Ducky was placing his scotch bottle back into the cabinet when they laid his body on the table. Despite how badly he may have wanted to finish the bottle, he knew he had to be of sound mind, if anyone was going to get through this.
"Set out what we'll need Mr. Palmer," he took a few steps towards the black bag. "I realize it is cut and dry, but we must…"
"Do what you have to do." Gibbs finished as he entered through the autopsy doors.
"Yes, quite true Jethro." He turned to face him, his eyes clearly watered with tears. "And you'll do what you have to do, I'd imagine?"
He nodded and paced towards the body, but not the one Ducky expected him to.
"She was reported missing two days ago, Amy was able to confirm her identity an hour ago. It appears, she was just a victim of resembling our Abigail, and this man abducted her."
"He's been planning this a long time." Gibbs added as he moved his eyes from her body to the other behind him.
"You'll see to it, Timothy didn't die in vain, wont you Jethro?"
Gibbs swallowed hard. "Even if I die trying Duck."
He left abruptly, and left his friend speechless. Palmer then approached beside him. "He meant that didn't he, Doctor?"
"There's not a doubt in my mind, my boy, not a doubt in my mind at all."
--- ---
"What do we have?" He entered the bull pen in full force and stood in front of the plasma waiting for answers.
"All of the men from the compound have been processed. And are waiting in holding. They all claim to have no idea where Steeples has taken Abby." Ziva offered as she stood up from her desk and peered over at Tony.
"DiNozzo…" Gibbs prompted but got no immediate answer. "DiNozzo!"
Tony's head snapped up. "Bolo is out on Steeples and Abby, no hits yet."
Gibbs threw his hands up. "Get every one of those bastards in a line for interrogation…"
"Boss, that's gonna take time…"
"And I'm sure as hell aware, that's something we don't have a lot of…but breaking one of them is our only chance at getting Abby back before her real body ends up next to McGee downstairs." He took a step towards him. "Is that what you want?"
Tony met his stare. "You know that's not true boss." He averted his eyes to the ground and turned to leave. "I'm gonna go see about getting you that line…"
When he left, it didn't take long for Ziva to express her opinion. "Perhaps you should go easy on him yes? He has had better days."
"I don't give a damn what kind of day he's had Ziva…and you shouldn't either. We got a job to do, and if we don't do that job, Abby dies…it's just that simple."
She shook her head. "If I've leaned anything working for you, it's that nothing is just that simple Gibbs." She stared at him for a few moments before turning to leave as well. "I will go help Tony…"
He stood there and ran his hand over his face. "Ziva…" He hollered back towards her but watched as she ignored him and entered the elevator. He stood there for a few moments, before mentally preparing himself for the interrogations that were to come.
--- ---
"What you did was very heroic Timothy," he set aside his instrument and took in a short breath. "But not very smart…why couldn't you just wait…must you of acted so hastily?" He sighed and paced to the opposite side of the table. "I suppose you now know the body you were afraid to see, was not our Abigail…but don't worry, Gibbs has assured me you will not have died in vain."
--- ---
Tony rubbed his eyes and let out a long yawn. "Just one more left, think he's gonna make it through?"
Ziva sighed. "I sure hope so, cuz if not, we'll be lining them up for a second roll in the dirt."
"Hay, Ziva, it's…"
"Hey what?" She looked over at him confused.
"No I meant, Hay as in…never mind…"
She shook her head. "Here comes the last one…"
--- ---
Gibbs stared across at him with a look that could kill. As cliché as it sounded, the man sitting across from him had no doubt his eyes weren't that far from it coming true.
"Look, I don't know anything about where Steeples went; I was just the delivery boy…drove the van."
"Are you scared Jason?"
"If I was scared of you would of agreed to help him in the first place?"
"I didn't ask if you were scared of me…I asked if you were scared."
"Why would I be?"
Gibbs leaned over the table and came inches from his face. He continued this for what seemed like hours before Jason met his eyes.
"Will you cut that out?"
Gibbs shrugged. "Cut what out?
"You know damn well, what."
"Ah, watch you language," Gibbs began and pointed towards the glass. "Kids are watching…"
"I already told you, I don't know."
"Now I may be getting older, but I can hear…I've also been told my eyes sight is almost perfect…that's why I can see right through your BS…now tell me where they are, or my eyes burning into yours will be the last thing you see for a very long time."
He leaned over the table again and Jason immediately stood up. "Okay, listen, I want a deal…"
It took record time for that deal to be made and for Gibbs team to ready themselves. As they were about to leave the office, Gibbs reached for Tony's arm and pulled him aside.
"Tony…"
"Boss, there's no time for apologies, we got work to do."
It was then Gibbs realized Tony was more like him, than he wanted him to be. With that phrase he had just come to terms with the sacrifice he had made to keep him alive. Could he really mean more to him then his own Father?
"When this is over…" He pointed at himself then back at Tony. "We're gonna talk."
"Great." He replied in a sarcastic tone and it wasn't long before Gibbs picked up on it. And other than the sound of Gibbs hand hitting the back of Tony's head the elevator ascended in silence.
They had work to do.
--- ---
Ducky knew it would be hours before he heard anything. Steeples location was well out of cell phone range, so all he could now, was wait. He pulled his chair up beside McGee and decided talking to him would help to pass the time…
"They have gone to get him my boy…you can be sure they will bring his body back for me to autopsy soon enough. My prayer and I'm sure yours too, is that Abigail will be brought home safe…"
It was then a familiar voice caused him to fall right out of his chair.
"I am safe Ducky…"