Shadow, Raven and Gibbs were a team. The twins had been paired with Tony. Necro and Felony were put with Ziva, in case they acted out. And Vlad and Dusk were with McGee. Each were now in a car, speeding down to the entrance to the Appliachian Trail. Satellite thermal imaging was going to be used to find Skull. It was definite that he would be alone, hiding from people.
It took quite some time to reach the trail, but when they did, the NCIS agents acted quickly. Each grabbed a backpack with supplies that they would need, and carried that with their own, smaller backpack. They had their guns, badges, and extra ammunition.
"We're staying together for the most part," Gibbs said once they had all gathered everything. The Miscreants of Skulls and Miscreants stood with the agents of their group, wondering exactly how this was going to play out. "But we'll each have our own camps."
Everyone stayed a little ways away from the groups they weren't in. Shadow, Raven and Gibbs made good time going down the trail. The sun was soon setting, and they decided to make camp. Raven and Shadow worked together to set up the tent while Gibbs strayed closer to the woods to gather fire wood and kindling. When he had gathered sufficent material, he brough it back and started placing it.
"Anyone have something to light it with?" he asked.
"Nope," the girls responded.
"I can go find Vlad or Necro," Raven suggested. "They'll have a lighter."
"No, wait, I have some matches," Shadow said, digging through her bag. She tossed the box over to Gibbs. "I don't think it'd be best to wander off my yourself."
"If you say so," Raven shrugged, sitting on the log in front of the fire.
Gibbs lit some of the kindling and tossed it onto twigs and fallen branches.
"What are eating?" Raven asked.
Gibbs brought out a can of beans.
"This," he said.
They ate their dinner and the girls went into the tent. Gibbs stayed outside, planning to keep watch. He sat on the log, watching the glowing firre and listening to the sounds of everything outside.
McGee, Vlad and Dusk were sitting around their fire.
"Did you find out anything about any of the others' parents?" Dusk asked, placing her face in her hands.
"I found your mom," he said.
"Where is she?" Vlad asked, dropping his stub of a cigarette into the fire.
"She-she's uh, she's in Italy," he explained.
"Where? Why isn't she here?" Dusk asked, sitting up straighter.
"She's in Rome," he said. He paused and added, "Under six feet of earth."
"She's dead?" Dusk whispered. Tears were welling up in her eyes. Vlad pulled his sister into his chest, keeping his eyes shut.
"I'm sorry," McGee said, placing a hand on each of their shoulders.
Ziva, meanwhile, was trying to make sure Necro didn't sneak off. And that Felony wouldn't try to find Skull.
"Sit," she ordered to both of them.
Necro made a face and didn't sit. Felony sat down. She was already in enough trouble with them.
"I said sit," Ziva said again. "And when I tell you to do something, you do that something."
"Don't want to," Necro responded.
Ziva cocked an eyebrow.
"Don't wanna," he said again.
Ziva reached over and shoved her hand down on his shoulder. His knees buckled from the pressure, and he was sent into the log.
"Damn, what the hell was that for?" he asked.
"You did not listen," she answered.
Tony and the twins were doing the best. Well, to Tony they were. The twins kept glancing at each other with looks that clearly read "Why won't he shut up?"
"Did you know that it took three different actors to play Darth Vadar in the Star Wars movies?" he was saying. The twins shook their head. "Well, David Prowse was used for the body, James Earl Jones did the voice, and Sevastian Shaw for the face. Interesting, huh?"
Dragona nodded and looked at the tattoo on her wrist.
"Also, it wasn't originally Luke Skywalker, but Starkiller," Tony went on. "Oh, and they when Carrie Fisher's mother learned she was flying coach to England, she called Lucas. Fisher said, "Mother I want to fly coach, will you f-"
Tony was cut short as a scream filled the air.
"Shadow," Drachen said.
"What?" Tony said.
"Gibbs!" came Shadow's frantic voice. "Help!"