In Tenebris
Written for the Five Stages of Grief , No Sensibility and You Should Have Come to Me Challenges
Rating: T/FR 15
Genre: Gen, Suspense
Characters: Tim, Gibbs, Ziva, Tony, Abby, Ducky, Vance, OCs
Summary: McGee becomes the victim of an act of revenge against Gibbs.
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters are not mine. The unrecognizable ones are.
Special thanks to DinaLori for the beta.
Chapter 1
Tim slowly fought his way out of the depths of unconsciousness and finally managed to open his eyes, blinking in confusion as the darkness surrounding him failed to dissipate. He blinked again but nothing changed. It was pitch black, without even a hint of any sort of illumination anywhere, so he tried to use his other senses to discern his situation.
He could tell he was lying on his back but the surface beneath him was hard and unfamiliar, certainly not his own bed in his apartment, and he was only wearing boxers and a thin t-shirt. His arms lay crossed on his chest and when he tried to move them he realized that they were bound, not only together but also to his body. He struggled to sit up and discovered that he was also bound to the surface upon which he was lying, able only to raise his head. His legs were bound together and similarly secured. He felt the first tendrils of fear wrap themselves around his heart as he searched his memory for some clue to explain his predicament.
What happened? Where am I? How…?
His most recent memory surfaced: he had stumbled into his apartment late Saturday night, having been dismissed by Gibbs after a particularly long and difficult case that the team had finally wrapped up, including the mounds of paperwork such a case usually produced. He had been happy to have a least one day of the weekend off, in which he had planned to spend at home, alone.
After he had secured his weapon and put his cell phone on the charger, he had showered, dressed for bed, and headed to the kitchen to find something to eat. He remembered stepping through his bedroom door and then…nothing.
Tim frowned. Something was missing, some important piece of information. Again he searched his mental database, growing more frustrated with each passing moment until something finally clicked.
The Willis case: I'm scheduled to testify on Monday. I should…wait. Does this…am I here because someone doesn't want me to talk?
"Hello?" he called, and winced at the sound of his voice, scratchy and weak, but also oddly loud. He realized that not only was he bound, he was also in a closed in structure, much smaller than he expected. A crate, or a large wooden box…or… Tim felt a surge of panic as his claustrophobia reared its ugly head.
No. No, no, no! He struggled to control his terror as he called out again.
"What do you want with me?" The sound of his own harsh breathing reverberating within the unseen small space was the only thing he heard in return. He fought to bring his breathing under control, fearing that he would soon run out of air, but as he managed to slow his respiration, he noticed that while the air was a bit stale, it seemed to be providing a breathable level of oxygen. The realization that he was not completely sealed in his prison brought some relief, and finally he managed to calm himself enough to think.
They'll notice I'm missing. They'll come looking for me. I just have to wait. It will be OK…
He had no idea how long he had been in this place, but he knew it was only a matter of time before his team would start their search.
I'll be OK…I'll be OK…Gibbs will find me. He never leaves a man behind…
XXX
Ziva pushed through the barely open doors of the elevator and dashed to her desk, hitting her seat with only a few seconds to spare. She slammed her bag down beside her desk and immediately started to boot up her computer as the frustration that had been building since she started her morning drive nearly boiled over. Five minutes later in leaving, and that had made all the difference. Five minutes, and every slow driving idiot had managed to be out and in her way. No one had better try her patience further this morning, or—
"Problem, Zee-vah?" Tony drawled and she turned to glare up at him, smiling inwardly when he flinched under her angry gaze.
"Traffic was horrible, and then I could not find a parking space, and then…"
"Sounds like someone has a case of the Mondays," Tony said with a grin. Ziva plucked a paper clip from her desk top and he immediately returned to his desk. She chuckled to herself and returned her attention to her computer, hoping to get something done before Gibbs made an appearance.
"Looks like Probie is late this morning, too."
"I was not late, and McGee is in court today."
"Oh yeah, the Willis case. He's going to have to explain his geek magic to the jury. I don't envy him in the least."
Ziva ignored him and started checking her email. The two of them worked in silence until Gibbs arrived. They looked up expectantly, hoping for a break in the tedium of paperwork, but he just shook his head and Ziva sighed. It was going to be a long day.
Another hour passed and Ziva leaned back in her chair to stretch. She glanced up at the catwalk above and noticed that Vance was approaching, looking quite irate.
"Agent Gibbs, where is Agent McGee?"
Gibbs looked up and glanced over at McGee's desk. "He had court this morning."
"Yes, I know where he was supposed to be this morning. He's not there."
One glance from Gibbs and Tony immediately picked up his phone. He dialed a number and listened. "He's not answering his cell." He hung up and dialed another number. After listening for a moment, he frowned. "Not answering at home, either."
"That is not like McGee," Ziva observed as she tried to keep the worry out of her voice.
"Check your email, Boss."
"Already did, DiNozzo. Nothing."
"Maybe his car broke down and he's trying to get it fixed."
"He should still answer his cell phone," Ziva replied. "Call Abby, maybe she has heard…" She noticed Gibbs expression and paused. "Gibbs?" She followed his gaze and saw a man standing just at the edge of the bullpen. He appeared to be harmless, but the look of anger on Gibbs' face raised her hackles and she gave the man a closer look. He appeared to be the same age as Gibbs, with posture and bearing of military. He was smiling, but there was something not quite right in his eyes. Unconsciously she reached for her weapon.
"What in the hell are you doing here?" Gibbs growled at the man, whose smile widened.
"Ah, Special Agent Gibbs. Still as charming as ever, I see." He turned to Ziva. "You must be Special Agent David." She nodded, and he turned to Tony. "Special Agent DiNozzo, I presume. I'm Frank Oliver. Agent Gibbs and I go way back."
"I repeat, what in the hell are you doing here, Oliver?" Gibbs had risen from his seat and stood in front of his desk, facing Oliver.
"I believe we need to talk, Agent Gibbs."
"I don't have time for this," Gibbs replied and turned away from the visitor, heading to his chair.
"Ah, yes, but I believe you will make time, Agent Gibbs. You see, I am here to confess to a crime."
"What crime?" Vance asked from the catwalk as Gibbs spun around to face the man again.
"The murder of NCIS Special Agent Timothy McGee."
TBC…