Disclaimer on chapter one.

AN: Sorry about the wait guys, I've been really busy with hockey and work lately, and then I got sick. But season is done (2nd place in the league playoffs!) and I'm better so I'm writing again! Hope you like this chapter and as always, your views and comments are always appreciated. dark rolling sea.

Chapter Twelve

Grayson hadn't expected to be on a commercial flight to Colorado, in coach no less. He was sandwiched between Agents DiNozzo and Gibbs as they cruised above the clouds. Levi was on the other side of the aisle against the window with Agent Todd next to him then McGee on the end. Grayson watched, amused, as Agent Gibbs continually glanced at Todd and Levi when he thought no one was paying attention.

He began to wonder when he was going to sit with Agent Todd and do that sketch. The quicker he got them an image the quicker they could get people on the ground looking for Storm. The feeling that Gibbs didn't believe him was itching at his belly, making him uneasy. Grayson thumped his foot off the seat in front of him until Gibbs' hand closed tightly around his knee.

"Knock it off," Gibbs replied as if speaking to a child. Grayson grinned causing Gibbs to shake his head. "Can it, will ya?"

"I'm bored, Agent Gibbs," Grayson sighed as Gibbs released his leg.

"You're worse than DiNozzo," Gibbs shot back.

"Hey, Boss," DiNozzo chimed in but slumped against the window when Gibbs cut him with a glare.

"When do I get to do that sketch," Grayson asked. Gibbs looked at him briefly but didn't reply. Grayson thumped his foot against the seat again. He saw the person in front of him shifting with annoyance. Grayson grinned.

"Knock it off or I'll…"

"What?" Grayson shot up at him challengingly. Gibbs glared back at him but relented when the kid didn't back down.

"Just knock it off," Gibbs replied with a sigh. "You're going to give me a headache."

Grayson stopped. He sat quietly and stared a hole in the back of the seat in front of him. He could hear Agent Todd and Levi talking and laughing, and noticed that Gibbs attention was increasingly on the conversation. Grayson glanced at DiNozzo and noticed he was nodding off. He turned to face Gibbs.

"You don't believe me," Grayson said quietly. Gibbs glanced sideways at him before turning away again.

"Still on the fence."

"I don't know what more I can give you."

"Then I guess you just need to sit back and wait it out."

"And if we get to Colorado and something happens? Will you believe me then?"

"I guess that depends on what happens," Gibbs answered only half paying attention to Grayson. Grayson leaned forward and looked across the aisle. Gibbs looked at him. "What are you doing?"

"Just wondering what is more interesting than talking to me," Grayson replied with a smile. Gibbs shot a glare down at him then leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. Grayson frowned and leaned into his seat. He truly was bored.

The plane landed and they made their way to secure the vehicles they had rented. Grayson was put in a vehicle with Agents Gibbs and Todd while Levi road with DiNozzo and McGee. Grayson led them to the cabin in the woods, his gut tightening with each mile. He had a bad feeling and couldn't shake it.

Storm stood just out of sight of the cabin, looking in with his field glasses. The woman continued to move through the house, but spent most of her time in the back bedroom. He moved in for a closer look, keeping to the shadows as he did. His plan was ready, he had the cabin ready, all he had to do was grab the woman and go.

He walked to the back of the house and stood just to the side of the window. He saw a second woman in the bed, seemingly asleep. He frowned. This had not been part of his plan. He moved away form the house to think. Sitting in the shadows he had a decision to make.

She had looked like an invalid, but he could he take the chance. What if she spoiled his plan? He closed his eyes and took in a couple deep breaths, trying to calm his fluttering mind. Once he was calm again he decided it was a risk he had to take. He moved in on the house quickly, and tested the doorknob. It turned freely. He pushed gently to see if the deadbolt or a chain was in use and smiled when he found neither.

He slipped silently into the house and shut the door gently behind him. Storm could feel the adrenaline rush starting to race through his veins. He made his way stealthily through the house keeping into the shadows keeping his eyes open for her. She came out of the back room with her head down, carrying a tray of food.

He ducked quietly into the first open door and waited for her to pass him in the hall, before moving swiftly in behind her. He followed her down the hall a few steps before she stopped and lifted her head. He could tell she felt something off. He moved quickly then, knowing that his element of surprise was about to be wasted.

His arm wrapped around her as his hand clamped down on her mouth at the same moment she realized something was terribly wrong. Her scream was mangled and muffled as it fought its way though his fingers. The tray clattered and crashed to the ground, a bowl shattering on impact. He secured the rest of her body by slinging his other arm around her as well. She was strong, but he was stronger. He wrestled her down the hall and into the main living room. He let go of her briefly to grab the roll of duct tape in his pocket before securing her again.

She had almost pulled away from him, but he managed to hang on. She was biting and clawing at the hand over her mouth now and he winced with each impact. Finally, he was able to grab her left arm and get the tape around her wrist. He yanked it backward, causing a pop to come from her shoulder.

She cried out in pain and stopped fighting for a moment. It was all he needed. He taped her hands together tightly and then her ankles. He sat her on the floor staring up at him with wild fearful eyes. She recoiled slightly as his face contorted into a merciless grin. A small gasp escaped before he tore a piece of tape from the roll. He leaned forward as she scrambled backwards.

His smile faded slightly before he lunged out and grabbed her hair. She let a yelp out and closed her eyes, as he slapped the tape over her mouth. Satisfied she was contained he let go of her and turned to the house. He would leave the mess, a sure sign for Grayson when he returned. He walked back and opened the door to the room the woman had been in and peeked at old lady in the bed.

He closed the door and made his way to the front of the house again. Storm reached the woman taped on the floor and grabbed her arm roughly pulling her to her feet. She came willingly enough. The two walked out into the woods, and he could tell as more fear rocketed through the woman's body. The grin returned to his face but he kept his eyes in front watching the woods.

It didn't take them long to come to his truck parked just off the main path through the mountain. He opened the door and helped her into the passenger side before slamming it shut. He rounded the front of the truck and got in. He didn't leave a note, but he figured Grayson would be smart enough to figure it out.

Once they were safely on their way, Storm felt himself start to relax. The cabin wasn't very far, just a couple miles. He was certain his plan had succeeded, only a few more minutes till he was in the clear. Then all he would have to do is sit back, wait for Grayson to appear, and then make the call that would draw his enemy to him.

The first car, carrying Gibbs, Kate, and Grayson, rolled into the driveway and Grayson felt his stomach drop and his heart jump to his throat. Instantly he knew something wasn't right. He threw the door open and went as quickly as he could on the crutches to the stairs as Gibbs yelled at him. He didn't care; he needed to check on his family. He tossed the door open and listened. Nothing.

"Aunt Janie?" he yelled. Nothing came back to him and he felt his stomach roll again. He hurried from the doorway, hearing Gibbs and Kate come up behind him. The second car was unloading now and Levi hurried to the house when he heard Grayson's fearful cry for his aunt.

"Aunt Janie, where are you?" Grayson asked with a slight quiver to his voice. He stopped dead in the hallway when he saw the dropped tray of food on the carpet. Gibbs was following so close he bumped into the younger man, causing him to stumble forward slightly.

"What?" Gibbs asked after he regained his balance. Grayson hurried to the mess and bent down, examining it on the floor. Gibbs stood over him, feeling the first pang of nerves in his gut.

"My aunt," Grayson said in response to Gibbs before he hopped forward and threw open the bedroom door. His grandmother still lay in bed, breathing heavily. She was in the same state as when he had left. The smallest amount of fear left for the slightest of moments before he turned and headed back down the hallway.

"What's wrong?" Levi asked from the living room as he saw Grayson coming back towards him.

"Storm has my Aunt Janie," He replied trying desperately to hold his voice still. Grayson's stomach rolled and he thought he was going to throw up. He stopped and ducked his head slightly, putting the back of his hand to his mouth. The nausea passed and he stood upright with tears in his eyes. "Call Dusty, Lee, please call Dusty."

"Yeah, Grady, yeah. Its ok, we'll find her. I'm sure…"

"You can't promise anything, Lee," Grayson said as the tears threatened to fall. He sucked in a deep breath as he looked at the Agents surrounding him. His gaze settled on Gibbs. "Do you believe me yet?"

Gibbs looked around the room for a moment before he slightly nodded. He then instructed the team to process the house. Grayson stood in the middle of the living room holding his tears in check as Levi talked to Dusty. When Levi nodded that Dusty and Zack were still both safe and unvisited, Grayson let out a deep breath and went out on the front porch.

Once he was alone he let the tears fall. He had expected Storm to go after Zack and Dusty, but not his Aunt. This was something that had blindsided him and now he cursed himself for not seeing it. Of course Storm would pull it. Zack was protected, but Janie had been alone. It was the logical choice.

He heard the front door open and he hurriedly wiped at his eyes. Whoever had come out simply stood by the door and Grayson felt himself getting annoyed. He turned to find Agent Gibbs watching him, something in his eyes Grayson couldn't quite place. Grayson pulled himself together and took a deep breath.

"What?" he asked holding his voice as still as possible. Gibbs watched him a moment longer before he took a couple steps toward the younger man.

"I believe you now, but I also think there is more to this story than you were simply picked to blow him up."

"It's not something I share," Grayson replied stonily as he felt his stomach twist again.

"It's something I need to know. How close are you to this Storm?"

"Close enough to know how he operates," Grayson said as he shifted on his crutches. "Also close enough to know I can't go after him like this."

"Tell me where your brother is. He seems safe enough with whoever you have him with. You can stay there as well. We'll get someone to come in and take care of your grandmother."

"Agent Gibbs?"

"Yeah?"

"I don't know that I can tell you where he went. I didn't even know he knew where I was."

"There has to be something here. He won't go far, Grayson, he wants you. He's going to stay close and try to draw you into the open."

"Maybe I should."

"No. We'll find him. My team will find him."

"I sure hope so. He killed Corbett. He wants to kill me."

"Is there another connection to Corbett?"

"No, just that he knew about the incident from high school. We were close enough I shared my history with him. He knows me, Gibbs."

"And you know him."

"Some. He is a very private person."

Gibbs nodded and Grayson moved towards the door again. They both went inside and Gibbs helped the team process the house while Grayson sat in with his grandmother. Levi was on the phone with Dusty to let him know what was going on.

TBC…