Tim looked around the small room, trying to figure out where he was, and how he was going to get out. The room was very small, and contained nothing but a cot and a cheap-looking bureau. A horrifying thought occurred to Tim.

What if I'm not the first person to be held prisoner here?

He made his way first to the bureau, and found it unlocked. He pulled the doors open, and found it mostly empty, save for a box sitting at the bottom. Tim dropped to his knees and looked at the items in the box. His eyes widened when he moved a few papers aside, and found a worn Raggedy Ann doll at the bottom of the box.

This is where they took Vivian.

He went through the rest of the box, and took out more children's toys, broken crayons, and drawings. He looked through the drawings and smiled when he came across a family picture. There was a stick figure drawing of a mother and father, and to the side, a sister and brother holding hands. A sad smile formed on his face as he looked at the rest. The little girl must have been kept here for a very long time.

Tim put everything back in the box and put it back in the bureau. Once he figured out how he was going to escape his prison, he'd take the box with him.

The wind whipped against the side of the cabin, and Tim could feel the cold seeping through the walls. The weather had called for a low near freezing that night. He doubted the cabin was being heated, just for him. He had to find a way out of here before dark, or he'd freeze to death.

I wonder if that's what happened to Vivian.

Tim got to his feet and went over to the only window in the room. He examined it, and determined that it was impossible to pry the old window open without help from some kind of tool. He examined the glass, and thought maybe he could break it. It was the only plan of escape he had.

Tim removed his coat and wrapped it around his arm. Steadying himself on his feet, he swung his fist as hard as he could, and hit the window. It cracked, but didn't break. He hit it a few more times, and with the fourth hit, the glass shattered. he pushed out the glass around the window frame, and laid his coat down. He went back to the bureau and retrieved the box. Once secure, he climbed out of the window, clutching the box tightly, grabbed his coat, and went off into the woods.

Gibbs and Ducky arrived in Stillwater as the sun came up. The first thing they noticed as they drove through town was the mess of cars at the police station. Gibbs pulled up and got out of the car. A deputy tried to stop him, until Gibbs shoved his creds in the young man's face. Quivering, the young man let him by, and Gibbs walked up to the local ME.

"Leroy," the man said, smiling. What brings you back home, son?"

"Personal business, Maury. What happened?"

"It's John Waite - he was murdered in his office last night."

"What? How?"

"Blunt force trauma to the head is what it looks like." The ME furrowed his brow. "You know something about this, don't you Leroy."

"Not directly, but I think- I think I'm the reason he got himself killed."

"Maybe you should talk to Ned Orsen."

"Who's that?"

"Acting Sheriff, now that John is gone."

"Wait, Orsen?"

"Yeah."

"Thanks, Maury. I'll talk to him later."

Gibbs turned to rejoin Ducky, when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to find Maury right behind him, only this time he was holding an evidence bag with a small object in it.

"They found this in John's office."

Gibbs recognized McGee's badge through the plastic bag.

"Crap."

"I thought you'd recognize it. You'd better find the Agent whom it belongs to."

"I'll find him. Thanks for showing me that, Maury."

"Anytime, Leroy."

Gibbs rushed back to his truck and got in.

"Well?" Ducky asked.

"The Sheriff was murdered, and McGee was the last person to see him alive."

"Where is he?"

"He's gone. We have to find him."

"What exactly is going on here, Jethro? And why again did we have to drive out here in the middle of the night?"

"Someone knows we're looking into it, and they don't want us to find out the truth. We need to find McGee before he turns into a victim, Ducky."

Ducky looked into his friend's eyes. They were both terrified and determined.

"All right, Jethro. I'm with you."

"Thanks, Duck. Let's start with my Father. He was probably the last person to see Tim."

"Good plan."

Gibbs drove to Jackson's house in record time, and pulled in behind his father's truck. Jackson came outside to meet his son.

"Leroy, I was going to call you... I haven't seen Tim since last night, and I'm worried."

"He's missing, Dad. I'm going to find him. When was the last time you saw him?"

"Last night. He helped me make supper, and then I fell asleep in my chair. When I woke up, he was gone, and he left me this note." Jackson handed his son a piece of paper with a note scribbled on it.

Gone into town, back soon. Don't worry about me.
-Tim

He never came back to the house?" Gibbs asked.

"No. What's going on?"

"Dad, John Waite was killed in his office last night. Tim's badge was found on the floor in his office. I think someone took him."

"How do we know he hasn't been killed?" Jackson asked.

"We don't." Gibbs turned to Ducky. "I want you and Jackson to stay here. I'm going to go look for Tim. I have an idea where to look for him."

"You can't go out there alone!" Jackson said. "What if whoever this is tries to kill you too?"

Gibbs reached into his truck and came out with a rifle.

"They won't."

"Call us when you find him. Do you understand me?"

"I'll call you, Dad. I promise. Now please, both of you get in the house and lock all the doors and windows."

"Be careful, Jethro. I don't want to see you on my table next."

"I'll be fine, Duck."

Ducky turned and helped Jackson into the house, while Gibbs climbed back into the truck. He backed out of the driveway and headed to the spot where he and Vivian used to catch the school bus.

TBC...