Chapter 3 Awakenings

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters you recognize just the ones you don't. Thank you for the reviews, alerts, etc. As some of you worried, this will NOT be a Tiva fic. Ziva won't really be mentioned and if she is for some reason it is just in the context of a teammate nothing more. This story will focus on Tony, Eli, and Gibbs / warnings mentions of nudity in this chapter and spoilers from Honor Code


Tony found oddly enough that he didn't even notice the pain in his arm.. A part of that worried him and a larger part was grateful. His head was beginning to ache in its place and his stomach rumbled when he realized he hadn't eaten anything for almost 24 hours. He shut his eyes tightly as if attempting to squeeze out the hunger headache that was making him nauseous. It seemed to be futile. He sighed wishing for even a morsel of bread to be thrown his way. Even water would be nice. He tried to squirm in his seat rubbing the ropes together rapidly hoping for a break. Come on, Gibbs I need you.


Gibbs watched his agent from the two way mirror. He gripped the arms of the chair he was guided into tightly until his knuckles turned white. He could see the fatigue and pain etched in the younger man's face. His turned his icy glare onto Eli.

"What the hell is this? He took out one of yours, you take out one of mine?"

Eli seemed to ponder the question before replying.

"That is not it at all. Agent DiNozzo needs to come to terms with his limitations and strengths even if they are not ones we want to face."

Gibbs growled and stood up from his chair.

"Isn't that the same thing?"

Eli smirked as his two guards joined him each holding one of Gibbs' arms.

"Do you see that ...that in the corner there that looks like a camera?"

Gibbs looked to where Eli was pointing. It appeared to be a surveillance camera.

"It is not what you think it is Agent Gibbs. Appearances can be deceiving remember that."

Gibbs felt there was a hidden message in his cryptic words but pushed it to the back of his mind for now.

"So what is it then, David?"

Eli kept his gaze steady on Gibbs face as he spoke. "It is a projector of sorts. You make one wrong move,

or do not listen as you are told, and Agent DiNozzo will not be a happy man."

Gibbs eyes narrowed.

"Your agent suffered in the past from a serious illness? The pneumonic plague did he not?"

Gibbs memory flashed to that dark dark time. He hated blue because of it. Even his own blue eyes betrayed him with the memory.

"Yeah." He tried to keep calm but didn't like where this conversation was headed.

"Inside that projector is a vial filled with pneumonia. You even breath the wrong way and I will send it out to him hitting him square in the chest and you will watch him die. I take it that is a fear of yours is it not. To lose one of your own..."

Gibbs shut his eyes . A moment of weakness...

He sat back down and looked to the glass. Tony appeared to have given up for the moment but the fire was still bright in his eyes.

Atta boy, DiNozzo....


Tony sat still. He hated to sit still. It gave him too much time to think...to remember. He didn't want to remember. He wanted to move forward.

He began to move again.

"Agent DiNozzo?"

Tony stopped, smiling coyly at the voice.

"I thought that maybe you had forgotten me. "

He could hear the smile in David's voice as he spoke." I could never forget you, Agent DiNozzo. Are you thirsty? Hungry?"

Tony felt his stomach rumble at the world and cursed inwardly.

Eli laughed. "I take that as a yes. I will send someone in.

Tony waited but not for long. The door to his cell opened. In the shadows emerged two of the most beautiful women he had ever seen. Despite his circumstances, he felt an involuntary action in his groin as they entered wearing next to nothing. Bare skin contrasted sharply against the lighting in the room. One of the women wrapped in a fabric that covered her top and bottom in one swoop. The other was merely wearing fabric to cover her lower regions. Her exposed breasts inched closer in Tony's face.

"Gee, didn't realize I was in a strip club. That does explain the dark, dingy and god awful smell in this room. You entertain much, darling?"

His last comment got a small smile from one of the women. Even Gibbs smirked at the sight. Tony being Tony.

"Respect them Agent DiNozzo, They bring you gifts."

The one who was carrying a silver platter opened it revealing rice and vegetables smothered in a delicious looking sauce. The other held a bottle of water.

"Eat, Agent DiNozzo. I know you are hungry.'"

Tony eyed the food feeling his mouth salivate at the delicious scents, but warily looked to the glass.

"How do I know its not poisoned? Drugged? Trust me I've pretty much been through it all..."

He waited for a reaction and got none.

"Maybe I should have one of these beautiful ladies try it? Just to be sure."

The voice responded solemnly.

"Would you do that? Risk another's life to save your own?"

He looked to the women who beneath the smiles and steady hands held terrified eyes. Masks like me....

"No."

He whispered it but the strength behind it was evident. He looked to the food again and took the broccoli that was offered and blew out the breath he was holding.

"Here goes."

He took a bite. Nothing seemed to be out of place. He impatiently waited a few minutes before burying his face in the plate. Gibbs watched as Tony's usual demeanor took a turn toward the animalistic. Eli was systematically changing his agent. Subtle changes but changes nonetheless.

When Tony finished, his eyes were dark and his gaze rested on the breasts of the server. " I have to say the service here is great. Not a 5 star hotel but great all the same."

Tony eagerly drank the water pressed to his lips and relished the coolness of it as it dribbled down his chin.

"It's no Maui Hilton you mean."

Tony licked his lips as a stray drop fell to his shirt.

"How do you know about that?"

The dark voice echoed in Gibbs ears. This Tony sounded dangerous, wounded. Gibbs vaguely recalled hearing the name Maui Hilton but the details were fuzzy. Many things were since the coma.

"i told you. I know everything about you. You were what about 10 years old? ALone, afraid, but trying so hard to be brave. You thought after a day that maybe it was for the best he forgot you. He never paid attention to you anyway. Your mother was dead by then a few months earlier. Your father was lost in grief, anger, who knows what. He couldn't be bothered with a child. Your own mother couldn't either could she? That's why she decided to sleep..."

"Enough!"

The pain and anger bit through the words of Gibbs Senior Agent. He could feel a piece of his own memories resurface. Memories he didn't want to face anymore.

Tony's eyes closed tightly trying to block out the images flying in his mind's eye.

He opened them and stared through the glass his eyes unknowingly falling on Gibbs.

"That was long ago. I don't need him anymore."

Eli stood next to Gibbs grimacing and nodding along with the prompted confession.

"I see. That is because you have found another to take his place, correct? Maybe Agent Gibbs Admit it AGent DiNozzo. E all need a parent of some kind. to watch out for us.."

Tony eyes twitched. Gibbs watched waiting for the answer.

"I suppose you could say that although, " he added with a bit of humor in his voice, " the man won't tell me how old he is. You'd think that after all these years he would admit to something like that..." his voiced trailed off at Eli's next statement.

"Why don't you ask him, Agent DiNozzo. "

Gibbs heart stopped as he realized the trap that had been set up for him and his agent. David kept a strong grip on Gibbs's arm. "Remember, act like you want to be here."

Gibbs looked to David eyes wide and confused. He couldn't do it...but then he looked to the projector and knew Tony would be dead if he didn't .

Tony's heart sped up.

"You better not lay a hand on him, Director or I swear..."

"You'll what DiNozzo? Relax. I was invited. Must say it is an interesting show."

The room was dimly lit but the smiling faces of Gibbs and David struck a chord as Tony looked into the eyes of his boss and knew he had been betrayed.


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