Hope everyone who celebrate Christmas had a great holiday.

Now...Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water...

"Hey Ducky. Whatya got?"

"Oh, Jethro. As harried as you appear to be I will delay the update to my current findings to you so I may inquire of the boys' conditions-"
"They're resting peacefully and on a full road to recovery, Duck. Tim…Concussion, exhaustion, dehydration, burn marks, abrasions, contusions and blood loss. And, Tony." Gibbs shook his head. "Gunshot to the shoulder. Lots of blood loss. Slight concussion. I think this really scared Tim. He was a mental wreck by the time I got to him. He woke up at the hospital, frantic; concerned Tony was dead. It took a lot for me to convince him otherwise."

"Ahh. Sometimes lessons of appreciation towards the people we sometimes take for granted arrive in sincerely, painful packages. Let us be thankful the boys are still with us."

Gibbs nodded towards the small woman laid out on the autopsy table. "Who the hell is she, Duck?"

Ducky scurried to the occupied autopsy table. "Andrea Santini but she has many other alias. With your team incapacitated, I'm sure you will be eager to investigate her identity further. But, for now, this is what I can give you."

The massive ink covering the woman's dead body gained Gibbs' attention. "Gee. I thought Abby had a lot of tattoos, but, then again…I've never seen Abby naked."

Ducky cleared his throat then shot Gibbs a glare. Gibbs shrugged, "Just sayin'."

"But, yes, Jethro, I do agree she has an extensive amount of tattoos. I have had a small amount of time to deduce she was a sick, young girl."

Many ill-conceived ink designs covered the woman's chest, arms and legs, but the one that stuck out the most was the one on her stomach. The image consisted of a naked man hanging; being hacked to bits by a small woman wearing an apron, covered in his blood as she held an enormous meat cleaver. Blood spurted from the man's chest and neck. Gibbs squinted and winced as he studied the image, unable to pull his eyes from the atrocity of the artist's disconcerting work.

"Well…the drawing needs no explanation; it speaks for itself. I have to say once again, we are lucky the boys are still alive." Gibbs stared at the image at a loss of words then sighed, showing that he agreed with Ducky when his shoulders sagged in relief.

"If you would be so patient, Jethro, I need to point a few things out on the dead petty officer the team had been processing just before they were ambushed that correspond with this young woman's tattoo."

The quickly decomposing corpse was waiting two tables over.

"Okay." Gibbs held his hand over his nose and mouth as he neared.
"As embarrassed as I am to mention this, this young man has earned the nickname, Stinky by me and Mr. Palmer." Gibbs nodded in agreement. "Hurry, Duck." He spoke through his fingers.

"I wanted to bring up the multiple piercings over this man's body." Ducky pointed to the nipple rings, navel rings, abundant rings in the man's ear and nose and eyebrows.

"I will venture to guess these two people were an item. This one fills a masochist's profile of self-mutilation. Considering Miss Santini's tattoo and his multiple piercings, they were a match made in heaven…So to say."

"One with the disturbing tattoos then this one with the piercings."
"Yes, Jethro."

Gibbs nodded towards the other two tables occupied by Walt and Ken. "Brothers of the girl, right?"

"I see you have noticed the resemblance-"
"Wait. We have two in custody then there's the two here."

"Oh my, I do believe, Jethro, you are one goon short." Gibbs was already phoning it in.

"Oh dear. This case is far from over." said Ducky.

NCISNCISNCIS

A kaleidoscope of colors and prisms of bright lights flashed then soothingly emerged into familiar but emotionally-distraught faces. He was in a dark and seedy room; dilapidated and stripped with Ellie by his side; smiling, a blank stare in her eyes. Her hair was rising and waving in slow motion; as if underwater.

He could vaguely see Tony's backside through the cracked, grimy window then a giant, menacing hand; pudgy and rock solid grab Tony's shoulder. Tim yelled then tried whispering but Tony would not turn around. His image soon became a strobe affect, growing distant. Tim went for his gun but his arm would not move; covered in a cement substance, his other arm pinned to his side with small penknives. His ice cold feet gained his full attention to the lake water they were emerged in, reaching his thighs. Huge fish and lake weed wove through his legs, the silt and mud stagnant on the floor of the lakebed; thick and heavy. There was no way he could move; every limb immobile and restrained.

Tim gasped as he opened his eyes. He was seated but leaning over the side of Tony's bed in the hospital; Tony's breathe even and calm, his face so serene the remnants of the nightmare began to dissipate. Tim's heartbeat regulated and his breathing followed in sync with Tony's. He felt his shoulders sag as his muscles released. Tony's monitors were quiet and stable. Tim shook his left arm; it had fallen asleep while he was out and shot painful shocks from his shoulder sockets to the tips of his fingers as it regained its equal blood flow. He made a tight fist waiting for the discomfort to subside.

Tim was dressed in pajamas and a robe. He looked down and rubbed his feet together, the cheap sponge like material of the hospital slippers inadequate. Ellie had a warm, comforting hand on his shoulder but she was arguing with a doctor standing behind him.

"This young agent needs to return to his room-"

"You have to understand, doctor what they have just gone through. It would be much more beneficial for both of them if you just allow Tim to remain here by Tony's side." Tim sleepily smiled, proud of Ellie's new found assertiveness.

Tim scrubbed his face then rubbed his eyes, still groggy with the after effects of a medicated-induced sleep and the harsh memory of his dream. Everything ached, his throat felt raw and dry and he was having a tough time focusing and trying to remember how he had gotten by Tony's side. Did he walk to Tony's room in his sleep?

"Ellie?"

"Oh, Tim." She looked at him rubbing his cheek, "See doctor? He can't be alone. This is where he needs to be. If you can't get a double room for Special Agent DiNozzo so Tim can fit alongside him then I suggest you let him be. His girlfriend is bringing him some items to make his bedside vigil much more comfortable-"
"Delilah?"
Ellie narrowed her eyes at Tim and he took it as a sign to be quiet; questions later. She obviously had everything under control. Plus, the severity of her furrowed eyebrows convinced him to wisely shut up.

Just that moment Delilah entered the room, a folded blanket in her lap and good quality, big-puffy slippers she must had purchased at the gift shop. Tim broke into a smile as he watched her approach. "Delilah." His voice was breathy and full of ardor, his eyelids heavy and slow.

"Hi sweetheart. How are you feeling?" Her smile was sincere and caring and Tim felt his heart melt. She crossed the room as she spoke. "I'm so happy you're awake. You look better."

The doctor threw his arms up in defeat, "Well Special Agent McGee. You have two women taking good care of you right now. I don't see where you could go wrong. Being that it is three in the morning and you have visitors… I will look the other way but please, do me a favor and take it easy. And if Special Agent DiNozzo wakes, let me know."

"Thank you doctor." Ellie whispered. All Tim could do was glance at the doctor with an appreciative smile. The doctor left the room, closing the door behind him.

"Could you put these on his feet?" asked Delilah to Ellie. "His feet must be so cold." The slippers were black and white, fluffy and the fronts had panda bear faces with little black ears.

"Panda bears?" Tim looked at Delilah with an arched eyebrow and narrowed eyes, a sneaky grin on his lips.

"I couldn't help myself."

Ellie crouched and removed the thin, sponge slippers from Tim's feet. "Gees. I get better slippers when I go to the salon for a pedicure." Delilah handed her a slipper, "Hey! They look like my dog, Kippers."

Tim giggled, with exhaustion, "Kipper slippers."

They all began to giggle; their exhaustion and the release of the last few days seemed to ooze from their tight-stitched seams. Tim knew his joke didn't warrant the degree of their giddy laughter but he enjoyed it just the same. He watched Delilah as her shoulders shook and she continuously wiped the tears streaming down her cheeks. Ellie had lost all muscle strength and had plopped down on her bum, her arms, useless; hanging by her sides. She even snorted a few times.

Ellie took a deep breath once she was laughed out. "He's out in the car. He's a pit bull, you know."

"You already got him?" asked Tim.

"First thing Jake and I did after I was checked out by the doctor. He's already chewed three pairs of shoes, a bottle of moisturizer and my sun hat but otherwise he's great."

Tim eyed her, then placed a hand on her arm,"Uh, oh. A dislike towards hats?"

Tim leaned in when Ellie shrugged. A sad smile formed on her face and Tim guessed it was from the recollection of their conversation during their captivity, "We'll do."

They were both silent as they searched each other's eyes, "Are you okay?" asked Tim.

"I'm getting there."
"You did well, El." He squeezed her arm.

"Thanks. You didn't do too bad yourself."

Tim and Delilah exchanged a smile. "Maybe we should consider becoming furry parents." said, Delilah.

Tim squeezed his brows together, "You wouldn't be making any big, life changes again? Would you be? Like moving-"

Delilah winked, "We'll talk later." She then lifted the blanket revealing a small, round cardboard container. "I brought you some soup from that deli we always go to."

All Tim could do was smile with admiration. She handed him the container. "Broccoli-"
"Cheddar? My favorite." Tim's tongue slipped over his top lip, hungrily.

Ellie wrapped the blanket over Tim's shoulders as he concentrated on his soup. "Now that's a woman that knows how to take care of her man."
Tim could not keep his eyes off Delilah as he sat beaming at her. "She's my gal." He grinned.

Tim looked at the girls, "So. Tony hasn't woken up yet?" Delilah placed her hand on his arm, "He lost a lot of blood, honey and it's going to take a while for him to recover from that."

Tim eyed the stained bandage on his friend's shoulder. "He did good, too, huh?" He spoke just above a whisper, deep in thought, recalling all the blood that marred the room they had been held in.

Ellie rubbed Tim's shoulder as her gaze fell on to Tony, "He sure did."

"You were all brave and everyone back at NCIS is very proud of all three of you." said, Delilah. "Now eat your soup, Tim before it gets cold." She ran her fingers through Tim's hair as she watched him obey. "So, Tim. Do you know how you got here?"
Tim swallowed then let his eyes roam over the room, futilely looking for an answer, "Uh…Actually, I can honestly say I don't."
"I convinced them you desperately needed to wear the pajamas I brought you. I told them you tend to sleep walk."

Tim scrunched his nose then looked at Delilah through narrowed eyes, "But, I don't sleep walk."

Without spoken words, Delilah answered him with raised eyebrows.

"Wait. You're telling me I do?"

She nodded, assuredly. "Yes. An unfortunate habit when staying in a hospital." said Delilah.

The realization manifesting on Tim's face, grew making the girls giggle. "Well, then that would explain why I sometimes wake up with dirty feet."

"How can you ignore dirty feet in the morning?" asked Ellie.

Tim shrugged, "I just figured I didn't realize I got them dirty during the day before."

Ellie and Delilah exchanged a look, sighing. "Boys." Delilah mouthed to Ellie.

"Sitrep, Els." said Tim.

"Uh…Sitrep?"
"Yeah." Tim slurped a spoonful. "What have I missed?"

"Uh…I don't really know. Gibbs is handling everything right now along with Ducky and Abby." She bit her bottom lip. "I got nuthin'."

Delilah squeezed his knee, "I'd say what's important is for the three of you to get better."

Ellie leaned in close to Tim's ear, "I'd listen, Tim. She's a very smart woman. Now, I have to go out and walk Kips. I'll be right back."

"Ellie. It's three in the morning. Shouldn't you be heading home?"

She waved him off, "Don't worry, Tim. Gibbs will be coming in soon. I'll wait till he gets here then I'm off."

Tim shook his head at her but she ignored him as she left the room.

NCISNCISNCIS

The night was pitch dark absent from a moon but Ellie's car was parked under a big, pool of yellow light offered by the street lamp. She could see Kippers' tail wagging from the back seat as she smiled nearing the car.

"Hi, buddy! How's my Kippy? Huh? Big boy?"

She stopped short when she reached for the driver's door handle and her dog began to growl and bark. "Kippers?"

She could feel her hands begin to shake and she wondered what could have caused the sudden change in her dog's sweet demeanor. Spit hit the glass and his nails clicked and scratched along its length. She was hesitant but she squeezed her door handle, believing there had to be a reasonable explanation. She panicked when her dog stormed the opening of the car then rushed towards her, "Kippers!"

She lost all concern when she dropped to her knees, a sharp, sudden pain to the back of her head. She vaguely heard the ferocious growl and bark of her dog behind her then a loud whine. She dropped face first to the pavement, her dog now, by her side, facing her. He gave one last, small whine then his eyes closed.

"Kip?" She followed him; her world now dark.