A/N: hey everyone...SO SORRY TOOK FOREVER TO GET THIS CHAPTER UP! I got pulled away two weekends in a row where I was completely out of town and then I've been really busy during the week...but after catching up on some sleep tonight I managed to get this chapter written! Hope you enjoy and there should be one more chapter for this fic as a wrap up session I'm thinking! So again so sorry it took so long to update and hope you all enjoy this piece of the story! And thank you for the reviews!Please continue to leave them! it for now- dark rolling sea

Chapter Twelve

Gibbs had the accelerator pushed to the floorboard. His knuckles were white from his grip on the steering wheel. Tony was braced in the passenger seat as they made their way towards the address that Abby had given them. Tony kept sneaking glances at Gibbs, trying figure out what the man was thinking.

"We'll get her back, Gibbs," Tony finally said quietly. Gibbs glanced at him for a moment then returned his eyes to the road. He only nodded. Tony could see that Gibbs didn't completely agree with that statement.

……….

Agent Tobias Fornell walked into NCIS and made his way to where Gibbs and his team were housed. When he stepped off the elevator the first thing he noticed was that no one was around. He looked in both directions and then made his way to Gibbs' desk.

"Where are you Agent Gibbs," Fornell said quietly as he came up beside Gibbs' desk. He then saw the piece of paper with his name on it and picked it up. He read it to himself: Down in the lab, join us. Gibbs. He read it again and then crumpled the paper and tossed it in the trash. He then walked back to the elevator and took it back down to the lab. He walked in to see only the weird lab rat and the nervous agent. They both looked up at him with surprise.

"Can I help you," Abby asked.

"Where is Agent Gibbs?" Fornell asked, his annoyance showing.

"Oh, well he and Tony went to rescue Kate," Abby said triumphantly.

"Do you know where?" Fornell asked quickly.

"Yes," Abby replied and grabbed a scrape of paper scribbled an address and gave it to him. He thanked her and left the lab.

…………

Kate, with Hunter on her heals, made her way down the stair way carefully. She didn't know where it led, or who could be waiting at the bottom. She only hoped that Gibbs was on the way. They finally made it to the bottom and Kate saw a door with an Exit sign hanging above it. She felt the adrenaline surge once again. She grabbed Hunter's hand and the two went directly towards that door, towards their freedom. Kate was sure they were out when she crashed into the door, without even slowing down. The door popped open and a rush of fresh air hit her.

She pulled Hunter through with her into the setting sunlight and let her eyes adjust to the brightness. She took in her surroundings and soon realized that they were in the middle of nowhere. She went around the corner of the building looking for the front, looking for a road. She realized she had gone around the back but she wasn't about to turn around so she made her way down the length of the building.

She was coming around the next corner when she felt something catch her across the collarbones that knocked her backwards, making her shoulders ache and her ribs flare. She stumbled backwards and almost came down on top of Hunter who managed to flatten himself against the wall.

Kate was stunned a moment but then came up defiantly and charged around the corner only to find herself with strong arms locked around her chest and back. She struggled to free herself but knew from the mocking grin on the man's face that she was not going to escape. She was too weak from the other encounters and she felt her adrenaline-induced strength leaving her.

It hurt to breath, it hurt to move, it hurt all over. She couldn't fight anymore. She was feeling the panic starting to take over and she fought herself. She had to remain strong. She saw out of the corner of her eye that Hunter was charging at the man who held her.

"Hunter, no!" she managed to grunt out but it was too late. The man gripped her arm tightly with one hand while he grabbed Hunter by the neck with his other. He lifted the boy in the air and Kate could see the raw fear spread over Hunter's face. She fought violently to free her self but the grip on her tightened and she was drawn tight to the man's chest making it almost impossible for her injured ribs to allow air into her lungs.

Gibbs, please hurry Kate's mind screamed. She felt the fight leave her and she slumped against her captive's chest. She saw the feral smile spread on his face before he swung them both around to the front of the building and towards the main entrance. Kate felt one more effort was left in her and she managed to free one hand and viciously attached the man's face. She managed to scratch him a few times in the face before his strong hand stung her face and nearly knocked her unconscious. She was in a daze when he grabbed her again and pulled her towards the door. Hunter was struggling but he was no contest for the man who held him.

Then Kate heard the approaching vehicle and only prayed it was Gibbs coming in. She noticed the man stop moving towards the building and saw that he was staring in the direction of the vehicle. Kate managed to look up and her spirits came alive again. She recognized the car.

……..

Gibbs raced towards the building. His heart was thundering. He couldn't lose them. He just wouldn't let it happen. Tony was studying the buildings and then looked over at Gibbs.

"That one Gibbs, over there," Tony said confidently. Gibbs nodded and turned the car towards the one Tony pointed out. Then he saw them. His temper flared, he had them. He had them both. He tried to press the accelerator more but it was already on the floor. Finally they were there. Gibbs slammed the breaks and threw the car in park. He was out before Tony was even unbuckled with his gun drawn racing towards Hunter and Kate. The man saw him, and he recognized him. Gibbs saw the smile on his face and it made his anger more intense. He knew what he had.

…….

Fornell called in the cavalry to meet him at the address that Abby had given him and then he jumped in a vehicle and raced towards the address.

…….

Kate saw Gibbs and she knew she would be ok. Then she knew what she had to do. She had to get Hunter away from this man. And she saw her chance now. Gibbs was closing the distance between them the man holding her was distracted, watching Gibbs approach. Kate also saw Tony getting out of the car. She twisted violently in the man's grip and ignored the pain shooting through her body. She caught him off guard and she then hit the man in the elbow on the arm holding Hunter. The man cringed and his grip was temporarily broken on Hunter. Hunter dropped to the ground and Kate yelled.

"Hunter! Run, Hunter!" Kate screamed. The boy didn't need to be told twice. He was on his feet and sprinting towards Gibbs before the man knew what happened. The man made a grab for the child but Kate twisted again and blocked his angle. He then used his free hand to grab her hair and yank her head back. Kate yelped in pain but Hunter was free. She watched as he ran to Gibbs.

"Papa!" Hunter chocked out as he ran towards Gibbs. Gibbs grabbed him without taking his eyes off the man holding Kate and he scooped Hunter behind him. Tony came up behind Gibbs.

"Tony, take the boy to the car," Gibbs said quietly. Tony nodded and took hold of the boy. But the boy latched onto Gibbs' leg.

"No! I want to stay with you, Papa!" Hunter screamed. Gibbs' eyes never left the man holding Kate nor did his gun move. Tony's eyes widened when he heard the boy call Gibbs papa.

"Go with Tony, Hunter," Gibbs said quietly and the boy seemed to resign and release his hold, but he started crying. Tony gathered the boy up in his arms and took him to the car putting him in the back seat. He then took a few steps from the car and trained his gun on the situation. Gibbs had approached the man holding Kate now.

"Gunny," the man said casually.

"Hardell," Gibbs replied sourly.

"Seems we got a problem here."

"Only you do, Hardell."

"Seems I've found something special to you. Seems that I lost something more special. You know it wasn't until right now that I put it together, but the bastard I'm after is your son isn't he?"

"He has nothing to do with right now."

"But that is your grandson isn't it?" Hardell said with a wicked smile. Hardell's gun moved towards the car and he pulled Kate between him and Gibbs as he did it. Gibbs heart was thundering but his focus was untarnished.

"Let my agent go," Gibbs said roughly.

"Oh, you mean her?" Hardell said twisting Kate a little as he looked at her. Gibbs saw her wince and his anger flared again. He stepped closer to Hardell. Tony was in awe of the situation. He wanted to help but he knew he had to watch the boy. He stayed close to the car but his attention was on the confrontation in front of him.

"Let her go and I won't kill you," Gibbs said softly his eyes locked with Hardell's. The other man laughed heartily.

"Honestly, Gibbs," he said smartly.

"Kate," Gibbs said calmly. She looked him in the eyes. He remained staring at Hardell. "Ready?"

Gibbs saw the slight confusion in Hardell's eyes as he wondered what Gibbs was planning, but then he felt Kate's weight increase as she went limp and crumpled to the ground. The surprise made his grip falter and he was exposed when her head dropped below his chest for a moment. It was all Gibbs needed. The sound of his weapon was deafening to Kate. But then the man holding her was knocked to the ground pulling her over on top of him. She saw the red spot in the middle of his forehead and looked away.

When she looked up Gibbs was squatting down next to her. She let the emotions of the day out now as she knew she was safe. The tears fell out of eyes and streamed her cheeks. She reached up and Gibbs immediately took her in his arms and held her close to him. He wrapped his arms around her.

Tony watched as Gibbs shot the man and then went to Kate. Before he knew it he heard the door of the car swing open and the boy was charging past him. The boy crashed into Gibbs' side and Gibbs released one arm from Kate to draw the boy into his embrace.

Gibbs didn't care who saw him at that moment when Hunter crashed into his side. He opened the embrace on Kate and brought Hunter into it. The tears in his heart fell from his eyes and he didn't wipe them away. He had almost lost his entire family today. He realized right then that he considered Kate as much part of his family as Hunter and Jeb and he smiled.

Tony pulled his cell out and called for emergency crews to come out. He ordered two ambulances and the coroner. He then walked up to Gibbs. He stood silently watching the three. Gibbs finally remembered he was there and looked up at him and smiled.

"I called the emergency crews, they are sending ambulances," Tony said quietly.

"There are at least two more inside, Gibbs," Kate said from her place against his chest. Gibbs nodded and helped Kate to her feet and then scooped Hunter up in his arms. Tony helped Kate to the car and Gibbs placed Hunter in the back seat.

…..

Fornell was the first to arrive of the FBI and he saw Gibbs' car sitting in the parking lot with at least three people around it. He saw Gibbs, DiNozzo, and Todd and he breathed a sigh of relief. He then saw the boy as he pulled up next to them. Gibbs glanced at him and smiled then turned his attention back to Kate. She was sitting in the passenger side of the car while he squatted outside with Hunter between his legs.

The rest of the agents showed up as Fornell checked the body lying against the building with a bullet in his head. Gibbs told him that there were more inside, and Fornell ordered the teams to search the building. Finally the ambulances showed up and the loaded Kate and Hunter into one, and Gibbs forced his way into the back. Kate was fading from consciousness fast and it worried Gibbs. The EMS workers assured him it was just her body's way of dealing with the trauma her body had experienced but her injuries were not life threatening. It did nothing to ease his anxiety. He held Hunter tightly as they rushed to hospital.

TBC…………………………………………………………………………….