AN: Okay people. I'm REALLY sorry that it's taken me so long to update. That award just makes me feel obligated to make this the best it can be. So what you're reading now is actually a compilation of 3 different attempts at this chapter. You should see all of the notes on the paper. It's a complete mess. (It always is. :D)
I would like to thank all of you who took the time to harrass me about updating. The next chapter is half written, I've figured out the basic plotline, but not the end. It has to be special. :D My mommy says I'm special. :D LMAO. Oh yeah! I already have two attempts at Not Another One chapter 4, so the third times the charm, I guess. Be on the lookout for that one. Also, I already have plotted out the next 5 or so installments of the "Daughters" series. I have yet to really figure out where the Gibbs part will take me. Why don't you guys try to inspire me? What do you want to see happen next? JTB? :D On to the story!
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Tony and Kate slumped in their chairs. Craig had been gone for an hour. As soon as they'd heard the front door close, the agents had tried to loosen their bonds. All to no avail. The ropes wouldn't budge. And Craig had taken their knives as well as their weapons and cell phones.
"For a mail guy, the kid sure knows how to tie knots." Tony muttered.
"25 hardly makes him a kid."
"25 makes him 7 years younger than me... You know what I mean." Tony gritted through clenched teeth as he tried to loosen his hands once again.
"Give it up, Tony. You'll never get it undone."
"Thanks, for the vote of confidence."
"I'm just saying that we should conserve our energy for when he comes back. Sooner or later, he'll have to untie us, and when he does, I want to be ready for him."
"Unless of course he plans to feed us himself, and not take us to the bathroom. Then we could be here forever."
Kate sighed. "There is that. I wonder where he went."
Tony shook his head. "What I wanna know is how he got us here. Did he take your car?"
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Gibbs sighed as he left NCIS Headquarters. What was it with other people and his coffee? Kate spills it, Tony constantly spills it, and the mail guy narrowly avoided spilling it not two hours ago. Gibbs frowned as he walked across the parking lot toward his car. He thought he saw Tony's black car parked beside his own. Hadn't he and Kate come to work together this morning? The younger man, like himself, seemed loathe to let Kate out of his sight. 'Maybe-' Gibbs long strides quickened as the knot in his stomach tightened. H2H-8888 was indeed Tony's license plate number. The hula girl on the dashboard confirmed it.
"Damn it!" He yelled and whipped out his cell phone. "Ducky, they're gone."
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Craig shut the door behind him and set the grocery bags down on a table in the middle of the kitchen. Then he pulled out a new knife and got to work.
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"He's back." Tony whispered. "Now what?"
"He should leave us alone until 2100. We have about two hours to decide what we're going to do."
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"Damn it!" Gibbs yelled again. "Balboa! I want you and Agent Doseck to question everyone left in the building. Find out who saw them last. Start in the bullpen.
Agent Cale, you and your team are to canvas the building. Start in the sub-basement and work your way up. Move out!" Gibbs barked.
The teams fled as Gibbs punched speed dial 6 into his cell. "Tobias, it's Gibbs. Kate and Tony are gone. What do you know?"
Ducky and Abby listened in silence from the other side of the table.
"It wasn't us. Ari's in Miami. What can I do?"
"Absolutely damn nothing! We have no suspects, nothing! Just Tony's car."
"What about ransom?"
"No. Someone attacked Kate a few nights ago. He knew her name, but she doesn't know him. That's probably who took her."
"But why'd they take DiNozzo?"
Gibbs took a deep breath. "I'm afraid of that answer."
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Craig unlatched the bedroom door at 2115.
"Caitlyn, are you ready for dinner?" He rasped.
Kate looked askance at him. "How do I know you haven't poisoned it?"
Craig frowned. "Why would I do that? If you promise to be good, I'll let you loose to eat dinner. I promise it's not poisoned. Do you promise me you'll stay here?"
Kate remained looking at him for a moment before her face relaxed. "I am hungry..."
Tony's eyes widened. "Kate! You can't-"
"Look, I'm hungry. Maybe if you ask really nicely, Craig will let you eat too."
Craig shook his head. "Not him. Not right now. Just you. Do you promise?"
Kate nodded. "I promise."
Pleased, Craig nodded and untied her feet, then her hands.
Rubbing her wrists, Kate stood up.
"After you." Craig gestured.
Kate gave a slight smile and started for the door.
"Kate-" Tony repeated.
"I'll be back in a little while, Tony."
With one last glare from Craig, the door closed, and Tony was left alone.
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Dum Dum Dum! Hehe. Did you like it? Review, and maybe I'll try a bit harder to get the next chapter out. :D I hope I didn't disappoint anyone.
