The Grey Woods Beast
By Kushie
I do not own NCIS: I do not own Anthony Dinozzo, L.J. Gibbs or any other team members.
Please understand that some English spellings and types of dialogue differ from the American
ones. Some of us put the letter 'U' in a lot more word endings. I'm sorry if you find this awkward
It's second nature to me. As is putting certain words, in front of the verb, instead of after
This story bears no relation to any of my other stories. It is set in a totally different Universe.
Warning! Alternate Universe. Many Characters act out of Canon! Don't like don't read.
Chapter One: The Vision
Tony stood a foot pace behind Ziva. The team were all focusing on the main Plasma.
He glanced to left. The light from the main windows was dimmed, in deference to him.
They all had blinds drawn over them. To compensate, every other agent had been given a
halogen desk lamp. Tony tried to focus on the case. Tim was droning on, about some complicated
Computer procedure. That sounded pure Gobble de Gook. Tony stroked his left hand over Vinni.
Smoothing down the Puppet's fur.
Out of the corner of his eye Gibbs saw the gesture. Over a month had passed since Christmas
Ducky insisted Tony was making great progress and seemed to be adapting well. To his new
persona. But Jethro knew. He saw what no other did. A nameless fear lurked behind
Tony's bright smile and sometimes in his eyes, just for a brief second. Jethro glimpsed an
unspoken worry.
"And so, having finally cracked the code," Tim's voice took on a proud note. "I was able
to determine..." Tony shivered. The room seemed unusually cold. No one else seemed
affected. Suddenly his world seem to spin. The Bullpen shrank to a pin point of light and then
vanished.
The forest was like a labyrinth. The path twisted and turned, in places it seemed to almost bend
back on itself. It stank too! A disgusting odour of decay hung like a pall over the area.
A mist wound, ghostly tendrils, around the ancient tree trunks. It was deathly silent! No
birds sang. The normal rustlings and scurryings of unseen creatures were missing. He
looked around. It was near he could tell. All the hackles on the back of his neck stood up,
His nightmare lurked within a hair's breath. Then the light returned in a dazzling explosion
of white!
"Uh!" Tony gasped as if someone had just hurled cold water into his face. Tim paused, mid-sentence,
as every head turned to stare at Tony. Tim blanched. Quite suddenly blood began to gush from
his partner's nose and eyes. His knees buckled. Gibbs leapt, to catch him, as his SFA pitched forward.
Ziva blinked then her instincts kicked in. She dived for the intercom button and screeched
"Medical Emergency! Doctor Mallard to the Bullpen! I repeat Medical Emergency! Doctor Mallard
to the Bullpen. A minute passed. Gibbs had lowered Tony carefully to the floor.
Someone found a cushion Which was placed behind his head. Having summoned aid. Ziva wrenched
open her desk drawer and found a small bottle of smelling salts. A relic left over from Cate's time.
Gibbs gave her a grateful nod As he took the small vial. Quickly unscrewing it, he wafted the bottle
under Tony's nose.
"Aargh!" Tony was jerked back to consciousness. Just as Ducky flew from the elevator.
"What happened?" he demanded to know. Instantly surmising who the patient was.
"I'm not sure!" Gibbs replied. We were all standing listening to Tim, when he suddenly gasped. Then
he started bleeding and before I could get to him, he fainted. Ducky knelt down. Tony was struggling
to sit up. The Doctor placed a hand on his shoulder and gently made him remain prone.
"Tony can you tell me what happened? Did you feel strange before you fainted? Light headed?
Nauseous?"
"I wasn't here!"
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
"I can't explain it." Tony struggled to explain. "One minute I was standing listening to Tim
Then suddenly it was like I was inside a tornado. The room seemed to disappear above me and then.."
"And then?"
"I just told you! I wasn't here anymore!" Ducky felt a nervous stirring in his stomach. Gibbs did too!
"What do you mean You weren't here? Where were you?"
"I don't know."
"Okay! Can you describe this other place?" Mallard made a placating movement with his hand.
He needed Jethro to hold it together. They could not allow Tony to become agitated or
upset. Not if they wanted to learn exactly what had occurred. Tony tried to remember.
"I think it was a forest. But it was old. The trees were all just dead trunks and.."
"And!" Ziva leaned forward curious
"There was something there. Not something not quite human..."
"Not quite human? What was it then?" Ziva looked skeptical
"I dunno! evil!" He tried to laugh. Tim was not skeptical, he was fascinated. He could barely
wait, to scurry down, to Abby and impart the incident to her. The pair of them shared a loved
of all things mysterious and in Abby's case. Gruesome!
"God! Would you listen to me? I have so gotta lay of the cheese. Before I faint!"
Tony was getting embarrassed. Buy now most of the office had formed a crowd. Dozens' of faces
were straining over others. All trying to get a look at him. Tony wanted to crawl away and hide.
"Oh God!" I fainted. he said mentally. "I am screwed. Ziva and Probie are going to milk this
For the rest of my life!"
Ducky exchanged glances with Jethro The Doctor's gut was starting to burble with hope.
"Was it possible? Had he at last found a real one?" He'd read alleged reports of the phenomena.
Tony's description and the accompanying side effects fitted the bill. But now was not the time to push
for more. The Doctor in Ducky rose up.
"All right Tony! Just relax . What ever you felt and saw can wait. Right now! You need to rest.
You are exhausted."
"It's getting late anyway!" Jethro interrupted. "Tim, Ziva wrap the loose ends, file your
reports. Then call it a day." He leaned over Tony.
"You young man are coming home with me." He sat up
"Eh! That's okay boss! Thanks! But! I feel fine now. I just need a good night's sleep!"
"Which you will get at my place!"
"No really!"
"Jethro is right," Ducky added his voice to Gibbs. "I'm sorry Tony But I have to
again insist You go with him. We don't know what exactly happened to you. The suddenness of the
attack implies. It can't yet be anticipated. You will need to be monitored. In case it happens again."
"I'll stay at home!"
"No! For a start! Suppose you're in the bath? You could drown!"
"I'll just take a shower!"
"This discussion is ended!" Gibbs said firmly. "You are coming home with me!" Tony recognized the tone.
It brooked no argument. He sighed and capitulated. There went his night out with the guys.
Straight down the pan! He gave a defeated nod.
"Yes boss!" They helped him to his feet and across to the Restroom to wash his face.
Jethro inwardly chuckled. Tony was spending so much time at his place. Maybe he should
just move in permanently. The he shook his head at the idea. Tony was seriously messy
Jethro didn't think he could stand it. He was used to Marine neatness. The week over Christmas had nearly
driven him nuts. He was sure he'd spent half of it. Just walking behind Tony and his dad. Picking things
up and putting them away.
"At least this time, there's only the one," he mused.
TBC