Chapter 16: saving the day

A/N I´m sooooo sorry. Really, I´m having this extremely busy internship; I learning to be a primary school teacher. It's a very busy period and I'm putting my whole heart and soul in trying to keep myself somewhat alive through all of the work and exams..
I want to thank you, everyone who reads this story and decides it's worth it to keep reading. You have no idea how much you mean to me. You do.
Spiritgirl-11 , Thanks for reminding me of that.

Warning!: This chapter will contain violence, not suitable for young readers.
Beta: My dear friend Tino-chan is busy with her own stories. And I wanted to post this today, so I can work on my school report and finish it hopefully before midnight.

Preview
With a chuckle on his lips, Gibbs felt his eyes closing down on him, dragging him away to a redemptive sleep.

He woke up early the next day; awoken by a sound he couldn't quit place. Reluctantly, he opened his eyes, his first thoughts all involving black, steamy coffee. The images of a good, full mug immediately were replaced by worry, as he noticed the empty bed next to his. His eyes flew around the room, searching for the little girl. She still had to be in the room, since he'd made sure the door was very well locked before he went to sleep. The sleeping pills he took were just to make sure he'd made it through the night, but they didn't do his hearing very good. He noticed that the door leading to the bathroom was slightly open. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and went to check if she was there.
She was.
The little girl was sitting in the left corner, slumped against the white tile wall. Her eyes were closed and her breath was even. Danai was asleep. Gibbs wondered why she would sleep on the floor and crouched down beside the frail little child. He gently patted her hair, softly calling her name.
"Danai, wake up… It's time to wake up, little one." Suddenly, he was struck by painful memories, about his own girl, waking her up for a school day. How she would grunt and turn over, completely ignoring him. He would start to tickle her until she couldn't feign to be asleep anymore. The special agent quickly suppressed the images and forced himself to put on a poker face.
He didn't want Danai to see his tormented look.
She awoke with a startled shriek, backing away until her back was pressed against the wall. Gibbs, surprised at first, understood her distress. He put on his most gentle, soothing voice and called her name. She raised her chin a little, shivering all over.
"Hey, you've been sleeping well? You don't have to be scared, ya know. In fact, I have a little surprise for you." She peeked through her straight, blonde hair. Gibbs went on like her behavior was completely normal, and in a way, it was, considering all that she'd been through. "You know what room service is?" The girl nodded, still a little wary.
"You wanna try ordering it? I heard they have this amazing hot chocolate…" The silvered haired man hoped that if he pretended that everything was totally fine and there was no reason for her to be scared like this, she would realize she was safe again. He didn't want to push the girl about the place she'd been held when she was still looking like this. Gibbs had to get her to feel comfortable first. He held out his hands, and very slowly, she took it, getting up from the floor. He didn't lift her up; just leaded her to a chair and let her sit, while he took the phone of the hook and handed it to her. He dialed the three digits number for the hotel desk and told Danai to order whatever she wanted.
The special agent watched her expression change from agitation to wonder to joy. A small smile crept on his face when he heard her enthusiastically order way too much food. Well, it wasn't like they'd have to worry about the leftovers. Gibbs knew a certain special agent that ate more than was good for him and whose growling stomach sometimes overruled him as he was barking orders. Of course, he was thinking about the man who was sleeping next door, in the same room as Ziva. It made him grin secretly. That reminded him, he had to check up on Tim later, see if the man was still ill. His thoughts were interrupted as Danai abruptly handed him the phone.
"Ah, you're done, little one? You better bring that fast," He added to the person on the other side of the line. "Oh, and don't forget to add a very strong cup of coffee." He smiled at the blonde girl before hanging up. "So, you ordered a lot, did you? Good job." Her gaze shifted from sudden panic to reassurance.
"Yea, cause they were telling me they had a lot and I'm really hungry and I could order everything right?" Her voice sounded way better, stronger too.
"Yes, I did. I guess now we have to wait." She pouted. Just like a six-year-old should, Gibbs thought pleasantly. He liked to see her reviving a little. After a few minutes, someone knocked on their door. Danai opened the door and accepted the trolley with all the food on it. There were croissants and freshly roasted toast with a lot of butter and jam, and there were eggs and small pancakes. To top it off, there was a kettle filled with hot cacao.
"Twis is weally yummy," Danai told him a little time later, with her mouth full of bread and butter and with dark chocolate stains all over her face. Gibbs was leaning back in one of the chairs, slowly chewing on a slice of toast. He wasn't a breakfast person, but he didn't mind eating something if it pleased the kid. The coffee was brought a few minutes later than the rest; the staff member apparently left it in the kitchen. Gibbs had glared at him for the entire 30 seconds he was in their room. It made Danai giggle and she demanded a taste of the black liquid. After taking one gulp and almost spitting it all over the floor, she swore he was crazy to drink that disguising stuff and poured herself some more hot cacao. Gibbs found the way she talked to him very refreshing. Sometimes, he was just fed up about everyone indulging to his very orders a little disturbing. He knew people talked about him, telling others horror stories about his rules. It wasn't like he cared, but that didn't stop him from thinking a true word, a true opinion soothing. It was part of what attracted him to Abby. Her pure innocence and her strength to believe in the things she fought for. The clock was still ticking but he had to get Danai to be okay first. Otherwise he wouldn't get the information he wanted anyway.

After breakfast, he called the adjacent room, telling Tony and Ziva to report to him immediately. It didn't take long before they came bursting in. Dinozzo looked at the food in shock.
"Boss, you told us we couldn't get room service!" It took only one penetrating stare to shut him up, but Gibbs took mercy on him and gestured at the leftovers.
"Help yourself, Dinozzo. I can't have your growling stomach get in the way of our investigation." It felt rather cold to call his desperate search an 'investigation', but he knew how important it was to make sure you didn't lose yourself in any operation you were too close to. The younger agent blinked, but seemed to understand. He nodded curtly and soon became too caught up with eating.

After an hour or so everyone was ready to go out. Even McGee, who still looked slightly green, was determined to go. Gibbs highly respected that.
He kneeled down next to Danai so he could talk to her on eye level.
"Danai, this is the plan. We're going to search for Abby and the others today." His voice became slightly urgent. "Can you remember which way you've walked yesterday?" He looked intensely in her blue eyes, begging for her to remember. Danai lower lip started to tremble.
"I… I…" she stammered.
"Danai, this is really important."
"I… I don't know.." She started to cry. Great sobs shook her body. Gibbs groaned and softly patted her hair.
"Listen, if we're going to drive around town with the car, so no one can see you, do you think you will try to see if you remember something?" Danai hesitated. "This is really important. You want to save Abby, too, do you?" She nodded, tears spilling over her face.
"I do… but… I'm scared! I'm scared they will put me in the dark room again and I will be so hungry and I want to go to my mommy!" The six-year-old cried. Despite everything, Gibbs closed his eyes monumentarily. When he opened them again, he gave her a dead serious look.
"Danai, I swear I'll keep your safe. No one is gonna hurt you." Pang. The promise he did to Abby, so many months ago, hit him. He failed to keep his promise. But this time, no one on the entire planet would prevent him from protecting this little girl until he could safely get her back in her parent's arms. He tried to project this feeling with his stare and finally, the child seemed to understand. Finally, she nodded.
"I'll try."

Xxxx

"You bitch, I knew you would eventually cause us trouble," The man snarled when he lifted her up at her hair again. Abby screamed, kicked, fought, but it was of no use. The foreign man held her wrist in a grip of steel. Panting, she gave up, slumping to the floor.
"Oh, don't think I will give up that easily. How did you make her escape?" Abby pressed her lips together, not planning to tell him everything. The kids were both pressed against each other in a corner in the other side of the room. She'd told them not to help her if they found out. They had to protect themselves. After a lot of persuasion, she finally obliged them to. Abby could only be grateful at the fact that they immediately went for her when the guard noticed Danai's absence. He'd called Sarah's apparent boss, who slapped her in the face with all of his strength. By the feel of it, she'd lost two teeth. Great. She hated dentists.

"Where is that little brat?" The man spat in her face, pulling her hair again, lifting her up again and drawing tears to her eyes by doing so. No way was she telling them anything. "You're not gonna talk? We'll find a way to make you talk," he growled, suddenly releasing her. She didn't see his foot coming until it hit her head. With a scream she fell down, hands covering her head. Stars suddenly appeared all around her. Big, shiny stars, raining down on her. Pain envelops her and the forensic scientist starts to cry. Another kick, in the side. Her thoughts fly everywhere, trying to escape the inescapable pain.
"You're gonna spill now?"
No. Never.
Her ribs… She's so scared… what if he broke them? Blood, in her mouth.
Don't worry. Gibbs will come. The pain will go away. You're still alive.
Another kick. She s wit coming, held up her arm, trying to protect herself. The horrible sound of something snapping, breaking. And then there's just the blood, everywhere. It's in her eyes and ears and mouth and she's drowning, drowning…

He gave her some time to regain consciousness before hauling her upwards. The man knew this girl was stubborn enough to keep silent, even if she would die in the progress. This method wasn't working. Suddenly, his gaze fell upon the little girl and boy, who were both crying violently, trying their hardest not to look how the person that swore to protect them was falling apart, literally. He grinned, setting a step in their direction. They both scowled.
"So, miss Scientist. Maybe you want to talk before I smack their little heads off, or do you really want two murders on your conscience? Children are really frail, you know.. He took another step, watching pleasantly as panic slowly dawned on her face.
"No… no," she begged, attempting to crawl towards them. "No.."
"So, you're talking now?" She kept silent, so he took another step. He could reach the children now. He stretched out his arm and-
"NOOO! Okay, I'll tell you everything! Just.."She coughed up some blood. "Just don't hurt them…" Abby whispered, desperately clutching her stomach, trying not to fall apart. The man grinned evilly.
"I knew you would break eventually. Tell me." As hot tears ran down her face, she pointed at the ventilation shaft and told him.
"There's no way you're catching up with her," she dared to defiantly add. The man snorted.
"Oh, we'll see about that." In a few steps he was standing in front of her again. This time there was nothing she could do to defend her from the kick.
At least, she managed to think before falling into unconsciousness, I tried to protect them.

Xxxx

They had been driving for hours now, and Gibbs couldn't shake off a very bad feeling he'd been having since that morning. He didn't want to lose hope but he also knew that if anyone had as much as touched one hair on her body, he was going to kill the person. With his bare hands. Despite that, his gut urged him to hurry and he became more restless with every minute that passed.

Danai still didn't recognize anything. She seemed confused, asked them to turn around, but then telling them she was mistaken. Gibbs noticed the rest of the team becoming frustrated. He tried to stay calm, give her space to remember, but at the end of the afternoon, even hefelt like it was hopeless. The little girl wasn't going to remember anything.

"Let's go back," he ordered, his voice loaded with disappointment. "Maybe we'll find something if we… go over everything again." It was a feeble excuse, implying they had nothing.
And they all knew it.
Suddenly, Danai leaped up. She pressed her nose against the glass, tapping with her finger on the glass.
"I remember, I remember!" she shrieked. McGee braked at full force, making them all bounce up.
"Is that the house they were holding you?" Gibbs asks, tension and hope ringing in his voice. To his utter disappointment, the girl shook her head.
"No, no, it's something else… We… tried to escape and I had to walk for very long.." Tony tried to interrupt, but Gibbs silenced him, gesturing her to continue. "We, uh, went to a mean man and woman and they said we could go sleep on the attic and Abby said she wanted to call you. But… " Her voice wavered. "But when I woke up I was in the dark room again. And… And Abby told us that they were very bad people." She pointed at the house. "That's the house of the bad people!" Gibbs looked at Ziva, Tony, McGee, and they all thought the same thing.
Bingo.

If they could trace a trail back from those people to the kidnappers, they would find Abby for sure. Gibbs eyes brightened. They had a lead.
And some people seriously should considering what they had done.
Because Leroy Jethro Gibbs was on their trail.
And he was going to hunt them down with all he got. Until he got them all.

And Abby would be back in his arms.

A/N Sorry for the torture scene! I'm hoping you all don't want to kill me… yet.