Sarah was slowly helping Anastasia lie down after the nurse finished bandaging her back. "Ow, Sarah!" Anastasia blurted out as soon as her back touched the mattress.
Sarah quickly pulled her back up and helped her sit up against a few pillows. Anastasia winced as she leaned back. I'm sorry Stace. Are you alright? Sarah questioned as soon as Anastasia reopened her eyes.
I want mom. She signed before she closed her eyes again and slipped back into her own world.
Sarah sighed. It was hard for her to understand just how simple it was for Anastasia to ignore what was around her. She pulled out her phone to call Tim.
"Hey Sarah how's Stace doing?" Tim asked quietly as not to disturb Abby who had fallen asleep on his chest.
"She's blocking it out…" Sarah said simply knowing Tim would know what she meant. "She's asking for Abby."
Tim sighed. "Alright… I might as well wake her up. My guess is that we'll be down there in about ten minutes or so." He said before hanging up the phone leaving Sarah with Anastasia in an uncomfortably silent room.
Anastasia shifted uncomfortably as she was drifting off to sleep. She felt her mind go blank for a moment before she found herself somewhere uncomfortably familiar.
Anastasia winced as light flooded into the cupboard. "Please… no…" She was begging as she felt herself being pulled harshly into the hallway. She could see her attackers lips moving but she couldn't make out what he was saying. "Talk more slowly, please!" Anastasia knew she was begging but she hated not knowing what he was saying. She felt his hand collide with her skin. "WHY?" She begged but all she could tell was that he was speaking, loudly.
It was when she felt her already weak skin break under the pressure that she let out a bloodcurdling scream. "NO! PLEASE!" She was begging. "My dad he'll give you anything you want… anything." She promised with no avail as she felt her skin split once again. "What did I do? Why me? Just tell me what I did!" She was begging.
"TELL ME WHAT I DID WRONG!" Anastasia screamed through her sleep as Abby and Tim came into the room.
Tim quickly got out from behind Abby where he had been pushing her in a wheelchair. He gently began to shake her awake.
"NO DON'T HURT ME!" She screamed again.
Tim shook her once more and her eyes shot open. Anastasia you're fine. Tim assured his daughter.
Dad he's going to come back for me… he's going to come for me. Anastasia could barely sign through her sobs.
Abby immediately moved over and gently pulled her daughter into her arms. "Tim could you please get a nurse?" She asked softly.
"Why?"Tim asked not wanting to leave his daughter's side.
"I don't want her having a panic attack." Abby explained. "She's been through enough already."
Tim nodded before taking his leave. Abby ran her hand gently up and down her daughter's bruised arm.
"Mom?" Came a timid voice from the doorway.
"Caitlin?" Abby replied softly. "Come on in…"
Caitlin came through the doorway slowly. "I did something I shouldn't have…"
Abby sighed. "What kind of damage am I looking at here?"
Caitlin pulled up the sleeve of her jacket to reveal 2 neat incisions. Abby took in a sharp breath and moved off from Anastasia's bed. "Are you kidding me?" She asked angrily.
"I shouldn't have… I know…"Caitlin admitted as Sarah moved from across the room to see what they were talking about.
Tim came in with a nurse and stopped as soon as he saw his eldest daughter. "Just when I thought things were getting better…" he murmured.
The nurse took one look at Caitlin's wrists and gave Tim a look. "I'm required to take her to psychiatrics." She said quietly.
Tim nodded to the nurse before turning to his wife. "Abby will you be alright here?" He asked regretfully.
Abby nodded as he pressed his lips to her hair. "Just… call me." She said quietly.
Tim followed behind as the nurse led a protesting Caitlin into a wheelchair. "No I'm not crazy… I promise!" She begged. "Just leave me alone!"
"Timothy?" Ducky asked. He was obviously on a coffee run as he held two cups.
"Not now Ducky…" Tim tried to push him away but it was too late.
"Caitlin?" He asked as soon as he saw her wrists. "Oh dear…"
"I have to go… Caitlin's on her way to psychiatrics." Tim excused himself before continuing down the hallway.
"Dad please…" Caitlin was crying. "I don't want to go."
Tim sighed. "There isn't much I can do for you right now Caitlin."
"I didn't want this." She protested.
"What did you want then?" Tim asked sarcastically.
"I just wanted to feel some sort of punishment for what I did…" Caitlin replied.
"Well the next time you want some sort of punishment, talk to me. I'm sure I could come up with something." Tim said as he rolled his eyes.
Caitlin sighed and put her head in her hands.
"Alright Mr. Mcgee we need to take your daughter in through this ward." She said as she pointed to a set of metal doors.
Tim stood there wide-eyed as he read the sign just beyond the doors. "Suicide?" He asked quietly.
"I'm sorry sir… It's hospital policy." The nurse apologized. "No one is allowed in the examination area for suicide attempts."
"I wasn't…" Caitlin tried to protest.
Tim cut her off. "It's alright Caitlin. I'll come with you as soon as I can." Tim said before he watched the nurse wheel his daughter through the metal doors.
Tim sat down along the wall. How is it possible, that everyone in my family is admitted to this hospital? He asked himself. I'm a complete failure at being the support for this family. Being at a hospital for one of my daughters is bad enough… but both of them and Abby? This is just ridiculous…
"Mcgee!" Gibbs called toward his agent who was sitting on the floor.
"Yes boss?" Tim replied as he snapped out of his trance.
"Are you alright?" He asked as he handed him a cup of coffee from his hand.
Tim shook his head as he accepted the coffee. "I failed them Gibbs." He admitted. "Three girls on this earth are my responsibility and all three of them are admitted to this hospital. What does that say about me?"
"That your life happens to suck right now." Gibbs replied. "But that doesn't mean you can just give up on them."
"What exactly am I supposed to do then Gibbs?"Tim asked anxiously.
Gibbs was about to respond when his cell phone rang. "Gibbs." He snapped into the phone.
"I need your team back here." Agent Sacks' voice came through the phone.
"You know what; right now our team has three family members and two team members admitted in the hospital." Gibbs replied sharply. "If you think I'm going to drop them for your investigation you don't know who you're messing with."
"Last time I checked Abby and Ziva were admitted along with Ziva's new daughter." Sacks replied. "How were two more of your team's family members admitted within the last twelve hours?"
Gibbs gave Tim a concerned glance. "Are you saying Mr. Edwards wasn't transferred into your custody?"
"No… I don't know what you're talking about Agent Gibbs." Agent Sacks replied.
Gibbs motioned for Tim to follow him. "I'll be there in twenty minutes." He said before hanging up the phone. "Mr. Edwards was never transferred into Agent Sacks custody… Which means some stupid agent let him out of their sight."
Tim froze for a moment. "You mean…He could come for us now? He could come for Anastasia? Or Caitlin?"
"Mcgee you have to stay calm." Gibbs chastised him.
"What do you mean I should stay calm?" Tim replied angrily. "The man who assaulted my daughter is on the run and you want me to stay calm?"
Gibbs stopped and turned to face his agent. "I understand that you're angry, but you've still got a chance to keep them alive. Are you just going to stand here and panic? Or are you going to do something about this dirtbag?"
Tim nodded before following Gibbs out to the garage.
"Gibbs I can't just leave Ziva…" Tony was protesting into his phone.
"Mr. Edwards is missing DiNozzo." Gibbs snapped into his desk phone.
"I'll be there in twenty." Tony replied before hanging up the phone.
Gibbs looked over to Tim. "You got anything back?"
Tim shook his head. "Nothing on the BOLO boss…"
"Well have you figured out how he got off the Navy Yard without being seen?" Gibbs asked expectantly.
That's when something hit Tim. "Hang on… That's not possible…"
"That's what I thought until…" Gibbs began.
"No." Tim shook his head. "He's still on the Navy Yard!" He said and Gibbs immediately picked up his phone.
"I want the yard secured no one but agent Anthony DiNozzo comes in or out without my consent." He demanded before hanging up the phone and grabbing his SIG. "You coming?"
Tim nodded as he pulled his own SIG from his desk drawer. "Where could he be?" Tim asked aloud.
Gibbs gave him a glare. "Why don't you start looking?" He retorted.
Tim nodded and began to scan the floor while Gibbs headed for the elevator. Tim was rounding the corner when he ran head first into Agent Sacks.
"Going somewhere Agent Mcgee?" He asked angrily.
"Just looking for the dirtbag who assaulted my daughter." Tim said, pretending to be casual.
"You don't have any proof that…" Agent Sacks began before Tim grabbed his sleeves and pinned him to the wall.
"How dare you." He said through clenched teeth. "You're defending him?"
Agent Sacks looked uncomfortable. "Look it's not my job to be your friend. It's my job to find out who's guilty and defend the innocent."
"Then listen and listen good." Tim instructed. "My team and I didn't have anything to do with the unfortunate death of Mrs. Edwards. However, we know with undeniable evidence that Mr. Edwards kidnapped and assaulted my youngest daughter."
Agent Sacks turned his head away not wanting to meet Tim's eyes. "Alright… what do you want me to do?"
"What evidence do you have on our team?" Tim pressed. "Why would you blame us?"
"I don't have to answer that." Agent Sacks avoided the question.
"I've actually been wondering that myself." A voice came from behind them that made Tim flinch.
"Director Vance." Tim said sharply as he released Agent Sacks to the ground. "I'm sorry… I was just…"
"It's alright Agent Mcgee. I'd actually like to know exactly why Agent Sacks is after your team once again." Vance dismissed him before turning to Agent Sacks. "I was just speaking with Director Powell of your division of the FBI and he says that he told you not to follow your lead on my team. What I want to know is just what that lead was…"
"I've already told you that Abigail Sciuto's fingerprints were on the murder weapon." Agent Sacks defended himself.
"And Agent Stoddart from one of the other MCRT teams proved to you that that gun was stolen from the federal agency archived evidence warehouse." Agent Vance retorted. "Why are you still here?"
Agent Sacks looked angrily at Director Vance. "I'm just trying to do my job!"
"Agent Fornell informed me that Director Powell ordered you to leave my team alone. Why are you still here?" He pressed.
"BECAUSE OF THAT IDIOT DINOZZO!" Agent Sacks snapped. "HE DESERVES TO SUFFER!"
"Where is Mr. Edwards?" Tim asked realizing that he had to know.
"You'll never find him. He has blueprints to this building…" He replied with a snarl.
Tim pulled out his phone to dial Gibbs. "Director Vance can you give the order to secure the building?"
"I'd be happy to." Vance replied as he pulled out his own phone.
Moments later Tony arrived. "What have we got?" He asked out of breath.
"Agent DiNozzo would you please escort Agent Sacks to interrogation?" Vance requested as he pointed toward the handcuffed agent.
"I'd be happy to…" Tony began. "Can I ask why?"
"Just until Director Powell gets here. He'll be dealing with him in his own manner." Director Vance said. "You should probably know that Mr. Edwards is somewhere in this building and all MCRT Agents are searching the building."
Tony looked up. "Mr. Edwards isn't going to be anywhere obvious…"
"Well we already know that Agent DiNozzo." Director Vance replied.
"I know where he is." Tony said with a realization. "He goes for easy, that's why he went after Stace… She's the youngest and most vulnerable… I'll be right back!" Tony called as he ran down the hallway.
"Agent DiNozzo!"
"He would only hide somewhere where people are meant to fit!" Tony called back.
Tony sprinted out of the elevator as soon as it reached Autopsy.
"Tony?" Palmer asked in alarm, dropping the needle he was using to close up Mrs. Edwards.
Tony quickly began to swing open cadaver freezer doors. "Do you have any more bodies Palmer?"
"No… just Mrs. Edwards… Why?" Palmer asked obviously confused.
Tony swung open another door and found exactly what he was looking for. "This is why."He replied as he pulled out the drawer and pinned the man down by his shoulders.
"I'm sorry please don't kill me!" Mr. Edwards begged.
"I don't believe in ending lives… even if they are useless." Tony replied. "I do however believe in justice, and you should know that no one wants to let you off easy for what you did to Anastasia."
Palmer's eyes widened realizing who the man was. "Palmer stay calm." Tony instructed. "Call Gibbs tell him I've got Mr. Edwards but I don't have any handcuffs with me."
"I'm sorry Agent DiNozzo just… please let me go!" Mr. Edwards begged.
"Not even a chance." Tony said through gritted teeth. "Anastasia might not be my daughter, but she's my best friend's. As far as I'm concerned what you did was unforgivable."
A few moments later Gibbs came in. "I've got him DiNozzo." Gibbs said harshly as he pulled the drawer the rest of the way out. "Mcgee…"
"I'm on it Boss." Tony replied before running to the elevator.
Tony was surprised to see a very mellow looking Tim sitting at his desk when he arrived at the bullpen.
"You alright Mcdad?" Tony asked as he pulled off his sweaty shirt to replace it with one from his desk drawer.
"Tony I can't do this again." Tim admitted quietly.
Tony smirked. "Hey I'm just barely starting… Not that Ziva and I will have more…"
"Tony this isn't a joke… I can't do this." Tim said, louder this time. "My entire family is in the hospital right now because I couldn't protect them for a few days!"
Tony turned and saw his friend's face. He took in a sharp breath. "You're really not okay are you?"
"Do I look okay?" Tim asked desperately.
Tony shook his head. "It's not your fault Tim…"
"My youngest daughter is in the hospital recovering from being assaulted. Caitlin's in the hospital because she's punishing herself…" Tim began.
"Neither of those thing are your fault…." Tony tried.
"Abby's in the hospital because her morning sickness is killing her…"
"Alright that's your fault." Tony cut him off.
"Tony!" Tim looked at him in disbelief.
"Look Tim, I've never been as terrified in my life as I've been for the last week." Tony admitted. "I wasn't this scared when I got the plague Tim… the plague."
Tim rolled his eyes. "You always have to play that card don't you?" He said with a sigh.
"Hey if you ever get the plague I give you full rights to playing the 'I had the plague and survived' card." Tony said with a smirk before he sighed. "I never thought I'd understand how come you're so protective of Katie and Stace… but I do now. And I can't even begin to imagine how hard it is to see both of them where they are right now."
"Of course you can't! Caitlin was just admitted to the psych ward for suicide attempt!" Tim was shouting. "Am I really that horrible of a father… that she'd end her life to get away?"
Tony took in a sharp breath. This was not going to be an easy recovery process for the Mcgees.
Author's Note: Thank you so much to everyone who follows my stories! I don't appreciate you guys enough :O So Here's my Abby sized hug for all of you! I know It's been awhile since an update, real life is kind of being very *Reality Check* so I'm fitting in writing when I can! Please review!