A/N: Holy schnikes, you guys. Thanks so much for all the reviews, story alerts and favouriting. Keep 'em coming! They keep me writing.
There were a few questions, so let me clear some things up: Tony and Ziva are not dating in this; it's set in season 6, but before all the, uh, 'ugliness', as I shall now refer to it; yeah, I doubt cell phones work underground as well, but just go with it.
Disclaimer: I'm only borrowing them.
True to his word, Tony and Abby pulled up at the Navy yard 18 minutes after leaving the movie theatre foyer. Ziva was still on the line and still speaking, albeit slower, which Tony thought was probably the only thing keeping him from having a heart attack right now. He was putting great effort into keeping his voice calm for her, even if he'd been punching the dashboard the whole way over. He knew he'd need some ice at some point.
As soon as the car was stopped, Tony and Abby took off towards the main building at a run. They flew through the front doors, swiped their security cards, and both took the stairs down to the basement. The elevator would take too long, and it didn't get great reception.
Gibbs was waiting outside Abby's lab with two coffees in hand and a stern look.
"Hey Gibbs," Abby called as she sprinted past him and ran straight to her computer. She'd been hoping that McGee would make it there before them to start the trace, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Tony came to a stop in front of Gibbs, and wound up the mindless conversation he was having with Ziva. "And that's the real story behind how I got that scar on my chin. Hey Ziva, hold on for two seconds? I gotta brief Gibbs."
At her assent, Tony held the phone further away from his mouth, but kept it fused against his ear in case she called out. "She was running in Washington Park at about 1930. Her usual route in the evening, it's only about five miles. The last she remembers was about three miles in and then nothing. Doesn't remember anyone being around her, and I think we can assume that Ziva would know if she had a tail."
Gibbs nodded in agreement, and Tony continued. "Woke up, disoriented, at 2100. Pretty sure she's underground. She's not getting any ambient noise coming in and no light. She says there's the smell of earth around her. Her legs and arms are bound, possible broken ribs and a concussion. She's starting to wheeze and she's not as coherent as she was."
Tony's head spun as she heard himself talk about Ziva like she was some…case. But she was. The team would investigate her kidnapping the same way they would any other missing persons. Well…kind of.
Gibbs nodded to Tony and held out a cup of coffee. Tony glanced at it but shook his head. "No, thanks," he said, and pushed through to Abby's lab. He was wired enough, and didn't need Gibbs-strength caffeine running through his system. He was trying to keep calm.
Tony stood at Abby's shoulder as her hands flew over the keys. He felt Gibbs at his shoulder.
"Let me talk to her," Gibbs said.
Before he'd realised he'd done it, Tony spun around to look at Gibbs with a completely uncensored 'you've got to be fucking crazy' look on his face.
"I've got it," he said through gritted teeth. Out of all the cases Gibbs thought he could have fucked up over the years, he'd have to be completely insane to think that this was the one he'd drop the ball on.
"Is she getting tired?" Gibbs asked quietly.
Tony covered the mouthpiece with his hand and took his aggression out on his boss. "Yes, she's fucking tired. She's running out of air. What do you think?"
"Cold?"
Tony held his free arm up in a 'what the fuck?' gesture. "Yes! Buried underground, Gibbs, on a cold fall night in Washington. She's freezing."
"She thirsty?"
Tony stared at him for a full two seconds. "Are you trying to get me to punch you in the face?"
"Tony," Abby started gently, but Gibbs shook his head at her. He'd take the brunt of Tony's anger now, without complaint, because his lead agent needed someone to take it out on. Plus, he needed the answer.
"I gotta know what condition she's in," Gibbs said. "Duck's got to know."
"Yes, she's thirsty," Tony spat back at him. "But not hungry, because the drugs and the lack of air are making her sick. She's starting to shake. Plus, the cold weather this last week has given her the sniffles, and she's had a recurring cramp in her lower back for the last month. Anything else?"
Gibbs nodded. "Keep talking to her."
"Where's McGee?" Tony asked. "I need him to pull security footage of the park."
"He's getting the truck ready," Gibbs said calmly. "I'll do it."
If it had been a different situation, Gibbs may have smirked at the twin looks of horror he received from Tony and Abby. "I'll make a phone call to park security," Gibbs elaborated.
Tony and Abby turned back to her computer. "Got anything, Abby?"
Abby smacked the keyboard and let out a growl of frustration. "It keeps cutting out on me! This stupid program's had a bug in it all week."
When he found himself coming close to grabbing Abby's arm and shaking her, Tony walked away to the far end of the lab. "Get it fixed," he told her.
He found a space on the bench against the far wall that wasn't crammed with machines and assorted forensics equipment, and hoisted himself up. He took a deep breath, and shoved the tears that threatened to spill deep down.
"So, Ziva," he began, his voice once again as smooth as he could make it. "Where were we? I think you were about to tell me what you and Abby got up to last month that had you both call in sick the next day."
As Gibbs made the call to Washington Park security, he watched Tony struggle. Ziva probably knew that her lifeline was having a hard time right now, but he doubted she knew how much. Tony was putting in an Oscar worthy performance of the concerned but calm partner—vocally, anyway. In the flesh, he looked like he was about to start jumping up and down and throwing punches. And that was nothing compared to what he'd do if they couldn't find Ziva quickly. In his gut, Gibbs knew what would happen. He was close to losing two agents tonight.
McGee bounded into the room, breathless from running up the stairs. "Ready to go, boss," he said to Gibbs.
Gibbs nodded towards Tony. "He's your boss tonight."
McGee looked between them, but didn't say anything. He stepped over to Abby. "Did you get it yet?"
"No!" she wailed. "It's that same damn bug we've been hitting all week, McGee! Every time I get within a mile of the signal it switches off."
McGee looked over to Tony, who was still carrying on a conversation. "He's still talking to Ziva, right?"
"Yes! Her phone is on and transmitting. I don't know why we can't pinpoint it." She slammed her hands down on the keyboard again and started yet another trace.
"Is he okay?" McGee asked her quietly.
Abby took three seconds to look back over her shoulder at him, the answer clearly written on her face. "Take a guess."
McGee let it go. "What can I do?"
"Security footage of the park Ziva was taken from is coming through," Gibbs said. "Run it through from 7.15 to 7.45."
McGee took over the second computer, waiting for the vision to come through.
"DiNozzo!" Gibbs called out. "What was she wearing?"
Tony paused mid-sentence. "What?" He wasn't pleased with the interruption.
"What was Ziva wearing?"
"What were you wearing?" Tony asked her, then relayed the information. "Red jacket and black leggings."
Gibbs stood at Abby's shoulder. "We need something now, Abs."
"I'm trying, Gibbs!" she cried, tears forming in her eyes.
"I know," he said gently.
"Tony's going to kill me," she said. "I'm letting him down."
At that moment, Tony slid off the bench and joined the rest of the team at the centre desk. His hand was over the mouthpiece again. "I'm starting to get dead battery beeps," he told them. "This is taking too long."
"I'm sorry, Tony!" Abby said, turning her damp eyes to him. "I can't get within a mile."
Instead of exploding at her, Tony seemed pleased. "Where?"
Abby pulled up a map with a circle over it. "Probably Rock Creek Park. Let me try one more time."
Tony blew out a breath. "Thank God it's not Canada," he said, moving his hand from the mouthpiece again. "Ziva, we're real close. Almost there."
Abby hit ENTER on the search one more time, and the whole group held their breath. Convinced it was taking too long, Abby's hand went for the mouse, but McGee put his hand down heavily on hers.
"Wait," he told her. "Give it a few more—"
BEEP!
"YES!" Tony, Abby and McGee yelled in unison. Gibbs rubbed his face in relief.
"Abby, print that out for us with coordinates," Tony fired off. "McGee, get it loaded into the portable GPS. Gibbs, take McGee and Ducky in the truck. Abs, you're with me. Ziva, don't panic. We're on our way."
Abby grabbed the map off the printer and passed it on to McGee, and the whole team rushed for the door.
Ooh! I hope they find her. Maybe they will in the next chapter. It's up already, so let's all go find out!