Disclaimer: NCIS and its characters do not belong to me and I am making no money from this.
Many thanks to Mr VP for the Beta and to Cold Ember for making sure this isn't too 'English.' Any remaining mistakes are mine
AN Thank you all so much for the lovely reviews, they really made my day. It's great to know that people are enjoying my story.
Gibbs reacted instantly, drawing his gun and moving to cover DiNozzo and Ducky. The initial round of noise had stopped and all was still for a moment.
"It was the basement Boss," DiNozzo was struggling to get up, fully awake as adrenaline kicked in.
"Stay here," Gibbs ordered, giving Tony his Glock from its ankle strap.
The younger man pulled himself off the sofa and quickly doused the lights as Gibbs left the room. "Get down Ducky," he said quietly, moving to peer out of the window. As he watched a car pulled off from down the street, all but invisible, save for the blur of movement. Tony called Ducky over to watch for any further signs of action then made his way as quickly as he could to the basement stairs where intermittent noises still broke the stillness.
Peering down into the gloom he could just make out Gibbs frantically moving around the shell of his boat. The smell of cordite filled the air. Gibbs was coughing almost continuously now and Tony felt the bite at the back of his throat as he carefully descended the stairs.
"Put the light on DiNozzo," Gibbs called out to him even as Tony realised what had happened. Some sick bastard was having a lot of fun at their expense. Fortunately Gibbs' distrust of technology didn't extend to having a fire extinguisher at home and he stood now in the middle of his boat frame putting out the last of the small fires caused by the lit box of fireworks.
"He's playing with us," Gibbs said in disgust. "Nothing much more than fire crackers in here, just wanted to show us what he could do."
Cold anger radiated from him and Tony almost felt sympathy for the perp for having to face Gibbs when they caught up with him. Almost, but the adrenaline rush was fading and he found himself sitting down heavily on the top step without really being aware of how he got there.
Gibbs was at his side in an instant. "Take it easy Tony," he said between coughs. "Let's get back to Ducky." With one last look to make sure all of the fires were out he helped the younger man back to his feet and into the living room.
Mallard looked away from the window as they entered. "All quiet," he whispered. "What happened?" he asked as he assisted Gibbs in getting Tony back to the sofa.
"Bastard lit a box of firecrackers in my boat," Gibbs still panted slightly, words interspersed with wracking coughs.
"Sit down Jethro," Ducky instructed, steering Gibbs down beside DiNozzo. "Was there much damage?"
"Have to wait until we've bagged and tagged and got the trash out of the way to be sure but I don't think so. He was making a point."
"Was he here?" Mallard asked, concerned.
"Must have been at some point but I think it was set off by remote. Abbs will tell us soon enough." He reached for his cell to call McGee as the ME headed for the kitchen for some water. "Put gloves on Duck, we need to do a complete work up here too. Yeah, McGee," Gibbs turned his attention to the cell in his hand. "Where are you?"
"Back at the Navy Yard Boss," the young man replied quickly. "Tony's place was a mess, we've bagged and tagged and got everything back to Abby. We'll be on our way to you in a couple of minutes."
"He's been here too," Gibbs informed him shortly. "Park down the street and keep a lookout on the driveway. They dumped Tony on the doorstep and they left a gift buried in my boat. We're at least one step behind him at the moment and I want answers." He closed the cell without waiting for a reply from McGee and gratefully accepted the glass of water from Ducky.
"I need to get back to the office Boss," Tony spoke up from where he had been sitting quietly next to Gibbs. "I can go through old cases and mug shots."
"You're in no state to drive DiNozzo. As soon as McGee and Ziva get here they can process and we'll head back. Until this bastard is nailed no-one is to be alone."
Tony nodded slightly, accepting the sense in what Gibbs said. Truth be told he felt like hell, the smoke had added to his feeling of nausea and his body ached abominably but, on the plus side, his head was clearer and he had got a clear picture in his mind of one of his assailants. It wasn't anyone he'd seen before but it wasn't the one who'd been calling the shots either. As he sorted his recollections of the attack in his mind he could almost sense someone standing in the background, jeering, shouting encouragement but not entering into the fight himself. Tony was pretty sure that once that man had a face it would be one he would recognise.
He jumped slightly as someone touched his shoulder gently and turned to see Gibbs looking at him intently.
"You ok Tony?" the older man asked, concerned. "You zoned out there for a while."
"Yeah, I guess I did," Tony smiled a little. "I was remembering. They grabbed me in my apartment and must have knocked me out. The next thing I remember I was on the ground in the mud, three of them were having a go at me but someone in the background, behind me, was cheering them on. He's the one we want, I'm sure of it.
Gibbs nodded grimly. "Someone with an axe to grind, who wants us to find him, or at least to know who he is," he mused.
His thoughts were interrupted with the arrival of McGee and Ziva. Gibbs led them into the living room, already explaining what they needed to be looking for. "There must have been some sort of timing device or remote control but I want photos and sketches of everything, including the footprint under the mat. It will be light enough to search outside in an hour or so. I'll send Murphy's team back with the truck and some help."
"Are you leaving Boss?" McGee asked as he entered the room.
"Tony can give us a face for one of his attackers and I'll feel better to have at least one of the team back with Abby and Palmer."
McGee nodded and, turning, got his first look at DiNozzo. "Wow Tony," he began. "That's pretty spectacular. Um, I mean, are you ok?"
"Ouch," Ziva sympathised. "They certainly did a letter on you."
"Number," DiNozzo and McGee chorused automatically.
"Come on people," Gibbs interrupted impatiently. "This guy is too far ahead of us as it is. McGee, as soon as we've gone lock the door until you're both ready to process outside. Keep me posted on anything you find."
"On it Boss."
"Keys," Gibbs held out his hand. "You got the gear?" At McGee's nod he reached down a hand to help DiNozzo to his feet. "Coming Duck?"
"We can take my car Jethro, there's no need to strand McGee and Ziva here."
Gibbs shook his head. "He's been here Duck, we don't know if he's interfered with your transmission or brakes, we'll take the truck."
"Oh dear," Mallard said slowly. "I'm sorry Jethro, I'm afraid I didn't think of that."
Gibbs didn't reply just pulled DiNozzo's arm over his shoulder as he felt the younger man stumble beside him before nodding to Ziva who was waiting, gun at the ready, to cover them as they walked to the truck waiting down the street. The rain still fell heavily, the thunder overhead echoing Gibbs' mood.
Across the street, waiting patiently in the shadows, a man watched, oblivious to the rain, and smiled.