A/N: LOT of cliff-hangers, people. Embrace yourselves! It's going to be a fun ride!
She didn't know how long she was out. She didn't even know if she was alive or dead. She breathed heavily, God that bullet hurt. ''It's called a Kate, huh?'' Ingrid talked to herself. She was at the back of a car, or so it seemed, she could see the light from the narrow opening of the trunk. She was being transferred. ''He shot me with a sniper rifle. The thing is, that he didn't shoot me where Ari shot Tony's friend. I owe you Gibbs. You were right to make me wear a bulletproof.'' She knew everything about Kate, Tony told her everything about this painful part of his life. He spoke about Kate with such admiration and love. She and Kate would be best friends now if she was alive. Same with Abby, of course. It's a shame those girls had to die so young. She would hate working with them, it's like every mission is a suicide one. The anxiety of just waiting for at least one of them to come back in one piece and alive would just kill her.
She heard footsteps approaching the back of the car. ''Time to play dead, girl…'' She closed her eyes tight. Saks opened the trunk. ''Hm, you're still warm. Let me take you to your lover.'' She felt the urge to gasp. What did he mean by that? He got Tony? He grabbed her in his arms, her going limp and he closed the trunk. She could open her eyes, but she had to keep them narrow, because he would understand that she was faking. From what it seemed, that place was spacious, but a damp. Maybe used for a junkyard. He held her and got her to the garage, which was as disappointing as the exterior of the place. He kicked the backdoor, which was a room, a room Tony and Abby were being held.
As soon as Tony laid his eyes upon Ingrid, he widened his eyes and clenched his fists, gasping. His emerald eyes shone in the nocturnal embrace that the moon set upon them. Saks flipped the lights on, blinding both Tony and Abby. The darkness made them comfortable now and the light ''killed'' them. Tony felt his life flash in front of his eyes, in bits and pieces. ''Ingrid?! What…?'' Abby gasped, her emerald eyes also shone, maybe because of the tears she let herself roll down her cheek.'' ''That's Ingrid.'' Saks smirked, the lines of his lips, cold, as if he always smirked, as if they were plastered on his face. ''I shot her…'' He took a good look at Abby. ''With a Kate…'' Abby gasped, her gaze deadly, cold, risky…Tony looked at her, in pain. He hated seeing her like that, last time he saw her like that was when she slapped Ziva. The image of her face, of her gaze, pierced in his mind and through his heart. More tears ready to fall down…not because of sadness, but because of rage…maybe remorse…maybe recoil… ''You son of a bitch!'' She was now crying, trying to get her hand out of this torturing chain. A fine line between an innocent woman and a guilty agent…a fine line between the will to kill and the will to torture…a fine line between Abby and Saks. She couldn't get out, she couldn't free herself, and her eyes lay on the ground, defeated. Her heart shattering in front of everyone in the room. The deafening silence allowed the pieces of her heart echo throughout the claustrophobic room, like sharp glass.
All this time Tony was trying to manage his anger, but failed when he saw Ingrid dead, limp, in Saks's arms, when Saks's lips formed the name ''Kate'', when he saw Abby breaking down. ''Saks…'' His voice low, threatening, deadly, dangerous. ''I swear on my life and everything I own and want to own…I…will…kill…you…'' Saks smirked again and threw Ingrid like garbage across the room. She fell, her body lifeless. Tony could not take his eyes off her. Saks grabbed Abby violently from her arms, finally freeing her from the torturing chain that made her suffer all these long night that looked like an eternity for her. ''Are you ready for your execution…'Abs'…?'' He laughed, his voice evil, echoing throughout the room. Tony gritted his teeth, so much that it was maybe heard. ''Not Abby…not her…not again! You bastard…don't you dare!'' Saks smiled. ''I'm shaking in my boots, Sleepnozzo.'' The nicknames he formed were lame and made Tony want to spit on him. Abby kept screaming and crying, her husky voice was now closed due to all those nights she kept screaming her lungs out. Her voice was now distorted, exhausted, and nearly not heard. Her screams were to no avail. He went out dragging Abby and slammed the door behind him, keeping the lights on.
Tony sighed. Ingrid slowly opened her eyes, also blinded by the light. She was comfortable in darkness as well. ''You wouldn't get rid of me that easily.'' She smirked, her voice low, so she wouldn't be heard. He widened his eyes and immediately turned his head to her position. ''Oh my God, baby, you're alive, thank God!'' Ingrid kissed him passionately, their lips both dehydrated, struggling to satisfy their thirst in each other's mouth. She hugged him tight, nearly knocking the life out of him. Her hugs reminded him of Abby's. They were very identical, almost the same. Of course, both women had different warmth. Abby's hugs had the warmth of a best friend's. Someone who would never leave you, someone who loves you way too much and would sacrifice everything for you. Ingrid's hugs had the warmth of a lover's. Full of care, love, promises and vows. Someone who would be there no matter what. Support you in any way they can. He missed their hugs. ''How…?'' She shrugged. ''Team Gibbs insisted on putting on a bulletproof. Plus, Saks used that gun just to create some drama.'' Tony laughed. He felt like he had ages to laugh. Like he forgot how to laugh anymore. ''Thank you, boss.'' They hugged again, Tony savoring her scent, savoring the moment. ''Abby is gorgeous, by the way.'' Tony rolled his eyes. ''Women: The most observative creatures even in most critical situations. How about you get that thing off me and leave the comments for another time, or better yet tell them to Abby so she could hug the living life out of you?'' She shook her head, sadly. ''It needs a key, one that I don't have. But, I could open the door and get to Saks.'' Tony immediately narrowed his eyes and shook his head. ''No way. You get out and you go to Gibbs, ASAP!'' She protested, but he cut her off. ''I can't lose you.'' Ingrid nodded, half-heartedly and gave him a last kiss that left them breathing for air. She approached the door.
It was rusty, plain, old. ''That door is as old as my great-grandmother.'' He blinked, questioningly. ''Your great-grandma is alive?!'' She turned and looked at him, nodding happily. She loved her ma very much. She took out her hair-clips from her messy hair, squatting down and trying to open the door. ''Ah, I remember the old times when I went to the principal's office and changed my grades.'' Tony rolled his eyes. 90% of the population at their age did the same thing exactly. She opened the door with a click sound and she stood up. ''Ingrid…?'' She turned and looked at him. ''I love you…'' Those 3 words sounded like music to her eyes. The strength she needed to keep on going and fight off any evil threatening her knight in shining armor. ''I love you too…'' And with that, she disappeared in the darkness both he and Abby were so familiar with…