A/N: I am amazed and honored by the number of hits on this story, for all of you who have taken the time to review, add to your list of favorite stories and list of stories you are following.
I thank my wife for taking the time to proofread, though every time I look over this story I find that I missed one or two, so I apologize of any errors.
I wish I owned NCIS and all the great characters but alas just get to borrow them for a while.
My thoughts go out too all affected by the tornados this past week. I can't even imagine the level of loss for those impacted.
I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I have enjoyed writing.
LAG
As the realization of this hit, Tony felt a stabbing pain in his chest, for a short time after meeting Gibbs and coming to work at NCIS, he had felt he could rely on others for the first time in his life. Growing up with an alcoholic mother who died when he was 8 and a father who had no interest in raising a little boy on his own, Tony had learned young, to rely on himself. With Gibbs he had let his walls down, had learned to trust someone, but the end result had been a let down. When he got out of this, Tony thought, it would be time, time to walk away.
Chapter 6.
"Boss," McGee said as he stood up and clicked on the plasma to a weather map of the area near Harrisonburg, VA. "The GPS in the van and in Tony's cell both indicate he is still at the crime scene. The weather map shows that it is snowing heavily in that area, with strong wind gusts." Gibbs came around his desk and standing next to Tim pointed at the map about were Tony's location was indicated. "So what the hell is he still doing there, he should have been well on his way back?"
Ziva, from her desk called out, "I have the Sheriffs department on the line, the roads in that area are barely passable due to the storm and they did try to send a patrol back to check on him but a tree has come down at the turn off to the crime scene, if Tony is still there he won't be able to get out in the van."
"McGee!" yelled Gibbs, the case forgotten for now, "Call the park service see if they have anyone who can get to the site, Ziva does the Sheriff Department, have any equipment that can get in?"
Ziva turned back to her phone, while McGee pick up his to call the Park Rangers office.
"Gibbs," Ziva said getting her answers first, "The Sheriff Department does have four wheel drive vehicles but they said you would need snow mobiles and they don't have any available at this time. They have been searching for a couple of missing kids all day and it would take a couple of hours to move the equipment," pausing to take a deep breath she continues as Gibbs glared at her, "The Sheriff also said that the kids are priority as Tony has a warm shelter and we know were he is."
"Yeah, except its DiNozzo were talking about," Gibbs mumbled. "McGee how about the rangers?" he asked turning his attention on his other Agent.
"Hum, Boss, same answer, they have all their available staff looking for the kids," McGee replied as he hung up his phone.
"Find me some snow mobiles, NOW people!" Gibbs demanded.
Previously unnoticed by the team, Jimmy Palmer the ME assistant walked into the bullpen. He had come to give the preliminary report on WO Spencer, but had stopped when he heard that Tony maybe trapped by the snow back at the crime scene.
Noticing him for the first time Gibbs glared at him and said, "Not now Palmer."
With sweating palms, damn but Gibbs always makes me nervous, Palmer thought as he tried to get his words out in a coherent fashion, "I, I think, I think I can help," he stammered.
"You can help by leaving!" Gibbs yelled.
"No!" Jimmy said raising his voice, Tony was his friend and he was not going to let Gibbs intimidate him out of helping, "I can help, I have two snow mobiles," he got out.
"You have what!" Gibbs exclaimed, getting up into Jimmy's face.
"I a, I have two snowmobiles, was going to go this weekend," Jimmy was able to squeak out.
"Where are they and how long will take you to get them ready," Gibbs breathed back in his face.
Chapter 7:
Night had finally arrived, leaving Tony in almost total darkness and covered now in a layer of snow. Fuego as Tony had come to think of his companion, as he was the color of flame and provided Tony with warmth, remained as close to his side as the branch allowed. Fuego had his face up close to Tony's and the warmth was welcome even if not enough to prevent the constant shivering. Tony knew that the real danger came when the shivering stopped.
Mustering his last reserves of energy Tony began what he knew would be his final attempt to free himself. As with his previous attempt, he was able to get the branch up a couple of inches. This time rather then move away, Fuego, crept in closer to Tony. Then to Tony's surprise Fuego pushed up. Tony felt the weight of the branch lift off his back. Tony took advantage, moving his left arm from out from under the trapped tent, his leg was still impaled and he did not know how much longer Fuego would be able to hold up the branch.
Taking the folded tent and setting it upright under the thick branch, with some difficulty as his left hand and arm were almost useless after having been pinned. Tony hoped it would support the weight of the branch long enough to get his leg free, the pain in his leg should have been unbearable by this point with all the movement, but between the adrenal rush of finally feeling he could get free and the numbing cold he hardly felt it. He knew the pain would come later, but if he was around to feel the pain then he would still be alive and had succeed in freeing himself.
With the branch supported by the tent, and his upper body free, Tony tried to figure out how to get his leg free, feeling for his belt knife, he wondered if it would be big enough to cut through the piece of branch in his leg. In the movies some crazy actor would take his gun and shoot the branch, but Tony knew that he would only end up shooting himself.
Working the knife free with some effort, Tony reached around and started sawing at the piece of wood in his leg, trying to cut where it came off the main trunk of the larger branch. Fuego moved away and now sat watching him. The cutting angle was awkward and Tony was cutting blind, as he could not turn his body enough to see behind him.
Stopping a moment to rest his arm, Tony was not sure how much progress he had made. Fuego stood up and walked over to Tony's leg, sniffing where the branch entered his leg. Suddenly Fuego started to chew on the branch, as there was enough room between Tony's leg and the main branch. After several minutes Tony felt the branch give, his leg was free. Fuego walked back over and nuzzled Tony's face.
Tony overwhelmed with relief grabbed Fuego and hugged him as best as he could. As he rubbed his hands over the big dog whispering, "Good boy, good boy." Working his way out from under the branch and slowly trying to stand, Tony felt dizzy and unsteady on his feet, Fuego stayed by his side offering silent support, "Come on big guy, lets go get warm."
Fortunately for Tony, he was not far from the van so that even in the darkness that surrounded him he was able to stumble his way back to it. Opening the driver side door, he signaled for Fuego to get in. The big dog was in the van with one big leap. Tony painfully pulled himself in to the front seat. The first aide kit was in the back but for now Tony just wanted to start the vehicle and get the heat on. Turning the van on he turned the heat on full, knowing it would take a few minutes to feel the warm air come out. Trying to keep pressure off of the back of his right leg, Tony knew he would not be able to drive himself out. Searching his pockets he pulled out his cell phone, but the storm must have affected reception, as he had no bars.
Looking at Fuego, he said, "Well looks as you and me are going to be stuck here a while longer." Knowing he would need to take care of his leg and get something to eat, he would have to get into the back of the van even if going back outside was the last thing he wanted to do.
Working his way around the van did not take long, but exhaustion and pain were setting in, also Tony could feel the blood running down the back of his leg. His left arm was almost useless and it appeared to be broken.
Fuego followed Tony into the back of the van, and sat watching as Tony grabbed the first aid kit and worked on his leg. Pain now radiated from the wound, infection was a concern but Tony knew he would need to leave the piece of wood in, removing it could cause more damage. Sitting on the floor next to Fuego, he wrapped it as tight as he could. Leaning back, Tony grabbed his pack off the floor, having brought it from the front of the van with him, pulling out a frozen bottle of water he set it aside to thaw. Tony located his power bars; to his surprise he found there were five in his pack. He knew there had only been one in there when they set out this morning. Jimmy, he thought, Jimmy must have snuck some more in. Opening two he ate one and gave one to Fuego who accepted it happily.
Grabbing one of the emergency blankets kept in the back he wrapped himself up and laid down as best he could. There was nothing he could do now about his other injuries and getting warm and resting was what he needed now. Fuego moved around him and lay down next to him placing his big head on Tony's stomach. Tony gave in to his exhaustion and fell asleep.
