Disclaimer: I own nothing but a few DVDs.

Warnings: Gibbs and Tony are OOC. There will be slash in later chapters, so if this offends you, please don't read any further.

A very big THANK YOU goes to everyone who reviewed, follows and favorited this story. I'm really sorry for the long wait, but sometimes you can't do anything about it.

This chapter is unbetaed for now. The second the beta work from the great arress is done, I will update this chapter again.

Info for the next chapter: I know you all have waited patiently for a long time for an update and I would really like to tell you that the next chapter will be done sooner, but I can't. I promised at the beginning that this story won't be abandoned and it won't be. I just need more time than I thought. So please stay patient with me. Thanks!

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Chapter 13 – Missing – Redone

When the call had come, McGee had thought it to be a joke. In no way would he have thought to be on the team this early after everything that happened, but Agent DiNozzo hadn't joked. He had ordered him back to the Navy Yard as fast as possible. Even when DiNozzo had told him they would work on his experience as field agent, he had felt pure luck. Sure Agent Gibbs was scary to work with, he couldn't estimate the change DiNozzo would have gone through and he had been told this would be for just two short months, but nonetheless he had been more than happy to get away from the field office in Norfolk.

So now he stood in the elevator and went up to the bullpen, again. When he arrived both, Gibbs and DiNozzo already awaited him. He was told to take his stuff to the desk across from Gibbs and to be ready at noon for his first training session on the shooting range. Because he had just short of an hour's time till noon, he decided to set up his computer. Even if it was temporary, it would be good to have it in perfect working order. He had just finished everything when DiNozzo came to take him to their first destination, the shooting range.

After two hours of training with the agent he was rather beat, but after a short break (the time they had needed to get back to the Navy Yard) they met Gibbs in the office and went to the gym with him. He was shocked at the opportunity to train with Gibbs, and he apparently was right about it. They were there for almost three hours.

He had trained with Gibbs in the boxing ring and with DiNozzo on the mats and with the workout tools. He hadn't been this beat in a very long time. If he thought about it, even when he had been on the wrestling team in college he wasn't that beat after the training.

After a quick shower the three men met in the bullpen for short instructions for the next day, before they called it a day. McGee went to his hotel room, took another really short shower and fell on to the bed to not move till the next morning. He had barely thought about setting the alarm before he went to sleep.

Tony and Gibbs went to the deli to take food with them to Gibbs' house. They barely spoke on the way but it wasn't an awkward silence at all. It was rather content. Even when they got there, they just took the food in to the living room and after Tony got two bottles of beer from the fridge while Gibbs had started a nice fire in the fireplace, they just sat down on the sofa and ate in silence. When they finished, both went into the kitchen, to dispose of the cartons and empty bottles and take two more new bottles with them. They made their way to the basement in absolute silence and they didn't start to talk until Gibbs got a little sanding done and Tony sat in a comfy chair, that Gibbs recently brought there, and looked relaxed if not half asleep.

"So Tony, what do you think about today?" At that, Tony looked at Gibbs.

"You know, I would have thought this to be my line." At the look Gibbs gave him, Tony considered everything that happened today before he answered.

"I think, for the first day it wasn't that bad. He was rather good with his weapon as soon as he got a little bit of routine. Almost at Kate's level, when she first started with us. But he has to get his confidence to use it in the field. He was rather skittish in the beginning. And he has to train in the gym, if possible every day, if he wants to make it in the field. He sounded like a forty year old smoker after the work out today. I think with the right training, he could be a good agent. What about you? You were silent after the gym. I would have thought, you would dismiss him and look for another agent, but you didn't say a thing."

By now, Gibbs had taken one of his sawhorses and sat down across Tony. He could see the question in Tony's eyes and answered it, too.

"Hm, I told you, he would be your Probie and as long as you don't tell me he isn't capable of doing the job, I won't remove him from the team. I trust your judgment. As to what I think of him. He did good at the shooting range and if he takes the time, to train to get physically capable to work the field, he wouldn't be half bad. But I don't think we will get him there in just two months. I also think, these months will help him get the confidence, he needs, to hold his own on a team. As long as we don't have a case, you should train with him. Not just in the gym and the range, but also his people skills. As far as I know, he just sat at his computer since he started at Norfolk and he has to learn how to treat suspects and victims and how to do interrogations and interviews. He is way too nervous around me. He wouldn't stand a chance against a suspect." With that he took a swig of his beer and looked at Tony. He looked to be miles away.

When Tony hadn't said a word even after five minutes, Gibbs touched his knee to get a response. At that Tony looked at him with an expression, Gibbs' thought to be disbelief. A second later it changed to a rare, honest and very wide smile. A smile, you couldn't see in the office. A smile, reserved for special occasions. And it let Gibbs' heart beat a mile a minute. In that moment, he sure was glad to be sitting already, because his knees would have given out, had he be standing.

"Thank you, Gibbs."

"Jethro, out of the office."

"Jethro. I will train him and when the two months are over, he will be a good agent and ready for a position on a team."

With that said, they fell silent. Both slightly smiled at each other and were just glad to be together without the necessity to fill the silence with more words. After a few more minutes of watching each other, Gibbs stood and went over to his boat to get a little bit more sanding done. Tony remained in his chair and watched Jethro work a little longer.

At half past eleven Tony stood and stretched before he went over to Jethro and took his empty bottle to take with him into the kitchen. Before he left, he looked Jethro in the eyes.

"I will leave for today. Thanks for the evening, Jethro. I'll see you tomorrow." For a mere second, Tony had to fight the urge to just kiss him and for a moment he thought, Jethro looked just the same. But maybe he lost his bravery, because he let the urge pass and started for the stairs, but stopped, when Jethro went with him. When he looked back, Jethro smirked at him. And without further comment both went up the stairs.

After Tony disposed the empty bottles, he grabbed his coat and walked to the front door with Jethro hot on his heels. On the porch he was stopped when Jethro grabbed his hand. He turned to his friend and looked questioningly at him.

"You did good today, Tony. And I'm glad you let go of your frat boy act. McGee can be glad to have you as his trainer." With that, Jethro looked at their joined hands and embarrassed he tried to let go of Tony's hand but he wasn't successful. When he looked back at Tony, he could see a little happy smile.

"Thank you, Jethro. It means a lot that you have my back in this." Tony squeezed his hand before he let go. "Good Night."

"G'night, Tony."

With a smile Tony turned around and went to his car.

When Tony was gone, Jethro went back in and for the first time in a long time, he didn't go back into the basement. He just went to sleep on the sofa.

The next morning when Tony arrived at work with two cups of coffee, Gibbs was already there. He handed him one cup before he settled down behind his desk and turned his computer on. They talked about the day ahead before Gibbs had to go up to the director for a short briefing before he had to attend an anti-terrorism conference. If they didn't catch a case, Tony would take McGee to the gym for a little one-on-one training before they would look at a cold case Tony had on his desk from the week before.

McGee barely arrived in the bull pen and just stood to ask Agent DiNozzo if there was something to do for him before they would go to the gym when Gibbs came in. The ever present cup of coffee in one hand he went to his desk to grab his gun and badge. When DiNozzo asked him about the anti-terrorism conference, he looked up.

"Change in Plan. A marine gunnery sergeant didn't show up for duty this week." While he told them that, he packed further.

DiNozzo looked at him. "Since when track we down UA marines?" He started to get ready himself, so McGee went to his desk and packed his own stuff.

"Since he's one of a handful of people, who knows how to arm small-yield nuclear weapons." By now he was on his way to the elevator. When the door opened he gave them the SRB from the marine and told them, they would have forty-five minutes to memorize it.

They went to a country-bar to question the last persons, who saw the Gunny. One of them was a bartender.

"How long was the pickup truck in your lot?" While Gibbs questioned the woman, he looked around the room. DiNozzo looked around too, but McGee just couldn't concentrate on both so he decided to listen to the bartender. She told them the pickup had been in the parking lot for five days and in the beginning she figured he went home with another person, so she didn't report it. When DiNozzo showed her a photo and told her the name of the marine, Gunnery Sergeant Bill Atlas, she recognized him as the one who had met with a redhead on Friday night. She even told them her suspicion about them having an affair, because the woman had went out front and he had gone out the back door.

Before he gave out orders, Gibbs looked at Tony and for a second, he didn't know what he wanted to say. When Tony raised his eyebrows slightly Gibbs pulled himself together before he told Tony to get a description from the woman Atlas met. He then took McGee out the back door to look for clues around the truck.

He gave McGee the camera to take photos from everything while he looked for evidence. They had barely bagged a lighter with the name of Atlas on it and an un-smoked cigarette when DiNozzo joined them with the bartender. The rather grumpy 'DiNozzo' he got when he spoke further with the woman led to the question if Gibbs was always like that. DiNozzo's answer 'just when he's awake' let McGee think about the fact that he would never be this brave and challenge Gibbs in that way. But Gibbs didn't do a thing, because regardless of how jealous he silently felt and how annoying Tony's pretending to flirt was, he got answers. And that's what mattered to Gibbs, even if he had to stop himself from interfering. And he tried to believe himself that he was glad that Tony didn't change everything in the way he did his job, he just wished it would work.

DiNozzo had not only gotten a description of the woman Atlas met, but a name also. McGee just looked at the other agent and promised himself to ask him later, just how he had gotten the name. But he didn't have to. DiNozzo told them, the bartender remembered the woman had paid with her credit card and had given the agent the sales slip. The discussion between Gibbs and DiNozzo about the likelihood of Atlas being alive still didn't last long and after they saw to it that the pickup from Atlas was secured and transported to the Yard by a towing service, they went back to the Yard.

Thanks to McGee's Laptop they already knew something about the woman Atlas met with. Her name was Carol Powers and she worked for the Washington Post just as her husband. So the first thing they did after they arrived in the bull pen was to order Mrs. Powers in for questioning. The first few questions were asked by DiNozzo and when she denied her relationship to Atlas, even when they told her they would order her husband in too, they took the questioning to interrogation, where Gibbs asked her further.

She told Gibbs about a story Atlas tried to tell her about his friends, who had served with him, having disappeared and he would be the next. She also told him, she wanted this story to push her career because it wasn't easy to get the big stories and she wrote just about gardening. The question about her husband and his knowledge about the affair with Atlas got Gibbs a story about her husband being in Italy at the time, when she had the date with Atlas. She tried to deny her affair with Atlas further but when Gibbs wouldn't hear anything of it and even told her, her husband had to get involved she tried to blackmail him by pretending to publish the story, but Gibbs just wouldn't bite. When they finally didn't get anything more from the woman, they let her go.

When Gibbs entered the bull pen after escorting Mrs. Powers to the elevator, DiNozzo had already checked out the alibi from the husband and he really was in Italy at the time Atlas vanished, so that was a dead end. After they checked further into Atlas recent work as an EOD technician they had to ask, just who would want him kidnapped. The first thought was of course terrorists and that reminded Gibbs of the guy who held autopsy hostage not too long ago, but he concentrated on the case at hand and asked DiNozzo and McGee if another person of his unit was missing. When McGee looked at the facts he found about Atlas' recent team one person stood out. A Major Joe Sacco, who was Atlas' CO now but had been in '92 too, which was the time when they got into a fight. But before they could look into it further, Gibbs got a call from Abby.

"Yeah Gibbs … We're on our way. Abby's found something." With that, they went to Abby's lab.

The whole time since Mrs. Powers entered the bullpen, McGee had been silent. He was awed about the effectivity Gibbs and DiNozzo showed, while they worked together. McGee asked himself not for the first time, just why they brought him along. As far as he was concerned, they worked well enough as a two man team.

When they entered the lab, Abby rotated on her office chair and greeted them with a big smile. Gibbs went directly to Abby while McGee and especially DiNozzo took great interest in a little model out of mostly Styrofoam and little paper clips formed to people on her evidence table. At first Gibbs let her explain to them all just what this should be and why she build it at all. Apparently it should show the battle of Gallipoli, a war fight in world-war 1. DiNozzo showed rather interest in it and started to talk with Abby about it, but when Abby started to say Gallipoli over and over Gibbs lost his last nerve and told her to stop and start talking about the case.

McGee was rather impressed when Abby told them just how much tests she did on the evidence they had gotten her back early that day. She had to be really bored, just as she said because she even mentioned a rape kit she almost did on the un-smoked cigarette. But she had found something in the evidence and that had been Atlas' DNA on the cigarette and high concentrations of Bron, a mixture of speed and codeine. When McGee started to look a little lost, DiNozzo explained to him what they talked about. While McGee listened further into the conversation between Abby and mostly Gibbs, DiNozzo took the file they had so far and looked through it to maybe find something they could match with the new results they got from Abby. After two minutes of silently reading through it, DiNozzo told them to stop and listen.

"The Bron you told us about Abby? It looks like this Sacco guy could be our man after all. His last duty station had been on Okinawa, Japan. That's one out of two places where you can get Bron over-the-counter. The other one would be the Philippines." That got Gibbs into motion.

"DiNozzo get the car. We're going to Quantico. We meet at the car in five." With that DiNozzo went to get his stuff and the car. McGee took his time to look at Abby for a moment and maybe ask for an evening together, but when he caught Gibbs look, he went to get his stuff also. Gibbs then looked to Abby. "You still bored?"

She sat on the chair Gibbs got her. "Well, yeah, maybe a little."

He pushed her with the chair to the evidence table. "Well, I think I have a more constructive way for you to spend your time. I need some help."

"Okay."

"By the way, Gallipoli … was an amphibious operation."

"Oh …mhm … It's on Styrofoam, so it'll float." Satisfied with her idea she looked at Gibbs and saw that she had gotten a little half smile out of him.

"Abby, I want you to check into the link between Sacco and Atlas. Everything they did together and every person they worked with together or just worked on the same base. Think you can do that?"

When Abby told him, yes of course, he went out to meet with his two agents to get to Sacco.

On the way to Sacco they were informed by Abby that they would find him on the training ground with his bomb squad.

By the time they reached the training ground for Sacco's unit, Gibbs was more than pissed off, DiNozzo was more than serious and McGee was seasick. They had gotten stuck in the rush hour traffic on the high way, so the planned half an hour ride had taken almost two hours. In the end Gibbs had been angry enough to take the first short cut he had found. McGee hadn't know so far, just how Gibbs drove his cars and hoped he wouldn't have to take such a ride in his near future again.

To say that this trip was successful may be a little exaggerated. The info they got that stood out the most, had been the personal dislike between Sacco and Atlas, which dated back to the fight during their first stint together. They got the very strong impression that Sacco would really like to see Atlas gone. Other than that, the only other thing they had been able to gather was a migraine after the explosion of a helicopter that happened before they were far enough away. Well, maybe Gibbs not so much as McGee and to a degree DiNozzo.

On the way back to the Navy Yard DiNozzo let him get the passenger seat but after a couple of minutes McGee didn't think, that would do him any good at all. McGee's hope for a murder free ride back home was smashed the moment Gibbs took the driver seat and the short cuts again. Apparently he hates traffic more than a puking Tony in the backseat, or McGee for that matter.

While they were driving back to the yard, Abby called to let them know she found out about three more missing marines, who served with Atlas and Sacco in 1992. And because they were considered deserters after 30 days, nobody ever noticed a connection between them before.

After a short trip to Abby to get the data, they met in the bullpen to get all of them on the same page and consider their next steps.

Apparently three marines from different units were considered UA since 1996 and all of them served with Atlas on the Philippines under the command of Sacco. And nobody would have ever seen a connection, if Abby wasn't bored.

Atlas seemed to be the latest victim of a serial killer, and when McGee tentatively asked if they should bring in Sacco, Gibbs looked at him. But DiNozzo was the first one to speak.

"I think McGee is right, boss. We should interrogate him."

Gibbs looked at DiNozzo. "What if's not him?"

"If it's not him, he could be the next victim." After a moment of silent considering, Gibbs looked at both of them.

"I want everything you can find on the EOD unit from 1992, McGee. Go down to Abby's lab and start where she left off. Tony, I want everything about Joe Sacco. You know the deal." With that said, he left them.

After a long look after Gibbs, DiNozzo looked at McGee. "You know how to treat Abby's lab, McGee? She should be gone by now, so don't touch anything other than her computer, got it? And if there's a problem call me. I'm at my desk."

With a short nod, McGee went down to the lab just to meet Abby, who tinkered with her Gallipoli miniature. When she didn't react to him entering her lab, he went to her.

"Hey, Abby. Agent DiNozzo told me, you would be gone by now. I am to search for everything on the EOD unit from '92."

"Oh, hey McGee. Yeah, I'll be gone in a little bit. But first, I found more about this unit. In '92, we were closing the base in the Philippines and Sacco's EOD team was in charge of clearing out the ammunition storage dumps. Apparently there were six marines on his team. The last of his unit was dishonorable discharged for assaulting his Company Commander." While she explained all that, she went into her office to change.

"So we found our second suspect." McGee was rather happy to already have something for Gibbs, but Abby burst his bubble just a second later.

"Not quite. I've been running his social and I haven't been able to find him anywhere. If you need me, call me. Bye." With that, she was gone and McGee went to her computer to start his own work.

After a night full of work, McGee entered the office just right to witness Gibbs waking DiNozzo, who had slept at his desk. What made McGee stop in his track was the lack of any reaction DiNozzo showed when he was shouted at by Gibbs. He probably would have jumped, if the SSA had done that with him. Before he could get to his desk, Gibbs told DiNozzo to find him and that they would have a debriefing twenty minutes later. Before DiNozzo could start his search for him, McGee went to his desk.

He watched the SFA the whole time he needed to get ready. And before he could do as much as utter a 'morning' at him, Gibbs was back.

"McGee, what do we got?"

"I still try to find the last marine, a Corporal Cohen. I lost his trail in 2002."

"Okay, Tony?"

"Sacco was stationed in the same vicinity with all four Marines who went UA. Got to be more than a coincidence."

"What'd we learn about the fight from his record book?"

"Well, I called the Colonel he was working for in '92. He didn't remember much but thinks it was over a woman."

When nothing more came, Gibbs asked annoyed.

"An All-nighter and this is all we get? I expected more."

Before he could lose his courage McGee spoke up.

"Uhm, Agent Gibbs, maybe we could bring Major Sacco in for … you know, questioning."

"Give me something I can nail him with and I will, McGee." Before McGee could mutter out a reason, Agent DiNozzo spoke up.

"Gibbs, I can get it for you."

"Yeah, how?"

"Let me shadow him for a couple of days. If he's got a screw loose, I'll know it. He might lead us to Atlas." McGee didn't understand the look the two Agents shared, but at the end Gibbs agreed.

"Alright, but you call in every hour. You forget one time, call in late …" The rest of Gibbs' speech went unsaid and when McGee looked at DiNozzo, he almost saw something like a warning. But after a second it was gone and the SFA gave one of his thousand watt smiles.

"I'll call every hour and I won't be late." With that, he grabbed his backpack and went to the elevator.

As soon as the doors closed after his SFA, Gibbs looked at McGee.

"As soon as he has to get closer to Sacco, you're his backup. Till then you're with me." With that said, he went down to Abby without making sure whether McGee followed him or not.

When they went into the lab, Abby already had everything she'd found on display. After she grabbed the CafPow! Gibbs brought her, she started talking.

"So I found Cohen. I think we can cross him off the suspect list. He's dead." At that, McGee looked annoyed. The first lead he helped tracing and it ended in a dead end. So he asked Abby.

"How?" At his tone she looked at him.

"They found him last year in a sewer system in Old Town Alexandria chained to a wall. Not a pretty picture." She rolled with her desk chair to the printer to get the photos.

"Looks like he was down there for awhile." She gave Gibbs the pictures of an almost completely decomposed corpse and the chains that were used.

"The locals are sending us copies of the crime scene report, autopsy and evidence of the scene. It's a cold case."

Gibbs gave the photos to McGee, who went rather green at the sight.

"Not anymore." Before Gibbs could say anything more, Abby asked the next question.

"Hey, where's Tony?"

"I've got him tailing Sacco."

"Alone?"

"He does his best work when there's not an audience around." After these words, McGee looked disbelieving at Gibbs. He couldn't understand why Gibbs just didn't tell Abby about their plans. But before he could say something, Abby looked at Gibbs and said.

"I got a weird feeling."

"Abs, you always have a weird feeling."

"I know, but this one's different."

"He can take care of himself." Before Abby could asked him further, he finally told her about the backup plan.

"And if he has to get near Sacco, McGee will be his backup." He went to the door. "You let me know when those records show up."

As soon as Gibbs was out of the lab, Abby started in on a flabbergasted McGee.

"You listen McGee. You will watch Tony's back like it's your own. You will let nothing bad happen to him, am I clear?" When she finished, she poked him in his right shoulder for good measure before she let him go after Gibbs.

When he came to the elevator, he still absently rubbed his shoulder. When he became aware that Gibbs was already gone, he cursed silently and went to the stairs in the hope to be faster this way.

Meanwhile Tony followed Sacco through the town when his cell started to ring. Without looking on the display, he answered.

"DiNozzo"

"What's the word?"

"Oh, hey Gibbs. Sacco just left the base. I think he's heading home for the night. You have anything new?"

"We found Cohen." While they spoke, Gibbs came down to the bullpen.

"Where?"

"Chained to a sewer pipe. He's dead."

"Looks like we're running all out of suspects."

Gibbs went to his desk. "Yeah, sure looks that way."

"You want me to pick him up?"

"Negative. You just keep him under surveillance. I don't want you to get near him. If he is the murderer you have to be careful."

With a warm feeling in his stomach Tony answered. "I'm careful, boss.… Whoa, hold on a sec. You are not gonna believe where he's pulling in right now."

"Hammersmith's Country Bar." Gibbs watched McGee rushing into the bullpen and to his desk with a slight look of panic in his eyes.

"Okay, maybe you will."

"We're getting a search warrant for his house. You let me know when he leaves. Do you plan to go into the bar?"

"Sure, I can watch both doors that way and he can't vanish without me knowing."

"Okay, but you wait for McGee. He will be there and watch from the car. And Tony, I want you back in one piece, so don't risk it. When something happens you call me and I will be there." While he said that, he gestured McGee to get ready and tossed him the keys for a second company car.

"Roger that." When Tony closed the connection Gibbs looked at McGee.

"You'll go to the bar and meet with DiNozzo. When he goes in, you will stay in view of his car. Don't go speak with him, just watch out for him. When he as much as looks funny, you call me. If he leaves with or without him tailing Sacco, you will follow him and call me. You tell me, were you are and wait for me. Now, go."

With a slight panicky "Yes, boss." McGee was gone.

When he got there, DiNozzo already waited for him in view of the back entrance. McGee swallowed his self doubts and got out of the car.

DiNozzo got up from the hood, where he had leaned and greeted him with a smile. "Heya, McGee. You're ready for your first back up detail?"

When McGee nodded DiNozzo got serious and went on. He pointed to the end of the blind alley where the back door lead to and explained to him what he expected McGee to do.

"You will park there. It's almost pitch black, so you should go unnoticed. I will park across the back door, so you will see my car and the door. Don't come to me unless I directly approach you. If something happens, call Gibbs. Watch my six, probie. See ya."

With that DiNozzo went into his car and parked it just as he said he would. He waited till McGee got his car to the point, he told him to and when McGee was all set, DiNozzo went into the bar.

The first thing Ton noticed when he entered the bar, was Sacco flirting with the same waitress Tony talked to.

To go unnoticed by Sacco he went to the bar. Before he could watch out for Sacco again, the bartender asked for his order. Frowning, Tony answered him.

"A ginger ale."

"Sure." With a disbelieving look the bartender went to get him his drink.

To Tony's internal annoyance, the waitress approached him, before he could make himself invisible.

"Hey, cowboy, you here for business or my pleasure?"

The bartender brought him his drink and went away again.

The waitress looked and didn't wait for Tony's explanation. "Business, I see." The annoyance Tony felt got up a notch when she prodded further. "You haven't found your marine yet?"

Outwardly smiling, Tony answered. "No, not yet."

"Maybe I can help you look?"

Internally Tony screamed out of frustration but to her he looked all smiling.

While Tony sat in the bar, Gibbs searched through the evidence, the Alexandria PD had on the case of Corporal Cohen. The first thing they found was a small golden necklace with a cross. According to the Corporal's file he was Jewish, so he shouldn't have something like that. Gibbs asked Abby about Sacco.

"He's Baptist."

While they searched further, Tony watched Sacco drink a few beers. After an hour he paid and left the bar. While Tony followed him he called Gibbs.

"Hey."

"Gibbs."

"What's up?"

"Sacco just left the bar. . . . Uhm . . . I'm not feeling so well. . . ."

"Tony? You okay?"

"I think I screwed up, boss. . . . McGee shoul' watch wht hpns . . . . Jeth . . . "

"Hey! Tony, can you hear me?"

The next thing Gibbs heard was the clatter of Tony's cell dropping to the ground. Then the phone went dead. Before he could think of anything further his cell rang again. Before he could answer he heard McGee shouting.

"Boss, Tony just came out of the bar. He collapsed beside his car. I go get him."

"Stop McGee." He thought about it a moment. "McGee, wait five minutes. When nothing happens go get him."

"But boss. It's looking like he's unconscious. I have to help him." McGee couldn't for the world understand why he shouldn't help his superior. And further, why Gibbs doesn't want to help Tony.

"McGee listen. If nothing happens in the next few minutes, you go to him, call the ambulance and wait with him. But it's more than possible that the murderer got to him. If I'm right, he will get DiNozzo and maybe even bring him to where Atlas is, too. If that happens, you have to follow them. Don't get caught. I'm on my way. When I call you, tell me your exact position, so we can meet. Did you get that, McGee?"

When McGee wanted to answer, he watched how Tony was taken by a hooded person and was dragged to a Pickup-truck.

"McGee, did you understand what I told you?" The very angry voice deflected his mind back to the conversation with the SSA.

"Boss, Tony just got dragged to a Truck. I'll follow them. I don't get caught and call you as soon as I know where they're going. I'll wait for you to meet with me. Got it. I have to go." With that, he just hung up. If he weren't distracted by the fact that Tony was possibly caught by the murderer of 4 Marines, he would have fainted at his audacity he showed towards the SSA. But this'll come to his mind a very long time later.

After a second, where Gibbs looked stunned at his cell, he grabbed his badge and gun and went to his car. When he was halfway to the bar he got a call from McGee who told him, where he was. He needed another ten minutes to get to him and when they met, McGee filled him in.

"Boss, Tony got dragged into the sewer system around the corner. And it wasn't Sacco. The person who got him was a lot smaller and Sacco just got there, too. He went in after both."

While they spoke, they went around the corner. They found the door, where Tony was dragged in.

"Good work, McGee. I called for Balboa and his team for backup and an ambulance. You'll wait here and tell Balboa just what you told me. When the paramedics arrive tell them, they probably will have two injured persons. I'll go in."

But before they could do anything, Sacco emerged with the waitress from the bar, discussing something. Both were distracted enough to not see the two agents. Even if said agents were shocked to see the waitress from the bar with Sacco. Both were arrested before they could comprehend just what happened. As soon as Gibbs asked them where his agent and Atlas were, Sacco told him everything he knew.

Just as Gibbs wanted to enter the sewer system to get Tony and Atlas, Balboa entered the scene not just with his team but with a K-9 unit from Metro PD also. So Gibbs accompanied by one dog, his trainer and Balboa with Agent Jeffreys, his SFA, went in.

Tony, watched by Gunnery Sergeant Atlas, started to wake up and looked around. For a moment he couldn't comprehend where he was. Then he looked at Atlas.

"Welcome to hell." Was everything Atlas said.

"You're Atlas. So I found you." Tony tried to stand up and after a few minutes, he got up. After a look around the room they were in, Tony tried the door, but as expected it was closed. Then he went to get a better look at Atlas. But before he could do or say something, they heard a commotion behind the closed door. When they looked up to the little gap in the door, they could see the light of a flashlight and before they could do more than breath, they heard Gibbs shouting.

"DiNozzo, you in there?"

"Hey boss, you found me."

"Yeah, you okay Tony?"

"I'm fine. I found Atlas."

"Good job, Tony. Hold on, Jeffreys is here with the key." He had just said it, when the door opened.

The first person to enter their cell was Gibbs followed by Balboa and Jeffreys. He looked at Atlas and told Jeffreys to go get the paramedics. Then he went to Tony while Balboa went to Atlas to free him.

Gibbs looked Tony over, before he questioned him.

"You really okay?"

"Just a little dizzy, boss. Nothing a shower and a good night's sleep couldn't cure."

"Good, then come on. Let's get outta here."

Both watched as the paramedics put Atlas on a stretcher, hooked him up on a saline drip and got ready to bring him out. Gibbs, Tony and Balboa went out after them. Once they were out, the medics put Atlas into the ambulance and drove off. Gibbs thanked the K-9 unit for their help while they packed everything away and got the dogs into the cars. When they drove off too, he looked at Balboa and told him, to take the suspects with them and they would meet in the office.

Meanwhile Tony went to the slightly shocked looking McGee.

"Hey, McGee. You okay?"

"I should ask you that. Are you alright?" When Tony nodded he went on. "I'm sorry, Tony. I should've done something." Tony looked at him.

"What do you mean? You did everything right. You did just what I told you."

"I know, but she took you." McGee looked green by the memory of the unconscious DiNozzo by his car.

"McGee, look at me. You did everything right. This was a risk I took to get Atlas. It's possible we would've found him too late, if you had helped me."

By then, Gibbs was there too.

"He's right McGee. This was a calculated risk we took. You did your part and you did it good." When Tony saw the shocked look on McGee's face, he smirked at Gibbs.

"I think you broke him, boss." At that Gibbs winked at him.

"Whatever. McGee, grab your car and get back to the office. When you finished your report, you can call it a day. DiNozzo, before we get back too, we will make a little stop at Bethesda. Orders from the paramedics."

"Come on, boss. Do I have to?" The puppy dog eyes would have worked under normal circumstances, but not this time. He wouldn't risk Tony's health.

"Stop whining and get into the car, Tony."

After Tony was checked out in Bethesda and had gotten a clean bill of health Gibbs drove them to Tony's apartment. The first thing Tony did, was to shower. Twice. And even after that, he couldn't get the smell of the sewer out of his nose. While he got clean sweets and a t-shirt on, he oppressed the urge to shower again. He did know that the feeling of not getting clean was psychological, but the urge was getting to him. Maybe it was also, because he could hear his father in his mind, who told him, he would end in the gutter.

He didn't come back from his memory until he heard clatter from his kitchen, where Jethro apparently searched for something. He finished pulling on his thick socks, who were more for comfort, than because he felt cold, and went out into his kitchen.

When he was about to enter the kitchen he stopped dead in his tracks and watched Jethro. He was absorbed in getting dinner ready and apparently hadn't heard Tony. He must have ordered food while Tony had been in the shower, because Jethro was finishing putting everything on plates and chucked the cartons in the trash. Because he didn't want to startle him, Tony cleared his throat. When Jethro looked at him, he smiled and went to him. Before he could thank him, Jethro spoke.

"You okay, Tony?"

"I'm getting there. I apparently can't get rid of the smell and have the urge to shower again, but other than that it will be okay."

Tony wanted to go and grab two bottles of beer out of the fridge, but Jethro stopped him with one hand around his waist. Tony blushed, when he felt Jethro sniffing on his neck.

"You smell good. Just your soap and you. Nothing bad at all." With that he let go of Tony, grabbed the plates and two forks and went to the living room, where he put everything on the side table.

When he was about to start the TV, Tony joined him with the beer. They both sat on the opposite ends of the sofa and while Jethro started a movie, Tony opened the beer.

Tony wasn't surprised by Jethro's choice of movie at all. They would watch one of the old western movies he had bought just for the occasion Jethro came over to him. While they ate and watched the movie both looked at the other whenever they thought the other wouldn't notice.

Halfway through the movie Tony grabbed the now empty plates and brought them back into the kitchen, rinsed them and put them in the sink to be cleaned later. He then put the coffeemaker on and took a piece of dark chocolate cake out of the freezer, put him in the oven and set the timer so it would be ready when they wanted the coffee.

Then he went back into the living room to join Jethro on the sofa again. While Tony was gone, Jethro had laid down on the sofa, so when Tony came back he just lifted his legs to let him sit and put his feet down on Tony's lap.

After a while Tony looked at Jethro with a little smile and spoke for the first time since they were in the kitchen.

"Jethro?"

"Mhm?"

"Will you tell me what happened after I went out like a light?"

At that Jethro looked at him. After a moment of contemplation he sat up beside Tony and looked at his hands in his lap.

"When you didn't answer me over the phone anymore and the line went dead, I almost lost it. But before I could do anything, McGee called and told me, what had happened to you. He wanted to go to you, but I told him not to and he obeyed. I felt like the biggest heartless bastard on earth because of that."

At that, Tony took one of Jethro's hands in his own.

"Jethro, you know we take risks everyday and this was nothing different. Because I was drugged and taken away, and because you thought ahead, we found the Gunny alive. This was just an opportunity we got and you took it." When Jethro looked at him, Tony could see the doubt in his eyes.

"Jeth, I told McGee to not approach me, if I didn't give him a sign and I didn't. When I got out of that bar and noticed something wrong, I could have waved him over, but even when everything went fuzzy, I saw this one chance to maybe get Atlas alive. And more than that, I knew then and know now that you have my back and I trust you with my life. Okay?"

Jethro looked a moment silently at him and then nodded. "Okay!"

"Good and now tell me what happened."

So Jethro told him everything up to the moment they found him and Atlas in the sewer system.

"So . . . Do you know which one of those two did it? Or did they do it together? What about the Gunny and his comrades? Why were they left to die?"

"We don't know for sure, but when Sacco spilled his guts it sounded like the waitress did it out of revenge. But we have to wait till tomorrow. They're both in holding cells at the yard for now."

"Okay, so we'll wait. Do you want cake to your coffee?"

Gibbs had to smile at the question.

"What cake?"

"My very own dark chocolate cake a la Tony. It's really good, if I say so myself." Tony looked at him with a very proud expression.

"Well, if it's your own creation I have to try it."

Both went into the kitchen. Jethro got two mugs for the coffee while Tony got the cake out of the oven and put two servings on plates. After that both went back to finish the movie and enjoy the little sweet treat with their coffee.

When the movie was over they went to clean the kitchen before Jethro got ready to head home. At the door he looked at Tony.

"You sure you're okay, Tony?"

"I'm sure, Jethro."

"Okay, but you know you can call me no matter the time, right?"

"I know Jethro. And this counts for you too. But just for tonight it has to be the land line, because I lost my cell. I will get a new one first thing tomorrow."

"Okay. Well than, see you tomorrow. Sleep tight."

"Good night, Jethro. You too."

With that, Jethro went out and down the hall to the lift and when the doors closed behind him, Tony went back into his apartment and got ready for bed.

The next morning Tony and Gibbs met with McGee and Balboa in the office at seven thirty. Balboa told them, that his 2IC went back to the alley behind the bar and searched for evidence. They found nothing new on the suspects but found Tony's cell and took the company car, Toy had taken the day before, back to the yard. The cell had survived, so Tony just took it back and made a mental note to thank Jeffreys the next time, he saw him.

McGee actually went after Atlas to Bethesda after everything was done at the crime scene and got a statement from the Gunny. Apparently when they closed the base in '92 the men of Atlas unit wanted to smuggle girls they fell in love with back to the US hidden in one container on one of the ships. Every one of the men got on a different ship and everyone thought one of the others would stay with the girls. When they were back on shore and went looking for the girls, they found them dead, because not one of the Marines got onto the right ship.

After hearing the story Tony got a feeling that he knew just who the waitress could be. But before they went to interrogate her, they questioned Sacco. He told them, how he found the girls in the container more than ten years ago and noticed that one of them was alive still and saved her. How he suspected her to have something to do with Atlas' disappearance and how he followed her the day before to find him.

Nothing made Gibbs or Tony suspect something wrong, so they went to question the waitress at last. She told them the same story, Atlas and Sacco already told them, from her point of view. How she and her friends were caged in the container and nobody came to help them. How her friends gave her all the water and food because she was the youngest and how she watched one after the other die slowly.

Then she told them of her revenge. How she captured one man at the time, bound him, where nobody would find him, and watch him die just like her friends. She didn't hold anything back, because for her it was worth the punishment.

When Team Gibbs had every statement, they let Sacco go and went to finish the case. And because the finished it before noon, Tony still had time to take McGee to the gym.

TBC

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