She sat there in shock, blood trickling from her forehead. All she saw was the crushed-up SUV she had been pulled out of. All the noise on the street were just background noise. She couldn't even hear the paramedic speaking to her off her right. It wasn't until the paramedic put his hand on her chin did she react.
"Whoa there," the paramedic exclaimed in shock as Sadie Jenkins grabbed his wrist with force and pressure. "I just want to check your pupils, that's all."
Sadie simply gave him a look, and he backed off. She looked back to the SUV as the paramedic went to go find an officer. In moments, her vision was blocked by a female officer.
"Ma'am, the paramedic needs to check you out," the officer gently said.
Sadie gave her the same look she had given the medic. The officer raised her eyebrows.
"Okay then…is there anyone you want me to call for you?"
For a moment she didn't answer, but then a name popped up and was almost on the tip of her tongue. She so wished she could call him, but after ten years, she didn't think he'd come. She looked down at her purse she didn't realize she had been clutching. She released her tight hold, unzipped the bag, and reached in to pull out a phone. Luckily it had avoided any damage from the crash. She thumbed through the contact list. At first, she paused at the name she had thought of, then continued until she found the one she was looking for. She clicked on the contact profile then handed it to the officer.
The officer gently took it out and stepped away. Sadie looked back to the SUV. The medic didn't bother to try to offer anymore assistance for fear of her doing more than just grabbing his wrist. He was terrified of the look she had given him.
The phone rang in the silence, jarring Anthony 'Tony' DiNozzo from his concentration on the computer. He looked at the time and then around the bullpen. He didn't realize that his co-workers had left earlier. Besides him, his boss was still working. He cracked a yawn as he picked up his ringing cell phone, ignoring the caller ID.
"Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo," Tony answered.
A voice began speaking into his ears. He pulled the phone back to look on the screen. Once he realized whose name it was, his expression changed from tiredness to alert and concerned.
"Is she okay?"
Tony stood up, trapping the phone between his cheek and shoulder, and opened one of his drawers to get his keys and wallet. He closed it.
"I'll be there soon, thank you officer."
He hung up the phone then dropped it into his pocket with the wallet. His boss, Jethro Gibbs, looked up as Tony rounded his desk, prepping to leave.
"Is everything okay, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked.
Tony looked up at him, "Yeah, it's a friend. She got into an accident, so I got to go get her."
In that moment, he realized he had lied to his boss. He didn't do it very often, even unintentionally, but maybe in this instance it was necessary. For Sadie's sake…and for Gibb's as well.
"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow then," Gibbs said. Listening to the words coming from Tony's voice didn't make it seem like it was such an urgency.
Tony simply nodded and began walking to the elevator. Once he reached the elevator, his hand went up to push the button, but he hesitated. He turned his head back to look at Gibbs. He knew Sadie would be pissed at him, but he could take it. With that in mind, he turned around and walked back. He stopped at Gibb's desk.
"Boss?"
Gibbs looked up, "Hmm?"
"It's Sadie, Boss."
For a second, Gibbs was frozen.
Sadie?
Then in the next second, he got up, grabbed his phone, and dialed a number as he gathered his stuff, including his gun. When the other person on the phone answered, Gibbs barked into it.
"Ducky, I need you. Meet me in the garage."
Both men left the bull pen and headed to the garage via the elevator.
Sadie still hadn't moved an inch when the officer gave the phone back by setting it down beside her.
"Agent DiNozzo will be here soon," the officer said. "When he gets here, I'll bring him over."
Sadie didn't give a reply. The officer sighed, worried. She spoke to the medic then looked back at her. She bent back down.
"Ma'am, will you let the paramedic look you over? You've got a head wound that needs to be looked over," the officer asked.
Sadie shifted her eyes over and gave the look again. The officer nodded. She stood back up.
"Alright, don't touch her until her friend gets here. See if he can convince her to have you look at her. Just stay here until then," the officer told the medic.
The medic just nodded. She was his only patient right now. There was nothing else he could do, but just wait.
Fifteen minutes went by as the sirens turned off, but the lights stayed on. The onlookers had begun to disperse. A car arrived at the scene, tired squealing to a stop. People looked as the three men stepped out of the car. They went up to the caution sign. One of the officers waved to the female officer that had spoken to Sadie. She went up to them and after confirming their identity, she led them over to Sadie. One man stepped away from the group to look at the SUV. Sadie didn't move when they arrived to her.
Tony winced when he saw her. She had cuts on her and bruises already developing. The bigger cut had blood dripping on the side of her face. He could tell it wasn't too bad since some of it was beginning to dry. Ducky, an older man with white hair, had spoken to the medic then kneeled in front of her.
At first Sadie didn't react, but once Ducky spoke, she jerked.
"Oh, my dear," Ducky mused as he put his hands on her face, attempting to see her wound. Sadie jerked at the touch and looked at him. Once recognition sparked, she spoke for the first time that evening.
"Ducky?"
He nodded, "Hello Dear, I see you've gotten yourself into a little bit of a scrape. Will you let me look at your head?"
At his question, Sadie gave a nod. She winced when his fingers probed at the sensitive wound.
"I'm sorry," Ducky said, "You'll need some stitches for this. Will you let the medic help?"
Sadie shook her head, "No. I don't want anyone touching me."
"Will you let me stitch you up then?"
She nodded. Ducky stood up to speak to the medic. She followed him with her eyes and realized who stood behind the old man.
"Tony?"
Tony took Ducky's place.
"Hey girl," Tony said. "What happened?"
Sadie shrugged, "I don't know. One second, I was driving, and the next I was being pulled out. I don't remember."
"Okay, it's okay. We'll figure out what happened," Tony said as he put his hands on hers.
Ducky spoke from above them, "The medic has released her into my care. I'm going to go find Jethro and let him know."
"Jethro?"
Both men looked at her. Sadie looked at Tony.
"You told him?"
Tony winced, "Yeah…I did. I'm sorry, I know you di-"
Sadie interrupted, "Where is he?"
The men turned looking. Ducky pointed in the direction of her SUV.
"He's over at your car. Why don't I call-"
"No."
Sadie spotted Gibbs and then everything rushed at her. Memories of the accident filled her head and tears pooled and fell down her cheeks.
"Gibbs," she whispered. She stood up, her purse falling from her lap. She took a few steps and then a few more until she was walking.
"Gibbs."
The man didn't turn at her voice, not hearing her.
"JETHRO!"
Gibbs turned at his name. The moment their eyes connected; Sadie began running. He took a few steps towards her and opened his arms to catch her as she jumped. Words he couldn't understand spilled from her mouth.
"Shh, Sadie, it's okay," Gibbs crooned.
"No…it's not okay." Sadie pulled back, "You don't understand."
She sobbed as her legs suddenly got weak and they both fell to the ground. Ducky and Tony ran up to them. Gibbs grabbed her face, one hand pulling back her hair, and the other wiping a tear.
"Sadie, breathe," Gibbs said as she sobbed so hard, she couldn't take a breath. "What is it?"
"They took them, they're gone!"
Gibbs became alarmed but stayed calm. He looked up at Ducky and Tony before he looked back at Sadie.
"Whose gone?"
"The kids…my kids…our kids," Sadie sobbed. Gibbs couldn't speak as Sadie put her head on his shoulder.
