Chapter Four
When I came round the chair was gone, the ropes had been removed and I was lying on my back on the floor, the lights were gone too, and I was back in the darkness…everything was the same as before the phone call, I was still alone, still hurting…but something was different…my arm…something was wrong…I took a shuddering breath and managed to drag my good arm over my chest, I let the fingertips brush the new dressing…wet…was it bleeding again?
I turned my head to try taking a look…waste of time, what could I see in the dark? There was a smell…wasn't the bucket, they'd always emptied that, and I couldn't remember the last time I used it, didn't need it…didn't have the muscle power to get over to the corner any longer. So what was the smell? Must be me…how many days had it been since I'd taken a shower? Only…the smell wasn't a stale sweat kind of smell…it was stronger…acrid…oh no…no not that…if the wound was infected…I managed to turn onto my side as I retched over and over…hardly anything came up, but I didn't want to choke on my own vomit….didn't want Ducky putting that down in an autopsy report...
There was a noise…couldn't work out what it was, then I realised…my teeth were chattering, and it sounded so loud, I tried to stop it, to lie still…couldn't do it. My whole body was shaking so hard…I couldn't even control my own body, Devoisier was right, I'm the runt, lying here in my own mess, stinking the place out…Any one of the others would have got a name, a location, something that would help the investigation; what did I get? I had one chance to tell them something worthwhile and what did I come up with? I'm being held in a container by three men…useless, utterly useless…
I should drink, I had to…water would quench the fire that seemed to be raging through my body…the heat was everywhere…coming in waves…but I couldn't even move to try and find the water…had they even left any? They'd always left water and a little food, chocolate, granola bar…something….couldn't eat now…didn't want food…if I could just get a drink…
"Timmy, you should take a drink, here, let me get you some water."
"Abby?" My voice was so weak, I could barely hear it myself…No…not Abby…no one was here…I was on my own…starting to hear things now…how much longer before I fall asleep and don't wake up?
She told me once…if any one of us was hurt, she'd be there for them…Cade, when he was hurt she stayed with him through the night…she said…for friends…she'd stay…maybe I'm not a friend…didn't know any more…didn't know anything…I was hurting so much…couldn't think…had to concentrate on…breathing…it was getting harder…
Why keep trying? No one was looking for me…they didn't need me…computer geeks, dime a dozen…Devoisier was right…
Another noise…wasn't inside the container this time…outside…I knew the sound…couldn't…helicopter…sounded like a helicopter…hearing things again…quiet now…I tried not to sleep…tried to listen…in case it was real…in case it came back…nothing…just the dark and the silence…
"Get him up! There's no time to waste."
"Why don't we just leave him?"
"Because without him I won't get my brother home."
I thought I was hallucinating, but they were real alright, I felt nauseous again as they dragged me to my feet…what was happening? Why were they moving me? The exchange…had Gibbs agreed to deal? Couldn't be…
One of them…Devoisier I think, grabbed my face…his hand felt so cool against my skin…"What did you tell them McGee?"
I had no idea what he was talking about…my head was spinning…
"Answer me!" He slapped my face. I barely felt the blow…but I tried to focus on what he was saying…he was mad…that much I could tell…
"Don't…what…" I wanted to ask him a question, but I didn't even know what the question should be…it was something about the team…was that the 'them' he was asking about?
The door opened again. "They're almost here, we should leave him, get out while we can."
"I am not leaving without my brother, do you hear me? As long as we have McGee, we are in a position of strength."
It was the older of the two men talking…least I think it was…wasn't sure I could trust my own senses any longer…
"You said Gibbs wouldn't care less about getting him back, looks like you got that wrong."
Devoisier laughed quietly; there was real menace in that laugh. "Perhaps I miscalculated and he really does believe all that Marine nonsense, whatever the reason, he obviously values his man."
He grabbed my good arm, and along with the younger man they guided me out of my cage…I thought I'd been in pain before, but this…this was a whole new level of agony…trying to stay upright, even with their support…I couldn't do this…
"Stand up McGee! You will do exactly as I tell you this time; I will not hesitate to shoot you if you try anything. I will re-open negotiations with Gibbs when we are in a secure location, I don't know how he found out about this place, but rest assured Agent McGee, we are going to get out of here."
Gibbs? What was he telling me? Had they found me…truly? One of the men opened the door and I was momentarily blinded…so bright….after so long in the dark…
"Do as I say McGee, remember, I have no intention of joining my brother in prison."
They pulled me down the steps from the container, the cooler air outside hit me with the impact of a cold shower...it set me shivering again...
"Federal Agents! Drop your weapons."
Tony! It had to be…was this real? Felt real…hurting this bad couldn't be fantasy….could it? Another voice…Ziva.
"We will not tell you again, let him go, and lay your weapons on the ground."
I knew that tone, Tony called it…her Ninja voice…it was real…they were here! I tried to look at them…my head felt so heavy…could see Tony…Ziva too…Gibbs…I lifted my head as much as I could…no sign of Gibbs…He had to be here…and then I knew…I knew what was going to happen…
Tony shouted once more. "This is your final warning Devoisier; take your hands off him!"
Devoisier moved a fraction, not away from me, he held me closer, raised the gun…A single shot rang out…something warm and sticky splashed onto my face; as I felt myself falling I knew one thing was true…Edward Devoisier was not going to be joining his brother in prison...
