One by one, by Tweeter
A/N: Thank you for the encouraging and helpful comments. I added the spoiler notice about Twilight, I hadn't even thought of that! Again, this is unbetaed, I have no beta, unfortunately, so any mistakes are all mine. I tried to check for spelling, grammar is not my strong suit. I hope you enjoy this. Please read and review. This is just coming out, there's no plan, I hope I can finish it!
Chapter 2 - What have you done to him?
Gibbs approached the warehouse cautiously, signaling the others to go around back while he and McGee took positions on either side of the door. Nodding at the younger agent to get ready, Gibbs kicked the door open and dove in, staying low to the ground and sweeping the space with his eyes, ready to fire.
"Clear" he yelled. The air was thick with dust and smelled of oil and smoke. The warehouse was dark save for a single light in the middle of the room. There was a table directly under the light, with something lying on it, covered by a tarp. If Gibbs weren't so afraid of what he'd find under the tarp he'd laugh about the dramatic way Haswari had set this up. But that could be Tony lying under there, in who knows what condition, probably dead.
Mindful of any surprises that could be waiting, Gibbs approached the table cautiously.
"Tony," he called out softly. There was no response.
Reverting to his no-nonsense, Marine Gunnery Sergeant voice, "DiNozzo!"
Still nothing.
His heart beating rapidly, Gibbs reached for the tarp, pulling it away swiftly.
Lying on the table was a mannequin. The figure was wearing the clothes Tony had been wearing when he left work earlier. There was blood on the shirt, soaking the collar and upper portion.
"God damn it!" Gibbs threw the tarp to the ground, his face red and twisted in fury.
McGee went to the plastic figure and picked up a piece of paper that had been tucked into the shirt pocket.
"Boss, there's a note!"
Ari Haswari lowered the binoculars, smiling to himself. He had watched the black sedan come flying toward the warehouse, screeching to a halt by the assembled police cars.
He had sent his men on, each of them heading for their method of departure out of the country. They were going to meet up in Pakistan, to regroup and continue with their work of tearing down the fabric of the Western world.
Hawari remained behind, to witness the frustration of his enemy. He knew he could escape the blockade surrounding the area, he was much smarter than the local constabulary.
After Gibbs had shot him in the morgue, Ari made it his mission to find out everything he could about the hard-nosed Federal agent. He wanted to make Gibbs squirm, make him worry about the fate of his agent. He knew what kind of man Gibbs was, knew that he took full responsibility for the safety of his people. Killing the female agent had been the first step in his plan to destroy Gibbs. He knew that it wasn't just the professional agent, ex-Marine in him that would make Gibbs blame himself for Caitlin's death, but also the old-fashioned male chauvinism that was part of his persona. Not only had he not protected his team member, he let a woman be killed, protecting him. He failed her on more than one level.
Calmly, Ari took out his cell phone and dialed a number.
Before Gibbs could read the note a ringing sound came from the table. Tony's cell phone had been left under the mannequin.