AN: Here's the next chapter. Its a little shorter than some of the others but I wanted to get something out. Also, I really don't want to rush the ending so hopefully this isn't getting too draggy. Thanks so much for reading and a special thanks to those of you who have been reviewing. It really means a lot :)

*****

"So, what do you think?" Ziva asked McGee who immediately started pecking away at his keyboard again.

"First thing is to find exactly where this place is and see if we can see the layout. Maybe we can get an idea of what we're dealing with."

"He said its an old, deserted farmhouse," DiNozzo Sr. interjected.

"Why don't we just head up there early and scout around?" Ziva asked.

Tim shook his head. "We can't. For all we know, they're already up there. If they see us, there's no telling what they'll do."

"But they might not be up there. And even if they are, can't we just take them by the element of surprise?" Ziva was anxious to move on this. The longer they stayed stagnant, doing nothing, the worse Gibbs' and Tony's chances were.

"I've got a satellite picture," Tim said as he zoomed in on the property. "There's a farmhouse and an old barn."

Ziva leaned over McGee's shoulder to look at the picture on his screen. "That is a perfect setup for an ambush. We will not be able to drive right up to it. They would see us long before we arrived."

"Yeah, we'd be sitting ducks," McGee agreed. "We're going to have to get a team together to go with us. There are a lot of woods surrounding the farm which is in our favor. We'll park some distance away and hike in."

"And I will accompany you as well."

Ziva and McGee turned their heads in the direction of Ducky's voice. "I don't think that's a really good idea, Ducky," McGee said as he met the older gentleman's gaze. "There could be some rough terrain, not to mention we don't know what kind of danger we're walking into."

"You're not implying that I'm incapable of doing a bit of hiking in the woods, Timothy, are you?" Ducky asked.

"N...no...no of course not," Tim stammered, "Its just that..."

Because, that would be a gross miscalculation on your part."

"But, Ducky..."

"Timothy, you saw Anthony's condition on that surveillance footage," Ducky stated. "The sooner he gets some form of medical attention, the better off he will be."

Tim nodded. That was a valid point he couldn't argue with. Tony definitely needed help. Tim didn't want to be responsible for Tony not getting it as quickly as he could. "Fine, Ducky. Just be careful and you're going to have to follow orders out there."

"I will be your most faithful follower, my boy," Ducky said with a satisfied smile. Not only was he worried about Anthony, but Jethro as well. He was eager to get to their sides and offer what help he could.

*****

Gibbs sighed as he pulled Tony into his arms. He was shivering again. Gibbs cursed himself for not having thought to bring the blanket from the cabin. Tony had been so hot that it hadn't even entered his mind. God only knew where they were being brought to now. Tony moaned softly as the van hit another bump. Sam was driving and Gibbs swore the man was deliberately hitting them just to stick it to Tony a little more. "It's okay, Tony," he said softly.

"So cold, boss," Tony murmured. He broke into another fit of coughing and wrapped his arms around his ribs to guard against the pain shooting through them.

"I know you are...I'm sorry I didn't bring the blanket."

"It's okay." Tony tried to keep his teeth from chattering and burrowed himself tighter against Gibbs. He no longer had any qualms about doing so. If he had ever had any doubts about how Gibbs felt about him, they had been cast aside over the past couple of days. It was obvious the man cared for him very much. For Tony, Gibbs was the father he had never had. His eyes closed and he had just about fallen asleep again wen the van came to a screeching halt. Gibbs instinctively tightened his arms around Tony, keeping the younger man from being thrown.

After less than a minute, the doors to the van were thrown open and Sam stuck his smirking face inside. "Here we are boys...Your final destination. Do you need help with pretty boy?" he asked Gibbs.

"No, we're fine," Gibbs replied testily. He helped Tony slide across the floor to the edge of the van.

"I...I can walk, boss," Tony said.

"You sure?" Gibbs eyed the young man skeptically. He just looked so ill and his exhaustion was very apparent.

Tony nodded and covered his mouth as he was once again overcome with harsh coughing. "I...I'm sure, boss." He struggled to catch his breath as the coughing ended.

"Let's go," Sheldon ordered. He had been silently observing the interplay between the two agents. At this point, he was very ready for all of this to just be over. Although DiNozzo had irritated him at the beginning, he bore no real ill will against the men they were holding hostage and did not plan to harm them. All he wanted was to get out of Dodge with the money.

Gibbs supported Tony as they walked towards an old farmhouse. He scanned the area with his eyes, trying to glean as much information as he could, but was distracted as Tony stumbled and Gibbs moved to keep the agent on his feet. "I've got ya, DiNozzo."

Tony slumped hard against Gibbs, fast losing his strength. He was just about dead on his feet by the time they entered the farmhouse.

"Get over there against the wall." Sheldon pointed to the part of the room where he wanted the agents to go.

Gibbs half dragged, half carried Tony for the final few feet. "You did good, DiNozzo. I'm proud of you," Gibbs said as he leaned Tony against the wall and the younger man slid bonelessly to the floor. Gibbs sat down next to him and watched as Sheldon approached, carrying the handcuffs once again. Sheldon then bent down and cuffed Tony's wrist to the bottom to the radiator next to him.

"Why are you doing that?" Gibbs asked peevishly. "He isn't going anywhere."

"And I'm just making sure you stay put as well," Sheldon replied. He had seen the way Gibbs watched over DiNozzo, like a mama bear protecting her cub. He knew there was no way Gibbs would try to escape if he had to leave DiNozzo behind. He preferred to leave Gibbs with his hands free so that he was able to tend to DiNozzo. For the most part, the older agent was able to keep DiNozzo calm and that was what Sheldon needed, now that things were coming to a head

"It's not like I can go running off with him as sick as he is," Gibbs mumbled under his breath. Gibbs supposed he should be grateful that Sheldon hadn't cuffed him as well, but it still irked him to see Tony cuffed, even though the younger agent didn't seem to have noticed. His eyes were closed and he looked pretty out of it again.

Sheldon easily overheard what Gibbs said, but decided to pretend he hadn't. Instead, he walked over to where Pete was keeping watch by the front window. He needed to tell him about the reduction in ransom. Hopefully, he would take the news better than Sam had,

"Tony? Can you hear me?" Gibbs whispered. Tony didn't respond and Gibbs knew he was asleep. He didn't try to rouse him. He knew that sleep was the best thing for him right now, until he was able to get to a hospital.

*****

Sam shook his head in disgust as Sheldon cuffed DiNozzo to the radiator, leaving Gibbs free. If it was up to him, they'd both be bound so tightly, neither would be able to move a muscle. Sheldon wasn't what Sam had thought he was when he had at first formulated his plan to hold DiNozzo for ransom. Sam had admired the idea and thought Sheldon had balls to double cross Bellingham, but the more he saw him in action, the more he was of the opinion that he was an oversized pansy. The only reason he had even shot Bellingham was to prevent him from killing DiNozzo. Sam was also still furious about the ransom. Sheldon had informed him during the drive that DiNozzo Sr. had only come up with six million... a far cry from the 15 million they thought they were getting. From what he gathered, Sheldon had just accepted what DiNozzo Sr. said on face value. He hadn't even tried to call what might have been a bluff. The dumb ox probably could have gotten more and didn't even know it.

He looked around the farmhouse and was not impressed with what he saw. It was pretty much a dump. What furniture he saw was in shambles. Crumpled up pieces of paper littered the floor along with cigarette butts and other assorted trash. He wandered into the kitchen and just saw more of the same. He couldn't help wondering how Sheldon had even discovered this place. He was just about to head back into the living room when something in a corner of the kitchen caught his attention. When he saw what it was, he smiled with malicious glee. Contrary to Sheldon's wishes, he fully intended to blow DiNozzo and Gibbs away before this whole thing was over. He had figured on shooting DiNozzo execution style in front of Gibbs and then shooting Gibbs as well. This could be better though. He picked up the can, just to make sure it was full and nodded in satisfaction when he discovered that it was. Kerosene...the perfect ingredient to allow the two agents to leave this world in a spectacular blaze of glory...