Gibbs flew through the city, making it to Alexandria in record time. They parked along the curb near the start of the block. McGee pulled the truck in right behind Gibbs' car.
The car doors closed silently and the team huddled on the sidewalk.
"There are three abandoned homes on this block," McGee started walking down the road. As he got close, he started pointing. "That one on the right," he pointed to a house across the street, "and two neighboring homes, three doors down on the left."
"Ziva, you take the one across the street. DiNozzo, you take the first on the left and I'll take the second," Gibbs started.
"Gibbs, we should stay in pairs," Ziva interjected.
"Since when was this a democracy? We're wasting time. McGee, you wait out here. You're back up for whoever you think needs it," he looked at McGee who nodded his understanding. "Work quick and stealthy. Comm check when you're done."
There were quick nods all around and Ziva, Tony and Gibbs broke off from the group and headed to their respective locations.
The houses were tall and slim as was common in these types of neighborhoods. They nearly sat upon each other with just a narrow alley separating them. Gibbs carefully crept around the perimeter of the home, careful not to let the moon cast a shadow over any windows. He concentrated on the basement windows, knowing that that was most likely where Abby was being held. Most of the windows were boarded up though. He couldn't risk being seen by getting a closer look.
"Perimeter clear," he whispered into his comm.
As he crept his way to the back door, he heard Ziva and Tony check in as well.
Standing beside the door, he reached out and checked the handle. It was locked. Crouching down, he pulled out his lock pick kit and gently popped the lock in the handle.
He slid his kit back into his pocket and braced against the wall again. He slowly pushed the door open, silently willing it to remain quiet.
Taking his first step inside, his eyes swept across the kitchen. Mentally noting details that he can analyzed later. There were two closed doors in this room. One, he guessed would be the basement door. He approached the first door, swept it open and was immediately faced with shelves. The pantry. He moved to the next door, giving a glance down the hall as he passed.
He paused to listen at the closed door. Hearing nothing, he pulled the door open and saw the stairs leading down to the basement. There was a light on, but he couldn't see anyone. Turning back to the hall, he silently finished clearing the floor. He couldn't afford getting ambushed in the basement because he didn't clear the rest of the house.
"First floor clear," Gibbs whispered to McGee.
He took the stairs leading to the second story two at a time. Skirting along the wall so as to avoid squeaking any stairs. Reaching the top, he opened the first door to his right. It was the master bedroom and was empty. He quickly scanned each of the other rooms. All were empty.
"Second floor clear, headed to the basement," Gibbs gave his latest check.
He slowly walked back down the stairs, headed for the basement. He heard Tony and Ziva clear their upper floors as well. Everyone was headed to their respective basement at the same time. Gibbs only hoped that Moore was in his so that he could kill the bastard himself.
He crept down the basement stairs, crouching low to get a better view of what lay below the ceiling. He saw a hallway with an open door on the right. A large floodlight stood outside the door, shining in.
He pressed himself against the wall, trying not to blind himself with the light. Listening carefully, he could hear someone talking in the room.
"My dear, I guess your Special Agent Gibbs isn't as good as you thought he was. Your time here is nearly at an end and your knight in shining armor hasn't come to rescue you," Gibbs recognized Moore's voice immediately.
"Gibbs will be here. He'd never let a creep like you get away with this!" Abby retorted. Gibb's heart flew knowing that Abby was still alive and kicking. It also swelled a little at the display of confidence she showed in him when she thought that she was now facing her doom.
"I can see your hope dwindling. You know what they say about that, don't you?" he asked the rhetorical question. "In the absence of light, darkness prevails," he answered for her.
Gibbs could hear the smirk on Moore's face and didn't delay any longer. He turned the corner into the room and aimed his gun at chest height.
"Then let there be light," Gibbs retorted taking in the scene. Moore had Abby pressed against the far wall. One hand grasped her breast and the other held a knife.
"Gibbs!" Abby said rejoicefully before she was cut off by Moore swinging her around so she was now his body shield.
"Shoot me if you have to Gibbs," Abby told him seriously.
"This isn't a movie, Abbs."
"So, look who finally decided to show up," Moore taunted Gibbs. "Cutting it a little close, don't you think? Or were you going for the dramatic effect?"
"I decided to show up some time ago. I just couldn't get away until now." Gibbs could hear McGee in his ear. He was calling Ziva and Tony for backup. They would be behind him any moment. "What do you want, Moore?"
"Why you, of course."
"Here I am. Now let her go."
"Oh Jethro, you know me better then that," Moore sounded disappointed. "You know that I could never let a pretty little kitten like this get away from me." Holding the knife tight to Abby's neck, he ran his free hand up and down Abby's hip and thigh. "At least not until I'm done with her."
"Touch her again like that..." Gibbs left the threat open.
Moore chuckled. "Jethro, you never change. Wait, what is that I see? A spark of jealousy, no? Well, who would've guessed. Given up on the red heads?"
Abby felt Moore relax slightly and took advantage of the moment. Though her body was aching from being tied up and her head felt about to explode, she leaned forward and jolted backward again, allowing her head to bash into Moore's. She swooned with pain but heard Moore grunt in her ear as his head struck the wall behind him. Abby started to fall and Moore crumpled with her.
Gibbs didn't hesitate. He rushed forward and grabbed the front of Abby's shirt. Maintaining his aim on Moore, he pulled Abby into the shadows on one side of the room.
Moore stood back up, knife in hand. "Come on, Jethro. Let's finish this like real men," indicating that they should fight hand-to-hand.
Gibbs debated for a quick moment. He could hear small groans from Abby on the floor but he desperately wanted the chance to pummel this guy.
Gibbs lowered his gun. "You don't deserve this," he said before whipping the gun back up and firing a single shot. He heard Abby yelp behind him, startled by the unexpected action. "You deserved to suffer," Gibbs finished before Moore's body fell to the floor, blood dripping from a single hole in his forehead.
Feet pounded down the stairs as Gibbs stepped back into the shadows to find Abby.
"Abbs?" Gibbs whispered, concern evident in his voice.
"Here," Abby replied groggily after a brief hesitation.
"Federal Agents!" Ziva's voice came from the doorway.
"All clear," Gibbs told them to stand down. "Someone find a damn light. And call for an ambulance." Gibbs turned back to Abby, his eyes adjusting to the dark.
"Gibbs…"
"Shh," Gibbs whispered to her as he cut all of her bindings. "You're safe now, I promise."
As he cut the bindings on Abby's wrists, she hissed with pain as her shoulders settled back into their proper position.
"I'm sorry, Abbs," Gibbs said, gently rubbing the stiffness from her shoulders. "I'm sorry for a lot of things."
"You don't…"
"Conserve your energy. We'll talk later," Gibbs silenced her with a finger on her lips, glad that she couldn't see his face to read it right now.
"Jethro, where the blazes… Oh, there you are," Ducky's flashlight fell on both Gibbs and Abby who flinched from the sudden light.
"Bring that light in here, Mr. McGee," Ducky called over his shoulder.
The flood light was rolled into the room and McGee angled it so that it wasn't pointing straight at them but still cast plenty of light over them.
"DiNozzo's waiting for the ambulance, Boss," McGee said.
Gibbs nodded his acknowledgement.
"My dear Abigail," Ducky said softly, placing a gentle hand on Abby's shoulder.
"I'm OK, Ducky, really," Abby joked with a knowing smile.
Ducky tsked at her with a wink while he checked her vitals and started cleaning her wounds. Gibbs placed his coat under Abby's head and she snuggled into it, breathing in the smell of Gibbs' aftershave.
"Jethro? Would you please go and check on the ambulance?"
"I'm not going anywhere, Duck," Gibbs added a mild threat to his voice.
"Please Jethro. It shouldn't take them this long," Ducky gave a pointed look at Abby lying back with her eyes closed.
Gibbs got the hint that Ducky wanted a minute alone. He walked from the room, taking Ziva and McGee with him for a few minutes.
Before he knew it, he heard people trampling through the house and Tony was leading the EMT's down the stairs. Gibbs pointed to where they needed to go, blocking and therefore, preserving the crime scene.
Twenty minutes later, Abby was loaded on the stretcher with an oxygen mask covering her nose and mouth and the EMT's were rolling her out of the basement.
"Gibbs?" Ziva asked as they all watched Abby leaving.
"Yeah."
"Why don't you go with her?"
Gibbs looked over his shoulder at the crime scene behind him. "We have a crime scene to document."
Ziva looked at him skeptically. "She has just lived a nightmare. I think she will want you there."
"Go ahead, Boss. We'll finish up here," Tony added as he tagged another bag.
"This will take forever, DiNozzo."
"There's another team on the way to help. Director Sheppard is sending them."
He gave everyone a hard look and glanced at where Abby had disappeared up the stairs. "I want a full report," he said, walking out. "And don't mess up, DiNozzo!" he hollered back from the top of the stairs.
We are getting close. Only one chapter to go. I hope everyone is enjoying it so far and I hope that this chapter didn't disappoint. :) Please let me know what you think by submitting a review.