Tim squeezed his eyes shut trying to gain control and perspective. Tony could be okay...He tried to feel for a heartbeat pressing his back firmly against Tony's, but he couldn't tell; his own heartbeat was so intense and erratic it was difficult to decipher if Tony had one...This was the worse torture; unable to know what had happened to him, but so close yet unable to do anything to help him. His eyes popped open with an idea. He maneuvered his fingers around Tony's wrists, feeling for a pulse. He felt a faint throb then McGee's breathe caught in his throat when he felt the weight of smooth, warm steel strategically pressed into his bound hand, a trace of warmth from Tony's cold and clammy hands. He was alive, handing him his pocketknife...Thank God.

Tim strained against his binds, to speak into his ear, "Tony?" he whispered, his name clung to his breath as it released through his lips. He felt Tony's elbow inconspicuously nudge him into his side farthest away from the group so they could not see his movements from where they stood around Ellie. Tim took a second to regain his composure and let his eyes close as his shoulders dropped with relief; silently withdrawing a huge, tense breath. He didn't need the confirmation of Tony's voice, he just knew he was alive and that was all that mattered.

Tony grabbed Tim's wrists, motioning him to cut the bindings, bringing him out of his daze. Tim could sense Tony was still playing dead, his body, very still against his, his breaths short and shallow.

Tim didn't want their captors to expect anything was different so feigned despair and defeat as he began to saw through the ropes. He closed his eyes tightly as his chin leaned against his chest, starting with Tony's ropes, first. He tried to holler at their captors, but his voice was too weak, so he mumbled. "Why did you have to kill him? Just finish us already…I'm so tired; I can't..." Deceiving, hot tears of relief scattered onto his cheeks.

Psycho woman and one of the goons finally responded to Tim with a sneer of annoyance for his tenacious interruptions; breaking the group's concentration. Tim wasn't sure but Herb, or maybe it was Walt yelled,"Shut up...we don't want to hear your belly-aching!" then gave him the finger. A classy response Tim all but expected. Tim's fake 'meltdown' was good cover as he sawed away with the small knife, feeling the ropes break apart, slowly. His hope grew; they just might make it out alive if their hands were free.

Tim did his best to conceal his work, still not knowing Tony's true condition. Gibbs had to be close in finding them or it could be just the three of them against this whole psycho group of lunatics within the next few minutes; he was sure Ellie wouldn't be able to stall them much longer.

Tim startled when the woman barked out an order, "Al! You, Walt and Ken go keep guard. We can't be too sure the cops won't locate us. Let us know if you see anything." The one, Tim now knew as Ken grabbed a cellphone off the desk near Ellie then followed Al and Ken out of the room. This could be good, he thought. He scanned the room, thinking what the best places for cover would be if they got the chance to defend themselves and fight back... The closet was a good possibility, which they would have to cross the room to get to. The exit door was at the other side of the room and they would have to deal with their captors before they could reach it; that would be a long shot. Jumping out the only window in the room would be too dangerous and impossible for all three of them to try and master safely.

Now...if their captors believed Tony was dead; they could both initiate a good ol' surprise, head-on tackle. This would be a case where Tim hoped Ellie would have the instinct to enforce a move that could defend herself as they kept the goons distracted. When it came down to it, Tim doubted they would be gifted with an easy route out. They would just have to wing it and hope for the best.

"Tony?" Tim whispered. He received no response...

NCISNCISNCISNCIS

Abby dropped to a seat that was the same height as Delilah's. "Abby. We don't know for sure." She was turned towards Abby grasping her arm, hoping to comfort her while hoping for the best for Tim and Tony. They had heard the gunshot then Tony was silent...something that never happens. Tony always responded to dramatic situations with wise cracks and sarcasm...Never using silence. They could make out Tim mumbling, as if he were crying...Desperately distraught while choosing to voluntarily surrender.

"But, I could hear it in Tim's voice...I've never heard him so... overwrought." said Abby.

"But, you heard what she said, 'Tie them back-to-back.' I don't think Tim can get a good look at Tony. He sounds flustered and worried, like he's struggling to try to get a look at Tony but can't. Tim is so exhausted...I can hear it in his voice. His voice always cracks and is very weak when he's tired. Gibbs should be there any moment. If it wasn't for your keen calculations they wouldn't have had a chance." said Delilah. "Believe me...They are going to make it...I can feel it."

"This is killing me. I'm sick of it. I don't want to know what happens once they're on a case and they have to walk out that door, dealing with all those certifiable lunatics out there in the world. I don't know how they do this day after day. I'm glad I get to stay here, safe in my lab with my other babies." said Abby.

"Babies?"

Abby stood then raised her hand abruptly waving it over her lab referring to her lab equipment, "These guys. They don't go anywhere and I never have to worry about them. The only thing I have to be concerned about is if one of them develops a sudden loose nut or they need an oil change."

Delilah looked at her with furrowed brows, she was beginning to wonder what kind of toll this was taking on everyone on the team. "When this is over...I'm buying. Drinks at Chatterly's. Okay?"

Abby plopped down on her stool with an "Hmmphf," frowning.

NCISNCISNCISNCIS

Tim concentrated, his head hung low, his eyes closed as if he was incapacitated. He handed the knife back to Tony and he accepted it, inspiring Tim's hope just for the fact that he was still conscious by responding. Tim could feel the pressure loosen on his ropes but the evidence of Tony's deteriorating condition worried him as Tony sloppily cut away; the blade connecting with Tim's hands frequently, the warmth of his blood from the cuts dripping down the length of his fingers. He could finally feel the binds loosen as he tugged at his ropes, trying to pull his wrists apart. It was taking a while for Tony to saw through the ropes and Tim worried that Tony was growing weaker..too weak to continue.

Everything happened too fast to ever regain a true recollection of each sequence of all their actions.

Tim jumped when he heard the window crash then psycho bitch drop to the floor from a bullet to her forehead. Tim felt the ropes around his chest drop then Tony leave his backside, hands grabbing his shoulders. Tim's wrists were still tied so he did his best to work with him, pushing off the worn wood floor with his feet.

"McGee. Come...on." Tony spoke in his ear as he pulled him towards the direction of the closet. Tim was still bound, the ropes loosened but not quite free so he was having difficulty moving but continued to yank at his bindings. He could hear the strain in Tony's voice. Tim flipped over so he was on his knees as shots fired, whizzing by his body as he made himself a moving target. Tony had dropped; face down onto the floor. Tim hadn't seen why he was down but he knew he'd be shot in seconds if he didn't move him towards the safety of the closet. One last tug and Tim was now free. He grabbed Tony's jacket then started dragging him towards the wall.

Tim grunted; Tony was dead weight and Tim knew he had used the last of his energy to motivate him out of harm's way. He now knew he would do everything in his power to protect Tony; over the last couple of days he learned the fierce, protectiveness his partner had towards him and Ellie and he would do no less, even if it meant taking a bullet.

Ellie had taken the death of the leader as a queue, elbowing Steve in the face, blood spurting from his nose; again. The other remaining caveman, Herb stood, dazed and shocked. He blinked then reached out trying to grab Ellie by the neck. She screeched; ducked and kicked but she was too weak for the humongous-sized man as he restrained her, holding her to his chest.

Tim momentarily froze, seeing the lock Herb had trained on him and Tony as he held Ellie in his grasp in his other arm. Tim did his best to grab his comrade and pull him closer to the closet using himself as a human shield by standing in front of him.

"Don't you dare!" Ellie stomped wildly on his foot, causing the goon to drop his gun and grab at his foot in excruciating pain.

No shit, thought Tim, proud.

"NCIS! Freeze!"

Tim could faint from happiness at the magnificent sight of Leroy Jethro Gibbs' strong presence in the doorway of the room, his gun aimed at Herb.

Tim dropped to his knees with relief by Tony's side, "Tony!" When he didn't move, Tim tugged on his shoulder, "Hey! Wake up! Boss is here." Tim noted the blood...on the floor, on his own arm, then on the floor where they had both been tied together and the drag marks to where they were now. He became lightheaded knowing there was still a good chance Tony could still die.

Arms wrapped around his chest as he heard his name repeated in his ear. His vision was blurry as he struggled against the determined pull; pulling him away from Tony's side. Tim could no longer see him as paramedics surrounded him and began to work on Tony, revealing the gunshot wound in his shoulder.

"Tim. You need to stay out of their way-"
"Then let me go with him...In the ambulance...If he dies, he'll be alone! Let me go so he's not alone-"
He was pushed back into the wall, Gibbs' hand on his chest to steady him; his steely gaze sympathetic; a tone that McGee had rarely seen before in his boss's eyes. Gibbs looked down staring at Tim's wrists. Tim looked to see what he was seeing and noticed the ropes were still fastened around his wrists, blood dripping from his fingers where Tony had mistakenly cut his hands. Gibbs reached out and cupped his cheek, "Tim. I'll go with Tony-"
"No, I should go-"
"You need medical attention."
"I'm fine."
"You're exhausted and bleeding-"

"I need to thank him for...saving me and Ellie-"

You won't last long enough."

"I'm just tired-"
"Tim. There's blood dried on the side of your face...your eyes are barely open, you're holding your side as if you are in pain, your hoarse-"
Tim felt his body sway as Gibbs' form became blurry and doubled.
"I...just need...a quick nap." The last thing Tim remembered was Gibbs catching him in his arms before he hit the floor.