(this is my first so bear with me 21)

Friday afternoon, the sun was shining, but not for the agents on team Gibbs at NCIS headqarters. For weeks now there has not been one incident, one murder,one anything. All three agents sat and waited to see the elevator doors open and, hopefully, Gibbs will step out with a new mystery to solve.
The doors open and Ziva, Tony, and McGee all turn at the same moment to see Gibbs stepping out, hanging up his phone, and walking to his desk.
"The Brunette Murders, what have you heard about them?"asked Gibbs
"I've been hearing alot about that in the news lately Boss"answered Tony. " One woman found dead so far, 3 more have gone missing, all within the ages of 22-26, all brunette, all extremely good looking if I do say so myself, all disappeared within 2 miles of their work with nothing but one skidmark, and they think maybe a Van, something dark like black or dark blue left behind."
"One body was found a couple of weeks ago, washed up in the bay. She was missing for4 weeks before she was found. State police searched the area didn't find anything else of interest" said Ziva
" Well he finally made a mistake" replied Gibbs. "He abducted a young naval officer just off of base almost two weeks ago and we got a lead"
"A lead boss?" Asked McGee
"A dark green '99 Dodge Sprinter was spotted going upinto the woods 20 miles from here by a farmer and we're going to check it out"
"Yes!" could be heard simultaneously from all three agents as they scrambled to grab their gear and run for the elevator.
****************************
They turn up the dirt road and head into the forrest. The sun was just about to set and only a glimmer of pink could be seen across the sky. Around the corner they see a barn come into view. It was old, no longer used, or so it looked. Gibbs stopped the car and gave orders to surround the barn. McGee to the left, Ziva around back, and Tony was to stay with Gibbs. He felt tension in the air. "something is not right" thought Gibbs.
" There's a DodgeSprinter Boss" says Tony as he points to the dark green van sticking out from the caved in barn door.
Suddenly, muffled screams could be heard ringing throughout the woods. Gibbs and Tony took cover behind a tree and got ready to shoot. A woman ran from the barn gagged, hands tied. Just as she was falling to the ground she was caught by Special Agent DiNozzo and she locked eyes with him before she passed out. He looked at her just a moment longer, she had faint signs of pink blush on her cheeks.
The Ford roared into life. It sped from the barn and all four agents turned and fired at the back, hoping to slow the man down, but no luck. He took off down the dark road and was lost in his trail of dirt.
"Search the barn I want everything sent back to Abby" ordered Gibbs.
"On it boss"
*********************
Back at the office, the three agents sat around the big screen, trying to pull together all information taken on the Brunette Murders.
"Petty Officer Leah Mitchell, just got out of Training top of her class. It seems she received high scores but got in trouble a couple of times because of a disagreement with some of the men in her training." said McGee.
"Disagreement?" Asked Ziva "You mean, this tiny woman beat up these men and they have a problem with it."
"That's what Ilike, a girl with a little attitude, rawww" added Tony.
"She's way too low for you Tony" said Ziva.
"Too low? You mean too young Ziva" said McGee.
" I don't know, maybe she likes the older men" said Tony." You know, we did have a moment there before she blacked out. I wouldn't be surprised if she was already in love with me" He flashed a big grin.
"Dont flatter yourself Tony." said Gibbs coming around the courner.
All three agents jumped up at the sound of Gibbs voice.
"How is she boss?" asked McGee.
"Just a couple of bumps and scrapes, she'll be fine."
"Did she remember anything from being held" asked Tony.
"I remember being underground" a voice was heard from behind the group.
All turned to see Ms Mitchell standing with bandages on her wrists and a couple of bruises on her face. They all looked her up and down. McGee thought :"Hu, maybe she is into computers. I've been dying to show someone my new security specs. Ziva thought, "Goodness the woman looks doesn't look old enought to be here, I cant even see any muscles." Tony thought, "I wonder what her bra size is...c...b..."
"And there were more than four girls"
***************************
"You shouldn't be here. You need to go back for your health evaluation. Go" Ordered Gibbs.
"I can help you. I can tell you what I remember. Maybe we can piece this together." Said Mitchell.
" You have been in a traumatic situation, you really should take a couple of days to rest." added Agent Ziva David stepping in.
"I do not need to rest. Listen to me. I remember things that can help find the others.'
"Do you remember where you were being held Petty Officer Mitchell?" Demanded Gibbs.
"Well no not exactly..."
"Do you remember what your abductor looked like?"
"Well no he was wearing a mask the whole time but," the frustration in her voice was easy to hear.
"But nothing. I will send someone to get your statement, we can take it from here"
Mitchell stood in her spot. A staring war was going on between her and Gibbs. The rest of the team was silent, waiting to see who was going to give first. Mitchells expression was different than Gibbs. Her's was of defiance, his was of a mix of disapproval and indifference.
"I got away but they didn't. I will NOT let my situation get in the way of this invesitgation. If you feel I am not emotionally, physically, or mentally capable of handling this then I will leave but I AM going to stay and help you."
"I have never seen an order like that play out well with Gibbs" Said McGee to DiNozzo. Followed by a small snicker.
Again the room was silent....
"McGee." said Gibbs finally.
"Yes Boss"
"I want back traces on Petty Officer Mitchells home, cell, and computer for the past 6 months. Someone has been watching her and we need to figure out who"
"On It Boss" said McGee as he returned to his desk and began to type.
"David" Barked Gibbs "I need all survelliance tapes from outside the base, the street, and any store video at the time of Mitchells abduction."
Ziva sat at her desk and picked up the phone.
"DiNozzo"
"Yes Boss" answered Tony.
"I do not want you to let Petty Officer Mitchell out of your sight untill this investigation is closed."
"Gladly" DiNozzo said. He flashed Mitchell a big smile followed by a smack to the back of the head from Gibbs.
"And what can I do" Asked Mitchell.
"You can try not to get in the way untill I need you" said Gibbs as he turned and walked to the elevator.
"Is he always like that?" asked Mitchell.
"Only on his good days" replied Ziva.
While the team was hard at work, Mitchell walked around the room. She would go from desk to desk peering over shoulders.
"You know, you remind me of someone" said Tony. He had a look on his face like he had a name on the tip of his tongue, he snapped his fingers. "Do you know who I'm talking about?"
"I haven't a clue. Maybe Catherine Zeta-Jones?" Mitchell said with a grin.
"No, but did you ever see her in Mask of Zorro? The sceen with her in the barn......"
***********************
The team had assembled in the conference room to hear the whole story. Mitchell sat at the head of the table, knees to her chest, looking back...
"It was April 15th. I had just left the base and was driving north on main street on my way home. I stopped at the light and a man approached my car. He had a spray bottle and a cloth in his hand, like he was coming to clean my windows. I rolled down my window a bit just to tell him that I didnt need his services and he sprayed something into my car. After that, things got fuzzy."
"Abby said she found a drup similar to ruffelin in her system. It was extremely potent. That is how he abducted you without a fight. It should take a couple of days for everthing to become clear again" said Ziva reading over Abby's report.
"Was he wearing a mask then Petty Officer Mitchell?"
"You can call me Leah"
"Ill be sure to, Leah" said Tony.
Ziva and McGee exchanged looks.
"No, His face was just a shadow. When I woke up, I was on a dirt floor and there were bars above my face. I was tied. I tried to struggle and make some sort of noise but I was gagged. I stayed there for what seemed like days. Every once in awhile I would hear a scream, get a glimpse of him pulling someone into a room beyond my sight. I fell in and out of consciousness."
"Is there anything else you can tell us about where you were being held?" Asked Gibbs
"I remember hearing running water like a stream." She held her temples, eyes shut. Trying to remember anything more than her fear and the smell of dirt.
She flashed back. She saw dust in the air, heard the cries of the women around her.
"I would wake up and he would be standing over me."
The team exchanged looks.
"How did you know there were more than four girls there?" asked Gibbs.
"I would hear them weeping. Sometimes praying. I could hear more than four voices. He would leave with one girl and he would come back alone. I knew that if he took me out it would be to kill me"
"How is it that you came to be in the barn. Is that where you were being held?" asked Gibbs
"I still can't remember everything. I feel like I was in a dream the whole time" said Mitchell.
"It's ok things will come back to you, for now just tell us what you do know" said Gibbs. A hint of concern could be heard in his voice.
"That day you found me he had taken me out and for the first time in days I felt sunlight on my skin. He put me in the back of his van and we drove for... maybe an hour. I remember we went over a bridge. He took me out and took the wrap off of my eyes and we were in that barn. He threw me to the ground and I pretended to pass out again. He came back... with a knife." The tension started to build in her voice." He stood over me I took my chance and swung my legs to his and knocked him down. He pulled my hair. I kicked as hard as I could." She started to breathe harder, her eyes were shut.
She remembered the flash of his blade in the light, the smell around her was of death itself. She had to get out! Had to fight!
"All I know is I had to get out of there. Next thing I know I am falling to the ground, I see a face, I thought it was an angel coming to take me home. Then I woke up here."
"Well actually, that angel was me." said DiNozzo with a grin.
Mitchell smiled. It felt like the first smile. Awkward, not whole hearted. Gibbs saw the pain and the will to stay strong in her eyes.
"What do we know?" Gibbs asked the team.
"We know he had access to some hard core drugs. Not everyone can go pick that kind of stuff up off the street." Said Tony.
"We know he must be disposing with the bodies somewhere near the barn. It is only 10 minutes to the bay from there. I suggest we send in teams to comb the area." Said Ziva.
"I also found bugs on both her cell and her computer. Every move she made he knew about" Said McGee
"Can we trace it? Asked Gibbs.
"Maybe, I mean there is a million servers he could have used to get into her computer. Thousand of files..." McGee trailed off. "On it boss" and he left the room.
"Back to work everyone" Demanded Gibbs.
"What do you need me to do" asked Leah.
He returned and stood over her in the chair.
"You stay close, and let me know if you think of anything else"
Mitchell did not move. Everyone left the room but still she sat. She kept flashing back. Seeing the shadow of the man standing over her, remembering her pleas, the feel of tears streaming down her face. She fell into a different reality, remembering her training. She had barely made it through basic training when she got in her first fight. She felt she was always weak. "Why did I get away and not them?" She snapped back into reality and realized the that DiNozzo had come back and had saved her from her memory.
"Hey we are ordering chinese. Anything you like?"
Again with the fake smile. "No I am alright. Besides, I saw a pretty impressive vending maching down stairs and I have had my eye on that Moon Pie"
"I would be happy to assist you Leah" and with that he offered her his arm and let her towards the vending machine.
********************
Ziva had just finished pulling together all of the tapes and nothing of any help was found. She was sitting at her desk watching Petty Officer Mitchell at the window. She knew what Mitchell was going through. Trying to stay strong and tough when all you want to do is run and hide from the world. Tho Mitchell always seamed like she was handling the whole situation well, Ziva still felt bad for the woman and knew that she was fighting an inner conflict.
"I read you were pretty good with the firearm." said Ziva stepping beside Mitchell and leaning on the window. "would you like to join me in the shooting range for a little practice?" She had one eyebrow raised and a small grin on her face.
"Great." They started walking together towards the stairs. "I used to go all the time with my dad when I was younger. I think I still have my first target when I got to join the dime club." She raised her arms straight out and put her hands together like a gun. "All the guys in my training hated that I was better at them at hitting the targets but I cant help my natural talent." she said with a shrug and a smile.
"Yes I saw that you had a pretty impressive record. I would not think such things could come from such a small girl with so little time out of training."
"See, thats how I trick everyone. I make them all think I am just a little innocent girl then BANG!" she said with a clap of her hands.
"Very smart. You learned how to adapt to your specific situation. That will do you well in this business."
They entered the shooting range and pickeda weapon. For almost an hour they stayed and shot at targets. Feeling the power of the gun was always a calming mecanism for Ziva, and she guessed it was the same for Mitchell for she had a determined smile on her face the whole time. They left and began heading upstairs again.
"You know, where I was brought up it was not ok to be to cry, to show weakness, to be weak. For the longest time I kept everything inside, pretended like nothing happened, just like I can tell you are doing now.:"
She looked to Mitchell, she was looking to the ground.
"I know you are trying to do what is best and try to stay strong, I can feel the conflict in you. You want to run and hide, but at the same time you want to fight. You cannot let it stay in you forever. You were kidnapped and god knows what else, it is ok to be afraid" she looked into Mitchells face. She felt a connection with the young woman she saw a bit of herself in her. Mitchell was strong like Ziva and had a bit of her looks too.
With that Mitchell paused. She knew Ziva was right. She sat on the steps and Ziva sat beside her and, for the first time since she got out, Mitchell cried. She let Ziva stroke her hair and allowed her pain to finally come out. She cried out all her hurt, her feelings of resentment towards herself, her feelings of weakness, the feeling of being out of control. It was time to let it go and it was time to bring the villian to justice.
******************************

The team was hard at work. McGee was still trying to crack through whatever defence was stopping him from being able to track the kidnapper. Everyone could tell he was stressed out. Ziva was on the phone with every police station in Virginia trying to find any missing women that could be the women still stuck with the kidnapper.
"So Leah, favorite movie of all time?" asked Tony. He was sitting back in his chair with his feet up. Mitchell came to sit on his desk.
"She doesn't want to play that stupid game with you Tony." said Ziva
"No Ilike this game. OK. Favorite movie of all time has to be.... The 10th Kingdom."
"The one with the girl and the wolf man in fairytale land?" asked DiNozzo. Mitchell nodded.
"Ha yea I saw that one. What about your favorite food?'
"I have to say... Moon Pies and spaghetti." Mitchell said with a big grin.
She has the best smile Tony thought. "Mixed together?" asked Tony kiddingly.
"No silly. Well, now that you mention it, it might be a good combination to test out."
"Gross! What about... best day of your life?"
Mitchell looked to Ziva. She had learned so much from the woman who had only spoken to her two or three times. She learned how to let go and how to never let her being a woman, or a small woman, hold her back. She no longer thought about her abductor constantly. She felt like she could smile again. That was something she would keep with her forever. She felt strong.
"Today" she answered with a smile to Ziva. Ziva returned the smile and looked back into her computer.
Tony thought that was weird. He hoped that Ziva wasnt telling Mitchell nasty bad things about him.
"What about your favorite vacation spot?"
"Will you stop asking her questions and get back to work." said Ziva with a hint of a joke in her voice.
"My job is to stick with Leah here, and her job is to stay put till Gibbs needs her. I think we are doing our jobs pretty well aren't we?" he asked Mitchell with a smile.
"I will help you guys if I can. What can I do?"
"Well unless you can crack a stream of everchanging codes and find our guy you cant help me" said McGee.
"Oh poor McGee. Maybe you are looking at it the wrong way. I mean the guy let me get loose, he cant be that smart. Besides you have been working so hard, you cant be far off now."
"How through all of this are you able to keep a cheerful outlook?" asked McGee.
"I dont know.. I guess I am a glass half full kind of girl"
******************************

"Gibbs!!" exclaimed Abby.
"Abby, what?" shocked Gibbs replied.
"You have not been down to see me yet. I have something for you come with me" she said with a swirl, a skip, and a shimmey over to her computer.
clickey, clack, clack, click, click.
"Ok, #1, the drug I found in her system is called hypotenzeron. Only 3 pharmacies in the state sell it."
"Send it up to Tony."
"Already did he is running it now. #2. I went over everything you sent me from the barn. Some of the hay you sent me had faint traces of blood on them. I was able to match them to the 3 girls missing before Petty Officer Leah."
"She was next."
"She really got lucky you guys came when you did." said Abby pausing from her computer.
"I dont believe in luck, what else do you got"
Abby walked to the table behind them and paused. Mitchell was standing in the doorway.
"Oh my goodness!!" said Mitchell with a look of suprise on her face."Who is this?!?"
"Abby Schuto at your service" she said with a little bow.
"Your outfit! I am offically in love."
"I like her Gibbs! Is this the girl Tony keeps telling me about?"
"And I will offically fire you if you don't get back to the point"
"You would never fire me Gibbs. #3, I found some pine needles mixed in with the dirt beneath where the van was."
"Well yea Abbs we were in the middle of the forrest" the impatience in his voice wasn't hard to miss.
"Yes but all of the trees around you were berch. The pine needles, im guessing, came from wherever Petty Officer Mitchell was being held. So I checked the area and 20 miles west is where the nearest pine trees are."
"Good job Abby." Gibbs said as he turned and made to leave the room.
"Gibbs, you have to stay for my grand finale. I checked the area where I found the pine trees and cross checked it for bridges near water. I think I found it." with a big smile he handed him a piece of paper with the directions.
"Mitchell, your coming with me." said Gibbs as he left the room.
"I will see you later honey pie" Mitchell said with a little wave. Abby winked back.
Gibbs saw the first true smile from Mitchell that he could remember. She really was beautiful when her face was not covered in fear and uncertainty.
Suddenly, Mitchell paused.
"What now?" demanded Gibbs.
Mitchell felt like she was coming out of the fog. She saw herself in a dark room, a light over her head. In the shadows ahead of her sat a man, he was not wearing a face mask but a gas mask. He must have been pumping the drug into the air. She was dressed up in a tutu and was sprawled out on a old couch. He sat and looked at her, for how long she didnt remember.
"We were his dolls. He would dress us up in these outfits. Thats why I had that blush on my face when you found me. He is some sicko freak with a addiction to young women who he could never have. When he gets tired of his new dolls he disposes of them. He would dress me and undress me... He took pictures I remember now." Her voice was filled with discust. She shivered remembering the touch of his hands on her skin.
She flashed back to the dark room, feeling like she was seeing it from anothers eyes. He was hiding beneath the bridge where the opening to the sewers was.
"Listen to me Petty Officer Mitchell" said Gibbs stepping in front of her and holding her shoulders, snapping her from her memory. "You can either stay here and cry about it or come with me to get the bastard"
"I will come, but I want my gun back." She shook the memory from her mind, she had new probelms to worry about.
******************************

"David, DiNozzo, and Mitchell with me now" demanded Gibbs as he out grabbed his gun and handed Mitchells back to her.
She stroked the cold metal, enjoyed the feeling of it back in her pocession. It had a tiny fairy painted into the handle.
"McGee I want a lock on our guy now. We are heading in that direction I need you to tell us exactly where he is"
"I've been working on it Boss I am almost there." McGee looked up and his face was of defeat. He looked to Mitchell.
"Come on McGee, I know you can do it" The look of total confidenceon her face gave him a renewed power. He went back to his computer.
"Call me when you have a location." said GIbbs and the four agents headed for the car.
"So I was wondering" said DiNozzo with a litle uncertainty in his voice. "After we catch the perp, I saw the vending maching is recently stocked with your Moon Pies..."
"and..." replied Mitchell. She knew what he was going to say.
"and.." he was cut off.
The doors to the elivator opened and the agetns rushed out to the car. They sped through traffic, weaving in and out of cars. Suprisingly, Mitchell was handling the driving really well thought DiNozzo. He, on the other hand, felt himself turning a little green.
"You look like your used to driving like this." he said to Mitchell over the sound of beeping cars and air rushing by.
"You should get in the car with me sometime, I think you would prefer Gibbs' driving"
"Is that an invitation?" Tony asked with a smile.
She returned the smile. Ziva watched in the front seat from the rear view mirror. She could tell that Tony liked her, and she could tell Mitchell had interest as well. What was weird was that Ziva hadn't seen Tony pushing too hard or bringing out much of his "game". They all knew Mitchell was different and even though Ziva didnt want to like her, she couldnt help it. Just like she knew Tony couldnt help himself.
They pulled up to the bridge 45 minutes out of town. Mitchell stepped out of the car and felt as she was stepping into a dream. Scenes of her captativity rushed into her mind.
"Everyone spread out" ordered Gibbs.
The team dispersed but Tony followed his first assignment and stayed close behind Mitchell. She walked as if in a daze seeing both the past and the present at the same time. "The entrance is hiddden" she thought. Trying to stretch her mind, trying to remember something important, anything...
"Here, follow me." She headed under the bridge.
"She's onto something Boss" Tony informed Gibbs.
The team followed her under the bridge. Ahead there was an opening in the cement, a door into the sewers. Mitchell led the way. The team filed into the dark, wet, and cold room under the bridge.Though she couldnt see where she was going she felt her way through the darkness, she almost knew where she was going. She felt a door. The lock was not secured.
"Something's wrong." she shook her head.
"Step back"ordered Gibbs and opened the doors. A room came into view, a dirt floor and the sound of rushing water just ke Mitchell remembered.The team rushed the room. Mitchell pushed ahead of Gibbs, gun ready. She ran across the room. It was empty.
"He moved them, he moved the girls. He knew we would be coming. "Mitchell yelled.
Ring, ring, ring,
"Yea, Gibbs"
"Boss, I got a lock on his computer. It looks like he is on the move. Driving up state and moving fast." said McGee.
"Lets move McGees got a lock on him."
The team rushed back out to the car.
"Im uploading his exact location to you now" McGee was hard at work on the other end of the line.
The vehicle speed down the highway. 85-90-95-96-99 faster and faster they drove. The sun was setting behind them almost as god himself was behind the team.
"He stopped boss. He just pulled over into the Super 11 gas station on route 7."
Ahead the gas station came into view and at the back of the parking lot was a Green Dodge Sprinter. The car came to a sudden stop and as swift as the wind the team was out and surrounding the van. The man reved the engine he knew he was in trouble.
Bang bang bang bang his tires were shot out. Gibbs ran to the front of the van and opened the door. It was a man, discusting, didnt look like he had showered in weeks. No scratch that, in years. Pictures of women living and dead littered the front seat. He laughed and laughed a smile of pure insanity on his face.Gibbs pulled him from the car and face first into the pavement.
"Not so funny now dirt bag" he said while putting on hand cuffs.
Ziva opened the back of the van and 5 young women lay dazed one on top of the other. Packed like cattle, all tied and gagged. Some raised their heads and by the look in they're eyes it looked like they were extrememly drugged, just as Mitchell had been. The carpet on the floor and walls was stained with blood.
Mitchell turned, gun raised to the man under Gibbs. "remember me" she screamed.
Gibbs raised him off the ground and started leading him over to the car. He jerked suddenly and got free of Gibbs' hold and laughing tried to make a run for it. Five shots rang through the air. The man lay on the ground, all rounds in his back. A puddle of blood starting to seep from underneath him. No one knew if it was Gibbs or Mitchell who made the extra shot. No one cared to know.
******************************

"Martin Cruz, 46, used to be a computer guy back in the day. Worked for some big companies. He was let go in 2007 from some disturbing pictures found on his compuer. That was just the beginning. After that he went crazy by the looks of it" said Ziva David.
"That explains why I wasnt able to get a lock on him for so long" said McGee.
"But the important thing is you DID find him McGee" Mitchell looked up at him and gave him a small hug.
She was leaving to go back to the base and everyone came to say goodbye.
"So I got your email and you cell number. We will keep in touch ok. Oh and dont forget, that Beautiful Death concert is next month you are still coming with me right? Abby was sad to see her new found friend leave.
"Of course Abby" answered Mitchell. She gave her a hug as well and turned to Ziva.
The women exchanged looks and that was it. No words were needed.
"Let me walk you out Leah" Tony picked up her bag and headed towards the elevator.
Outside the elevator doors they were met by Gibbs.
"Good Job Mitchell. you didnt get in my way too much" said Gibbs.
"Thank you for letting me stay. I didn't get to help muuch but you have a great team here"
"Yea, and if you ever pull that insecure woman crap ever again I might not let you come back." He smiled. The first smile Mitchell had seen from him. He turned and walked away.
"Does that mean I can come work with you guys again" she yelled after him. He didnt answer.
"Ill take that as a yes"
DiNozzo and Mitchell stepped into the elevator. Just as the doors were about to close Tony leaned into Mitchell. Her face raised to his. The doors shut on the sceen that was about to unfold.When they got to the bottom, the doors opened and Mitchell stepped out. A hugh smile on both they're faces.
"Maybe ill see you around sometime Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo."
"Yea" he watched as she walked out the building. The elevator doors closed on him and his ear to ear grin.
******************************
THE END