Chapter 21

Abby sat on the cot alone and confused; she knew that Ari had murdered Kate, had shot both Gerald and Gibbs, and yet what he said had made a strange kind of sense.

Her hand twisted a strand of hair idly, her actions somehow soothing; reminding her of when Gibbs pulled her pig tails. Abby wished that Gibbs was here, as he would know what to do she thought sadly as her eyes misted over slightly.
Ari had checked her arm and other injuries, his actions tender and caring at the same time, and yet he was a murderer and kidnapper.The two sides of him warring within Abby. She sighed again pulling her knees up to her chest and resting her head on them for a moment, before lifting it again.

"Ok Abby, get a grip" she told herself, knowing that she did some of her best thinking out loud. "What would Gibbs do?" she paused, her brow furrowed "Shoot Ari" she answered herself, nodding once; "What would Tony do?" again she paused, "Shoot Ari." This time she grinned slightly at the mental image her words were creating, one where the team were all lining up to shoot Ari. Abby shook her head slightly "would McGee shoot Ari?" she wondered as he joined her mental list then shook her head "No he would want answers first, then he would let Gibbs shoot him" she said, her head bobbing in satisfaction of her answer "So what would Ducky do?" she wondered to herself, "no way would Ducky shoot him," she paused her brow furrowed as she tried to decide what Ducky would do. "Of course!" she exclaimed "Ducky would dissect him, and weigh his liver" she said in triumph as Ducky joined the back of her imaginary line, scalpel in hand. Abby sat grinning for a few moments, as she enjoyed the mental picture she had created. "But I don't have a gun or scalpel" Abby suddenly muttered, her grin turning to a frown. "But it means that none of them would trust Ari" she declared "so I won't" she nodded decisively, her eyes scanning the room for a possible escape route.

Abby vetoed the door; sure that Ari would either have a guard out there or some from of surveillance, she turned next to stare at the window, which was covered by a metal security grill that was screwed in place. She sat back with a sigh, knowing form her previous look around that there was nothing she could use to unscrew the grill. She idly fingered the large silver cross around her neck as she thought of and rejected plan after escape plan.

"Damn it" she muttered, twisting the cross agitatedly, wishing she could think of something that would work. Suddenly Abby's hand paused in mid motion, a grin breaking out on her face as she looked down at the large, flat silver cross in her hand.
"Sweet" she murmured, a smile breaking out on her face as her eyes travelled to the flat head screws holding the grill in place.

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Finally, the last screw fell to the floor with a soft ping. Abby used her uninjured arm to wipe the sweat from her eyes, panting slightly at the toll the physical exertion had taken on her bruised and battered body. She stared at the grill for a moment before reaching out with her arm and tugging at it, but nothing happened. Abby moved closer and peered at the edges of the grill trying to see what the problem was, but she could find nothing to stop it coming off

"Great" she muttered, once more tugging at the grill and feeling it give slightly, but not by much. Abby stepped back and looked at it in frustration, her eyes travelling down to her broken arm.

"This is so going to hurt" she muttered, gritting her teeth before reaching out with both arms and taking hold of the grill. Abby pulled with all her might, sweat and tears mingling on her face at the pain shooting along her broken arm. Slowly though she felt the grill move; she pulled harder, a small cry escaping before she could smother the sound. And then the grill was free, the weight more than Abby's arm could bear, it clattering to the floor Abby falling after it in agony.

Abby lay on the floor, her arm cradled against her body, tears falling freely down her face. Abby desperately wanted to scream at the pain, but she fought back the urge, scared that Ari would already have heard the sound of the falling grill.

Abby lay on the floor listening intently for sounds of someone approaching; when she was satisfied that no one had heard her, she slowly and painfully stood up. The window was not a large one, but large enough for her to fit through. Abby peered into the darkness beyond the glass, and then with a new determination that dulled the pain in her arm, she reached up and opened the window fully. As Abby climbed out the window, she sent a silent prayer of thanks to the heavens that she was on the ground floor. Abby silently hopped to the ground, crouching low outside the window as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. She paused as she looked around briefly, and then dashed to the tree line just beyond the dirt driveway. As she reached the safety of the dark woods, Abby stopped to listen again for sounds that her escape had been noticed, satisfied that she was safe yet, she moved through the woods on silent and swift feet.

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Ari stood in the darkness of the porch and watched Abby run into the tree line, a smile creasing his face at her strength. With one last look at the fleeing Abby, he silently entered the house. All the pieces were in place, he thought as he crossed to the fire place. Ari stared into the flames of the burning fire, and tried to ignore the feelings of guilt that niggled at the back of his mind.