A/N: So, a while back, I had a nightmare. It was one of those vivid types that wake you up and then keep you from sleeping...and even from thinking about much else for a long time. So, I decided that I'd write it down rather than stew about it. It's my entry for the I've Got a Secret Challenge on the NFA and it's a supernatural/horror story, featuring Tim and Tony.

Disclaimer: I own nothing of NCIS and I am making no money off of this story. The OCs are my own creation, but any recognizable characters are the property of DPB. I also do not own, nor do I make money from Road to Morocco.

Set the Captives Free
by Enthusiastic Fish

Chapter 1

"I will not keep this up any more, Tony! You want this job finished? Do it yourself!" Tim shouted.

"You think I like this any more than you do?" Tony shouted back.

"Have you two ever heard of being quiet?" The question was accompanied by two headslaps that silenced both of them.

Gibbs glared at the two angry agents and waited.

"Boss, I'm sorry, but Tony is just–"

"Me? Don't you try pinning this on me, McGrumpy. It's because you–"

Thwack!

Thwack!

"Shut up! I don't care whose fault it is. What I care about is that the two of you can't seem to pull your heads out of your butts long enough to actually do your job!"

They both knew better than to protest.

"That's better," Gibbs said. "Now, we got an anonymous tip last night that our dead Marine was seen in the town of Mongothsberd, Virginia, just off the Blue Ridge Mountain Road. You two are going to go and check it out."

Tim had suddenly gone pale. "No, Boss."

"Did I give the idea that this was open for debate, McGee?"

"Me and the Probie? Come on, Boss! Have a heart!"

"Get going! Here's the address. Plug it into the GPS. No one around here has ever heard of the place before; so don't get lost."

"Please, Boss. I..." Tim was nearly begging now, but such was Gibbs' annoyance and Tony's whining that neither of them noticed the change in his tone.

"Come on, Probie. I'm driving and if you say a word on the way, I reserve the right to kill you."

Tim didn't reply but he followed.

I should have known I couldn't avoid it forever...

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

"Where's the turnoff for this place?" Tony asked, a little unnerved by the silence from the other side of the car. Tim had not said a single word since they had set out for Mongothsberd and there was a definite air of gloom around him. He hadn't meant it literally when he had told Tim to keep quiet...but he was more than quiet. It was like a black hole of silence, sucking all other sounds in with it.

Tim was staring out the window.

"Probie!"

"Coming up on your right," Tim said softly. Tony noticed he wasn't even looking at the GPS directions. "It's called Thoven Lane. Two big oak trees on either side."

Sure enough. Another half mile and the road was there...just as Tim had described it.

"How did you know about the trees, McGee? That wouldn't be on the GPS."

Tim didn't answer...and then, Tony saw that the GPS wasn't even turned on.

"You been here before?"

"No."

"Why would our murder victim be out here in the middle of nowhere?"

"I doubt he was."

Tony took the turnoff and followed the narrow lane into the trees.

"Who builds a town in the middle of the forest?"

"No one."

"McGee, what is up with you? You act like you're going to your execution."

A strange smile flickered across Tim's face. "You never know."

Suddenly, the trees thinned out and a small town appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. Tim took a long deep breath as they headed toward the center.

"Where do we go?"

"Just follow the road. It will get us there."

"But where? This is smaller than that town we went to three years ago, but there's more than one building."

"We'll end up where we have to be."

"But there doesn't seem to be anyone here!"

"There are people here."

"I don't see any."

"They're here."

As soon as Tim spoke, a man stepped out of the large central building which dominated the landscape and walked over to meet them. Tony got out of the car along with Tim and watched unnerved as the man walked over to Tim and held out his hand. Instead of shaking hands, Tim held his out, palm up. The man examined it and then nodded.

"Hey, you the one who reported seeing a Marine around here?" Tony asked...but somehow he knew that whatever was going on had nothing to do with the case. This was something very very different.

There was a strange stuttering...as if time had been paused briefly...and then, the man pointed to the building without saying a word.

The building was monstrous. It didn't look right for this place. It was too big. It was not tall...maybe two stories, but it was nearly as wide as two football fields. There were no windows. Only a single rather ornate door flanked by two carved oak trees.

Tim started walking toward the building.

"McGee, what's going on?"

Tim stopped at the door and looked back.

"Tony, you watch horror movies, right?"

"Yeah. Of course. Why?"

"Welcome to my horror movie. Only this one is real. You don't get to watch the rolling credits at the end and walk out of the movie theater...back to your real life. This is my real life. You're not the one I would have picked to be involved, but...you're here. You have to be involved."

"Involved in what? McGee, you're freaking me out."

"You won't believe me until you see it for yourself." He turned back and started to twist the knob on the door.

Tony ran up beside him and suddenly, Tim grabbed Tony by the arm.

"Just remember, Tony...once we're inside. Stick with the one who has a gun."

"Huh?"

"Stay with the me that has a gun. Not the others. Even if that me doesn't say anything, that's the one you need to trust. That's the one who's safe."

"The you that has a gun? McGee, I think you're–"

Tim opened the door and stepped inside. Tony followed, his voice trailing off as he got his first look inside the monstrous building. He had expected to see the usual: doors, hallways, offices, things like that. What he saw was a huge open room with a long wall about 100 feet from him. There was one door and the wall extended almost to the outer walls. There was just enough space on either end for a hallway.

Tim gave Tony a frightened look and then took another step. Instantly, he was surrounded by black shadows. Tony was vaguely reminded of a scene from the second Mummy movie...only instead of Arnold Vosloo, he was seeing Tim get attacked by strange black flying things...and instead of stripping Tim of superhuman powers...it was...

Tony couldn't believe his eyes and he could find no words in his head for what he was seeing. It was as though each black shape was pulling Tim out of himself. ...and then, there were three Tims, all facing each other...all...all Tim but...

"Probie," Tony whispered in horror. "What's going on?"