Chapter 8

The road was dark as Taylor drove towards her house. She looked in the rearview mirror at her son sleeping in the back seat and smiled. "We're almost home kiddo," she said to the quiet car.

The familiar sound of her phone ringing caught her attention and she made a mental note to check her messages as soon as she pulled in the drive.

The road was quiet in the dead of night. Most people in the area were already in for the night. A single pick up truck passed on the otherwise empty street causing her to squint slightly at the sudden light.

Her phone rang.

She reached blindly into her purse to pull it out. "Hello."

A moment's pause. "I'm sorry what? Agent Gibbs I don't understand. What picture? Hold on I'm pulling into the drive now then I can actually talk."

As she turned into the drive, her headlights illuminating the front of her house, she saw an odd dark shape on her porch.

"What is that?" she asked herself the phone slipping from her ear slightly. She turned to meet the, now open, eyes of her son. "William stay right here and lock the door behind me ok?"

She stood from the car and shut the door carefully behind her, satisfied with the quick click of the door locking. She pulled the phone back up to her ear, "Hold on a second Agent Gibbs." She could hear his voice through the phone as she lowered it to her side.

"Hello?" she called out. "I...I've got the police on the phone. This is private property."

She stepped back and opened her gas cap cover, grabbing the spare car key she kept stashed there, placing it in her pocket just in case.

"Hello!" At the lack of a reply, she started slowly forward. She pulled the phone back up to her ear. "There's something on my porch." As she walked slowly forward, a glint of blond hair caught her eye. "I think its a person." She pulled the phone away from her ear. "Hello? Is everything alright?"

Seeing no movement from the figure as she approached, she slowly reached her hand out, placing it gently on the person's shoulder. "Are you alright?"

As soon as the pressure of her hand met the person's shoulder, the body fell limply forward a single red wound on their forehead.

Taylor screamed and fell backward, her phone momentarily forgotten. "No no no."

Scrambling for her phone, she scooted herself backward away from the steps. "It...its a woman, Agent Gibbs. She's...Oh my God. Why...wh...what's going on?

"Oh God, Will!" She jumped up, ignoring the voice on the phone, and ran back to her car, pulling her spare key out of her pocket as she ran.

"Mom, what is it?"

"Just buckle back up, baby boy."

"But mom…"

"Do it!" she fumbled with her phone for a moment as she settled in the car and locked the doors. Her hands were shaking, her breath coming in quick gasps.

The miles flew by as Ziva sped down the deserted road toward their destination. They shouldn't be too far behind her. Agent Gibbs was talking rapidly into the phone, trying to calm the terrified woman on the other end.

She didn't seem to be listening.

"Taylor," Gibbs yelled into the phone as he drove. "God damn it, listen to me!" the voice on the other end quieted, the only sound the short, panicked breathing. "Good, we're on our way. Is there anywhere that the two of you can go nearby?" a moment's pause. "Lock your doors. Pull out of the drive and go down the street. We don't know if anyone's still around. We'll be there."

Tony sat in the back, silently thankful that McGee was back at the lab with Abby. He wasn't sure how his partner would take the fact that his childhood friend seemed to be targeted for some reason. "I got them Probie," he thought to himself.

As they neared their destination, he prepared himself for a quick exit from the vehicle. He would be providing protection for the Mitchell's while Gibbs and Ziva checked the house and he was going to do a damn good job of it.

The car screeched to a halt and Tony took off down the road.

He saw the car parked down the block and ran around it to approach from the front where he knew the woman could see him.

Her door flew open and she stepped out quickly as he approached. "What the hell is going on Agent DiNozzo?" She whispered angrily. The door shut behind her. "There is a dead woman at my house! I don't understand." Her voice was hushed, her eyes wide with barely restrained panic.

"Miss Taylor, I think we're going to have to officially bring you under NCIS protection."

"But why? I don't understand. Is this happening? Is this because of the woman last night?"

"We believe they are connected, yes." He placed a calming hand on her shoulder, leaning down slightly so that he was face to face with her. "Right now, I am going to get in your car and drive the two of you back to headquarters. Gibbs and Ziva will check your house and then grab you some things to have with you. Ok?"

"Ok." It was barely a whisper but Tony heard it just the same.

"Good. Now get in the passenger seat and we'll get out of here."

"There is no evidence of anyone coming into the house Gibbs," Ziva reported as Gibbs walked into the living room. "Doors and windows are all closed and locked. I believe they simply dropped off the body and left."

"Looks like it to me too Ziva. Duck's here to collect the body. Lets pack a bag and get back. I've got some questions for Miss Mitchell."

"She is a target, yes." It wasn't a question so much as an observation. "McGee will not be pleased." There was no response as the man walked slowly around the room, taking in the photos on the fireplace mantel. There were half built toy robots on the coffee table alongside a small stack of books.

He picked up one of the small robots and the wheels on its sides started to turn. "Get pictures. We'll have Miss Mitchell tell us if anything's been moved."

"On it Gibbs."

AN: I am SOOOOO SORRY! It has been absolutely FOREVER since I have updated this fic and I feel terrible. I know I've probably lost readers but I'm hoping some of you come back. It has been about 8 years since I've been able to bring myself to sit down in front of a computer and write anything at all. I still remember exactly where this story was going and, after rereading it, I still love it so I really want to continue it. I'm sorry that this chapter isn't longer. This one was tough, it was tough 8 years ago. I'm not sure what it is about it but its was a challenge to write. I'm starting the next chapter now!

See you next week!

Kaydera