Tim peered anxiously across at Tony who like him was tied to a chair. The ropes were chafing and cutting his wrists but he couldn't stop himself from twisting and trying to free himself. He hurt all over from the savage beating he had taken before they tied him up and his mouth felt like someone had stuffed cotton wool in it, it was so dry. To top it off they had duct taped over both their mouths so he could only breathe through his bloody half blocked nose. It took concentration to breathe slowly and carefully and not panic and start to suffocate himself.
It was not a good day.
The entire operation had turned sour and now they were being held captive waiting for something or someone to turn up. Hopefully once whatever it was happened they would be dumped somewhere……or killed to prevent witnesses. Not that they had seen much but it could be enough to cost them both their lives.
He look across at Tony who was doing his stoic super brave Senior Agent bit but he had known Tony long enough to know he was worried. He had a nasty cut on his cheek that was bleeding down the side of his face. Tim had an uncharitable thought that if they survived this, the cut if it became a scar would probably make Tony appear cooler. He would be able to brag about how he had received it during a desperate fight for his life.
He on the other hand would probably suffocate from his own snot and be a sad footnote in the Team Gibbs handbook.
Rule 18: Always try to stay alive by breathing when taken hostage
Suddenly in the outer room there seemed to be a flurry of activity and noise and they both looked up dreading what might come next.
They came at them from behind and Tim tried unsuccessfully to twist around to see how many there were standing behind him.
"This one."
Tim saw Tony struggle in objection as he felt people close around him. Suddenly the duct tape was painfully ripped from his mouth and he gasped for air. Sweet clear oxygen.
"He looks like he will break first."
Suddenly his chair was tilted and dragged off to the side away from Tony, who renewed his struggles desperately holding Tim's frightened gaze.
"What do you want? Where are you taking me? Tony!" He cried out trying to understand why they were being separated. Why had they taken the tape off his mouth?
Tony watched in muffled despair as McGee was dragged from the room into a smaller one off to the side. A moment later it became clear why the tape had been removed as he heard McGee's shrieks of pain coming from behind the closed door.
Oh my god, they were torturing him!
The man they had received the tip off about, Johnson collected a chair and sat calmly in front of Tony.
"I think it would be a very good idea for your friend there if you told me just what you know about our little operation."
Tony closed his eyes to hold back the tears and shook his head. No.
Gibbs would come.
Johnson snapped his fingers and suddenly Tony could hear McGee's screams coming again from behind the door. What where they doing to him? That was almost the worst part. Tony couldn't see and that left it to his imagination to fill in the blanks and it wasn't pretty.
"So who was it that tipped you off? Hummmmm?"
Tony took a deep breath, considering that once they had the information they wanted they would both likely be dead. He would need to buy Gibbs some more time. Some more time through McGee's pain.
He shook his head again. No
Tony looked up at Johnson and burned his face into his brain as he snapped his fingers again and the choking, muffled desperate screams were again ripped from McGee.
Suddenly a woman that Tony had never seen before stepped forward into his field of vision.
"This is taking too long. Let me do it. I will have an answer for you."
Johnson stared at her, appraising. "I didn't think this was really your area of expertise?"
The woman was confident and beautiful. She smiled at Johnson "Getting information from men has been something I have been doing since I was fifteen years old. Bring him back out here and I will show you what I can do."
Johnson considered, flicking his eyes to Tony. "Perhaps now that your friend has been softened up he might be the better target. Do it."
Tony sagged in relief as the soul wrenching cries stopped and turned into muffled gasps instead. Every minute counted and brought them closer to rescue. He begged silently that the transfer back out into the larger room would take some time but only an instant passed and Tony watched as McGee, still tied to his chair was dragged back out to his original spot.
His head hung down onto his chest, sweat coating his brow and his breath came in rattley panicked gasps. Tony tried to see if he was ok, straining in his chair. McGee's shirt seemed to have been ripped open and he was covered in blood and bruises.
The woman suddenly stepped in front of McGee
"I will ensure you get out of here alive if you listen exactly to my instructions and follow them. Understand? Do not say anything just nod"
McGee raised his head, his big green eyes alarmed and startled like an animal caught in a trap and contemplating chewing off its own leg. He sucked in a breath at the sight of the woman and opened his mouth "Bil.."
The woman hissed angrily and suddenly snapped McGee's face to the side with the harsh kiss of the gun she held in her hand. McGee moaned and involuntary tears started from his eyes as his cheek burned with fire and his lip split from the impact.
"Do you understand?" Her voice was suddenly gentle and purring.
McGee nodded, his eyes downcast and Tony could feel the approval from the men standing around behind them.
Suddenly she stepped forward and straddling McGee's thighs wrapped her arms behind his neck. She was wearing a fitted skirt and to accomplish such an act it rode up high on her beautiful thighs drawing the gathering men's attention. Tony's eyebrows shot up and he couldn't help but stare as she whispered quietly and intimately into McGee's ear. She pulled back with a smile and McGee nodded his expressive eyes still down cast.
She purred and ran her hand gently down the side of his face. "Yes I' m going to make sure you are all safe and looked after. You just have to tell Gabriel what you saw earlier. Can you do that? For me?"
McGee nodded and Gabriel smiled. She leaned forward and slowly licked up McGee's neck, tasting his sweat. McGee seemed to lean exhausted into her touch, looking for reassurance. The intimacy of the scene drew some halting breathes from the faceless men behind him and Tony watched as Johnson seemed fascinated by what was going down beside him.
McGee's voice started up trembling "There was a tip off… we received through the anonymous line…..at the office…"
Gabriel appeared to be quickly fumbling with McGee's belt and was whispering encouraging near silent words into his ear.
Tony watched in fascinated horror. Holy shit. Surely she wasn't going to……..
Suddenly McGee was free from his bonds and sliding his hands up Gabriel's thigh grabbed the small pistol she had strapped there. He stood, Gabriel already off his lap in one smooth motion and flashing a small knife began cutting through Tony's bonds.
The surprise was so great that McGee got off three shots and downed two before they even realized. Scattering and screaming orders pandemonium broke out. By then Tony's hands were free and Gabriel had pressed a gun into his hands and a second later he was free of his chair, laying down covering fire for McGee.
Gabriel grabbed McGee and practically pulled him to an outer door, Tony following.
"Shit! It's locked."
"What the hell is going on?" Tony gasped, limping a little from the effects of being tied too tight for too long to the hated chair.
"I can't explain. You just have to get him away safely. "
With that Gabriel grabbed the gun she had given Tony and shot through the lock. She kicked impatiently at the door while McGee sagged limp and blood stained at her side his eyes staring at her unseeing.
The door finely swung open and she pushed them both through.
"Go! I will do what I can here. Just get him some help." Suddenly she pulled McGee into a tight embrace and kissed him passionately before releasing him.
"I'm sorry Tim"
And just like that she was gone.
(
(So what do you think so far? Let me know if its holding your interest)