„JASON!!!“
Tony called again and then the door opened. Jethro stepped out of the house first. He walked a few meters away from the house and sat the baby carrier on the floor. Tony could see that he was using every little bit of self control to not go back in or do anything else. Then Alishia exited the house. She stopped right next to her father, tears in her eyes and her face pale.
„ONE’S STILL MISSING!“
Tony yelled and moved a bit closer. And then, he appeared. A gun aimed at his son, Jason stepped into the door and Tony walked towards him.
„Let him go.“
Jason took off his hand from Daniel’s shoulder and the boy ran to Jethro. Tony followed Jason’s nod inside the house and the door was closed before he could get one last look at his family.
Tim got out of the car but didn’t move any closer to the house.
„Get in!“
He said and the kids moved at once. But Jethro remained staring at the house.
„How could you let him do that?“
He demanded and rushed over to go frontal into Tim’s face.
„Get into the car, director.“
Dumbstruck Jethro stared at Tim. Finally the young man shifted on his feet and glanced towards the house.
„Tony ordered me to drive him here and bring you back to HQ. I won’t disobey this order.“
„It’s suicidal! That guy has a gun!“
„So has Tony. Now get into the car.“
„But...“
„NO BUT! Don’t you see that your husband is risking his life to save yours? He’s not doing this for fun but to save his family and if we stay here we can’t help him either, rather we’ll make this bastard even madder. Now get into the car!“
Gaping at Tim Jethro finally obeyed and sat on the passenger seat.
„So, Anthony, you changed quite a lot.“
„Well, you’re still a criminal.“
A humourless grin appeared on Jason’s face.
„I think you want to lose your gun.“
„I don’t think so. What do you wanna threat me with? That you kill me? Huh, that’s what I came for. We both have a gun, why don’t we clear this like men?“
„Did you smoke something?“
The elevator opened and Tim all but stormed out of it, or rather fleed. Jethro on his heels he sat behind his desk and started typing.
„We have to do something! I want agents there! All around the house! And sniper units and...“
„Gibbs! Think about it. There are two men. Both have a gun. There’s only one way this can end. One of them will be dead.“
Jethro stared at Tim, who deliberately ignored him. Stan stood from his desk.
„Hey, where have you been? I thought DiNozzo should be back today?“
„He is. He’s in hostage, at the moment. And I’m trying to find a way to help him without storming the house, which wouldn’t help.“
Tim said annoyed. The threw Stan a look that told Jethro that Tim knew everything of what Stan had said and he was taking everything personal. Jethro put both hands on the desk.
„Tim, this is no operation. This is ridiculus.“
„It was Tony’s choice. And I respect that. I know you would do the same for him. How often when Tony has been in hostage or in isolation or chained to a murderer you wished you could switch place with him?“
Jethro straightened up and sighed.
„The problem is that he thinks that he can’t live without me. But I can’t live without him, either.“
With that he walked to Tony’s desk and sat behind it.
Half an hour later Jethro’s cell phone rang. His heart was beating a hundred miles per minute because the Caller ID promised home. He didn’t know if it was Tony, telling him that everything was ok, or if it was Kramer â€" Crow â€" telling him that Tony was dead. Finally he worked up the courage and pushed the answering button.
„Gibbs?“
„Jethro...“
Jethro’s heart missed a beat. It was Tony.
„...I think I screwed up.“
And then silence. The strained tone in Tony’s voice made it hard to breathe for Jethro and it was with sheer will that he managed to speak.
„I’m coming, Tony. You hear me? I’m right there.“
While he stood up and rushed to the elevator, closely followed by McGee, he still held the phone to his ear, but nothing came.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.