AN: Short update here. More to come soon. I promise.
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"Trace this call…" Jenny spoke quickly before slipping the phone into her pocket.
Barclay approached moments later. "Everything alright Jenny?"
Gibbs rushed to Abby's side. "Trace the Directors cell…"
Abby started to type immediately. "Is she on the phone? Can I talk to her? I'll be nice…"
"No…you won't." He kept the phone to his ear but could only hear faint voices. "Come on Abs."
Fornell and the others were standing by. "I'll pull up the car boss." Tony left without hesitation, as Ziva stood by patiently. Gibbs was listening hard but couldn't make out what was being said.
"Got it, they're close…" Abby reached for a pen and paper and scribbled down the address. Gibbs practically ripped it out of her hand. "Be careful…" They were well out of the lab before she finished softly. "Please."
Jenny turned around innocently. "Fine."
"That's good…for a second I thought you might be getting cold feet."
McGee had been watching carefully. "You can't really think this can end well for you?"
Barclay took a few steps towards him. "It already has young man."
But before McGee could form a response; a not so friendly face entered. "You can say that again my friend."
"Trent, I wasn't expecting to see you so soon."
Kort shook Barclay's hand before sending a wink over to the Director. "Surprised to see me Jen?"
Gibbs glanced in the rear view mirror at the occupants in the back seat. "Close your phone Fornell…we're keeping this in house." He didn't leave any room for question in his tone; keeping his call with Jenny still open on speaker but muted from his end.
Tony agreed. "We call in the calvery and it'll end up a crack shoot…"
Fornell was hesitant. "You sure about this Jethro?"
"We go in…and we get out clean. You want out of this, say the word Tobias."
Fornell didn't hesitate a second time. He knew what was at stake. "Hell, I was planning on retiring soon anyway…"
A smart comment was on the edge of Mike's lips; but for the first time in days, he resisted.
Abby was huddled in the corner of her lab; her trusty stapler in one hand and Bert in the other. Tears were welled up in her eyes as she contemplated the worst but hoped for the best. She had barely had a moment to take in what had happened to her before the team was gone again. It took everything in her not to get up and go to that address herself. She almost stapled her finger when her lab phone rang; she jumped up and almost ran past it before picking it up.
"Abby Scuito…yes…oh my gosh…where? Okay, okay, I'm on my way…" She quickly opened her cell phone before grabbing her stapler and heading out the door.
Jenny wasn't as shocked as she let on. "I had my doubts that Barclay could pull this off on his own."
Barclay scoffed. "Now Jenny, is that any way to talk to your partner?"
Kort interrupted as he glanced around the room and fixed his eyes on Tim. "We need to go."
"What's the rush?"
Trent was quick to point at Jenny. "Give me your phone."
"What are you implying?" Jen replied as she slipped her hand into her pocket and covertly closed her phone.
"Directors call just ended." Tony offered and clung to the dash board as Gibbs responded by increasing speed.
Meanwhile Ziva had just concluded her phone call with Abby. "It appears Doctor Mallard is at DC General; he is in ICU in critical condition…"
Gibbs swallowed hard as he increased speed a second time.
"Easy Probie; we wont be any good to your Agent if we get killed en route." Franks leaned towards Ziva who was sitting in between Fornell and himself.
Tony did his best to lift his arm up and point. "Uh…coming up on the left…"
Kort was insistent. "I'm liable to imply a lot more if you don't hand it over."
Jenny shook her head. "I don't take orders from you."
"You're right…" Trent turned to McGee and aimed his weapon. "Now, you can hand me your phone or watch one of your Agents die, up to you."
Jenny was quiet for a moment. "How do I know you won't shoot him either way?"
Kort shrugged. "Guess that's a chance you'll have to take…"
It was then a familiar face appeared in the door way. "But not one I'll have to…"
Abby was resting comfortably beside Ducky as she listened to the medical machines surrounding them. She had one hand resting gently on his chest and another still clung to the stapler. "Nobody is gonna hurt you now Ducky, you're safe…Gibbs and the guys, they're going to get McGee and he's gonna be okay too. You just get better for when they come back….then we'll all be one big happy family again okay?"
Gibbs wasn't sure who fired first but all he could see was the blood that covered his hands; all he could hear was the cry for help and all he could feel was mind numbing pain.
