Chapter 6
Abby stood in the park, her black hair pulled into a ponytail, secured in place with a red scrunchy, a denim baseball cap covering her head and face. She looked very young, her face free from makeup, a few freckles splattered across her nose and checks. She wore jeans and sneakers with a black t-shirt proclaiming she didn't look for trouble, it just found her. She twirled her hair nervously, whilst her eyes scanned the park for her 'play date', making sure that she checked out the kids, whilst quietly checking out the men in the park. She had to keep reminding herself that she was supposed to think she was meeting a young girl, not a man in his thirties.
She knew that Gibbs was sitting in the van, watching and listening to everything that was happening, thanks to the video and sound equipment hidden in her clothing. She watched as Tony and Ziva walked hand in hand not far from where she stood. They looked as if they really were a couple, she grinned slightly knowing that she would get hours of fun out of the pair of them from this. McGee was sitting not far away, his clothes and appearance that of a homeless guy. Abby thought he really looked the part, she wondered if he smelt it too. She remembered the argument that Tony and he had had, over which one of them should be Ziva's 'date' and which one the homeless guy. They had settled it very maturely, with a game of paper, cut scissors.
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Tony and Ziva strolled hand in hand; their eyes constantly moving, checking out everyone they passed.
"Gibbs could get arrested" Tony said suddenly, looking over to where Abby was standing.
"What?" Ziva asked in exasperation, wishing that Tony and McGee had been the lovers and she the homeless person for about the tenth time.
"Doing what he and Abby do, with her looking like that" he said, his head jutting out in Abby's position.
"She isn't really a child!" Ziva declared indignantly, looking at Tony as if he had just stepped out of the nearest asylum.
"Shut up DiNozzo" they both heard through their earpieces, from McGee "Gibbs is listening" he informed them in a hushed tone over the airwaves, as if trying to stop Gibbs from hearing his participation in the conversation.
"Good Advice" everyone heard Gibbs say very carefully over the radio. "Because I will kill you very slowly if you carry on DiNozzo" he warned his voice deadly even over the radio. Ziva smiled in glee at Tony, before linking her arm with his, her expression saying what she was thinking without any words being spoken.
"Heads up" McGee said over his radio, "your 2 o'clock Abby." He said, catching sight of their suspect.
Everybody tensed, ready for whatever was going to happen. Abby turned slightly, getting him in sight, without making it obvious. McGee stumbled drunkenly from the bench, stopping to pick up a cigarette butt, using the action to keep the suspect under surveillance without making it obvious.
As he walked towards Tony and Ziva, Ziva quickly spun into Tony's arms, her lips locking onto his, so that she could keep the suspect in sight as he passed behind them.
"He's heading straight for Abby" she whispered seemingly into Tony's ear, knowing that Gibbs could hear her.
"I have him" Gibbs responded, stepping out of the park maintenance van.
He watched as the suspect crossed the grass to Abby, who ignored him sullenly, as only kids do, her eyes seeming to scan the area behind him as if looking for someone.
Gibbs had to admit that she was doing a great job so far, and that Tony was correct, looking like that she really could get him arrested.
"Hi, are you Abigail?" the man in front of Abby asked with a gentle smile. Abby stared at him with narrowed eyes.
"Yeah" she said somewhat hesitantly, with what she hoped also sounded like a kid's bravado.
"I'm Ashley's dad" he said with a friendly smile, keeping his distance slightly, as if he didn't want to spook the young girl before him. "I found out that she was meeting someone from the internet," he continued with a slight frown as if he was cross with his daughter. "I was slightly concerned that it might not really be a young girl but some weirdo, so I made her wait in the van till I checked it out." He continued with a laugh, pointing vaguely to a van on the other side of the park. "But you are obviously who you said you were" he said happily. He frowned for a moment as he stared at her. "Do your parents know your meeting someone from the internet?" he asked in seemingly genuine concern, at this young girl's foolish action.
"Yeah, they're totally cool about it" Abby said, darting her eyes to the left, knowing that when someone lies they usually look to the left.
The man smiled knowingly, the way a parent does when they catch a child out in a little white lie.
"Ok then, come on over and meet Ashley, then I'll leave you two to get acquainted" he said warmly, turning and heading back the way he had come, looking over at Abby as she hesitated.
"It's ok, just to that van over there, you don't have to come close, but Ashley wont hear me if I call out from here." He told her reassuringly. Abby looked over at the van then smiled, before she bounced over to his side
"Sweet" she said happily, knowing that the team would be following her every move, that they would keep her safe from harm.
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Gibbs watched as Abby walked across the park with the suspect, he fought down the urge to run over there and pull her away, knowing that this was the best chance they had to catch the bastard and put him away, for a very long time. Even if he wasn't the one that had kidnapped Sarah Jane, he was still a monster who preyed on young girls.
"Keep them in sight" he said softly into his mike, knowing that he didn't really need to tell the team that, but doing it anyway, leaving nothing to chance.
Gibbs looked over to the van in the distance and suddenly sprinted around the outside of the park. He lost sight of Abby and the suspect near the play area, but allowed his belief in his team to carry him on. He slowed his sprint to a gentle walk as he approached the van from the front, rather than Abby's side approach. He could just make out Abby still walking calmly with the suspect, still some distance away. Gibbs quickly scanned inside the van, noting that there was no one else inside, no supposed child but also no accomplice.
He ducked down out of sight of Abby and the suspect, knowing that if he made a grab for Abby there would be no way he would get away with her.
"They're approaching fast" he heard Tony say into the radio, knowing that they had all worked out his action, that he had trained them well. Gibbs could hear Abby chatting away with the suspect, keeping herself in character all the time. As they approached the van he held himself steady, his gun drawn and ready. He calmed his heart rate as he had been trained so long ago to do; he switched off his emotions and allowed his training and instincts to take over. This was a matter of timing. The suspect had to make a grab for Abby, one that was clear in its intent, and so he and the team had to react fast to prevent escape and harm to Abby. Timing as always was crucial. And Gibbs had no doubt that they would succeed. He hadn't trained them to be the best for nothing.
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Abby could feel her heart pounding as they approached the van. She knew that the team were there, that no way would Gibbs let anything happen to her, but it didn't stop her heart racing in fear. God she would give anything for a Caf Pow now she thought.
Abby chatted away, glad that she talked when she was nervous, knowing that it usually drove Gibbs insane, but also knowing that it was something kids often did, so it kept her in character when her brain was turning to jelly.
She watched the van loom ahead of them, and heard the man beside her call out to Ashley. He stopped when there was no response and looked at Abby quizzically, before stepping to the van side door.
"I bet she's wandered off" he said turning with a frown to scan the park. He reached inside his pocket and pulled out a cell phone.
"Can you just have a look in the back window, see if she's in there while I try her cell?" he told her with a quick smile, concern etched on his face. Abby paused for a moment, her eyes wide, not sure if she should. A picture of Gibbs's face flashed before her, furious that she had put herself in danger, his stern warning echoing in her mind, then an image of Sarah Jane flashed before her eyes and before she knew what she was doing her feet carried her to the back of the van.
She didn't hear the man coming from behind, she didn't feel the hand chop against the back of her neck, or his hands catch her as she dropped unconscious into them.
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Gibbs listened to Abby and the suspect, completely calm. He pictured them in his minds eye, accurately able to tell where they both we're standing. He heard Abby move to the back of the van, the man following silently. He heard a short sharp sound and then a slight scuffle as if someone was catching something heavy, then the door to the van opening.
He silently positioned himself, knowing from the layout of the van that the man had to come out to get into the drivers seat. He positioned himself so that he wasn't visible from the interior of the van, that he would only become apparent when the man slammed the doors shut.
He caught sight of Tony and Ziva, standing a short distance away, at the ready. McGee was also in position at the front of the van, his hand holding his gun at his side, hidden from view from the casual observer.
He nodded with satisfaction that his team were ready for any and all eventualities.
He heard the suspect backing out of the van and positioned his gun. He watched as a hand came round the van, and slammed it shut. He watched silently as the suspect first saw the gun aimed at him, then the man behind it staring coldly at him. Gibbs watched the surprise flick across his face, followed by fear and anger, and then the need to flee etched itself tellingly on his face. He turned ready to run, only to be greeted by Tony and Ziva, both levelling their guns at his head.
"Go ahead" Gibbs said calmly "Run for it" he continued, his voice so much deadlier for the calm. "Give me a reason to shoot you" he said, wanting desperately to put a bullet in him, not to kill him but to injure him and allow Gibbs a vent for his anger.
He watched with something close to disappointment as the man's shoulders slumped and he raised his hands in defeat. Gibbs felt McGee come and stand silently next to him, taking over his position of cover, freeing Gibbs to go check on the unconscious Abby.
