Awakenings Chapter 2

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Tony breathed in the heavy scent of his own sweat and blood as he opened his eyes to the surrounding darkness. The single light continued to swing illuminating shadows in every corner. To Tony's relief and fear he was absolutely alone...or so he thought. A rusting could be heard scraping against the ground. Tony's heart hammered in his chest threatening to explode. His breathing quickened.

"Finally awake I see."

Tony squinted his eyes, searching for the voice.

He had been tied up again without mercy . His injured arm aching accordingly.

"What do you expect to accomplish Director? Scare me?"

A low chuckle echoed around the room leading Tony to believe that the man was coming from behind the two way mirror on a speaker. Tony fought a terrified chuckle himself.

"Now I can see why this is your interrogation room. It's a bit different from the concrete bunker...."

"Enough!"

Tony shut up. He swallowed knowing instinctively his situation was about to get progressively worse.

The sounds continued to invade his space. Something brushed past his feet. He couldn't see what it was but had a feeling he didn't want to know.

"You are correct, Agent DiNozzo. You are not alone."

Tony looked at his feet in anticipation. A furry shadow scurried by and he swallowed the scream that threatened to escape his lips.

"Rats, " he whispered.

The Director could clearly see the fear on the agent's face. He scratched his chin.

"Why the fear of rats? It is just because of the plague? Or what the plague reminds you of? Your mortality? Your painful loneliness?"

Tony felt the nips on his ankles. His body and mind screamed to get the hell out!

"Yes! All of it!"

The director shook his head behind the glass.

"Too easy an answer, Agent DiNozzo." the room was silent except for the rat's squeaks. "How do you feel when you see the rats?"

Tony sighed as beads of sweat dripped down his face onto the collar of his Armani shirt.

"I.... feel my chest constrict....my heart races. I can't ....I can't breathe. Just like the plague." He hangs his head in shame. "I still have nightmares about it. I never felt so alone in so long. "

" Did you have any family there?"

Tony replied without hesitation. "Yes."

There was some shuffling from Tony before the director spoke his gaze solidly on Tony's painful expression through the glass.

"I mean your biological family. Mother ? Father, perhaps?"

Tony seethed in anger. "If you know as much about me as I think you do then you damn well know my mother is dead and my father...."

The director watched the young man bite his lower lip attempting to draw blood before realizing it would draw the rats even more.

"Your father, yes. Cut you off when you were 12 correct?"

Tony closed his eyes. "Yeah. Good riddance."

The director laughed and Tony felt as if he were caught in the middle of a psychotic movie.

"Isn't that what he said to you too?"

Tony refused to answer. He was emotionally and physically drained. His mind was starting to shut down needing time to recoup for whatever Director David had planned next.

"Isn't that what Ziva said to you?"

The Director's eyes narrowed. "Ziva is my daughter."

Tony tried to laugh. He needed to fight back.

"Yeah, I can see that. Where is she by the way? Resting from her ordeal or on another op?"

WIthout remorse or emotion he answered, " She is dead."

Tony froze. Dead? Ziva? No....

"She's not dead."

The Director scoffed. "How would you know?"

Tony bit back on his malice only a bit. "For the same reason you should know you bastard! I care about her! I would know if she were dead."

The Director held his tongue and watched the image before him. Never under estimate DiNozzo....He realized he wouldn't get anymore out of the younger man at this time. He signaled a small door to open near his feet.

From Tony's end he could hear the rats heading toward the wall, passing through the wall. He released the breath he was holding. They were gone. Thank God. His fear of rats was up there, but not at the top. What could he possibly have to face next?

The director watched his pets enter their cage trained like they were to do. He bent down to throw them some cheese when he heard the door behind him burst open.

"Where the hell is he, David?"

The Director smiled and turned to face Agent Gibbs seething, fists clenched tightly at his side.

"See for yourself."

He gestured toward the glass. Gibbs ignored the fact that David didn't seem surprised to see him. Gibbs swallowed hard before peering into the room. The walls were dark and damp. He could only imagine the smell of mold permeating the room. A single light nearly blinded his senior agent who was still decked in his now rumpled and filthy expensive suit for what had to be at least 12 hours.

Aw hell, Tony.

"Come Agent Gibbs. Have a seat. We have been expecting you."

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