"Did you have to shoot him?!"

Tim and Ziva heard the familiar voice; but had their guns at the ready. They came around the corner into the living room within seconds.

"NCIS!" They both yelled out of habit; and it was then both of their jaws dropped.

Tim finding his voice first. "Uh, hi boss."

Ducky tried to get a closer look at the band-aids covering the machine when Abby stood in front of it.

"I can't help the patient without examining him."

She put her hands across the Mass Spec. "He's been healed. It's a miracle."

Ducky tried to smile. "Abigail…are you hiding something?"

"Was going to ask you the same thing…" She mumbled under her breath, and put her hands down.

"What was that?"

"Nothing…I didn't say anything."

He sighed. "You may not have annunciated your words. But you did say something…"

She shrugged. "I talk to myself sometimes, you know that."

"Oh I do." He gestured towards the door. "Well then, glad to hear he's feeling better."

Abby then reached out for his arm, making him jump a bit. "Yes?"

"You should stay."

"Why's that my dear?"

She sighed. "Well we…you and me…we're all that's left…we need to stick together."

He had to smile; and realized she still had hold of his arm. "I am not going anywhere."

"Not yet." She mumbled again, and looked up to see Ducky staring at her questioningly.

"Abigail, I realize that I am not Jethro, but perhaps you can give me a little clue as to what is really troubling you?"

She moved away from the machine and started to pace. Ducky eventually stood in her way, his eyes demanding an explanation.

"Okay okay…call Gibbs."

"That's all?"

"Uh huh."

"Call Gibbs?"

She nodded. "Calling Gibbs can entail a lot Ducky. I mean, sometimes a call from Gibbs can change everything..."

He slowly frowned as he remembered the phone call she was referring to. "I am sorry if I was a bit demanding earlier…I know change is hard." He reached out to embrace her and watched her shy away at first. "Something wrong?"

She immediately bounced back in fear of letting on what she knew and stepped into his arms. "No, just afraid of losing you too."

He shook his head as he held her. "Non-sense my dear."

"What in the hell are you two doing here?" Gibbs barked at his two former agents.

Tim momentarily jumped at the yell; but also welcomed it. "Would you believe sight seeing?"

"Sounds a lot like that kid DiNozzo." Mike Franks lifted the wounded Scotsman from the floor and set him on the couch. "Oh relax it's just a scratch." He offered in a attempt to silence his groans.

Gibbs had placed himself quickly in front of both Ziva and McGee. "You two, out of here now."

Ziva stepped up. "We no longer take orders from you."

He stared intently at her for a few seconds; before Mike chimed in. "You can chastise them later Probie…those gun shots might not be mistaken for fireworks if you catch my drift…

Gibbs pointed towards their faces. "We're not thru here…" He turned and paced back to the injured hostage.

"Who are you people?" Archibald gritted his teeth for a few seconds.

"We're Jehovahs witnesses…reformed…repent now or we'll shoot." Mike tried to smile. "Now you know damn well why we're here…"

Gibbs placed his pistol into the man's other thigh. "And you're gonna tell us what we need to know."

"You…you are Federal Agents..." he pointed at McGee. "He said NCIS did he not? You can't do this…"

Tim smiled at Ziva who smiled at Franks….who in turn smiled at Gibbs. "Oh we're not Federals agents anymore…" Gibbs smile faded. "So we can pretty much do anything we want…and know exactly how to get away with it…"

Archibald swallowed hard, and examined the expression of the group surrounding him. "What do you want to know?"

"Anthony DiNozzo…" Gibbs began.

"That is not who you should be concerned about…"

"Then who?"

He squinted his eyes to distract from his wound. "Donald Mallard."

MTAC was an eerie silent as Jenny awaited the satellite call.

"Director Sheppard." The voice emanated from the screen as the familiar man's face displayed itself on the screen.

"Director General Higgins…you're a hard man to get a hold of."

"Yes well, I do apologize. Things in Britain can go a little hay wire now and then. Much like the US I understand?"

She agreed. "We have our moments…and forgive me for bypassing the small talk…but there are more pressing matters."

"Ah yes, well it seems your Agent DiNozzo has gone off grid."

"Off grid? Why wasn't I notified?"

"We wanted to give ample time for him to return. Didn't want to put the cart before the horse as it were. His last check in was yesterday evening at seven o'clock."

"How deep was his cover?"

"The liaison officers were monitoring him closely. They believe he had infiltrated the inner circle fairly quickly. He had informed my men that an arrest was on the horizon. He works fast."

"He's had practice." She responded solemnly.

"If Frederick did find out his identity, nothing would stop him from getting what he wants, I assure you."

Jen took in a breath. "Keep me informed." And after giving the signal for termination she left the room with urgency.

"Explain…" Gibbs was furiously calm, if there was such a thing, and Tim and Ziva simply stood by in silence.

"Him and I met years ago when he was a student at Edinburgh, he became close friends with my brother who was his fellow classmate…"

"This better be going some where…"

He took in breath. "We've kept in touch over the years…before my retirement a weapons task force arrested a young lad who was picked up for weapons trafficking…we knew he was only a small link in a much larger chain. An arms dealer by the name of Frederick O' Shea, we placed him undercover and a month and a half ago he went missing."

"What does that have to do with Ducky and my Agent?"

He cringed as Gibbs voice grew louder. "Your Agent was brought in as an outside dealer with connections in Italy and the US…he was assigned to find this young man…or what had become of him."

"Why my Agent?!"

"Well he came highly recommended; but he would not come along willingly at first attempt. That was the purpose behind the kidnapping."

"You mean to tell me you coerced my Agent to do undercover work?"

The man eased away. "Not me in particular. Your Director assured us that after explaining the mission he would cooperate."

"Why in the hell is this boy so important?"

It was then Gibbs cell phone rang and he paced a few feet away. "Ducky, what the hell is going on?"

"You tell me Jethro, I was told to call you."

"Don't lay the bull on me Duck, I'm standing in a room with Archibald Barclay…ring a bell?"

Ducky swallowed hard. "What has he told you?"

"Enough. Now talk to me."

"He told you of the young man, Tony was assigned to find?"

"Yes. Why the hell is he so damn important?"

Ducky turned around to see Jenny step into autopsy before responding. "He's my son."