AN: Frustration doesn't begin to explain where I am with FFnet currently. Unfortunately some formatting issue has removed my dashes (--- ---) which I used to distinguish between scenes. (Check your works as well, cuz I think it may be global since I use Word) I apologize for those who have been reading any of my works or previous chapters and there is no longer a distinction….I realize it is hard to read in that manner, so I am going to try a new distinction marking and see how that works. I have emailed for feedback but haven't heard anything back. It has affected all of my stories and I am incredibly aggravated. So please allow me to apologize on behalf of FFnet.
Secondly, at the end of the previous chapter, I mentioned it was a little boy who found him, but I have changed that fact. I apologize. It is however, still a male =)
End of AN/Rants…here is Chapter 21…Enjoy.
Tony stepped over a large embankment and watched his flashlight start to flicker. He shook it slightly and it revamped momentarily. "Come on you stupid piece of…" He watched as it gave its final flicker and overcome with frustration, he decided breaking it would be more practical than replacing the batteries. He listened to it shatter against the boulder next to him and sat down on it slowly. "Boss, where are you?" He let his head fall on his hands as the sun started to come up.
He stood up quickly as a few men from the rescue team approached. "Still no sign sir…we've combed the area twice over."
"Check again…"
"With all due respect sir…"
Tony snapped his head up. "CHECK AGAIN!!"
The Agent shrugged off the yell and accounted it to his obvious frustration. "On it."
He watched them turn to leave and meditated on those two familiar words. Two words he'd said more times than he could remember, to the man who was missing, the man he loved more than his own Father, the man he couldn't let down…no matter what or who got in his way.
Gibbs awoke to a bump in the road and took in a deep breath.
"Bout time you woke up man, I was starting to get a little worried."
"Who…" he rubbed his forehead. "Who the hell are you?"
"You first."
Gibbs shook his head. "I'm uh…I'm..." He patted down his pockets but didn't find a wallet. He noticed a silver bracelet on his wrist, but there was no name inscribed. "I don't know."
"Well you did hit your head pretty good…I patched it up for ya, free of charge."
"Thanks kid…now back to my original line of questioning…who the hell are you?"
"Pat."
"Pat? Well Pat…how and where did you find me?"
"Bout 100 miles back…you came running out into the street, then just blacked out on me…"
"And you didn't call the police because…?"
"You're not a cop are you?"
Gibbs shook his head. "Why would you think that?"
"Cuz you're interrogating me and that stare is kinda freaking me out."
Gibbs smiled. "I'm not a cop kid…what kind of cop doesn't carry around his badge? Am I right? Now…why didn't you call them?"
He took in a deep breath and tapped his fingers on the steering wheel for a few moments before answering. "I'm uh, I'm a runaway."
Gibbs let his head fall back on the head rest. "Great…just great."
"Great…just great…listen just make sure you get his picture out to all of the neighboring departments, post offices, diners, barber shops, you name it."
The men nodded and began to carry out the order. He watched them leave and turned to find himself face to face with the young deputy he'd met the day before.
"Yes Jay?"
"Um…I was just thinking…since we didn't find your friend."
"Yet…" Tony finished his phrase.
"Yet…and I don't mean to be negative, but if he was killed, they could've buried him?"
He sighed and slammed down the folder in his hand. "Too bad it would take months to dig this place up…"
Just then a familiar friend appeared in the doorway. "Not if we use satellite to detect heat signatures."
He paced towards her. "You can make that happen from here?"
She nodded. "Good to see you too Tony."
"Sorry Abs, I'm just…"
"Pressured? I can tell… but yes I can, I brought some stuff with me, just need a connection."
Tony pointed. "Jay will help you with that." He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "That's good work Abs."
"Don't reward me yet Tony…Gibbs usually waits till I have something."
"Well this time; I think Gibbs would be okay if you didn't find something..."
"So…you don't remember anything?"
Gibbs shook his head.
"I wish I had that problem. I'd give anything to forget who I was."
Gibbs took his gaze off of the lines on the road. "Trust me kid, it's not all its cracked up to be."
"Hey, if you're gonna insist on calling me kid this whole time…then do I have permission to call you pops?"
Gibbs shrugged. "Just as long as you don't ask me for dating advice…"
"No problem, but uh, why would that bother you?"
He shrugged his shoulders again. "I just get the feeling, that whoever it is I'm supposed to be…that wasn't one of his strong suits…"
"Agent DiNozzo, do you copy?"
Tony raced over to his radio and lifted it up. "Go ahead…"
"We found his wallet and badge sir. Right outside the perimeter…but no sign of a body."
Tony was already on his way out the door. "Where are you exactly?"
He arrived there in full Gibbs mode and did nothing short of asking for the wallet, before the Agent handed it to him. Just as he flipped it open, his eyes shifted.
"Get me a kit." He knelt down a few feet outside the perimeter. "Blood drops." He looked up and took in a breath. "He tried to make it to the road…"
"But sir, that means…"
Tony took it upon himself to finish the phrase. "He could be anywhere…"