A/N: I was a little blocked for a few days, but am rolling again with fresh inspiration. I know exactly where I'm going now. Short chapter this time, but I hope to get another one up very soon - tonight if I can. I'm off from work all this week, so that bodes well for you guys! -abby

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The ambulance transporting McGee had barely arrived at the hospital when Ziva's phone began to ring. As the paramedics rolled Tim's stretcher into the ER, she spotted Ducky and Abby waiting for them. Nodding acknowledgment to her colleagues, Ziva squeezed Tim's hand reassuringly before letting go and stepping away to take the call.

"Ziva David," the Mossad officer said into her phone. Her dark eyes immediately grew wide with worry as she listened to Lieutenant Keller on the other end of the line. "Gibbs did what?" she asked in disbelief. After a few more moments, Ziva thanked the lieutenant and disconnected the call.

She quickly located Tim, who had been put in a small treatment room. Abby and Ducky were by his side. Ziva did not even try to hide the concern on her face as she broke the news to her friends.

"One of the gunmen broke free of the police, and took Tony hostage again. Gibbs insisted on going too and the police had to let them leave the scene. The bank robber had wired a nearby building with explosives and was threatening to detonate it." Ziva rubbed her temples in frustration as she explained.

Abby gasped and covered her mouth with both hands. The Goth's eyes welled up with tears for the second time that day, and Dr. Mallard gently put his arms around the young woman as she sobbed.

"There, there, Abigail, they will be just fine. You know that Jethro will not let anything happen to Anthony." The ME tried to soothe Abby through his own significant concern.

Tim did not say anything at all, just sat up and swung his legs over the side of the gurney. He removed the oxygen mask that had still been covering his face and stood up before anyone realized what he was doing.

The junior agent headed for the door, ignoring his colleagues' sounds of protest. "I have to get out of here. Where's the doctor? I'll check myself out AMA if I have to, but there's no way I'm going to just lay around while Tony and Gibbs are being held hostage by that psycho."

While Ziva had not revealed which gunman had taken the two agents, McGee had witnessed enough during his own captivity to know that it had to be Bossman. The thought chilled him to the very core.

Ducky gently put his hand on the young man's shoulder. "Perhaps you should let a doctor look you over, Timothy."

Tim shook his head. "There's no time. You can take a look really quick if you want, Ducky, but I'm fine. Just a few bruised ribs is all. I promise." Tony wasn't so lucky, he thought worriedly, but kept that comment to himself. "They just brought me in as a precaution."

Ziva did not try and stop the determined junior agent. She understood the feeling of helpless frustration, and she was not going to keep McGee from doing his job if he felt up to it. Besides, she would need him if they were going to locate Tony and Gibbs quickly.

Abby did not see things that way. "But Timmy! You need to take care of yourself!" The forensic scientist's voice was a near-hysterical shriek. Abby was torn by concern for Tim and terror for Tony and her beloved Gibbs, and she could hardly think straight.

Tim looked at his distraught friend and chose his next words very carefully.

"I'm okay but Tony needs our help. We don't have any time to waste." With that, McGee opened the door and stepped out of the tiny room. Ziva was right behind him. Dr. Mallard squeezed Abby tighter as they watched their friends take off down the hall.