Chapter 13: Heat rises
A-N Dear readers,
YUP I updated another chapter! Finally! I bet everyone´s thinking: that took you long enough!
Smush98, You are right, Franks used to live in Mexico, but he's dead now and I don't think Abby even found out where he lived anyway. (That aside, I haven't seen all of the episodes yet, so if I'm missing something: please tell me!)
Spoilers: None
Beta: Tino-chan.
Disclaimer: Hahahaha. Yeah. no.
Preview
No. This couldn't be true.
She couldn't be here.
But it was true.
They were back in the small room where they escaped from that very night.
They were back.
Xxxx
Gibbs felt all of the memories of his short stay in Mexico returning. He really used to believe he would stay there for the rest of his miserable life. But he returned to DC. Maybe he would return here again, some day. But now that Franks was gone he wasn't sure if he wanted to. He didn't see the benefit of spending the rest of his days alone anymore. Not without a certain girl being around him. He tried to picture her in his house in Mexico, cooking a meal on the stove. She would be wearing an apron and have her hair tied up, smiling broadly.
"Gibbs, what do you think?" Abby twirled around in a black skirt. Her eyes sparkled when she offered him a wooden spoon. "I wasn't sure if I should add the garlic, but you like that, right?"
He was sure she would be great friends with the woman that had always helped Franks out, Gabriella. He smiled despite himself.
They got out of the plane, running through the airport. The sun just set but the heat was already blazing. Tony made some smart ass remarks about him melting but he wisely shut his mouth just when Gibbs was about to head-slap him. McGee was very silent, and so was Ziva. She nervously kept her hand on the weapon on her hip. Their boss figured they were all worried about Abby in their own way. There was a car waiting for them, just outside the airport and they got in fast, enjoying the cool air from the air conditioning. They drove in silence, dust flying everywhere behind the rear wheels. Gibbs knew like no other how corrupt the police could be in Mexico, but he'd come to know some trustworthy men during his time here. There was a small office half an hour away from the airport, and that's where they were heading now. When they spotted the building, they almost drove past it because it blended in so well with the rest of the houses. There wasn't even a sign saying Police. So the team hesitantly stopped on Gibbs' sign, pulling the car over. The silver haired special agent parked in the roadside and flung the car door open. However, before getting out, he turned around and faced his team.
"Ziva and McGee, you are with me. Dinozzo, you go get statements from the people around here. Be back in an hour."
"Me? But boss, for what purpose-"
"This is Mexico, Dinozzo," Gibbs sighed, annoyed. "Everyone knows everything what happens around here, even though they may tell you they don't."
"But boss, don't you think that's… McGee should-" Tony sputtered horrified about the idea of going out in the heat and talking to people who probably didn't feel like cooperating.
"Then, shall I make McGee special agent?" Gibbs snapped.
"No, but-"
"Dinozzo?"
"Yes, boss?"
"What the hell are you waiting for?"
Tony fled out off the car.
Xxxx
Abby didn't think she was crazy. She still had her faith in the sovereign forensic powers and that alone should prevent her from going crazy. But she'd never been crazy before, so how could she know for sure? And when she was watching the rest slowly waking up, looking as horrified and sickened as she did, she really doubted that theory. The kind people who'd let them stay with them had betrayed them. They probably called the kidnappers right away, who didn't have to do much to transport them right back into the room they just escaped from. She clenched her hands into fists, outraged. At the two Mexicans, but mostly at herself. How could she be so blind, SO stupid?
She heard a soft noise and lifted her head. Danai had woken up completely. She glanced around and started crying like crazy. She ignored Abby, who quickly scooted closer, offering to wrap her arms around her. Instead, the little girl simply hid in her little corner, clasping her hands before her face. Hesitantly, the forensic scientist reached out to her, only to stop her hand midway. She didn't know what to tell the little girl. That it would be okay? That if they escaped once, they could escape twice? Abby looked up and saw the new, dark bars before the window. Why telling her lies?
Now Luca and Victor woke up too, reacting completely dazed.
"No!" Luca screamed. "This is impossible!"
Victor didn't make a sound; he just stared in her eyes, reflecting the same things she felt. Words weren't necessary to express their despair.
She knew that weeks back, her optimism was unbeatable. Now, not so much. For all she knew, it was likely they were never gonna leave this room ever again. The disability to do anything made her go crazy.
But there was that little voice that had always cheered her up again and always made her continue trying, so she wouldn't give up. The voice was telling her now that sometimes you had to face a setback before things would turn around. It gave her a small sparkle of hope. Strangely, it looked a lot like Gibbs' voice. Oh, how she longed to just hug someone with all of her strength almost suffocating them in her delight. She wanted Gibbs to put his broad arms around her and telling her it would all be fine and that he would take care of it. And she would answer that she loved him.
And after that she wanted to put on fresh nail polish and wear her black pumps again, combined with her white lab coat. And she would tell her babies that they did a good job as they gave her the match she needed so Gibbs would give her a Caf-POW –Oh, how she needed a Caf-POW– and a kiss her on her cheek. The longing became unbearable and the girl put his arms onto her abdomen. She honestly didn't know
BAM.
The door slammed open. The rusty iron bumped against the wall, causing a very loud sound to resonate through the small room, waking everyone up completely, except Jasmin. Danai didn't hesitate to conceal herself behind Abby's back. The forensic scientist felt the little girl shake and glared up at the dark-haired woman who slowly came walking in. She nodded at the guard who'd opened the door for her. He left with a simple bow of his head, causing Abby to slightly relax. She could handle the arrogant woman just fine by herself.
"Sarah," she hissed, pulling her legs under her. "You let us out or I swear Gibbs is gonna kill you." She didn't really come up with something better. The woman was not impressed.
"Right… Thought you would escape this easily, huh? Please." Sara rolled her eyes. "But I'll be frank: I'm pretty sick of you and your sneaky plans." Her eyes gleamed dangerously. "It's time to make sure that your beloved boss really knows what he's doing." She turned around and beckoned someone that Abby could not see, to come in. A man with a tanned skin appeared from behind her. He had a cloth around his head, covering everything above his eyes. Abby's eyes fell on his hands and what he was holding. She gasped. And then she started to scream.
Xxxx
Tony walked to the next house on the damn road which just kept going and going. The sand was so dry that it flew up with every step he took and it started to form a thin layer on his clothes and skin. The senior agent was not happy with how things were going. First of all, HE should be the one talking to the police and doing the exciting fieldwork; not going by for information no one was going to give anyway. The only people that had even bothered to open the door were a drunken neighbor and an old lady that smacked him with her purse. This was all so like that movie, On the run. Hell, he could name thousands of movies with people walking through deserts. Hell, this whole country looked like desert. Sulking, Dinozzo rubbed with his hand over his sour shoulder. That old hag sure had a lot of strength in her arms. What had he done to deserve this? If someone had told him a few days ago that he would be in Mexico searching for Abby's kidnappers, he wouldn't have believed them. The thought of DC made him sulk even more. He walked up a porch and knocked on the wooden door.
"Federal state agents! Anyone home?" He yelled. No reaction. "Hello?" he tried again, knowing that no one was waiting for the police to drop by, let alone federal agents. Great. Luckily, there weren't many houses around; only a couple more to go. He started walking again, pulling his cap a little further over his head. He couldn't help thinking of longing for cold things: air-conditioning, ice cream, snow, and beaches with cold water with a lot of girls, desperate in need of someone to help them put on sun block on their backs. Of course, he knew why he was doing this, why they were in Mexico. But it was so hard to think with the heat all around him. And just a few days ago everyone was fine...
They were sitting at their desks, doing something no one enjoyed: paperwork. Gibbs had threatened them to finish it before seven or they would really suffer, so they were all working like their life depended on it. They weren't allowed to leave until he got back from the director's but he hadn't come back in hours... Tony was the first to give up.
"Okay, I officially can't stand this anymore," he stated, dropping the case file on his desk and causing a few pages to fall on the floor. It caused Ziva to look up with tired eyes.
"That's the third time you said that, Tony," she huffed, smoothly pulling a kitchen knife out of some hidden pocket of her jeans. She studied her nails in concern and began cleaning them with the tip of the knife. "I have to agree with you though. Gibbs is being very unfair." As soon as she said that, everyone looked behind them, to check their mysteriously appearing boss had heard her. But Gibbs was nowhere in sight and they all sighed in relieve.
"You're very lucky, Officer David," Tony said teasingly.
"Lucky? Look at this!" She pointed at the pile of paper on the desk. "You call that lucky?" She pushed the pile away until it almost fell off her desk and used the space to lay her head on her arms.
"Maybe you could just finish your paperwork instead of whining," a voice coming from the third desk mumbled. McGee was very busy looking the other way but they both knew he was the one that just spoke.
"Well not everyone is a nerd like you, probie. What's next? We should learn to like paperwork?"
"I agree with Tony on this one, McGee. You're being ridiculous." The junior agent snorted.
"At least I'm working, not chit chatting like you two do," he muttered offended, flipping a page. Tony noticed his pile was thinner than theirs. That was just damn unfair!
"We're not chit chatting, McNerd. Old ladies chit chat." The agent opened his mouth, obviously wanted to give a sharp reply, but Ziva interrupted.
"At least chitchatting is better than this," she said, lifting her head up. "Anyone has a hair elastic? What?" she asked after seeing their shocked looks. "I just want to put my hair in a, uh, horsetail." After a confused moment, McGee face cracked open. Tony shook his head in disbelief.
"Now you're just doing that on purpose."
"I'll show you what I can do on purpose," Ziva threatened, angry. She picked up her knife and pointed it in Dinozzo's direction, who scowled and quickly changed the subject.
"Do you guys have anything on the marine with the supposedly heart attack?" He waved a directory in their direction.
"Except that. According to his doctor, he was as healthy as a pony," Ziva replied with a sparkle in her eyes.
"Okay, that definitely was on purpose!" Dinozzo yelled, making a great show of pointing an accusatory finger at her. She just rolled her eyes and winked at McGee, who smirked. The senior agent was just about to show them that no one messed with a Dinozzo, when the woman from the post office approached them. She was young and blonde, and was pushing a small trolley in front of her. Grateful for the distraction, Tony leaned back and flashed her a smile.
"Well hello there… Linda," he greeted after quickly checking her name on her name badge. "Any mail for me?" The girl tilted her head a little bit to the right, giving him a pondering look.
"Have I seen you before?"
"Uh.." Dinozzo gave her a half-shrug. Did he? The girl narrowed her eyes before suddenly clapping in her hands.
"Oh yeah, you were the guy that set me up on our date a few weeks back!" He gulped. Right, he'd asked her out… Totally slipped his mind. What now, pretending like he was the wrong guy or telling her how sorry he was? Definitely option 1.
"Honestly, I don't know what you're-"
" No mail for you!" The woman interrupted him and stalked off, dropping Ziva's en McGee's mail on their desks. They threw him a few amused looks before opening their mail.
"Guys, guys!" A cheerful voice yelled and they all looked up. Abby was bouncing up and down on her black pumps, her black ponytails sweeping happily up and down with her. "I need your help! Tony, you give gifts all the time: what would Gibbs like for his birthday? I mean, the only thing I know is that he likes the boat in his basement and his yellow old car but I can't think of anything else..."
"Wait, Gibbs' birthday?" Ziva asked at the same time as McGee. They all gaped at her.
"What?" she asked innocently.
"It's not Gibbs' birthday, Abbs," Tony explained. "Please don't do that again; you freaked us all out."
"Okay, okay his almost-birthday present than."
He raised his eyebrow.
"Oh come on, I just like to buy gifts!"
"You never give ME anything."
"Well…" The forensic scientist searched for the right words. "I wouldn't want you to get used to it, Tony… Tim!" She wrapped the junior agent in an Abby hug. "I missed you! You never come down anymore," she pouted.
"Well, uh, I did. Yesterday."
"But I wasn't there?"
"No. So I just went back up again." Abby knotted her eyebrows in confusion, staring at his face. Suddenly a light went on.
"Wait a second… McGee! Tell me you didn't!"
"Did what?" he mumbled, slightly nervous.
"Steal my lunch again!" He wrung his hands together, smiling apologizing.
"Well, I…"
"McGEE!" The whole team yelled.
Tony grinned at the memory. Oh, they booked him alright. Thinking about Abby made him find the strength to dodder to the next house. He felt the anxious feeling that everyone was feeling, but he also believed that his dark princess could sure as hell do more than 'normal' people to escape from something like this. Besides, with Gibbs on your trail, you should be scared to death.
He knocked on the door of a small house with dried flowers on the porch. They reeked and he tried to breathe through his mouth, hoping that maybe someone would open the door this time. Suddenly he realized something: now that he was in Mexico, maybe he would find Gibbs' house! What would it look like… Lost in thoughts he gave up knocking and went to the next house. Suddenly he noticed the time. Overjoyed he could stop, he rushed back to the small police station. He didn't even fear that Gibbs would be mad that he didn't get any information. Well, except for that woman that told him her neighbor gave them a lot of nuisance because they were always making a lot of noise. But, she admitted later, that could also have been that street cat they were keeping. Or the television. In other words, nothing that screamed: out of the ordinary. Suddenly, though, Tony Dinozzo got a very strange feeling that he couldn't shake off. The closer he came to the station, the worse it became.
He started to walk real fast.
Before it would be too late.
A/N Okay, that's it. I know what I'm doing again, so that's a step in the right direction! You can expect a chapter very soon so please be patient with me.