When One Door Closes

The first thought that came to mind when he hung up, was tell Tobias, it's quickly tossed aside; the less the man knew the better, even though Tobias would think otherwise. So, with a smile that he hoped look more genuine then he felt, he headed out to the backyard where Tobias and his daughter were.

"Hey, going to Tim's for a bit, probably be out late." He called out.

"Alright, everything good?" Tobias asked.

"I think DiNozzo confused him again."

Tobias laughed, and after saying goodbye to his daughter, he grabbed his car keys, and all but broke the speed limit as he made his way to Ducky's home. When he got there, Ziva opened the door, the smile on her face was apologetic. Ron wasn't upset at her, nor was he upset at Gibbs or Ducky. None of this was their fault he expected this to happen the moment he learned that Tim had hacked Ark's system.

"I hope you guys haven't started hacking just yet," was the first thing out his mouth when Ziva lead him up to a room.

It was Jimmy's room, Ron recognized the few gifts from Ducky the younger Carrier had shown him, the team had moved some things around, on the walls were papers and pictures. DiNozzo was looking them over.

"They work fast," was his thought, not a bit surprised.

"Not yet," Abby answered from the desk, in front of her was a laptop he was sure was not hers.

"Good, cause you would have gotten us all caught and arrested."

"Know something we don't?" Asked Gibbs, ignoring Kate as she soothed their insulted Forensic Scientist.

"Yeah, the way Ark works, it's why you called me over isn't. No other reason besides telling me they took Tim and Jimmy." Ron scratched at the back of his head, before with a sigh sat down on the bed. "Impressed you managed to put that together though," He indicated to the wall of stuff.

"Not much good it does, behind the fact that Ark may or may not be dealing in some shady stuff." Tony huffed as he finally looked away.

"None of us are surprised there," Kate mumbled.

"Sacks," Gibbs spoke, and Ron noticed that his tone was off….like he was barely holding onto his temper. And Dr. Mallard had yet to say a word, sitting in the chair with a cup of tea in his hands. "tell us what you know, how do we get them back?

"The Ark wasn't lying when they said there had been a mix up in the system, what they didn't tell you was because someone had been messing with their database. And that someone was Tim."

There is a long stun pause, not that Ron could blame them.

"Are you saying," Tony spoke up slowly, "that Tim hacked the Ark?"

"Exactly what I'm saying, and no, I won't tell you why he did it, cause that doesn't matter. What does matter, is that Ark has no doubt strengthen their firewalls and are on the lookout, so unless you're confident that Abby is good, and I mean very good. You will abort that plan."

Abby, after a long pause, closed the laptop.

"What do we do now?" Ziva asked.

"There's a…group I know, they're very good at what they do, but their methods are a little outside the law."

Quietly from where Ducky was settled in, "And you trust them?"

"Knowing them the way I do, and having seen them work, yes."

"Well then, contact them." It wasn't exactly an order, but seeing as it came from Gibbs it might as well be.

The doorbell ranged, Ron smiled. "Already did."

~.~

"How are they?"

Gavin stood up straighter as Mother came to settle beside him, her dark eyes focused on the two Carriers a few feet away. They were in the cafeteria, it was lunchtime. Tim was picking at his food, while Jimmy was at least attempting to get something in his stomach.

"Tim's been quiet, from what Carlos told me, Jimmy's been trying to get used to being back."

Mother hummed, "Nothing out of the ordinary?" She then asked.

"If you mean, do Carlos and I think they have abused during their stay with the two NCIS employees, no." Gavin shook his head, relaxing his stance a bit.

The guards have always been a bit more casual with Mother then the other employees of the Ark.

"Honestly, I think they just miss them."

"I suppose they would," Mother agreed.

Which was unfortunate, and something she hoped the two Carriers would come out of soon. The candidates they were supposed to go to before this mess happened were getting more impatient as the days went by. Especially now that they knew the Ark had the two back.

"They've been back for only a week now," Gavin told her, "spent six months living as a spouse for people they thought they'd with forever. They need time."

"Sadly, time is something I don't think I can keep giving them."

Gavin looked back at the Tim and Jimmy, the later finally having given up on eating, and had pushed his plate away. His eyes go soft.

"No, guess not."

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