Abby slowly opened her eyes, fighting to clear the cloud that fogged her mind. The room she was in was dark with a small amount of ambient light coming from somewhere above her. As she moved her head to see where the light was coming from, her head exploded in pain and stars danced before her eyes. She gave a small cry and moved to wrap her arms around her head when she realized that she couldn't. Fighting through the pain she concentrated on her arms, trying to understand why she couldn't move them. She slowly moved her hands and felt course rope rub against the skin of her crossed wrists. She closed her eyes and moved various parts of her body, one-by-one, to determine her situation. She soon came to learn that her ankles were tied together along with another binding just above her knees. She bypassed her arms and ended by testing the strip of fabric that ran through her mouth with her teeth and tongue. It seemed to be some sort of cotton, maybe a t-shirt, she mused.

As the pain in her head subsided, it started to take the grogginess with it. She still couldn't think very clearly. Her analytical mind started to take over while her emotions were still numb. She tried to remember the course of events that brought her to where she is now. She remembered that it had been Monday morning. They had been working on a difficult case the previous week and through most of the weekend. Everyone was exhausted and they weren't making any progress. Gibbs finally gave in and sent everyone home for the rest of the day.

------

Gibbs looked up at the sound of Tony yawning, yet again. He looked around at each of his team members. McGee sat at his desk, staring at his computer. His eyes were unfocused, his mind was obviously elsewhere. DiNozzo was leaning back in his chair with his feet propped up on his desk. He was leafing through a report to quickly to actually be reading it. Ziva sat with her chin propped on her hand. She was scrolling through something on her computer screen.

He reached for his coffee cup. The moment he picked up the weightless cup, he put it back down. It's empty. Mentally sighing, he glances at the watch on his wrist. Nearly quarter after three in the morning. Glancing around at his team again, he finally gives in.

"Go home," he says, startling everyone. "Get some rest."

He smirks as everyone hastily cleans up his or her desk. No one dares argue in case he should change his mind. He nods to each of them as they pass and bid him good night on their way to the elevator as a group. He also stood but headed for the other bank of elevators.

He rode the elevator down to the forensics lab where he saw Abby hunched over her desk. The automatic doors opened for him and Abby's music assaulted his ears. He quietly came up behind her and peered over her shoulder. She was deeply engrossed in writing on a pad. It looked like a letter. He started to step back, feeling that he was invading on something private when she jumped, startled.

"Gibbs!" she exclaimed before even turning around. "Don't you know it's not nice to sneak up on someone in the dark!" she said, turning a feigned angry expression on him.

"Who's choice was it to sit in the dark?" he arched an eyebrow at her.

She replied with a quick pout before asking, "How long have you been here?" while she placed an arm over the words she had been writing.

"Just," he said as he watched relief flood across her features. He glanced quickly at the pad under her arm, wondering what she had been writing, before continuing, "I've sent everyone home. Pack up your stuff. I'll walk you out."

A look of remorse came over Abby. "I'm sorry I don't have anything more for you Gibbs."

"It's okay, Abbs. I know you did your best and I'm thankful for what you have given me," he gave her a smile. "We'll start again on Monday morning when everyone is better rested." He reached out and placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her to the elevator.

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She remembered staying home all day Sunday curled up on the couch, watching movies. She had gone to bed early and then woke early. She got ready for work, feeling fully rested.

I went to my car and…that's it. I can't remember anything else. She wracked her brain, trying to grasp what happened after going to her car. She didn't remember the drive to work or arriving at work. Why can't I remember?! she screamed at herself, panic starting to set in.

A noise from somewhere nearby caught her attention and refocused her emotions. She held her breath, listening intently. She heard it again. She strained to see through the gloom.

A door bust open across the room from where she was laying. A bright light from the adjacent room blinded her while it silhouetted a man's figure.

"What do you want?" Abby's voice came out muffled from behind the gag.

The man didn't answer as he continued to walk towards her. She wriggled her way across the concrete floor but it was no use. The man quickly caught her and roughly grabbed her upper arms. She fought back in vein. He shoved her up against a wall in a sitting position and pulled the gag from her mouth so that it hung loosely around her neck.

The moment her mouth was free, Abby lunged at the an in an attempt to bite him. He was ready for her though and quickly pulled back. Abby was then blind sided as a right hook seemingly came out of no where and caught her in the jaw. She fell over with a cry, her eyes tearing and her jaw on fire. The man grabbed her arm and pulled her upright again.

"Smile," she faintly heard over the ringing in her ears and a bright white bulb flashed in her face. She cringed and pulled back from the shock of it.

She felt the man pull the gag back into place and when her vision finally returned, she saw that she was alone in the cold, dark room.

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