Chapter 9

A/N: This took me a while to get it right. I wanted to give it a bit more punch but Gibbs wouldn't cooperate. I hope you enjoy and thank you to Knirbenrots everyone who reviewed. BB53

Ten minutes after climbing into the trees a doe walked the same way Gibbs had crawled. She grazed on small shrubs and what little grasses she could find as she moved towards him. This relaxed Jethro in ways but he also knew that Crandall was still out there patiently hunting the man he called his 'prey.' He was out there waiting for Jethro to make his move or a mistake.

Gibbs felt rested, a little less thirsty and ready for the last run to the point where Nick and Jeff waited.

The doe got closer and then she bolted away. Possibly because she'd finally smelled his scent or maybe she'd sensed someone else was getting closer.

Jethro felt the necessity to move on. He inched his way from between the two rocks that sheltered him. He'd gotten most of the way out and began to pick up speed when a shot rang out and ricocheted off the rock behind him.

Crandall had taken a shot and was close by if Jethro had gotten the trajectory right.

Gibbs, thankful for the rest, picked up his pace putting as many rocks between him and the angle of the bullets path. For the next half mile or so the course he took was trees and rocks but because he would be travelling up hill and gaining altitude there would be less trees, more rocks and more heat. His exposure to Crandall worried him. He'd be a better target for Crandall and Crandall didn't need any help.

Another shot rang out and Gibbs felt the bullet tug at his left arm. He dived for cover behind the next rock and took a moment to examine his injury. The injury wasn't anything, just a graze. He ripped the hem of his shirt off and wrapped it around his arm. There were more important things to think about right now. Number one was getting to that point where help waited. Number two was living through it with no more wounds.

A short hop of about a quarter of a mile was left to travel. Looking at the road ahead he realized that the only problem was that the cover was sparse and it's would be mostly up hill. He'd have to be both very careful and very lucky to make it to the rendezvous with Nick and Jeff.

Jethro inched out of the sanctuary of the rock and looked for the next cover spot. He spied one about a hundred-fifty feet up the trail. Small shrubs marked where he intended to go but they were widely spaced and didn't give much cover or protection. Gibbs took off quickly and made it to the first bush. The next grouping was about seventy-five feet away and it was longer and a heavier concentration of brush to hide him and his advancement up the trail.

Gibbs scrabbled across the rocks and remaining ice to that next tree grouping. It covered the path he needed to take for about one hundred feet. He sat at the end of the trees and let his screaming knees rest and to scope out the next run he'd have to make. It would be a long one and he hoped that Jeff and Nick would be in place to guard his approach because the last thousand feet or so covered bald rock and there was nothing but a few scraggly bushes to protect him. Above that sat the crown of the hill like a stone fortress with one way in and one way out.

Jethro took another minute to breathe and to rest his aching knees. When he felt ready he rolled out of the trees and made straight for the top of the hill. A couple shots bounced off the rock face but they weren't serious shots. They were meant to intimidate him. Crandall would never have missed him at this range. Gibbs gave an inward chuckle. Crandall wanted a face to face fight. Well Jethro would give him one if it came to it.

Gibbs made it through the entrance of the stronghold, turned to face the entrance and waited for Crandall. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Jeff lying on the rocks above him with both his service weapon and his rifle. Gibbs couldn't see Nick but knew he wouldn't be too far.

Gibbs heard the crunch of boots on crushed rock at the entrance to the fortress. He readied himself for a close fight. His knife came out of his pocket and he felt himself flick it open.

Crandall came through the entrance like he owned the place. He wore a smug smile like he'd just won the lottery. "Well, well, well… look who I just caught…the amazing Leroy Jethro Gibbs! Do you know that damned woman wouldn't stop telling me how good you are at your job? Huh! It was annoying at best. But now I get my prize." He raised his rifle to his shoulder and readied himself to shoot.

"Hey…guess what…you're under arrest." Nick put his Sig up to Crandall's neck just in case he still wanted to take that shot.

Sheriff Colton stood up on the ledge above with his weapon trained on Crandall. "You also have to answer to Inyo County for the kidnapping of Alexandra Cross."

Crandall slowly started to put his rifle on the ground. When it had been placed he looked at Gibbs and grinned. "You cheated. You brought help."

Nick stepped closer to frisk him for other weapons and found none.

Jethro moved forward to pick up the rifle. "No…you cheated when you kidnapped an innocent woman and used her in your gross game. Your nasty game needed to stop and we stopped it. Your stealing needed to stop as well and we stopped that too. By the way… where are the weapons?"

Crandall sneered at Gibbs. "I guess you'll never know."

Gibbs chuckled. "You will tell us but for now, Torres, get him out of here."

Nick put the cuffs on Crandall and read him his rights as he marched him out of the fortress.

Gibbs walked out of the stronghold, carrying the rifle that could have killed him.

Jeff met him at the entrance and shook his hand. "Nice job, a little crazy, but it went well." He took a moment to examine Gibbs. "You got shot?"

Gibbs laughed out loud. "Nah…it's just a scratch. He didn't even really try." Jethro scanned the horizon and realized how far out they were from town. "Damn, now we have to walk out. My knees are really screaming."

Jeff gave a small chuckle. "Well it just happens that I have friends in high places."

Gibbs stared at him as if he'd lost his mind. "What?"

Nick turned to him. "Yeah Boss, we got an sweet off road vehicle to get out here. Jeff didn't feel like walking in three miles and then have to walk back out. He's a good man and an extremely considerate friend."

Gibbs slapped Jeff on the shoulder and followed them to the vehicle. "Yes he is."