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Disclaimer still applies, I sadly do not own NCIS.

Reveiws:

teresahr49- I would NEVER stop midway through a story. I have read WAY too many stories were that happens and it drives me crazy. Thank you so much for reviewing!

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Buckeye I Am- STUPID STUPID STUPID Vance. Unhelpful Vance. Obnoxious Vance. I do not like Vance. And I won't have them there for too long.

Sue Dooley- Thank you so so much! Your kind reviews mean a lot to me, and they make me want to keep going!

Tony's POV-

The gash was bad. Very bad. It was hurting more and more, and I knew the infection was getting worse. Sentences were beginning to become impossibly difficult, but even with all of that all I could think about was the movie Cube. It was about a bunch of people stuck in a maze like cube and they have to figure the way out. Gibbs could be Wayne Robson, and I could be David Hewlett. I forced myself not to smile as I warmed up to the thought; David Hewlett was rather handsome. But then again if I was him then I died by blood loss. How ironic. At least I wasn't Gibbs who would get his face melted off with acid.

I snapped out of my movie haze when Gibbs reached over and put the back of his calloused hand to my forehead. I should have expected it, but my instincts were dulled due to the fever. My normal self would have never let Gibbs see I was not okay, but now I didn't even have the energy to react.

"Ow," Gibbs stated simply.

"No kidding?" I asked him because that was the most obvious thing he had said the entire time.

"I'm going to re-wrap it." He pulled out the roll of gauze that Cleo had given him and ripped of a generous amount. He then promptly slipped it beneath my leg so that I would not have to lift it up, before tying a quick and tight knot. He did his actions so fast that only afterwards did I feel the immense pain.

It radiated from the leg, and covered my body. It swallowed me whole, and the searing pain smothered any happiness I had before. Fire flooded my veins like a dam breaking and I found myself instinctively putting my hand in front of the cut to guard it, but from what I was not sure. The air rushed from my lungs in a huff, and I felt pressure closing in around me and sucking in the air. The pressure was enough for me to forget where I was, and I duly wondered if this is what if felt like to walk on the ocean floor. The pain slowly began to die down, but barely enough for it to be described as manageable. Breath through it, a voice told me and I was unsure whether it was my conscious who had spoken or Gibbs.

I was trying to convince myself to open my squeezed shut eyes when I heard a soft noise. I thought at first I had imagined it, but then I heard it again. I coaxed my eyelids open and found myself facing Gibbs, whose grey brow was furrowed tightly. I looked behind him, just in time to see the door creak open.

"Get up," Jeff ordered from the doorway. Gibbs stood up, and if he was surprised that Jeff had just walked in, he didn't show it. He extended his arm to me, and then looped it around his neck. He used his knees to pull us both up into a standing position, but I still tilted to the right. My balance was a mess thanks to multiple contributions from my concussion and leg, and it was all I could do to stay standing.

"Walk out and if you try anything..." He let his threat trail out and there was no doubt in my mind he completely meant what he said.

We began our painstaking process of walking when Gibbs took the first step. Then he half pulled and half dragged me the distance of the step he had taken. After the first couple steps it improved, and we managed to go just a little under the average pace. As soon as we were out of the doorway I felt the cool metal of a gun being pushed hard enough to leave a bruise in the small of my back. I grunted acknowledgement of it, and steadied myself against Gibbs.

Half way down the hallway Gibbs whispered, "I think we should attack here, there is only one guy. When I say go, lean away from the gun. Okay?"

"Yeah, okay." I told him while mentally preparing myself for what was going to happen next.

After another three steps Gibbs whispered loudly, "Go!"

I threw myself against the wall so that the gun no longer touched me. My back leaned against the wall, which gave me a good view of the fight between Gibbs and Jeff. Gibbs sent a pummel that glanced Jeffs chin, and Jeff staggered back a step looking dazed. Sadly, though, his daze was not long lasted. Both men raised their fist defensively and prepared for the upcoming spar. Jeff retaliated with an uppercut that snapped Gibbs head back that Gibbs noted with a grunt. They spent another half minute like this, neither of them balking. I was trying to pay attention to what was going on in case I could be of help, but standing was becoming harder. My back was sliding down the wood and spots were dancing through my vision, which I did not take for a good sign.

I blinked away the dots and shook my head- which turned out to be a bad idea on my part considering the concussion- and refocused on the situation. Gibbs had just sent a strike to Jeff's already broken nose which was a feint. It was obvious for me to see, but Jeff self-indulged in pain did not take notice. He blocked it off easily while Gibbs took the chance to pound Jeff's chest area. Jeff fell to the ground with and undignified cry, and Gibbs took advantage of the situation. After a small struggle Gibbs was atop Jeff and pummeling him repeatedly. I suppose that after a short amount of time Jeff fell unconscious because eventually Gibbs stood back up.

"You okay?" he asked turning his attention towards me. I nodded meekly and tiredly. God, I just wished I could take a hot shower. "Do you think you can walk?"

"Not really." Sadly that was the truth. I had managed a hobble before, but my mind seemed to now shudder at the thought of even standing up. "Go get help. Leave, now." I told him harshly trying my best to replicate Gibbs' no nonsense tone. I must have done decent because Gibbs pondered the idea.

"I can't. You can't even stand, much less defend yourself."

"Gibbs, don't make me do this." I knew that I would have to if he refused, but it was last resort.

"Do what?"

"GUYS! THE TWO ARE ESCAPING!" Gibbs clamped a hand over my mouth, but it was much too late. I could already hear indistinct shouts coming closer. I bit Gibbs hand then after he released me I said, "Sorry. Bye. Get Cleo." If looks could kill then Gibbs would be a murderer. He sighed then shook his head with a smile. He reached out and gave me a softer version of the infamous head slap before leaving.

"DiNozzo, I haven't given you permission to die yet." he called over his shoulder then promptly broke into a run.

Gibbs POV-

I swore a few times in my head and a few times aloud. Sometimes Tony could be a stubborn idiot. More like all the time. But I had to give it to him; his plan was rather evilly smart. He had gotten me to leave him, though he had been rather drastic. The guys could kill him and I had simply left him there unprotected. It did make sense though, if I hadn't of left we would have both surely died. There was the little comfort in knowing that if these guys wanted a hostage they would have to keep Tony alive, seeing as how they no longer had me too.

The only problem in Tony's plan was that I had no idea where the heck I was going. When I had run off it had been a blind guess, and my gut had conveniently decided that it did not want to partake it what was currently happening. So far I had just been wandering to find Cleo. I looked for any doors, but I hadn't found any yet. That was to be expected though, considering how long last time it had taken me to find one.

I heard shouts that were almost indecipherable in the distance, but I made out a few words. They said 'found', 'Tony', and 'chain him'. Their new development in finding Tony only made me work faster though. At least I knew they weren't going to kill him now. I felt bad they were going to chain him 'cause no matter how much Tony had hidden it I knew his arm was probably broken. I hadn't pushed him on the matter and I had been hoping to wait until we were rescued to set it, but now I wished I would have done so sooner. But right now Tony would be angry if he found out that I had wasted my time worrying about him instead of finding Cleo.

I started sprinting again keeping my eyes aware. After twenty minutes my breath was coming hard proven by the billows of white mist that puffed from my mouth, but it was worth it for two reasons. First of, I was no longer cold. Second, I had come across a door. I pressed my ear against it and heard no noise, yet I could see a thin layer of light escaping from beneath the door. I tested the handle and it was locked, which seemed like an area where they would keep Cleo. I threw my shoulder at the door with all the strength that I could muster and I was rewarded with a groan from the wood. I tried it again and the door snapped off its hinges allowing me passage.

Inside the room, or maybe storage closet, it was around four feet wide on both sides. It was not long enough for me to lay down in, and I couldn't even stand without my head hitting the low ceiling. Cleo sat in the corner with her knees pressed against her chest, and her arms wrapping them tightly there. Her wavy brown hair masked her face, but I knew it was her from the plaid shirt. I took a step inside while bending down to fit, and she noticed. Her head shot upwards and when she saw me so did her eyebrows.

"What are you doing here?" she asked looking skeptical.

"Escaping."

"There's too many men!"

"I trust my team. Do you trust me?" After a hesitation she nodded and I knew she was answering honestly. "Okay then. Come on." I extended my hand to her and she firmly grasped it. She stood up, and I saw she too, had to hunch over.

"Do you know where to go?" she asked.

"Not exactly. I know how to get out once I am at the room where the first held Tony."

"Oh! I know where that is!" she seemed genuinely happy she could be of help. She pulled my arm in the direction and I couldn't help but think how much she was like Kelly.

"Two more rights, three lefts, then a right, then a left." Cleo's words interrupted my thoughts.

"Okay. Impressive how well you know the place," I told because for some reason I felt the need to praise her.

"Thank you," she replied with a bright smile lighting up her face. After we took the turns that she had listed I found the door that had once prevented Tony from leaving.

"Good job." I told her while pulling out my notebook I had stashed in my waist band. I found the page where I had written all of the turns and was once again thankful I had it with me. I followed the many turns down the almost never-ending and unforgiving hallways. After a half hour I found the front door and resisted urge to hug Cleo in happiness. She squealed in joy and made the decision for me by throwing her arms around my neck. I felt her chest shaking and when she pulled away she was wiping tears from her eyes. She looked slightly embarrassed for losing it, but it was completely normal. I would have been hysterical too, if I had been stuck here for as long as she had been there.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Your welcome," I told her allowing a wide smile to cross my face. The door was still open from when I kicked it down to get inside when McGee and I had first arrived. I pushed it away so that Cleo would not get any splinters and she quickly exited. I followed her out and I found her smiling at the dark and star filled sky.

I felt bad for ruining her moment, but we had to leave to get help for Tony. "Come on. My car is over here." Well, it was over there. I wasn't sure if I should pray it was still there or not. If it was, that meant McGee could be in trouble. If it wasn't, Cleo and I had no means of transportation. But sure enough, there was the silver Porsche right where I had left it. I had no idea what that meant for Tim, but I hoped he was alright.

I looked for the keys in my pockets and found that I must have lost them some time in this ordeal. I bit my lip to stop myself from swearing and glanced over at Cleo. She was looking at me curiously and asked, "What's wrong?"

"I lost the keys."

"Is there any way to get in?"

"Maybe," was my cryptic answer. I moved over to the trunk and tested it to see if it was unlocked. It thankfully was, and I swung it open. I smiled proudly when I saw McGee kept everything needed to break into the car in a box in his car. I grabbed it and rifled through its contents, pulling out anything that would later be of use. I took a screw driver and went to the drivers window and wedged it between the door and window. It opened slightly, but enough that I could fit the metal rod in. I maneuvered the rod to press the unlock button and sighed happily when the door clicked open.

"How did you do that?"

"I'm a federal agent. I've picked up a few tricks."

"Could you show me how to do that?"

"Of course. As soon as we are out of this mess," I promised. We hopped into the car and buckled up, and I sped out of the warehouse area.

I drove as reckless as ever and made it to NCIS headquarters in three minutes. Cleo was holding on to the dashboard, but she looked less scared than most adults who had ridden with me when I was driving. I hopped out of the car and sprinted into the building, assuming that Cleo would follow. When I was inside the building I was faced with an out of order sign on the elevator. For the second time that day I resisted the urge to swear and jogged over to the stairs. I took them nearly four at a time and ignored my protesting knee.

When I reached my floor I was tackled by Abby with a tight hug. "I was so worried about you! Oh my gosh! Where is Tony?! Is he okay?! Why is he not with you?!" Abby exclaimed in one long breath.

"He's okay, for now. Call SWAT for me." I told her and went off to find a bullet proof vest. I pulled mine on over my clothes then faced Abby again. "Did you call?"

"Yep. I assume you wanted them at Oak street in five?"

"Yeah. Thanks. Can you take Cleo down to Ducky and have him watch her?"

"Sure," Abby told me. I nodded thanks and went back to preparing for the rescue mission proceeding shortly. I grabbed McGee's spare gun from his desk, for both mine were still at the warehouse. While looking for his gun I found keys to his car, and I took those too. His car would drive much faster than mine.

I was about halfway to the stairs when Cleo stopped me. "Don't get hurt," she warned me.

"I wasn't planning on it."

"I'm serious."

"So am I." She smiled at me then walked back over to Abby. I ran the rest of the way to the stairs and calmed myself. This should be fun.

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