Jessica sat on the curb and watched as the team photographed the scene. Tony picked up Sarah's knife and shook his head as he placed it in an evidence bag, careful not to lose some of the blood covering the blade. The team found their guns had slid under nearby cars in the fight. Ziva shot Jessica an apologetic glance. She looked away, not wanting to look at anyone on the team. Gibbs came and sat beside her.
"Are you ok?" She shook her head.
"I failed her," she said quietly. "I failed Sarah. I couldn't save her."
"She saved your life when she knew she couldn't save herself," Gibbs assured her. "We will find her."
"I don't know," Jessica said. "Bruno knows her weaknesses. He is out to get us. I'm afraid if we ever find her, it will either be dead or unrecognizable."
Gibbs noticed a tear roll down her cheek. He pulled Jessica close. "We will find her." She started to sob.
"I failed her." She repeated. "I failed her." Her eyes shot open. "I can't tell my brother. He is on assignment, and he will be devastated. I can't tell Jordan."
"We can wait until it is safe to tell him, but he will find out sometime."
Jessica nodded. "I have never failed her. And now she could be dead!" She sobbed harder into his jacket.
Tony, McGee, and Ziva watched from a distance. They saw Jessica break down into tears.
"We have to find her," Tony said. "We can't give up now."
"Bruno knows all her weaknesses," Ziva pointed out. "She will not come out of this well when we find her."
"You mean if we find her," McGee said.
"I meant when, McGee," Ziva said. "We will find her."
Tony knelt down and looked around the scene. "I think we've got everything we can." He stood up and picked up the box of evidence. "Has anyone told Abby?" McGee and Ziva shook their heads.
"I don't think anyone has," McGee said. He sighed. "Poor Sarah. I can only imagine what is happening."
"Whatever you are imagining, it is probably worse," Ziva said. "He is out for revenge against these women."
The team grew silent as Gibbs walked up with Jessica. Her eyes were red from crying and small tears snuck out from the corners. She tried to hide her emotions, but her resolve was cracking. Everyone felt the pain with Sarah's disappearance, but they all knew Jessica felt the worst. The guilt that she felt was tearing her apart.
Ziva held out an arm. Jessica took the hint and accepted the hug from her. "None of this is your fault," she assured her. "Remember that." Jessica nodded and wiped a tear away.
"It just feels that way," she said quietly. Ziva walked with her to the car. Gibbs threw the men the keys to the truck.
"We'll meet you back at Headquarters." Gibbs climbed into the driver's side and sped off.
They loaded the truck with the evidence and supplies in silence. McGee looked at Tony. "Do you think we've lost her again?"
"What do you mean, Probie?"
"I mean, after the last time, when we thought she was dead, but she was among us the entire time. This time, I don't think we will be so lucky."
Tony sighed. "You're right. We just got her back. Losing her again will not be good." They closed the truck and climbed into the front. Tony started the car and headed back to the Naval Yard.
Sarah sucked her breath in and pulled at her bindings as another cut sliced her skin. Her vision was growing fuzzy with each blow. She felt as if she was starting to lose feeling until another blow came in contact with her body and reignited her nerves. She held back her tears and her screams. She wasn't going to give Bruno its satisfaction.
Bruno stepped back and admired his work. After a few hours of his fun, she had bruises forming colorful patterns and cuts on her body. He had cut through her shirt and her jeans were starting to tear. Her hair was matted with sweat and blood. It helped that he had secured her to the wall with chains coming off the bricks. His plan was to unchain her only when she was too weak to run or fight. He could sense her holding back her tears and screams and wanted to pull it out of her. But he also wanted to draw out the fun as long as possible. He eyed the battery and wires on the side of the room, debating whether to use them yet or not.
Sarah noticed his wheels turning and internally was scared. He set down the knife on the table nearby and smiled; he had made a decision of what he wanted to do next. He picked her up and gripped her tight as he unchained her wrists and ankles. She fought as he carried her to the ground where a flimsy mattress lay and chained her to the floor. The battery could wait, he decided. She knew what he was about to do as soon as he stood up and braced herself.
Her resolve broke and her screams echoed against the walls.