I, Captive
by channeld
written for: the NFA Stockholm Syndrome challenge. The aim of the challenge was to have one of the NCIS characters fall victim to the Stockholm Syndrome. In this medical condition, a captive starts to identify with or sympathize with his or her captor(s).
rating: K plus
featuring: Ducky and Ari
genre: drama; an AU or "what if?" revision of Kill Ari (part II)
disclaimer: I own nothing of NCIS.
Chapter 1
"Wait—this was where you were to let me out, was it not?"
"A change in plans," his abductor said, without a trace of a sneer or smirk.
Ducky settled back in the passenger seat; an almost imperceptible settling, but he could feel it in his mind. This was an unpleasant turn.
Unpleasant, and portentous.
He thought back. He'd come, at Ari's phone call. Ari was holding Gerald, but would let him go if Ducky would take his place. It is a foolish proposition, but that's what a civilized man is; one who respects the sanctity of the lives of his friends. A romantic fool, who acts without hesitation. Now Gerald had been let go.
"I am not your final goal, am I?" Ducky asked, his mouth working unwillingly. Was it better to stay silent? Or would that seem cowardly. Ari didn't answer.
"I am nothing to you," Ducky continued. "Surely you know that NCIS does not pay ransom for hostages. You are after a bigger fish." Still no answer.
"You are after Gibbs. You want this one more substitution."
Ari's lips twitched, finally. "And why would I want that?"
"To settle a score. Or to ratchet up the terror level. You see Gibbs as being more of an equal. My death would cause NCIS distress, but the execution of someone on Gibbs' level would be tantamount to a provocation of war."
"Are we not always at war, Doctor? People say they hope for peace, as if this is the normal state of the universe. I would differ. War is the norm. Protecting what is one's own, is the norm."
"We do not need to be enemies. Were fighting the natural state, we would not be predisposed to make friends."
Ari didn't reply for a few minutes. Just as Ducky was starting to get twitchy in the silence, Ari said, "You said I was after Gibbs. I was, I admit. But that plan now seems too easy. I have made a change."
"And that would be…?"
His captor only smiled as he drove. "You will see."
As Ari drove, on and on into the rainy night, Ducky lapsed into silent fear. While he tried to content himself with thinking Gerald is safe, he found his mind wandering to his own situation. Ari was going to let me go…alive, I think…to confront Jethro. Jethro would have a good chance of bettering Ari. All would have ended well. And now…
…I can't guess what will transpire. The longer he has me, the less likely he is to release me.
Every moment that I have to spend with this unconscionable criminal is a moment closer to my own end. I'd try to get away if I thought it could produce good results, but he is too young, too fast, and likely too sure a shot.
…still, if my death can save others, it would be worth it.
If only I get a chance…
When the car stopped hours later, it was at a remote, darkened house in the countryside. Ducky had watched the route and knew that they were in eastern Pennsylvania. Who do I know here? That would be how Mother would approach this problem. To whom can I turn to help here? No one, sadly; no one… Mother!
In suddenly memory, he cried out. "You must let me go! My mother…she is quite elderly, and she depends upon me." When Ari only chuckled, Ducky raged, "Have you no decency, man? No decency at all?"
"Not in how you would measure it, Doctor."
"What, then, fuels you? What are you striving for?"
"My cause. There is nothing that means more to me. Not family, not any individual person. They are insignificant. Get out of the car, and welcome to your new…'home'."
Ari turned on the lights and then led Ducky to a bedroom on the second floor. It was quite tastefully furnished, Ducky noted, and only had the faintest whiff of being closed off a bit too long. There was no radio nor TV, but it had a bookcase with old-looking books. Some amenities were seen: an en suite bathroom, complete with shower, a minifridge, and microwave oven. A less appealing item, Ducky noticed, was the lock on the door…set to lock someone in.
"And just how long are you planning on keeping me here?" Ducky challenged.
"As long as it takes. No more, no less. There are canned foods in the cupboard. Help yourself. I will bring you other meals from time to time, when I remember." He laughed, and went away, longing the door behind him.
Ducky sank down on the bed, and then got up, his curiosity too strong. "Hmm, yes, this is nice," he said, pulling a book off its shelf.
"Nothing, Jethro? You have no clues?"
Gibbs coughed to get his dry throat working. He stood under a shop's canopy; the cold rain dribbling close by as he held his phone. "No, Jen. Based on his pattern, I thought Haswari would release him. It's me he wants. I'm here. But he's not."
The Director shot back, "And he has a defenseless old man hostage. We take better care of our own than this, Agent Gibbs. Find him—fast!"
She'd broken the connection before Gibbs could respond. Believe me, Jen, there's nothing more that I want to do.
So far, though, Ari had left no clues. They didn't even know what he was driving, to have spirited Ducky away. He was known to have a motorcycle, but…Gibbs couldn't picture Ducky as a passenger on a motorcycle for too long. Either he'd fall off or try to jump off and escape…and in either case the idea was ugly.
Ari is after me, and he's going at it through my people. He pulled his phone back off its clip. "DiNozzo—"
"Yeah, boss? You got Ducky?" Tony's voice was full of almost childlike trust. Trust that his boss would make things right.
Gibbs sighed. Maybe this was too much to ask, but it was all he could do for now. "No. I don't know where he, or Haswari, are yet."
"I could—"
"Right now the best thing you all can do is stay together. Watch each other's backs. That means you, McGee, David, Gerald, Abby, and Palmer, too."
"Wow, that's some house party, boss!"
Gibbs frowned at Tony's attempt at levity. "I mean it. Nobody should be alone. I'm putting you in charge of the others. You can all stay at HQ if that feels safest, but let me know if you decide to go somewhere else. Ya got that?"
"Got it," Tony said quietly. "I won't let Ari get any of them. I swear it."
It was another matter to deal with Ducky's elderly, bewildered mother. She hadn't understood why her devoted Donald hadn't come home. She wouldn't leave the house she'd lived in for many years; refusing to go with strangers whom she'd misidentified as the milkman, a Rockette dancer, and President Truman (although she told that bewildered agent that she was in full support of his policies, and he'd have her vote in the next election, provided he keep his eye on that dreadful Mr. McCarthy and his "communists"). NCIS elected to station two agents in her house, ones who could tolerate her delusions.
That left Gibbs' mind free to work on finding Ducky. To do that, he reasoned, he'd have to think like Ari.
But what was Ari thinking about?
Ducky surveyed the boundaries of his (admittedly cozy) cell. Besides the bookcase, there was also a desk and things that went with the desk; an armchair and ottoman; an oriental rug on the hardwood floor; a few landscapes in oil on the wall. It was hard to tell where those scenes were.
There were two windows; this room was evidently on a corner of the house. The windows could open a little for air, but just that, and there did not seem to be anything to climb down on, should the windows be opened further. He'd check it out by light of day, when that came.
For now, the hour was late…very, very late, he saw by his watch. The tension of the hours started to catch up with him. Taking off most of his clothes, he climbed into the bed, and fell asleep…if not immediately, at least soon afterwards, wondering how long it would take Jethro to rescue him. Yes. That was the one thing that would keep him sane in this ordeal: the knowledge that his friend would move mountains…no, continents…to find and free him from this madman.
