Slowly, we are coming to an end with this story. But don't worry, you still have four chapters left (plus this one).

By the way, one of my readers told me that I mistake horizontal and vertical. So, to those of you, who are solving the riddles on their own, I think it's best when you just use the numbers.

Here is the solution for the third Sudoku:

/a/S4283di

Thank you for the nice reviews. Enjoy the new chapter :)

I don't own anything. The characters belong to CBS.

Chapter 14

Gibbs didn't move, while Pride drove faster than it was allowed. Of course, his friend had noticed that the poor man wasn't doing so well.

"We will find her, Gibbs. Maybe this time, we have more luck."

"It won't be her."

"You don't know that. Maybe…"

"It won't be her, Pride. He showed me how much she suffers in this container. I would be calmer when I would have her back and he knows that. Abby will be the last one we will be able to save."

"He is right," Brody agreed, "Miss Sciuto will be in the last container. But we still have time. If he sticks to his pattern, then we'll find her before he suffocates."

She and Chris were working on the new Sudoku, which they found on Gibbs' desk after the horrible video conference. Brody couldn't wait until they would find the last agent and they would go after the bastard, who thought he could play with NCIS. The agents DiNozzo and Bishop had stayed at the Navy Yard, although they'd tried to protest against the order. But Gibbs had convinced his agents finally. They were too weak to come on a rescue mission.

The CEO of the port waited for the new number. He was still furious that someone was using his port to hide federal agents and he couldn't do anything except to wait for the next night to find someone else. Finally, the cars from NCIS arrived, and one of the agents – he believed his name was Callen – ran to him immediately.

"It's 3641."

"Joe, the new container number is 3641. Give me a location," he yelled in his walkie-talkie.

They got back into their cars and followed the CEO to the right spot. Sadly, this time the kidnapper chose a container, which was surrounded by others. So, Sam and Callen wouldn't have much space to run away with the poor agent inside. Gibbs and Pride watched how the younger agents got into position. Kensi and Deeks, and Brody and Lasalle would pull the doors open, while Callen and Sam would run inside.

"Alright, remember, guys. You pull the doors open as wide as you can and then you ran away. Don't look back, don't stop, just run. This time, we don't have much space to work, so, we can't risk any problems. Understood?"

"Yes."

"On three. One… two… three!"

As soon as there was a hole for the agents to go in, they didn't hesitate. Pride observed Gibbs, who wasn't showing any signs that he was nervous.

"What do you think?"

"It's not her, Pride. It's McGee."

"Why can't you…"

"It's McGee," Gibbs said and nodded towards the container.

All agents were running, and Callen and Sam had Gibbs' third missing agent between them. The old man covered their ears when the container exploded. The explosion was stronger than the last ones, so, it affected the other metal boxes around it to fall.

"RUN!" yelled Pride as soon as he saw that the young agents weren't safe.

They had parked the cars at a safe distance, and the agents stopped there to look at the mess around them. The CEO turned to Pride angrily.

"Find that bastard and make him pay. No one uses my port without my agreement and destroys him like that."

"We do our best, Mr. Jackson. Sam, how is McGee?"

"He is unconscious, but he lives. We should bring him to the hospital."

"Let's roll."

Frustrated Gibbs waited in the waiting room for updates on McGee's status. He was too exhausted to start a fight with the nurses. Although they some of them already knew him by now they stuck with their 'just family members get information's'-concept. He decided to wait for Doctor Nelson to give him an update, but Pride didn't want to accept their defeat. After almost an hour, he gave up and joined his friend.

"This is the third night that we are bringing someone in, and still they are as stubborn as the first time we arrived. What is their problem?"

"They have their orders."

"Are you defending them?! What is wrong with you?! This is your agent we are talking about!"

"Don't you think that I know this?! But I'm exhausted Pride! My family is missing for seven days! I still haven't found Abby yet and hell, I don't even know if she is still alive! Or if I make it in time! If this guy sticks to his pattern I'll find her tomorrow night! What if she has not enough air to breathe?! What if she dies before we solved all riddles?! What do I do when she dies?!"

Gibbs wasn't someone, who cried in front of others. Not even in front of his closest friends. But the fear for his family and the uncertainty of the outcome called their tribute. He had already lost his first daughter. He wouldn't survive the death of Abby.

"We'll find her, Gibbs," Pride assured him "Abby is strong and she knows how to save her breath."

"This doesn't help her when this guy wants to see her dead. He just has to wait with his riddles. Or he gave me a timeline, which isn't enough to save them all. Or he activates the bomb. There are many possibilities, and I don't like one of them."

"The guys from LA, are already back in the office. We wait until the doctor gives us news about McGee and then we drive back home. You need some sleep before we get the next call."

"I don't even know what sleep is anymore."

"Agent Gibbs?"

The old agents stood up and greeted the doctor. Finally, someone, who would give them some answers.

"How is he?"

"Agent McGee has some bruises and is still unconscious, but he will recover. It looks like he had barely air left. Please, tell me that he was the last one from your team."

Gibbs pressed his lips together. He understood what the doctor wanted to imply. When McGee had run out of air, then Abby wouldn't survive the next day.

"How many are left?"

"A woman is still missing," Pride answered.

"Find her. Fast. Otherwise, I can't say that she will survive this."

Gibbs stood in front of the screen in the squad room. His eyes were fixated on the last video, which was left. The one of his precious Abby. Tired, he rubbed his eyes. He hadn't slept much on their way back home. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Abby's dead body on the ground, and Ducky pulling a white sheet over her. The picture haunted him, so instead of sleeping, he drank lots of coffee.

Now it was 9 am, and they were still waiting for the first riddle.

"You need sleep, brother."

"First we find Abby, then I can think about it."

"How is McGee?"

"Still unconscious, but he will survive. And I want to say the same thing about Abby."

"I'm sure, this guy will call…"

"You don't know anything!" yelled Gibbs.

The lack of sleep made him grumpy, as well as his worries for his surrogated daughter. He knew that Pride meant it well, but right now he wasn't in the mood for a pep talk. He needed this damn riddle!

"I check on the computer geeks."

He left the squad room, without taking another look at the team leader of New Orleans. Gibbs was aware of all the stares from the whole office, but he didn't care. None of them understood him.

He arrived on the upper floor just when Nell opened the door to MTAC.

"Agent Gibbs, I was just about to call you. He is back."

"You're good, Agent Gibbs. You already freed three of your beloved team members. There is only one left, but you're running out of time. Do you think you can save her in time?"

"Just give me the crossword and stop stalling!"

"You are so impatient. Remember, you need me and my little riddles. You better do not insult me, or your little girl will pay the price. Is that what you want?"

Gibbs made a fist, while he tried to stay calm. He would get Abby out of there, and then he would search the whole planet for this bastard.

"No."

"That's what I thought. How is Agent McGee."

"Could be better. Where is my crossword?"

"Where did you find the first riddles?"

Gibbs wanted to strangle this guy really bad. He couldn't wait until he would be face to face with the bastard and would be able to end his miserable life. This guy was stalling. He wanted to let Abby die. The ex-marine left MTAC without ending the call. He needed to solve the last three riddles, then he could save his little girl. He was so close!

The envelope lied on his desk as if it wanted to mock him. Quickly, Gibbs ripped it open to uncover the card inside. Of course, it was a new crossword puzzle. Angry, the silver fox handed the card to Callen.

"Have fun."

Crossword – Quiz Four

/a/F2VNTig

Two hours later, they were still waiting for the next riddle. They knew the last container came from Germany, but they needed the numbers to find the right one. Abby hadn't moved or opened her eyes, and Gibbs didn't like this at all. Was she already dead? What if she died last night, while he saved McGee? No, this bastard wouldn't do this. He would let Abby survive until Gibbs would be almost there to save her. This was the only reason why this guy was stalling.

Suddenly, the prepaid phone rang loud in the quiet squad room. Everyone looked confused at the little device until Gibbs picked it up.

"Gibbs?"

"This time, I will make it short since you will need a lot of time to solve the next three riddles. Go to George's Bowling Center and get ready for a bowling game. Take three other players with you, but make sure that no agents are under your friends. One of you has to score 200 points to get your new destination."

"Wait! Don't tell me I have to do this three times!"

But the shadow man had already hung up. Growling, Gibbs pushed the red button harder than necessary.

"200 points? It takes a while to reach such a score," Deeks said.

"He doesn't want me to take agents with me, but who else could I ask to come with me?"

"There would be me, for example."

Gibbs raised his head in surprise. Vance stood behind Kensi and Deeks.

"You can't do this, Leon."

"Why not?"

"You are the Director of NCIS. If anything happens to you…"

"During a bowling game? The last time I checked, you play this game by rolling the bowl on the floor and not to throw it like a baseball."

"What if…?"

"Stop, we are running out of time. Let's get two other players and get started. I want Miss Sciuto back too."

Gibbs thought about disagreeing, but then he turned back into action. Abby's life was on the line. He had to take every help he could get.

"Alright, I'll take the director and…"

"The autopsy gremlin isn't an agent," Tony suggested.

"Good point. Tell him to meet us at the cars. Then we only have one person left."

"Technically, I'm not an agent either."

Eric and Nell had appeared on the stairs, and the male technician seemed a little nervous.

"And I like Abby. And I'm kind of good at bowling. And…"

"You're in. Get your ass down here, we are leaving," Gibbs said and grabbed the car keys "Tony, what about Palmer?"

"He is on his way. Good luck."

The Bowling Center opened fifteen minutes after they arrived at the parking lot. Gibbs went straight to the owner.

"My name is Special Agent Gibbs, NCIS. Someone must have left an envelope for me."

"Maybe, he left it in this little box over there."

The owner walked them to a bowling alley, which had an 'out of service'-sign on it. A cable connected the terminal with a little box, which stood on the floor and had a digital zero on top.

"We found it this morning. Someone broke in and must have installed it, but until now we couldn't understand why."

"We need to play," Gibbs explained shortly.

"For how long?"

"Until one of us reaches a score of 200."

"This might take you a while. I hope you will pay for the game."

Gibbs was ready to kill the money-loving guy, so, Palmer disarmed the situation.

"That's not a problem. I'll pay. Why don't you start the game, and I pay this gentleman?"

"Good idea, Mr. Palmer," Vance said, "Come on, Gibbs. Let's get this started."

Angry Gibbs grabbed one ball ready to throw it.

"Wait!"

"You can't start yet! We have to enter our names!" yelled Eric.

"Then do it, damn it! And do it fast!"

Eric entered their names with quick fingers, and finally, the display greeted them and wished them good luck.

"You can start, Agent Gibbs."

Gibbs threw the ball, but he used his anger instead of calculating how to roll it. The round item drifted away and crushed one pin on the left side.

"The next one will be better."

Instead of an answer, Eric earned the famous Gibbs' stare.

"I have no time for this bullshit."

The next throw wasn't much better. This time two pins fell, while the rest was mocking Gibbs. This game would take forever!

Finally, Palmer ended the game after an hour with a score of 207 points. Suddenly, the little box on the floor opened and revealed a white card. Gibbs grabbed it and left the center with the players on his heels.

The next bowling hall was the House of Fun. Again they had to score 200 points to open a little box, which revealed their final destination. Gibbs was ready to shot the box as soon as he found out that they needed a score of 300 points for the last card. Vance stopped him before he could destroy the little device.

They needed almost two hours until Eric finished the game, and the box opened. Gibbs gave the technical operator the two other cards, while they walked to the car.

"Send those numbers to your girlfriend, so, they can send the numbers to this bastard!"

"Nell isn't my girlfriend."

Gibbs turned around, and Eric practically crushed into the older agent. Scared he made himself as small as possible.

"But… you don't care. You just want this numbers solved and sent. Got it."

"Do it! Fast!"

"Fast is my middle name."

Before Gibbs could strangle him, Eric jumped inside of the car and called Nell.

Cards:

1.

341 x 3 + 182 : 5 – 53 x 4 + 95 : 7 + 271 – 112 x 7 – 560 : 70 + 279 – 148 x 9 + 471 : 4 + 137,75 x 2 – 521,5 : 3 + 105 – 94 : 4 x 12 – 362 + 37 : 4 – 30,25 : 8 – 4

2.

425 – 165 x 3 : 2 + 56 – 112 x 4 : 8 + 295 – 72 : 3 x 5 + 46 : 2 – 152 x 7 + 22 : 8 – 58 + 369 x 2 : 5 + 167 – 34,1 : 3 – 64 + 15 : 30

3.

278 x 4 + 174 – 286 : 5 + 149 x 2 – 73 + 111 : 8 x 4 + 238 – 44 x 3 : 8 + 28,25 x 4 : 2 – 126 + 62 : 6 – 13 x 3 + 215 – 74 : 3 + 27 : 5 – 23

The ex-marine nipped on his coffee when he exited the elevator. They had stopped for caffeine on their way back, otherwise, Gibbs would have killed Palmer and Eric as soon as they left the car. The two youngsters drove him crazy.

"Boss, I have McGee on the line," Tony said and pointed at his phone "He can hear you, McGee."

"Hey, boss."

"How are you doing?"

"I have been better. I heard Abby is still missing?"

"We find her."

"How much time does she have left?"

"We are close to finding her. What can you tell me about the night you got kidnapped?"

"Not much."

"Start with when you had left headquarters."

McGee sighed, then he told his story:

McGee opened the door of his apartment. He could still smell Delilah's perfume. She had visited him on the weekend, but she had already left on Sunday. McGee missed her, but he knew he couldn't make her stay. She loved her job, just like he did. Maybe he should…

Before the tired agent could finish his thought, someone pushed him forward. He stumbled, then he made contact with the floor. Hissing McGee tried to suppress the pain, but then someone grabbed his hands and pulled them behind his back.

"What the…?"

Angry he tried to lose the hurting grip and fought back. Suddenly, he was free and he used his chance to get up. McGee turned when something hit him hard on the head. The last thing he saw, was his book "Deep Six", which landed on the floor beside him before everything went dark.

"You got hit by your own book?"

Tony tried his best not to laugh, but he already pictured his friend in his apartment, getting hit by the book he had written.

"Stop laughing, Tony. It wasn't funny."

"I'm trying, but… it's hilarious that the idiots took YOUR book to… I mean they could have taken anything, but they choose to take yours."

The senior field agent was lost. He couldn't suppress the laughter anymore. Sadly Gibbs wasn't in the mood for jokes. His hand tingled and he would have smacked his agent if there wouldn't be the head injury.

"Tony, get some fresh air."

"I'm good, boss. I'm working on…"

"Get some fresh air!"

This time, Tony got the message. Immediately, his laughter stopped, and he turned back to serious.

"It won't happen again, boss."

"Continue, McGee."

"Actually, there is not much left…"

Groaning, McGee awoke in a dark room. His head felt as if someone would use it as a drum. He was lying on his back, and his hands and feet were tied.

"What happened?"

Slowly, his memories returned and he remembered the attack in his apartment. Was he still there? Or did they move him? It was difficult to sit upright when you were tied up, but after a few tries, he did it. Then the special agent waited a few minutes until his eyes adjusted to the darkness. There was still not much light. The only light source was the small stripe from under the door. Finally, McGee was able to recognize that he wasn't alone in this room. He saw at least two dark figures, which were lying on the floor as well.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps, which came closer to the door. His kidnappers didn't need to know that he was already awake. It was the best for everyone if he would play unconsciously. The door opened, and the light of a flashlight appeared. McGee tried his best to resist the urge to open his eyes, so, he would see his kidnappers.

"What do you say, Agent Gibbs? Isn't he a part of your team? Or what about her? She is really beautiful. Such nice long blonde hair. She was tough. Fought against me, although she knew she had no chance. But you want to see someone else, right? Well, don't panic. Here she is. Isn't she lovely?"

The kidnapper moved through the room, while he was talking.

"What do you want?"

McGee was shocked when he recognized the voice of his boss. He had to be on the phone with the kidnapper.

"I want you to suffer. I want you to lose everything that is important to you."

"Why?"

"Because you took everything from me! You ruined my life, and now I will ruin yours! But don't worry, I will give you a chance to save your team."

`I highly doubt that,´ the quiet agent thought to himself `He will kill us as soon as he hangs up.´

"How?"

"Oh no, Agent Gibbs. Not now. I will call you again and then I will explain it to you. I promise that you will hear from me again."

"How do I know that my team isn't already dead? They look pretty dead to me."

"Do you have so little trust in me?"

"I don't know you. So why should I?"

"I told you, you know me, but that's a different story. Fine, I will prove you that your team is still alive. Watch closely."

Now that the guy mentioned it, McGee had the feeling that he heard his voice before. But he couldn't tell from where. According to this guy, Gibbs knew him, so, they must have met him on a case. Suddenly, the crime-author heard how someone was making uncomfortable sounds as if the person was hurt. And it sounded like Abby!

"Leave her alone! I believe you!"

"Are you sure? Because I can push harder and…"

"STOP IT!"

This time, McGee couldn't resist. He opened his eyes, but the flashlight was blinding him. He couldn't see anything.

"I think that is enough for today. Expect my next call, Agent Gibbs. I will call soon."

The kidnapper ended the call, then the light moved again. McGee had closed his eyes but apparently, the guy already knew about him.

"Good morning, Agent McGee. I'm afraid your friends are still asleep."

"Who are you?"

"Don't worry. In a few days, this will be over. If your boss is as good as he thinks he is, then maybe you will survive this. Otherwise… well, let's say that NCIS has to hire new people if this goes wrong."

McGee squinted, but the light was turned on his face. He couldn't see anything.

"But now I have to arrange a few things. Good night, Agent McGee."

"Wait…!"

But the flashlight hit his head, and he fell back into unconsciousness.

"Good job, McGee. Now lie back, and let us handle the rest."

"Boss, I was already close to running out of air. Abby doesn't need as much air as I do, but…"

"I'll find her."

"I don't doubt that, but I'm afraid you're maybe…"

"Don't say it, McGee. I'll find her."

Crossword 4 – Solution

/a/p2SCs0k