A sleek black car rolled to a stop on a dark street. The street was lined with townhouses, and fancy cars. Obviously, this was a place for the wealthy. Headlights shinned brightly into the night for a long moment, as though the driver was collecting himself. Suddenly, the engine shut off, and the headlights were extinguished, making the street dark once more. Special Agent Gibbs stepped out of the car and onto the street. He was alone as he strode across the small yard, and approached the front door. He slipped a small piece of paper out of his pocket to make sure that he was at the right address, before knocking three times upon the door. He put his hand on his gun as he waited.

A quiet scratching noise came from behind the door. Gibbs recognized the sound as a window being opened. He didn't hesitate, he raised his foot, and kicked the door open. Gibbs entered the front room, with his gun raised, he searched the room. Nothing. He moved into the kitchen, and hastily searched the room. Nothing. Wait. The window is open! A cool night breeze blew in through the open window, giving Gibbs a chill. He moved toward the window and caught sight of a dark haired woman sprinting off into the woods. Once again, he didn't hesitate. His NCIS cap fell off of his head as he dived out of the open window. He jumped to his feet and sprinted off after the dark haired woman. That has to be Rory. The woods were dark, with his sight limited, Gibbs ran in the direction of the woman's footsteps. He was practically running blind. Branches scratched his face as he sprinted through the thick brush. He knew that he gaining on her when the sweet scent of her perfume danced around his nose. Mixed with the natural scent of the forest, the smell was almost intoxicating.

Gibbs reached out into the darkness and grabbed the back of her shirt, he pulled her towards him in attempt to stop her. She kept moving, ripping the fabric as she struggled to get away from him. Her shirt was in pieces as it fell from her sprinting body. She was left in a white undershirt, which made her much more easy to see, even in the darkness. Gibbs cursed, and continued to chase her. Finally, when he was close enough, he dove through the air and tackled her to the ground.

Rory Alder barely had time to react. Once second, she was running and the next she was slammed into the dirt with the full weight of Leroy Jethro Gibbs pinning her to the ground. She struggled to get free, but before she could, Gibbs flipped her over onto her stomach and began to cuff her hands behind her back.

"Get up, Adler," Gibbs grunted as he climbed to his feet, completely out of breath.

Rory got on her knees, and then Gibbs pulled her up the rest of the way.

"Damn you, Gibbs," Rory spat. Her white undershirt was now stained with dirt, and like Gibbs, her face was covered in scratches.

Gibbs grabbed Rory's arm and began to pull her along through the woods back toward the townhouse.

"Lucy, you've got some explaining to do," Gibbs muttered as he stomped through the leaves and the dirt, dragging Rory Adler along with him.


Gibbs sat across from Rory in the interrogation room. He didn't speak as he stared at her.

"Are you going to say anything? Because, if not I have other things I could be doing," Rory said as she stared right back at Gibbs. She looked like a wild woman, with leaves in her messy hair, and dirt stains on her clothes.

"You're not going anywhere," Gibbs replied.

"Why not?"

"Because I need answers, and you're going to give them to me."

Rory sighed. "I can't believe I let you bring me back here. I should of ran faster, pushed myself harder. Are you gonna lock me up for something I didn't do again?"

Gibbs stood. "Drop the attitude, Rory. I'm trying to help you."

"How so?"

Gibbs glared at her. "Do you know who framed you?"

"Yes."

"It was Martin."

Rory looked taken aback. She looked at Gibbs for a long moment.

"How do you know about Martin?" she asked.

"He framed you. And he helped you escape afterwards," Gibbs said.

"He didn't frame me..."

"So you're not denying that he helped you escape?" Gibbs asked.

"Of course not. He didn't help me do anything," Rory stated angrily.

Gibbs put both of his hands on the table top, and leaned closer to Rory. He could see the lies in her eyes.

"Stop lying to me."

"I'm not," Rory countered.

Gibbs leaned even closer.

"Just tell me what happened. And if Martin did happen to help you escape, like I know he did, then maybe I can have your charges cleared," he bargained.

"You can't do that," she said.

"Trust me, I can."

Rory's eyes flashed to the camera in the corner of the room. "Turn the cameras off," she said quietly.

Gibbs turned to face the one-way mirror behind him. He raised his hand to his throat and made a swiping motion. Suddenly, the red light on the camera was extinguished. He turned back to Rory with expecting eyes.

"Make whoever's in there leave."

Gibbs jerked his head to the right, and the sound of a door slamming echoed through out the interrogation room.

"Shoot."

"Martin helped me break out of my holding cell. He visited me the day before, and he slipped me a pill. He told me to take it that night when I went to sleep, and that he would handle everything else. The next morning, I woke up in a hotel room in Chevy Chase. I don't know how he did it."

"What was the pill?" Gibbs asked.

"I don't know."

"Can you describe what it looked like?" he asked.

"It was round, and white."

"Any letters or numbers on it?"

"No. I checked."

Gibbs pulled out his cell phone and stepped out of the room. He was gone for 2 minutes, and then he came back and sat down.

"Who was that?" Rory asked.

"My forensic specialist. She's going to find out what that pill was, so that we can trace it back to Armando," Gibbs said.

"If he finds out that I told you this, he's going to kill me. You know that right?"

"He won't find out."

"You don't understand, Gibbs. He's been watching you. He knows every move you've made. He tipped me off the other day at the motel. That's how I was able to leave you the gun on the pillow without him finding out," she explained.

"He's not watching me anymore," Gibbs countered.

"What makes you say that?"

"Because I arrested him last night before I found you."

"He's here on the Navy Yard?" she asked.

"Yes."

"If he helped me escape, then what makes you think he can't escape?"

"The Navy Yard is on high alert. He's under maximum security. He's not going anywhere," Gibbs explained.

"Then am I free to go now?" she asked. "You said if I told you what I knew, that you'd let me go."

"I have to talk to the Director first."

"You're not going to put me in a holding cell are you? If Martin sees me, I'm screwed."

"No, you can wait here. He won't find out."

Gibbs stood and left the room, leaving Rory Adler suddenly scared for her life.