Authors notes - Thanks to all my readers and reviewers. This chapter is a few days late, sorry about that. Had a few computer problems. A few bad words in this chapter, e.mail me if you need a safe chapter. Otherwise, enjoy. Individual review responses at the end of the chapter.

Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-One

The sun was just coming up as Gibbs entered the abandoned warehouse from the first time they had met this case.

'I brought coffee,' Aurora appeared from the shadows as always, this time carrying two Starbucks cups. She handed him one and he took it, noting her injuries.

'Tony said you were hurt,' he said simply. 'What happened?'

'Job hazards,' she muttered.

'More then that,' he took a sip of his coffee. 'So what do we do next?'

'Is Tony safe?' Aurora asked Gibbs. 'Priority one,'

'He's safe,' Gibbs assured her.

'How safe?' Aurora asked him seriously.

'Safe Aurora. We have some of America's finest protecting him along with the fact that I'm going to put myself, Cait and McGee on rotating duties to stay with him to be just that extra bit sure. Tony will have his own weapon so aside from the extra hired protection he can protect himself,' Gibbs raised an eyebrow. 'Is it true that he sleeps with a gun under his pillow?'

Aurora grinned. 'Yeah, one of the things I taught him,' she smiled slightly.

'Really?' he nodded. 'Funny I thought he was bluffing when he said that. You know wanting to scare the crap out of the guy.'

'No, it's true,' Aurora said.

'Hmm,' Gibbs nodded, DiNozzo going up another notch in his estimation.

'I know he's a light sleeper.'

'Yes he is,' Aurora nodded. Although not when he's exhausted she thought.

'Well rest assured that he is safe and that nobody can get to him. Now lets talk'

Aurora nodded. 'Okay,' she nodded. 'What do you want to know?'

'I'm going to the place where this goon was to drop Tony off so to speak. Before I go I want to know if there is anything I need to be aware of. Anything you haven't shared?'

'Nothing,' she told him honestly. 'Just be careful and don't go alone,'

'And whom do you suggest I take with me. Cait?'

'I can go along if you want,' she said. 'You need someone good Gibbs. And no offence, I don't know what Cait is capable of,'

'Well she was considered good enough to protect the President. ' Gibbs defended his agent.

'Your choice Gibbs,' Aurora shrugged.

'No I'd appreciate having you on board too I was just saying that Cait is a good agent. Probably better then Tony if I was honest.'

Aurora gave him a hard look that might have made a lesser man turn tail.

'Hey look don't take me the wrong way, he is one of my top people but it's just that sometimes he can lose a little focus that's all.' Gibbs didn't know why he was trying to justify his comment to this woman.

'Not when it matters most Gibbs, he'd never let deliberately let anyone down. I know that much.'

Gibbs nodded slightly. 'If you want to come along to check out this place, I'd appreciate having you on board,' he said. 'As long as you promise not to go off on me and follow your own agenda,'

'Promise,' she assured him

'Should I believe you?' he asked with a small smile.

'You have my word,' she paused. 'I swear on Tony's life,' she gave him a look that said "Would I joke about that?"

Gibbs nodded. 'Alright, I believe you,' he said. 'Considering you love DiNozzo, I believe you,' he sad, wondering what her response would be.

'Yeah well what makes you think that Gibbs,' she finally took her first sip of coffee although Gibbs had all but finished his.

'Because I'm not blind or deaf,' he told her.

'Whatever,' she shrugged. 'Well come on we have places to be don't we?'

Gibbs nodded as they left the warehouse.

Tony slumped down in on the lounge of the safe house and picking up the remote he flicked through the channels but nothing appealed to him, how could people watch this daytime drivel was beyond him. It was enough to make you insane. He stood and walked to the shelf that had a selection of CD and DVDs and flipped through the collection

He sighed softly. He knew he had to be here to be safe but damn it, he should be helping with the investigation, helping these bastards who were after Aurora.

He finally selected an action movie he hadn't seen and put it in the player before he went and sat back down with a sigh. He and his minders all tensed and went for their weapons when they heard a noise outside until the code knock came and the door opened, Agent McGee entering. 'Gibbs asked me to pick up some stuff for you Tony, he set down several shopping bags. 'Cait told me your size,' he gave Tony a What is she like? look.

'How would Cait know my size?' Tony muttered, ignoring the questioning look McGee gave him.He looked through the bags noting that most of it would fit okay.

'No idea,' he grinned.

'Get you mind out of the gutter McGee' Tony shook his head not really in the mood.

'I said nothing,' he muttered.

'Sorry,' Tony shook his head. 'I'm just a bit snappy. '

'Understandable,' he said.

'Thanks,' Tony replied. 'Most of this looks good,' he told the other man. 'Gee did Gibbs let the moths out of the expense account for something?'

McGee laughed. 'Guess he figured with everything...' he smiled.

'Yeah I guess he did,' Tony nodded before they settled down to watch the movie.

Meanwhile Gibbs and Aurora had arrived at the address Nick had given them.

'A house,' Aurora muttered as they approached theone story place. It looked fairly well cared for, mowed lawns, modest garden. 'Wonder if anyone lives here,' she muttered.

'Maybe, or someone is using it as a base, a hide out,' Gibbs said, the pair drawing their guns.

The pair moved to the front of the house, watching for the slightest bit of movement in the area. Gibbs moved to the front door and knocked, standing to the side. Too many people had died from standing at a front door and the person inside has shot them through the door.

They listened, not hearing anyone inside. 'Clear?' Gibbs mouthed.

'Only one way to find out,' Amaya said, grabbing a small device from her pocket, which looked like a mini cappuccino froth gadget but she put it into the lock and there was a small buzz before Gibbs heard the door unlock and he kicked it open, yelling "NCIS" as they moved into the house.

The hallway led onto a lounge-room to the left and a study to the right, both of which were clear. The house had bare minimum furniture, which limited the places for someone to hide.

The lounge room led into the kitchen and dining area. Once they were sure those rooms were clear, they moved into the end part of the house, finding two bedrooms, both of which were free of anyone.

'Looks like we're alone,' Aurora muttered. 'What about a basement?' she asked. 'These places usually have them,'

They moved to the back yard and there was an entrance against the house to the basement. Aurora opened the door, feeling for a light switch and turned it on, the pair moving down the wooden stairs to check it out.

It was a fairly big room, which was pretty much empty, except for a chair in the middle of the room, am old mattress and a cupboard, which upon further inspection, turned out to be empty. 'Nada,' Aurora muttered.

'But someone was probably here at some time,' Gibbs said. 'We do a sweep of the house, see if we can pull up anything,' he said. 'We start here and move back up top,'

Aurora nodded, re-holstering her gun and took out a pair of latex gloves from her pocket. 'Lets do this then,' she muttered.

The pair moved around the room, looking for... something. Neither were quite sure what, just anything that could give them a clue, a lead on Jason.

'There was a camera here,' Aurora said.

'How can you tell?' Gibbs moved over to her.

'Dust marks on the floor,' she pointed down. 'Three clear small circles are marked here, where a tripod would have stood,' she said, Gibbs taking a photo of the marks.

'Well spotted,' he nodded.

Aurora nodded, spotting a small bin in a dark corner. She saw a tissue with a bit of blood on it and she put it in an evidence bag.

They headed upstairs and starts in the study. Aurora found a thumbtack on the floor and bagged it. 'Perfect for a print,' she told Gibbs. 'How do you put a thumbtack into the wall?' she said, mimicking the action of putting a pin.

Gibbs nodded. The moved into the lounge room, bagging the TV remote and a pen which they found under the couch.

The kitchen was clean but they bagged the cutlery. 'Just in case,' Aurora said. There were only 10 pieces of cutlery but each was a possible for prints.

The bedrooms were bare, except for a bed and cupboard in each.

They both jumped as they heard a noise on the front porch and instantly drew their guns, moving toward the front door of the house as the noise continued.

Aurora reached for the door handle as they reached the front of the house and threw the door open, hoping to catch their visitor by surprise. They saw nothing and it was only when they looked down, they saw their visitor was a black and white patched cat who was sunning itself on the porch.

'Fuck,' Aurora growled as the cat looked back at them , swinging its tail and gave a stretch and a faint meow as if disinterested and put its head back down on its paws.

Gibbs smiled slightly. 'Lets get out of here, the rest of the house is clear,' he said and Aurora nodded, the pair locking up before they left.

Thanks all for reading.

skirik - You're welcome, thanks you reading and reviewing

jtbwriter - Yep, our boy is scared and with good reason to be.I love writing the interactions between Tony/Gibbs and Tony/Cait. They all have interesting relationships with each other. Glad you like Aurora, she's great fun to write :)

southerncrossgirl - Thanks for reading and reviewing. The end is awhile off yet though.

M/L Only - Yep, it's one of my favourite looks as well.

rozzy07 - lol. Here's another chapter. :P I try to update at least once a week and so far it's working well :) Might post a litle quicker toward the end. Either that or really drag it out then :P Thanks for reading.