Chapter 11

When Gibbs got back to Tall-Tree, it was to be asked by Hancock to join them at the docks in the morning to help unload a large shipment of wood that was due in, the same shipment that Gibbs knew was being tracked.

"What about Vince, sir?" Gibbs asked.

Hancock sighed heavily. "I just got word; Vince was killed in an accident this morning."

"Damn. I'm sorry to hear that. What happened?"

"I don't know," said Hancock. "All I know is that one of his buddies called here, saying Vince had been killed and the cops are investigating. The guy didn't know much beyond that." He looked at Gibbs, who looked back at him with a look of sympathy on his face. "That means I'm gonna be seriously short-handed. I got a lot of wood coming in. I know you're fairly new here but are you willing to put in some over-time? I need all the help I can get right now."

"Of course, sir," said Gibbs. "You just tell me where to go and I'll be there. Is there any special equipment I'll need?"

"Just a pair of good, heavy-duty steel-toe boots and some work gloves," said Hancock. "Out of respect for Vince, I'm closing the store for the rest of the day, but I'll expect to see you down at the docks bright and early."

"Understood, sir," said Gibbs.

Gibbs headed for what was home for Reid, and spent the rest of the day puttering around and watching television. He text Dabi, who assured him she was doing okay, and so were her furry companions. She missed him but understood that this was the way it was with undercover investigations. In fact, she was wondering if she would be better off back in Washington. Gibbs was starting to think so too. He would talk to Hetty about it in the morning, when he met up with the rest of the team for the possible take-down.

In the morning Gibbs met up with Callen, Sam, Kensi, and Deeks, who were gathered at a coffee shop. It had been set up to look like they were just a bunch of buddies meeting up for a quick coffee before heading for work, as all of them were dressed in jeans, work shirts, and even work boots.

"It's all set. Here's your coffee," said Callen, handing Gibbs a cup of coffee and a bag that appeared to have a donut in it but also contained an ear bug for later.

"Thanks, bud; I owe you one," said Gibbs, accepting the coffee and donut.

"We'll be hitting the building pretty hard today so don't be surprised if you hear screaming when it comes down," said Sam. Flash-bangs were going to be used, hence the screaming; they were hell on unprotected ears and eyes.

"I'll be watching," said Gibbs, a smirk on his face.

"When you're ready to go for lunch, give me a yell," said Kensi, coming up to Gibbs and adjusting his shirt collar, planting a tracking bug under it. "We could have some fun later." She gave him a playful smile that Gibbs returned.

"Depends on what Hancock says. He was offering some serious over-time with Vince's death and I need all the money I can get, especially if I'm going to keep up with you," said Gibbs. "I know how you like your toys, but mine needs up-grading and possibly repairs."

"That old junker?" Kensi scoffed. "I'm surprised it still runs."

"I know a buddy who can get you the parts you need. When you're ready, they'll be waiting for you," said Callen. A weapon for Gibbs would be ready for him when it was time to take everyone down.

"Gotcha," said Gibbs. "What about the little one?" What was Dabi up to today?

"She's going shopping with her auntie and then Big Momma's going to send her home," said Sam. Dabi was going shopping with Quinn and then Hetty was going to send Dabi home to Washington, where she would be safer. Or at least that was the theory.

"Sounds like fun," said Gibbs.

Gibbs arrived at the docks and spotted Hancock's truck. He ambled over to the man and nodded. "Morning, sir," he said.

"Reid. Good morning. You ready to work?" Hancock asked.

"Always, sir," said Gibbs.

"Good. The rest of the guys should be joining us shortly."

"What do we have, sir?" Gibbs asked.

"Our company imports wood from a supplier in Europe, which is how we get the kind of wood our clients demand," said Hancock. "We should have at least three cargo containers of wood coming in and we need to get them unloaded and emptied in time for the ship to do a turn-around."

"How fast?"

"We have a maximum of six hours. I should warn you, the containers are jam-packed."

"Sounds like fun to me, sir," said Gibbs.

"Then lets git 'er at 'em," said Hancock, liking Gibbs, or rather Reid, more and more.

Gibbs had been working steadily for an hour on one container when he saw something unusual; crates. He called Hancock over.

"Sir, according to the shipping manifest you showed me, we shouldn't be expecting anything like this," said Gibbs.

Hancock studied the paperwork in front of him, a scowl furrowing his brow. "You're right. Ryan would know about this," he said.

"Where is he?"

"Damned if I know. Son of a bitch ain't answering his phone," Hancock groused.

"That's because LAPD just responded to a drive-by shooting and guess who the victim was?" said Nell over Gibbs' radio.

Gibbs only just managed to keep a straight face. Between him and Hancock, they uncovered three more crates.

"Damned if I know what's going on," muttered Hancock. "Somebody find me a crowbar; this is my cargo and I'm-a gonna have a look inside! If it ain't straight, it's history!"

"I'll go get one, sir," said Gibbs. "And that's your cue," he muttered.

"Converging now," said Callen. "Flash-bangs in five, four, three, two, one... now!"

Gibbs hit the ground and squeezed his eyes shut, slamming his hands over his ears.

It was on, but what no one knew was that at the same time that was going on, so was something else across town.

Dabi and Quinn were coming out of a grocery store, a shopping cart laden with groceries. They were giggling about something when a dark blue van suddenly pulled up in front of them and four men, all dressed in dark clothing, poured out and headed straight for them.

The fight was on. It only stopped when Dabi went limp in one of her attacker's arms, the victim of a tranquilizer injection to her neck. The minute the attackers had Dabi was the minute they stopped fighting with Quinn and tore out of the parking lot, leaving broken eggs, flour, and foaming Pepsi all over the place.

Breathing hard, Quinn got on the phone to Sam. They had a situation, a bad one.

Over at the docks, the take-down was over but the problems were just beginning. During the take-down, six men had emerged and begun shooting at them, with three men from Hancock's store joining in on the fight. All of them were down and Nell was already running faces and names.

"It's a set-up!" Callen said, realization dawning on his face as they stared at the rock and stone-filled crates they had just opened. "There's nothing here!"

"Guys, we've got a big problem," said Eric, panic in his voice.

"Ya think?!" Gibbs shot back.

"Someone accessed Gibbs' personnel file, someone who had legal access to that information, and the tags say it was done shortly after he was hired by Tall-Tree," Eric reported. "That's why we didn't know about the little peek-a-boo."

"Which means they know who he really is," Callen snarled.

"Worse; they know about Dabi," said Eric.

"Hanna!" Gibbs yelled.

But Sam was already on his phone, which had just gone off. "Quinn!" he yelled frantically to his wife. His eyes went wide as he listened to his wife. "What happened? Tell me what happened!" Then, "Oh my god. Baby, are you okay?" He nodded. "I'll let them know. You get somewhere safe, you hear me? We'll get there as quickly as we can, I promise." He hung up and joined up with the rest of the team. "This was a set-up, no two ways about it. Quinn and Dabi were just attacked outside a grocery store. Quinn wasn't seriously hurt, but Dabi was taken and Quinn thinks she may have been the original target."

"Taken where?" Gibbs demanded. "Taken where? By whom?" He was practically shouting, not that anyone could blame him.

"I think you know who," said Callen. "Someone, possibly Omen, found out who you were, and took Dabi as revenge or a way of keeping NCIS and every federal agency off-guard."

"Find out how he found out!" Gibbs yelled.

"Already on it," said Nell soothingly, her fingers already flying across the keyboard. "As soon as I know, you know."

"The whole thing was a set-up," said Deeks. "Had you not had back-up, you would have likely been killed. I think that's what Omen was counting on."

Then Kensi spotted something and a nasty smile came to her face. "But he didn't count on one of his hired hands surviving to tell the tale," she said, ambling over to one heavy-set man who was starting to stir.

It took two hours of heavy pressure, threats, and manipulation to get them a name. During that time, Quinn had joined them in the boathouse.

"Dabi put up one hell of a fight. She used the flour, the eggs, and even a bottle of pop in ways I've never seen," said Quinn. "The only reason she went down was because one of the guys shoved a needle in her neck before throwing it away."

"It's being analyzed now, but preliminary reports suggest it was Thorazine," said Callen. "Anyone would have gone down with that in their system."

"The way that she fought, that's a testament to you, sir, and that tells me that when she wakes up, those bastards are going to have their hands full with her," said Quinn.

Kensi emerged from the boat house interrogation room with a satisfied grin on her face.

"Well?" Gibbs demanded.

"It's a good thing we know someone in Honolulu, Hawaii," she said. "That's where the plane carrying Dabi is supposed to be heading to."

"I'll make the call," said Callen. "You," he said, pointing to Gibbs, "get on the next flight as soon as Eric or Nell can find you one."

"And I," said Hetty, "will get in touch with the Hawaiian governor down there. I do believe he'll appreciate the heads-up."

Coasting quietly through the skies, heading for the first of several stops on the way to the Hawaiian islands...

Dabi moaned softly but didn't wake up. She had been placed on one of the beds on the small, private jet and cuffed.

Omen stared at her, coldness in his eyes. NCIS had crossed him again and this time, someone was going to pay, even if that meant a pretty young thing like Dabi Moore-Gibbs was the price to be paid. Once he got her to the Islands, she would be turned over to one of his contacts, where she would vanish into the sex slave trade industry.

A pity. She was quite attractive. According to what he had been told, she was also quite the fighter. He liked that. Maybe he might break her himself before turning her over.

Maybe.

To be continued...