Hi folks!

Sorry for the delay, hopefully this chapter was worth the wait. As always, thanks so much for all the reviews and favorites, follows, etc. You guys rock!

-Moki

Chapter Five

…and then all hell broke loose.

"Boss, I got it!" McGee held up the cell phone, immediately typing in keys to see the last number dialed.

"Looks like yours was the last number she called, Boss," McGee said as the team leader came up, Tony and Ziva right behind him.

"What about before?" Gibbs asked.

McGee was already pressing more keys, frowning as he squinted at the screen. "Looks like all other calls in and out, for at least a week, have been just friends. All of them are in her contact book, Boss."

"Time to go to the cabin, Boss?" Tony asked.

"Time to go to the cabin," Gibbs confirmed.

Tony, McGee and Ziva turned to the car but Gibbs paused, looking around the area where they'd been searching. The cell phone had been tossed out into the brush by the side of the road, nowhere near anything that would give someone a clue as to where Dina had gone. She must have done it on purpose to hide her tracks, but Gibbs couldn't help but to think that she may have been trying to tell him something.

Walking closer to the edge of the clearing, Gibbs noticed that the ground dropped away, giving him a view of a small valley below. Stepping up the edge, Gibbs looked down and saw something that made him smile.

"Hey!" Gibbs called out, causing his team to stop and look at him questioningly. "Stay here, do a thorough search. Back in ten," he ordered, trotting up to the car and starting the engine.

Ten minutes later, the team had searched behind every bush and every cactus, coming up with nothing more than the cell phone they'd found originally. As if on cue, Gibbs returned just as they were ready to give up.

"C'mon," Gibbs said, waving them back to the car. "Let's go."

Gibbs drove for a few minutes in silence and just before anyone could come up with the nerve to ask the team leader where he'd been, he pulled off into a small dirt parking lot.

"Horses?" Ziva asked in surprise as they got out of the car, noticing the large sign on the side of what appeared to be a barn.

Guided Trail Rides – Horses For Rent

"Didn't think we were gonna fly up there, did ya?" Gibbs asked with a grin, opening the trunk and reaching inside for his bag, then stepping aside as everyone else followed suit. Per Gibbs' instructions back in DC, everyone had packed lightly and included a sleeping bag with their gear.

"Made a call to Sheriff Boyd and he got them to give us a few horses with no guide. Ready for another ride, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked as he led the group into the nearest building where four horses were standing saddled and ready to go.

Tony grinned obligingly, letting the boss enjoy his joke. As soon as the man's back was turned, the Senior Field Agent relaxes his features, adopting a more pensive look as he spied the animals.

He and Gibbs had worked on a theory with the team before they'd left home. They all figured they were working with a wacked-out fan of the woman's art. It didn't mean that Dina was in any less danger, but dealing with a crazy fan and dealing with a highly trained assassin (as they had the last time they'd saved her life, just a couple weeks before), were two totally different things. Gibbs and his team had training and years of experience on their side. A nutcase didn't.

Tony had hoped that a crazy fan would mean that maybe they could take care of it in town, without the need to track down Dina at her remote cabin. Now there was no other option but to ride out there and find her.

It wasn't that Tony disliked the idea of riding, although truthfully he'd prefer it if he weren't still feeling like crap. No, what Tony didn't like was the idea that he was going to have to lie to his boss again and pretend he hadn't been riding since he could walk.

Tony usually never mentioned his experience with horses (unless it was to impress a pretty girl), too afraid of the ridicule that would come his way. Admitting that you competed in dressage and showjumping when you were a kid just didn't seem like a good idea. A sport where the Olympians competed in tight pants and dress jackets, or worse yet, topcoats and tails? Yeah, right. He'd never hear the end of it from Probie.

There was another reason too, one that he didn't like to think about too much. Admitting that he used to ride would entail discussing his childhood, bringing up memories Tony fought hard to forget.

Before Tony could ponder his problem any further a man approached, coming out from behind a horse he'd apparently just finished saddling. He was so western he almost looked like a caricature of a cowboy; big hat, boots and a belt buckle the size of a dinner plate.

"Mr. Gibbs, is this your group? Well you weren't kidding, were you? I sure hope these city slickers can handle a couple days on the range. Now I've got each geared up with feed in case the grass is sparse and here's a map with all the watering holes around for miles," he handed a folded piece of paper to Gibbs, then held up a finger. "Now Sheriff Boyd says you know what you're doing and I trust him, but I expect all my horses to come back in the same condition they left my barn, ya hear?"

Gibbs nodded, shaking the man's hand. "It's a deal, Jake."

As Jake started helping everyone put their packs and sleeping bags onto the backs of their mount's saddles, Tony managed to get Gibbs alone for a few seconds and raised an eyebrow enquiringly. "Your 'group', Gibbs?"

"Had to tell him I was a private guide who needed some horses. Seems 'mine' came down with strangles, a highly contagious but not deadly disease. Had to call Boyd to back me up."

"How is he?" Tony asked. Boyd had taken a bullet to the gut when he and Gibbs had been there a couple weeks ago. The bounty hunter after Dina managed to clip the old lawman before Gibbs shot the guy out of the sky, sending him and his helicopter crashing into the desert.

"Back at home, pretty much recovered but not enough to ride. Told him we were fine on our own."

Tony nodded and Gibbs headed towards his horse, pulling on straps and checking to make sure everything was secure.

"Gonna get my stuff packed then I'll be over to help you with yours, DiNozzo."

Tony mumbled something, not really answering, glad that Gibbs was too preoccupied to notice.

He had already managed to fool the boss once. This time Tony wasn't sure if he could pull it off again.

It had been easy, that first time, to pretend that he hadn't ridden a day in his life. He'd stepped into the role of the "greenhorn" as easily as he did any other role he took when going undercover. In fact, Tony's skills as an undercover agent that had helped him sell it. The discomfort and painful backside? Check. No problem since he hadn't been on a horse in years. Sore muscles were easy to fake when you didn't have to fake them at all. Not knowing how to saddle a horse? Check. After all he'd never used a western saddle in his life, having only ridden in the much more elegant (at least to his mother) english and dressage versions.

His mother had taken her role as a New England well-to-do socialite very seriously. Even going so far as dressing her little boy up in outfits that she thought befit the role. The only trouble was that she'd come from a lowly family herself and the images she had were ones that she'd seen in movies or read in old books. She had no way to know that sailor's outfits for boys had gone out with the invention of motorized vehicles.

The lifestyle she had in mind had to include all the finer things in life and of course riding lessons for her precious boy were high on the list. Considering how much she had enjoyed seeing him in various costumes, Tony was still unsure to this day whether or not the riding lessons foisted upon him had been mostly about the outfits and not much else.

As soon as little Anthony had had enough training to go into small local competitions, Mother had gone out of her way to pick out the finest in riding habits. Hacking jackets in every color (brown, black, navy, even some plaids), the finest breeches, well made tall boots. While most children may have ridden in short ankle boots, they just wouldn't do for little Anthony DiNozzo. He even had a couple of helmets, not just the normal black, but also dark blue and brown – to match his wardrobe. To be honest, it had been downright embarrassing, even at the tender age of eight.

At one point little Tony had tried to talk his mother into letting him try polo instead. While she agreed that it was an appropriate sport for people of their status, she was still against it. Citing it as "much too dangerous for my precious boy" she had quickly stomped out that idea. Tony had been disappointed. Polo was so much more cooler (at least to his friends at school) than the more gentle dressage and showjumping, but once Mother's mind was made up, that's all there was to it.

Faking the unfamiliarity with the terrain and camping had been even easier. Taking riding lessons in covered arenas and competing in horse shows was a far cry from days and nights spent out on the range. That had been yet another reason why Tony had kept his previous experience to himself. How could he tell his boss, a man who Tony knew was the epitome of a cowboy, that he'd only ridden in proper attire under direct instruction? True he may have mastered a jump course by the age of six and a dressage test by the age of eight, but would Gibbs really find it all that impressive?

When they'd been out there before with just Gibbs, Boyd and himself, acting the newbie hadn't been hard at all. Boyd especially had bought his act - hook line and sinker. But now McGee and Ziva were along too and neither of them could ride (judging by McGee's attempt to mount from the wrong side and Ziva's innocent question about where the "button" was to stop the animal). Gibbs was going to have his hands full dealing with those two and there was every chance that Tony might have to step in and help.

Still, Tony decided to stay quiet. If the need arose, he'd help. Otherwise he'd just keep his own horse under control and slide into the background, allowing Gibbs to keep an eye out on his other two agents.

Better to play dumb for now, Tony thought, taking the horse's reins Jake offered to him when they were ready. Surreptitiously he checked the horse's gear, ensuring that all was well before sliding himself easily into the saddle.

"Alright, let's move it out people. We've got a lot of ground to cover to get to our campsite by nightfall," Gibbs called out, waving his team to follow behind.

Knowing that it would be best to keep the two actual newbies in the middle, Tony made a big show of not being able to get his horse turned straight. Letting McGee and Ziva file in behind Gibbs first, he slid his mount into the back of the group so he could keep a surreptitious eye on them. Within a few minutes Tony's only thoughts were on the horse under him, enjoying the relaxation of the gentle rocking motion of the animal's walk.

"I do no understand why this animal will not do what I ask. I keep saying to turn right but it wants to go left," Ziva's complaint made its way back to Tony's ears and he chuckled quietly, waiting to see what Gibbs would say to that.

It was McGee who spoke up first.

"Ziva, its not a car with a voice-activated system installed. You gotta use the reins."

McGee attempted to demonstrate his prowess, but only succeeded in making his own mount spin around in confusion. Before the boss could turn around to see what had gone wrong, Tony nudged his horse's nose up into McGee's horse's tail to turn the other animal straight onto the trail.

"Ziva, I thought you said that your uncle raised Arabians." Tony said, getting everyone's attention off of the maneuver he just performed. He noticed Gibbs taking a quick glance over his shoulder to check on them before turning his attention back on the trail.

"He does. I never said I rode any of them," she replied with a slight smile over her shoulder at him.

"McGee, what about you? You been on a horse before?"

"Oh sure I've been on a horse before…..uh when I was ten years old at summer camp."

At the front of the line, Gibbs rolled his eyes.

Great, now I've got THREE greenhorns this time.

Once they'd been on the trail for a while, Tony spoke up from the back of the line.

"Hey Boss? What are our horse's names? I feel kinda funny calling this one 'Timmy' all the time and frankly I think he's starting to resent it…..the horse I mean."

"Real funny, DiNozzo."

"Didn't ask, DiNozzo." McGee and Gibbs replied in the same breath.

"Oh….well how about we name them then? You know, just for kicks," he didn't wait for an answer, looking up at the sky and squishing up his face in concentration.

Ziva and McGee rolled their eyes, but up front Gibbs' mouth twitched with a slight smile.

"Okay I got it. Gibbs, I think your horse should be called Ahab for obvious reasons."

"And what reasons would those be, Tony?" Gibbs couldn't help to goad his agent a little bit.

Tony cleared his throat. "Uh….anyway, moving on. Probie, I think we're gonna call your horse Gandalf the Grey cuz he's grey and, well, you're a big Lord of the Rings geek."

McGee snorted. Privately he got a kick out of the name and surreptitiously reach forward to pat his horse's neck with a whispered "good boy Gandalf".

"What about mine Tony?" Ziva asked.

"Ah yes, our fair maiden must have a name for her mount that befits her personality…..so how about Bowie? As in your favorite weapon?"

Ziva laughed out loud. "I think that will work perfectly," she said, giving her own mount a pat on the neck.

"And yours, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked, waiting for the inevitable tv show or movie reference that was sure to follow.

"Mine? Well my mount is gonna be called after the great John Wayne in the completely amazing and awesome film called 'She Wore A Yellow Ribbon'. Ladies…well I guess that would be 'Lady' since there's only one of you Ziva…and gentlemen, I give you……Brittles!"

Once again Ziva laughed, while McGee and Gibbs simply smiled and nodded their approval.

"I think that actually works, Tony," McGee said.

They rode on in companionable silence, each enjoying the outdoors and the brief respite to the normally hectic pace of the life of an NCIS agent. None of them knew what awaited them when they reached Dina's cabin but experience had taught them all to appreciate the quiet moments when they came, however briefly.

Taking a deep breath, Tony closed his eyes and once again let the rocking motion of the horse sooth him. He ignored the slight pain in his chest, writing it off as yet another residual symptom from the flu (aka TFTWNQ). Sure that the fresh air must be doing him some good, he even ignored slight cough that came at the tail end of his exhalation.

For the moment everything was perfect.

…and then all hell broke loose.