After assuring herself and Gibbs that she'd done all she could for Leah, Kate turned to unlock her boss. His cold blue eyes met hers and quietly he asked, Is that bastard dead or alive?

Ketterer. She'd left him face down on the floor snarling and crying, now he was quiescent, whether from defeat or blood loss she couldn't say. She knelt down next to him and as she slowly rolled him over, his eyes fluttered open.

Marie? Oh, Marie, honey, I'm sorry. I wasn't very good at anything, was I? Tell Ian Daddy will make it up to him next time. I promise. Kate watched as the man faded out again, feeling a small amount of pity for the demons he carried. The vicious voice behind her made her jump.

You keep that bastard alive, Kate. I want him to pay for what he's done. Gibbs' voice was like granite.

I think he's probably been suffering for the past fifteen years, Gibbs. Kate examined the shoulder wound from Tony's bullet and the one she knew she put into his side.

I don't care what his excuse was. I want him alive. I want him to stand trial and I want him punished. The men he murdered deserve that.

Kate nodded absently and was applying pressure to the seeping wound in Ketterer's side when the door to the shack banged open. Two equipment-laden EMTs entered and quickly maneuvered Kate out of the way.

We'll take over here, miss. Are you Kate?Yes, why?They guy up the hill told us to give these to you. He handed her the keys and Kate looked at them, visibly upset.

Don't just stand there, get Leah unlocked! Gibbs' impatient tone forced Kate to move. She freed the unconscious woman and helped the second medic lay her down. As he began to work, Kate took both sets of keys and to release her captive boss.

Kate had just finished keying the handcuffs when the EMT asked, The guy outside said she was drugged. Do either of you know what with?

Gibbs barked, yanking his hands free and rubbing his wrists as Kate knelt down to unlock his legs.

The EMT nodded, then spied the older man's arms. Sir, are you okay?

I'm fine, dammit. You just take care of her. Gibbs pulled his legs free and lurched to his feet, wobbling slightly after being restrained.

Kate caught him by the upper arms and glanced at his wrists. Gibbs! You are not fine. She slid her hands down to just above his wrists and pulled his hands apart, turning them over and getting a good look at the bloody bracelets where the metal ones had been. She raised her eyes and met his before she nodded. Let them bandage your wrists, before she wakes up and sees what you've done to yourself, she said softly, waiting for his answering nod before she turned away. Gibbs shot another glance at Leah, before looking back to Kate and spying the keys she'd tucked in the top of her jeans pocket.

Kate! Let me see those keys. He watched her withdraw the ring slowly and hand it to him. Whose blood is this?

Kate looked at the object. I don't know. McGee was supposed to take out the sentry and he got shot as well. She saw the color drain from his face; taking his arms once again, she attempted to reassure him. Tony's with him. Gibbs, please sit down!

Gibbs fought Kate's attempts to return him to the metal chair. McGee got shot? Where? Ignoring the concern in her eyes, he stepped away from his recent prison and leaned tiredly against the wall.

Gibbs, I don't know! Everything happened so damn fast! She stopped when he glared at her, continuing when his eyes returned to the redhead on the floor. Tony and I were separated from him. We heard two shots. Tony fired at Ketterer as McGee said he was hit and we took off in separate directions. You know as much as I do. Kate paced to the sideboard, worry and frustration in her steps. If you hadn't gone off on your own, we might have been able to prevent this. There was no heat to the words as she waved her hand half-heartedly about the room.

Eyes on the medics as they continued to work on Ketterer and Leah, Kate leaned against the wall and continued to talk -- as much to fill the empty air, as to explain the chaos of the evening. As it was, we wasted precious time decoding a bizarre message that Leah meant for you, just to figure out where to find you. Kate looked at the small listening device on the table, walked over to it and picked it up. At least she had the good sense to get it all on tape. She walked back to Gibbs and handed him the recorder. It's digital and voice activated. He's not getting away with anything. She tipped her head toward the man on the stretcher.