Chapter 6
McGee explained to Tony everything that had happened over the day, as Gibbs drove him back to the office. Tony had flatly refused to go to the hospital, arguing that there was nothing they could do about his "cut" and black eye. Gibbs had grudgingly agreed to take him back to the office before driving him home. He hadn't agreed to take Tony back to his apartment though, insisting that he stay with Gibbs until he got back on his feet. Tony stared dazedly out of the window. He could hardly believe that it had been twenty-four hours since he had been abducted.
"You okay?" Gibbs asked, watching him in the rear-view mirror.
"Fine," said Tony, though his adrenaline rush was quickly fading.
When they arrived back at the office, Tony was the first to get out of the car. He nearly ran into the building, leaving Gibbs and McGee in his wake.
"Where's he going?" asked McGee, as he got out of the car, but Gibbs simply shrugged. By the time they got up to the bullpen, Tony was no where to be seen. Minutes later he walked in, looking relieved.
"Where have you been?" asked McGee curiously.
"Bathroom," mumbled Tony embarrassed. He quickly changed the subject. "So where's Ziva?"
"I don-" McGee started, but at that moment she walked in.
"Wow Tony, you look like you got hit by a plane," she said jokingly, glad to see that he was safe, but still worried about him.
"I think you mean train, Ziva," he replied, a small smile creeping up on his lips.
"That too," she said shrugging, "Can anybody give me a lift home? Some creep stole my car after I got, uh, taken."
"Sure," said Gibbs, "I was going to take Tony back to my place."
"Hey, Boss," said Tony, dizzily, leaning against his desk for support, "Can I have that camera he used, when everybody's done with it?" Deciding that Tony must not be quite with them, he agreed that he would give the camera to him after the trial. Grabbing his agent firmly under the elbow, he led him to his car, Ziva trailing behind them. Gibbs smiled, Tony was just like a son to him, and finally he was back home.
A week later, Tony finally came back to work. His bruise was still prominent, but the long cut across his face had faded to a thin white line. Waiting on his desk was the camera that Shawstick had used. Tony flashed back to his day being kidnapped. Images flashed before his eyes, Ziva, the knife, himself being cut, each bringing feelings of fear, hatred, and confusion.
"Tony?" asked McGee, wrenching Tony out of the past. "You've been standing there for the last five minutes, are you okay?"
"Yeah. What?" asked Tony, slightly confused.
"I said you've been standing there for the last five minutes, are you alright?" repeated McGee.
"Oh, yeah, I'm fine," answered Tony, "Well I've just been thinking, how about some target practice?" He gestured to the camera sitting on his desk.
"Sure, why not," replied McGee, and together they left for the shooting range, bringing their guns, and a soon to be demolished camera.