A/N: Just one chapter for now - I'm working on the final two chapters as we speak (or write). As always, please let me know what you think. Reviews are like Christmas presents - always exciting to receive!
McGee, bubbling with excitement, talked Tony through his plan and, to his extreme relief, Tony did not laugh or tease him, but instead listened seriously. Tony eased himself into a sitting position and tipped his head to one side, considering the lock on the door.
"I think you might have something there Probie." McGee all but glowed with pride and turned his attention back to the lock. It was a very simple affair, and showing signs of rust. With a little jimmying, McGee reckoned, it should be possible to unlock it. "One question: when did you learn how to pick a lock?"
"Well, you throw rocks, Kate climbs in windows, I thought I should have another way of getting into houses," McGee shrugged, a little self-consciously. It was just so unusual for Tony to be treating him as an equal. Using Tony's knife, McGee cautiously wedged the blade into the keyhole, and turned it. A horrendous screech came from the lock, as rust scraped off. Both agents winced and froze in position, hoping Howard hadn't heard.
"Get on with it Probie, just do it quickly and get it over and done with," Tony advised.
"Like ripping off a plaster," McGee muttered. With a twist of his wrist, the knife turned in the lock, and, squealing in protest, the lock snapped open.
Opening the door slowly, McGee peered around the frame. It appeared they were in a log cabin, in what had probably been the pantry at one point, as the door led out into the kitchen. Howard was nowhere to be seen. What was more important, in McGee's eyes was the sight of the back door to the cabin, slightly ajar. He slipped out of the cabin, and took a swift look around the area. They were up in the mountains somewhere, not far below the tree line. Trees were sparse, and that meant cover would be too, McGee noted anxiously. If Howard found out they had escaped, they could be sitting ducks. They didn't have much choice though.
He went back into their erstwhile prison. Tony was still conscious, but he was blinking rapidly, as though trying to wake himself up. They had to get out of here fast, before Howard came back or Tony passed out again. With that thought in mind, McGee heaved the taller man to his feet, and staggered slightly as Tony's weight came down on his shoulder.
"Let's just get outside, and away from here, huh?" McGee forced a little optimism into his voice. "Come on, we'll probably bump into Gibbs coming the other way!"
McGee knew Tony was bad, when that comment failed to raise a smile, or even a witty comeback. Tony merely grunted. They made their way slowly out of the cabin, McGee wincing every time Tony moaned in pain. He had to admire the other man, though. Despite the agony this walk must be costing Tony, he never slowed down, or asked to stop. They were about a hundred yards from the cabin, nearly at the first large cluster of fir trees, when they heard a shout from behind them.
"Howard's noticed we've gone. Come on Probie, we need to hide." To McGee's utter astonishment and admiration, Tony somehow managed to speed up and hobble to the trees in record time. Once there, safely hidden behind the branches, Tony sank wearily to the ground, blood draining from his face. His breath was coming in irregular gasps and he closed his eyes, not wanting McGee to see the tears that had appeared there. He always forgot how much getting shot hurt.
McGee watched Howard through the branches. The spy glanced around the area quickly, before running back into the cabin and reappearing carrying what looked like a double-barrelled shotgun. Their meagre cover would not hide them for long. They needed to keep moving, and hope they ran into someone who could help them. Where the hell was Gibbs?
"You're a genius Abby."
"I know." Even down the phone line, Gibbs could hear her pleasure at the simple compliment. She had talked him into Howard's computer and he was now staring at an email from Vladan Mandic, which gave directions to a log cabin in the mountains that Howard could always use if things got tricky.
"I have to go Abs," he said clipping on his gun.
"Go get 'em tiger," she said, hanging up. Gibbs made another quick call to Colonel Vache, before he dialled Kate's number.
A very excited Kate answered the phone. "Gibbs! I was just going to call you. I think we're on the right track. We should be able to find them soon."
"I have the address Kate," he replied dryly.
"What?" she yelped. "How?"
"Don't worry about that just now. Where are you?" As Kate told him their exact location, Gibbs was already heading out of the hotel.
A short drive later, he was at a helipad near the outskirts of Pristina. The Gazelle helicopter did not touch down, but simply hovered above the ground, waiting for Gibbs. He wasted no time, and the helicopter was soon zooming off towards the Šar Mountains. Gibbs turned to Colonel Vache, now kitted out in combats and carrying a rather large machine gun, accompanied by three other soldiers. "Thanks for this Colonel!" he yelled, to be heard over the noise of the engine.
"We want him as much as you," the French Colonel replied, his mouth set and hard. Gibbs almost felt sorry for Howard, just for a second, before he refocused on the task ahead.
Kate and Isak were where they said they would be, and Kate left Isak to get the car back to Pristina and update Edvina on what was happening, while she joined Gibbs in the Gazelle. Howard's log cabin appeared on the horizon, and the helicopter was set down next to it, the soldiers leaping out and surrounding the place. The storming of the log cabin was handled so professionally and efficiently by the French that Gibbs, for once, felt no need to interfere or even take part. When Kate commented on this, Gibbs indicated one of the symbols sewn on Vache's jacket.
"Kate, this guy is in the Chasseurs Alpins. The elite mountain troops in the French army. I think we're probably better off leaving him to it."
Vache reappeared a minute later, shaking his head. "There is no one there, but I think you should see this." He led Gibbs and Kate into the cabin and through into the kitchen. There, they could see the door to the pantry, and that it had been forced open. Inside, there were a few spots of blood, and a discarded bandage, stained scarlet.
"McGee and Tony must have escaped," Kate said, looking around.
"They're NCIS agents Kate. I wouldn't expect anything less of DiNozzo and McGee." Gibbs' voice was thick with pride. "Come on Kate, Colonel, we've got to find them before Howard does."