Chapter 7

"Why in the hell did you have your creds on you?" Tony said angrily as he tried to break through his bonds. They'd been back in the barn for about a half hour, and Tony was trying desperately to break free.

"I always carry them on me. You never know when we might need them."

"This time it's going to get you killed by a psycho hillbilly redneck," Tony said, pulling on his restraints. It was to no avail. Jimmy Cobb had found something stronger to handcuff him to. "Damn it, I can't break it. That moron finally did something right," Tony said, falling back to his knees. "Any bright ideas, Probie?"

"I'm thinking."

"Think faster. Those assholes are going to come out here and shoot us."

"We wouldn't be in this mess if the damn car hadn't broken down," Tim retorted, attempting to pull at his own restraints.

"You're still going on about the goddamned car? You have to let that go, McGee. That's the least of our problems right now."

"How did you even find these lunatics?" Tim asked.

"I stopped to rest because it was so damned hot, and apparently I was sitting in their cornfield, and that isn't acceptable."

"They were going to kill you for resting in their cornfield?"

"Sick, isn't it?"

"I'll say. These guys are crazy."

"At least we agree on something for once on this trip."

Tim looked at Tony, smiling pathetically, and sighed.

"I'm sorry, Tony. This whole thing is actually my fault. If I hadn't walked away from the car, you wouldn't have had to go alone to look for help."

"It was a stupid fight, wasn't it?"

Tim chuckled.

"Yeah, it was."

The sound of a barn door creaking open silence them. They heard footsteps in the hay-covered floor, approaching the horse stall they were being held in. Tim held his breath as the beam of a flashlight scanned the horse stall.

"McGee? DiNozzo?"

"Boss! You found us!" Tony said excitedly.

"Shut up before they hear you, DiNozzo."

Gibbs unlocked the cuffs on Tony's wrists, while John freed Tim.

"I thought you weren't going to come onto this property," Tim said with a small smile.

"Did you think I was going to leave your ass here?" John said. "Never leave a man behind, Tim."

The phrase got Gibbs' attention.

"Were you a Marine, John?"

"Retired Corporal. You?"

"Gunny."

"Can we please exchange war stories later and get out of here?" Tony whispered.

"Come on," Gibbs said. They turned just in time to hear the barn door open.

"Not so fast, gentleman."

J.P. Cobb and five other men held guns on them.

"You sure you want to do this, Cobb?" Gibbs said, raising his own weapon.

"More than anything."

"You may want to rethink that."

"And who's going to stop me? You, or that old man?"

"I'm done with you and your brothers terrorizing everyone, JP," John said authoritatively. "Your Daddy raised you boys better than this."

"My Daddy didn't hesitate to beat the shit out of me and Jake every time we stepped a toe out of line. We counted our blessings when he drank himself to death. Don't you stand there and tell me how much of a father he was! You don't know my family at all!"

"JP," Gibbs chimed in, taking a step forward. "You and your brother won't do a lot of time for the kidnapping. You don't want to add murder to your rap sheet, do you?"

J.P. started to shake. His hand felt sweaty, and his knees weak.

"Tell your friends to lower their weapons," Gibbs said. "Let's talk this over like men. No one has to die tonight, okay?"

"No! No one gets out of here unless I say!"

"JP, he's right," came Jimmy Cobb's voice from next to his brother. "We don't need to do this."

"That fed killed Jake! He needs to suffer!"

"Jake would still be alive if you hadn't taken his friend hostage! I told you he was harmless, but you didn't listen! Daddy always said you didn't listen good!"

JP turned on his brother, and pistol whipped him.

"Don't you dare bring him into this," he said, looming over his brother. "You're the only one he never hit. He loved you, and he hated me and Jack! You always got away with everything, you little shit!"

"JP! Stop!" Gibbs yelled, but he was too late. The shot reverberated throughout the large barn. The barn was silent as JP Cobb dropped to his knees by his brother's lifeless body.

"I'm so sorry," he said, sobs forming. "Jimmy I'm so sorry!" JP pulled his brother close to him and cried into his shirt.

Gibbs looked at JP's friends.

"I suggest you all drop your weapons. Anyone still holding one by the time the Sheriff gets here will be charged as an accessory."

Everyone set down their guns as sirens blared outside the barn. John went to the door to let in the Sheriff and his backup. Tony and Tim stepped forward, and stood next to Gibbs.

"What in the hell just happened here?" Tony asked.

"He was emotionally unstable. He probably would have shot anyone that stood up to him."

"How did you know what to say to him, Boss?" Tim asked.

"John and I talked on the way in. He used to work with their father. He knew about what was going on in the Cobb house, and like a lot of others, kept his mouth shut. Apparently, this family has been terrorizing a lot of people for a long time."

The Sheriff and his men seemed to have everyone in custody at this point.

"Let's get out of here."

"What about my car?"

"Already being towed back to DC. We have a long drive ahead of us to discuss just what the hell happened between you two to get yourselves into a mess like this."

Gibbs stalked out of the barn to talk to the Sheriff. Tim and Tony exchanged looks. It really would be a long drive home.

NCISNCISNCISNCIS

John's truck and Gibbs' sedan were still parked at the edge of the Cobb property. While Tony and Gibbs got into the sedan, Tim hung back to retrieve his things from John's truck.

"Thank you for everything, John. I'm glad we met."

John shook hands with his young friend.

"I'd do it all again, Tim. You take care of yourself."

"You too. You'd better get home before Heidi calls the Sheriff looking for you," Tim said with a chuckle.

"Right you are, Tim."

"See you around, John.:"

"Travel safe, kid."

Tim smiled and got into the sedan with his friends. They watched John turn his truck around and drive off, and Gibbs did the same. He followed John to the main road, and turned the opposite way, heading back toward the interstate.

Gibbs didn't say anything for the first hour. They got off the interstate in DC as the sun began to rise over the city. Gibbs drove to his favorite morning spot, and parked the car.

"Boss - " Tim started, but Gibbs ignored him and got out of the car. Perplexed, the boys got out and followed him inside. Gibbs had gotten a booth, and there were two menus waiting on the table. The small diner was empty, except for a man sitting at the counter, drinking coffee.

Tony slid into the booth opposite Gibbs, and Tim sat next to him. Gibbs sipped his coffee, and looked at his Agents.

"Who wants to tell me what happened out there?"

They exchanged looks.

"Sometime today, please," Gibbs said, getting annoyed.

"It's all my fault, Boss," Tim blurted out. "When the car broke down, I got angry, and I lashed out at Tony. I should have never went off on my own."

"I'm disappointed in you, McGee. You had no idea where you were, and from what Mr. Maxwell told me, you were passed out in the road when he found you. You could have died if he hadn't seen you there, do you realize that?"

"Yes, Boss."

"The next time you two take a trip together, and something happens to the car, always stay together. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Boss," they chorused together.

"Good. Let's get breakfast, and I'll take you home."

"Boss, my car-"

"Is at my friend's shop. You're going to get rid of that piece of crap and get a decent car, and you owe me $200 for towing that thing all the way back to DC."

"Yes, Boss."

The waitress came and took their breakfast orders, and they ate silently. Gibbs paid for the meal, and dropped Tony off first. Gibbs gave him the day off, to rest, and Tony thanked him and bade them goodbye.

The drive to Tim's apartment was quiet. Gibbs could tell something was still bothering his youngest Agent, and like himself, Tim wasn't much for talking about what was bothering him. That wouldn't stop Gibbs from asking him, though.

When they arrived at Tim's apartment, Gibbs stopped the car and killed the engine.

"You've been quiet," he said gently.

"This trip was a bad idea from the start. I don't even know why I let Tony talk me into it."

"He was trying to help."

"We nearly got ourselves killed for it."

Tim put his hand on the door handle and started to open the door. Gibbs put a hand on his arm.

"Get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow at the office."

"Thanks, Boss. For everything."

"Never leave a man behind, McGee."

Tim felt the phrase hit him like a ton of bricks. That was exactly what he'd done to Tony out in that cornfield. Gibbs had taught them never to leave each other behind, and he'd gone and blown that to hell.

"I-"

Gibbs remained silent, waiting for Tim to finish.

"I have to go."

Tim quickly got out of the car and went inside. He didn't know Gibbs was following him until he fumbled with keys trying to unlock his door. He startled when Gibbs reached out and took his keys from his shaking hands.

"What are you doing-"

"Just get inside, McGee."

Tim stepped into his apartment, and Gibbs shut the door behind them. Tim dropped his bags next to the door, and stood there, unsure of what to do next. There were a ton of emotions running through his body at the moment, and it was overwhelming him. Gibbs suddenly appeared in his line of sight.

"Do you want to sit down?"

Gibbs tried to take his Agent by the arm, but Tim shrugged him off violently.

"What are you feeling right now?" Gibbs asked him.

"I don't- I just want to be alone."

"Not yet. I want to know where your head is at."

"Get out!" Tim yelled angrily, shoving Gibbs backward. Gibbs stumbled back a few steps, but was otherwise unfazed.

"You're angry." It was a statement, rather than a question.

"Ya think?" Tim replied dryly.

"Let it out, Tim."

"What?"

"Let your anger out on me."

"You're not the one I'm mad at, Boss. Why the hell would I let it out on you?"

"You're less likely to kill me, that's why."

Gibbs picked up a pillow from Tim's couch and held it up firmly.

"Let it out."

"This is stupid."

"If you don't let it out, you're going to do something really stupid, like you always do. Let out your anger."

Tim stood there for a minute, not sure whether he wanted to do this.

"I can't hit you, Boss."

"Do it, damn it! Now!" Gibbs yelled.

Tim felt the anger again, and took a swing. He hit the pillow, hard. Gibbs held his stance firm, to avoid falling over. Tim hit the pillow again and again, his punches getting strong with each one he threw at the pillow.

"Damn Tony for taking me on that stupid fucking trip!" Tim shouted, punching the pillow. "Damn him for almost getting me killed!" He hit the pillow again.

"I never wanted to go in the first place!"

He punched the pillow harder, and a seam on the corner broke. A few feathers pushed their way out into the air.

"He's still gone! I left and came back, and the Admiral is still dead! Tony's so-called trip did nothing!"

He hit the pillow twice, and more feathers flew out into the air around them.

"He never told anyone he was sick... he was such a stubborn ass that he didn't even call me when he was dying!"

Tim hit the pillow very hard - and the seam ripped completely, sending feathers all over the living room. Gibbs dropped the remains of the pillow, and watched Tim drop to his knees, shaking. Gibbs dropped down in front of him, to be at his level.

"This isn't about Tony anymore, is it?"

Tears streamed down Tim's face as he shook his head.

"Why couldn't he call me to tell me he was dying? I had to find out on the other side of the glass in interrogation that he was dying!" Tim felt Gibbs put his hands gently on his shoulders. "Boss... why did he have to put me through this? Why?"

"I don't know, Tim. I'm sorry."

Sobs wracked Tim, and he practically fell into Gibbs shoulder, crying. They stayed on their knees, and Gibbs held his Junior Agent as he finally really cried for his Father.

END - Epilogue forthcoming