Title: "Trapped"

Author: AbbyGibbs [Stephjag] (Stephrabb@hotmail.com or flygirlstephjag@yahoo.com)

Disclaimers: Well, I do not own them and that is pretty unfair - they again belong to DPB! Why does he always have to own the best shows and the best characters? Could someone explain that to me? His characters are always suffering too much. So I have decided to borrow them for a little while, the length of a story, but I promise to give them back though I really wish I could keep them for myself.

Classification: I don't really know, except that it is a Navy NCIS fic. There will be some romantic moments. Love comes when you're expecting it the least. Oh yeah, and there will be angst.

Rating: T or maybe K+ (+13 or maybe +16 as always to be on the safe side, isn't it?)

Spoilers: none, but every moment involving Gibbs and Abby

Summary: Gibbs is alone and cold in a disused hangar, it windy, he's full of bruises and is still bleeding. A man is waiting for an appointment with his partner. Abby's still having some visions, Kate is scared and Tony's starting to have a breakdown. Will they ever find Gibbs again, and if they do, will he still be alive? The only way to find out is to continue reading!

Authors note: I need you guys, I need some encouragements here. Come on! I promise you will have to know and read more about Gibbs, but I first needed to set some stuff right. Neither will you get bored, I can assure you that.

Big thank you to Beth for helping me out with this. You're the best, hon! Any remaining mistakes are mine, and mine alone.

Feedbacks: well, I'd love them, of course - who wouldn't? But please, only if you respect my work because it takes a lot of time and energy to get a story together. I love writing; I wouldn't allow anyone to discourage me from doing so, never. I don't have any problems at all with readers who choose not to go for this, but I decidedly do with those who write disrespectful mails just because they didn't get the ending they would have wanted. If you want to tell me what I might have done better within the story I made up, you're always very welcome to let me know. But if your only concern is to rant about it, then please, do it in private, okay? Thank you.

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CHAPTER SEVEN
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Kate was lying in her bed, tossing and turning. She couldn't stop the thousand thoughts that were spinning in her head. This would never stop, she had the feeling, and she was going crazy.

She finally stood up and went to the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea, hoping that it would help her to relax a little bit. Kate pushed the button of the electric kettle and waited until the water boiled. She suddenly felt lonely and decided to put on some music, so she went to the living room where her stereo was. Looking through her CDs, she let her gaze fall on her Evanescence CD "Fallen." Taking the CD box in her hand, she looked at the back of it to see what songs were on it… A melancholy smile appeared on her lips when her eyes read one special title: "Bring Me to Life."

Every time she heard the song Tony's face appeared to her. Sure, when she work with him, she always needed to say teasing things to him-calling him a pig or anything like that-to hide the fact that in the secret of her heart she really did like him.

Kate put the CD in the stereo and flipped through the titles until she was heard the first notes of the song. She closed her eyes slowly, and as always, Tony appeared in her mind. Kate went to her couch and closed her eyes again, grabbing a pillow as if it could have been him. Unfortunately, Tony was with her best friend right now because she needed him more than ever.

How can you see into my eyes like open doors
leading you down into my core
where I've become so numb without a soul my spirit sleeping somewhere cold
until you find it there and lead it back home

Kate knew Tony was Abby's anchor and would prevent her from sinking completely. Abby needed someone to hold on to, but the problem was Kate was starting to need someone too, and was wondering how long Tony would hold on. Tony was strong, there was no doubt on about that, but he was only a human being, and though he would never admit it to anyone, he had his limits.

(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
before I come undone
(Save me)
save me from the nothing I've become

He wanted to get some warmth. He was starting to freeze and he was thirsty. For a minute he had been tempted to try to get closer to the wall, where he heard water dripping off, just to wet his lips, but his body wouldn't allow it. It ached everywhere, even more by each passing second.

Gibbs had no doubt he would drift off again soon. As a Marine he had been trained for these kinds of situations, but because of his condition he wouldn't be able to take much more. He aggressor had found a new kind of torture for Gibbs; he often held a lighter next to Gibbs's skin, in addition to the other injuries.

Gibbs could feel the heat that emanated from the flame, and when it finally licked the edges of the gunshot wound on his shoulder Gibbs could not hold back a cry of pain that came right from his soul. He closed his eyes, and for the first time in years the faces of his lost wife and daughter appeared to him… Shannon and Kelly.

And for a moment, Gibbs thought that maybe going with them wouldn't be so bad - dying wouldn't be such a bad idea after all.

Then Gibbs heard a soft voice in his head. "No, honey, you can't come with us. It's not your time yet - you have to hold on. You are strong, so don't you dare give up. You still have a job to do here and your team needs you. And there is someone on your team who needs you more than ever. She adores you, and even more…" His wife's voice continued kindly. "And something tells me that those feelings are shared. You need to get out of here alive, Jethro, to tell her how you feel… it's the only way to move on. We love you and we will always be with you in your heart..."

The blond little girl, who was holding her mother's hand, waved to him with a smile and said softly but eagerly, "Love you, daddy." And they disappeared.

"Love you too, honey," he whispered back, his eyes brimming with tears.

"Well, well look at that. NCIS Special Agent Gibbs is crying. Who ever thought that a tough guy like you would be able to cry. Do you have a heart after all?" He laughed sarcastically.

Gibbs didn't really pay attention to his aggressor. He was trying to focus on something that was worth staying alive for, and there was only one thing in all his life that was worth that. She was the light of his days. She was the one who could soothe his heart every time he looked at her…

Abby woke up with a start. She was in a sweat and felt like she was suffocating. Tony woke up as well. "Abbs?" he said, just getting out of his sleep.

"NO, STOP!" Abby managed to cry out.

At her words, Tony woke up completely. He reached out, but Abby curled herself up into a ball in the corner of the bed. Tony could clearly see the terrified expression on her face.

"Don't touch me!" she said in a crying voice.

Tony slowly came closer to her, trying to be very gentle, not wanting to frighten her even more. "Abby? Abby, it's me, Tony," he whispered to her.

Tony couldn't help but think, "Here we go again - first she starts to feel better, and then things get worse…"

He really loved Abby as the great friend she always was, but he was starting to wonder how much more he would be able to take. Tony was starting to give up a little and his nerves were faltering: each time Abby broke, his heart broke too.

If they ever found the guy who kidnapped Gibbs, Tony wasn't sure he would not kill the guy…

"Please, Abby, don't. Don't do that. I need you, and Gibbs needs you to get him back. Honey, please tell me what's wrong. Did something happen?"

This situation was completely crazy, but Tony was starting to understand that there was some kind of connection between his friend and Gibbs - even if it seemed completely insane to him. He had to admit that Abby had never acted like this before, and there was only one single explanation… was Abby feeling what Gibbs was feeling?

"How bad can this be? Let's give it a try," he thought.

"Abby, tell me what you feel, please? What's happening?"

No reaction came from her at first, but then slowly she moved a little. "Heat… I feel heat from a flame… my… my shoulder hurts like hell. The flame's coming closer - too close to my gunshot wound. No… no, please, NO!" Abby screamed, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Tony got closer to her and took her in his arms. "Shhhh, Abbs, it's okay. You are here with me - nothing can happen," he told her, stroking her hair and placing a kiss on the top of her head.

"Too late - the flame is now biting the edges of the wound and it's like he's marking me… he's enjoying the fact that he is torturing me," Abby said in a muffled voice.

Tony could not believe what he was hearing. Abby had just described how Gibbs was being tortured, and he had to swallow hard at the thought of what Gibbs must be going through. A lot of stuff was spinning through his mind and an idea suddenly came to him.

"Abbs, honey, do you by any chance my have any idea where he might be?" he gently asked her.

This whole situation was crazy, but if Abby could feel what Gibbs was feeling - maybe she would be able to give some indication to where he was confined if she could concentrate herself enough.

"NOOOOOOOO!" Abby curled herself into a ball again.

"Abby? What? What's happening?" She was screaming as if someone was slitting her throat. For the first time since the whole ordeal had started, he was overcome by panic.

Abby kept crying and Tony was petrified by fear-fear that they might never find Gibbs alive. If that was the case, what were they going to do? No, that could not be an option; they had to find him.

Tony had the impression that his world was slowly breaking into pieces. He wished that all this wasn't really happening, that he would finally wake up from this bad dream. The only problem was: this was not a nightmare, this was the cold reality.

"Knife…" Abby suddenly said in a voice strangled with cries.

"What?" Tony asked incredulously.

"Whoever is holding him hostage had cut him with a knife, Tony…" Abby explained in a low voice.

Tony swallowed once more. This time he couldn't avoid calling Kate. He looked Abbs in the eyes and then stood up to get his cell phone. She had to come right away, and when she knew, they would make a decision about what to do together.

He flipped open his phone and dialed Kate's phone number, hoping she would still be up at this hour. She picked up at the second ring tone.

["Kate Todd."]

"Kate? It's me… I think we have a big problem. Could you come over to my apartment, please?"

["Be there in thirty minutes,"] she answered, before hanging up without a further word.

Kate quickly took a shower and dressed, then took her car keys and left her house. She hadn't asked Tony anything because there was no need for that. If he was calling, it meant that something was wrong.

Kate appeared at his apartment door thirty minutes later sharp. The minute Tony opened the door, Kate knew that the situation they were in was critical.

"Come on in," Tony told Kate as he stepped aside to let her pass.

"What's wrong?" she asked as her heartbeat accelerated a little in anticipation of what might be coming.

Tony didn't answer her question. He just led her to his bedroom where Abby had again curled herself into a ball on the bed. When Kate saw Abby she was about to run to her side, but Tony stopped her by holding her arm.

"No, don't, Kate," he voiced.

"But…" she started.

"I know, but she won't let you approach her."

"But we can't leave her like this," she said worriedly.

"I agree, but she won't let you approach her," Tony insisted.

"But why?"

"If I tell you, you won't believe me because the situation is completely nuts."

Kate looked at him with questioning eyes, not really understanding what her friend and colleague had just told her.

"Go ahead, shoot, and we'll see if I believe it or not."

"All right then, but wait until I'm finished with the explanation before reacting, okay?"

"Whatever you say," Kate answered, obviously puzzled.

Tony hesitated a split second more, then he started: "Abby is connected to Gibbs. I don't know how it's possible, but that's the way it is."

Kate cut him off. "Stop playing around, Tony. In normal times, it's already difficult when you say idiotic things, but…"

Tony lifted his hand. "Do you see Abby? Do you have the slightest idea why she looks like that?" he asked her simply.

"I don't know-because she's afraid, maybe?" Kate said in an irritated voice.

"That's a part of it, yeah, but also because she's in pain."

"But why aren't you doing something?" she asked.

"Because I can't. She doesn't have a thing. But she's feeling everything Gibbs does. Kate, Gibbs has been tortured by his kidnapper or kidnappers."

"Come on, Tony, this is not the right time for telling jokes. You're impossible," Kate said greatly vexed.

Tony shot her a glare, angry that Kate once again thought that he could tell lies in such moments. He'd done some pretty immature things in the past, but when it was work-related, his team could count on him. And for God's sake, they were talking about Abby here.

"Sorry, Tony," she said simply, regret creeping in her voice. It was indeed a question of Abbs, so he wouldn't make up insane stories like this.

"I know this sounds crazy, but Abby is really connected to him. She started to scream without any reason, Kate, twice. At the beginning I didn't get it, but then I remembered how we found her in her lab and she was telling us that Gibbs would not come." Tony paused for a few minutes.

"Yeah, you're right…" she sighed.

Tony looked in Abby's direction with sad eyes. Things suddenly seemed so difficult to him. What would they do if they found Gibbs's lifeless body?

"Tony? Tony?" Kate called him.

"Hmmm…"

"Tell me, why was Abby screaming?"

"I'm not really sure I want to tell you. You might think I made it up again, and it's kind of nasty."

"Tony, please don't be such a child-we don't have time for this. I need to know everything if we might hope to find Gibbs alive. Have you asked Abbs if she might have any indication to where he might be held captive?"

"No, but I wanted to try."

"Come with me. We're going to ask her about it together," she said softly, gently squeezing his forearm.

They both went to Abby's side to ask her if she knew something, anything about where Gibbs was.

To be continued….