Chapter 23

Gibbs stepped off the elevator and crossed over to his desk, coffee cup in hand. He narrowed his eyes at Farnell sitting back in his desk chair.
"Gibbs" was all Farnell said in greeting, as he vacated Gibbs's chair. Gibbs ignored him as he sat down, and carefully placed his cup on his desk before putting his gun away in his desk drawer
"What did you get from them?" Gibbs finally asked as he swung his chair round to face Farnell.
"Not much yet" Farnell responded as he perched himself on the edge of Gibbs's desk.
"Except a complaint about brutality" Farnell continued smiling slightly "Know anything about it?" he asked calmly. Gibbs stared at Farnell for a moment before answering
"Yep, do you have a problem with it?" He demanded although his tone suggested he really didn't care.
"Nope, not really" Farnell said inclining his head slightly, "I'm just surprised you didn't kill one of them" he added as he stood up. "Do you have any news on Abby?" Farnell asked genuinely concerned. Gibbs stared at his coffee cup for a moment before he took a drink from it
"Nothing" Gibbs said quietly, his tone heavy with worry. Farnell watched Gibbs for a moment before nodding sadly,
"I have my people looking out for her" He said quietly as he gathered up his coat. Gibbs looked up at him but said nothing as Farnell walked away without another word.
As Gibbs watched Farnell leave, he leant back in his chair and steepled his hands, as he looked around the silent bullpen. He had sent everyone home late last night with orders that they return early. They had been unable to do anything more than put out an APB on Abby and check the hospitals in the area. But they had turned nothing up, so everyone was coming in early this morning to go over the route the truck had taken. Gibbs had been unable to sleep, his mind alternating between his fears for Abby and what he had told Tony. He looked up as he heard footsteps and nodded at Liz and Tony who approached together.
"Anything yet Boss?" Tony asked as soon as he was close enough, his face lined with worry and tiredness. Gibbs sighed, standing up.
"Nothing. Where the hell is McGee?" Gibbs demanded hiding his fears behind anger.
"Here Boss" he heard McGee call out from behind him, having taken the stairs up to the bullpen. Gibbs turned and glared at him.
"I gassed the car" McGee stuttered under Gibbs's cold stare, "That's why I'm a few minutes late" he continued almost babbling. Gibbs stared a moment longer, then nodded at the younger agent
"Good thinking McGee" he said as he turned to impale the other two with his glare.
"Liz get the…" he started to bark, only to be interrupted by his phone ringing. He glared down at it as he flipped it open, and answered it with a curt "Gibbs."

………………………………

Abby finally reached the road and nearly wept. It stretched as far as she could see through the dense woods that she had wandered through last night. And travelling along it was a steady stream of cars and trucks in both directions. Abby just stood there on the verge and watched the traffic zoom past. After a few minutes she looked down at herself and wondered if anyone was likely to stop and help her. Abby grimaced at the sight of her ripped and filthy clothes and dreaded to think what her face and hair looked like. But she knew that she needed to get help and get back to Gibbs. Slowly and painfully she moved closer to the road, and using her good arm she slowly waved it back and forth, in an attempt to get someone's attention
"Be just my luck if it was some homicidal maniac" she muttered to herself, before grinning "Nah Gibbs won't be on this road" she said impishly "He'll be at his desk calling me not nice names."
After just a short time, a light blue sedan slowed down and stopped a few feet away from Abby. Abby stood for a moment and just stared at the car before she stumbled over to it. As she approached, a middle aged woman with suicide blonde hair got out of the drivers side.
"You ok honey?" the woman called out in a soft drawl "Y'all look like hell" she added on, crossing over to Abby and watching her with concern "have ya had an accident honey?" the blonde asked in concern
"sort of" Abby muttered, leaning gratefully on the woman, as she put her arm around Abby to steady her.
"Do you have a cell phone?" Abby asked as the woman helped her into the passenger seat.
"Sure have honey, and just as soon as you get settled y'all can call whoever you need to" the blonde told Abby with a smile. "And I'll get you to the hospital, cos you sure look beat up some" she said as her eyes skimmed along Abby's face.
Abby tried to smile her thanks, but it seemed that now she was safe all her energy was rapidly disappearing.
"Thanks for stopping" Abby whispered "Can I call Gibbs please?" she asked her voice fading away. The woman smiled at Abby before patting her hand and closing the passenger door. As she walked round the car, Abby briefly closed her eyes, opening them as she felt the woman get into the drivers seat. Abby watched as the woman lent over to the back seat and pulled her back over, reaching in and pulling out a small cell phone.
"Is Gibbs your man, honey?" the woman asked as she handed the phone over to Abby. Abby took it gratefully and began to punch in Gibbs's number
"No, my friend and my boss" Abby said waiting for Gibbs to answer as her rescuer started the car.
"Gibbs" Abby heard him answer curtly, a tear falling softly down her face at his familiar voice.