"What do we do now, Gibbs?" asked Kate as she gazed at the empty cage.
"We track him," said Gibbs.
"Track him?" asked Kate. "You mean, like …"
"Like tracking him," said Gibbs impatiently. "Like I used to be paid to do."
"Oh," said Kate. "Oh." She tried to feel relieved that tracking wasn't a skill that she was supposed to have picked up at FLETC.
"Gibbs is a real life Daniel Boone," said Fornell in a stage whisper designed to be heard. He beamed at a scowling Gibbs. "Come on, Jethro," he said, "Admit it. You've been waiting years to do this!"
"Come on," said Gibbs, "We're wasting time. We'll be losing the light soon."
"Do people really say that?" asked Kate but she realised she had lost her audience. "Shouldn't we at least tell the local police that Tony's out … there … somewhere?"
"Yeah, do that," said Gibbs over his shoulder but he was already scanning the ground for clues where Tony had gone.
Kate sighed as she saw the blood trail. Somehow, she thought even she would be able to manage that part. She had to admit, however, that she was more impressed by Gibbs' skills when he found where Tony had climbed the gate and had then trekked off into the forest.
"Why didn't he just make for the road?" she asked as she pointed towards the gate.
"Well, I don't know, Agent Todd," said Gibbs brusquely, "Maybe you'll be able to ask him one day. Assuming you leave me in peace to do my job!"
Kate nodded penitently and fell back to join the others. It took a while but Gibbs finally found the fallen tree where Tony had spent his first night.
"Uh, Gibbs," said Tim, "Is it me, or does it seem that Tony isn't walking too well?"
"We found his shoes in the park, Tim," said Gibbs, "How well do you walk barefoot?"
"Oh, I forgot," said Tim.
"And it's been raining pretty much nonstop," added Fornell, "I don't think he's had much shelter since he ended up here. He might not be feeling too good."
Kate decided not to mention her fears that Tony hadn't been fed since his abduction. Somehow she felt that the mood of optimism that had prevailed since they found Tony had been fit enough to escape was beginning to dissipate.
Unlike Tony, his searchers didn't stay for hours under the tree but soon picked up his tracks again. It was still several hours, however, of walking beside the river before they reached the end of the trail.
"He walked towards that track," said Gibbs pointing away from the water. "Stay here. I don't want anyone trampling over the ground."
The others watched respectfully as Gibbs quartered the earth looking for clues. McGee began to wonder if he could get Gibbs to come and talk to his Webelos kids, some of whom were about to start working for their Mammal Study merit badge and who would find it useful to have help in looking for signs of animals in the wild.
"There was a vehicle here, something long and heavy. Probably a truck or something," announced Gibbs after a few minutes of investigation.
"You think he got in it?" asked Kate.
Gibbs glared at her as if she was winning the prize for obvious questions. "Either that or he sprouted wings and flew away," he snapped.
"You don't think it was another kidnapper, do you?" asked Tim anxiously, "You know, an accomplice? Who caught up with Tony?"
"Don't know," said Gibbs. "We'll head back to the zoo. Get our gear and make a plaster cast of the wheel marks. Abby might be able to identify what sort of truck it is."
"And if she can't?" asked Kate.
"Then we're back where we started," said Fornell. "Not knowing where DiNozzo is."
"Perhaps someone came by and helped him," said McGee optimistically.
"Yeah, sure," said Gibbs sarcastically, "Because that's the sort of luck we have."
"We'd know by now," said Fornell pointed out more gently. "If someone had been a Good Samaritan they'd have informed someone by now."
"Oh," acknowledged Tim sadly.
"Come on," said Gibbs. "Let's go."
NCISNCIS
"Excuse me," came a gentle voice, "But what are you doing in my truck?"
Tony looked up blearily, trying to focus eyes and ears on what was happening.
"Ducky?" he asked.
"No," came the same gentle voice.
"Oh," said Tony, "Because you sound like Ducky."
"Who's Ducky?"
"Our Medical Examiner," said Tony.
"Then I can most definitely say that I'm not Ducky. May I repeat my question? What are you doing in my truck?"
For answer, Tony coughed.
"Do you think you might be more comfortable if you came and sat in the cab?" asked the driver, "I think it may be warmer there. You can tell me the story there."
Tony nodded as he continued to try and process what was happening. Somehow, however, the gentle tones of the unknown man who sounded so much like Ducky were reassuring.
"Let me help you?"
Tony accepted the outstretched hand and tried not to be embarrassed by the fact that he was being helped by someone at least twenty years older than him.
"If I may say so," said his new companion, "You are not very adequately clothed for the weather conditions."
Tony looked at his sparsely clothed body and couldn't but agree. "It's a long story," he said as he settled himself in the passenger seat of the cab.
"Would you like this blanket to wrap yourself in?" the driver asked.
Tony thought the blanket was the best thing he had seen in days but he had a caveat. "I'm a bit dirty," he said.
He simply got a shrug in response, "Washing machines are one of the most marvellous things ever invented. I believe in using them. Go ahead, you won't do any lasting harm."
Tony nodded gratefully and wrapped the blanket around him. He was even more grateful when the driver turned the heat up.
"My name's Tony," he said. "I'm a federal agent and for some reason which I don't understand, I was abducted a few days ago …" His stomach chose that moment to complain. Tony winced, "I don't think I've had anything to eat since then."
"Dear me," came the placid response, "I have some soup here. Would you like some?"
Tony began to wonder if he was still asleep and dreaming of someone who could grant his every wish. "That would be great," he said hoping that the soup would arrive before he woke up and discovered this was indeed a dream.
"Here you are," his new friend handed him a mug filled with something warm and savoury.
"Where am I?" asked Tony as he found the soup beginning to work some sort of magic on him.
"In my truck."
"I mean, where's your truck?"
"At the moment we're on the 1-70 East just short of Hagerstown. We're stopped because I thought my engine was playing up but then I realised it was the sound of someone coughing that I could hear."
"I thought I was in a forest," said Tony worriedly, "I'm sure there were tree things."
"I'm guessing you're not one for nature then?" asked his companion with a smile. "Don't worry, I think you climbed into the back of my truck when I was stopped in the Allegheny Forest."
"Allegheny Forest?" asked Tony. "That's Pennsylvania, isn't it?"
"That's right. You mean you really didn't know where you were?"
"All I knew was that I was out running near my home in DC and the next thing I knew I woke up in an abandoned zoo … somewhere. With a seriously sinister prison guard," said Tony.
"How did you get away?"
"I was left on my own. And I work for NCIS, I can do things like that."
"You don't look too good on it if you don't mind me saying so. I should get you to a hospital."
"No!" said Tony. "No. I feel as if I'm nearly home. I'm probably going to end up in a hospital but I'd rather be in one in DC. Nearer to home."
"Are you sure? As I said, you don't look good. And you've been bleeding."
"I'm fine," said Tony. "Or at least I will be. I just need a shower and some food …" His companion raised a sceptical eyebrow "… and some medicine and some sleep," continued Tony.
"I think you're an optimist but I suppose another hour and a half into Washington won't matter too much."
"I should phone my wife," said Tony, "Let her know that I'm all right … I mean, safe."
"I'm sorry. I don't have a cell phone. But I'm sure we will pass a phone on our way. You can phone then."
Tony nodded, he was already tiring from the burst of recent activity.
"My name is Lysander by the way," said the other man, "Lysander Brocklehurst."
Tony mumbled something.
"I'm sorry. I didn't quite catch that," said Lysander.
Tony sang a little louder,
Some talk of Alexander,
And some of Hercules
Of Hector and Lysander,
And such great names as these.
But of all the world's great heroes,
There's none that can compare
With a tow, row, row, row, row, row,
To the British Grenadier.
"Good Lord," said Lysander, "I haven't heard that in years. Where did you learn that?"
Tony was nearly asleep but managed to say, "Great Uncle Clive. Clive Paddington. He was British – like you. He taught us that song. He was in the Grenadier Guards … he …" but Lysander didn't find out what Great Uncle Clive was as his passenger had fallen asleep.
NCISNCIS
Tilly DiNozzo had reluctantly gone to bed. Her parents could testify to her poor record of sleeping through the night but it had got even worse without Tony being around. Faith had tried to keep things as normal as possible but Tilly knew that something was wrong and wouldn't settle.
Faith was hoping that Gibbs and the rest of the team would have good news soon. Gibbs had called to let her know that they had found where Tony had been held but that Tony had seemed to have escaped. She was trying to hold on to that as positive news but there was no getting away from the fact that nobody seemed to know where her husband was. She got up to throw away her umpteenth undrunk cup of coffee but was interrupted by the doorbell ringing.
A mixture of dread and hope swept over her as she went to open the door. Both feelings faded when she saw a man in late middle age standing on the step.
"Faith?" he asked.
"Yes?" she said warily.
"Faith Paddington?" he pressed.
"No," she said, "Faith Coleman."
"Ah," he said, "I must have got it wrong. When Tony said his great uncle was Clive Paddington I assumed that was his surname."
"You know my husband?" asked Faith.
"Indeed. I have him in my truck," said Lysander. Faith peered past him and saw a truck parked at the bottom of the drive. "He is a little weary. I think I need some help in getting him into the house."
Faith stared at Lysander in shock and disbelief and then pushed past him to run down to where the truck was parked.
"Tony!" she shouted.
A few minutes later, Lysander and Faith had managed to get Tony out of the truck and on to the sofa in the living room.
"I had intended taking him to hospital," explained Lysander, "But he woke up as we drove into DC and realised that we were nearly here. He insisted on coming home first. We meant to phone ahead but Tony was asleep by the time we reached a phone and I realised I had very little information to pass on to any authorities. I do apologise for lengthening your period of anxiety."
Faith hadn't stopped smiling since Tony had staggered into their home and didn't really listen to any explanations.
"I'm fine," said Tony. "Just glad to be home again."
"You look awful," said Faith, cupping his face with in her hands.
"You don't look too good yourself," said Tony gazing into her eyes.
"Imagine that," said Faith. "I can't think why!"
Tony smiled again. "I was in a zoo, you know," he said.
"I know. Gibbs and the others found the place," said Faith.
"They did?" asked Tony. "I must have trained them well."
"Gibbs tracked you through the forest," said Faith.
"He did? That's very wildernessy of him," said Tony tiredly.
"It's so good to have you back," said Faith.
Lysander coughed politely. "It's none of my business, of course but I understand that people have been looking for your husband. Perhaps it would be a good idea to let someone know that Mr Coleman has turned up?"
"Not Coleman," said Faith, "DiNozzo."
"Oh," said Lysander. "So many names. But, still …"
"You're right," said Faith returning to her normal efficiency. "I'll call the Director. And then we'll get you to hospital, my love."
"No hospital," said Tony. "I'm fine. I just need some rest. And a bath."
Faith opened her mouth to protest but Lysander got there first. "Why not call a doctor?" he suggested. "I think Tony may be right and being at home could be the thing he needs most. He seemed to improve once he was in the warm and dry …"
"Call Ducky," said Tony. "Please? You know he'll love it. And I promise that I'll go if he says I need to. But for now, I just want to sit here … and picture Gibbs doing his Daniel Boone impression."
Faith nodded reluctantly and went off to make the phone calls.
"I haven't said thank you," said Tony to Lysander. "You rescued me."
"You rescued yourself," said Lysander, "I haven't had a stowaway for years."
"But you didn't throw me out of the truck," said Tony, "Lots of people would have. And you drove me all the way here. And gave me a blanket – which I will get laundered for you. And that soup … and everything."
"Nonsense," said Lysander, "You gave me an adventure. And it was a pleasure to hear that song again. I fear my school friends used to use it to tease me but it did bring back happy memories!"
"Dada!" came a voice from the doorway. Tilly had lived up to her reputation for not sleeping through the night. "Dada!" she walked to the sofa as quickly as she could.
"Hello, my darling," said Tony, sweeping her into his arms. "I missed you!" He kissed her and hugged her close.
"Dada! Back!" squealed Tilly happily. Then she wrinkled her nose as she smelled him, "Eew," she said. "Dada eew!"
"I know, sweetheart," said Tony. "But I'll be un-eew soon."
Faith didn't know how long it would be before she got over the shock of Tony's abduction but, when she came back into the room, she was fairly sure that Tilly would take much less time. She was already sitting happily in her father's arms and beginning to fall asleep.
"The Director is going to let Gibbs know," she announced. "He says to do what Ducky tells you. And Ducky is on his way in great excitement." Tony groaned. "It's Ducky or hospital," Faith reminded him. "And it might still be hospital."
"I should be going," said Lysander. "I don't think your excitement is quite over yet and I will be rather de trop."
"Don't go," said Faith, "I want to thank you. We owe you so much. Without you, Tony might still be out there." She knelt down and took Tony's hand, she felt she needed to keep touching him to reassure herself that he was back.
"Stay," said Tony through half shut eyes. "You should meet Ducky. You'll like him. And I want to know what you were doing in that forest."
"Among those tree things?" twinkled Lysander. "I'm a forager."
"A what-er?" asked Tony.
"I go searching in woods, hedgerows, beaches … all sorts of places for free food. The forest is a particularly rich source of acorns … although you have to know how to process them, of course. Then there are a multitude of fungi which can be used for so many purposes."
Tiredness prevented Tony from being tactful. "You need free food?" he asked in concern. "I'm sure we could help with that …"
"No, no," laughed Lysander, "I own a restaurant – L'Ancien Regime Aujourd'hui on Pennsylvania Avenue. We pride ourselves on fine cuisine which includes some of the more unusual ingredients. I can assure you that we provide some sublime tastes. I like sometimes to go on a foraging expedition to provide some of those tastes. It is most relaxing to escape the pressures of city life and get back to Mother Nature. I find it enables me to recapture the natural rhythms of life."
"Lysander," said Tony, "You have to stay and meet Ducky. I think you may be kindred spirits."