(Was going to do another flash forward i.e. the morning with everyone but couldn't do it to you my loyal readers. You have been waiting long enough so here is what's been going on…….Also want to get this story done so can move onto the next one. Hilarious.

So let me know what you think? I have rewarded your patience with a nice long chapter)

4.00am

Tim's eyes watered at the flood of light and he blinked them furiously. He wasn't sure who was with her but he recognized the voice so he chose caution over valor until he knew what was going on. 'Commander West? Are you ok?'

This came out as mumble, gurgle mumble argghhh as his mouth was still duct taped but she seemed to get the idea from his nod and the questioning look in his eyes.

'Yes Tim, I'm fine at the moment.' He could hear her struggling and he could see she seemed to have her arms caught behind her back. She was still wearing the silk dressing gown and if she continued to struggle Tim could see it was going to come completely undone. She didn't seem to care. In fact Tim could see that she was mad, beyond mad, she was to put it lightly – pissed.

'Let me GO! Jeffrey I can't believe you are holding me ransom, like this. Have you gone Mad? Let me and Tim go and we can just talk about this'

Tim realized where he had seen the man who had jumped him in the kitchen. It was the Commanders Personal Assistant; the one Tony had dubbed the 'Flying Monkey' yesterday. Wait was that only a day ago?

'Shssshhhhhh You have seen him now and he is fine. So you just need to calm down so I can think this thing through. 'Jeffrey was obviously a lot stronger than he looked as he held the Commander in one hand and stroked his hand down her hair, lovingly.

'Would you stop doing that? Ugghh What has got into you? I don't understand. What were you doing at my house?

'Protecting you. Like I always do. You were lucky I was there really. He might have hurt you.'

'Hurt me? Is that what you think? Timothy was never going to hurt me. He is an NCIS agent who got lost on Base and I was in the process of returning him to his friends. We were ahhh just in the kitchen getting something to eat first.' Commander West had shoved Willow aside for her more military persona and was trying to sound logical and commanding in this increasingly bizarre scenario.

'Liar!' Jeffrey's eyes blazed. He leaned close and whispered into her ear while all the time keeping his eyes on McGee bound and struggling against the pillar.

'I heard you. I heard you having SEX! He was only in the house ten minutes…' Jeffrey's voice started to increase in volume until he was shouting at her 'I have been with you for four years! Four years of Yes Commander, No Commander, Can I bring you some dinner as you will be working late again Commander. He turns up in his little towel and you're screaming his name ten minutes later!' Jeffrey's eyes flashed while Tim couldn't hide his astonishment.

He had been in the house the whole time? Listening to them? Tim didn't know if he felt more embarrassed or enraged that someone had violated their privacy like that. Oh my God he must have heard everything! Tim shivered revolted. Had he seen anything? Had he been WATCHING them in the dark? If only he could get out of these damn ropes!

The Commander at this revelation stopped struggling and turned staring at Jeffrey. Her voice was dangerously low. 'Protecting me like you always do? What do you mean Jeffrey? Have you been in my house before? At Night?'

'Of course.' Jeffrey's voice soothed 'I have always been there to protect you. I watch over you like your guardian angel. Sometimes I even sneak in and watch you sleep. I protect you from all of them. I collected the Valentines Day card from that General last year, the flowers from the guy on that Ammunitions Conference you went on and all those different little messages on your machine.'

'What flowers, what card, what are you talking about? Oh Jeffrey you didn't. Please tell me you haven't been hiding things from me.'

'Those men were all wrong for you Willomena. You see, you just had to have time to see that I was the one that was perfect for you. I made your life easier not harder. I always thought about you. You said I was your Right Hand Man, that you wouldn't be able to get anything done without me, remember? The time was coming when we would be able to go away together just you and me. And then he showed up.' He flicked his eyes towards McGee who was taking in this conversation and his eyes turned hard and fierce.

Commander West simply stared shocked at her once faithful companion as if her favorite dog had rabies and needed to be shot. Jeffrey had obviously gone mad! All this had been going on for years and she hadn't seen it? This was a man who picked up her dry cleaning, who knew her family's birthdays and brought the cards for her to sign, who knew what drinks she liked at what time of day, what moisturizer she preferred, why she liked the window seat over the isle, who would come to her house to drop work off on weekends, who…..

Click. She felt the cold steel of the hand cuffs he had her in shut around a pipe near the doorway.

'Jeffrey? What are you doing……?' She shook off the shock as she realized that she was now trapped. Trapped like Tim was, his big green eyes watching them both in growing panic as Jeffrey stalked towards him, something long and thin in his hands.

'What are you doing Jeffrey?' She could feel her voice rising in a panic as Jeffrey approached Tim, ripping off the duct tape around his mouth.

'Arggghhhh' Tim gasped and then shouted as his mouth was ripped free. 'Leave her alone!'

Jeffrey simply lashed out with the thin metal switch he had in his hand, slashing McGee across the chest and then drew back again for another and another. 'There, do you like THAT! I want to hear you cry out her name as she cried out YOURS! How dare you defile her? You aren't good enough to even speak to her let alone touch her!' He lashed out again and again across McGee arms and chest and Willow could see tiny spots of blood blooming through his shirt.

'Jeffrey! Noooooo!' She screamed and struggled against her handcuffs, trying to catch Tim's eyes. 'Please no don't hurt him. It's not his fault!'

Tim gasped when the first stroke of what looked like a snapped off car antenna slashed across his chest but then refused to make a sound. He would not give him the satisfaction of hearing his scream.

He would not make another sound.

He would not cry out to her for help.

He was a Federal Agent.

He would not make another sound.

He would not cry out to her for help.

He was a Federal Agent.

He repeated his mantra to stop him crying out against the hard lash as it swished down. His eyes could not help filling with tears at the pain and he screwed them shut, willing for this long night to be over.

'You deserve to be punished for what you have done wrong! You must have tricked her!' Jeffrey was practically foaming at the mouth as he lashed out at McGee covering him in a thousand thin red welts, as Tim strained painfully and silently against his bonds, tensing for the next blow.

'Jeffrey, Jeffrey please you were right. Do you hear me you were RIGHT!' Willow had been screaming out to Jeffrey, everything and anything trying to make him stop but this seemed to get through his rage induced haze.

'What?' He stopped the antenna still held above his head as Tim sagged, breathing heavily at the respite.

Think Willow THINK! What did you say to him that made him stop?

'You were right Jeffrey. About us I mean. You were right' Jeffrey turned and took a step closer, lowering the hated lash. Willow stumbled on making it up as she went.

"Look at how you have protected me, look at how far you would go? That's Real Love, I see it now not just loyalty. You have proven yourself to me. I didn't think you would be interested in me you see…..'

She looked up to see how Jeffrey was taking this hogwash, and was pleased to see he was smiling and nodding slightly.

'Yes you see all those times I asked you to come over to the house to drop work off? It wasn't just about the work…. I …..I wanted to see you but I didn't know how to ask!'

Jeffrey beamed a maniacal smile 'Yes you see I knew it. All along, I knew we were meant to be together. I knew you called me over to the house all those times not for the work but to show me your books, your interests, who you were inside not just as the Commander.'

Willow smiled up at Jeffrey thinking Yes you crazed loon. Yes I love you and that's why you should get me out of these handcuffs so I can beat you within an inch of your life.!!!!

'Jeffrey' she sighed dramatically and sagged against him. 'What are we to do?'

Wasn't that what love torn couples did? Swoon and complain? She should probably watch more Hallmark movies or something but never seemed to have the time.

'Yes, you see that's why I have a plan! I knew we would need to get away. That's why I have been working with the others. We would need money. Lots of it. And by tomorrow night we will have it and we can go anywhere we want. Paris, London wherever you want to go.'

Willow stiffened and flicked her eyes up to see if Tim was listening. He was still gasping and she was shocked at the number of tiny patches of blood soaking through his shirt, but he was coherent and he held her gaze for an instant. He was listening.

'What plan, dearest one?' Willow wanted to retch and couldn't believe that he was buying this melodramatic claptrap but then again he could possible be insane, so who knew.

'Tut tut' Jeffrey made a clicking noise with his tongue. 'Haven't you figured it all out yet?'

'Humor me sweetums' She smiled up at him while she contemplated how nice it would feel to throw him in the brig.

'The pharmaceuticals scam? All those drugs leaving the base? That's me or well that's us anyway.'

'What do you mean us?'

'Well that was how I got in with them. There are a dozen different people both on and off base and they had this foolproof scam. But they needed the security access. That's were I came in. I know all your movements and after months of watching and fingerprinting your keyboard and copying your access codes, I can forge your signature, use your computer. You see when they eventually get to the bottom of all this they will find that everything was approved by you. We are all going to get hundreds of thousands of dollars each and my part is all going to be spent on you'

Willow sucked in her breath as Jeffrey twisted a strand of hair through his hands. So that's what all this was about. Her assistant had been using her to get lots of money to what? To win her over to him? So they could run over to Vegas and get married?

She mentally added computer fraud and security id theft to her long list of charges against Jeffrey Wallace, including home invasion, kidnap, torturing a Federal Agent, invasion of privacy, corrupting her military reputation and career……

She risked a peek over his shoulder to McGee to see if he heard and understood what Jeffrey had said to see if she had a coherent witness. Yes. She smothered a smile; of course Timothy was listening and was taking in every word. If they both got out of here perhaps they might be able to solve the case that had brought him onto Base in the first place. She tried to tell him with her eyes to keep quiet, to play along so she could get as much information out of Jeffrey as possible while he was in a talkative mood. He gave her a small nod and stood silent

Willow smiled up at Jeffrey 'Aren't you clever to have worked all that out over these months.

'Cleverer than you knew. You see I had worked out your access to your computers and codes at work but not home. That's why you have not been able to get your systems properly working at home. Every time someone fixed them so you could do work from home or even check your emails, I slipped in and broke them again. Sorry my sweet.' Jeffrey slipped her a kiss on the cheek 'I knew how frustrating it was for you but I couldn't tell you. I knew when I had the money and we were away safe then I would tell you and all would be forgiven'

Inside Willow seethed, how could she have been so stupid! Six months of technicians traipsing in and out of her home just trying to get her computer and home security system sorted. No wonder Jeffrey was able to break in and watch her so easily.

She faked a laugh. 'You see Jeffrey how could I not love a man like you, so clever, so strong, so brilliant '

Jeffrey beamed back at her 'So you forgive me?' Willow pouted 'Of course I do. You were only doing it for me. For us? Now I would like to give you a kiss to reward you but first you must get me out of these so I can give you a proper kiss.' She dropped her voice and whispered the last part in his ear as she rattled the metal cuffs to remind him that she was essentially his prisoner.

Jeffrey's smiled dimmed and he looked a bit doubtful. 'What if I get you out of those and you run off? I mean I will be in an awful lot of trouble if you tell anyone what I have done'

It took all of Tim's willpower to not shout out 'Ya think!' but he kept silent watching the game being played out in front of him.

Willow pouted 'How am I supposed to give you a kiss if I'm in chains? You want us to be together right? You want me to touch you, to hold you? Then you are going to need to trust me and get me out of these cuffs. She looked up at him pleadingly from under lowered lashes trying to look as simperingly harmless as she could muster.

Jeffrey sighed and slipped behind her 'Oh you don't know who much I want to touch you, to kiss you, to feel you….' Willow gasped as she felt his hand slip around her front, under the edge of the silk robe and fondle her full breast.

Tim exploded, the action affronting ever moral fiber he held dear. 'Don't you touch her! Don't you dare! You Bastard….' Tim shouts were cut off as Willow moaned sensiously and rolled her head. He stared at her trying to read the situation, knowing that surely not….. Willow snapped up her head and returned Tim's gaze. Willows eyes held icy rage, but Tim knew they weren't directed at him. She stared him down and Tim fell silent. He knew that if this was what it took to get them out of here she was going to play along. Jeffrey was playing hardball and she was going to hit it out of the park.

'Please Jeffrey, Let me out of these handcuffs so I can touch you' Willow sighed and writhed against him.

'Yes, yes ok I want you to touch me here now so I can make him watch' Jeffrey was practically dribbling with desire as he nodded in Tim's direction

'Oh don't worry about him. I'm sure your going to be much better' Willow sighed again making a mental note to apologize to Tim personally for that one.

She heard the click as Jeffrey released her wrists from the cuffs and turned towards him, allowing the robe to finally fall completely open to reveal her nakedness

'Ohhhh Jeffrey sucked in his breath at the sight and then screamed in pain as Commander West kneed him in the groin.

Argggghhhhhhh

'And that's just for starters you Bastard! Don't you dare lay hands on me again! Or Tim! Jeffrey had sunk to his knees and she leapt on top of him handcuffing his hands behind his back as he wailed. She got up still screaming and kicked him hard in the guts, winding him and again in the ribs, toppling him over still in a crouched position. She ran over to Tim and started working the ropes.

'Oh my God Tim, I am so sorry I got you into any of this. I'm so sorry you were hurt.' She ran back to Jeffrey and gave him another swift kick in the ribs, she was so mad and then returned to the ropes.

'Its ok, its ok. It's not your fault you didn't know about any of this.' Tim's eyes sagged shut in relief. They were going to get out of this.

'Damn ropes are so tight!' he could hear Willow cursing behind him and in relief he threw back his head and laughed.

Willow smiled in response' Oh so you think this is funny now do you? Well I will have to remember that you like being tied up and at my mercy, but perhaps at a more suitable time, Special Agent McGee.' Tim simply smiled and shook his head in response as he felt the ropes finally loosen there hold. He stepped away from the pillar, rubbing his wrists and swept Willow into a mighty hug.

'Thank you' he kissed her cheek 'Thank you' he kissed her other cheek 'Thank you' he kissed her on the lips as he whirled her around. Willow threw back her head and laughed 'Well if this is the sort of response I get from you being tortured we are definitely doing it again.'

Tim put her down and they both turned towards Jeffrey. 'Now you little psycho rat…..' Willow swore loudly and colorfully at the empty space where Jeffrey had been.

'Damn, I was sure he wasn't going to walk for a week. Sorry Tim but it looks like this isn't over yet. We still don't know who he is working with and it sounded like its coming to a head soon. Tomorrow some time, or given how late it is sometime today. If he gets to the rest of them we might loose this chance to bring them all down'. She paused as she saw how tired and beaten up he looked.

'Are you ok? I mean really?'

Tim sighed, rolled his shoulders and then smiled at her 'I am an NCIS Special Agent. We always get our man. Be it chasing through strange warehouses, with no sleep or food, across freezing cold concrete in bare feet, bleeding dramatically……..'

'Isn't that more like the Postman's Pledge?' Willow smiled, relieved. If he had his sense of humor then he was still ok. 'I promise to make this all up to you. But for now we need to go find this psycho and get him to talk. Anyway, I'm the one that's practically naked this time.' Willow tied up her silky gown again smiling up at him

'Well what a pair we make. One or the other seems to be in a constant state of undress' Tim said heading towards the door to go find Jeffrey and hopefully make this long night worthwhile.

'I can't believe that …that Bastard!! All this time. In my house, at my office. I'm beyond mad at him' Willow started ranting, her eyes searching through the warehouse piled with boxes for her former trusted assistant.

'Jeffrey, come out, come out wherever you are!' Willow called out enticingly, a destructive vision in her black silk robe. 'Excellent. Is that a forklift I see?'