Sorry it took me so long! I was away…and sick…and away…

Chapter Thirteen

All that tiny hope vanished. Like a candle waning, and finally flickering out. Tony knew his heart was sinking. How little it was, all that hope was gone.

She was dead. They should not have believed Haswari. How could they have been such idiots? To believe a terrorist? The agony over his stupidity was more than he could bear. McGee was sitting still, face white with anger. Not at his stupidity for believing Haswari, but for convincing himself—maybe even convincing Tony and his boss-that Caitlyn Todd was alive. His gut feeling was wrong. He had failed—he had failed Kate, he had failed in his feelings. He had failed as an agent.

Gibbs, too, was sitting, struggling to control hi absolute rage—at Ari and at himself. But it was too much. He jumped up, despite the men with Uzi's, and lunged at Haswari, who merely smiled and took a step back. He allowed his three companions to subdue Gibbs and wrestle him to the ground.

Ari spoke. "Not to say I don't regret the death of such a lovely young woman. But I really didn't

think you'd fall—"

Gibbs interrupted him. "Oh, no? Then why did you tell us? Admit it, Ari, you knew it would get us here!"

Haswari looked thoughtful. "Amazing, how well you read my mind. We must think quite alike."

Then they all heard the unmistakable sound of shouts.

"FBI!" they rang thorough the building. \

The three NCIS agents felt a wave of relief—and for the first time in a long while, a touch of hope. Who would be thankful for the FBI, except at a time like this?

Everything was going to work out, now. They were saved. But even more importantly, Haswari was captured. He would finally face the justice that the United States government had labored so hard for. With that would come the revenge over Kate. Over Ducky. Over Gerald. Over Gibbs. With that America could again feel secure. They, as federal agents, now could feel that they would be safe. That their friends, their family, and their country could be safe.

Gibbs focused his triumphant face on Haswari, who did not seem the least disturbed as he spoke to his companions in Arabic. They nodded stonily, and Ari disappeared.

Gibbs let out a yell."Up here! Quickly!"

A thunder of feet followed his shouts, and soon a dozen men appeared.

"Forget us! He went that way!" Gibbs pointed, and without questioning who the "he" was, a flurry of the SWAT team flew by. They knew whom they were searching for.

The four men they left quickly took hold of the situation. Taking Haswari's men, they allowed Gibbs, Dinozzo, and McGee to finally stand.

A young member of the team that had followed Haswari returned. "There is no one, boss." He spoke to a man that was bent over Fornell. "This place is empty, 'cept for us."

The man spoke into his radio. "You can send the paramedics up. Coast is clear. I repeat, send the paramedics up!"

Fornell was carried off to the waiting ambulance, and Tony took the opportunity to grab the busy leader of the team by the shoulder. "How'd you know to come? I don't get the impression Fornell had a whole SWAT team as back up."

The man awkwardly glanced around. "Not at the liberty to inform you, sir." Was all he said. "Can I get your boss, you, and the other agent to wait outside now?"

Gibbs was staring blankly at nothing. Tony knew that look—he was more than furious and miffed. He was angry—with himself. Once again the terrorist had outsmarted them. Escaped!

"Hey, boss, you all right?"

Gibbs probably hadn't even noticed the blood that trickled from his own face where he had been roughed up by the three men. At least they were now in custody. Maybe, just maybe, something could be gleaned from them about the location of their cruel and intelligent boss.

Gibbs' face did not show that he even comprehended Tony's question. He was far from that state of registration. But he did meet Tony's eyes.

"He's gone, Dinozzo. Gone again," he said, his voice saying more than his words. For the first time in his life, he heard the desperation and hopelessness in his boss' voice. And it scared him—more than anything he had yet heard or seen.

………………………………

It wasn't until they were safely back at head quarters, escorted by an agent under Fornell, that anyone of them dared to speak.

It was McGee who began the conversation by muttering to himself. "So close—just so close," he said the shock of the knowledge of Kate and the supernatural escape of the man they sought evident in his voice and looks.

Tony voiced his own concern. "Boss, are we ever going to get him?"

The question was innocent enough.

But it turned Gibbs into a fiercely mad boss. "You ever question me like that again and you'll be looking for work!"

……………………….

Smiling sadly, the figure watched, protected by a legion of stern looking, official men with lethal guns and tiny headsets. No fun banter in this group. Work was work. No time for play, that was for sure. The figure hugged the jacket closer. They were safe, that was true. The NCIS agents were safe. Yet it didn't bring much comfort. Who knew what could--would--happen next. Hopefully the fears would not come true. The wind blew through the figures' bones, causing the jacket to come closer.

It was only a matter of time before another one of them was taken down--and that time was drawing nearer.