Tony had never thought about the danger of being the bait before.. It was just a given of the job he did; sometimes you put yourself out there for the bad guys and said, 'Hey, I'm here. Come and get me.' There was always a rush that came from the danger. If he were honest, he'd have to admit that he liked it.

But this was different. Always before he had been the one in control of the situation. He could pull the plug anytime that he felt things had gotten out of control, but this time he had no control. No one knew where they were. He had no idea of who the bad guy was, or even if there was a bad guy out there. What if everything was just a product of his fevered imagination and he had himself and McGee jumping at shadows?

It didn't help that he was injured. He just felt even more out of control if that was at all possible. He could feel the weariness descending upon him, the need to just shut his eyes and let everything go. But he couldn't do that.

McGee was out there depending on him to carry out his part of the plan; to lure in whoever it was that was out there following them, by making himself look as vulnerable and helpless as possible. Make him, whoever 'him' was, think that Tony was alone and waiting for McGee to get back with help.

Tony figured he was holding up his end of the plan pretty well, helpless pretty much described his situation. He couldn't even move to defend himself, he was pretty much helpless in every sense of the word. And it was a situation that he didn't much like.

It was damn cold, too, and he was having trouble holding onto consciousness. Some field agent. He really hoped that Gibbs didn't find him like this. It was important to him to always be at his best around Gibbs. The boss's good opinion meant a lot to him. And Tony could just imagine what Gibbs would say if he found him, bloody and broken in the middle of nowhere, clutching his gun and jumping at shadows.

'You messed up, DiNozzo,' that's what he would say. Tony could just hear him. Or was he beginning to hallucinate things now?

There was a snap coming from the darkness and Tony froze, his senses at full alert. His heart thumping loud enough in his chest he was certain McGee could probably hear it from where ever it was he was hiding.

Was it McGee out there? Peering into the blackness trying to make shapes out of the bleary shadows, he knew McGee had to be out there, somewhere. It was his job to watch Tony's back and wait for the bad guy to make an appearance. He was doing a really good job, too. Tony didn't have any idea of where he was.

Licking his lips, Tony realized he was getting thirsty. And the shivers were starting to take their toll. McGee had insisted that if they separate, Tony take his jacket as a second layer against the cold. He'd tried to protest, he really had, but for once, McGee had stood firm. Tony zipped both jackets up around his neck, not that it did much good. The cold was seeping up from the ground he sat on, stealing any warmth that his body might have once had.

He relaxed a little when there weren't any more noises, he decided it was probably an animal out in the night. His fevered imagination began to wonder what kind of animal would be out on a cold dark night that could cause a branch to snap. How large would it have to be, how hungry? How much did he look like a to-go meal?

He roused to realize that he'd had his eyes shut, his head leaning back against the tree. How long had he been out? He looked up at the sky hoping to get a glimpse of moon or stars or something to help him know how long he'd been in the open, alone. The sky was overcast and cloudy giving away no clues.

Had it been that way when he'd started out from NCIS? He couldn't remember. Details were starting to get fuzzy and the world around him was getting strange…

He couldn't seem to focus on anything. He licked his lips again. What he wouldn't give for some coffee right now, or even just one of those bottles of water that Kate carried everywhere she went.

He wondered what Kate was doing. Had she and Gibbs finished up on the body? Was she out with Dwayne or Digger or whoever it was she was dating? Was she warm and dry, drinking water with her dinner? He really hoped she was.

Tony leaned his head back and closed his eyes, just for a second. He'd only leave them closed for a second.

Leo grinned, watching the injured agent from his hiding place in the shadows. Oh, yeah, this was going even better than he could ever have planned. He circled around keeping an eye out for the other agent. He knew the other man had to be around somewhere, lying in wait for him.

There was a loud snap from somewhere close by. Leo froze, keeping one eye on the injured man whose eyes snapped open and he searched the area frantically, his gun at the ready. Leo noted the fine tremors, the way the gun shook in his grasp.

Yea, he could take that one any time he wanted.

His target now was the other agent. That snap almost certainly had to be from him. Leo would eliminate him, leave his message for Gibbs and be on his way…

Kate had no idea what Gibbs was actually tracking. She suspected that the man was actually part blood hound. The night was cloudy and there was no light for him to see by, yet he kept moving steadily forward, following signs and clues that she couldn't see for the life of her. But she trusted him as she had never trusted anyone before. So she followed, her gun at her side, ready for whatever.

She'd directed the emergency vehicles to meet them back at the site of the crashed SUV. She'd had no idea where their chase might actually lead them. Remembering the blood in the SUV, she dreaded what they might find at its end. She was surprised that they hadn't stumbled across a body yet. No one could lose that much blood and still be moving.

Unless, of course, it was DiNozzo. The man was so stubborn, he'd keep moving just to prove her wrong. She didn't know what it was that put them at odds most of the time. Maybe it was some sort of sibling thing that she really didn't want to think about. Each of them competing for Gibbs' approval. Somehow she had always thought herself above that sort of petty rivalry, but DiNozzo brought out the worst in her.

But he also brought out the best. They were a good team when they set aside their competitiveness and worked together. She had to admit, that Tony could always do that when it came right down to it. Gone was the silly, vain, egomaniacal Tony who competed for everything, Kate was always amazed when he was replaced by the competent caring man who could anticipate her moves and work in tandem with her, almost reading her mind.

A shout from Gibbs pulled her from her thoughts. She ran towards his voice, almost stumbling over him. He was on his knees, a body on the ground at her feet. She almost stopped breathing herself in shock. She knelt for a closer look.

It was McGee, his face white as a sheet and as far as she could see, not breathing. Gibbs straightened his body, tilting his head back and checking his airway. He started breathing into the other man's mouth. Kate put her hands in position and waited for Gibbs to finish.

God, what had happened? Where was Tony? There was no time for questions as Gibbs looked up at her, bidding her wordlessly to begin the compressions that would keep McGee's blood flowing. She started the compressions, pressing firmly and evenly. Gibbs kept count for her, "…thirteen, fourteen, fifteen. Stop, Kate." He had to reach out and take a hold of her arm to stop her.

She rocked back on her knees and watched as he breathed into McGee's mouth. Before he could do so, McGee gasped as his body took over control. His eyes flew open, and he tried to move away from them, the fright and horror evident on his face.

"McGee," Gibbs took hold of his shoulders firmly, pushing him down. "Breath, just breath. You're safe."

Caught up in a nightmare of his own, McGee's eyes flicked from Gibbs to Kate and back again. It took him a moment to take in their faces. Then his mouth worked and he tried to speak, but no sound issued forth.

"Slow down, McGee, it's alright. We've got you now."

McGee's eyes squeezed shut and tears of frustration leaked out. He shook his head wildly. "No," he mouthed. Kate could make out that much, at least. "Not alright. Tony."

Kate heard a shout from the trail they had come down. She saw flashlights bobbing in the night.

Gibbs steely gaze flicked up to Kate, "Go get them. We need to get McGee to the hospital now."

But what about Tony? The words almost spilled from her mouth, but she stopped them, damned them up. There was no time, she had to get help for McGee.

Then they'd worry about Tony.

She raced back up the trail to lead the emergency personnel to their injured team member.

To be continued ...