It was seconds before the three of them grabbed their weapons, and filed behind Gibbs as he raced down the stairwell and into Abby's lab. The four spread out to find no one.
"Clear."
"Clear."
"Damn." Gibbs practically shouted as he turned towards McGee. "Did you get a trace on those calls?"
He slowly shook his head, but before he was done shaking Gibbs turned from him and kicked over a nearby stool. He reached for his phone violently as it rang, and yelled into the receiver. "Gibbs!" He took in a breath and after a few moments closed the phone.
"Let's go." He stormed out of the lab towards the elevator and pushed the button with more force then necessary.
The three exchanged glances and followed behind him. Neither of them wanted to open their mouths in fear of how Gibbs would react, but Anthony DiNozzo figured he had nothing to lose. "Where we headed boss?"
Gibbs turned towards him and Tony stepped back instinctively.
"Body was just dropped off."
McGee shrugged. "A dead one?"
Tony reached to smack his head but resisted. "Where boss?" he asked quickly, hoping Gibbs hadn't heard McGee's comment.
The doors opened and each of them filed in behind him. With his eyes straight forward, he answered. "Right outside our front doors." Before the elevator slid shut, you could hear the sound of a hand making contact with the back of a head.
--- ---
"McGee, photos…Ziva…I want the surveillance tapes, I wanna know who has come in out of this building all damn day…"
"On it." She replied quickly, turning to leave.
Gibbs then stopped Tony short of the building doors. "Tony, listen to me…this body is not just any body…"
He nodded. "I figured as much boss. It's not every day a body gets dropped off at our front door. It's my dad isn't it?"
Gibbs nodded. "I want you off this scene and back up in the office."
Tony was peering around the commotion and saw the body lying on the sidewalk.
"He's my Father." He said simply.
Gibbs stood to block his view. "I don't care if he's the President, I want you upstairs…trust me Tony."
At the word 'trust' his gut churned. He had trusted Gibbs before, and this is where it got him. How could he ever trust him like that again?
"You are not my Father, you don't tell me what to do." He shot back, and almost threw his hand over his mouth, in shock that he had even said it.
"I may not be your Father, but I'm sure as hell your boss…and when I say I want you upstairs, you go upstairs."
Tony stepped away and threw his hands up. "Yeah, just call when I'm through being grounded pops." He said lethargically as he turned to leave.
Gibbs sighed as he watched him enter the elevator. He pondered his choice for a few more seconds before retreating to the scene.
"What do we got Duck?" He asked, slipping on his gloves.
The ME was not fully read in on the details of the last hour and looked up at him confused. "A dead body Jethro." He replied. "In front of our own bloody office…something you care to share?"
Gibbs shook his head. "I need a positive ID."
"I thought not." He replied. "Yes, well…" He slid his hand into the man's coat pocket and pulled out his wallet. "I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for in there." He handed it to him and continued to search the body.
"Damn." He said softly, and Ducky picked up on it.
"There is something to share isn't there Jethro?"
"Just get the body to autopsy ASAP Duck." He placed the wallet in an evidence bag McGee was holding out.
It was then Ducky uttered something that caught Gibbs attention. He watched as he pulled out a Polaroid picture. "Dear Lord…Abigail…"
Gibbs stepped closer, and took it from his hand. His facial expression was covered in rage as he stared relentlessly at the photo. He handed it to McGee before storming back inside.
McGee slipped it into another evidence bag and turned around to find Ducky standing right beside him. "What is going on Timothy?" His tone was insistent and McGee stopped from bagging the picture for a moment.
"Some one has Abby…and it's the same people who killed him." He motioned towards the body.
"How are the two connected?"
He took in a breath. "That's Tony's Father."
Ducky followed his deep breath with his own. "You're not serious?"
"I'm afraid I am Ducky… they blackmailed Tony into either killing Gibbs or losing his Father…"
"And he chose the latter it seems…" He responded solemnly.
McGee nodded. "Now it's the boss, or Abby…and each one of us there after."
--- ---
Gibbs staggered into the bull pen, and both Tony and Ziva shoo up from their desks in response to his entrance.
"Tapes."
Ziva nodded. "They are ready for viewing, but with nothing in particular to look for…"
"How about someone taking Abby out of the damn building?" He shouted towards her.
She took in a breath, holding back any response she may have wanted to say. "I have checked the last hour and there is no sign of her leaving the building from the main entrance…but…" she hit a few buttons and pulled up the Labs emergency exit video.
The three watched the scene unfold before them as the men subdued her. They immediately gagged her and knocked her unconscious with the butt of a weapon. This caused Gibbs to hit his fist against the closest piece of furniture he could find.
"The alley?" Gibbs barked out.
"Nothing." She replied.
He snapped his head in her direction.
"But I'm on any available traffic or building cameras in the surrounding area…" she finished peering over at Tony.
Gibbs stared aimlessly at the screen when Tony stepped into his view. "We know they got her boss…let's find her."
He sighed. "Thinking of killing me again DiNozzo?"
He scoffed. "Boss, if I wanted to kill you, you'd be dead already."
"Is that so?" Gibbs replied, causing Tony to regret his last phrase.
"I only meant that anyone can be taken by surprise if done correctly…"
Gibbs stared back at him.
"Let me rephrase that...I meant almost anyone…" He looked to Ziva to rescue him.
"Gibbs." She almost shouted. "Was there anything in the phone calls that would hint to their identity or connection with you?"
He sighed, taking his gaze away from Tony for the moment. "Pull up the transcript." He went around his desk. "Where are the lists you and McGee compiled of suspects?"
She looked down at the floor. "That's what Abby was working on before…" She didn't need to finish.
Just then McGee entered. "They are calling a temp to fill in for Abby from metro to process the evidence."
"That's fine McGee…right now; I need to know why the hell you couldn't trace those calls."
He sighed. "In English?"
"In English McGee." He replied, staring up at him.
"They were using a signal that scrambled the trace…made it impossible."
"I hate that word." Gibbs shot back and threw his hands up. "Alright, let's bring this all together…I want everything we got compiled in five minutes…"
Ziva and McGee sprang into action, while Tony approached Gibbs desk.
"What do you want me doing boss?"
He looked up. "Did I say you were through being grounded DiNozzo?"
He smiled slowly. "Boss, my Father was just killed by guys who want you dead…you need me on this."
"Since when do you tell me what I need?"
"Since your call, cost me my Father's life."
Gibbs stood up. "And just exactly what call would you have made DiNozzo?"
Tony thought for a few moments before responding. "Same call you did boss." The tension in that office could be cut with a knife and Tony knew it. "I just want to find Abby…and I want to help."
Gibbs nodded. "Then get on that transcript…see if anything rings a bell." He sat back down. "Three minutes." He stated, referring to his previous order that everything would be compiled in five.
The next three minutes consisted, of McGee racing over to Ziva's desk, Ziva to Tony's and Tony to McGee's. Gibbs watched it all unfold as he made a few necessary phone calls. The three minutes were over.
"I still have the compiled list of criminals that have gotten out within the last year." The names came up on the screen. "There's four total."
Tony pointed. "Remember that case boss? That guy hated you."
Gibbs nodded. "Yeah, I'm flattered, but he hated you even more DiNozzo."
"I shot him in the leg." Tony offered. "I was aiming for his chest." He heard McGee snicker softly. "I was a Probie then." He elbowed McGee in the stomach and he practically doubled over, and as he did Gibbs head slapped him.
"Pull those two up…Steeples and Woodward."
The pictures came up on the screen.
"DiNozzo…didn't he say you didn't keep your end of the bargain as usual?"
He nodded. "Yes he did boss…where you going with this?"
"When you had to take a shot at him, you were supposed to be holding your position remember?"
"Do I remember?" He rubbed the back of his head. "I still black out occasionally from the head slap."
"He knew that from the trial…his lawyer tried to say your shooting was reckless. That's the bastard….he has Abby." He pointed to the screen. "Last known whereabouts McGee."
"He uh, missed his last parole meeting…but he filed for change of address when he got out." He punched a few keys on his key board. "Got it." He scribbled down a few lines while Ziva and Tony grabbed their bags. Gibbs slipped his weapon on his belt. "That's good work McGee…"
As they headed towards the elevator Gibbs pulled Tony aside quickly. "Tony…"
"I'll visit him when we get Abby back boss."
Within seconds, the elevator was descending and the only person on each of their minds was their very own eccentric forensic scientist.
--- ---
AN: Who here thinks its really going to be that easy? There will be no slash, or shipping here. And more Hurt/comfort is on its way at your requests. Thank you for reviewing.