San Benito, TX

It was a hot day ahead, Rico Lopez muttered to himself, "a hot day indeed." He pulled up the driveway in San Benito's south city, getting out of the car the first thing to hit him was the stench of meat? "Sam must be cooking again. Huh, I will never figure out Gino's idea of a meal." Opening the door to the house, he saw one of the most frighting sights ever to behold him. His friend Sam was laying on the floor with his head completely and utterly gone! "Dios mio!"<End Scene cue credits>

Washington, DC-NCIS

ding, ding, ding, "Yes, this is NCIS....Okay we'll be down in three, four hours tops...thanks...okay, bye." After a quite week it seemed that fate had one more trick in store for Gibbs and his team. <Gibbs Yelling> "Dinozzo! Get Ziva and McGee! We're going to Texas, we have to be there in 3 hours." Walking down the metal stairs, which led to Vance's office, Gibbs gave Tony a stern look. "Coming Boss!" Tony walked in, with Ziva and McGee in tow. "Where are we headed to?" "San Benito south side, murder and beheading, get your keys you're driving Dinozzo." "Excuse me, but I never get to drive! You always tell McGee or Tony to," Ziva pointed out sharply. "That's because I want to reach there alive, Agent David. Let's move out." Tony held out his keys, "Have 'em Boss. Let's roll."

San Benito, TX

flash flash flash. Ziva took two pictures of the headless body, then one of the room. Tony walked up to her, "You know this reminds me of that movie where Harrison Ford walks past a saw in some temple in Turkey...or was it Jordan?" "I thought you said it reminded you of the movie?" Ziva muttered. "Aren't in a good mood today? Did some terrorist kiss you goodnight, because if he did I want to trade places today." "Ow!" Gibb's hand hit Tony on the back of his head. "Get back to work, Dinozzo." "Yes boss!" Gibbs leaned in over the body then he gestured to Ziva. "Send these pictures to Abby, she'll analyze them." Ziva turned to Gibbs, "The job is sloppy, not like in Iraq or an Al-Queda op." "Maybe so, but we have to be sure. Have you got names of anyone who knew him, on site?" Ziva checked her pad. "Just one a Rico Lopez. Says he's a friend of Sam McCall. McGee is with him."

Outside McGee looked over his notes. The sun was out in full force and it was already 97 degrees out. "So you pulled in the driveway, and opened the door to the house and found Mr. McCall on the floor?" Rico looked upset, he turned to McGee, "Yes, senor I have already told you ten times that's all I did. I called the police and 3 hours later you showed up." McGee sighed and looked around, "Do you have any information that could make this go faster?" "Yes, I know who did it." McGee quickly turned back to him, "Who?" "Senor Castacas, the Bandit, he always kills like this." Just then Gibbs walked up behind McGee. "Agent McGee, do you have any Information for me, or are you going to waste time chatting with the witness?" "Boss I have a name...a Senor Castacas, some kind of outlaw murderer." "Good," Gibbs nodded his head. "Lets go. Where does he live?" Rico looked up and said, "Two miles south of here in the old dog bar. He has long black hair and a ring on his left ring finger." Gibbs walked to the car: opening the door he shouted up to the house "Dinozzo! Ziva! McGee! Hurry it up! We're wasting time!" <End Scene>

It was an old dead end town bar with only 10 cars parked around back, now 11. "Dinozzo, you and McGee go inside. Tell me if you see him." "Yes Boss!" they almost said it at the same time.

"Come on McNone let's take a look around." Tony jumped out of the car with McGee in tow. Walking in, Tony's eyes lit up at the sight of a short skirted waitress. "Go look in the back for Castacas McGee." "What are you going to do?" Tony smiled, "Make some senorita very anxious to visit America." He walked off to where the girl sat.

McGee went to the back of the bar. Seeing no one who looked like Castacas, he walked back to Tony, who was soaking wet with cheap tequila. "So how anxious was she?" "Enough to tell she doesn't like American tequila." As Tony got up, he saw a man with dark hair walk out back, on his left hand was a ring. "McGee watch your 12. I'm going in."

Outside the heat was unbearable and getting hotter by the minute. Tony leaned in over the railing to listen to the dark haired man who was joined by a Dodge Ram. "Where is my package Heilo?" the dark hair said to the driver. "In back, Castacas, with the bag over his head." Castacas walked to the trunk and pulled man with a bag over his head to his feet, ripping off the bag he calmly talked to his goons . "Mr. Al-Oman wants a ride to the US and I intend to give him one for a price." "Of course senor. I gave you the money two days ago." Al-Oman spoke in broken Spanish with a heavy Arabic accent. "Yes Oman I know get into the car and I will drive you across the border." Just then Castacas looked over to were Tony was watching. "Hey you! I will be with you in a moment." Just then a older Dodge pulled up alongside the other one. The Arab got in with two of Castacas' thugs as they revved up it's engine. Castacas walked up to Tony smiling.

"I see you are eying my black Dodge. It is for sale if you are looking for a ride?" "Oh no thanks, I was just looking you know." "I see. Well look me up if you ever need one." After handing Tony a card Castacas walked to the Dodge and drove off north to the US. <End Scene>

Mexican US border

The dust was whipped around by the wind and it was still over 98 degrees. Tony was driving faster by the minute trying to catch up with Castacas. "Dinozzo slow down! We don't want him knowing we're here." Gibbs voice was stern yet calm. "Yes Boss, it will be dark in an hour and it looks like our friend is stopping for the night." The Dodge parked north of a bar. Tony parked on the other side to avoid being seen.

"Get some sleep everybody." Gibbs said while pushing back the car seat. "Yeah I guess you're right." A few hours passed when McGee was awakened by a crunching sound like feet on gravel. He sat up pulling his gun out of the holster. Looking through the back window of the car, he saw a dog by the side of the road, walking towards the car. "Must be the heat. Starting to lose it," he muttered to himself as he tri ed to close his eyes and sleep.

In the morning Tony started the engine and saw that Castacas was pulling unto the road. "Wake up Boss! We almost lost him." Gibbs woke with a start. "Almost Dinozzo?!" "Hey it could have been 'yes we did lose him'." Castacas' car was speeding down the highway but not to San Benito. "Boss it looks like he's going to El Paso." <End Scene>

El Paso, TX

"But why is he going to El Peso?" Gibbs sighed, "Because Agent McGee, El Peso is near a major US military base and I don't think he's going there to say hello." Tony pressed hard on the brakes as Castacas' car took a turn to the El Paso Dam. "Boss he's headed south." Tony hit the gas pedal taking off at over 100 mph, throwing everyone back in their seats. The Army base was now in sight. Castacas was now only four car lengths ahead of them. "Tony pull along side!" Ziva shouted. Tony swerved to the right side of the Dodge. "Ziva take out the driver!" Ziva fired two shots at the window but the bullets glanced off. "We're going too fast Tony, slow down pull up behind!" Ziva shot off two more rounds into the tires of the Dodge. It spun out of control, flipping on it's side then careening off the river bank down into the Rio Grande.

Tony pulled up to the checkpoint. "What in God's name are you people doing!" the captain shouted into his face, "Who was that?" Gibbs showed him his NCIS badge. "Let us through it's a matter of national security! There might be another attack." His voice was calm, yet hard as rock. The captain must have recognized the voice of a solider in Gibbs and waved them into the complex.

Tony and Gibbs jumped out of the car. "Everyone GET BACK!" Gibbs roared. Just then another Dodge pulled up to the base wall. "Get Back!" Gibbs shouted. Soliders poured gunfire into the car riddling it with bullets. After a few minutes of silence. Gibbs walked up to the car slowly. Out of the corner of his eye McGee spotted a bomb in the truck. "Boss Run!" Gibbs threw himself sideways as the truck exploded in a ball of fire.

Ziva pulled Gibbs to his feet. "Dinozzo, did you see Castacas in the car?" "No Boss I only saw Oman." Gibbs punched his fist to the ground. "Damn!" <End Scene>

Washington, DC-NCIS

"Abby pull up all the info you have on Castacas." "After you tell me what happened in Mexico!" Sigh.. "Abby Now!" "All right! Seesh did you get a scorpion up your back? Wait, that would be impossible. You would notice the scorpion on the flight, unless it was a small one or maybe.." "Abby! I said now!" Castacas' photo showed only his passport and visa information. "Gibbs we have a hit. A credit card matching the visa name was just used at the Hilton in San Antonio."

"Are you SURE about this?" "Do we really need to have this discussion again Dinozzo?" Tony looked concerned. He need't worry. Gibbs had done this a dozen times. He walked up to room 1123 and pulled his gun out. "Dinozzo, cover my six, McGee, my blind spot." Crack! The door was broken in by his hard kick. "FEDERAL AGENTS! FREEZE!" The scene inside suprised him. Castacas was on the other side of the door frame but it lasted only for a second. But that's all Castacas needed. His foot flew out into Gibbs' gun arm as he pulled a revolver from his back pocket. He ran to the window. "Don't do it Castacas." Gibbs retrieved his gun, putting his crosshairs on Castacas' head. "Do not worry. I'll live." He fell backward through the window breaking it into hundreds of pieces. Gibbs rushed to the ledge. A swimming pool was below. He spoke into his wrist mic, "Ziva! Code red! Capture, do not kill! Repeat, do not kill!" <End Scene>

His leg hurt like hell but it would not stop him. He dragged himself out of the pool and limped into the parking lot. "I just have to reach my car!!" Then he saw a dark haired woman standing in his way. Damnit! Why did everything have to be hard? Pulling up his gun he pointed it at her heart. "Get out of my way!" "I am not in your way." He was puzzled. "What!?" "This is." She pulled a Glock and fired two rounds into his legs. Castacas went down. Ziva rushed to pin his arms at his side. "You are under arrest. Anything you do can be said against you in a court of law." He looked up, "Don't you mean anything you Say can be used against you?" "Oh thank you for reminding me." she smiled and knocked his head to the floor. "Anything you say can be used against you in a court of law." <End Scene>

Gibbs sighed as he turned off the light. "Boss, you okay?" "Why wouldn't I be okay? We caught Castacas." Tony looked into his eyes. "Rule number 11 Dinozzo. Walk away." "I know all your rules Boss, and your slang. "Marine code is not slang, Dinozzo. It's a special code to allow Marines to talk in the field." "I know just like slang!" "We'll have this discussion tomorrow Dinozzo," he turned away laughing, "Tomorrow." <End Scene>

End Credits.