Chapter 3 – Familiar Surroundings

"Bloody hell," Ducky moaned, from inside the cramped closet space. The doctor was slowly regaining consciousness, and he dearly wished he wasn't.

Gibbs was busy sniffing the air for clues, trying to think clearly through the haze of pain in his throbbing head.

Something was hinky.

Something was very very familiar about that smell.

"Damnit," he swore. "Duck, I know that scent. It's the one that…"

"Ex-wife number two always used to wear. I recognize it now, Jethro. What in God's name did you do to that woman to piss her off so completely?"

"I remind you, Ducky. She left me. Not the other way around."

"And not just piss her off, Jethro, but piss her off badly enough that she should hold such a tremendous grudge for all these years." Gibbs made a slight face as he heard the "tsk tsk" tone in Ducky's voice. "I don't know, Duck." He sighed.

"Surely Anthony and Timothy will realize that you're missing, and let's not forget Ziva... And I know that Mr. Palmer gets involved in his work at times, but even he can't remain oblivious to my absence forever."

"Didn't he have a date with McGee's sister tonight?" Gibbs had a questioning tone in his voice.

Ducky groaned and sighed. Maybe Jimmy could remain oblivious. But even so, he allowed himself the small hope that his usually trusty assistant M.E. would come to the realization sooner or later that nobody took a coffee break that lasted that long. Not even Jethro Gibbs.

"Our people are good at what they do, Jethro. Why, I'd be willing to bet that they'll come riding in on their white horses at any moment now, to rescue us."

"Tony doesn't like horses, Duck. And McGee is probably allergic. If Ziva rides a horse like she drives a car…"

"Well, then, Mr. Glass-half-empty. It's a good thing that at least one of us has faith in them." Ducky sounded almost huffy.

The two men lapsed into a silence, and soon enough, Gibbs allowed himself a small smile and eyeroll, as he heard a soft snoring beside him.

……………………………………………………………………

"Surprise!" Abby said, a decidedly happy tone in her voice. Tim's face lit up as he saw his wife and daughter enter the squad room through the elevator doors. He grinned broadly as Abby handed the baby to him, and took her back to his desk to sit down with her.

"Abby, you didn't happen to see Ducky today, did you?" Tony asked, only halfway distracted by Caitlin's arrival with her mother.

Abby shook her head. "Uh, no… I haven't seen Ducky since Tuesday night. Sorry. Why?"

Tim tore his attention away from the baby long enough to say, "He's been gone on a three hour coffee break. He left with Gibbs."

Ziva looked up. "And they didn't even realize it until now." Tony made a face at the Mossad Officer, and she returned it by sticking out her tongue and crossing her eyes.

"Jimmy called up about 5 minutes ago from Autopsy to report Ducky missing. We're trying to track them down on their phones, but no luck."

"Jimmy didn't realize it for three hours, either?" Abby shook her head.

"I suppose autopsy takes some intense concentration... But he's gotta look up from the body once in a while, to stretch his neck. Surely he'd look at the clock then."

"Not necessarily, Tony," Tim pointed out. "He's got a date with Jasmine tonight. He's in oblivious mode today. Work and play. No time to notice anything in between." Abby made a face. "You're one to talk, Timmy," she winked. Tim shook his head and blushed slightly.

"I think we should take this to the lab," Ziva finally said. "Perhaps we can trace them with their cell phones."

Abby grinned, as she turned to lead the way to the lab. She didn't need to be asked twice.