AN: Longer update here. Please review. There's a lot in this chapter. I would love the feedback. Thank you and enjoy!
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Gibbs hands instinctively found themselves on the back of his Agents heads, as if his hands could protect them from the gun fire. He lifted his head up slightly and noticed two different muzzles firing. "DiNozzo…"
"Yeah boss…"
Gibbs lifted his weapon and fired two rounds in their direction. "I'm gonna take off in that direction…they'll follow…get Ziva to the car and back to ." He fired another round before burying his face back into the ground.
"But…"
"Now's not the time for butts Tony…do it now…or so help me…"
Tony frantically reached for his arm as he saw his boss begin to stand. "What if…"
Gibbs fired another round to keep them at bay. "Listen…I'll make it back to NCIS on my own…just get the hell out of here…now." After a few seconds of staring into each others eyes, an understanding was reached. "I'm trusting you to get both of you back safe."
Within seconds of that last order, Gibbs stood up and zigged zagged his way through the brush while firing a few rounds towards the shooters. Tony kept him and Ziva hidden as he watched the pursuit unfold. Reluctantly, he got up the nerve to move towards the car. He could barely walk himself so found himself half dragging and half lifting Ziva in that direction. He was able to place her in the front seat before hobbling over to the driver's side door. His head shot up as he heard more gun fire.
"Damnit boss…you're making me leave you…" He slammed his fist on the hood of the car before climbing in and turning the key over. He wanted to wait, but knew Steeples men wouldn't be far behind and he was right. He ducked instinctively as the gun fire ricocheted off the car. He then threw it into drive and roared off…
"I'm getting us back Ziva…hang on…"
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"That was very brave of you sweetheart." Ducky set down a Caf Pow in front of her as they sat quietly in autopsy.
She shrugged. "Yeah, I guess…"
"First of all, Timothy was not your fault. He knew the risks, he made the choice. Don't make me have to practice the speech for Jethro, on you too."
She smiled softly. "I know," she began as she reached for the Caf Pow. "I just wish he was here so you could tell him it."
"Me too my dear, me too."
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Tony turned into the nearest police department he came across. He hobbled his way through the doors and slipped his badge out of his pocket. "NCIS…need to use your phone…got a female in the front seat of the sedan outside that needs medical attention…"
An older gentleman with a sizeable gut approached the desk slowly. "Whoa there cowboy…" he looked him up and down and recognized his obvious wounds. "So who started it? The miss's or you?"
Tony shook his head and motioned to his badge. "I'm a Federal Agent…"
"And I'm Barney Fife…"
He nodded. "Three of him maybe…" he stopped himself short of the insult and took in a quick gasp. "Look…there is a wounded agent in that car, and one in distress back where we came from…now let me use your phone or you're gonna see a real Barney Fife in action…
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Ducky returned to autopsy with another Caf Pow and a new assortment of tissue boxes. "Abigail…Tony just contacted the Director…it seems there is some news…"
She blew her nose quickly and stood up. "No preambles Duck man…just get to it…"
"It appears they were captured. Tony and Ziva were able to escape." He took in a breath. "But Gibbs…'
She put her hand up to stop him. "Don't tell me…he's not…"
"Dead…" Ducky took in a deep breath. "No, well at least, we don't know that for sure. It seems he left the two of them to cause a diversion that allowed them to escape. Tony is injured, but up and around. Ziva is stable at the nearest hospital. They are attempting to mount a rescue mission as we speak."
She turned around and grabbed her bag. "Then what are we waiting for?"
Ducky watched as she headed towards the elevator. "Abigail, there is nothing we can do for them there…"
She snapped back at him. "And we're not doing anything for them here, except crying and drinking more caffeine than I have since I was twelve…I cannot sit around here and cry all day…I want to be with them…I want to be there when they find Gibbs…I want…" She stopped herself and looked at the shocked look on Ducky's face. He opened up his arms to her, and she paced towards the embrace. "I want…McGee back Ducky…I want him back…"
"There, there my dear…there, there."
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"Yes Director, I suggest a minimum of two ten man teams…we'll infiltrate the compound, bring in the remaining men and lead a search and rescue for Agent Gibbs…yes sir, I will take the lead when they arrive here. I'm familiar with where to begin the search. Yes sir, I will. Thank you." Tony closed the phone and took in a breath, wincing slightly from the pain. He rubbed his ribs and reached for some aspirin. "Ah boss, you better be okay."
"Uh Agent D…D…uh…Danazzo."
Tony turned his head around to see the young deputy standing behind him with a few sheets of paper. "It's DiNozzo…and uh just call me Tony."
"Right, Tony…these were just faxed over from the hospital about your partner. Her room number and extension are on the top if you'd like to contact her, sir."
"You don't have to call me sir…and thanks for the update."
"No problem sir…uh…I mean Tony."
He watched him fidget a little before turning to leave and stopped him. "Hey kid."
"Yeah."
"What's your name?"
"My uh, my name is Jay."
"Been a cop long?"
"23 days sir…I mean Tony…sorry."
Tony shook his head and smiled. "Don't apologize kid…it's a sign of weakness."
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"Yeah Ziva…I know, listen…hey I'm fine…they just patched me up. Will you stop whining? Of course I'd let you be here if I could, but you're hurt…and yes, Gibbs would kill me if found out I let you go out in the field when you just came out of consciousness ten minutes ago… okay Ziva, that wasn't nice…I'm gonna hang up now…and yes, I will call when we find him…" he stopped himself for a moment and listened to her ranting for a few minutes. "I gotta go, got a boss to find."
It was almost an hour before the teams were coordinated outside the area.
"Alright people, the locals have quartered off the area within a two mile radius…I want every inch of this place covered…there are hostiles, and the number is unknown at this point. We have a missing Agent, need I say more?" He removed his weapon from his holster.
"McGee, with me…" He swallowed hard and was wistful for a moment. "Alright, let's move."
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"Agent DiNozzo…we've covered the whole area. All hostiles are down. Bodies are being transported. No sign of Agent Gibbs."
"Double check." He shot back quickly.
"Sir…?"
"Don't take anything for granted…double check."
"It's almost dusk…"
Tony snapped his head away from staring at the ground. "And there's this little invention called a flashlight…comes in lots of sizes…I want him found and I want him found now…"
He watched as the group departed from him and sighed. "Could really use your help Probie…"
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"Mister? Hey mister you okay?"
Gibbs looked up at the little boy and coughed violently. "Where am I?"
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