A/N: To all my latest followers/favourites, welcome aboard the ride! To my reviewers, thank you! Can't believe we're already at the 200 mark, I love that you're all loving this story so much!
To CookiesSprinkles: Thanks for comments, I took some creative licence with that for drama & I can understand that not every chapter works for everyone, but thanks for your feedback.
Now, let's see how things are going..
Ziva was dazed, trying to get her bearings she realised she had a weight on her. Opening her eyes she saw Tony lying on top of her "Tony! Are you ok?" somehow they'd managed to bail out & were lying on the ground.
"Owww!" Tony groaned, he wasn't sure what hurt more, his lower half for being forcibly pulled over the middle console as Ziva took him with her when she bailed, his wrists that had been yanked from the steering wheel or his head that just hurt.
"Are you ok?" Ziva repeated as she gently rolled him over onto his back.
"You're crazy!" Tony moaned "you coulda ripped me in half!"
"I'm trained for such matters Tony, you'd never have been ripped in half" Ziva smirked.
Tony would have replied, but he'd heard shots & shouting.
"Freeze! NCIS!" Tripoli shouted at the man trying to get out of the SUV, he was though glad for the tree he'd stood behind because the response was being shot at.
Franks was at the next tree & for the first time got a good look at the man, it was Quinn! "Drop your weapon!" however like Tripoli he'd had to duck behind the tree, the man had again fired at him.
Ziva looked up & saw their apparent target had taken off into the trees "stay here Tony" she said before lifting her head "Fornell! Ducky!" she yelled before taking off to chase the man.
Ducky had been extremely concerned about Jethro & his children & thanked the heavens that they all got out of the car ok. He saw that both Kelly & Phoenix were still very shaken, but it was hardly something he could help with, that was something only Jethro could do. He busied himself with helping Fornell & Jenn, he quickly checked them, she had a few cuts from what he could tell were from some shattering from the car window.
Harry was glad to have gotten the dog out of the car, he'd already realised just how much the dog meant to not only Nix, but Kelly too, he was still holding onto the scared dog "sshh boy, it's ok, you're ok" he said trying to calm the dog back down.
Kelly clung to her dad, that had been the most frightening experience of her life! It was even worse than the accident when she was 8, even worse than her forced swim down in Portsmouth. She had not only been scared for herself, but throughout the entire ordeal she'd been petrified for her brother's safety & also her dad's, she just held onto him tightly thankful it was over.
Nix never knew it was possible to ever be that scared in his life, but he'd been beyond scared, he never wanted to experience anything like that again! He just gripped his dad for dear life, he'd even intertwined his fingers with his sister's as they both gripped their dad's shirt, he was glad for the connection with her as he let himself be enveloped by his dad's warmth.
Gibbs kept a firm hold on his kids as he kept up his soothing words "shh, it's over... dad's here... everything's ok" he could feel them both gripping him just as tightly as he gripped them, the only thought he had was thank the heavens, the lord, heck the universe that he'd gotten them out of this! He wouldn't have been able to live with himself if something was to have happened to either of them.
Nix was still gripping his dad for dear life, but he wondered something "where's Buster?" he quietly sobbed.
Gibbs saw Harry bring him close "here is he" he smiled "come 'ere boy" he was glad to see his son release one arm from him to put around his dog.
Ducky watched as the dog was taken into the family huddle & had to smile, but then heard Ziva yell for him & Tobias. Looking from where the yell came from he saw Tony lying on the ground with Ziva giving chase to an obvious assailant, as he also saw Franks do likewise.
Fornell's eyes widened at what he saw "Banks, Maurice - SUV clear it & find you boss! Johns, Wallace with me!" he hadn't seen Tripoli, but took off in a sprint after Ziva & Franks.
Gibbs saw Fornell take charge, he'd seen who they were chasing - it was Quinn, he needed to go, taking a deep breath he spoke quickly & gently "I want you both to stay here with the Director, don't go anywhere. I'll be back soon" he gave them each a kiss & jumped up before any protests could be heard.
Looking at McGee & Harry "you two stay here with them"
Jenn was stunned Gibbs was going "Jethro, let them handle it"
"No!" Gibbs retorted, this was something he had to do "Don't worry about me, just keep them here" he couldn't let the conversation keep going otherwise he'd never catch the others, so he took off.
Nix couldn't believe his dad was leaving them, him. Why couldn't he have let the others handle it like the Director suggested, he was hugging Buster trying to stay calm but the further his dad went the more he hated it "Dadd!" he half yelled half cried.
Kelly just stared at her dad as he took off in a sprint, she hated watching him leave them, she wanted to scream for him, but she heard brother do it for her & knew she had to suck it up for his sake at least. Bringing him into her lap, along with Buster, she wrapped her arms around him "dad'll be ok, he's a marine remember"
Gibbs bolted straight past Ducky who was now bent over Tony, he hoped his SFA would be ok, but he was barely able to make out Fornell, so he had to keep going. Hearing his son's cry for him had almost caused him to turn around, but he had to deal with Quinn, he wouldn't let that man hurt any of his family ever again!
"Where does it hurt Anthony?" Ducky asked, he couldn't see any outward signs of major injury, cuts yes but nothing that looked too serious.
Tony tried to sit up as he saw Gibbs rush past him "everywhere Ducky, what's going on?" he demanded.
Ducky was about to reply when he heard something.
"Ducky!" Banks yelled as he crouched over his boss "hang on boss".
"Go!" Tony ordered as he staggered to his feet.
Ducky rushed around to the other side of the vehicles & his eyes widened, he rushed to assist the downed agent. "oh dear"
"Guy in the SUV is dead, it's clear" Maurice reported "how is he?"
"I'm fine" Tripoli insisted, he was pissed off that he'd been gotten the better of.
"While it's only a through & through Agent Tripoli, it nothing to be sneezed at" Ducky said sternly looking at him, he turned to the others "could one of you call for paramedics?"
Banks nodded & rose, he raised an eyebrow "think they'd be on their way, state trooper's are here" he saw 2 state police cars with sirens blazing were heading straight for them.
Tony had gone after Ducky to see if all was ok, he could see 2 Duckys, he shook his head trying to clear it, he saw him securing a pressure bandage over Tripoli's right shoulder & had heard Maurice's report that the guy still in the SUV was dead, good he thought! Glad he was dealt with, he turned & still trying to stretch out his sore & aching muscles made his way over to where he saw the Director, McGee & the others. Slowly his vision was coming back into focus.
Jenn found it extremely hard to believe that Gibbs had gone after Quinn & left his kids here, but she surmised that he wanted to deal with the man that had done his family harm himself & wouldn't let the man get away with anything. she saw Tony approach "are you ok Tony?"
"Peachy" Tony replied "where'd the others go? Gibbs go?"
"After Quinn, he took off into the forestry" Jenn replied "Agent Tripoli?"
"Through & through, should be fine but Banks is calling for paramedics" Tony replied, he looked down towards Kelly & Nix, they were just sitting there arm in arm, with their dog right in the mix too, they looked very anxious & worried, which he completely understood.
Jenn saw the state troopers approach "stay here Tony, I will deal with them"
Tony nodded & watched as she headed straight for them, she was now walking with the 'Director' walk, one that meant business. He bent over, placing his hands on his knees, he took some deep breaths, he could feel he had at least bruised some ribs, but he had to suck up the pain, they still had not only to deal with the current situation, but they had to get to Stillwater & get Shannon, he couldn't afford to drop the ball, nor let anything stop him from his job.
Harry watched as Tony & Tim eventually shared a look, he could see they were both concerned about what was transpiring with Quinn, but they knew where they had to stay, he dropped down & sat next to Kelly, he put an arm around her "he'll be ok"
Kelly rested her head on his shoulder, she just nodded, hoping beyond anything he was right.
Harry ruffled Buster's hair on his back, glad to see he'd settled down "you've got one tough dog Nix, he's certainly a Gibbs"
Nix looked up "yea"
Kelly rubbed his back "dad'll be ok"
"If there's one man apart from my dad that I wouldn't worry about handling things, it's your dad Phoenix. He's one tough marine, and a damn good sniper, he knows patience & when to pick his moment, trust him to take care of Quinn, he'll be ok" Harry said.
"Your father's the best agent NCIS has, he'll be ok" Tim added, he was standing a small distance away but wanted to try to help to calm them.
Kelly shared a small smile with him in appreciation.
Harry remembered something & thought it may help to relax them "hey, remember that time when we were in your backyard with our water-guns, your dad was trying to teach us how to aim & then your mum got home... she had no idea what hit her" he finished with a small chuckle.
"Dad snuck up on her & waiting for the perfect moment he got her squarely in the back as she started to hang the washing out, she freaked out" Kelly chuckled.
Tony shared a look with Tim, he was learning so much about his boss, but that sounded like Gibbs was being extremely childish!
Tim had to admit he was surprised as he heard details of his boss's childish actions, but he also felt a tinge of jealousy as he saw Kelly & Harry share a laugh & hug.
Harry saw Nix give a small smile "so you really think your dad will give up the chance to do something similar again for a man like Quinn?"
Nix took a breath, Harry was right "no"
Harry nodded "and you really think he'll pass up the chance to take us back to the park either?"
At that comment Nix grinned & shook his head, but he watched as Buster stood up & started to move around, he wondered what he was doing.
Even Tony was watching Buster move around, he wasn't sure what he was doing, but it was almost like he was sniffing something out & then it happened, Buster took off at full speed, obviously sensing something.
"Buster!" Nix & Kelly both yelled "come back here!" Kelly added.
Harry jumped up "I'll grab him"
"Get back here!" Tony yelled at Harry, but it was no use, the boy just ran at full speed after the damn dog.
Getting further into the forest Gibbs slowed down, he saw Fornell up ahead, who'd already sent his men wide in flanking positions "Fornell" he whispered.
Fornell turned & saw Gibbs approach "we've got this, you should be with your kids Jethro"
"I'm dealing with this prick so he never hurts them again Tobias" Gibbs replied, he scanned the forest ahead of him as they slowing moved towards where Ziva stood, she was firing off the odd shot & was receiving some too.
Fornell followed Gibbs, he had to admit, if the man had been trying to hurt Emily, he'd want to deal with the prick himself & not leave it to someone else too.
Ziva saw Gibbs & Fornell approach, she nodded & motioned to her 2 o'clock & 10 o'clock.
Gibbs looked & saw that Franks was at her 2 o'clock & it was Quinn at her 10 o'clock, he positioned himself behind a tree at her 4 o'clock, he saw that Fornell had done similar at her 8 o'clock, they basically had Quinn covered from all angles. "Give it up! You're not getting out of here!" he yelled.
Mike tensed as he saw Quinn step out from behind the tree.
"Don't care if I get out or not, but I'm taking you with me" Quinn sneered looking directly at Gibbs.
The venom Gibbs felt for the man was extreme. This was the man that had assaulted his daughter, throwing her into the ice cold waters. This was the man that had attempted to get to his son, this was Mac's go to man, 'head of security', it was laughable. He needed to focus so attempting to push all his emotions back down he took a single step out from behind his tree & looked directly at the man, he had to focus & that meant working with no emotions, because he knew that when you let emotions get the better of you it could have deadly consequences.
Fornell just watched as the two men just stared each other down, he could see his men were slowly making their way around to an area behind Quinn, obviously trying to cover him in case of retreat.
Gibbs just stared at Quinn, he wasn't going to break first.
Quinn had been staring at Gibbs, trying to get him to break but thus far nothing, he knew though how to rile him "You know I have to say, I'm glad Louise is ok. It wouldn't have been fair to let you or her not have a little while together before the inevitable & you have to say goodbye permanently."
Gibbs fury rose but he tried to remain calm "That aint happening"
"Hmmm" Quinn mused "so maybe you'll have to say farewell to your wife before you even see her, I believe Mac isn't far from Stillwater"
Ziva could see Gibbs tense at that comment, she dug out her phone & texted Lt Taylor "Heads up - Mac heading for Stillwater - apparently he's close!"
"So that was your plan, you delay me so that your boss can get there?" Gibbs asked.
"I'll admit knowing he's almost caught up with the lady is satisfying, but I'm not here for him. I'm here for me, I want you dead" Quinn stated.
Gibbs suddenly got a very bad feeling, what on earth was he talking about? "You want me dead?"
"You know I think it's time we move this conversation to somewhere a little more private wouldn't you say?" Quinn stated.
Gibbs just stared at him.
"Let me put it you another way" Quinn suggested "you don't follow me & the C4 that's sitting in my SUV back near your precious children will explode" he finished holding up a small black box with a silver switch "it'll pack quite the punch"
Gibbs didn't want to give in to his demands, but he couldn't risk it "ok, lead the way"
"If I even get a sniff that your friends are coming, I'll flick it" Quinn sneered looking around to the others.
"They wont" Gibbs stated.
A/N: Tony seems to ok... perhaps. But... Dun Dun un Dun... it's Gibbs V Quinn, dear o dear, just how will it go between them? Can the others get back to the SUV to warn & clear the Gibbs kids & others from getting hurt & where on earth has Buster run off to?
More up soon! You know this, but I love hearing your thoughts/comments, so review away!