Chapter 17

Gone

A/n Again I am apologizing for the long delay between chapters. Well life and everything else is my only excuse. But I will promise another chapter in two weeks from today. And hopefully the last chapters will follow as soon as they get finished.

And as always I need to thank Crokettsgirl for all her help and co writing that she did with this chapter. Without her the chapter would not be as great as it is. And thanks to everyone who has waited patiently for the next chapters. Thank you so much. Sarah

NCIS

Base Airport Iraq

The jeeps finally arrived at the airport. Everyone climbed out and started to pack all their things away safely, including DiNozzo's bags into the cargo plane. The flight was due to leave immediately, so once everyone was done with the packing, they gathered around Agent Jensen and his team to say their good-byes.

"I'll keep you updated on what is going on here." Jensen offered "And don't worry, Agent Gibbs, I will watch over your people, DiNozzo and Abby Scuito. To change the subject, I know you've worked with Agent Fornell before; back in D.C. so I believe that will be a good match. You both should cover a lot of ground." Jensen assured Gibbs about the mission and his people. The F.B.I. agent knew how important it was to Gibbs and how he didn't like leaving them in Iraq.

"We have and we will" Gibbs answered solemnly about him and Fornell, "I know that between our efforts in the states and your efforts here we'll get that bastard. I'll talk to you soon from either the Hoover building or NCIS MTAC room. I know we'll be talking a lot,"

Gibbs looked Jensen straight in the eye, "I appreciate you looking after DiNozzo and Abby. I know this nut job is after Tony," Gibbs let out a sigh. He really didn't want to leave Tony here with the thought of Reynolds or someone from his crew going after him, "I appreciate the F.B.I. agents at his door. Now that we're going I have a gut feeling this jerk is going to try again with Tony." Gibbs shook his head, he knew, he felt it and yet there was nothing more he could do for Tony but trust Jensen. He felt he could trust the man yet, no one could watch over his team like he could.

Jensen could see what the older man was feeling, "Don't worry, Gibbs. I told you I'd check in with your people. I will have continual coverage on Tony's room and you will be updated." Jensen assured the lead agent.

McGee and Ziva walked out of the cargo plane and over to Jensen and Gibbs.

"Boss" McGee announced "They're ready to take off as soon as you're ready."

"You'd better get going." Jensen answered "It was nice to meet all of you. I'll be talking to you soon, Agent Gibbs." Jensen shook Gibbs hand and then turned to McGee and Ziva.

"Again, it was nice to meet the both of you. When I come back to the states I'm sure I will see all of you again and that will include Agent DiNozzo." Jensen again assured them.

Ziva shook the agent's hand, "Shalom, Agent Jensen, it was nice to work with you, be safe." That being said she walked to the plane and climbed aboard.

McGee was next to shake the agent's hand, "Take care and we will work hard to find Reynolds. It was nice pairing up with you we don't often do that like this. See you on the screen in MTAC." McGee nodded and started to turn with Gibbs towards the plane.

The pilot came out as McGee and Gibbs were almost to the plane.

"We have to go a storm front is due to come through this area soon." With that said the pilot boarded the plane and started the engines.

Jensen yelled to Gibbs as he approached the plane, "Call me as soon as you land in D.C" Jensen asked "Vance told you that he isn't expecting you back right away and that you aren't due to arrive at the base until 1900. So I hope you get some much deserved rest." He smiled.

"Oh we will." Was all Gibbs said as he entered the plane to go back home. He had to chuckle because the flight was long and he knew that at least he and Ziva would get some sleep. He buckled himself in for the long ride back home.

NCIS

Tony's Hospital Room the next morning.

Abby had snuck up to Tony's room after the nurse had told her that he was asleep. She rubbed her eyes and started to sit up after her three hour nap when she noticed a pair of green eyes staring at her.

"Abby," Tony said with a smile "What on earth are you doing here? Gibbs said you couldn't come and now you're here, I'm so glad. Boy, with all these drugs I thought I was seeing things or even dreaming." Tony lay on his good side still looking at his friend in disbelief.

Abby jumped out of the chair, straighten up her blouse and skirt before she fixed her pig tails. She then sat down next to Tony on the bed.

"You're not dreaming silly." Abby said brightly "I talked to Director Vance and he decided to let me come to stay with you. So here I am." She smiled brightly at her friend with her arms spread out in a version of tada.

Tony pulled himself on to his back and then up into a sitting position. He was still trying to get over the surprise of her being there with him. When he settled in place he then motioned for her to move closer. He had resigned himself to the fact that he would be alone except for Agent Jensen coming to check on him every once in a while. However, he did have quite a few questions for his young Gothic friend. He waited until she was seated next to him before he started down that list of questions.

"So Abbs" Tony questioned, glad she had moved closer to him,)\ it made Abby being there more real, "How'd you manage to get Vance to send you all the way to Iraq?"

Before Abby started to answer Tony she did the one thing she had been waiting to do since she had arrived. She leaned over, careful of his injuries, gave him a kiss and then one of her famous hugs.

"Abbs, can't breathe" Tony hissed out. His ribs and weak lung along with the healing bruises complained. He didn't want her to feel worse so he didn't mention those things.

Abby quickly released her hold and sat up with an apologetic look on her face, "Tony, oh my God I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have done that. Oh my God you're hurt and I just hurt you more. I really tried to be gentle but oh no your ribs and your lung. I'm so sorry. Tony please forgive me. I didn't mean to…."

Tony cut Abby off when he got his pain under control and saw she was starting on one of her rants, "Abby!" He raised his voice a little to get her attention, this was something he had learned a long time ago about the younger woman, "I'm alright, you did try and I love your hugs," He looked her deep in the eyes and then threw her one of his mega watt smiles, "I just need you to use less of your strength. God, for your size you sure are strong." He chuckled.

Abby let out a relieved sigh, "Oh I'm so glad I didn't hurt you." She then bent down and kissed him again on the cheek.

Before she could start up again Tony brought up the question he had asked before, "So you gonna answer me about how you were able to get here?" He raised an eye brow as he waited for that answer.

Abby nodded and then started to explain, "When I heard that Gibbs, Ziva and Timmy were leaving without you I called Cynthia and had her tell me when Director Vance was leaving his office. She called me and I grabbed my things and camped out in his office until he finally broke down and agreed to let me come here to be with you." She told him with a satisfied smile.

"Wow" Tony gingerly laughed "I could only imagine Vance's surprise when he came in to see you sitting in his office. I'm surprise he didn't order you out after you were there for a while."

"You're right and he tried, but it didn't work. You know I was actually sitting in his chair, Tony?" Abby chuckled, "I told him that I wasn't going anywhere until he agreed to let me go. But Bert certainly helped him give in quicker. It only took two hours of my slurping down the three Caf-Pows I had hidden below his desk and Bert farting every five minutes to make him finally give in. He was funny because like I said he was trying to get me out of his chair, but I would say something to throw him off or use Bert. You can every once in a while get around Leon you know and it only took a few hours to get my way." Abby laughed in remembrance of the situation.

"I sure wish there was video tape of that. Wait, you call him Leon?" Tony answered before it hit him that she had called Vance by his first name. He was shocked and had to ask.

Abby shrugged "I didn't call him that right away, I mean when he first started with us. Though I did when he first started coming down to my lab," she told him in quick thought, "But then I saw that look and asked him if it was too soon and he said yes. So then I waited and I call him Leon when I knew it was alright to and then Director Vance when it wasn't. You have to know these things, Tony." She smiled at him as if it were common knowledge, but knew she was the only one able to get away with these certain things, with people like Gibbs and Vance.

Tony nodded knowingly that Abby had a way about her to be able to do things and get away with them that no one else could. He then remembered what he was going to ask her next, "Sooo, how long have you been here and why didn't Gibbs tell me you were coming?"

"I got here early yesterday morning." Abby yawned "And Gibbs said he wanted my arrival to be a secret. He thought it would be a nice surprise for you to wake up and see that I was already here. I told you he can be nice and thoughtful."

"Huh." Tony let out thinking about Gibbs being nice. Oh sure Gibbs could be nice in a round about way, like having Abby come to stay with him. But on the outside Gibbs had that wall up of being a gruff agent and marine, only nice on the outside to Abby. Tony then remembered what Abby said and answered her, "Trust me Abby," He answered as he reached with his good arm to get the plastic cup of water, "You certainly did surprise me. So do you have news about Captain Reynolds? Are they any closer to catching him?" Tony rattled off the next set of questions he had in his head.

"According to Agent Jensen" Abby answered "They don't know where Captain Reynolds is. But they've caught some of his lower level people that fled after Reynolds disappeared. By the way do you still have the watch I gave you?"

Tony nodded in the direction of where the watch was. He taught himself the hard way that doing what he wasn't supposed to do, hurt. His playing around with McGee taught him that quickly. After the adrenalin had worn off he had been hurting and had a little trouble with breathing. When the team had left the doctor ordered another breathing treatment for him and then the nurses gave him a little more than his usual pain medications. All this had made him feel better and he was asleep with in minutes. Now he learned and wasn't going to over do it again. He wasn't going to aggravate his injuries so that he hurt more or make it so he would have to stay longer in the hospital so far away from home. He wanted to go home as soon as possible and that was the motivation in doing what the doctor told him even though he usually pushed it.

Abby understood that Tony needed her to get the watch by the gesture he made with his nod. She reached across to the bedside table and grabbed the watch. She then gave it to him.

Tony looked at it in his hand, "See it was right here but I can't shake the feeling that there's something more here than just a watch. I just can't for the life of me put my finger on it." Tony shook his head in frustration.

Abby reached over and took the watch back out of his hand. She studied it for several minutes before jumping up. She leaned over and laid the watch on the table. Then she went and sat down in the chair still deep in thought. Suddenly she let out a loud squeal that startled Tony.

"Hey Tony?" She asked "What did you do with the flash drive that I mailed you right after you left? Did you change it out?"

Tony thought for a while trying to remember when she might have sent him a flash drive. He buried his head in his hands desperately trying to remember what he might have done with it.

"I don't know Abbs," Tony said with desperation in his voice, "Maybe it's in the lap top that Ziva put in my bag. Or it went back to D.C. with my things. Maybe you should call and have Gibbs look through all my things. If there was something important on it I probably hid it somewhere. But where, now that is the million dollar question." He sat there with a pained look on his face.

Abby got back up and sat next to him. She ran her hand over his forehead, "You ok Tony?" She asked with worry.

"No, damn it. I've got a worse head ache because I'm pushing myself to remember. Yet I can't remember and that evidence is so important. I don't remember this flash drive either and I could have put the evidence on it, I just don't know." He said in a distraught voice and then closed his eyes. He needed to know. He also needed this head ache that happened whenever he was stressed out to go away and he was stressed over this flash drive and evidence. Suddenly he realized that Abby was stroking his head. He felt her fingers card through his hair. Yeah, she knew him well, knew that this helped calm him down and would abate the pain in his head.

After a few minutes of carding her fingers through his hair she noticed he'd calmed. She slowed her fingers down and asked, "Tony, let me check the watch. You know, to see if you changed it out, put the flash drive in." She spoke softly and then pulled back when Tony's eye sprung open to look between her and over to the watch, "What?" She asked following Tony's eyes to see what he was looking at.

"You put the flash drive in my watch." Tony state a bit surprised. He hadn't remembered and now that she had mentioned the flash drive being in the watch, it started to come back to him.

Tony remembered getting a package. He remembered it was from Abby and the smile it gave him. He then could see as the memories played like one of his DVD's.

He looked at the circular metal piece in his hand that she had sent him and wondered what it was. He then pulled out the note that was also in the box.

Tony,

I thought you could use this on your assignment and if not it could come in handy at another time. That might look like the back of a watch but it's not. What you are holding is a flash drive. It fits in the back of the watch I had bought you. Take the regular backing off and put that one on. It's just a bit heaver and if you turn it over you'll see that it's not as slim and has a backing to it. The backing isn't hallowed it covers the flash drive inside it. You need it snap it off the watch and then you will see two little buttons build on the inside. You have to use your nail and push the first one so the connector will pop out, that goes into the USB port. The other button retracts that piece. You can fit a lot of information on this flash drive and no one will be able to find it. I know this is so James Bond and it's right up your alley, right? LOL…..I wish I could see your face, you should have seen Timmy's when I showed him. Well, good luck and hope you can use this, it's safer than leaving the information lying around. Talk to you soon and come home as fast as you can, we have much to talk about. Be safe.

Love, Abby

He shoved the letter into his pocket and checked out the flash drive before attaching it to his watch. He then bent in half the regular backing to the watch and slipped it into the garbage by another soldiers bunk.

God, then he could see himself alone in Reynold's office, though he didn't remember when it was. He watched himself pull the flash drive from his watch, extend the connector and then place it in the USB port of Reynolds lap top. He copied everything that was on that laptop, powered it down and then placed the flash drive back on his watch. He then looked at the time and snuck out of there and back to his bunk. He had gone out under the guise that he was going to brush his teeth and wash up before lights out. He had done it and needed to get the information to the right people. Only that's when everything went down hill.

Tony used the controls to sit up in the bed. Abby had been watching him and knew he had remembered something important as he stared at the watch and flash drive that Abby had given him.

"Tony, did you remember?" She quietly asked as she watched him.

"Oh yeah I did," Tony swung his head slowly around to look at his concerned friend. Suddenly he was all smiles and excited, "Abby, I remember!" He turned the rest of his body around and gently grabbed her, "I put all of Reynolds information from his lap top on that flash drive. We have to get it to someone. I forgot 'cause everything went to hell before I could do anything with it. But you hid it so well no one knew," He placed a kiss on Abby's forehead, "You are the smartest person I know. Now, who do we call to hand this over too?" He looked expectantly at her.

Abby was in shock as she listened to what Tony remembered. She then felt his hand on her shoulder which brought her back to what he had asked her. Call someone to give the information to, "Oh, right, we have to get this information out. Are you sure you put it in the flash drive? Do you want me to check before we call Agent Jensen?"

"No, it's there, I remember doing it now. Doc said my memory would be triggered back and you just triggered that memory." He looked urgently at Abby, "We have to call him now. Reynolds has people placed everywhere he is well connected. We have to keep this to our selves, but we need to call Agent Jensen and right away. He has to come and get this now!" Tony agitatedly told her.

"Ok, ok, calm down I'll call him right now," Abby got her phone out and dialed the base, "Yes, this is Abby Scutio I'm with NCIS and right now with Agent DiNozzo, and he needs to speak to Agent Jensen…."

Tony kept his hand on her shoulder not realizing he was squeezing it. He was still agitated as he spoke to her near the phone so who ever was on the other end would hear him too, "Abby tell them that it's imperative that I speak with Agent Jensen and only him that this is a matter of extreme importance to the mission!"

Abby waved him away and pulled his hand off her before she began speaking to the Agent that had answered the main phone, "You heard that, right? Well, when will he be back? Ok, um, tell him to call on Abby Scutio's cell phone the minute he walks in. And make sure you tell him that Agent DiNozzo remembers and has the intel they have been looking for. Thanks." Abby snapped her cell shut and then turned to look into anxious eyes.

"I'm sorry Tony, but Agent Jensen is on his way into the field and can't be disturbed. All communications have been shut down with him and his team. They are on to something but the guy, um, what was his name, oh yeah; Agent Parsons said he'd give him the message right away. He also said it would be several days before Jensen gets back. He has quite a bit of leads he's following up on. " She watched as Tony huffed and hit the bed with his good hand.

"Damn it, I finally remember and Jensen isn't around. We have to call Gibbs and let him know," Tony sat up a little, he felt the pain of all the exertion he'd put his body through but he had to do something to get this intel to the right people. He'd worked so hard for this and it might tell them where Reynolds was. He let out a loud unhappy sigh. "I know it's a totally different time zone in the states. And we're not in Kansas anymore." Tony slumped down in his bed while Abby rubbed his shoulder to calm him.

"Tony, it's alright you remembered and it's only a matter of days before Jensen gets back and we can talk to him. So tonight you can call Gibbs, ok?" Abby hoped it was. She saw a defeated nod and then noticed the pain around Tony's eyes and hit the call button.

The nurse came in and gave Tony his dose of pain medication, checked his vitals and then left the room. Tony then smiled when Abby reached over to put the black and red Mickey Mouse watch on his good hand.

"Thanks Abby, that's where it's going to stay so no one gets their hands on it." Tony explained in order to help him feel safe about the flash drive and then he started in on another subject to get him mind off of things, "You know this flash drive you made and how it fits into my watch? Well it reminds me of Bond, you know my favorite one, Sean Connary, but Bond never the less," Tony smiled and used his best Sean Connary imitation, "Now I feel like Bond, wearing this secret piece in the watch and it having so much importance. This is something that he'd have and use." Tony giggled, the pain medications starting to work on him.

Abby smiled as she watched the pain medications affect on her friend. He always got funny like this from those medications, "Well if you're the Sean Conary of the Bonds who are the other ones that play Bond to the team, you know Gibbs, McGee and Ziva?" She laughed seeing that Tony was seriously thinking about it.

"Ah, Gibbs would have to be Rodger Moore and the Probie would be Pierce Bronson. I have to think about Ziva being a female and all but she has," He turned and gave a smile to Abby, "Mad Ninja skills." He dissolved into laughter along with Abby.

Tony calmed down and then regarded his young friend, "Hey, why don't you go and take a break. It looks like it's gonna be a looonnng wait on Jensen and the pain meds make me feel funny and a little tired. Plus, I see you're almost out of Caf-Pow. I'm sure that you could find a place to refill your jug. Get some supper and come back and maybe we could watch a movie or something together. It would sure mean a lot to me and help pass the time." He yawned as he lowered his bed.

Abby lay beside him for a few minutes. She was about to take Tony up on his offer when a man rolled a tray of clean towels and linens into the room.

"Hey Tony" the man said "I see you aren't alone after all and they let your friend come stay with you. I've listened to you, but I didn't know you really had such pretty female friends." He chuckled.

Abby sat up along with Tony to greet the man who seemed to know her friend. She then moved to sit in the chair that she had occupied earlier. She watched closely and noticed that they appeared to have become fast friends in a very short period of time.

"Yeah my boss wanted to surprise me, which is strange for him, but I'm glad," Tony replied with a big smile "Abby, this is Petty Officer Scott Collins. He actually graduated from Ohio State a few years after I did. And Scott this is Abby Scuito. She is our forensic scientist back at NCIS in DC. She's the one he sent to stay with me until the doctors tell me I can go home, back to the States." He explained happily.

"That's really nice of you, Ms. Scuito" Scott answered "I came in because I heard you two talking about where to find a good Caf-Pow shop. Well there's one just a few blocks east of here. I could point you in the right direction if you want me to?" Petty Officer Collins asked.

Abby looked back at Tony and his new friend. Something about the man seemed hinky to her. To her it was strange that he would appear right after their discussion about the flash drive. Maybe she was just being paranoid. She was tired and in need of a Caf-Pow. So she shook it off with those reasons in mind.

"Yup, that's me, nice. I couldn't leave my Tony here alone. We've been friends for a long time, like years, which is really long if you think about it. Some people don't stay so close or as friends for as long as we have. Oh the Cal-Pow, yes that would be nice, thanks" Abby said "Do you think that they would fill my big jug up for me?"

She walked over to the other bed and pulled out a three gallon jug that said Caf-Pow. Both men looked at each other and laughed at her. Tony knew that she loved them and was addicted to the caffeine power to the drink. He just didn't know she was so bad that she actually had a jug for it. Abby walked back over with her gloves on and parasol ready to go. Now, not only could she fill her jug and get something to eat, but also let Tony rest.

"I'm sure that they will," Scott answered, "Just give me a few minutes to put my cart where it's supposed to be for the staff. Then I'll walk you outside and point you in the right direction."

Abby nodded at the Petty Officer before she picked up her jug and then bent over to give Tony a kiss goodbye. "I need to stretch my legs a bit and get that sandwich that you were talking about, oh and fill my jug. I'll be back soon. So get some rest mister and we'll watch movies later."

"I'll see you later," Tony answered as he closed his eyes.

The young Goth walked outside of the room to wait for the Petty Officer to meet her. She really hoped that her hinky feeling was just a figment of her imagination and nothing more.