I Do Not Own NCIS
Thanks for the reviews and all those other good things. Thanks, EarthDragon, you bring up good points and you are very encouraging.
One more chapter after this one.
xxx
A cold gust of wind snapped Tony into consciousness a few moments after they careened off the road and ending up in a deep ditch. He stirred, moaning, his eyes remaining closed, as he mentally assessed any pain he was experiencing. He began to rub his right wrist but stopped, immediately, surprised with the excruciating pain.
"Yowza!"
He blinked his eyes, shivers rushing through his body from the cold wind blowing through the car. McGee's side was crushed in and a window was blown out, now unable to offer much protection from the weather's threatening elements.
He looked over at McGee, worried at how still he was. "Please don't be dead, probie." He repeated to himself. "McGee. Can you... hear me...buddy?"
He reached over, turning Tim's chin toward him to get a better look at him. Tony felt woozy when he noticed a nasty gash over his right eyebrow, blood flowing heavily from the cut. Tim moaned.
"Tim? Please, wake up." Tony flinched as he adjusted in his seat, feeling a sharp pain shoot up his back. "Looks like we're both pretty messed up...that's just...great."
Tony had an uneasy feeling that Tomaselli would be back soon to make sure he had successfully completed his initial intentions. Their car was offering no protection from the cold and Tony didn't want to stay there like sitting ducks waiting for what the Petty Officer would try next. He was worried their injuries would be a major hindrance in their abilities to protect themselves.
"Tim, we gotta move, we can't stay here, come on buddy, wake up... for me?" Tim's eyes fluttered open, groggily as he blinked. His head rolled, then fell back against the headrest as he fought to remain conscious, but failing.
"Damn." Tony grimaced, feeling helpless. He sat back bouncing his head off the headrest in frustration then immediately wished he hadn't when it began to ache. He needed to call Gibbs and alert him of their status. He was surprised to hear the ring of his cell, quickly answering it. "Gibbs! Oh, Kate? Is that you? I can barely hear you! We had some trouble. Can you hear me? Yeah, we were run off the road and I think it was Tomaselli...Kate? Are you there? We need a rescue team. We have some injuries and...Kate?"
Kate's voice was barely audible below the static. Tony hoped she was, at least able to hear his end of the conversation. "I don't know if you can hear me but Tim is out; bad cut on his forehead. I can't wake him and we can't stay here. We're north of Suttertown about three miles into Marlboro. Kate?" He tossed the phone onto the dashboard then banged his healthy hand against the steering wheel.
"This just keeps getting better and better." He looked through the driver's side of the window, scraping frost off its surface to get a better look at their surroundings. There was no evidence of life anywhere. He searched the boundaries of the woods and spotted a faint light through the trees. He knew they had passed the entrance to the camp grounds; was it possible someone was staying in one of the cabins or a camper? If they could enter the safety of the woods to keep from being discovered until the calvary arrived,they may have a better chance of surviving.
Tony gently grabbed Tim's face then turned it to look at him. "McGee?" He patted his cheek softly, with assertion.
McGee woke, coughing, as his eyes struggled to open. "Tony? Where...are... are we?" He rubbed his forehead, confused to feel the open wound on his forehead.
Tony grabbed Tim's wrist then the first aide kit located on the side of his seat. "Hey careful, you have a big gash on your forehead. We're still in Virginia but we had a little accident. We have to walk and I can't leave you. I saw a light through the trees, there must be a camper set up deep in the woods." Tony pointed his thumb towards the dark forest.
Tim looked at him, perplexed."The...the woods? What? Are you crazy? Can't we just wait... here? I'm really...tired." Tim dropped his head back against the headrest as it rolled side to side.
"The reason we crashed is because of Tomaselli. I identified his vehicle. We gotta move or we're dead."
"Well, when you put..it that.. way." Tim sat up but dropped back into his seat.
"Slow down probie. Just a minute."
Tony started to bandage the wound on Tim's forehead. "Hey, Ow! Careful! That really hurts." Tim blushed when he realized he had just yelled at his senior agent.
"Hey...it's okay. It looks like it really hurts, you're going to need some stitches."
A faint smile spread over McGee's face. "Uh...thanks, Tony."
Tony returned his smile. "Well...come on, we might as well get going." Tim moved to get out of the car.
"Wait... I'll help you-"
"Tony-" Tony had already exited the car and shut his door, heading towards his side of the car. Tim watched him as he almost slipped in front of the headlights. He had to smile, his sudden concern was surprisingly touching.
The snow was still coming down strong and Tim was worried; their chances that, that faint light Tony spotted deep in the woods would be their salvation, was a weak hope making him doubtful; but he vowed he would not tell Tony how he felt.
Tim flinched when Tony swung open his door, a blast of cold air instantly chilling him. He didn't think he could feel any colder. Tim turned, supporting himself by holding onto the door for support. The instant he rose black spots consumed his vision and his world began to fade.
"Ahhh, no you don't McGee." Tony reached under Tim's arms, his hands wrapped around his chest. Tony could feel Tim's heart rate accelerate and felt bad to make him come out into the cold and hike through the snow.
"Jus'... give me a minute... Tony. I'm too...uh, dizzy to move right now." Tony leaned back against the car for support, while holding Tim.
"We don't have a minute, probie. Just lean on me then walk when you can. Okay?"
Tim swayed as he blinked his eyes, exaggeratedly. "Dis cold will w-wake me...don't worry, I'm 'kay." Tony ignored his impaired speech as he took Tim's arm to wrap over his own shoulder. Tim steadied more, with each step till he was able to walk on his own removing his arm from his shoulder. Tony thought it best to keep a hold of his arm as they walked, guiding him.
They trudged towards the woods, making their way through deep crevices and hard, frozen ground. "Just concentrate on getting to the cover of the woods, McGee! You're doing good!"
They both began to stumble, frequently, the cold numbing their extremities but kept their eyes forward with sheer determination. "Luckily we have a full moon tonight, McGee. One thing going our way. I think we can get by without the penlights even when we get to the cover of the woods."
Tony gasped when Tim almost took a nosedive but righted himself, sloppily. Tony darted towards him, grabbing his arms.
"I got it, I'm good...really." Tony waited a moment to make sure Tim was okay then patted his back before he followed beside him.
"Uh...thanks...Tony."
"You got it, Probes."
Tony trudged forward as Tim quickly fell behind. Tony would stop every few moments to let him catch up. He could hear Tim occasionally stumble but he continued to follow him without complaint. After they covered a good distance Tony heard him fall with a grunt. He turned to find him on all fours, coughing and holding his stomach. He leaned back on his heals then looked up at him. "Sorry...I tripped. It's just...that I'm...so..tired." Tony watched Tim sway then fall to his side toward the ground but moved quickly enough to catch him before he landed.
Tony crouched behind him, his hands under Tim's arms as he swayed, his head rolling. He pulled him closer to his chest to support him. "Whoa...Timmy! Come on probie. We're almost there." He patted his cheek as Tim struggled to open his eyes but his eyelids fought to remain closed. He managed to pull him up, grunting while helping him to walk with his support by wrapping an arm around his waist.
"Tony? I'm s-s-sorry." Tony was getting worried. Between the fact he was exhausted and his head injury, Tim was barely hanging on. He knew he needed medical attention, immediately.
"It's okay, Tim, it's not your fault, at least we made it into the woods." Tony realized Tim hadn't heard him, hanging off his shoulder, his knees buckling. Tony ended up, half-dragging him through the snow, as his lungs ached from his exhaustive efforts.
"I...believe this... is close to, immm... impossible." Tony blinked, tears coming to his eyes when he spotted the light he saw earlier, but brighter and closer. It has to be a camper or... something. If we could just make it to.." He could hear a car back on the road and quickened his pace as best he could. Sweat broke out on his forehead and he knew he needed to take a break. He stood Tim in front of a tree then pushed on his chest to keep him upright. He took deep inhalations to steady his breathing, looking at the faint light in the distance; banking their lives on that little ray of hope. He noticed the rough borders of a path that was not entirely covered with snow, close by and his hope grew. His energy picked up while he talked Tim back to the living.
"Come on Tim, come back to me buddy."
Tim shivered, his eyes opening, "Tony...I thought we were back...it got warm, I'm too tired to-"
"I promise, you can sleep really soon."
"'Kay."
Tim took a few steps, but Tony had to grab him before he toppled. "Don't worry, I'll help."
"Thanks." Tim hesitated, looking at Tony with a goofy, appreciative grin. Tony had to chuckle as he wrapped Tim's arm over his own shoulder then gave him a quick, friendly squeeze. "Don't worry, I got you, McGee."
The light in the distance grew and was stronger. Tony could make out the shape of a camper; the source of the light, streaming through a window. There was the sound of a television and a dog began to bark. The curtain in the window moved then the entrance door soon opened as a petite, woman exited, darting towards them. She was bundled in a thick winter coat, hat, mittens and scarf.
"Oh my goodness, what happened are you two, okay?"
Tony felt ecstatic that they had actually come upon a woman that was willing to put her life on the line and take a chance to help two, male strangers. Tony couldn't see her face or hair, but only her eyes peeking through her hat and a scarf that was wrapped around her face.
"Thank you so much for helping us, we're Federal Agents...our car was run off the road by another and-"
"That's horrible! In this storm? People need to drive more careful in these kind of dangerous conditions!"
"And...as you can see... we are not dressed for it." Tony found it difficult to talk, the cold air and exertion of carrying Tim had made it difficult for him to catch his breath.
"You can warm up in my camper, its the least I could do." Tony noticed the blue tint in McGee's lips and didn't think they could get into the camper fast enough; they would now have a safe place to warm up and he could then tend to McGee's injuries.
"We are...uh, Special Agents Tony DiNozzo and... Timothy McGee from... NCIS."
"Are you... investigating a case?"
"Yes, well...we were, until the accident. My buddy here, desperately needs medical attention. He's suffering from a head injury from the crash."
"Oh, yes. I can see that, now. He made it here all the way from the road?"
"Well..with my help. I had to carry him-"
"Oh, the poor thing." They both pulled Tim up the steps, awkwardly. Tony opened the door to the camper and was welcomed by a little, barking, brown dog.
They carried Tim inside then laid him on a pullout bed. Tony found the small quarters, warm and cozy; a little safe haven. She quickly removed Tim's shoes then wrapped him in blankets. Tim was semi-conscious; mumbling and not making much sense, at this point. Tony was impressed to see the woman's immediate concern for Tim; trying to comfort him while telling him that he would be okay.
Meanwhile, the small dog still yapped between frequent low growls, keeping his focus on Tony. "Quiet down Boozer!" said the lady.
Tony froze; his eyes focused on the small woman, ...could this be?