Abby started pacing backward slowly. "Don't say it Gibbs…don't you dare tell me he's…"
Gibbs shook his head instantly and did his best to close the distance between them. But after watching her continue to step back, he stood still. "He's alive Abs…just missing."
"Missing? As in no where to be found missing? Or you lost your keys, but they'll turn up missing?"
"We have a lead. We're following it…"
"Not while you're here you're not…" She shooed them away. "Go…go find him…"
Gibbs opened his mouth to speak but was cut short.
"It's not like you're never gonna see me again…so just go…do your thing…and bring him back okay?"
Gibbs swallowed at the statement; something in his gut wasn't sitting right. He could've called but something told him he had to see her. Almost as if she was wrong…maybe he wouldn't see her again.
Tim noticed Gibbs' hesitation and moved closer to her. "We'll bring him back."
She relented momentarily and pulled him into a quick embrace. "Promise?"
"I promise." Tim assured her, catching an odd glance from Gibbs as he turned back towards him.
Gibbs turned to Ducky. "We'll be off grid for a while…may have little communication."
"Off grid?" He questioned gently. "Jethro, what is all this about?"
"Don't have time to explain."
"Yet you had time for an impromptu visit to say goodbye? What can you tell us?"
Gibbs contemplated his response for a moment. "First stop, Israel."
"Ziva?" Abby shrieked. "Is she missing too? Are they together? Is her Dad after Tony cuz of what happened to Rivkin? Does Vance know about this?"
Gibbs finally moved close to her and placed a soft hand on her arm. "Whatever is going on…I will find out…and I will bring them home…"
Something in his voice scared her, and her eyes instantly welled with tears. "I just want everything back the way it was…"
Gibbs pulled her in close but said nothing in response. He said all he could with a simple expression before turning to leave…
Both of them had promises to keep.
It was only a brief stop in the bull pen before their departure. Nothing was said. Only quiet glances towards the empty desks…Both of them knew what was at stake, despite what the cost may be. In their minds there was no cost for family, and whether either of them admitted it, that's exactly what they were.
Family.
It wasn't until they reached the car that Gibbs spoke. "Once we leave this parking lot. We're alone."
Tim met his expression, his hand resting on the door handle. "We're never alone boss…"
Gibbs didn't need him to elaborate, and slipped into the car without another word.
McGee wanted to ask a hundred questions during the plane ride but realized that no matter what the answers were the mission wouldn't change. He had a responsibility. Get them back alive…all of them.
Gibbs gave up on sleep a long time ago. His eyes may have been closed but his mind was far from at rest. His head was a whirlwind of how quickly life can change.
Shannon. Kelly. Kate. Jenny.
It was getting that Gibbs dreaded waking up in the morning, in fear that one more thing could change. His sole purpose was not only to bring them back, but restore all that they once had.
No matter what the cost.
"Tell us everything you know about NCIS…"
Ziva took in short breaths, the pain pulsing through her was a screaming distraction from her captor.
"Did you hear me?"
She tried willing herself to pass out. Anything to numb the pain. When that failed she let her mind fixate on memories…
"You and I are the only ones who know the truth. And for that I am grateful."
"I trust you Ziva, you know that…"
She wasn't sure what hurt more. The pain of her wounds or knowing she may have lost the trust of those she was relying on to save her…
"The Americans care nothing for you…tell us what we want to hear, and you will be nursed back to health…taken care of…"
She closed her open eye and silently prayed that his words weren't true. They would come for her…they had to…but with strike after strike she wondered if there would be anything left to save…
"Here my dear." Ducky handed her a small pack of tissues. "Perhaps your time would be better spent working…it will keep your mind from wandering."
"Does working on dead bodies help you keep your mind off the possible dead bodies of Tony and Ziva?"
Ducky cringed. "That was uncalled for Abigail."
She looked down. "Sorry…I'm just frustrated, and sad, and scared, and angry…and…well I just cant help but think that Tony is being hurt…or worse…and that Ziva could somehow be involved…I mean there are a thousand possibilities here Ducky…doesn't that bother you?"
"Bother? Yes. Worry? Not necessarily…Jethro and Timothy are very capable."
"Yeah? Well so was Tony and he got taken, kidnapped…whatever!" She took in a breath. "Its not fair Ducky…we were finally getting back to normal after the Director…and Lee…it's like someone up there is playing a bad trick on us…"
He placed a comforting hand in hers. "We must not lose faith my dear."
She nodded slowly. "You're right…I guess I'm just struggling a little..."
"Then I shall have faith for the both of us…"
"I want a location." Gibbs barked into his phone and walked a few feet away from McGee.
Tim retrieved their bags and waited patiently near the entrance. It wasn't long before his Gibbs joined him.
"Where we headed boss?"
Gibbs waved down a taxi. "Mossad."