontiers! Je vais resterai avec vous. Clémence!"
(I ask you for Mercy my Lady. Please! I will go with you willingly. I will stay with you. Mercy!)
Gibbs saw madness as he met Sallah's eyes. Abby moved her other foot. He held his hands out in supplication to her. She smiled like a cat with a mouse in it's paws. He saw then what he was waiting for, the Exacto moved away from Abby's belly an inch, then more. She gestured about with the knife near Abby's face.
"Oh Étienne! Vous êtes très naïfs pour un a si connu! I can and will have it all! You will get up Étienne. You will turn and leave with me right now. You will leave, not knowing if she lives after we leave or if she dies. If you leave now Santos will leave her off in an Emergency room. After ridding her of your seed of course.
She may even actually survive. You will find in time not being around your bitch in heat will bring you a sense of release and freedom. Make up your mind right now!"
Sallah moved the knife and extended it toward Gibbs in a pointed manner. Everything then seemed to happen in slow motion at the same time.
Abby's hands were still gripping the man's forearm. She shifted her grip to the inside of his arm a little at a time as Sallah spoke. Her heart was pounding so loud she thought she would pass out. Closing her eyes she willed her little son to lie still and the squirming baby did. Her huge emerald eyes opened back up to meet cerulean blue ones. As always his eyes calmed her, over riding the terror she felt. Shifting her center of gravity and tucking her chin she bit down on Santos wrist with a savage and desperate strength. She ducked under his suddenly loosened arm and dove for the floor.
Santos gun fired as his arm swung out from Abby's bite. The bullet struck Gibbs in his upper arm knocking him backward as he came up to his knees, his gun recovered and once more in his hands. Even as he went over onto his back Gibbs fired, hands steady. Almost simultaneously Mike was in the doorway and his 45's fire was deafening in the small space. Santos head snapped backward missing his left frontal skull. Sallah had fallen forward onto her face while Santos slid slowly down smearing blood down the powder blue wall.
Outside hurrying up to the house the FBI and NCIS teams heard the gun shots. Tony and his team mates froze with Tobias just for a split second then ran forward. Tony burst through the door with a cry of "Boss! Boss!" He took the stairs three at a time with McGee close behind him.
At the top landing they found Gibbs with a lap full of Abby and Mike kneeling beside them. One look in the nursery and they put their guns away. Tobias stepped over Gibbs legs and knelt next to Sallah Ste-Germaine. He knew Santos was dead. He rolled Sallah over and whistled softly as he saw the perfectly centered hole in her forehead. He didn't bother to close her eyes and stood up.
"Textbook shot Gibbs. Congratulations."
Jethro narrowed his eyes at Fornell and glared. He was trying to soothe Abby.
"Shut up Fornell and call an ambulance for Abby, she's hurt."
Abby was clinging to Gibbs and crying. Mike was wrapping ripped diaper strips he'd cut with his knife around Jethro's arm.
"Boss…" Tony said dropping to one knee.
"Never mind DiNozzo, it's a flesh wound. He's fine. Abby's stomach is cut from an Exacto knife! We need to get her out of here."
"Ab's I'm fine, really Babe… Please Honey, please! Don't cry Babe… Mon Coeur, s'il vous plaît arrêter de pleurer, je t'aime beaucoup!"
As always Abby responded to his touch, the warm strength of his body next to hers. Her heart, soul and body belonged only to him. Jethro stroked her arm, her cheek, softly trailing kisses down the curve of her jaw to the corner of her mouth. He murmured soft words of endearment to her. Abby clung to him her exhaustion apparent in her violently trembling body. Her eyes closed she leaned into his shoulder. Over and over she whispered "I love you, I love you." Then her face pressed into his shoulder she spoke again.
"No hospital. Too tired. The baby says he's fine. I need you, I need our bed. I need us Gibbs. So tired."
"Let me help you up Ab's." said Tony.
Reaching down he drew Abby to her feet while Mike helped Gibbs up. Abby smiled tiredly to Tony and turned to look over her shoulder toward Gibbs reaching out a hand in his direction. Suddenly her eyes went wide, she gasped and doubling over she screamed in agony. A sudden splash of liquid hit the floor. The horrified men looking down saw blood and amniotic fluid running over her feet on to the floor. Gibbs lunged forward and caught Abby as she fell to the floor unconscious.
