Chapter 6

After Sarah left, Tim knew he was going to have to tell the whole sorry tale. It was all over the news anyway; it wasn't like he would be saying anything Gibbs didn't already know, but somehow, he felt that actually saying the words would make it real. He kept repeating it over in his mind, those moments that had seemed to last an eternity.

"Where am I going?"

"Bethesda."

"Where in Bethesda?"

"Just get on the Beltway and start driving. I'll tell you where when you need to know."

They drove in silence for a few minutes. Then, the man took out a cell phone and starting talking.

"We're on our way. No, I got a ride already." At this the man smirked at Tim. "Don't tell me how to do my job, Jackson. You hired me; now, let me do it. I didn't screw up. You're intel was bad. You're supposed to know these things. Why didn't you warn me about the other guards? Isn't it your job to keep track of assignments?" The man looked up. "Take exit 34 and head toward Bethesda."

Tim looked at the sign that they had just passed advertising for the Naval Hospital. Where else would they be going? Why else would he have chosen to risk kidnaping Tim, a federal agent, if he didn't need him somehow?

"Right, so when do I get the rest of my money? Not that I don't trust your honesty or that of your...employer, but let's just say that you might have some trouble of your own if you try to stiff me." He winked at Tim. "Good. That's what I hoped you'd say. Not at all, Jackson, just making sure we're on the same page."

It suddenly hit home to Tim that this man had not bothered to hide his face, nor had he made any effort to disguise his voice or his conversation. This was not the kind of man to leave things to chance. He wouldn't leave eyewitnesses around to describe him and what he'd done. He was going to kill Tim regardless of the outcome. And if he was going to kill Tim, what would stop him from going back to his apartment and killing Sarah as well?

"McGee?"

Again shaken out of his recollection, Tim answered automatically, "Yes, Boss?"

"I asked you where your doctor was."

Again, Tim shrugged. "I don't know. There's a nurse out there who is supposed to be keeping an eye on me. Her name is Julie. She might know where he is."

Gibbs almost sighed in relief. It was just about the most coherent thought Tim had expressed since he'd been here, but still he didn't like the look in Tim's eyes. "I'll be back, and I'm going to want to hear the whole story, McGee. So make sure it's understandable."

"Yes, Boss." Tim watched Gibbs leave and walk down toward the nurses' station. Left alone, he fell back into the memory of what had happened that morning.

What could he do? Now that his mind was finally working again, Tim knew he couldn't let this man reach his destination alive. If he'd had any doubts that Sarah would be in danger, they had evaporated once the realization of the man's intentions had come clear. He quickly added up his assets. The list was depressingly short: no gun, phone out of reach for now...his car. The man wasn't wearing a seatbelt. If he could crash the car into the barricades, then he might be knocked out at the least, at best... Tim tried not to complete the thought, but his anger and loathing of the man in his back seat took precedence over his usual understanding nature. He gave his mirrors side glances. The traffic wasn't moving especially fast at the moment, but he noticed that the outside lanes were speeding up. He could veer into the left lane and crash into one of the places where there was a space between the barricades. He could save Sarah and the target. No one would have to die except maybe him and the killer, a worthwhile tradeoff to Tim's mind.

Tim continued to drive in silence, all the while watching for his chance. Then, he saw it: A hole opened up in the left lanes. With no further thought, he pushed on the gas pedal and veered into the space.

"What do you think you're doing?!"

Tim ignored the voice and swerved again, luckily, just as the man fired. The shot went wide and the passenger window and mirror exploded. He saw his chance. A space in the barricades. He sped up, breaking the speed limit for the first time since he'd had this car. He was amazed at how smoothly it accelerated. He wouldn't have guessed that he was hitting 85 mph. Beautiful. What a shame. Then, his moment of observation ended as the assassin gave up on the gun and grabbed the wheel.

For the first time since getting in the car, Tim spoke, shouting as his car veered back into traffic, winging a passing SUV, "No!" He couldn't stop trying. They were all dead if he didn't succeed. His mind set on that single course of action, Tim elbowed the man in the face and yanked the steering wheel back in the other direction, this time failing to look at where the other cars were. He was seeing through a reddish haze of fury, his world narrowing to the steering wheel and the hands fighting to control it. He looked over just his car slammed into a minivan. The extra hands on the wheel disappeared, and his world started to spin out of control. Tim felt another violent jerk as he impacted another car and his own went airborne. Time slowed down and he felt a surge of adrenaline as he watched the world turn upside down. Then, he heard a crash and felt the crumpling of metal, the heat from sparks as his car hit the ground, and flecks of glass flying at his face. He had time for a rush of satisfaction and then everything went black.