It all happened so fast that Tony didn't have time to react. He was in the woods and he saw motion and the glint of metal coming from the right and then there was only pain. He fell to his knees as his attacker escaped into the forest.

Damn, was all he had time to think before the darkness claimed him.

When Tony came to he was temporarily confused but the sharp pain in his neck and throat – and the fact that he was having some difficulty breathing - was a quick reminder of the sudden assault. He tried to get to his feet but found he was dizzy.

Gotta get back...tell Gibbs…Probie! Tony fumbled in his pocket for his cell, pausing momentarily when dark spots swam in his vision. He couldn't remember the last time he had been in so much pain. He closed his eyes and tried to take a few deep, calming breaths before finding his phone and hitting the speed dial for McGee.

"Tony?" McGee answered on the first ring. "It's about time! You done taking pictures yet? Gibbs got here half an hour ago and we've already wrapped up here, what took you so long?"

Tony tried to answer but found he could not. He opened his mouth but no sound came out. He sat there, gasping for air, trying to say something – ANYTHING – to make McGee understand. Probie…help…Tony tried to say, but Tim could not hear it.

"Geez, Tony, now you're making prank calls? That's very adult. I can hear you breathing, you know. Feel free to call me back when you feel like acting your age. You're such an idiot sometimes." McGee hung up.

Please, Tim, DiNozzo thought desperately. Please help me. I can't speak! Why can't I make a sound?! What the hell is wrong with me? Tony was on the verge of full-scale panic when his mind cleared enough for him to realize that he could send McGee a text message.

Less than 100 yards away from where Tony was now struggling to remain conscious, McGee's phone dinged to indicate an incoming text. HELP, was all it said. When McGee saw that the message was from DiNozzo he suddenly realized that he had made a terrible mistake. Oh God, he thought, Gibbs is going to kill me.

McGee didn't allow himself to ponder the repercussions of Gibbs' wrath for long. He immediately flipped open his cell and called Abby, instructing her to locate the GPS signal from Tony's phone. "Boss!" he shouted over his shoulder at Gibbs, " Tony needs help! This way!" He didn't bother to elaborate further, knowing full well that there was no need. Following Abby's directions, Tim took off for the woods at a dead run with Gibbs - and Ducky - hot on his heels. Hang on Tony, he thought. We're coming.

After sending his one-word message, Tony sat with his back against a tree trying desperately to remain calm. Don't panic, he thought. Probie's coming. He closed his eyes against the pain. Hurry up, Probie. Kinda getting fuzzy here. A little help would be great. Breathe in, breathe out.

Within minutes he could hear the sound of people crashing through the undergrowth towards him. McGee, Gibbs and Ducky burst out of the trees into the small clearing. Ducky and Gibbs knelt down at Tony's side. "Oh, my dear boy. What happened?" Ducky asked. He began to carefully examine the large vicious-looking bruise that was already appearing on Tony's throat. Tony slid his eyes in Tim's direction. McGee recognized the unspoken request. "I…I don't think he can speak, Ducky," McGee began sheepishly. "He called me before and I thought it was a prank…he didn't say anything so I hung up. Then he texted me and that's when I realized he wasn't goofing around." At the admission, Gibbs turned his ice-blue eyes away from Tony just long enough to lock Tim in a steely glare. Tim gulped and started to stammer an apology, only to be cut off.

"Later." Gibbs said curtly. "Right now we need to get Tony to a hospital." Tony began to shake his head and tried to stand up, but Ducky gently stopped him. "Now, now, Anthony," Ducky soothed, "Calm down. While I would prefer to have you examined at hospital, I can take X-rays back at autopsy to confirm my suspicions. I know how you hate hospitals, so we'll try to avoid it if we can. Okay?" Tony nodded and obediently settled back against the tree, closing his eyes and taking deep breaths.

"What's wrong with him?" Gibbs demanded to know. "He looks as though he was hit across the throat." Ducky nodded in agreement and explained further. "I believe the young lad has damaged his larynx. If he were hit with enough force, it would explain this bruising and also his inability to speak or make sounds. The initial swelling would also cause the mild difficulty in breathing. I'll take scans to be sure but I'm 99% certain." Gibbs sighed, once again lamenting Tony's uncanny ability to find trouble in the most unlikely of places.

"Let's get him back home, he's clearly in quite a bit of pain." Ducky's quiet instruction pulled Gibbs back to the present.

"McGee!" Gibbs barked. "Get the car. Bring it as close to the tree line as possible. Hurry it up." As Tim scurried back toward the crime scene, Ducky and Gibbs each took a position on either side of Tony and carefully helped him to his feet. He swayed a little at first, but was able to make it out of the densely wooded area mostly under his own power. Once they reached the car, Ducky gently eased Tony into the backseat while Gibbs instructed McGee and Palmer to finish up at the scene.

Tony lay across the seat and tried to get as comfortable as he could. He was finding it much easier to breathe now that the initial shock had worn off, but his throat still throbbed miserably. He allowed himself to doze to the sound of Ducky's cultured voice regaling Gibbs with yet another long-winded story from his youth. Tony was too tired and sore to pay attention to the words but he found the quiet drone very soothing. I doubt Gibbs would agree, was the last thing he thought before falling asleep completely.