Gone

Chapter 19

NCIS

Authors Note: Sorry about the long delay with this chapter. It was never my intention to go three months without a new chapter. However life has been very difficult for me over the last few months. But anyways, here's a new chapter. I do need to say thank you as always to crokettsgirl for helping me with the chapter and co writing. And also thanks to Scousemuz1k for her help with the chapter. Thanks to you two and all my readers who have stuck with me through all off the delays. Sarah

Two days had passed since they had tried to reach Agent Jensen. Abby had finally gotten a hold of a member of his team. Agent Summers had told her he'd have Jensen call them back as quickly as possible, though it would be at least an hour or two. Tony and Abby sat on the bed trying to get engrossed in the James Bond movie that Abby had put in after she had finished with the call. They were both frustrated. The usually cheerful Tony whose favorite movies were James Bond with his favorite 007 actor Sean Connery was especially frustrated that they hadn't heard back from Jensen yet; especially since they had figured out that the evidence was hidden in the flash drive, which would convict Reynolds, when he was caught. Too anxious and discouraged to watch one of his favorite movies, after an hour Tony gave Abby a look and she turned it off. Instead they started to talk about what was on their minds.

"Tony" Abby said studying the watch on his wrist. "Don't worry! Agent Jensen will get back to us. The agent I spoke to said that he'd be back in about two hours and it's only been a little over an hour now."

"I know, Abbs" Tony said again in frustration "But Reynolds will have someone on the inside somewhere looking for the evidence. Don't you see? They'll be looking for me and the flash drive. Only now I've put you in danger as well and there's nothing that I can do about it." He sighed in annoyance at himself for getting Abby involved and that Jensen couldn't come right over.

"Don't worry, Silly," Abby answered as she snuggled closer and tried to lighten his mood, "I can take care of myself perfectly well. Besides, since you hurt yourself again after that little wrestling match with McGee I'm in better condition to protect you. And Gibbs will kill you if I let you get yourself hurt again. So please let me protect you Tony."

"Abby," Tony said quietly after looking at the door, "I'm a magnet for danger. Just the fact that someone knows I may have the flash drive puts you in danger. Plus, if you are right and it's someone here in the hospital, well, we're probably being watched right now." Tony shook his head at the thought.

"Tony," Abby answered, "I know you don't want to hear it but it could very well be your orderly friend that's been the one spying for Reynolds. Don't get mad at me, but yesterday I caught him snooping around your room. When I walked in he jumped and said he thought he left one of his CDs in your room. After he left the room I noticed that he'd been going through your bags. Not even you can dismiss that." She told him as she cocked her head and waited for his answer.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier, Abbs," Tony replied as he placed his arm around his friend's neck. "You know, when you left to call Agent Jensen, well, Scott came in asking a lot of questions. I played it down by saying that I didn't know anything and that I was tired. I just asked him to come back later. And now come to think about it, I did wonder the same things myself. But I just dismissed it as me being in pain, the stress and pressure of everything that happened. Also, the fact that I was really lonely, and was grateful to have a friend regardless of who it was." Tony said the last part quietly as he looked down in shame.

"I'm so sorry Tony," Abby said as she tried to console her friend. "I'm sure that I'd have trouble believing that someone as convincing as the Petty Officer could not be who he said he was. I'm so sorry that you felt so alone, but that's why I'm here now, so don't feel ashamed," she told him as she gave her friend a warm reassuring smile.

"Thanks Abbs," Tony said as he eyed the door again.

Tony was still focused on the door when one of the agents and a nurse poked their heads into the room.

"Ms. Scuito?" the nurse asked quickly "You have a call from an Agent Jensen. You can take the call out at the nurse's station."

Abby jumped up and grabbed her purse - and then realized that she'd have to leave Tony alone. She started to hesitate when Tony began to talk.

"Go and talk to Jensen" Tony pleaded "I'm ready for this to end. Just make sure that he gets everything sent to McGee right away. Besides I have agents at the door." He cocked his head and gave a smaller version of the DiNozzo smile to convince her.

"I will and I'll hurry back. Okay?" Abby said as she hurried out the door and down the hall to the nurse's station.

Abby still had that hinky feeling about leaving her friend alone, even though like he had said there were agents there to protect him. She ignored the feeling and concentrated on the fact that she needed to talk to Agent Jensen. She thanked the nurse and picked up the phone.

"Hi, Ms. Scuito" Jensen said "I'm sorry that it took me so long to get back to you. I got called away and it took a lot longer than I thought it would to chase those leads down; we came up with nothing," he told her in a discouraged tone. "Your message said that DiNozzo had something for me?" he asked hopefully.

"Tony has all the evidence that he'd collected against Reynolds, plus he down loaded what was on the captain's laptop. It's all on a flash drive he had but couldn't figure out where it was. Only we found it!" Abby answered excitedly and then brought her voice down again, "We just need you to come and get it before anyone else comes for it."

"This is fantastic news, Abby. Listen, I have to tie up a few loose ends here," Jensen answered, "I'll work quickly and be there as fast as I can. You said before that someone is after the flash drive? Then you must think that one of Reynolds' men is planted in the hospital. Ok, you two just sit tight and don't let anyone in except for the agents outside in the hallway, and only who is on the list that you know. I'll give Agent Fornell a call to let him know that you're sending all the evidence to him in an encrypted file and that I'll be sending the flash drive over to him too, after I get the evidence off of it." He explained.

"Yes I, no, we think that there is a plant in the hospital. I'll talk to the agents about being extra careful. But I also need you to send that evidence to Agent McGee as soon as you can. We'll be here, I mean, waiting for you," Abby replied as she let out a sigh of relief. "Just please hurry!"

Abby started back to the room after she hung up the phone. She could have sworn as she did that someone was watching through a room door. The door was only opened a crack, but still, she noticed. The person had sandy brown hair like the orderly that she was convinced was one of Reynolds' men. She started to go toward the room where this person was. Abby's mind was only on who was watching her when one of the FBI agents came up and scared her. He pulled back when she jumped.

"I'm sorry, are you okay?" the young agent apologized as he asked.

Abby just looked at him with a startled, "Oh yeah, I am, I just didn't see you. You see I thought I saw someone watching me. But I guess that I was wrong," she explained.

As the agent escorted her back to the room he was telling her something, but she didn't hear what he said. Her mind was back at Tony's room and him in there all alone. She also couldn't stop wondering if she had actually seen someone watching her

Abby swung her purse back on to her shoulder and hurried the agent along. She was concerned about how Tony was doing. Before she walked into the room she could feel the tension and fatigue radiating from him. At least Tony would feel a little bit safer now that she and the agent were back. She had said as little as she could and as quietly as she could so that Jensen would know that there was a plant in the hospital and about the flash drive. She couldn't tell him the name of the person they suspected. She didn't know if Petty Officer Collins was in listening range and it was bad enough what she did say if he was. She'd have to let Jensen know about Collins so he too could check him out. As for the person that she thought she saw spying from the door, if it was Collins and he did hear, then they were definitely in a lot of trouble.

"Tony," Abby spoke before he could completely lose it. "Agent Jensen is on his way and he's going to have the flash drive sent off to DC as soon as he can. Then you can tell him about Petty Officer Collins." Abby sat down and took her laptop out. She typed in a few things on it and looked over at Tony and then down at the watch, "I need the flash drive for a minute and then you can put it back on. Jensen wants me to encrypt this information and send it to Fornell."

Tony took the watch off, then detached the flash drive and gave it to her. She knew he was watching her and the door as she put it in, downloaded it and then did more magic before sending it off to Fornell, encrypted. She wished she could send it to McGee but didn't want to take a chance since Fornell knew it was coming and would be waiting for it, McGee didn't. She figured he'd get it from Fornell personally. Abby then gave back the flash drive to Tony, who put it back on the watch which he replaced on his wrist. While he did that Abby completely deleted any sign of the encrypted message and what was on the flash drive. No one could find it on her computer. She made sure everything was wiped out and untraceable, then closed up the laptop and put it away.

Tony started to sit up, wincing at the sharp pain from his ribs. He was so tired of everything bad that was happening to him and his friends. He trusted Agent Jensen with his life. Jensen had proved himself to Tony and had become a good friend to him throughout the entire operation. He just hoped that they were wrong about the Petty Officer, but his gut said that they weren't and were still in danger. He couldn't rest, the feeling was to strong. All he wanted was for them to be safe and that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. They needed to get back to the states where he felt safe and knew that Abby too would be safe.

"Abbs?" he asked as he winced from the pain of his protesting ribs while he raised the bed into a sitting position, "I need for you to stay in this room with me. I mean it; don't go outside for any reason. I hope we're wrong but somehow I don't think so. I have a feeling Reynolds has someone trying to get the flash drive. Probably is Collins. Damn, how could I be so stupid? Well… at least it's hidden," he added, as he gave a heavy sigh at not noticing something like how friendly Collins had been. Damn it he was an agent and was suppose to notice these things, Abby did and she wasn't even an agent. The problem was that he had just been so lonely and had wanted to go home. He just needed a friend and that became the Petty Officer, and now, that mistake could get them both killed.

"I will, Tony" Abby said as she curled up next to him on the bed and laid her head on his chest. She knew he was feeling bad about not noticing things an agent should, like the Petty Officer snooping around. "Tony don't feel badly about not seeing certain things, you've been pretty much out of it. And remember that I can take care of myself. Besides that, Gibbs said that Jensen put a couple of extra agents outside to guard us," she reminded the agent. Then she tried to lighten up the mood. "You know Tony, Sister Rosita gave me a new bottle of pepper spray and a new set of brass knuckles to use if we need it." She poked her head up with a smile and saw what she said had worked.

Tony couldn't help but laugh at what Abby had told him. The image of Abby using the pepper spray on an attacker was funny. He had his gun in his bedside table and had made sure Abby knew where it was so she could use it if necessary. But he had to admit to himself that the pepper spray was a lot more hilarious and it reminded him of the time Abby had duct taped Chip. This made him laugh even more as he shared the thought with Abby. Once they calmed down she turned the movie back on, and they lay back to enjoy it, both feeling better about the situation they were in.

NCIS

(Inside one of the Iraq hospital rooms)

Collins was excited at his good fortune at overhearing the news that DiNozzo had the flash drive. Now Reynolds would stop calling him and threatening his life. Soon he'd be going home a free and very rich man. Taking a long sigh of relief the young man quietly slipped out the door so he could get back to his duties without arousing any suspicion.

NCIS

(A few minutes later in the States)

Gibbs had been sitting at his favorite coffee shop for the last hour waiting for Agent Fornell to show up. He'd placed several urgent calls to his old friend and was now impatiently waiting for him to appear, but he was so deep in thought he didn't hear the other man pull up a chair to sit down next to him.

The voice he heard right next to him made him jump. This wasn't like Leroy Jethro Gibbs to not be on top of things, to be lost in thought and not be aware of his surroundings. He had always instilled in his team that they could do both, think and still know what was going on around them. A good investigator always had to, so this threw him and brought his mind back to the present where it needed to be.

"Jethro?" Fornell asked when he saw the far away look, and then his friend jumped. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you," he told his friend as he came closer.

"You didn't startle me, Tobias. I've just been waiting here for nearly a damn hour now." Gibbs grumbled.

"Sorry, I was picking up Emily when you called. Diane was furious, but Emily understood. That little girl is something else. Do you know Emily invited you to spend the night tonight and said that you could use her room again?" Fornell laughed and saw his friend chuckle at both the little girl's invitation and also their ex-wife being mad. Tobias knew how Jethro loved to see or hear when Diane was miserable. But then he saw Gibbs' face become serious and knew it was time to get down to the business at hand. He sat down with his coffee before he started to speak again, "So what was so urgent that I had to postpone my plans with my daughter?"

"I need to talk to you about Agent Jensen," Gibbs answered. "I need to know that I can trust him, Tobias."

"Absolutely Jethro," Fornell replied back. "But why are you asking me this?"

"Abby called me this morning, tonight their time. Seems she's concerned about some orderly befriending DiNozzo," Gibbs said, then continued on, "Abby ran a background check and found out that he may not be who he says he is. Agent Jensen knows that there is a plant in the hospital but Abby said she couldn't say too much to him about who it is. I need to know that he won't drop the ball, Tobias. I need to know that my people aren't in danger." Gibbs stared harder at the other agent.

"Jethro," Fornell answered calmly "Like I told you, I would trust Jensen with my life. Agent Carlson was slated to lead the team. He was good but I felt that over the last year something wasn't right with him. He'd been put on report a couple of times for losing evidence. And, he'd had some financial troubles too. He was suspected of stealing money from the evidence lockup, but it was never proven." Fornell stopped his explanation and looked into Jethro's waiting eyes. Fornell knew what he was waiting for, "Ok, what I'm saying is that Jensen saved my life, and if you think about it he did save DiNotzo's from Reynolds initially. You can trust him to keep on protecting DiNotzo and even Abby the same way," he assured his friend.

"I just need to make sure that he isn't going to screw the pooch here, For-nell." Gibbs replied as he took another drink of coffee. "I also hope that he checks out that orderly when Abby gives him the name, like he was supposed to when he put the protection in place," Gibbs groused.

"Damn it Jethro," Fornell replied, "He did and it was a thorough job. I even ran a second check myself because he wanted to be sure. The only thing was that he may not have attended Ohio State like he claimed to have. But Jensen didn't seem concerned about that. And before you get too upset there is no record of him ever coming in contact with Agent Carlson or Reynolds at any time in the last six months. I double checked those records myself. He and I both double checked every one that has anything to do with both DiNotzo and Scutio." Fornell again assured, "So if you want him to check this Petty Officer out again I'm sure he will."

Gibbs started to speak but stopped when the other agent's cell rang. Agent Fornell got up and walked away to answer the call.

"Jethro," he said as he came back and hung up the phone "That was Agent Jensen…."

"What did he want?" Gibbs interrupted.

"He said that he just talked to your forensics expert," Fornell answered. "DiNozzo has the evidence. Apparently he downloaded all the evidence against Reynolds onto a flash drive. He's had it with him all this time. The flash drive fitted into a watch that Abby had given him."

"Just make sure that he gets it sent to Agent McGee before it gets taken by Reynolds or one of his associates," Gibbs said urgently. "Then Agent Jensen can get it sent back through secure channels."

"Abby told Jensen she'd send everything on the flash drive in an encrypted e mail to me right away. I have to go back now and get it. Then I'll bring it on a new flash drive over to NCIS for McGee. Tell Director Vance what's going on. Jensen is having one of his team fly out with the flash drive as soon as he picks it up from Abby. Seems funny to think of the time difference, but it will be taken care of. Jethro, this is good news about Tony remembering where the evidence is and very clever of Ms. Sciuto on how it's hidden." Fornell sounded impressed. He knew that Abby was unusual but was brilliant all the same, and this was one of the many times she proved it.

"Make sure you bring it quickly straight to McGee," Gibbs demanded. "And when that agent gets there I need you to call me immediately. And Tobias, you'd better be sure about this."

"I am, Jethro," Fornell said as he started to walk away. "Now I need to get back to get that e-mail and take care of this. And now I'm also going to have to explain why I can't take Emily to our angry ex- wife. I'll be by as soon as I can with the information for McGee. You take care of alerting your Director," he added.

"Thanks Tobias," Gibbs said as he paid for his third cup of coffee. "And say hi to Emily for me. And be sure to let Diane know that this was my fault. Maybe she won't kill you then. Let Emily know that I'll try and come over when I have the time." Gibbs and Fornell exchanged a knowing glance.

"I will, Jethro," Fornell answered as he paid for his second cup of coffee and a chicken sandwich.

Gibbs sat there watching as the other agent left the shop. He had checked his watch and realized that he'd been gone longer than he had thought. He knew he had to get back and go right up to fill in Director Vance, and he was sure that the Director would be happy to hear the news about the evidence. He just hoped that Vance would understand his not trusting the background checks. He knew that Leon had been concerned when he heard about the orderly; but at that point neither of them knew that both Jensen and Fornell had done a background check on this man since he was part of the team caring for DiNozzo. He took his coffee, stood up and hurried back to the office, to speak urgently with Director Vance and to let McGee know what Fornell was bringing by shortly.

(NCIS in Iraq)

The doctor and the nurse had just come back in to check on Tony once again. He'd finally begun to relax, thanks to Abby staying with him. After he was checked out the nurse gave him more pain medicine and adjusted the sling on his injured arm. Then she proceeded to scold him for fighting and making his injuries worse. He half listened and gave the right head nods and answers; the whole while his eyes flicked over to the door where they had made Abby wait while they dealt with him. After they left she came in and sat back down by her friend.

"Did you want to finish the movie?" she asked, noticing again how tired he looked. "We have a while until Agent Jensen arrives. I sent the files to Fornell as you know and then got an email from McGee a few minutes ago that Fornell gave him the information. So now they can catch Reynolds and put him away." Abby said with hardness in her voice. She wanted this over not just for her and the teams, but also for Tony and the other people who were hurt by this marine.

"I'm really tired right now, Abbs," Tony answered wearily. "I'm really sore and I just want to take a nap. Why don't you go and get something to eat along with a Caf-Pow refill? Just be careful, and call me right away if you have any problems. Hopefully by the time you get back Agent Jensen should be here. I have the watch on so no one can come it and steal it without me knowing." Tony's head relaxed further into the pillow and he closed his eyes.

"But Tony!" Abby exclaimed as she scooted off the bed. "I thought that you said it wasn't safe for me to leave?"

"Well yeah, you're probably safer in here with the two guards right outside the door," Tony answered matter-of-factly, "But I know for a fact that it's been several hours since you've had a Caf-Pow. I know you found that place that has them, and you said the food was good there. Anyhow, you'll probably be safer outside since no one really knows you besides me and the two guards," Tony reassured her. He was tired and just wanted to sleep. She was probably safer away from him anyway, he figured. He knew she wouldn't give up without a fight, so he waited.

"I don't want to leave you Tony but I am starving," Abby answered seriously, thinking of taking Tony up on his offer to escape for a while, "And I think I need about a triple refill on the Caf-Pow right now. But I can honestly make do with the coffee from the machine here. Gibbs would be upset if I left you alone with the bad guys around."

"Abby," Tony laughed, as he took a deep breath so he could carefully readjust himself on the bed. Once the pain subsided a little bit he spoke again. "There's no way that you could go a whole day without a Caf-Pow. And the way your stomach keeps rumbling you're going to die from starvation. So you better go eat. You know Abby; I could always have a guard follow you if it would make you feel better."

"I think I can manage without a guard following me around," Abby conceded. "Okay Tony, you win - I'll go because I'm really, really hungry and I really do need a Caf-Pow refill. So I'll see you back in about an hour or so. And I will be careful, Tony. I promise you that I'll be okay and you better be to, mister." She smiled at him.

"I will too," Tony said with a yawn. "Now get going before I run you out," he teased her as he turned to get comfortable.

Abby walked to the door, took another look back and got a wink as she saw Tony's head hit the pillow again for the final time. She smiled as she walked out of the room and told the guards where she was going. She asked if they wanted anything before she left. She was barely out the door when sleep took him.

As Abby walked down the hall a little she saw out of the corner of her eye a door open and shut. She knew that this wasn't the doctors or nurses; this floor was rather quiet, Gibbs and Jensen had seen to that. She thought that she caught a glimpse of a man and was certain that it was the so called orderly that was listening to her.

Abby decided to track down his cell phone number and try and get a GPS fix on whoever he was calling; she was positive that it was Reynolds. She went into an empty room next to the one the man was in. She quickly set up her laptop and was able to set up a phone trace, which would prove that he was talking to Reynolds among other things. She had to keep her laptop going and not get caught, so she quickly put it away and then carried it to the deli. From there she could monitor things. She let out a little whoop in her head, proud of herself that she had the opportunity to set this up as she stepped outside to walk over to the deli.

Abby realized that she also needed to get the flash drive sent as soon as she was far enough away from the hospital. Thankfully she had sent all the information to all that needed it and she had nothing on her so that if anything happened the information wouldn't be found. Now all she needed to worry about was this trace and what she could find out.

(At The Hospital: An Empty Closet Down The Hall)

Down the hallway, in an empty closet, a terrified man placed the phone call that he'd been afraid to make. He decided to wait to make the phone call until he was sure that DiNozzo was alone. That damn forensics woman was too nosy for her own good. Twice he thought that she'd almost caught him, which made him more nervous and the last thing he wanted was to kill her too, but if he had to he would. He'd do anything at this point to get this job done and away from that man, Reynolds. That bastard was crazy! At least the FBI men weren't a worry to him. All they knew right now was that he was an orderly; hopefully it would stay that way.

He leaned against the closet wall and dialed the dreaded number to the call he didn't want to make. Only one ring and the other man's voice came through the cell loudly.

"You better have the damn flash drive, Collins," Reynolds hissed, "Or I 'm going do as I told you I would. That cold morgue wouldn't be hard to put you in. So you better tell me that you have it," he threatened.

"I don't have it," Collins choked out in fear of his boss, "I can't get into DiNozzo's room long enough to search it thoroughly. And now that forensics lady is so suspicious of me that they've posted two guards at the door. I'm sorry…."

"Shut the hell up with your lame excuses!" Reynolds yelled. "I'm stuck here in hiding. I need that flash drive so I can leave Iraq. I can't risk those damn' agents figuring out where I am."

Collins had to hold the cell away from his ear due to his boss yelling so loudly, "I'll try….." he stammered again.

"You'll do it now!" Reynolds ordered in a gruff, powerful tone, "Or I will personally come and do as I said I would to you. I swear in order to get anything done right you have to do it yourself. Do it now or I'll not only come there and do it myself, but we will visit the morgue together. You like morgues?" It wasn't quite a question it was more a reiteration on how serious he was with his threat.

"I…NO, I don't like morgues. Please listen to me," Collins squeaked out as he begged, terrified of the man, "I overheard that Abby woman talking to that FBI guy Jensen, and DiNozzo has the flash drive somewhere in the room. But I don't know where yet." He hoped that would temporarily satisfy this man.

"I don't care! Just go in there and do it tonight!" Reynolds yelled into the phone "Go in there and shoot the two of them, and if you have to, the agents too. Just get it! And if you don't want to shoot the agents then use the poison I left you to put them out or kill them too. It should make them pass out and die if they aren't found in time. But, it will give you enough time to be able to get in there. Then you can take that nice silencer I gave you also and you Kill DiNozzo and that girl! No one will hear that and you get the flash drive and then leave. When that is done you call me. Tonight! Do you understand, because if I don't hear from you tonight you will hear from me in the morning and my face will be the last face that you ever see. Do I make myself clear?"

The young man was terrified. He wanted to run and give the money back for this job, but knew that once he had taken it the contract was complete. He couldn't run and he didn't want to die. He knew what he had to do, kill DiNozzo and Abby, get those agents really sick He took a few deep breaths to calm himself before he continued with the call.

"I'll do it. I swear I'll do it. I just need some time, please. I promise the contract will be fulfilled and I'll have the flash drive along with two dead bodies, DiNozzo and the girl." Collins begged and then finished off by trying to sound convincing.

"You have two hours" Reynolds informed him as he tried to keep his voice calm, "If you don't have the damn flash drive by then you better pray to whatever God you believe in because you'll be seeing him tonight and that's a promise." He said with satisfaction in his voice.

"I'll try…" Collins stammered.

"No, you'll do! I will not repeat myself again!" Reynolds interrupted, screaming into the phone.

"Okay! I will," Collins said, even more terrified than before.

With that Reynolds snapped the phone shut ending the call.

TBC