Gibbs quickly explained the situation to Vance, then went to DiNozzo and took the phone back from him, "Hey Tim."
"Jethro, I don't think this is going to end well." said the weak voice on the other end.
"You're going to be fine, I won't accept anything else. Do you understand me."
"It hurts to breathe, and they left me alone on a dock. Baby, I'm scared, please come find me."
"Hey none of that right now. You can't call me that until we're back at home, work now remember."
There was a tense laugh at the other end, "Okay, just find me soon." the voice was slurring again.
"Gibbs", Vance called over, "We have the location from the trace."
"You heard that Tim we're on our way.", but there was no response on the other end.
"TIM! TIM!"
"Yes boss?" was the almost inaudible answer.
"Keep talking, you are not allow to go to sleep on the job."
"Gibbs, give DiNozzo the phone, we got to go.", Vance ordered sharply. "DiNozzo until that wound is checked out at a HOSPITAL you are not getting back in the action. Stay on the phone and keep McGee talking, understood."
Vance's orders left no one in doubt about who was running this operation.
The raised eyebrow from Gibbs and the immediate , "Yes, sir." from DiNozzo let Vance know where the trouble would come from.
"Gibbs, DiNozzo, Ducky with me. Palmer bring your guest to Autopsy and then follow on to the docks. Here's the location." Vance knew he would have to get the three men alone and talk with them in order to keep control on the situation.
The agents from Balboa's team would maintain the crime scene at the safe house, and FBI was sending in Fornell and his team for back up at the docks. Vance called in two more teams to meet them at the location, he planned on getting his agent back alive.
Once settled in the car and driving Vance decided to lay down the law to Gibbs, "We discussed the possibility of something like this occurring when I allowed Agent McGee back onto your team after the mole hunt, Jethro. You agreed to hand over control of the operation to me until the situation was resolved. Do I have to send you back to the yard or are you going to hold up your end of the agreement?"
Gibbs glared at his boss, "I always keep my word, but I will hold you responsible if you screw this up and I lose him Leon."
"Good enough. Ducky, why would they give him a sedative?"
"To make him less likely to escape, he is a trained federal agent and drugged he would become less of a flight risk."
Gibbs interrupted the older man, "McGee told me they left him alone on the docks between the drugs and the broken leg we would have to go in to rescue him. He would be unable to leave on his own. They basically made him helpless."
Ducky continued with his earlier train of thought, "He also said that Tim wouldn't bleed out quickly a sedative would slow his heart rate to allow several wounds but not allow him to die."
Everyone in the sedan was silent after that assessment.
DiNozzo's voice was the only that could be heard softly speaking words of encouragement to his teammate through the phone.
Finally they arrived at the location they had traced Scaletti's and McGee's phones to earlier.
Everyone exited their vehicles and a task force of about twenty men gathered round to await orders for the rescue operation. Gibbs found Fornell looking at him with a worried expression. "I'll be fine Tobias, as soon as we get him back." All Fornell could do was nod.
"Spread out, look for Agent McGee but do not engage anyone except on my orders." Vane told the agents waiting for instructions.
Before long a shout was heard, "Found him!"
Everyone converged on the location and was shock to see a battered and bruised McGee laying alone on the docks surrounded by shipping crates. He was laid out in a man made valley with only one entrance that would quickly turn into a bottle neck if too many people tried to enter or leave at the same time.
Gibbs started moving towards the man wanting nothing more but to gather his lover into his arms and care for him, Vance and Fornell were hot on his heels and they were all drawn up short by gunfire. A rain of bullets formed a line in the docks between them and McGee.
DiNozzo's phone, which was still in Gibbs' pocket rang.
"Gibbs"
"Put me on speaker Agent Gibbs, it is time to get this show on the road."
Gibbs did as requested, "Good, see you can be taught." the voice taunted the agents.
"What do you want, Scaletti?"
"Already answered that Agent Gibbs, but I see you didn't do as instructed because my sister is not with you. So as promised Agent McGee will suffer the consequence of your inaction."
Just then a single shot rang out and everyone could see Tim's body spasm in pain as a bullet entered. Several agents started to move towards him and where stopped by a rain of gunfire that on again marked the line on the docks.
"Let me explain the situation. I have a couple of snipers trained onto the body of Agent McGee, I also have a several groups of ground units ordered to simply prevent you from reaching your agent, please do not cross the line again I only plan on killing one agent today. You have exactly five minutes to bring my sister here or my snipers will put another bullet into your agent, nonfatal of course, but extremely painful."
"Your choice is simple give me my sister back or watch as we use your agent for target practice. Once I get my sister we will end his misery with a quick shot between the eyes. How long are you willing to watch him suffer."
AN:Please, please, please review and let me know what you think. Next up date will be Monday evening:)