Kate wondered how it would be if she saw the face of the one who opened the trunk. Would she see on his or hers face that Tony was there? How would she react? She hated for not being allowed to act like a family member who could show their true emotions. Kate didn't want to try to be calm and act like a NCIS agent because that was the last thing she felt like right now but it was all she was. She looked around and it felt like everything went in slow motion. From the few steps the forensics people took to every syllable which came out of Abby's mouth. Kate wasn't focused on anything but her body was focused on feeling numb. Concentration was needed here but she couldn't even turn her head so she would stop looking at the car. Right now the car was the most important thing in her life. Never had a car had that kind of meaning to her and never had she ever imagined it would.

"Kate, Caitlin…"Abby said after trying to get her attention for a while now.

"Uhh…" Kate told her not really knowing what came out of her mouth.

"Let's get back to the car. They'll let us know there." Abby told her. She had seen how she had frozen up more and more the closer they got to open the trunk. She feared a break down of some sorts and this wasn't the right place for it to happen.

"No." Kate said partly because she couldn't move and partly because she wanted to find out immediately if he was there.

"I'm here." Abby said while putting her arm around her comforting her. Kate felt that but it was still hard for her to comprehend what was still happening. She was just so focused on this one thing.

……………………

The trunk was opened. It was a simple as that but the team felt it was the opposite.

"No one is here." One man yelled.

The sigh of relief was let out by most of the people surrounding the car.

Kate then hugged Abby. It was the only thing she could do without anyone thinking she acted strange. They stood there for a while just hugging without saying a word. It was the best way of consoling each other.

"You were right." Kate then said to her.

"About what?" Abby asked but she knew what Kate was talking about.

"Everything…I love him and I don't want him to quit his job…I shouldn't quit my job…We need to find him." Kate told her friend. Abby was really glad that finally Kate admitted to herself and somebody else about her true feelings.

During the hug Gibbs had walked to them to say they were heading back to the office. They were so wrapped up in everything that they didn't hear him come and they didn't notice Gibbs heard everything. He knew he had to put that aside because his first priority was to find Tony. As much as he thought about how much he had invested in his two best agents he needed to just focus on finding Tony. Being human isn't always the easiest thing, Gibbs thought.

He slowly moved away from them and it was quite easy since there were so many people in this small area.

………….

Gibbs waited a few seconds before approaching them. He told them to get in the car because the search and rescue mission was still on and they needed to get back to the office.

……….Two hours later………

"It's 4. 15 am. No new update. Anyone want coffee?" McGee asked.

Most of them were too tired to say anything and that meant no one wanted coffee. All of their energy had been wasted on finding clues about the kidnappers' whereabouts but they hadn't come closer finding out just that one such important piece of fact.

Then suddenly a phone rang. McGee picked it up and listened to what the person on the other line said.

"A body has been found. A man around Tony's age and who fits his description was found in a park. We need to get someone to check if it is Tony. I hate to ask but who should do it?" McGee asked.

"I'll do it." Gibbs volunteered. He felt it was his duty since it was him who was the boss.

"I'll go with you." McGee quickly said.

"Me too." Abby and Kate then said at the same time.

"I need you here. McGee is coming." Gibbs commanded.

Both Kate and Abby were unhappy about the decision but didn't show it at all.

………..Back with the kidnappers………

"We did the right thing, right?" one of them asked the other.

"Yeah, we did. Dumping him was the best we could do. We have other things to think about." The man replied. They weren't alone in the house. A few other men were there too. You could see guns lying openly and other things which you could associate with criminals.

"No more talk about this. What's done is done." Another man then said from the other side of the room. No remorse was shown from any of the people in the room.

………………..At NCIS………

The phone rang again. This time Gibbs picked it up. He didn't say much and even if everyone was listening in to what he was saying no one knew what the conversation was about.

"I think we all need to get to the hospital…Agent Dinozzo is there." Gibbs told them.

"Have they identified him already? Did they match his picture with that guy?" Abby asked him wanting to know for sure. Kate felt for the first time that Tony was really dead. A body and Gibbs said he was in the hospital. Now when the tears and anger should have come other things came instead. The feelings of losing him and now being lost herself.

"He's alive. Found in an alley." Gibbs explained.

…………..At the hospital………..

Except from some bruises, a broken collar bone, a broken rib and some scratches Tony was fine. Everyone had been there to see him. After only seeing them for a few minutes the doctor said they had to go back to the waiting room. He was alone again. Alone with his thoughts. He didn't want to be alone. Tony got up from his bed and walked out to the waiting room.

"Have you found them?" Tony asked them.

"What are you doing here? You should be resting!" Kate immediately said.

"It was boring. So answer my question!" Tony demanded.

"Not yet but we have some clues." McGee answered.

"Kate can walk you back to your room." Abby then quickly blurted out. This was the opportunity they needed. Now they could talk alone. Kate looked at Abby who ushered her to go up and so she did. Slowly Kate and Tony went back to his room.

"Did you hear me while I was in the trunk?" Tony asked.

"Yes."

"I meant it. This isn't your fault." Tony told her while Kate helped him into his bed.

"I realised I don't want you to leave." Kate told him. She knew baby steps were better than no steps at all.

"I realised something too. Actually I realised two things." Tony told her. He went up from the bed and looked to see if she wanted the same thing as he did.

"And that is?" Kate asked. Both came closer and closer and just as they were about to kiss…

"Sorry, but Mr Gibbons needs to lie here too." A nurse said rolling him into the room.

Tony looked at them and made a quick decision. He kissed Kate and she kissed him back. None of them cared who else was in the room. Then they broke the kiss and stood there.

"What did you realise?" Kate then asked.

"I love you and I hope you'll come with me." Tony told her.

"Come with you?" Kate asked surprised.

"To wherever I'm moving." Tony explained.

"I'm not leaving NCIS." Kate said to him.

"It's a problem then." Tony told her feeling a bit worried.

"It is. I love you and I love my job." Kate told him.

"I love you too. One of us has to make a choice." Tony continued.