A/N: hope everyone had a good thanksgiving! Enjoy this chapter.

TOML chp. 16

Gibbs watched the Jeep as the trail of dust behind it got smaller and smaller. When he could no longer see it, He turned and walked back to the beach. He saw Ziva hand Collin off to Ducky and stopped when she came to him. "So, you're not going to do anything more. You, the great Leroy Jethro Gibbs, would stop at only words."

He looked at her for a long moment; long enough to make the hot blooded Israeli squirm. Finally he spoke. "I know hope he thinks." He turned to Franks.

"How soon can we get a flight out?" The NCIS jet had flown back to D.C. the previous day.

"Tomorrow. I'll make some calls." Mike said. He drained his beer and went into the house.

"Where to now, Boss?" McGee asked when he walked up.

"Home."

000

Ten minutes later, Terry pulled off the road and stopped the Jeep. He jumped out and crawled under the car. He found a couple of tracking devices, but that was to be expected. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been allowed to leave. Oh, well. He had his .45 and a head start. And that was all he needed.

000

An hour later, Mike had secured seven first class tickets, because Gibbs told him that the government was paying, so why not travel in style.

"How do you know we'll get there before him, Jethro?" Jen asked as she packed their things.

"I don't, Jen." Gibbs said, racking the slide on his Sig.

But before she could answer, Sam came in, tears streaming down his face. He ran to Jen and she picked him up.

"Sam, what is it? Huh? Tell mommy what's got you all upset."

"Dad…daddy's…gonna kill…bubba." He said, each word followed by a hiccup before he collapsed, sobbing on his mother's chest. Jen hugged her youngest child and whispered soothing words, while giving her husband a 'fix this, now' glare.

Gibbs looked away for perhaps five seconds before going to the bed where his little family sat. "Sam, buddy, I'm not going to kill your brother. I just…" Gibbs sighed.

"I just don't want him to do something he'll regret."

Sam stopped crying and looked at his father. "Promise?"

Gibbs nodded and ruffled his son's hair, eliciting a genuine smile from the boy. "Count on it, buddy."

000

While Gibbs and the director were convincing Sam that Terry's days weren't numbered, McGee and Abby were ripping Mike's already dilapidated house apart, searching for McGee's laptop. "Are you sure you brought it, Tim?" Abby asked for the fifth time.

"Of course. My laptop is like Terry's forty-five. I don't leave home without it."

"You don't leave home without what, McGee?" Ziva asked, coming into the living room. She packed quickly and Collin was following here from room to room. He determined not to let here out of his sight.

"Your husband stole my laptop." McGee snapped without looking up.

"Timothy, I know Terence is a lot of things, but a thief?" Ducky asked. He come into the room and deduced what they were talking about.

Ziva's eyes flashed angrily. "You're accusing my husband of being a thief."

"What's up?" Gibbs asked, coming into the living room. Mike followed, with Jenny and Sam behind him.

"Terry took my laptop, boss." McGee said. For some reason, Tim felt like a child tattling on a friend.

"Allegedly." Ducky interjected on Terry's behalf.

Gibbs, Mike and Jenny took this news in silence, then Gibbs pulled out his cell phone.

000

Terry was heading north on a dirt road, his .45 was on the passenger seat next to him. He'd also taken McGee's laptop, because he needed whatever intelligence it could provide. His cell phone rang and he reached into his pocket and flipped it open. "Yeah, boss?"

Gibbs didn't speak for a minute. "You're not exactly being a team player, Terry."

Terry scoffed. "When have you ever known me to be a team player?"

"Delta wouldn't have put up with this." Gibbs said, his anger growing.

"Delta would have agreed with me. They know how to deal with traitors."

"Wasn't talking about the traitor, Terry."

"Oh, you mean McGee's laptop?" Terry said in mock surprise.

"Well yeah, Terry."

Terry was silent for a minute, then he spoke. "Too bad."

"Terry…" But the only response was a dial tone.

"Anything?" Jen asked.

"His usual BS." Gibbs said and Jen pulled out her cell phone.

"He won't listen, Jen."

"I'm going to see if DHS will close the border."

Mike, who been a silent observer to his friend's plight, actually laughed at this idea.

Gibbs turned, suddenly angry. "Something funny, Mike?"

"You of all people should know you can't stop him. The border to El Norte is like a sieve."

Gibbs took a step toward his former mentor, his eyes hard. "So, what do you suggest, Mike?" The other seven people in the room watched him as well.

"You stop him yourself."

Gibbs raised an eyebrow at that one. "You offering to help?"

Mike thought for a minute. "Sure; why not?"

000

Terry sold the Jeep, its purpose fulfilled. He figured his credit cards were frozen and besides that, Juan only dealt in cash. Terry found the right address and knocked on the door twice, as instructed. "Yeah?"

"I have an appointment." Terry said. The door opened just wide enough for him to enter and he walked in.

"My old friend! You never call me anymore; you are just no fun now that you're married?" a portly balding man of about fifty said. He walked to where Terry was standing and the two men embraced.

Terry grinned, "Well, you know what they say Juan. We all gotta get old sometime."

The older man smiled. "Yes, my friend. Now, what can I do for you?"

"Need a rifle."

"Uh-huh. Assault or sniper?"

"Sniper."

"Nationality?"

"European, preferably soviet block or German."

The arms dealer was already nodding. "I have a Dragunov SVD and a PSG-1. I also have an L961A1. I know its English, but…"

Terry though for a minute, even though he'd already made his decision. "What do you want for the PSG?"

"You save my life and I never repaid you. Let this even my debt."

Terry smiled. "Thanks, Juan."

"No problem." He shouted something in rapid Spanish and seconds later a young man appeared with a large black case. He opened and Terry examined the weapon and nodded. Then he dismantled the gun and put in his duffel.

"Good hunting, my friend." Jaun said, showing him out.

"Thanks." Terry said, and stepped out into the throng. Seconds later, he disappeared.

000

Five minutes later, Juan's cell phone rang once. That was the signal. He went to a small office where eight people waited. Five were agents of the American government. All they wanted was to know when Terry arrived and what he left with. Juan sighed heavily and knocked on the door.

"I gave him a PSG-1." He said, addressing a man his own age, or slightly younger.

"Ammo?"

"Three hundred rounds."

Gibbs nodded. "All right. Did he say how he intended to cross the border?"

"He did not and I did not ask. He is my friend. I only agreed to help you because he is your son."

"Why'd you give him a weapon?" Jenny asked.

Juan looked at her. "Because, he saved my life."

000

Terry hit the ground with a thud and checked his watch. 0100 hours and he was home. Or at least on U. S. soil and that was half the battle. Unless his parents and Ziva got to the traitor first. But…he didn't want to think about that. He started walking north.