AN: Thank you, thank you, thank you for the reviews! Here are two chapters, to show my gratitude!
Gibbs could hear one of the men following him, and quickly darted into the shadows. The man slowed when he realized he had lost sight of him, moving cautiously down the alley. Gibbs waited for the man to step past him before jumping at him. An elbow flew back, knocking the air out of Gibbs, who landed a punch in return. The man was not a marine, and after a few more fists went flying, Gibbs had the man flat on his back, unconscious. Quickly, he secured the man, handcuffing him to a sturdy pipe jutting from the nearby building. He began jogging out of the alley and had just reached the building where McGee was when he heard, "Tony! Duck!" When he heard the gunshots, he darted into the building.
McGee lowered his gun and ran over to the masked man, kicking the gun from his limp grasp. Tim's shot had hit the man square in the chest. He put his fingers on the man's neck, eyes closing for the briefest second when he felt no pulse. Then, he darted over to Tony, panic making his heart race when he saw blood spreading from his shoulder. He would have to stop the bleeding.
He dropped to his knees beside Tony when he heard Gibbs rasp," Get away from him!"
Surprised at the man's appearance and anger, McGee hesitated. "Boss?"
"Now!" Gibbs ordered, dropping down by Tony and putting pressure on DiNozzo's shoulder. Tim stood and backed away from the two men.
"Ziva, call an ambulance. And there's a man in the alleyway you need to pick up."
Tim watched as Gibbs studied Tony then lifted his eyes to scan the room, taking in the computer McGee had already set up before turning his glare to him. "Boss…" The man was angrier than McGee had ever seen him.
Why were they even here? He was sure Vance hadn't told them. Then how did they know? Unless…they must have suspected something and begun to watch after him when he started acting strangely. And if they weren't getting the whole story, were only seeing Tim having a meeting with…questionable characters that were armed, then McGee knew it didn't look good.
Gibbs raised his gun. "Don't move."
The order, given without any inflection, made Tim flinch slightly as he realized the man was beyond angry. Tim's gaze fell on Tony before returning to Gibbs. "Is he-?" He began to ask when Gibbs cut him off.
"Don't you dare ask about him! You don't have the right to!"
McGee felt his shoulders slump. It was his fault, all of it. The mission had failed and Tony was shot. It was all his fault!
"Please, Boss…" He wanted to explain, wanted to apologize, wanted to see if Tony was alright.
Instead, loathing coating his words, Gibbs cut him off once more. "What made you do it, McGee? What made you turn your back on everything you believed in?"
No! Never, Boss! The words he wanted to say remained lodged in his throat when a scuffling sound came from the door. McGee automatically lifted his gun, pointing it at a group of masked men, who were all aiming at them in turn. Anger twisted McGee's stomach when he saw one of the guns pointed straight at DiNozzo's prone form. "No!" One of the masked men took a step towards his dead comrade before he was tugged back.
Tim's grip tightened on the weapon as he heard a chuckle. "You're outnumbered, gentlemen." When neither of the two men moved, he continued to speak. "We only want you, Agent McGee. Come with us willingly and we'll let these two be." He tilted his head to gesture at Gibbs and DiNozzo.
McGee slanted a look at Gibbs, then Tony. "Fine," McGee said, defeat clear in his posture and tone. He lowered his weapon, his gaze once again snagging on Gibbs. He wasn't sure what he was looking for. Worry, hope, support…something. But all he received was a look full of fury, the message clear. You're on your own, Traitor. The masked men pulled McGee from the room and into a waiting van. A rag was forced over his nose, and as he began to pass out, McGee realized he had never felt so hopeless.