2 cliffies in a row! I'm evil, I know. So this story is coming to an end. This is one of the last chapters (see the A/N at the bottom). Thanks for reading and for the reviews! Hugs :)

Chapter Seventeen

Eyes closed and dazed, Tony heard the sharp click of the safety being released and winced…

… and then waited. When he didn't hear the bang of the gun, feel the pain of the bullet exploding through flesh and metal, he opened his eyes slightly. The world was spinning almost sickeningly, but he could see Jake sprawled on the landing beside him. The gun was nowhere in sight which meant…

"Nice tackle DiNozzo." Gibbs slipped his gun back into the holster, heaving Jake's limp form off the ground with ease. He cuffed him and dumped him back on the floor. Jake groaned, slumped against the wall.

"You okay Abs?" Gibbs called out, meeting her as she descended the flight of stairs Tony and Jake had just tumbled down. She nodded, hugging Gibbs tightly. By the time they separated and Gibbs could breathe again, Tony had managed to peel himself off the floor, pulling himself to his feet.

"Omigod Tony, you saved us!" Abby squealed, zoning in for a hug before stopping in her tracks. "You-your shoulder, Tony!"

Tony followed her finger and looked down, noticing for the first time that his shoulder was jutting out at a disgustingly unnatural angle, the adrenalin coursing through his veins masking the pain.

"Oh yeah."

"Tony, you really need a doctor." Abby reached for her phone, forgetting it lay broken in tiny pieces several floors below.

"Nah, it's okay," Tony said with a wave of his good arm. "I want to get him into interrogation and close this case. God knows it's been open for long enough."

He was cut off by a swift slap to the back of the head.

"Wha- what the hell?? What was that for?"

Gibbs stared at him. He'd been unable to resist any longer. "You realize how dumb that was? You could've broken your neck jumping down the stairs, not to mention the fact that he was holding a loaded gun!"

He turned to Abby. "Abs, can you drive him to hospital. I'm going to take Anders to a cell, I'll meet you there."

Gibbs pulled Jake up and began dragging him to the door on the landing, past Tony and Abby. He shoved Jake forward roughly before turning back.

"And Tony? Good work."

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Jake Anders stared at his reflection in the large mirror of the room he'd been locked in for the last thirty minutes. The door to the room flew open and Gibbs stormed in, extra-large coffee in had. He sat down opposite Jake, unleashing his most bone-chilling glare.

Apart from a sprained wrist, bandaged by a paramedic, and a bump on the head, Jake was fine. Tony had definitely taken the brunt of the fall.

"What?" Jake burst out finally, unnerved by several minutes of silence. Gibbs sipped his coffee, setting it down on the table.

"Nothing. We've got you on multiple charges of murder one, rape, attempted murder, assault, tampering with evidence, not to mention kidnapping a police officer and an employee of a federal agency. You don't need to say anything; no matter how good your lawyer is, you're going away for the rest of your life. What I want to know is why."

Jake smirked and Gibbs recognized the dark, emotionless eyes from Tony's first sketch.

"You know," Jake began. "I've spent my whole life being the little guy. People push me around just because they can. Nobody treats the forensic staff properly, me even less because I'm just an assistant. They walk all over me to get what they want. But here, I call the shots. I have all the power. People respect me."

"People fear you. You're a murderer. Nobody respects you." Gibbs replied dryly. "Why DiNozzo and Becker then?"

"It was just too easy," Jake grinned. "A few altered fingerprints here and there and they were clueless. DiNozzo was okay, he was one of the few people who treated my nicely here. But he's one of those people; everyone like him, he can do whatever he wants and nobody will mind. He's just like the jocks and fratboys who made my life hell just to get a laugh. They couldn't catch me, so I thought I'd use my powers for good. Karma. Make it personal, show them how it feels when someone is constantly messing with your life."

"And Becker?"

Jake's face darkened. "Becker was the worst of all of them. He dumps his evidence down on the middle of our desks, no matter what we're working on and demands priority. Then he calls and abuses us when it takes too long, even though there's a 24 hour turnaround on DNA, everyone knows that. Asshole. Everyone here just lets him, because he's Dan. He's a bully. A vicious bully. I've met enough people like him in my life, but he was the worst. He deserved everything he got."

"I think his girlfriend's family and friends would disagree."

"She deserved it, trust me." Jake laughed. "Dating a guy like Dan Becker –"

The door slammed as Gibbs left.

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Abby sat cross-legged on the end of Tony's hospital bed, digging into his green Jello as she channel-surfed.

"Tony, look!" She shook his foot, pointing to the TV. Gibbs' face filled the screen. The caption below read "Leroy Gibbs, NICS".

"…the man known as the Friday Rapist has been apprehended." Gibbs read stiffly from a sheet of paper, glaring into the camera. "He has admitted to all charges and will face the courts early next week. We are not releasing any further information at this stage." Gibbs crumpled the piece of paper, gave a pointed glare to Vernski, standing to the side of the screen, then barged his way through the huge crowd of reporters and cameramen.

"He looks good," Abby mused, licking the spoon clean.

"That right Abs?" Gibbs walked into the room, handing her a Red Bull and a chocolate bar.

"Gibbs – how'd you get here so quickly? I mean I know you drive like a lunatic, but it's at least ten minutes from the station to here and that's without traffic. Then there's parking and –"

"It's a replay Abby," Gibbs said, patting her head.

"He talked?"

Gibbs nodded.

"Remind me never to get a lab assistant. Did he say why'd he did it?" Abby looked down at her wrists, the scratch-marks still faintly visible.

"You don't wanna know." Gibbs stood over the bed. "How is he?"

"I'm fine!" Tony said, opening his eyes and wrinkling his nose. "They won't let me leave and Abby refuses to go sweet talk the nurses into a discharge."

"Yeah, but then I wouldn't be able to eat your dessert." Abby looked up at Gibbs, ignoring Tony's pout. "He has a concussion. And a dislocated shoulder and bruised ribs. At least if he stays here he can't do anything stupid. Like jump down stairs…"

"I hate hospitals," Tony muttered.

Gibbs gave him an understanding nod, then left the room without a word. He returned ten minutes later, fresh cup of coffee in hand. "I spoke to your doctor and Ducky. They both say you can leave."

"Yes!!!" Tony punched the air with his un-slinged arm.

"But-" Tony's face fell as Gibbs cut in. "You're going to take your medication. And you're going to get some rest."

"I will." Tony nodded, wincing immediately at the motion.

"I know," Gibbs smiled evilly. "Abby and I are going to make sure of it."

To Be Concluded...

So, here's where it's up to you. Do you want a hurt/comfort chapter with Gibbs and Abby looking after Tony, or will we just go straight to the epilogue? Tell me what you want, I can do either :)