Gone

Chapter 3

A/n Sorry that it took me so long to get this chapter up. A major case of writers block and rl had a lot to do with it. Enjoy!!!

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Squad Room

0845

Everyone could not believe what they were hearing. How could Tony not have made the flight and where was the escort. Gibbs turned around to face his team. He was angry, frustrated, and incredibly worried about Tony's fate. Gibbs finally was able to collect him self enough to speak. He was all business when he turned around.

"McGee I need you to check Tony's cell phone records for the last few days." Gibbs announced "I need to know who he has been talking to. Abby, the FBI believes that there are surveillance cameras in each apartment and also in the hallways. If there are any videos, I asked them to send the video to your e-mail Abby."

Gibbs phone rang and he listened to what was said on the other end. When the call was over he turned to Abby.

"The FBI was able to find surveillance tapes from inside the apartment and from the hallway down to the building entrance. McGee, go down and work with Abby in her lab. Call me when you get the phone records from Tony's cell phone" Gibbs continued.

Gibbs notices Ziva still standing where she was earlier.

"Gibbs" Ziva questioned "I feel so useless here doing nothing. Gibbs, I need to be out there doing something. He could be dead or laying some hurt and dying. Why are we still here and not on a plane to Iraq."

"Ziva" Gibbs replied gently "Right now we are checking his bank records and Abby is pulling up the surveillance tapes. If and when we find out if he is alive or not, we will be on the first flight to Iraq to bring him home safely."

Ziva was visibly distraught and Gibbs was not sure about how to comfort her. He came around to her left and put his arm around her. Ziva tensed up at fist then relaxed as he felt Gibbs arm touching her.

"Gibbs" Ziva said softly "I am worried because Tony has never been in a situation like this before. Usually we have an idea of where he is and what has happened to him. Has anyone tried to call him? I know that we are doing everything that we can for him, but it doesn't feel like enough right now."

"I agree with you Ziva." Gibbs responded "But like I said, we will bring him home. I can guarantee you that."

Ziva smiled at Gibbs and started to say something until Gibbs phone rang. He immediately picked up the phone and listened as Abby spoke. A couple minutes later Gibbs turned to face Ziva.

"They've found video footage of Ziva on the surveillance tapes." Gibbs exclaimed "Abby wants us down there right away. She also said that Ducky will meet us there in a few minutes."

Ziva looked relieved as they made their way down to the elevator and so did Gibbs. There was a little bit of hope that maybe Tony was still alive. When they got to Abby's lab, McGee and Ducky were already seated next to the plasma screen. Gibbs gave Abby a nod to go ahead and start the first tape.

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Abby's Lab

"Gibbs" Abby announced "The video is not very clear but you can definitely see Tony. The one of the hallway down to the door I haven't been able to check yet. Sorry Gibbs!"

"Uh Boss." McGee hesitated "I haven't had any luck on being able to get Tony's cell phone records. Apparently he changed the number of something and I haven't been able to figure out the new one yet. But I'm working on it."

"You did great McGee." Gibbs said "Don't worry about it right now. Abby go ahead and get the video footage up."

It took Abby a couple of minutes to get the footage going. The video wasn't very clear but they could still see the room and Tony clear enough. The video showed a very tired looking and beaten up Tony DiNozzo. They could see that he was hurrying to collect his things. He was very unsteady and nearly fell over several times.

The whole team seemed to let out a sigh of relief as they were able to see his face and that he was alive at the time of this video. Abby moved closer to McGee and took a hold of his hand. Ziva did the same thing with Ducky.

Meanwhile Tony was still hurrying to stuff everything into his two bags. Tony stopped suddenly as if he had heard something. Several men burst through the door with their guns pointed at Tony. He instinctively pulled his gun out and tried to get out of the room. The men however started firing at him. Tony ducked behind the couch and fired a shot that missed. Then when they were busy looking for them Tony fired two shots and hit one of them men squarely in the chest. As Tony managed to get back up one of the men came up behind him and shot him in the shoulder. They could see that Tony was clearly in pain but quickly collected himself. He then turned around and fired shots at the two remaining men taking them down. Tony checked to make sure that they were dead then started to get ready to leave.

Everyone, especially Abby and Ziva were shocked to see what had just happened. They had all moved closer together as they were trying to deal with what they had just seen happen. Gibbs redirected everyone back to the screen to see Tony reach for his bags. Suddenly he put them down and reached for something on his wrist. And took it off and held it on his hand. Abby mouthed to Gibbs that it was the watch that she had given Tony before he had left for Iraq.

Tony disappeared into the bedroom and didn't come out for a couple of minutes. As he was walking out, Abby noticed that he was doing something with his cell phone. Abby suddenly jumped up and ran over to her desk. She came back with her bat shaped cell phone.

"Gibbs" Abby announced "It's just a hunch but I just have a feeling that Tony may have been texting something to me. I haven't even checked for any messages since I got here this morning."

Abby turned on her phone and started to check for messages. Abby suddenly jumped up and ran back over to Gibbs.

"Gibbs" Abby chimed up "Tony sent me a text message this morning. It said that he left a clue for us in the bedroom of the apartment. He must have been very sure that we would be coming after him. Oh no Gibbs, it also says that he isn't going to make it to the airfield on time. But he said that he was going to try anyway. He said that Tony DiNozzo doesn't give up without a fight. It also says that he loves all of us and to be safe."

Tony stumbled forward while he was trying to grab his bags and slipped quickly out the door. Mc Gee reached over and turned off the video feed. He turned around to face Gibbs.

"Boss" McGee started to say

"I know McGee" Gibbs responded "I know you guys are worried about Tony. But Abby can you pull up the feed from Tony leaving the building?"

Abby reluctantly started the feed from the hallway. She was afraid that this would show that Tony never made it to the vehicle that was left for him by the FBI. Everyone turned back toward the screen and watched Tony stumble down the hallway into the elevator. The video stopped as it showed Tony coming out of the elevator. He was looking around nervously like he thought that someone was waiting. Tony dropped one of his bags and picked up his cell phone again. He opened it and looked at his phone. He shook his head as he closed it again. He threw the other bag over his good shoulder and hurried outside. They saw him get into a truck and pulled away. The video ended there.

"Gibbs" Abby sobbed "I think he was checking to see if I had answered his text message. I didn't and now he may be bleeding to death somewhere or even dead."

Gibbs put his hand on her shoulder to comfort her.

"Ducky" Gibbs asked "How long can he make it with that gunshot wound to his shoulder."

"Unfortunately for Anthony" Ducky replied "Not more than maybe a few hours, unless he could get the bleeding stopped."

Gibbs spoke up again "We have to assume that Tony left to try and make it to the air field. We hope that he was able to try and make contact with his FBI contact. I asked him to call us immediately."

"Boss" McGee asked "What if his FBI contact was involved somehow. It wouldn't be the first time that has happened. Have we done a background check on him yet?"

"McGee" Gibbs answered "Fornell did a thorough background check of all the agents that would be in contact with Tony in Iraq. They all passed the background checks. I can't see any reason to suspect any one of them. But we can also keep that as possibility. Abby, I want to try and do that text thingy to Tony's phone. McGee and Ziva, I need you to go home and pack. We are leaving to go and find Tony at 01300 hours today."

McGee and Ziva nodded their acknowledgement and rushed away to start packing. Gibbs noticed that Ducky and McGee were just standing there.

"You two go home and rest." Gibbs barked "We'll call you as soon as we know something. I have to let Vance know what is going on them I need to get some things too. Don't worry; I'll call as soon as we know something."

Gibbs hurried out of Abby's lab. Keeping his composure had been hard. He ultimately agreed with Vance to let Tony do this. He blamed himself and hoped that they wouldn't find him dead somewhere.

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Director's Office

Gibbs knocked on the door and was immediately invited in.

"Leon" Gibbs said "We found Agent DiNozzo on the video. He is injured but is alive. I'm requesting permission to go and bring him back. The FBI has arranged a flight for Agent McGee, Officer David, and myself to fly out in a few hours to Iraq so we can find him."

"You have my permission Jethro." Vance answered "Just make sure you bring our boy home safely. And be safe yourself."

Gibbs nodded his thanks and hurried down the steps. He needed to grab his gear and make some other arrangements.

Ending A/n

Sorry again that it took so long to get this chapter up. Hopefully now I've worked through some of the writer's block that I have had. If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions of what you would like to see happen or how I could improve anything please E-mail or pm me. Thanks so much for all of the reviews and alerts. They are all so much appreciated. As always please read and review.

Sarah