Ziva glanced towards the window near her desk, admiring the strong glare of the sun, promising the potential of a good day. She couldn't help but wiggle in her chair, finding it difficult to contain the excitement flowing through her veins every time the bell of the elevator sounded announcing someone's arrival.
After Tim's admirable display of chivalry the night before, she had come to realize just how deep her feelings for the man had become. She had never known a man to stand up for her; at any point in her life as McGee had; not thinking twice of his own well-being and willing to fight if necessary. She was falling for him; all of him, a man with reputable virtues and a kind, loyal heart.
Over the last few months their friendship had deeply developed, growing deeper and stronger. She would find herself daydreaming about him often, generating a broad smile across her face. She enjoyed the exhilaration that would flood her stomach when their hands would brush or the sideways glances she would steal, to catch a glimpse of his smile that she thought was simply adorable.
It was the small things at first, that added up as they grew closer, her accepting the pickles on his sandwich that he hated and she loved, exchanging phone calls on the weekend to get together for a walk or lunch; or, taking care of his dog when he went away. She would often try to plan it so they would leave at the same time, at night; then once in the elevator they would summarize the day, laughing at things that had happened, their conversations often carrying over to reveal more personal things about each other that she loved to learn about him.
The elevator dinged and she knew it had to be him, a smile spreading over her face as she played nonchalant and forced herself to not look up. She planned to wait for his reliable, sweet, morning greeting and cheery smile, before she would meet his gaze, as she tried to calm her fidgeting hands.
She jumped when Tony dropped his backpack on his desk, unzipping it to scrounge around inside.
"Oh. Good morning, Tony. I am surprised to see you in so soon."
"Soon? It's normal time. Whattya mean?" He didn't look up as he searched deeper into his pack.
"Hmmm." She looked at the time displayed on her computer screen then then bit her bottom lip, looking at the elevator doors. Ziva took a moment to think as she stared at her paperwork in front of her, wondering why Tim was so late.
"Huh? What's wrong?" Tony had finally looked up to look at her after she didn't answer him.
"What do you mean, Tony?"
"Well...I dunno. You seem... distracted. Like something is on your mind."
"That, Tony would be none of your beeswax."
Tony's brows furrowed then he smiled, finally pulling a package of nutterbutters out of his pack, glancing towards McGee's desk. "I beat McGoo?"
"If you mean Tim, I'm sure he just hit traffic. The traffic was horrible just before I arrived and we do live near each other."
"Yeah, right, but, like, this never happens."
Ziva let her eyes meet Tony's. "Do you think something is wrong?" She could see the worry lines in Tony's face, fueling her own concern as he stared at Tim's desk.
"Well, let's call him then check emails. But it's probably what you said, traffic. Were there any accidents?" Ziva quickly checked the traffic report for the DC area, online.
"No." Now, she could feel her face tense like Tony's. The lovesick jitters she had been experiencing turned into tense, worried ones. She enjoyed the former ones, much more.
xxx
Tony and McCadden entered the office building as McCadden talked about the evening he spent with some random woman the night before. But, Tony was preoccupied and disinterested, only faintly hearing him while keeping his gaze forward.
His whole team seemed off and the awareness of it wore away at him. McGee hadn't shown up for work and they had been unable to reach him; even checking his apartment but finding no signs of distress or disorder. But, there were a few things that were difficult to pinpoint. Like the fact, that Jethro was considerably relieved, when he had taken him for a walk. Or the observant fact that after Tony had poured a bit of kibble in his bowl, he had woofed it down with a vengeance. It was difficult to tell if McGee had slept there, since the bed was made and from what he remembered,he always made sure to make it in the morning.
Another nagging clue was that Probie was never unreachable, in fact he couldn't think of one time he was. And that's what worried Tony the most about McGee. Just before he had left to meet McCadden, Gibbs was about to call Abby to put a trace on his cell. Tony was more interested in listening for the ring of his cell for an update on McGee than to listen to McCadden blab on in the background.
Then there was Ziva. She had seemed, especially distracted this morning, but as usual, unwilling to divulge the slightest of information for the reason why. Tony was usually successful in eventually getting to the source of her hidden private life after relentless digging and sneaky, determined snooping but,as of now, he had gotten no where.
And, Gibbs? Well, from him; he detected an anger laced with slight disgust but sadly understood why. Gibbs was a marine, and loyal was his middle name. Tony felt that he had crossed the one line Gibbs would step in front of to take a bullet to protect; loyalty... to the ones you live with ...brothers, family; and to him, that's what they were. He felt that he had blown it big time with him and desperately wondered if the damage was reparable.
So, now he felt as if his own world was off-kilter, no longer sitting correctly on its axis to spin properly and continue to handle his everyday life the way he liked it. He hated feeling unbalanced...like all the pieces of his puzzled life were misshapen and jammed; unable to fit correctly within the borders for his life to flow smoothly. He felt that Phil had some how triggered his youthful traits, returning him back to his smug, cocky, know-it-all phase and he was dumbfounded that he hadn't seen the downward spiral as it was happening. The old ways fit him like a pair of worn-in slippers, comfortable and easy to slip on. Phil was the monkey wrench that was suddenly thrown into his personal universe. Tony had no idea what a monkey wrench looked like so pictured Curious George holding a huge plumber's wrench...
Phil cleared his throat. "Uh, Tony?" Tony erased the grin from his face that he had not realized he was wearing when Phil interrupted him from his reverie. Phil stood in front of him pointing to a directory of names on the wall in front of them, "Well?"
"Well what?"
"Is this the guy we're looking for?"
Tony self-consciously squinted to read the name; embarrassed he had no clue of what Phil had been saying for the last few moments. He felt tremendously out of the loop but then realized he didn't really care. "Uh, yeah. That's him. Second floor." They walked toward the stairs then started to climb.
"Why don't you transfer? You could get a better partner-"
Tony looked at Phil, increduously. "Phil. I already have the best partner a guy could ever want.
"Really? Are you sure because he seems kind of nerdy to me." Phil was obviously too thick skinned to pick up on Tony's radical u-turn of his sudden dislike towards their dysfunctional friendship.
"He just happens to be really smart...he's the yin to my yang...he's the contrast I need to keep me grounded, and live up to my true potential, don't you see? You're just another yang, Phil; messing me all up."
McCadden rolled his eyes, not sure what to think of Tony's philosophy, opting to ignore him. "Hey, how'd he like the joke I played on him last night?"
Tony stopped instantly and turned to Phil. "What did you say?"
"You know...I told him to meet us at the warehouse on Washington because we were in the process of apprehending the suspect in the DuCannon case... uh, Tony? Where are you going?" Tony speed dialed Gibbs as he ran to his car.
"Boss! I think I have an idea where McGee could be. Meet me at Petty Officer DuCannon's crime scene. Yeah, I'll explain when I get there. Uh...no. I really don't know what to expect, but he could be in trouble." Tony snapped his phone shut. "Dammit to hell."
xxx
Gibbs sighed, his gut was churning and DiNozzo's call confirmed the uneasy feeling he had been experiencing all morning, that irritating, nagging sense that wanted to eat him alive. This all pointed to the possibility that McGee had been abducted and would explain his disappearance.
Gibbs liked to keep his feelings hidden for a reason. Maybe he had learned to from the days he had spent with Shannon and Kelly, so as not to worry them. He hated to worry people he loved, mostly because he didn't know how to deal with their emotions that would arise. Not hearing from McGee this morning sent him a red flag that was waving too fast to even see; a blur, caught in a violent wind; a force to be reckoned with. The possibility that McGee was in danger would have to be quickly put into perspective, viewed as another case as they all were in his everyday life to create a path of stability and strength to go on. The team might think him callous, but if he wanted to keep his head on straight and get them all through this, this was the only way he knew to complete the mission and to make sure McGee was alive when it was all over.
Was he too old for this shit? He wondered if there would be a day he wouldn't be able to talk himself through it. One of his boys was in trouble, the youngest, just a kid, known for his genuine sweet disposition, a sharp, reputable agent that deserved to be treated with respect as much as the rest was but sometimes wasn't. A problem he promised himself and McGee would be changed if he could just bring him back alive.
This kind of worry took its toll. The needed effort to contain it was exhausting and the thought of Tim's genuine innocence; his sweet, enthusiastic need to please him; never revealing a hostile bone in his body... would be close to unbearable.
Gibbs noticed Ziva, stuck in a faraway look, alerting her with the metallic sound of his drawer opening to retrieve his weapon, while snapping her out of her trance. "Ziver, gear up. Tony thinks he knows where McGee is."
Ziva stood from her chair at her desk with a, restrained look of confusion and worry."I do not understand."
"I really don't either-"
"Is McGee in some kind of trouble?" Gibbs could see the growing worry in her face and his stomach tightened, more.
"Well, that's what we're going to find out." Ziva followed Gibbs to the elevator swinging her backpack over her shoulder.
She leaned back against the elevator wall, then studied Gibbs' serious features trying to detect some vibe or gesture to clue her in. She looked at the the floor, frowning, she had to know, something or she felt she would bust. "Is he okay, Gibbs?"
Gibbs shrugged with a trace of patience in his voice, meeting her gaze, "I dunno, Ziva."
She fussed with her necklace as she silently recited a prayer. No. He will be okay, because for one thing he doesn't even know. She vowed she would do everything in her power, to make it right as rain. She visualized high-fiveing Tim, knowing he would be proud of her for getting the idiom correct.
Gibbs phone rang catching Ziva's full attention. "Yeah, Abs. Whatya got? Uh,uh. Yeah...gotta a call from DiNozzo; we're headed there now. Abs, calm down. I don't know anything. I promise...I promise to keep you updated,Abs. I don't know but I think we will when we get there." Gibbs closed his phone unable to meet Ziva's eyes, knowing she had heard enough to answer her questions.
xxxx
Tony was the first to arrive entering the decrepit building with his weapon drawn. He had already did a quick search of the outside perimeters finding nothing. "McGee! Are you here?" Ziva entered minutes later; her sense of awareness set on high alert with Gibbs close behind.
"Tony? McGee isn't here, is he?" Ziva asked.
Tony didn't want to see the disappointment in her face so he kept his eyes scanning the inside of the warehouse. "Doesn't seem to be but we need to do a more thorough check of the building."
"DiNozzo. Sitrep." Tony avoided his boss's accusing stare, that very much resembled Ziva's. He couldn't blame them.
"McCadden thought he was a funny guy last night and told McGee to meet us here; that we were busting the perp responsible for the Petty Officer's death. Now,that Tim didn't show up for work today, well...this might explain his disappearance. Tony cringed ready for Gibbs to lay into him and finish with a brain-splashing head slap, but Gibbs just sighed looking over the deserted warehouse they had scoped out, the night before.
The three of them momentarily studied the warehouse from where they stood. The place was a mess; busted windows with debris and litter covering the floors. The strong sun shone through the soiled, cracked windows, reflecting off a metal object catching Ziva's eye. Tony followed Ziva's gaze as she stepped quickly, covering the distance across the room to examine it. She kneeled then inhaled deeply, taking a moment as the back of her hand covered her mouth while she fought to catch her breath, staring at the object on the dirt covered floor.
"What is it, Ziva?" Ziva kept her head down unable to make eye cointact with Gibbs. Her voice came out choked and low.
"His badge, Gibbs. And...there...there are drops of blood covering the floor." Tony exhaled, shakily. He would have preferred the life threatening head slap much more than the tears brimming in his boss's eyes while watching Ziva fight for control of her emotions; something he had never seen before,from either of them.
Ziva finally raised her face, her jaw tensed to control the quivering that was threatening to reveal itself. She stood, walking closer to Tony. "Tony? Why did you both have to treat him so cruelly? He's your partner and you were treating that dickrod-"
"Dickwad? " Thought Tony.
"More like a friend than you do to McGee. You set the tone. McCadden had no respect for McGee because his own partner couldn't show him any."
"We were fooling around-" Gibbs' cell rang.
"Yeah, Gibbs. Slow down Abby, where's Tim? Yeah,Abs. We'll be back after we process the crime scene we got here."
Ziva walked closer to Gibbs as Tony stared at his boss,listening until he shut his phone with a snap causing Tony to slightly jump. All he knew, was that it couldn't be good.
"There was a call at the navy yard. Whoever Tim met up with last night wants a ransom for his life. We have till this evening."
Ziva looked at both men, her hands on her hips, a new determination set in her eyes. "We have to work quickly then." She turned towards the door.
"Where are you going?" called Tony.
"Gloves! Tony! Camera! Print kit! This is a crime scene, treat it like one! We do not have time to be standing around! Start processing!"
"She's right. This is the best place to start, unless McCadden knows something else."
"I'm sure McCadden didn't mean for this to happen boss-"
"Well, it would have been nice if you had stuck up for McGee as much as you stuck up for McCadden." Tony could feel the cold stare and his neck warmed its way to his face. "So, are you sure there is nothing else that we need to know?"
"No boss. I'll call McCadden and see if there is anything else he can tell me." He prayed that he was right. Gibbs' icy blue stare bore down to his soul. He couldn't believe this was happening. Never, in a million years did McGee deserve this. He vowed he would do everything in his power to fix this.
"Tony, get the tire tracks to Abby, asap!"
"On it boss!"
"Tony! Bag the evidence!"
"On it Zeevs!"
"Sorry, Tim." Tony whispered to the air as he hurried about.