It had been nearly two hours since the other hostages were released. Bossman was clearly getting restless and was pacing the lobby from end to end. His subordinates watched but did not speak - the masked gunmen seemed almost as concerned as McGee and DiNozzo. The bank's telephones continued to ring every few minutes as the police tried to get their negotiator back on the line.

Tony could tell that Bossman was at a loss. His plan is completely shot. He doesn't know what to do. But something's off…this guy's not entirely stable, the senior agent thought wearily, fighting through the fog his mind had become. His head was pounding and felt as though it were packed with mud. Another concussion for sure, he decided. That brings my grand total to what, twelve? Thirteen? I've lost count. Tony could feel himself drifting in and out of awareness. He lifted his bound hands up and gingerly touched the painful spot above his ear, wincing as his fingers came away covered with fresh blood.

"How ya doing, Tony?" McGee's voice was soft but held a note of concern. "You're kind of zoning out."

"Hm? I'm okay, Probie," DiNozzo slurred. That did nothing to reassure the younger agent, especially combined with Tony's pale complexion and glassy, unfocused eyes.

I have got to get him to a hospital. He's fading. Tim had no idea what the gunmen thought they would achieve by continuing this standoff. He sighed. If they won't talk to the police negotiators maybe I can get them to listen to me. I don't know that the leader can be reasoned with but I also don't have much of a choice at this point.

McGee inhaled deeply to settle his nerves - and his queasy stomach - before addressing the boss. His bruised ribs protested the action and Tim winced as he said, "Um, do you think that maybe you could let us go? I know you said not to ask for anything else, and I'm really sorry, but my partner has a bad concussion and needs medical attention." He took another, shallower, breath before continuing, "Maybe if you give yourselves up now you can get a light sentence…I mean, you did let the other hostages go and you haven't killed anyone." Yet, he added mentally with a worried glance at his ashen-faced partner. Tony was unmoving, eyes closed and head tilted back against the wall.

Bossman stopped in his tracks and turned to face his captives. His cohorts watched with interest as he quickly crossed the large room and stood directly in front of McGee.

"So you think I should give it up, huh? That we should just surrender and turn ourselves over to the cops?" The man's voice was a dangerous snarl.

McGee gulped and looked away. He was beginning to wish he'd kept his mouth shut. I hope I didn't just get us both killed, Tim thought miserably.

The masked gunman knelt down and stared at the two agents. For a moment he actually appeared to be considering McGee's words, and Tim allowed himself a small glimmer of hope.

Tony gathered his strength and carefully lifted his throbbing head. "He's got a point, you know," the senior agent said slowly. "It will be easier on everyone if you just give yourselves up now. Eventually the cops will get tired of waiting and they'll storm in here guns blazing. Why don't you just end this? There's no reason for anyone to die." After speaking Tony rested his head back against the wall, but continued to look the lead gunman directly in the eyes.

Bossman stood up, never breaking eye contact with DiNozzo. "You are correct about one thing," the masked man said genially.

McGee could not hide his surprise. "Really?"

"Yeah," the lead gunman replied. "I haven't killed anyone." Abruptly he drew his weapon, spun around and shot one of his own men right between the eyes. The others looked on in horrified astonishment as their dead companion dropped to the floor without a sound.

Bossman turned back to face the two shocked NCIS agents. The gunman shrugged and said coldly, "Now I have. Another conversation like that and it will be one of you next time." He tucked the gun in the back waistband of his pants and charged across the lobby to bark orders at his remaining four men.

DiNozzo and McGee could hardly process what had just occurred. Tim was mortified, and when he looked at Tony horror was evident on the other man's face. "He's insane," was all Tony could think to whisper.

For some reason, that simple statement scared McGee more than any of the day's events. He had always looked to DiNozzo for confident reassurance. Tony almost never showed fear. Tim had seen the senior agent in all kinds of alarming situations and only rarely did he seem anything other than in complete control. Now, however, the older man looked defeated and that terrified McGee.

At that same moment, somehow Tony realized through his pain-filled haze that the younger man was looking to him for guidance. With an effort Tony schooled his facial expression and pulled himself together for the junior agent's sake. Get it together, Anthony, he thought. If you lose it he definitely will. We aren't dead yet, Tony thought. He smiled weakly at his partner. "Hey, Tim, it'll be okay. Gibbs has got our six. Don't worry." DiNozzo knew his tone lacked the confidence he was trying to portray.

The bank's phone lines had been ringing continuously ever since Bossman murdered his subordinate. The police outside had undoubtedly heard the gunshot and were trying to get an update on the situation. As a former cop, Tony knew the drill. It was only a matter of time before they sent in a SWAT team to take out the armed robbers. The fact that there had only been a single shot fired was probably the only thing holding them at bay. The cops knew that even if that shot had been directed at the NCIS agents only one of them could have been hit. However, it was only a matter of time before the police - or Gibbs - grew tired of waiting and decided to put the standoff to an end.

That line of thought caused Tony's sluggish brain to catch up with his mouth. He finally realized that his words to Tim had been true. Bossman had given their names to the police, and Gibbs would have certainly been notified of his agents' situation. Their boss would have immediately come to the scene and was no doubt outside the bank at that very moment. The thought calmed Tony instantly and gave him the hope he had unsuccessfully attempted to give Tim a few moments earlier.

"Probie." DiNozzo was speaking quietly to avoid drawing any unwanted attention, but his voice had regained some of the trademark self-assuredness. McGee looked up, surprised but glad to see that the senior agent's eyes were clearer and more focused than they had been for the last few hours. Tony continued, "The cops will send a team in soon. We need to be ready." Tim nodded and the two agents returned their attention to the scene unfolding across the lobby.

Bossman was screaming and cursing at his bewildered men. DiNozzo and McGee found it very unnerving that the four underlings were no longer bothering to hide their fear. Three of them were silently cowering and obviously trying to keep out of their enraged boss' way. However, all of a sudden Hulk decided he'd had enough.

"Come on!" The huge gunman begged his superior. "This is ludicrous! We've lost, all right? There's no way we're walking out of here with the money, we're completely out of options! Let's just surrender before they decide to kill us!" Hulk's desperate pleas were silenced as Bossman viciously grabbed the man and snapped his neck without a word.

"Does anyone else have a comment?" Bossman roared, as the second dead gunman dropped to the ground. The leader had stopped pretending to be friendly. His voice was completely devoid of emotion and his eyes stone cold as he locked the last three men in a glare. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm going to see this through to the end. Either I leave with my money or I die trying."

Tony looked at Tim, and saw his own unease mirrored in the junior agent's face. Those were the words of a man with nothing to lose.