"There, got it." Kate let out a breath then palmed her cell phone open.
To her's and Tony's astonishment, there was a text message:
"On the way, sit tight."
"All right, Kate." Tony grinned, then tensed as a soft footfall sounded near the locked door.
"K-ate, Tony?" a soft voice called to them.
Kate stared into the shadows, "Sandy?"
Out stepped a pajama-clad girl, and Tony groaned. Not this, how could the mother do this to her?
"Honey, do you know where we are?"
"Yes, we moved last month, but I remember the address, 145 South Lake Pond. I asked Mom if there was a pond, but she doesn't know." The child moved toward them, only her outstretched hand belying her sightlessness.
"Sandy, where's your mom now." Kate carefully weighed how much she should tell her, remembering how perceptive she was.
"I think she's on the phone. This is about Dad, isn't it?" Sandy whispered, sadness evident in her voice.
Kate took a chance.
"I'm afraid so, sweetie. You see, your mom thinks she can get your Dad home by exchanging Tony and I for him, you know, like a swap?"
"Dad's in jail though." Sandy sniffed, causing Tony's eyes to mist over. "They won't let him out for a long time."
"I know, but your mom, she thinks Agent Gibbs, you remember him?" Kate saw her nod and smile.
"Well, she thinks he'll get your father out to get us back, otherwise she might, not let him see us again."
There was silence, then Sandy's head lowered. "She wouldn't hurt you."
Tony tried to sound positive. "I know, honey, but she might forget, you know, that she shouldn't…"
"Shouldn't what, Agent DiNozzo?"
A very angry Julie Watson stood in the open doorway, a gun in one hand.
Tony gulped as Kate gazed calmly at the woman's face. "Why don't you explain it to Sandy, Mrs. Watson. She knows you'd never do anything to risk her being taken away from you."
At once her expression changed to one of shame as the girl turned toward the sound of her mother's voice.
"Sandy, go upstairs and get dressed, we're going to be leaving in a little while."
"Mom, you're not going to hurt Tony and Kate, are you? Please don't, I don't want you to go away too!"
Sandy tried to hug her mother, and as the woman bent down to comfort her, the child felt the gun in her hand.
"Nooooo!" she cried, then made her way out of the room.
Mrs. Watson stared sadly after her daughter for a moment, then turned toward the two agents, putting her gun in her pocket. Kate stealthily tried to free her hands, managing to tear the tape holding her wrists. At the same time Tony slipped one of his arms free, then froze as the woman spoke to them.
"I have to go now, there's nothing left for me to do but take Sandy and disappear. I'm sorry."
From her pocket she brought out a rag and a bottle, then shaking some liquid onto the rag, came toward Tony. "You won't feel a thing, I promise."
As she brought the rag near his face, he sprung up, twisting out of the ropes holding him to his chair. Kate tried to follow suit, only to have Mrs. Watson wheel around and backhand her, knocking her back into her seat.
Dropping the bottle of chloroform on the ground, she evaded Tony's lunge then ran toward the door.
As Tony started toward her, the frantic woman pulled her gun from her pocket and fired at the broken bottle, causing it to immediately ignite and driving both agents back against the wall.
As the flames started to spread, fumes from the fire caused Kate to drop to her knees. "Tony, cover your mouth!" she gasped, then collapsed.