Set when Gibbs is in Mexico. Ziva and McGee's treatment of Tony have reached epic proportions and despite many black marks in their file nothing is being done. They're investigating a serial killer when Tony is kidnapped and Gibbs is called back to help find him. Will they find him in time? Where were McGee and Ziva? Who will have Tony's six?
This is a Gibbs/DiNozzo pairing.
Tony is standing in the middle of the bullpen looking incredulously at McGee and Ziva as they sat at their desks.
“Where the hell were the two of you?”
McGee didn’t even look up from his computer. “Here Tony. Where else would we be?”
“Where I asked you to be- backing me up as we investigated a possible hide out for the killer? Does that ring any bells?”
Ziva grimaces. “No it does not ring any bells, but does give me a headache. I am leaving and going home.”
Tony shakes his head. “No. We need to investigate the background of these possible suspects.”
“Tomorrow if I feel up to it I will come to work and we can investigate then.” Ziva grabs her purse and walks to the elevator without a backwards glance.
McGee halfheartedly runs the background checks on the latest possible suspects. Tony sits at his desk, his head in his hands. He’s spent, run ragged, worn out and just plain tired of fighting with these two. He’d ask to have them written up again if he felt that it would make any difference, but the last one he brought up to Director Sheppard was barely acknowledged.
Balboa sits and watches absolutely stunned at what he is witnessing. It isn’t the first time in the past four months that he’s witnessed McGee and David’s insubordination. He knows that several people, including Tony, brought the behavior of Ziva and McGee to the Director’s attention to no avail. Tony was doing the work of the three of them and McGee and Ziva acted as if they owned the place. They were going to get someone hurt or killed that was for sure.
He had already filed a complaint and had yet to see any changes being made. Sitting at his own desk, he had to figure out a way to help before Tony became a casualty
Tony looks at McGee. “Do you see anything new in that pile? Something we can use?”
“No Tony. And if you had some sort of computer skills or something resembling special skills you could do this yourself and I could pursue things that are more in line with my MIT background.”
Tony grits his teeth, biting his tongue not to make the retort that is on his lips. “What did you find then?”
McGee stands and drops the pages he printed on Tony’s desk. “Here you go, all searched. The names that you gave me, their backgrounds, and financials.” He grabs his bag and heads for the elevator.
“Where are you going?”
“I put in my eight hours already and my publisher wants another chapter.” McGee disappears into the elevator.
Tony closes his eyes as the elevator doors do and wonders what on earth he did to deserve this level of hell. He opens his drawer and looks at the picture that he has there. Gibbs smirking at something he said, his blue eyes twinkling, and he lost himself in the picture. He so wishes that things could have been different.
He misses the blue eyed man. He had long since realized that his feelings were a great deal more than friendship, but the explosion, Gibbs’ subsequent memory loss and retreat to Mexico has brought that dream to a standstill. Gibbs didn’t even remember him and right now, it seemed like they would never have the chance to see what they might have. Sighing he closes the drawer partway and begins to go through the files that McGee printed out, falling asleep at his desk sometime around 3am.
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Abby pulls into the parking lot, sees Tony’s car, and knows he didn’t make it home again. She had tried to help him, even talked to Tim and Ziva but they just shrugged and made smart remarks. -“He wasn’t Gibbs or he was only playing”. They weren’t the same agents anymore. Their barbs and comments were cruel. McGee kept harping on his education and Ziva about her Mossad training ranking her higher than Tony’s former cop status. Every time Abby tried to educate them on Tony’s qualifications, they turned a deaf ear.
She took it to the director as well but she just kept going back and forth saying they were just kidding or that maybe Abby had misunderstood. But she hadn’t and Tony was paying the price for everyone’s shortsightedness.
She grabs her bags and heads inside for the bullpen. Seeing Tony sleeping at his desk, she’s glad she stopped for pastries. She places the bag down and sighs, lightly kissing his cheek. “I wish that I could do more to help, you don’t deserve this treatment at all.” She notices his drawer isn’t shut all the way and catches a glimpse of the familiar blue eyes from inside. She looks at Tony, puzzled until like movie moments, pictures fill her mind and all the pieces come together. “Oh Tony, you lost more than all of us.” Leaving to go to her lab, she wonders how she can help him at all
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Tony starting to stir due to his discomfort opens his eyes to see the bag on his desk. Immediately he knows Abby has been by. Standing and stretching, he grabs the next shirt out of his stash and gets ready to change.
‘This has got to stop; I really need to get some real rest at some point.’ he thinks. Grabbing his toiletry kit, he heads to the men’s room to take care of his morning ritual. Returning to his desk, he begins to eat the pastry, smiling at the thought behind it while he peruses through the files again. The killer has got to be in here. He has already killed six men, four of them Marines and he was going to strike again if they didn’t catch him soon. Right now, it didn’t feel like they were getting anywhere. He heads down to autopsy to see if maybe Ducky found anything new.
Ducky hearing the door open turns and smiles at his intruder.
“Anthony, it’s good to see you my boy. I suppose I know why you are here and no, I have not found anything new.”
“There has to be something, none of this makes sense.”
“Since when does a killing have to make sense or have a reason?”
“I know, I just keep hoping. I’d really like to catch him before he strikes again.”
Ducky pats the younger man’s shoulder. “I know you do and I shall keep searching for you. I only know that they were tortured for days before they died. I can’t tell you whether death was due to their injuries or if it was hastened along. But the killer does like to play with his victims, seems to get great pleasure from that. That is why they are kept alive for so long, so he can gain his enjoyment.”
“Were they raped Ducky?”
“There are signs of penetration, but it’s smooth and though they had tearing there was no irritation inside. Perhaps he is using foreign objects or toys. But there was definitely no penetration from a human penis. Have you considered that it could be a woman? All the victims have been male and maybe by violating them, she feels vindicated.”
Tony nods. “I’d go that route except for the beatings. I’m not saying that a woman couldn’t do that, but these were big men, four of them Marines and since we don’t know if they were drugged, I have to go with a male. I’ll go out on a limb and say that it is because of some sort of sexual dysfunction, whether real or imagined, hence the penetration with something other than himself.”
“Good deduction young Anthony. I so wish you would use your background more openly.”
Sighing Tony responds. “It’s hostile enough right now Ducky, maybe someday. But those two would never believe it anyway.”
“Doesn’t make it right dear boy, not at all.”
“Not arguing with that. Thanks for the help.” Tony heads back upstairs as Jimmy enters autopsy.
“He’s running himself ragged Dr. Mallard. Abby caught him here again this morning.”
“I know Mr. Palmer. I’ve tried, we all have tried, and so far it has fallen upon deaf ears I’m afraid.”
“That doesn’t help Tony now though.”
“Seems that all we can do is pray that it doesn’t take a turn for the worse Mr. Palmer and that resolution is found before someone gets hurt.”
“I’m afraid he’s already hurt Dr. Mallard.”
“You’re quite right Mr. Palmer. Let’s just all endeavor to make sure we are all here for him.”
“Always am sir.”
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Tony back at his desk looks over the one file that has caught his eye and warrants further investigation. Typing in the fields he wants to look at, he brings it up on the big screen. There is something about this guy. The time frame for the missing Marines was consistent with time he took off from his company. The fact that he owned his own computer company made it easy for him to disappear with out drawing attention to himself.
McGee and Ziva walk into the bullpen and look at the screen.
“Tony you can’t be serious. This man owns his own company and is a computer genius. He makes high end machines and actually designs a great many of them. He can’t be who you’re seriously considering”.
“McGee there’s no formula for who becomes a killer. It crosses boundaries of intelligence, looks, sex, and race. There is no one perceived look.”
“Well it couldn’t be him, he’s a genius.”
“We’re investigating him. Gear up.”
“Fine and then you’ll see that there is nothing.”
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Tony arrives first parking in the lot of Lewis Intellect, Inc. where they would question Mr. John Lewis. He stands leaning up against the car, waiting for McGee and Ziva to arrive wondering, what was taking them so damn long, when he feels a sting in his neck and his world goes black.
McGee pulls up some forty-five minutes later. “There’s his car. Let’s head up to Mr. Lewis’s office. Tony must be inside.”
“Fine. Let’s go question him and get back to the office so we can continue looking through more viable leads.”
They head up to the man’s office and are quickly granted entry.
McGee steps forward to shake the man’s hand and introduce himself. “Mr. Lewis, I am Agent McGee and this is Agent David of NCIS. We’d like to ask you a few questions if that’s all right.”
“Certainly. Call me John.”
McGee asks his whereabouts for two of the dates in question.
“I was at a personal retreat. I need a break from here periodically to recharge. I came back with the idea on how to interface the computer and run simultaneous searches while still being able to perform regular tasks.”
“Really? That would be very helpful in law enforcement. Have you made any progress on that?”
“Indeed we have” he brings up a screen to show him.
“Very nice. I look forward to when that goes on-line. I will have to talk to the Director of NCIS and make sure that we acquire it.”
“I’ll do you one better, I’ll give you this beta copy to use until it does come on-line, then you’ll be ready. I’d appreciate any feedback you have to offer.
“Thank you. I’ll be sure and use it to its full capacity and be happy to give you feedback.” McGee was so star struck that they left with out a second thought to the fact that they hadn’t seen Tony.
John quickly clears his desk and tells everyone he is headed out for a retreat.
Reaching his Land Rover, he climbs in the front seat and reaches around to lift the blanket off the back seat revealing a drugged and handcuffed Tony. Tenderly he pushes the hair off Tony’s forehead. “You are much more handsome than the others. I saw you standing in the parking lot with your sunglasses on, leaning against your car and I knew I had to have you. Took a big risk here in the daytime, but you looked so sexy. Don’t worry; I shan’t tire of you too soon.” Turning around he starts his car and they drive off.
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McGee and ZIva return to NCIS and go to their desks. McGee is excited to start playing with his new program and Ziva begins to go through the files.
Balboa returns from lunch and realizes he hasn’t seen Tony since the three of them left.
“Where’s Tony?”
McGee waves him off. “I don’t know. The last time I saw him was here before we headed out to interview John.” Puffing out his chest, “Mr. John Lewis CEO of Lewis Intellect, Inc, and when we left, his car was still there.”
“So you left?” Balboa’s temper was rising.
Ziva shrugs. “He’s a big boy. Mr. Lewis was no threat.”
“You left an agent with no fucking back up and he hasn’t been seen now for over five hours and you don’t find that odd?” Hearing the yelling, the rest of the bullpen takes notice and look at McGee and Ziva unbelieving of what they heard.
“He is fine I am sure”, though not sounding as sure as he would like.
Director Sheppard comes out of her office hearing the raised voices. “What is this all about?”
Balboa turns and faces her. “These two idiots haven’t seen Tony since this morning and left him alone at a place the possible killer was known to be. Does that sound ok to you?”
“No. But surely that’s not what happened.”
Balboa is at the end of his tether. “I have repeatedly told you about these two, their insubordination, and lack of respect. I know for a fact that Tony and many others have lodged the same complaint and you have done nothing but put a mark in their files. Now they leave him without back up and he’s missing and you can’t believe that it happened?”
Sheppard is quiet as she thinks about everything she’s heard. Maybe she hadn’t given as much credence as she should have to the complaints.
“Balboa take your team and go check it out. McGee and David pack your things and go home. You’re suspended until further notice. If the facts are as Balboa said and everything s true-“
McGee interrupts, “The man is a computer genius not a serial killer”.
“Do you remember Ted Bundy, McGee?”
“Yes. Why?”
“He had an IQ that was off the charts; charming, intelligent, and good looking. Killers do not have a sign on their head; they look like you and me. They can be anyone. Now go home, you just answered my question. And pray hard that they find Tony and that he is all right.”
`Ziva cocks her head. “Why? We did nothing.”
“Exactly. You did nothing. I’ll take responsibility for my own inactions, but the two of you did nothing. Now GO! Get the hell out of here now.
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Balboa and his team reach the building of Lewis Intellect, Inc. and find Tony’s car still there. They head directly to Mr. Lewis’s office and after talking to his people find out the man left for a retreat right after McGee and Ziva. To each question, a negative response is received. They didn’t know where the location was, they had no way to reach him, and he never called. The only positive came after asking his secretary if she knew of his other retreats and she printed out all he dates he was out of the office. She stated the reason that she kept track was because of calls that were missed and never returned. She kept them more for her own records as back up. Balboa takes the papers, calling for Tony’s car to be towed back to NCIS after they investigate the area. During their search, he spots a syringe and bags and tags it knowing that Tony’s DNA is going to be on the end of it.
Now Balboa is way beyond worried. Tony is in the hands of a possible serial killer that has had a head start of over six hours. “Hang on Tony. We’ll find you.”
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Tony begins to stir and slowly come around. As he struggles to open his eyes, he begins to worry; he can’t move. Making his brain work, he tries to remember his morning. Was he in an accident? No - memories begin to flood in. He was waiting against his car for McGee and Ziva so they could go question Mr. Lewis and then there was nothing.
Slowly moving his hands, he feels the handcuffs and starts to put the pieces together. Mr. Lewis is the damned serial killer and he is handcuffed to what feels like a bed. Fuck! Legs are cuffed too. Surely, McGee and Ziva have noticed he wasn’t there. ‘No’, he bitterly chuckles to himself, they wouldn’t notice.
Hearing footsteps, he closes his eyes and regulates his breathing trying to get a feel for what’s happening. Struggling to remain still, he feels someone’s hands on his body touching him gently.
“Soon Anthony, I hope you don’t mind me calling you that. I saw your ID. When you wake up, we can begin our journey together. There is so much I want to do with you. I so hope that it will be different than it was with the others. You are far sexier. I can’t wait to see your eyes; it says that they are green. I love green, it’s my favorite color, it must be fate.”
“You were standing by your car as I came in today. Almost didn’t come in, it was time to start looking for my love again elsewhere, but kismet and here we are.” Tony feels a kiss on his forehead before the words. “Until later.”
Tony hears the footsteps as the man walks away and the sound of the door closing, not daring to open his eyes until he was certain it wasn’t a ploy. After several minutes, he opens his eyes and looks around. He was cuffed to a bed in a small room, he could see a bathroom off to the side and hooks and chains on the wall. ‘Shit’, this was not good; he knew what happened to other the victims.
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Balboa and his team return to NCIS and he is pissed as he heads down to the lab to drop off the syringe. ‘Damn, I had better get Dr. Mallard so he can help me tell Abby what happened and that Tony is missing.’ He thinks, heading over to autopsy first.
“Dr. Mallard.”
“Agent Balboa what brings you down here?”
“I’m afraid I have some bad news and I hoped that you would help me tell Abby.”
“Dear heavens, what is it?”
“Tony’s missing and if I’m right he was taken by the same man who killed those six people.”
“Oh dear. How?”
Trying not to show his anger, “Apparently McGee and Ziva were supposed to meet him at the suspect’s place of business to perform an interview. McGee is positive the man is innocent because he owns a computer company and is intelligent. So they decided to stop at a drive thru for coffee before heading to the location. They arrived nearly forty-five minutes late and never gave a thought to the fact that though Tony’s car was there, they never saw him.”
“They went to interview the suspect but McGee was too dazzled by the man, grabbed his free computer shit and they left, not registering that they had still not seen Tony. Over five hours later, I come back from lunch and ask about Tony and they shrug it off. If they had done their job it is possible that he would not be in be hands of a suspected serial killer. And I might add that Tony figured this all out by himself.”
Ducky was speechless, having a hard time believing everything that he was just told.
Jimmy steps out of the shadows. “I am sorry to both of you, you started talking, and I couldn’t move. Please tell me that we can find Tony. We know what that man did to his other victims.”
Ducky looks over at the distraught young man. “We will find him and bring him home Mr. Palmer. Start going over those bodies again and see if we missed anything. Start from scratch.”
“Yes Dr. Mallard.”
Ducky looks at the agent. “Come Agent Balboa. Let’s find Abigail. She will be not be happy, rightly so, but I do believe that we may have to prevent her from killing those two agents. Where are the two miscreants?”
“They have been suspended until further notice. The Director wants all the facts and when she does have them all I don’t believe it will go well for the two of them.”
“She is not blameless either my dear boy. She has had many complaints and chances to do something and she did nothing.”
“She did say something to the effect that she would pay for her part, so she is aware.”
Entering Abby’s lab, they see her dancing in front of her computer. She turns smiling at the two men until she sees their faces.
“What’s wrong? Ducky you’re here so that means that Balboa didn’t want to tell me alone and if that’s the case then it’s bad. And it means that it’s someone I care about and since Gibbs is in Mexico and you’re in front of me that means its Tony. No…please tell me it’s not Tony.”
“Abigail, hush for a moment. Most astute of you to have put those pieces together so quickly. Yes, I’m afraid that it’s Tony. Balboa believes that he was kidnapped by the suspected serial killer.”
Abby starts shaking as she mutters. “No…not Tony. Ducky we saw what he did to those men. No, we have to find him.”
Balboa steps up. “We will. I am going to do something that I wouldn’t normally do, but right now, I don’t have much faith in NCIS. I’m calling Fornell. Tony needs help and I know that Fornell will gladly give it. Hell Tony solved the damn case by himself. But we do need help to find him and get him back.”
“Do it. You’re quite right my boy, we need help and Fornell is the one to call. I’m going to call the other person who will leave no stone unturned to bring Anthony home.”
Abby turned to Ducky. “Gibbs? But the last I heard he still doesn’t remember.”
“Maybe he has remembered enough and if I don’t inform him I know that I will regret that I didn’t. I can’t help but feel he needs to be here. We need him Abigail and Tony needs him.”
Abby mutters. “More than you know.”
“Agent Balboa go and talk to the Director after you have called Fornell. I will not let her control this situation anymore. I shall call Jethro and we will find Anthony. We at least know that there is a little time; it is a small comfort but not one that helps Anthony endure this time being held captive. He does like to play with his victims and though I am aware that there is a great deal of pain in the torture and various types of unwanted sexual attention, at least he will be alive and that is something to hold onto. We can get him through anything that he will have endured.”
Balboa hands Abby the syringe. “Found this under Tony’s car.”
Abby nods tears in her eyes.
“Dr. Mallard is right we will find him.” Balboa leaves pulling out his phone.
“Abigail, think positive thoughts. Look over that evidence and see if there is any clue to be found. I am going to call Jethro. And don’t worry my dear I am well aware of young Anthony’s feelings towards Jethro and I have my own suspicions that they are indeed reciprocated.”
“But Gibbs doesn’t remember.”
“Maybe not everything, but sometimes when someone you love and hold dear is in danger, a lot of things resurface, memories being one of them. I for one believe that he will bring Anthony home and give him the care and attention that only Jethro can.”
“And if he doesn’t remember?”
“Then we shall take care of Anthony. But have faith my dear.”
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“Fornell, its Balboa. We have a serious problem.”
“I did, as did many others. She wouldn’t listen and turned a deaf ear.”
“Tony’s been kidnapped by our suspected serial killer.”
“We know who it is.”
“You think I trust these people here? McGee and David are the reason he’s missing.”
“Don’t want to calm down, I’m pissed. This didn’t need to happen.”
“How? They showed up late to the interview.”
“No. He was in the parking lot waiting for them; he didn’t go in with out back up.”
“No. Not traffic. They stopped for coffee.”
“Fuck yes I’m serious! It gets worse.”
“McGee didn’t want to believe that a man that was that intelligent and owned a computer company could be a serial killer.”
“Didn’t even notice that he wasn’t there, but that his car was.”
“They interviewed the man if you want to call it that. His assistant was able to access the recording. He asked the guy one question- to explain where is was on the night in question. They guy answered than went off a different tangent. Offered McGee some software and instantly the guy became a hero.”
“I’m dead serious. I even have it on tape.”
“We suspect he’s the killer because Tony pieced the time line together without any help from the two idiots. He’s been doing that for months.”
“He noticed the time the man was gone from his company coincided with the times the Marines disappeared. He had talked briefly to the man’s Assistant before even coming over. I talked to her as well and was able to get print out. Tony as usual, was right on the money.”
“Over six hours now. God help me if I hadn’t come back from lunch, it might have been tomorrow before it was noticed he was gone.”
“Yes. I want you working on it. I want him found and I have no desire to protect the idiots from anyone. Especially Abby if she wants to kill them. Matter of fact, I’ll help.”
“I want them all taken down. The Director, McGee, and David.”
“After he’s safe.”
“Go ahead, call SECNAV, and fill him in. He has a right to know. Let him look at all the facts.”
“Dr. Mallard said you would think calling Gibbs was a good idea.”
“He was the best.”
“True.”
“All right see you in a bit. I’m gonna inform the Director about all of this. She’s not touching this. Not trusting Tony’s life to her.”
“Better happen.”
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Tony had tried to get free, but just didn’t have enough freedom of movement to make that happen. He had to hope that someone has noticed he was gone. Certainly wasn’t counting on McGee or Ziva. Hearing footsteps, he once again becomes still and controls his breathing.
“Anthony. You need to wake up. I have some lovely new toys that I want to try out. I just know that you’re the one who will make me feel again.”
Tony feels a hand moving up his thigh and struggles to maintain his breathing as the hand brushes over his cock.
“I can’t wait to see what you have for me. It feels so much bigger than the others did, but I dare not peek till you wake up so we can begin our lessons. Only after I teach you will you be able to help me.” The hand continues up Tony’s chest. “So firm and strong. Wake soon my beautiful one.”
Breathing a sigh of relief that he was able to buy more time, he also knew that this was the last reprieve.
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Ducky pulls out his phone and dials.
“It’s Dr. Mallard. I need to speak with Jethro, Mike.”
“Yes I would say that it is quite an emergency. Why do you ask? Have I ever been known to call out of the blue for someone who abandoned his family?”
“Yes, I do understand. But Anthony has been kidnapped and though his memory may have some holes, I believe that he would want to be here helping.”
“Thank you.”
“Yes, Jethro it’s me.”
“We have quite the situation here.”
“Do you remember Anthony?”
“I thought you might. He’s been kidnapped.”
“No. Those two are the ones who allowed it to happen.”
“Because Anthony found a suspect in their current serial killer case and they were going to interview the person.”
“He was waiting for them to arrive and the two of them decided that they needed to stop for coffee.”
“Don’t go there Jethro. For your information I, Abby, Balboa, Jimmy, several other agents and Tony himself have written and lodged complaints against the two. The Director has done nothing and now that young man is in the hands of a would-be killer, so I suggest you pack your bag and get here immediately.”
“No. Balboa doesn’t trust NCIS at the moment and called Fornell.”
“Yes Jethro, it is that bad. Believe me when I say I understand your need to get away, sort out your memory, and deal with the pain of your girls again. I can’t imagine how hard that must be. But in your sudden departure, things have changed drastically here. Agents McGee and David are no longer recognizable and the Director has all but turned her back on her agents. Anthony has been a drift since you have been gone and though many of us have thrown out life preservers in an effort to help, it has unfortunately not. That young man needs you and whether you remember everything or not you need him.”
“I know it’s a lot to take in Jethro, but unfortunately I don’t have the time to sit over tea and crumpets and ease you into everything.”
“Of course you can ask me anything.”
“Dreams?”
“If you really want my honest opinion, I believe that yours and Anthony’s relationship has evolved over the years and you mean more to each other than you can imagine. But as of yet you have been unable to explore it. You two have had a tangible connection since you met and over the years, it has grown. It is merely time for its next evolution.”
“No. I don’t really believe either of you are gay, I just believe that over time the two of you became so much more to each other and you both fell in love. Gender has no roles in feelings Jethro, you both are two sides of one another, and together you are stronger. What started as a connection between two like souls has grown into something wondrous and I think that makes you instead, in love with a young man who is very worthy.”
“Well then Jethro, we will endeavor to get him back home so that you may tell him these things. And considering the direness of the situation you must realize that the time is now and there is no reason for you to wait. You both have already waited long enough.”
“I trust you will.”
“Let me know when your plane arrives and I shall pick you up.”
“Abigail is beside herself. She has seen what he does to his victims and it is hard for her to picture Anthony in that man’s hands. She is doing her best to hold it together but she is hanging on by a thread.”
“There is always hope Jethro”.
“I think that is best discussed when you get here. I really don’t want to go over that with you on the phone.”
“Yes. What his victims endured was horrific.”
And you will help him through it all. He is not without support and Anthony has shown himself to be very resilient. I firmly believe with you at his side that boy could move a mountain.”
“See you then Jethro.”
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Balboa heads up to the Director’s office, noticing the look of resignation and concern on her face. “What did you find?”
“Tony was taken by the suspect. Nearly six hours have passed and if I hadn’t come back from lunch, more would have gone by. McGee and David barely talked to the man. McGee was star struck when the man gave him a computer program.”
“What?”
Balboa hands her a DVD of the meeting. “Watch it. I’m beyond pissed and frankly I would like to let Abby eviscerate them.”
“This is against policy, poor investigation a-“
Balboa stops her. “I know what it is, and you allowed for the situation to continue and there by an agent taken. Do you know why the two of them showed up well after Tony had arrived and kept him waiting?”
“Traffic?”
Balboa chuckles bitterly. “No. They went to get coffee and breakfast.”
Sheppard just sits there, stunned.
“Question is what are you going to do about it?”
“They’re suspended and now will have to face a formal hearing. Beyond that, I am not sure what will happen. I know they will more than likely lose their agent status. Right now though we need to start searching for Tony.”
“Already on that. Called the FBI.”
“This is one of ours. We will find him.”
“Do you seriously think that I trust this agency right now? You have had more than ample complaints about the two of them and did nothing. They should have been dealt with from the beginning but you turned a deaf ear. So Tony has basically been working alone for months, solving cases, wearing himself out and doing a damn fine job with no one watching his back. Tons of people have tried to help yet they were thwarted at every turn by you. So you have no part in this investigation. Fornell will handle this. And by the way, SECNAV has been informed and he is on his way as well.”
“How dare you!”
“Yep. How dare me. Tony’s life is in the hands of a suspected killer. I don’t give a fuck about what you think anymore. You had your chance to do the right thing and you failed.”
Balboa walks out of the office slamming the door behind him. The bullpen is ablaze about what happened. Cynthia had turned on the cameras in the Director’s office and had them fed throughout NCIS. Tony was well liked and respected by everyone there and she felt they needed to know the full story. If she got fired, so be it. It was the right thing to do.
As soon as Balboa is visible on the stairs, he is met by clapping and a standing ovation. Puzzled he looks down.
Jake his SIC looks at him. “For doing what was right and trying to protect Tony. Now let’s see what we can do to help the FBI and bring him home.”
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On the flight to DC, Gibbs thinks about what Ducky said. He doesn’t remember everything but aside from his girls, the snippets of memory surrounding Tony are the strongest. Ducky confirmed that they hadn’t been in a relationship but felt that they were working towards one.
Now the ball was in his court and he was determined to play. They just had to find Tony in time and get him back. He was not going to let this chance slip away.
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The door opens and Tony knows this is it. Deciding to face it head on and pray he made it out before the game was over, he looks into the eyes of his captor.
“You’re awake.” Staring into Tony’s green eyes, “Your eyes are startling.” He stands waiting. “You have nothing to say?”
Tony stays silent not sure how to play this yet.
“I think we should introduce ourselves. I already know you are Anthony. I’m John Lewis.” When Tony still doesn’t speak, John raises his arm and backhands Tony. “Politeness is important and rudeness will not be tolerated. Now let’s try that again. I’m John.”
“Hello John.” Tony responds through gritted teeth.
John narrowing his eyes, “That doesn’t sound very cordial. We will have to work on that.”
Walking over, he pushes a button in the wall and watches as the bed lifts into an upright position. Tony looks at everything in surprise.
“One of my little inventions. The mattress is attached to the frame and the pillows are simply velcroed. You are not trained yet and I can’t trust you. Upright I can help you relieve yourself. I don’t want you uncomfortable.”
“And being handcuffed isn’t?”
“That’s just for training purposes. Now do you need to relieve yourself?”
He wished he could say no, but it had been hours and he really needs to go. “Yes. Please.” He says as politely as possible, trying to ignore the heated look that John gives as his trousers are unzipped. Finding his cock and taking it in his hands, John holds it up to a pee bottle.
“Commando. Very nice. But seeing what I am holding in my hand I can see why. It’s beautiful and weighty. Perfect.”
Tony tamping down his rage at the man merely says “Thank you.” wishing the man would let go of his cock.
“Well…” John shakes himself out of his haze. “We need to start your training.” He pulls out a knife and cutting away Tony’s clothes, leaves him handcuffed to the bed and naked. John walks over to all the implements that he had placed there when they had first arrived and first grabs a cock cage.
“This is for the both of us. I can’t allow myself to be tempted by your beautiful cock until you have been trained and you aren’t allowed pleasure until then either.”
Tony was sure the pleasure part wasn’t ever going to happen but remained silent.
John places Tony’s cock in the cage and hooks the strap around his hips. “There. Temptation out of sight.” Running his hands down Tony’s ass and squeezing the firm globes, “Such a beautiful ass, need to start training it as well.” John walks back over to the table.
Tony, though hating being mauled is semi relaxed knowing that at the very least he wasn’t going to be penetrated with the other man’s dick. He can get through this he keeps telling himself. Its plugs and toys…he can do this.
John grabs the lube and a midrange butt plug and comes back to stand in front of Tony. Tony watches as John lubes the plug and readies it to be inserted in Tony’s ass. Tony braces himself. It is going to hurt like hell, though he will admit great relief that John’s fingers would not be in his ass.
Lubed well, John without finesse pushes the plug all the way in. Tony taking deep breaths to get through the pain tries to relax his muscles around the intrusion.
John smiles, wiping his hand on a towel. “All done. Now for the piercing.”
“Piercing?”
“Yes your nipples. Though I will numb them a bit first.”
‘Shit! Nipple piercing? It’s ok….it will be over soon. I can do this, I can do this, I can do this.’ He just keeps thinking this repeatedly as John pierces both his nipples. ‘What the fuck was this guy going to do now? He was definitely not firing on all cylinders’. Tony knows he has to tread carefully if he has a hope of survival. He knows the beatings are going to begin sooner or later; he just has to hang on.
Once the nipple rings are in place, John attaches electrical wires to them. Tony follows the wires to their source and finds them attached to some sort of machine that looks like it belongs in a movie. His eyes pick up on the fact that it is a low voltage machine. ‘Thank God for small favors.’ he thinks, trying to keep calm as he then watches the other man pick up a riding crop.
‘Shit! It is about to start.’ Trying to keep in mind that the others were played with for awhile, Tony once again steels himself. ‘I can survive, I can get through this. They will find me, I just have to survive.’ He sees Gibbs’ face in his mind’s eye, reminding himself that they have unfinished business.
He feels the sting of the crop at the same time electricity courses through his body. Gritting his teeth as a pain so intense fills his entire being. Fighting a scream, he wills himself to hang on. Tony has no way to track how long it continues, but when John notices that Tony is weak, he stops.
“Good. Now I can move you to a different position.” Tony is nearly unconscious and sags against the man as the cuffs are removed, unable to sand on his own. He is lead to a table, placed face down, and once again cuffed. Tony sees him exchange the crop for a flogger and prays for darkness to claim him.
Repeatedly John splays the flogger over his body from neck to ankles. In such intense pain, he is unaware that he is calling for Gibbs. Incensed, John just hits him harder and harder until Tony finally falls into unconsciousness and blessed darkness.
John continues venting his rage on Tony’s limp form until he is spent. Looking at the battered and bloody back, he realizes that he has done more damage than he had intended. Looking at Tony he whispers, “You shouldn’t call out another’s name when you’re with me Anthony. That’s just not polite. Look what you made me do.”
John leaves to get water and a cloth to clean Tony up along with an antibiotic cream to spread on his wounds. He needs to find out who this Gibbs is and send him pictures so he can see to whom Tony belongs now. “He needs to know.”
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Abby is pacing, Tony has been missing over twenty-four hours now, and nothing is helping. They are certain who took him, but not where. Seeing who is walking in the door she runs into his arms crying.
“Gibbs.”
Gibbs wrapping his arms around her holds her tightly. “We’ll find him Abs, I promise.”
Abby nods.
Gibbs continues. “So far no clues. Fornell has scoured every possible lead with Balboa. SECNAV is here looking into the Director’s actions and is pissed. I know, sorry I couldn’t get here sooner but I was cornered. Balboa and Fornell wanted me filled in then SECNAV talked to me regarding what he has seen in the files. Jesus Abby, what happened to those two?”
Abby shakes her head. “Not really sure, they just got more nasty and vindictive as time went on. Ducky, Balboa and I put together a DVD for them to watch. I want them to see Tony as he really is and I know that it most likely won’t make a difference or matter, but I want that thought to be in their head and see how they misjudged him on all levels.”
“Sound nice Abs. It’s never too late to show someone how arrogant he or she is. Doesn’t matter if it’s after the fact, it will be the last thing they remember.”
“I want Tony back and I want them all to pay. You have seen what this Lewis guy does to his victims. Tony is going through that, we have to find him before its too late.”
Gibbs takes Abby’s face in his hands. “It will never be too late Abs. We can get him through anything he will have had to endure. We can be there for him and love him no matter what.”
Abby gives him a small smile. “You love him.”
Gibbs sighs, not even aware that he had said that. “I do Abs. And I want him home. I want to tell him and never let him go. So help me find him.”
“On it Boss”. She hugs him one more time before turning back to work. Gibbs heads back to Fornell and Balboa.
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