A/N: For the next four chapters, things get really intense. There is a possible MAJOR CHARACTER death, but it's only temporary. Read at your own risk. I am so glad people are enjoying this story. Hearing from you helps me so much. Tell me what you think. Sheila

Surviving Winter

Chapter 5

Vance walked into the bullpen around noon. He looked at DiNozzo. "Where's Gibbs?"

"Boss and Ziva are down in interrogation."

Vance rubbed his chin. "I shouldn't interrupt that."

"What do you got, Director?"

"A message out of Afghanistan." Vance didn't meet his eyes.

Tony stood up. "Tell me."

"I should wait until Gibbs is here. He should hear this first."

"No, you shouldn't. Let me take care of this."

Vance considered him for a moment and then nodded. "McGee is missing. I got a call from one of Winter's staff. McGee was in an armored vehicle yesterday somewhere in Western Afghanistan. There was an attack by the Taliban. A convoy came upon the vehicle a few hours later. It was burned out. There were 4 dead Marines and 4 missing plus McGee."

"He was captured?"

"They don't know. They've been searching the area, but it's unstable. The Captain I spoke with will be calling again tomorrow with further updates."

Tony nodded slowly. "Where the hell is Winter?"

"Well, the bastard is apparently too busy to talk with us. I'm doing what I can to get his attention."

Tony looked around the room. Fear that had been buried deep in his gut since McGee left was flooding everywhere, and he felt lost for a moment.

"You okay, DiNozzo?"

He shook his head as if waking. "I got this, Director. I'll talk to the team."

"I'm available in my office. I've got an open line to Kabul. If I hear anything, you'll know right away."

"I appreciate that, Sir."

Vance hesitated but couldn't find words. He nodded and headed back up the stairs. Tony stood there quietly for a while. He knew he had to find everyone and gather them. At first, he thought about using Autopsy, but his gut told him that was the last place they should be meeting. He would have to bring everyone into the Abby's lab. He would have to stay upbeat. McGee was missing, not dead. He would say that they probably retreated somewhere into the hills to hide from the Taliban. And he would say that he was sure that there would be a call from Kabul any minute letting them know that McGee was safe. He knew that Gibbs would move mountains to get him home then. There would be no worries about McGee's insecurities or Winter's reputation for Gibbs anymore. The boss would literally shake the military industrial complex until the McGeek fell out. Then the team would be right again. Tony rubbed at the bridge of his nose. A headache was building in his temples, something that almost never happened to him.

…..

He was surprised at how silent the room was when he was done talking. He expected something different, anger maybe or fear. Ziva was the first one to move. She started to say something, but she bit her lip and ran out of the room. Gibbs stood like a statue for a moment and then bolted for the elevator. DiNozzo knew he was headed for Vance's office. He was going to be in MTAC harassing Marine staff until answers could be found. Abby said nothing. Ducky put his arm around her shoulder, but she pushed him away and tried to return to her work. Tony put his hands on her shoulders, but she angrily shrugged him off. "McGee's fine!"

Ducky nodded. "I think so too, Abby, but the news is disconcerting and I can only guess how afraid you must feel inside."

Abby shook her head. "I'm not going to think about it because he's fine. Promised he was coming back. When was the last time McGee reneged on a promise? Huh?"

Ducky looked at Tony. "Go find Ziva. I'll stay with Abby."

Tony pulled Abby into a hug ignoring her protests. "I'm here for you always. Just know that."

He let go and nodded to Duck before taking off after Ziva.

…

He found Ziva sitting alone in a dark conference room. She wouldn't look at him. He could see the tears on her cheeks. He sat down next to her and reached over to stroke her arm. She turned sharply and pointed a finger in his face. "Do not tell me that this will be okay. Do not play that game with me. I know these people. I know them better than you ever will. I know what they do."

"He could be hiding."

Ziva shook her head. "They've lived in those hills their entire lives. You really think they won't know how to track a few lost Americans."

"There is the Geneva Convention. They should be protected by that."

She snorted. "The Taliban has observed the Geneva Convention only sporadically. And what if they find out that McGee is a civilian? He will have no protections then. Nothing."

"Ziva, we can't give up on him."

"That is so American. Everyone believes that it will all sort itself out. There will always be a happy ending. Every American movie insists upon it. I can't afford all of this false hope. I have seen reality too many times, Tony."

"I can't give up, Ziva. Not on McGee. Just as it's in your nature to be fatalistic, it's in mine to believe in miracles."

She reached over and touched his face. "I'm sorry, Tony. I don't want us to be at odds right now. We need each other too much for that. I will try to share your hope. Losing McGee would be"…She closed her eyes. "I love that sweet man, Tony. He is family to me."

Tony pulled her in and hugged her tightly. "I know. I know exactly how you feel."

…..

They sat in the bullpen and waited. Initially, they tried to enter MTAC, but Brownie greeted them at the door with a solemn shake of his head. They could hear Gibbs raging at the screen in the background. Tony didn't push it. He knew the boss didn't need an audience right now.

He and Ziva sat at their desks silently, watching each other openly. Jimmy and Ducky escorted Abby up to the bullpen and seated her at McGee's desk. Jimmy attempted some small talk, but no one picked up on his cues, and so he let it trail off.

It was almost 7 p.m. before Gibbs came down the stairs from MTAC. He showed no surprise at their presence.

Tony stood up. "Boss?"

"I don't have much. I talked to three different members of Winter's staff. He was riding in an MRAP that was attacked about 300 miles west of Kabul. As you heard earlier, four Marines were found dead and four Marines plus McGee are missing. They never got him that damn honorary commission. No one could give me one goddamn reason as to why. Winter's avoiding us. I don't blame him. I don't have one civil thing to say to that bastard. I have been assured that there are teams searching the area for McGee and the missing Marines."

Abby stood up slowly. "I don't understand, Gibbs. You didn't want him to do this from the beginning. Why did you let him?"

Gibbs swallowed. "McGee deserved the chance to make this decision for himself."

She cocked her head. "But you could have protected him. He would have understood. He never questioned you. He did whatever you told him always. He believed everything you ever said to him."

Gibbs looked down at the floor. Ducky got up and took her hand. "Jethro respected that McGee was a grown man who needed to make these decisions himself. It was the right thing to do, Abby."

Abby rubbed at her eyes. "He's coming back. I know that, but I'm still confused. You knew this was wrong for him. You knew something bad would happen. If a speeding car came at him, you'd push him out of the way. I know that because you did it before. And when it happened, you didn't ask him to make his own decision about it; you just kept him safe. I'm not mad, Gibbs. I'm just really confused. McGee didn't belong there and we all knew that, but we acted like it was a good thing. I could've stopped him. I could've slashed his tires or hidden his Nutter Butters or burned his underwear. Any of those things would've sent him into a tailspin. I mean, it's McGee. He needs his routine, the things he can count on. So really, Gibbs, I don't blame you. It's just as much my fault that I let him leave that morning."

Everyone stared at her. Ziva got up first and approached her, putting her hand on Abby's cheek. "Abby, we can't make this anyone's fault. He wanted the adventure. He was excited that he had a unique contribution to make. I know him too. If you'd burned his underwear, he would've bought new ones, and I'm pretty sure that the absence of Nutter Butters wouldn't have been a deal breaker either. If Gibbs hadn't made that agreement with Winter, SecNav would probably sent McGee anyway. He wanted to do this and that meant it was going to happen. He doesn't give up easy. And it surprises me that a woman as stubborn as you are, doesn't understand that about him."

"I'm sorry," Abby said softly.

"Okay," Tony said, clapping his hands. "We're not going to sit around here moping like a bunch of old women. McGee wouldn't want that. I think we should go out, find a good pizza place, and raise a few beers to his continued good health. If anyone can think his way out of a tough spot, it's our McGeek. We're going to send the Probie some positive vibes. "

Ziva frowned, "Old women? What is your problem with elderly women? I find that elderly men can be far more whiny and anxious than women. I don't like your analogy."

Gibbs looked ready to slip away, but then Ducky had his arm, steering him to the elevator with the rest of them. "You need this most of all, Jethro."

…..

Despite the heat, Dunham sat inside the café sipping on a Turkish coffee. He kept his eyes glued on the café directly across from him. He could barely make out the forms of two men engaged in conversation. A teen-age Afghani boy ran into the café and sat across from Dunham. "I hear you needed me, Boss."

"You do this well, Fahran, and I have a bonus for you."

"I'm ready."

"Go to the café across the street. There is an Afghani sitting with an American. I want you to get a drink and sit close by. They'll be talking in English. You pick up whatever you can. Understand?"

Fahran nodded. Dunham pointed at the café, and the boy took off running.

Dunham pulled out his phone, and considered it carefully. He was acting on the slightest of hunches. Finally, he dialed a number he knew well.

"Hello, this is Fornell."

"It's Chad Dunham, CIA."

"Calling from Kabul?"

"Yes Sir. It's the vacation capital of the world. I'm soaking up sun on the beach and drinking an Afghani mojito."

Fornell chuckled. "What can I do for you, Dunham?"

"You heard about McGee?"

There was a pause. "I heard that Colonel Winter strong armed Gibbs into sending him to Afghanistan."

"McGee is MIA as of yesterday."

"Damn, I didn't know that. Man, I really like that kid. I bet Gibbs is half out of his mind over this.

"Haven't talked to him, but I'm thinking the same."

"What's up?"

"I'm sitting here in a café watching something very unlikely occur. Winter's chief of staff, Captain Reiser is across the street right now meeting with Gul Baden Hussain."

"I've heard the name. Tell me more."

"Hussain is the head of mercenary group in Afghanistan. They're guns for hire, and they'll work for either side. Money is their only religion. He has some of the best hired guns in the country."

"What's he doing with a Marine captain?"

"Winter will do just about anything for a win. Any means necessary is his motto. I heard that he's hired this group before, but it's never been confirmed. These guys are definitely on our most wanted list and so working with them is a definite no-no."

"You think this has anything to do with McGee's disappearance?"

"I have no idea, Tobias, but my gut's on fire over this one. One of the specialties for Hussain's group is kidnapping, but that's all I got."

"Why kidnap McGee?"

"Winter is wild about wanting to keep him in country. McGee's got a skill set that's making a difference. Winter is training more like him, but for the time being, McGee's the man over here."

"You can't tell Gibbs this. You haven't connected any of the dots. Plus, he'll go ballastic over the idea."

"Yeah, I'm not sending this through official channels at all."

"What can I do for you that your CIA handlers can't?"

"You're just better at this, Tobias. You've got FBI access and Homeland Security access. Plus, this isn't anyone's priority right now and I need it to be. I don't know if it's connected to McGee, but I do know that you'll put it at the top of the pile on the possibility it could be. I mean, you and Gibbs are like best friends, right?"

Fornell sighed. "Yeah, we curl each other's hair and read about our favorite pop stars together at slumber parties. Listen, this stays between you and me. We tell Gibbs nothing for right now. The man's gotta' be riled up enough. Tell me what you need."

Hussain's English is American. I thought you could track down his time in the U.S. See if he still has contacts here. I don't know if it's about McGee, but I think we oughta' know what this guy's doing for Winter."

"This is a real long shot, Dunham. Why are you so invested?"

"Hey, I like the kid too. He's trying to the right thing. Loyal to a fault. Guys like that are pretty rare in my business."

"All right, Chad. I want to hear from you every day."

…

McGee heard some shouting, and he struggled to open his eyes. The right side of his head ached tremendously. What he could see of the room was mostly dark. There was one small window near the top. It was hot and stuffy. The floor was dirt and the walls were clay. There were others in the room, and as his eyes focused, he could make out the faces of the Marines with whom he'd travelled. There was a commotion at the door, and it opened. A Marine, the one female in the group, was pushed into the room, stumbling until she fell against the far wall. Two Afghanis strode in and grabbed another Marine, dragging him out of the room. The door closed again.

The female was named Finch, and she crumpled on the ground, muffling sounds with her hands. One of the other Marines tried to approach, "Finch, you okay?"

Finch pushed him away. "Leave me alone."

"Are you crying?" Another one asked.

"Shut up!" She said and turned her face toward the wall.

McGee could see the struggle she was having in trying to calm herself. She was the lone female, and had probably spent most of her enlistment trying to prove herself. Despite the pain radiating from his head, McGee inched over to her until he was leaning against the wall next to her. "It's okay, Finch. Your Gunny isn't here right now. You don't have to try so hard."

She shook her head and continued to hide her face to the wall.

"The more you can tell us about what happens out there, the better prepared we'll be when it's our turn."

She swallowed and nodded.

McGee reached out and took her hand. "Tell us as much as you can."

Her voice was low. "They had questions about you, Sir. Mostly, they want to know how a civilian got hooked up with our unit. They seem to know about you."

McGee nodded. Fear was rising in his gut but he said nothing.

"I tried not to answer them. I really tried."

"Hey, it's okay, Finch. There's nothing you could've told them that was top secret."

"They wanted to know your work locating their IPS signals. I couldn't tell them much. I don't know much."

"Whatever you said was fine. Really. My work wasn't exactly top secret. They've probably figured out what was happening anyway with the increase in raids."

"I'm worried for you, Sir."

McGee didn't answer; he just squeezed her hand. After a few minutes, one of the Corporals said, "What are you thinking, Sir?"

McGee leaned his head back against the clay wall. "I've been in a situation like this before."

"And you survived." Finch asked in a shaky voice.

"I did."

"Can you tell us more?"

"I went with my team to Somalia to catch a terrorist who had killed a dear friend. I didn't know what I was doing and a friend of mine, Tony, and I were captured by the terrorist. We found out that our friend, Ziva, was still alive. I was so amazed that she survived, but it was also bittersweet. I couldn't imagine how any of us would escape. It was rough. We were beaten and tortured. I knew it had to be the end. I felt paralyzed, but Tony didn't. He kept up this banter with the terrorist. He seemed fearless. I lay on the floor pretending to be unconscious, and there was Tony tied to a chair making jokes and taking punches for it."

McGee chuckled. "At the time, I thought he was crazy, but I've had a lot of time to think about it. Tony wasn't crazy. He didn't need to keep talking, but he knew it would help for me to hear him being fearlessness. And it did. He put up with that abuse to keep me from falling apart."

"And you escaped."

"Yeah. I have an amazing boss, a Marine actually, and he got us out."

"Did you ever thank Tony?"

McGee smiled. "No. He and I, uh…we have a complicated relationship. We don't tell each other things like that. But I know how much I mean to him. It's about actions. It's about him having my six whenever I need him. And he knows I'd do anything for him."

"You sound military when you say that like you've been through battle together."

"I suppose that's true. We've seen enough danger together. I know Boss works us hard and we don't let rules get in the way when a life is at stake. We've lost team members to violence. They know that I'd take a bullet for any of them."

"I wish they were out there right now." Finch whispered.

McGee nodded. "Yeah. Me too. But I'm not that worried, Finch. I'm surrounded by four of the best warriors in the world. It doesn't get any safer than a roomful of Marines."

He saw smiles grow on the young faces around him. McGee was terrified, but Tony had taught him a lot about working with probies."

….

They came for him a few hours later. Finch had fallen asleep on his shoulder. When he heard the Afghani voices behind the door, he knew it was time. He gently pushed the sleeping Finch to one of her teammates and stood.

"Sir?" Asked one of the Marines getting to his feet.

"Stand down, Soldier. This is my chance to find out what they want."

The door opened, and McGee walked toward the Afghanis before any of the soldiers could react.

….

TBC