"Unless absolutely necessary, nobody is to go into Agent Sloane's room. Is that clear?" McGee finished rattling down the plan to capture the second rogue doctor before anyone else died or was severely injured.
The agents scattered, hunkering down and patiently waiting.
Two hours and seventeen minutes later, another alarm blared through the corridor, leading to a frantic scramble past the wretched Agent's room. Perfect. He slipped into the sea of blue scrubs and snuck into the room, scanning his surroundings to ensure that he wasn't followed.
So far so good.
He reached his hand into the pocket, procuring the syringe. He turned to the Agent, and in dismay saw the lack of IV's.
Time was of the essence – there was no time to try and inject this stuff into this Agent. Adrestia would have to make do with his way – the faster, better, more efficient way.
Dropping the syringe onto the ground, he reached for his gun and slowly slid the pillow from under her neck, resting it on top of her face.
He placed the gun over the pillow, reaching for the trigger.
Bang.
Blood pooled onto the ground, and a screech of pain echoed across the room.
A gun cluttered to the ground.
He leans rolls out from under the bed, noticing that the now shot goon was limping out of the door. He was about to fire of another shot into the other leg, when he movement coming down the corridor; one second, the goon is limping upright, and the next he was sprawling across the floor, his arm pinned down by the wheel of Ellie's wheelchair.
Nick walked out, gun poised to carry on shooting, but quickly holstered his weapon when he noticed McGee had the situation under control.
They say never to get to excited, and they should have all stuck to that rule; no sooner than Nick and Ellie had exchanged smiles, and McGee had handed the goon of to hospital security, more alarms blared across the hallway, originating from Sloane's room.
"Agents you need to leave the room now," the doctor commanded, physically leading them out of the doorway and gesturing to the waiting room.
I followed suite but was too worried to have a seat.
"McGee, you'll make a hole in the ground." Director Vance walked in, followed by Kasie and Jimmy.
"Any news on Gibbs or Dr. Sloane?" Jimmy queried, taking a seat next to Nick.
"Gibbs is still out cold from the painkillers, but I have asked the nurse to inform us when he's back with us. Sloane's in surgery again – something about more internal bleeding that the doctor's need to bring under control. There's nothing much we can do for them, but I think I may have a lead on how to Adrestia."
Everyone perked up at that, and I was more ready to bring down Adrestia once and for all.
Adrestia had been driving in circles for the past 30 minutes, impatiently waiting for the phone calls to tell her at least one thing had gone to plan.
🎶She's a Killer Queen / Gunpowder, gelantine🎶
"Is it done?"
"It's done."
"Rendezvous point in ten minutes."
Finally, it was all going to work out.
I ended the call, nodding up at the Director.
"REACT are already en route to the position, you should hurry if you want to make it."
I nodded, and promised the team that come hell or high water, Adrestia would be captured dead or alive today.
Adrestia was punctual, McGee would give her that. She was stubborn too.
It was becoming increasingly clear that Adrestia was planning to go out in a blaze of glory, but he knew that would be too easy of a punishment.
As climbed out of the car and raised her gun upwards, McGee channelled all his anger and aimed.
Adrestia dropped her gun and clenched her bleeding wrist in agony. Borderline callously, McGee twisted both her hands behind her back, cuffing her and handing her off to the REACT commander.
Adrestia was apprehended. All that was needed for some time, time to heal those mortal wounds.
They had been through worse, and there was no doubt that they would get through this too.
* TWO MONTHS LATER *
"Oh… and another one!" Gibbs' fishing trip was going splendid.
After three weeks of his impromptu hospital vacation and a few extra days checking up on Sloane, he needed to get back to something normal, something that he was planning to do.
He loved it. Well, they loved it.
"What's that? Fish number eighty-seven?" Sloane quipped, slowly lowering herself down to a sitting position beside Gibbs.
"I don't know. Haven't exactly been counting." It was true.
"Let me." Jack gestured to the second fishing rod that Gibbs had bought along for her.
He passed it back in silence, and in silence, they sat together. Staring out into the water, fishing together until it turned dark.
"Thank you, Jack. I really needed this."
Jack didn't bother to respond, after all there were much better ways of communicating than words.
One kiss turned into multiple, and a fishing trip turned into the best week of their lives