Disclaimer: Still don't own NCIS. If I did, do you think Ari would still be alive?

Gibbs looked around groggily at his desk, empty coffee cup, and the computer still running a search on Ari's whereabouts. He realized with a jolt what day it was. It was the one month anniversary of the death of NCIS Agent Caitlin Todd, his co-worker and friend. He jerked his head around in time to see Tony walk in; apparently he wasn't the only one who had remembered the date. Tony's face was ashen and pale, and he wasn't smiling. Gibbs got up and tossed his coffee into the nearest garbage before taking the fresh one Tony handed him.

"Did you sleep at all?" Tony asked dully. Gibbs shook his head.

"Nope. You?"

"Of course not. I couldn't stop thinking about…today." Tony replied, his voice shaking slightly. He turned away and sat down quickly at his desk, burying himself in some paperwork. Gibbs sipped his coffee and stared out the window. His eyes narrowed as he thought about where Ari might be just then. A cough behind him made him turn. Abby, the lab technician was standing behind him in her Gothic best. Her hair, usually in pigtails, was long, and she had dyed some of it blue. Her wrist glittered with silver bracelets and she had traded her spiky dog collar for a silver and diamond choker. She was dressed completely in black leather, with fishnet sleeves and high heeled boots. A small black vintage handbag swung from one arm.

"I'm here," she said quietly. Gibbs nodded and sat back down at his desk. Abby prowled around nervously and jumped whenever Gibbs hit the "Enter" button on his keyboard especially hard. At long last two people walked in the door, wearing suits and ties.

"Sorry we're late, the traffic was awful. It reminds me of the time I was stuck in London…" The elderly British man began. Everyone gave him reproachful looks and he fell silent. The other man, Timothy McGee, smiled apologetically at Abby and glanced at his watch.

"We should go." Gibbs nodded and began to get up, but just then his phone rang. He picked it up angrily.

"What?" he snapped. The voice on the other end was terribly familiar.

"Agent Gibbs, I had hoped I had not missed you." Gibbs paled very sharply and motioned for Tony to start tracing the call. Tony instantly leapt to action while the others exchanged horrified looks; they knew what that meant.

"Damn you, Ari! Next time we meet, you're dying." Gibbs growled. Ari laughed.

"On the contrary, I think it is you who should watch your back. And your friends' backs as well." Gibbs glanced very quickly at the people gathered around him, but then continued glaring out the window.

"What do you want?"

"A direct question deserves a direct answer. I want you dead."

"Really? What a surprise."

"Indeed. Last time it was a surprise, wasn't it? You didn't see her death coming, did you?" Gibbs gripped the phone very tightly.

"You bastard." Ari sighed on the other end.

"I see you are still angry with me."

"I'll be angry with you until I put you in an early grave," Gibbs retorted through clenched teeth. Ari chuckled darkly.

"Well, I'm thinking otherwise. I have a hostage this time. A girl, named Lishe. She's only about fifteen…how awful if you had her blood on your hands…"

"What do you want a hostage for?"

"Just meet me outside town, at the old factory. Tomorrow, at midnight. Come alone."

"Yeah right. I'm not falling for that shit."

"Fine, you can bring two agents. I'll bring two of my men, so we're even. Good bye." The line went dead. Gibbs slammed the receiver down and looked at Tony.

"Where is he?"

"I didn't have time boss, the number was really hard to trace." Gibbs swore loudly. Ducky, the British doctor, sat down slowly in a chair.

"What did he want?" muttered Tony angrily. Gibbs quickly explained what had happened. Abby was so pale that she looked even more Gothic than usual. McGee was pacing nervously.

"What do we do?"

Lishe opened her eyes as the door of her cell opened. A teen, not much older than her, walked in and hastily unlocked her handcuffs. She aimed a hard punch to the side of his head, but he dodged.

"Relax. I'm not going to hurt you." He said calmly. Lishe glared at him but didn't sit back down.

"What do you want?" she snapped. He didn't answer, but handed her a sandwich. She eyed it suspiciously before snatching it from his hand. She hadn't eaten for two days. He sat down in a corner and watched her eat. She kept shooting him looks, but did not speak. She noticed he was rather tall, obviously Arabic, with very dark hair and eyes.

"What's your name?" she asked coolly.

"Ali, what's yours?" She stared at him.

"Umm…Lishe…" He laughed slightly at the way she was staring at him, then shook her hand.

"Good to meet you."

"How'd a kid your age end up working for Ari?" she asked suspiciously. He didn't answer.

"Would you like anything else?" She shook her head.

"No. Why are you here?"

"The same reason you are," he replied tartly.

"I doubt that." Lishe snapped. She doubted very much if Ari had murdered Ali's parents, chased him all over the country, and kidnapped him to be used as a hostage.

A/N Ah crap chapter I'm sorry! Very very very bad. My muse is sorta tired. Maybe I should try my hand at something else for a few days...