Tony was bringing up Ziva up to speed in the bullpen before their travelling to Chesapeake, in the midst of holstering weapons, grabbing badges and packing their backpacks, Ziva was still processing the situation in her head. If Gibb's hunch was correct Ducky was a father without even knowing it! She never met the woman as their story took place before she got the job at NCIS but McGee said they had taken a shine to one another pretty much instantly and he bet if she hadn't left they would still be in a relationship.
Ziva looked at the pictures again, she to admit the ex commander was quite pretty...the petite brunette had big brown expressive eyes and full lips, her hair was a chestnut colour - she looked a lot like those expensive porcelain dolls mama used to have before they got smashed to smithereens. The Mossad agent took a look at her boss and she could tell this was hitting close to home, she did not know whether this was reminding him of his own family or simply because there was a baby involved but she sure did not envy the position of the abductor - having Gibbs on your backside was like having a war tank coming behind your mini minor.
"Let's go!" yelled Gibbs in his usual ex-marine sort of way. The ride in the life and the car were awkwardly silent. Everyone had questions and was wondering the situation and yet, the only person who could provide most of them was the only one whose was kept in the dark by unspoken general consensus. The Boss reflected on the various consequences this situation could have on his dear friend.
Gibbs did not get close to people, they were generally taken from him in the cruelest manner but , with all his stories, British accent and sense of humour, wisdom and scientific knowledge had made his life slightly less dull and a little bit warmer. He was one of a handful of people he let call him by his given name and if there was any way he could end this without screwing the pooch, he was damn well gonna do it! In all the year he's known the good doctor, he never saw him get close to anyone but he did remember being amused when the articulate chatterbox was rendered speechless merely by the sight of the pretty cardio surgeon, how he was shooed off by a raise of an eyebrow when she entered autopsy bearing some much awaited documents and how he kept defending her, telling him she was not the one who murdered Dornan. - he told him to trust his gut on her and he was right! She did mess up but she did not kill the much despised Sailor. She was the only one who moved the ME for as long as Gibbs had known him and for what that's worth it means she has something good in her.
Arthur sat on the bus they were stealthily following, how he knew about the danger of losing one's child...if this went to hell, the man would be losing a child as well as a grandchild.
The plan was a rescue mission which would first see the baby safely home after Arthur handed over the money. The money would then be followed until the mother was found, hopefully alive. He just hoped to Christ Alberts wouldn't get jittery. The guy had a couple of restraining orders and had been in therapy for classified reasons for two years, held in a secluded place before he was let loose a couple of months ago. Either way, his gut had a good feeling about the imminent exchange. Obviously, the bastard needed the money - probably for a cross state maybe continental escape. Time, however was of essence.
They arrived in Chesapeake. Arthur had a tracking device, the money and of course a microphone to record the exchange. Ziva and Tony were observing from the tops of two opposite blocks obviously armed with a rifle, binoculars and a camera.
As Arthur got out of the bus with the bag full of money and made his way to the shop, his cell rang.
"I see you're very eager to see the grand baby..."
"I'm here with the money like you asked."
"Ah, yes down to business just how I like it. Drop the bag behind the third rack and get out, cross the road and walk to the left corner of the street and wait for my instructions."
Arthur did as was told, what Alberts did not know was that Gibbs beat them both to the shop and was playing Mario Testino during the whole spiel..."He's on the move." he whispered into his mic as the man in a cap and a rather ugly trench coat grabbed the money.
"I got him." mumbled Tony as he trained his weapon on the man in question.
Ziva meanwhile had her hawk like gazed trained on the corner mentioned in the phone call and her eyebrow creased. "Oh, damn it..."
Arthur's cell rang again "You have been a worthy participant Byers, the little one is on the pavement just round the corner in a telephone box."
What Arthur never saw and made Ziva swear was the fact that is was Dr. Jane Higgins who put little Edgar in the phone box before disappearing in a side alley.
Did not see that coming huh? :D What do you folks think so far?