Author's Note: This chapter takes place immediately after Travis mails the tape, and while the team is figuring out what happened. Sorry that it's so short.

Chapter 3 - Waiting

Abby was jarred from her sleep by someone shouting. She opened her eyes groggily. She saw before her a gray wall, light streaming in from a small window, and felt tape on her mouth. She tried to move her arms, but found them to be restrained. 'Darn! It wasn't just a dream!' Abby thought ruefully.

She heard voices arguing loudly in the other room. She couldn't understand what they were disputing about, but she heard the word 'kolache' a few times. She tried to turn her head to hear better, but was stopped by a crick in her neck. Abby remembered why: last night she had finally been able to drift off by resting her chin on her chest. She slowly rolled her head all the way to the right, trying to ease the cramp.

Suddenly, Abby felt a pang of hunger; she had had nothing but a Big Gulp since yesterday's lunch. She groaned loudly and the bickering ceased. She heard footsteps and then her captors entered the room; Travis was carrying a bag.

Travis walked over to her. "Good morning," he said, all too cheerily. He grinned sadistically as he yanked the tape off her mouth, and Abby willed herself not to cry out. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, thank you," she replied, not giving him the pleasure of seeing her upset.

"Good." He backed up and motioned to Owen, who walked behind Abby and untied her hands. She stretched her arms and then rubbed her sore wrists. Travis held his jacket open to reveal a pistol holstered on his belt. "Owen's got one, too; I wouldn't try running away. Now, are you hungry?"

"Oh, yes! I could totally go for an éclair right now. Ooh! Ooh! And some coffee cake, too!" He reached into the bag and shoved a cold bagel at her. Abby seized it devoured it ravenously. "Well," she said between bites, "beggars can't be choosers." She consumed it in a matter of seconds. "I don't suppose I could have a drink?"

Travis pulled a water bottle out of the bag and thrust it in her hands. She drained it about halfway, and then put the cap back on the bottle.

"Finished?"

"Yes. Thank you."

"Alright, Owen, you take the first shift. I'll be in the other room."

Owen nodded and Travis left. Then Owen retied Abby's hands. But when he tore a strip of duct tape, she jerked her head away.

"Please don't. What if I promise to be really quiet?" Abby gave him her best puppy-dog look; it had always worked on everybody - everybody except Gibbs - and now it worked on Owen.

He put the tape away and sat down at the table. He pulled a deck of cards from his pocket and began a game of solitaire. He played for a few minutes, and then stopped, apparently stuck.

"Red eight to black nine," Abby instructed.

xxxxxx

Thirteen rounds of solitaire later, Abby was ready to fall asleep. What she wouldn't give for a book, a magazine, anything! The complete lack of activity was driving her crazy. 'But, then again, being held captive isn't supposed to be fun,' she reasoned. Still, the waiting was unbearable. 'Hurry, Gibbs.'

Travis entered the room to relieve Owen and grew angry with one look at Abby. "Owen, why isn't her mouth taped shut?"

"Uh…well, sh-she asked me not to," Owen stammered.

"She asked me not to," Travis mocked. "You take your orders from me, not her. Got that?"

Owen nodded and handed his older brother the roll of tape.

Travis ripped off a piece and slapped it across Abby's face, much to her displeasure. "Now, Owen, go get us some lunch." Abby's eyes lit up; the bagel had hardly been filling. Travis saw her perk up and laughed wickedly. "And by 'us', I mean Owen and me." Abby sank dejectedly. Travis laughed again, sending a chill down his captive's spine.

Owen returned about half an hour later with two delicious-smelling toasted sandwiches. Abby's eyes brightened and her stomach growled when she smelled them. Owen handed one to Travis and began eating the second. Abby mumbled something behind the tape.

"What, are you thirsty or something?" Travis barked. Abby nodded. He ripped the tape off and held the water bottle to her lips, allowing her to drink.

As he screwed the cap back on, Abby said, "I'm hungry."

"Too bad," he growled.

"Please, I just want a few bi--"

Travis backhanded her and called her a particularly nasty name. "You better shut up or you're not getting more water!"

Abby glared at the man as he put the tape back on her mouth, and wistfully mused, 'Oh, Gibbs, where are you?'