March 20
"To know that you do not know is the best. To pretend to know when you do not know is a disease." - Tao Te Jing by Lao Tsu.
"DiNozzo!" Gibbs hissed, making the younger agent flinch. "What the hell is going on? Where is McGee?"
Anthony DiNozzo closed his eyes, willing his heart to slow down. He needed to control his breathing otherwise someone would hear him and he'd give away his position.
The dealer from a few days previous had broken under Gibbs' interrogation and told them the location of a warehouse that would make the Director a very popular woman when SecNav found out the value of drugs they were about to seize and stop from entering the system.
That was if McGee's plan pulled off. Judging by the shouting both men could hear coming from his earwig, apparently it wasn't going quite as smoothly as anyone had hoped.
"I don't know, boss. I'm on it." He hissed back, forcing himself to move. He dealt with situations like this on a regular basis. He'd faced the dirtiest fighters and most ruthless killers and still came out the other side smiling and quoting movies to them as he snapped on the cuffs.
This time though, the Probie had the lead. It was his chance to prove himself.
And something had gone wrong. Tony just didn't know what.
"McGee, what is your location?" He tried, working his way through the back rooms, clearing them as he went. Silence. "Ziva, can you see him?"
"No." She replied quickly. "He has to be with the main dealer still."
"Perfect." He mumbled, quickening his pace.
A yell pierced the silence – one Tony seemed to almost get in stereo. McGee.
"We're coming in." Gibbs yelled, kicking Tony into gear. He ran towards the last place he'd left the youngest agent.
Two people were on the floor. Blood covered their shirts.
And neither of them were moving.