Chapter 24
(**Flashback**)
'Special Agent Gibbs' Ducky said quietly.
'Ducky!' Kate yelled.
„Well, that name rings the bell" He said satisfyingly.
„Don't answer this bastard!" Kate yelled angrily.
„Now, now Caitlin. You mustn't chastise the doctor here, not until you hear my rules" He said in a low voice. Kate rolled her eyes.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I don't follow the terrorist rules" She said ironically.
"What makes you think I'm a terrorist?" He questioned.
"Don't get me started, the list is too long" She continued with the sarcasm.
"No time for jokes Caitlin" He said evilly.
"That's all the evidence. Gerald agrees with me" Ducky interrupted. Gerald nodded.
"Caitlin, roll over now, but keep your hands where they were" He ordered.
"Fine" She muttered as she rolled over to her back.
"Doctor, explain the little stubborn Caitlin the rules, please" He said to Ducky.
"If we lie, or he thinks we're lying, he'll put a bullet in one of Gerald's joints" Ducky sighed.
"Ball and socket joints" He corrected Ducky.
"Right" Ducky rolled his eyes.
"You omitted one condition, Doctor" He suddenly said.
"I did?" Ducky said, worried.
"You tried to trick me" He continued.
"And remind me, when was that?" Ducky said sarcastically.
"Caitlin, actually. The phobia overcoming thing" He said.
"But she didn't know the rules!" Ducky defended Kate.
"Yes, but you joined her by calling her Abby" He answered and pointed the gun to Gerald's arm. A gunshot was heard. Gerald screamed in pain, with his arm bleeding.
"Oh God! No…" He was helpless.
Screaming.
At the moment of the shot, Kate rolled to the side rashly.
When seeing Gerald there, she was scared.
Outside of the autopsy…
Gibbs and Tony showed up, with their guns.
"Autopsy's dark. Who'd you get to back up us?" Gibbs asked, while slowly opening the door of the hallway.
"Wilson's covering the elevator. Balboa is on the elevator"
"Wilson. Balboa" Gibbs said into the phone. "Are you in place?"
"Affirmative. Ambulance is empty. Elevator door closed. You want us to enter?" Wilson asked.
"Negative. Hold your position. Balboa?" Gibbs replied.
"Standing by. Personnel elevator locked down" Balboa said.
"Disable the bell. Go down to autopsy" Gibbs commanded.
"Do not open the doors!" Gibbs warned.
"Roger" Balboa said. He hung up.
"I'm going to MTAC" Gibbs turned to Tony.
"We've got a hostage situation, don't we, boss?" Tony said finally. Gibbs was quiet for a while.
"Time to make a phone call, Dinozzo" Gibbs tried to fake a smile.
"Yeah" Tony nodded.
He didn't want to trigger memories.
At the autopsy…
Kate and Ducky placed Gerald quickly on the table.
"Don't worry Gerald, everything will be all right" Ducky assured Gerald, who was shattering in pain.
"You sick bastard!" Kate yelled at the man. He was observing them.
"You seemed like such a bright young woman and that's all you can?" He was smiling. Gerald screamed again.
"Bastard" She hissed.
"Kate! Quick! My emergency bag. Over by the desk on the floor. I've got morphine, Gerald, hold on" Ducky said. Kate took the bag and passed it to Ducky.
"I would dislike having to put another bullet trough Gerald's knee" He said suddenly. Kate shivered.
Outside of the autopsy…
Tony approached the door. He saw Kate passing by. He sighed with relief.
"Gibbs! Dinozzo here. Kate just ran past the doors inside the autopsy"
At the MTAC…
'She just ran back again'
"I read you, Tony. Stand by" Gibbs said.
"No video from autopsy" The Director noticed.
"It's a hostage situation, Morrow. Three of our people are there. Don't know how many intruders" Gibbs replied.
"Let's find out. Start tapes" Director ordered. Gibbs nodded.
At the autopsy…
Kate and Ducky were still trying to help Gerald with his pains. The phone ringed, but Ducky and Kate were too busy with helping Gerald.
"Answer the phone" The man said.
"No, you answer it. I'm trying to stop the bleeding! Kate! Morphine, now!"
"Where?" Kate asked, holding the injection.
"In the thigh right trough the cloth. You better answer the phone, or you'll be curing his knee" He said.
"Kate come here. Push this here" He gave her a tissue. Ducky approached the phone. The man pushed the answer button.
"Autopsy" Ducky said nervously.
'Hey Ducky, what's with the infectious autopsy?'
"Purely precautionary, nothing to be worried about" He tried to convince Gibbs.
'Is that why you took the evidence back?'
"Um, Yes. Sorry, I'm very busy right now" Ducky replied.
'Hey, is Kate there?'
"Uh, no, she just left" Ducky lied.
'Okay. You let me know when I can come down. I'm curious'
He hung up.
"I can't wait to weigh your liver" Ducky hissed. The man smiled.
Outside of the autopsy…
"Unknown male in the autopsy…" Tony says. "…Wearing greens. Medium build and age"
'Copy'
At the autopsy…
"How's he doing?" Kate asked Ducky.
"I'm fine" Gerald added.
"The bleeding stopped. That's good" Kate noticed hopefully.
"Yes and no. Tell her Dr. Mallard" The man said.
"I had to clamp his axillary artery to stop it" Ducky sighed.
"Which means, Gerald will lose his arm if the artery isn't repaired" He added.
"Can't you do that, Ducky?" Kate asked.
"No, I can't. I'm sorry" Ducky bowed his head.
"So, where is the evidence collected in the Qassam's room?" He asked. Kate sighed.
"At the lock up" She said trough gritted teeth.
"Which is?" He inquired.
"In the garage, one floor up" She said.
"The same way I came in" He smirked.
"I don't know how you came in" Kate was persistent.
"In a body bag" He said.
"Same way you'll get out" She hissed.
"Is it the same garage?" He turned to Ducky.
"No. The evidence locker is in the garage next to the forensics. Above us" Ducky said.
At the lab…
Gibbs put a micro camera in the Autopsy from the lab. They were watching the video. Gerald was screaming in pain.
"Oh God! Gerald! I should be there!" Abby squealed.
"Feed it to the MTAC" Gibbs said to a guy. He turned back to Abby.
Hey Abby. Maybe you're not there because you're needed here" Gibbs grabbed her shoulder. She nodded.
At the Autopsy…
"Caitlin, doctor, pack Qassam to the body bag" He showed them the body bag. An alarm is heard in the corridor.
"Now, come on, please. Soon, they will be calling to negotiate for your release" He said, with a small laugh.
"We don't negotiate with terrorists" Kate said angrily.
"Now, Caitlin. When you get to know me better, you won't be calling me like that" He smiled.
"I have no intentions of getting to know you better" She said back at him, coldly.