Gibbs and McGee were silent as they ran, with guns cocked, towards the sounds of gunfire. A group of people were in sight, and they slowed far enough away to not be seen. Gibbs went into marine- tracker mode, and McGee followed as silently as he could.

A strange scene met their eyes as they approached. Two men were on the ground, one bleeding. Five other men were standing around the clearing, looking on at the three people in the centre. In the middle of the clearing stood two men and a woman. The two men had their guns aimed at each other's heads, and the woman was standing helplessly by.

"What is Tony doing here?" McGee whispered in astonishment. Gibbs waved him quiet. He bent into a low crouch, and motioned to McGee. The two agents moved carefully through the trees, not disturbing the static atmosphere in the clearing. Gibbs disappeared for a moment, and McGee looked wildly for him. Suddenly Gibbs burst from his cover, taking down two of the five man with blows to the neck. McGee scrambled into action, tearing past Kate, who was dragging Tony away from where Gibbs and Ethan were now suddenly in no- holds- barred combat. McGee was wrestling with one of the three remaining men and losing, before Kate and Tony knocked them out with professional accurateness. Gibbs and Ethan had abandoned their guns and were locked together on the ground, punches being thrown wildly. Tony shot Kate's handcuffs off, before they turned and watched helplessly, unable to do anything to aid their boss. Kate and Tony were looking battered, leaning against each other for support. The pair on the ground slackened from each other's grasps, and Kate and Tony moved as one to wrench them apart, Ethan limp and Gibbs enraged. McGee ran to help Tony support the limp weight of Ethan while Kate dragged Gibbs up and away from him.

Tony was holding up Ethan like something rotten, leaving McGee with pretty much all the weight. While McGee secured him, Tony went over to where Kate was attempting to help Gibbs up.

"Are you ok?" he said so the Gibbs couldn't hear them. Gibbs finally got up and walked over to check on the men down.

"Are you ok?" Kate asked, looking him over critically. He was shockingly pale, but didn't seem to notice. He had a hand on her shoulder, but whether it was to hold himself up of to make sure she was really there, Kate wasn't sure. She looked up into his eyes, not joking for once, but worried, and they stayed locked there for long moments.

"Kate." Gibbs' voice came from the other side of the clearing. She broke the stare, and walked slowly past Ethan to where Gibbs was standing.

"Who is this?" He had Dave rolled onto his back, his face pale and eyes glassy.

"Is he dead?" She asked, her brain moving slowly.

Gibbs nodded, eyes on her face. "Who is he Kate? Do you know?" He was talking gently now, and put a hand on Kate's back to steady her. She was pale, her eyes ringed with black bags. He wished he could take her back to her place, put her to bed and stand in front of her door to make sure no one ever laid a finger on her again. No one touched his team. Ever.

"Dave- Dave Marsden." Kate said, pulling herself together. She was being unprofessional, and Gibbs showing sympathy was freaking her out. She knew he was overly- protective of his team, but him showing was a strange experience.

Behind them Kate heard Tony and McGee tying up Ethan's men, talking softly.

"He was… I don't know… doing some deal with Ethan…? Hang on-" She walked back a few paces, racking her tired memory. "Ethan said that Dave… stole his case- that he'd done all the dirty work and Dave was just taking it- then something about a Gregson. Yeah- they were working for Gregson, or something. That's all I heard. What's happened to the case?"

"We don't know." Gibbs said wearily.

Kate's eyes rested on Jake, still lying on the ground. Gibbs saw where she was looking and walked over to check his pulse.

"Is he ok?" She had taken him so far, she didn't even really know who he was- he couldn't die now…

"Just unconscious."

"He looks pretty beat up. What happened to him?" McGee asked.

Kate opened her mouth to tell what she knew when she was interrupted by screaming police sirens, and suddenly the clearing was surrounded by police and FBI cars.

"Fornell…" Gibbs muttered under his breath.

Fornell approached slowly, gun raised, but lowered it sheepishly when he saw the scene. "I see you have the situation under control Gibbs. Is that…" He nodded towards Jake.

"Its Jake Marsden." Kate said, feeling more tired than she could remember feeling for a long time.

Fornell nodded. "Well done Gibbs."

Gibbs opened his mouth to say something vicious, but McGee, in a rare moment of tact, cut in on the conversation. "Gibbs, we really should tell Ducky and Abby that everything's ok. And Kate and Tony don't look so good."

"I'm fine-" Kate and Tony said at the same time, but Gibbs silenced them with a look. "We need to get back. Fornell, bring all these into custody at NCIS." Fornell began to protest. "At NCIS, Fornell. I hope you brought a body bag. And watch him." He jerked a thumb at Ethan. "Tony- you look like crap." Tony looked down. "Both of you, in my car. Now." Kate and Tony jumped, and Gibbs waved McGee along ahead of him. "We'll meet you at NCIS." He yelled back to Fornell.

I couldn't end on a unlucky number- one more to go people! ;)