Author's Note: How do y'all feel about the Present Tense Third Person format? Also, I just want you to know that I put alot of effort into making this storing interesting, captivating & accurate. I would love for you to leave me a quick review. Thanks!
WARNING: This chapter may contain violence and/or obscene language.
ooooooOOOoooooo
Tony parks the van on Emerson St & the team walks to 102 Delafield Place. Its early morning & they want to suss out the situation before Rainer's meeting time. After ringing the doorbell a few times, Tony expertly picks the lock & enters, followed by Ziva & McGee.
"This case just keeps getting messier," Ziva says, as they look down at the blood stained carpet. Nearby lies a brass ornament in the shape of a frog, covered in blood.
"Let's split up & search the house," Tony says quietly. "Be careful, there could be someone in here."
They draw their guns & search the entire house, regrouping in the main entrance.
"Something hinky is going on here, gentlemen. I found a room packed with electronics. They look stolen." Ziva says. She withdraws the camera from its bag, but Tony quickly snatches it out of her hands.
"As senior Field Agent I will be the one to delegate duties. Ziva, you will process those stolen goods. And McGee, you have the lucky job of collecting blood samples & dusting for prints in the lounge room."
"Tony, with Gibbs away we're down one pair of hands. Perhaps we should call in assistance if we're going to have this scene processed before 12pm?"
"That's just what I was thinking, Probie. I'll call Ducky to see if he can collect samples of that blood." Tony flips open his cell phone & calls Dr. Mallard. After a few rings he answers.
"I'm sorry, Tony, I have four autopsies to perform before the end of the day – Abby, will you stop that? Oh, that girl!" Ducky's voice quietens. "With you lot gone, she's been driving me mad all day. Why don't you have her assist you?"
At that, Tony could hear Abby squeal with delight. "Ducky, that's a great idea! I think I'm going mad being stuck in my lab all day." Suddenly her voice is right in Tony's ear. "What do you say, Tony? Can I be your trainee Field Agent for the day?"
"Sounds good to me, Abs," Tony says. "Get here ASAP. 102 Delafield Place. Park on Emerson."
Tony heads out to search the perimeter while McGee gets to work in the lounge room. After a short while, there is an enthusiastic knocking on the front door. McGee opens it so see a beaming Abby, wearing the NCIS uniform & carrying her evidence kit.
"I'm so excited to be working with you, Timmy!" She says in a low, excited voice. When she sees that he is alone in the room, she puts her kit down & gives him a crushing hug. He returns it with a loving kiss on the cheek.
"We'd better get to work, Abs." McGee says.
""Yessir," Abby says with a smile and a salute.
Abby bends down & opens her kit, removing the items she requires to take samples of the evidence.
McGee returns to where he was dusting for prints. As he walks by the coffee table, he knocks a mug onto the floor, splashing coffee down the leg of his pants.
"Damn it!" He shouts. "I'll be back in a minute, I'm going to the bathroom to wash this off."
"I'll take charge of the team," Abby says, looking around the empty room. "Where are the others, anyway?"
"Tony's searching the perimeter & Ziva is upstairs processing evidence."
McGee exits the room, leaving Abby humming contently as she places the evidence samples into bags.
Just then, the front door opens. Petty Officer Rainer's mouth drops open at the site of Abby in the house. Quick as lightening, he withdraws a gun from under his jacket.
"Who are you?" he says menacingly as he closes the door.
"I have to tell you, sailor, I don't like having guns pointed at my face." Abby says, slowly standing up.
"Don't move!" Rainer yells. As Abby stands, he notices the letters 'NCIS' on her jacket.
At that moment, McGee walks into the room. Seeing Rainer with his gun pointed at Abby, McGee's hand shoots to his holster – but not fast enough. Rainer grabs Abby & drags her toward him, locking his elbow around her neck & pressing the gun to her temple.
"How many of you are there?" Rainer growls. There is a look of panic in his eyes – NCIS is onto him, but he won't allow himself to be caught. He doesn't care how many people he has to kill to escape.
McGee's mind is racing & his blood is boiling. How dare this despicable bastard threaten his Abby! McGee's fists are clenched & his eyes are locked on Rainer. Rainer's lips are moving but McGee cannot hear anything except the blood rushing in his ears. He wants to scream, to rush over there & rip Rainer's throat out with his bare hands.
McGee looks at Abby. Her eyes have an intense anger in them. He knows that being helpless to save her own life must be infuriating to her. The gun presses harder to her temple. Her eyes squeeze shut as Rainer's arm tightens around her neck.
Sunlight floods the dim room as the front door opens. Momentarily distracted, Rainer's eyes move to the door.
In a split second, McGee draws his gun & blasts a round aimed at Rainer's face. It hits him right between the eyes, splattering Abby with blood. With his arm still around her neck, Rainer drags Abby down as he hits the floor, dead.
Tony stands stunned at the front door, tiny blood droplets on his face.
"What the hell is going on here?" He demands.
"You tell me, Tony!" McGee shouts. "What kind of an investigation are you running here, where the suspect can walk right into the crime scene? This place should be secure!"
McGee rushes to Abby & helps her up, putting her head to his chest & clutching her tightly.
Tony is speechless. His suspect is dead, they've lost their only lead to the man who Rainer assaulted. They don't even know if he is alive. They don't know much of anything. The thought of calling the Director & asking for Gibbs to come back fills Tony with dread. He would never be trusted with a case again. Tony reluctantly flips open his cell phone…
