"Sir? Are you okay? Sir?" She bent down and moved his shoulder a bit. "Sir?"

She stood up and raced over to the phone, but as she picked it up, she noticed him starting to come around. "Are you alright?"

McGee shook his head and opened his eyes wide. "Abby?"

"No sir, I'm Miss Scuito's replacement, I was called in from Metro earlier today…are you okay?"

He took in deep breath and looked around the lab for a moment. "No…" He said simply, as he tried to gather his thoughts. "And I'm pretty sure I won't be for a long, long time."

She watched as a look of determination covered his face. He had already left the lab before she even had a chance to put her hand out and help him up…

--- ---

Ziva David entered the empty bull pen, and her gut started to churn. She reached for her phone to call McGee but there was no answer; she tried again, and still nothing. She knew he couldn't be in autopsy since she'd just come from there, so there was only one alternative.

When she reached the lab, she watched Amy turn towards her quickly.

"Officer David." She reached out her hand and Amy shook it.

"Amy Sandoval.

Ziva peered around the lab and sighed before nodding a goodbye and turning to leave.

"Are you looking for someone?"

"I was yes, but he's not here…"

"Would he happen to be a tall white guy with a baby face?"

She nodded. "Yes, he would be… how long ago was he here?"

"Hmm, maybe ten minutes…he fainted right where you stand, but he got up with this crazy look in his eye…"

And without a thank you, Ziva turned to leave in the same fashion McGee had before.

"I'm beginning to think, maybe it's me?" She said to herself as she headed back towards her computer.

--- ---

Ziva David slipped her weapon onto her belt and flipped open her phone simultaneously. "Does no one answer their phone?!" She practically threw it down as she took in a deep breath. "Tony, it's me, call me back ASAP." She closed her phone and picked up her back pack. "If you want something done right, Ziva David, you must do it yourself." She slipped the address into her back pocket and left.

--- ---

Donald Mallard turned towards the autopsy entrance to see Jimmy Palmer making his way inside. "Afternoon Doctor…heard we've had a crazy morning."

He nodded. "Nothing short of hell my boy…" he tossed a pill into his mouth and followed up with some water. "And I have a headache like I only had once before…I was just turning 18 and it was my first birthday away from home…a few of my cricket teammates suggested we go out to this quaint little bar on the outer edge of campus…and let me tell you, scotch on the rocks is a drink that till this day gives me a headache at the slightest whiff of it…"

"Doctor…" he interrupted mid sentence, which was something he would rarely do. In fact, he wasn't sure if he ever had before this moment. "I heard Abby…well…is it really true?"

He ignored the interruption and sighed. "See for yourself. I have not quite gotten up the nerve just yet…"

Palmer watched as Ducky turned his head in the opposite direction. He removed the sheet slowly and fought hard to keep himself composed. He cocked his head sideways and took in a deep breath. "Uh…Doctor…?"

--- ---

The drive to their destination was deathly quiet. Gibbs hadn't remembered when Tony had been so silent, but also knew that nothing he said would make what they were about to do, any easier. They knew they'd be up against more men than they had the fire power to defeat…but as far as they were concerned, they were the reason for this mess, and concluded they had nothing left to lose.

"DiNozzo, listen…"

"Don't give me the sappy…if something happens to me line…I'm just gonna stick to my Jack Bauer complex."

Gibbs shook his head and gave him a short smile. "Is that right?"

"Heck yes…except I'm much better looking."

With a quick head slap Gibbs brought Tony back into reality. "Listen, preserve your ammo, make all your shots kill shots, you don't want any of 'em catching you by surprise, got me?"

Tony nodded. "Got it."

"Alright." He sighed and removed his weapon from his holster. "On my mark."

As the two knelt down, both their heads shot up as they saw a blue sedan crash through the gates. They listened to the gun fire emanate from the drivers side window and watched the bodies begin to fall. "McGee..." Gibbs shouted as he pointed in the direction he wanted Tony to go. But before Tony could move the two of them listened as the gun fire came to a stop, and a familiar frame was pulled out of the car, and onto the ground, motionless.

"No…" Gibbs said softly and hung his head low.

"Probie…" Tony took in a short breath and looked at Gibbs for direction.

But none came.

--- ---