Hey guys! Thanks for the alerts/reviews and I hope you're all having a terrific week (or if not, that this will make you happier).

Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS. I don't even own the season dvds... but I will eventually.

It was McGee who finally found the clue. It is an inconspicuous little scrap of fabric that had somehow landed on the floor under Abby's couch. But it's something.

Now, they just have to figure out what the fabric is.

Ziva watches as McGee and Tony try to work the forensics machines because, in Abby's absence, someone still has to do the work. They are not doing very well, however.

"Probie! Where the... uh, thingy-majig?"

"I'm looking for it, Tony, calm down."

Tony just gives up looking for whatever he thinks they need and sits on Abby's chair, twirling the scrap in his hands. "Who knew this would be so complicated? You're such a puny little piece of fabric. Why are you giving us so much trouble, huh?"

McGee glances up from Abby's Forsenic Science for Dummy's book and shakes his head. "I knew one day you would finally lose it."

"Shut up and find it, McInvestigator."

Finally, McGee manages to find the page on which Abby explains how to examine obscure pieces of fabric.

"Okay, it says here that-"

Gibbs suddenly storms into the room. "MCGEE! Aren't you two done yet? How long does it take to process some damn fabric?"

"Uh... We're working on it boss."

"Yeah, boss, we're working on it. Probie here just doesn't have a clue what he's doing. It reminds me of that movie where the producer joins this new TV show and she's totally lost as to how to do the job but then-"

"What does a movie have to do with this, Tony?" Ziva speaks up. She's been silent for nearly an hour, worrying about Abby.

"Well, Zee-vah, if you would let me continue explaining to educate your movie-deprived minds, I-" Gibbs head slaps Tony and he promptly shuts up. "Sorry, boss."

McGee glances up from where he has been tinkering with a machine. "Got it. Okay, boss, in about a minute we should know what exactly we're dealing with."

Gibbs leaves the room to get coffee, Ziva heads to the bathroom, and Tony stays there to torment McGee. Gibbs walks back into the lab right as the machine pings.

"All right. It looks like this fabric contains high portions of... oh no."

"What, McGee?"

"Uh, boss. It's a scrap from a rag that was soaked in chlorofoam."

Ziva swears in Hebrew and her fist clenches. Gibbs watches her out of the corner of his eye but decides to ignore her obvious anger for now. McGee continues, "Well, boss, at least we know how they managed to kidnap her now."

Gibbs doesn't smile. "Oh, great, McGee. Why don't you just go pick her up then. Why the hell is everyone just standing here! Go figure out local pharmacies, chemical plants, and even damn shops that sell chlorofoam. Find this bastard!"

The agents rush from the room and the wrath of the one and only Leroy Jethro Gibbs. However, this is not his ordinary wrath. No, Gibbs is beyond angry. He's furious because no one messes with his Abby. She's like a daughter to him and he doesn't want to lose another daughter. Not again.

The darkness recedes again, almost seeming to lose the fight. It can't keep her captive, not this time. As it recedes, Abby slowly opens her eyes, wondering where she is. As she does, a figure standing near the only window in the room comes into focus. It's a man, in his forties, with brown hair. He turns toward her.

"Ah, you're awake. Good. How are you, Abby?"

Anger swells within her, begging to be released. "How am I? Well... let's see. My apartment was broken into, I was kidnapped, knocked out, and brought here, put on drugs, and I haven't had food in who knows how long. But other than that I'm great. Just great. How the hell do you think I'm feeling?"

The man just grins. "Always loved your spunky nature. Ziva's told me a lot about you."

Abby's stomach drops as she whispers, "How do you know Ziva?"

"Why, don't you recognize me, Abby? I've only visited NCIS a few times but surely you know who I am."

"No."

He crushes the cigarette on the floor. "My name's Ray. I'm Ziva's ex-boyfriend. I work for the CIA. And you remember Kort?"

Abby now sees another man, standing near the doorway. "Why did you kidnap me?"

Kort steps forward. "We need your help."

"Oh, wow. You need my help. Whatever happened to a phone call? Is the CIA the mafia now or something?"

"Be careful what you say, Abby, or we'll be forced to put you back under."

Abby crosses her arms over her chest. "I'm not helping you."

The men only look at her knowingly. "You will, when you see why we need your help."