Hi Lovely fanfic readers!
Next to the fact that I wanted to thank of the new people that are now following this story and especially thanking those who reviewed, (You truly are the best!) I have nothing left to say only that I hope you enjoy this chapter as you did the previous ones!
(PS, And sorry for any typo's/grammar mistakes! You know my problems!)
Enjoy! :)
Ducky looked after Tony as the young men went to open the door. He then turned to Gibbs, who was doing the same thing, but while leaning against the counter with a fresh cup of coffee in his hand.
''He does seem to be a bit better already'' Ducky commented. Gibbs made a agreeing noise, while he took a see sip from his coffee. It made Ducky looked at him curiously. ''I wonder what it is that changed?''
''He talked about it'' Gibbs told him. ''That must have been a huge weight being lifted off his shoulders'' He paused. ''It was a huge step, but we're not even close to the beginning''
''I assume that asking Mr. Palmer and me over was not just a social visit then''
''Never assume'' Gibbs reminded the old man, he then sighed. ''But you are right. It's a mess, Duck''
Tony came back in and soon after Palmer too. ''We're complete now''
Palmer walked up to the counter and placed his shoulder bag on the counter.
''I forgot to ask you, An— Tony'' Ducky spoke up. ''How are you now?''
Tony needed to resist the urge to say, 'I'm fine' and instead said, ''Better already, Ducky''
''That's great to hear!'' Ducky said sincerely. ''I would like to check for myself today, but it can wait until you've told me why you have invited Mr. Palmer and myself to your home tonight''
''First of all, Ducky'' Tony began, as he looked at Ducky guiltily. ''I want to apologize for snapping at you yesterday. I was stressed and tired and I didn't want to admit things. Most of all to myself and when you called me by my full name, it was just too much and I...'' He trailed off.
''Apology accepted, my dear boy'' Ducky said with a warm smile. ''I should have realized sooner that it was bothering and should've chosen to call you Tony instead''
Tony smiled back.
''Now, then'' Ducky said changing the subject. ''Tell Mr. Palmer and I what we can help you with''
Tony looked at the man surprised. ''How'd you know that I needed your help?''
''I am no fool, young man'' Ducky wagged a finger at him.
Tony grinned sheepishly. ''True'' He agreed. ''I think it would be better if we sit for this. Would you like some tea? I have tea. And Jimmy you want coffee with milk, right? I'll get it. Gibbs, will you set them on the dinner table? Thanks!'' He rambled, his nervousness obvious and clear as day. He turned around to get another cup for palmer and began to pour the hot drinks for the other man.
''Okay Tony'' Gibbs nodded. ''Come, and Palmer take your laptop with you''
The three man went back to the living room and sat down at the dinner table, Tony following a moment later with two cups of coffee and a tea for them. Running back for his own drink, which was surprisingly just a bottle of water.
The sat there for a few moments, silently sipping their drinks. Tony was reluctant to start talking again and was nervously running his fingers over his trousers.
''Tony?'' Palmer spoke up, who was sitting next to him. His voice broke through the silence as he reached out to grab one of Tony's hands and squeezed it. ''You can trust us. Just take your time''
Tony let his eyes meet that of the assistant and then that of the Medical Examiner. He sighed and took a deep breath. He was mentally slapping himself on the back of his head. ''Just talk already!'' He knew that he could trust them. He knew that! But it wasn't only that. Most of all he was reluctant to tell the whole story all over again. He had just done that, why did he have to do it again!? It wasn't fair!
He groaned when he realized that in his head he sounded like a little kid that didn't get what it wanted.
Gibbs was watching the younger man closely and he saw the struggle that was going on in his head. Gibbs had frowned thoughtfully when surprisingly Palmer was the one to be the first to reassure Tony. And the looks they shared, before Tony looked at Ducky.
Tony finally let his eyes met those of Gibbs. He didn't even know how Gibbs knew, but the older man spoke up then.
''Do you two both know Rhode Island Military school?'' Gibbs asked.
''I do'' Ducky answered calmly.
''I've heard of it'' Palmer said.
''Are you both familiar with their rules, goals and objectives?'' Gibbs then asked.
While Palmer silently shook his head in negative Ducky replied, ''I believe that they have a really strict guidelines and they are very steadfast in their rules and punishments'' He paused and thought for a moment. ''There is not much else known about the details and specific conditions as they keep it hush-hush in order to keep the information of the students confidential, as they are mostly troubled adolescents''
Tony grumbled something that none of the other man could hear, but they knew, by the look on his face that it wasn't anything pleasant.
''The reason why you are here, is because we— Tony and I, believe that Tony...'' Gibbs trailed off and met Tony's eyes, who were almost begging for him to get it out already. Gibbs took a deep breath and looked at Ducky and Palmer. ''That Tony was abused there. By students''
The gasp of Palmer was far more audible, but that of Ducky was definitely there also, as they both were shocked by the information.
''Tony... I knew you went to that school'' Ducky began. ''But I could never understand why...''
''He wasn't a troubled kid, Ducky'' Gibbs interrupted quickly. ''He wasn't there because he was troubled, he was there because his dad was too damn lazy to take care of him''
''Gibbs!'' Tony scowled.
''What? It's true!''
Tony snapped his mouth shut, knowing that Gibbs was right in some way. Though, Gibbs didn't know the whole story, but that was a story for another time.
''So there is what the scars came from?'' Jimmy asked surprisingly.
Tony's head snapped towards him. His mouth opening and closing a couple of times, before answering. ''Yes''
''You have seen the scars, Mr. Palmer?'' Ducky asked.
Palmer nodded slowly, a bit unsure now.
''It's okay, Jim'' Tony said. He turned to the other two. ''Jimmy saw the scars on one of the movie nights we had'' He explained simply.
Something in the way that Tony casually said that, made Gibbs doubt that it was as simple as that, but he didn't comment.
''So, that's what the nightmares are about? About how you got them?'' Palmer asked tentatively.
Tony silently answered that with a nod. ''I- I didn't know that they were memories at first...'' He began to explain nervously. ''I didn't even know how I got the, uhm... scars, in the first place either...'' He trailed off and tried to find Gibbs' eyes again.
''Aah. So your memories of that time only recently returned to you'' Ducky said understandably. ''That is quite the explanation as to why your mind and body reacted the way they did''
Jimmy nodded in agreement with the doctor, but saw Tony and Gibbs exchanging looks. ''What?'' He asked.
Tony gave a nod of permission and Gibbs spoke. ''This is where it becomes complicated. We don't think that Tony just suppressed those memories. We think...'' He paused to take a breath. ''We think that Tony might have been drugged for a longer period of time and that is the cause of him loosing his memories''
Jimmy and Ducky both looked at Tony again, but the younger man's gaze was downward now again.
''Is there such a drug?'' Gibbs asked.
The question brought Ducky's attention back to Gibbs and thought about it. ''There is. Several, in fact'' He answered. ''If I think about my years in my work and my years of learning, the drugs that first comes to my mind are, Rohynol, Ketamine—''
''Date rape drugs'' Tony interrupted him, his tone empty from emotion. ''I wasn't raped'' He said, before anyone could ask.
''I wasn't suggesting that you were, my boy'' Ducky reassured him.
''Yeah'' Palmer said, and he explained further when he got their attention. ''It's because those drugs are most used in rape crimes, that the majority of the people forget that it is easily used in other crimes as well. In any crime where the... offender wants his victims to forget it happened or just to confuse or even torture. It depends on the crime. There are several side effects on all those drugs. They can even be addictive and the withdrawal symptoms can be torturous by themselves''
Tony didn't comment, but Gibbs could see him deflate a little in relieve. ''The only problem is, that this happened years ago'' Gibbs said. ''There is no way we can discover or proof that Tony was actually drugged with any of those drugs''
''That's why we are here, aren't we?'' Palmer asked, suddenly realizing. ''You knew that if Tony was drugged, there is no way to be sure or to proof it. All we can do is see if Tony was the only one –Which seems very unlikely, looking at where it happened– and if it is still happening now''
''Smart guy!'' Tony grinned, fondly at Jimmy, enjoying the blush that crept on his friends face. ''Yes, Jimmy, that's why you are here''
''But why ask us, Jethro?'' Ducky asked. ''I'm sure Ziva and Timothy would be far better in investigating this''
''We don't doubt that, Duck'' Gibbs replied. ''But this is a personal matter and not a official case...'' yet He thought and paused, glancing at Tony. ''And it will be Tony's decision when or if we involve the others or not''
''So what exactly do you want me to do?'' Palmer asked.
''You're good with computer'' Tony answered. ''Not as good as McGee, but we don't need you to. At least you can find their website or something like that'' He smirked, a little. ''And you won't slam the computer because it takes too long'' He was unaffected by Gibbs' mocking glare.
Jimmy laughed a little.
Gibbs spoke up. ''First we need to know if the headmaster, Tony had in the years... this happened, is still active'' He said. ''Then we need to find out if there are other people from Tony's age, have the same problems or same scars that Tony has''
Jimmy opened his bag and pulled out the laptop he had brought. He opened it and pressed the start button.
''What do you need me to do, Jethro?'' Ducky asked.
''We need your knowledge on people'' Gibbs answered. ''And check Tony over for me again''
''Gibbs!'' Tony groaned. ''That's really not necessary!''
''He can check out the scars, Tony'' Gibbs said gently, facing Tony. ''So we can determine which... methods they used''
''I know which methods they used, as I see it when I sleep, remember?'' Tony replied harshly. So harshly in fact that he noticed a flinch from the other man. His eyes softened, regretfully.
Gibbs saw Tony's eyes and knew that Tony would blame himself again for his harsh words. ''Not your fault, Tony. Nothing is your fault with this, understood?''
''It must be. I ended up in that place for some reason, didn't I?'' Tony thought, tough he nodded in understanding towards Gibbs.
They went to work, beginning with silence, only speaking when it was necessary, Palmer answering the questions they were looking for. First it was the Headmaster, who Tony remembered was named. Robert Haggis.
With a simple Google search they discovered that the man had retired 3 years ago. Surprisingly, his job was taken over by his nephew, Gary Haggis, who was, coincidently, 2 years older than Tony and went to the same school. Tony remembered him from his nightmares. Remembered that Gary had always been a bully. Maybe even somewhat of a leader. He didn't know that Gary had been family of, though. He should've, because the surnames were the same, but he didn't think anything of it at that time. He had other things on his mind.
To stall some time, Tony walked up the stairs and a moment later came back, holding a big book that Gibbs recognized as the year book that Tony had shown him before to let him see who Scarlett Miller was.
Tony leafed through the book and could point out 2 more faces he recognized from the people that appeared in his nightmares. But then just sat there watching Palmer and Gibbs working.
Ducky decided to push Tony a little. ''Where do you want me to check you over, Tony?'' Duck said gently.
Tony sighed, knowing he wouldn't get out of this. ''On the couch is fine'' He said as he stood up and walking into the living area. Ducky followed him with his suit case.
Gibbs looked up briefly, looking after them with a badly masked look on his face.
...
Tony sat down on the couch, while Ducky sat his suitcase on the coffee-table and opening it. ''I will see how you are first, my boy. Shirt off'' He ordered calmly.
Sighing again, Tony obeyed without protest. He let Ducky do his routine tests. Listening to his heart and lungs. Checking his eyes, muscle reflexes and blood pressure. After that was done, Tony looked expectingly at the doctor.
''Hmm'' Ducky hummed and looked at him.
''What?'' Tony asked.
''Well, you're still obviously tired and your blood pressure is still high, but not as much as yesterday. It seems that the sleep you have had has done some damage control already'' Ducky explained. ''Although I would advise you to not think that you're in the clear. You are not. And you need much more rest, my boy''
''Yes, yes'' Tony agreed dismissively. ''Can you go on with your other task?''
''Certainly. Go lie on your stomach, I will do your back first''
Tony did as he was told and laid stretched on the couch. Ducky noted that his whole body was tense. There wasn't a muscle that was relaxed. Ducky mentally switched to his examiner side and grabbed a notebook and pencil out of his suitcase. He laid them on the coffee table and moved closer to Tony's body.
Ducky worked silence, only the quiet sound of Gibbs and Jimmy talked to each other could be heard. He looked intently at each scar separately, sometimes touching them, and feeling Tony tense up more in the progress, before writing something down on the note book. After 20 minutes he asked Tony to turn around on his back, to which the younger man groaned about in discomfort, but again did as he was asked, covering his eyes with his arm.
Tony didn't like this one bit. But he wanted to solve this... case. He just wanted to know. Was he the only one? Was there a reason? Were there more just like him? And if this helped the speed of the puzzle solving it was worth it. He kept reminding himself. ''You trust Ducky. Relax, Tony. You trust him''
But every time the Doctor touched him, he tensed up more, before relaxing a bit when the touch left again. It felt like hours before Ducky was done, but Tony sighed in relief when Ducky said it was done.
''Alright, Tony. All done'' Ducky said. He handed Tony his shirt.
''Thanks'' Tony said quietly.
''Can I get you something, my boy?'' Ducky's voice was one of what Tony would think a grandfather would sound like.
''I can get something to drink in my own house, Duck'' Tony went to stand up, but he felt surprisingly drained. Also, Ducky stopped him and pushed him back down on the couch. ''And you don't know where to find everything''
''I am perfectly capable to find my way in your kitchen. You stay on that couch. It's a hot chocolate for you and then up to bed!''
Tony tried to glare at the man. ''Ducky!'' He scowled at him.
''Don't protest, Tony''
Tony turned around on the couch to see the source of the voice. Gibbs and Jimmy were walking to them
''It's easier to let Ducky boss you around, because he's resistant to any sort of glares. I speak from experience'' Gibbs smirked a little.
''Indeed you do, Jethro'' Ducky smirked at the agent. ''4 hot chocolates it is''
''Coffee for me'' Gibbs corrected.
''Oh no, Jethro. I will not give you coffee at this hour of the evening''
''Ducky!'' Gibbs sounded exactly like Tony did, just moments before.
So this time Tony smirked and said, ''Don't protest, Gibbs. It's easier to let Ducky boss you arou— Ow!''
He was interrupted by a gently head-slap.
Ducky chuckled and went towards the kitchen, while Gibbs sat down next to Tony, grumbling under his breath.
Palmer, who had been silently been listening and watching the exchange, sat down on the other side of Tony, bringing the younger agent's attention to him. ''So... you done?''
''Yes'' Palmer said. ''We found some information on Haggis, as he's the headmaster so there's quite a lot to find on the Internet. The other two, though, not so much. They are on the Internet, like Facebook, but everything is set to ''Private'' so we can't see much unless we gain access through a NCIS computer''
''Tell me what you do have?'' Tony asked.
''Not tonight, Tony'' Gibbs stated. ''It's late. It can wait until tomorrow''
''But—'' Tony wanted to protest, but quited at the gentle shake of Gibbs head. He sighed. ''Fine''
Ducky came back with the hot chocolate and they drank it mostly in silence. When all of them were finished, Ducky and Palmer announced their leave and asked if they should return tomorrow.
''I will call you for the time'' Gibbs said to them and both man nodded and went home.
That left Tony with Gibbs alone, again.
''You heard Ducky, Tony'' Gibbs stated. ''Go to bed''
''I hated Ducky doing that'' Tony mumbled. ''I reacted so childishly''
Gibbs sighed and reached out to squeeze Tony's shoulder, noticing Tony tensing now too. ''It's not childish Tony. It's natural and it will lessen or go away completely with time. Letting Ducky do that will help. And he doesn't need to do it again, he has the information he needs'' He felt Tony relaxed slightly at his words.
Tony nodded. ''Right''
''So, again, go to bed'' Gibbs repeated the order.
''Okay'' Tony agreed and stood up. ''You oka—''
''I can handle it here'' Gibbs interrupted, smirking. ''Goodnight''
''Night'' Tony replied with a yawn and went upstairs.
He changed into his pajama's and settled into his bed. He turned off the light and listened to Gibbs moving around downstairs. A moment later the lights downstairs went out too. He sighed and closed his eyes.
…
Gibbs had his eyes open in the darkness and he listened as once again the sound of Tony turning restlessly onto his other side filled the apartment. It was like this for the last half hour. Just when he thought that the other agent had falling asleep, he heard Tony mumble in what he thought was a whisper and turn around.
Apparently the younger man had trouble settling into a calm mind or something like this.
''Tony!'' He called out.
A sudden silence, then, ''Yeah?''
''What's wrong?''
''Nothin'''
''Than why aren't you trying to sleep?''
''I am!''
…
Tony's denial was met with silence. He listened for Gibbs reply but he didn't any. Then He yelped with a start as the light from his loft were turned on. He sat up and found Gibbs standing at the top of the stairs.
''You afraid you'll have another nightmare?'' Gibbs asked, with a knowing, raised eyebrow.
''N-no!'' Tony lied.
Gibbs sighed and turned off the lights.
''Gibbs?'' Tony asked confused. He heard nothing so he laid back down. A moment later he was shocked to hear and feel his covers moving. ''W-what are you doing?'' He stammered, shocked with the realization that Gibbs hadn't went back down, but had walked over to his bed and was now climbing into his bed!
''Scooch'' Gibbs simply ordered. Not knowing what else to do, Tony did just that.
Gibbs climbed under the covers. He turned to his side and pushed Tony to do the same. Tony rolled around so that his back was facing Gibbs, still shocked. He suppressed another yelp as Gibbs' arm came around his waist and he was pulled against the other man's body.
''What are you doing?'' Tony asked again.
''It's okay'' Gibbs whispered. ''Just sleep, Tony''
Tony suppressed a shiver as he felt Gibbs' breath on his neck. Not only that, but Gibbs had begun rubbing his hand over Tony's t-shirt-covered stomach. Surprisingly though, Tony felt himself relax far too fast and felt himself become heavy with sleep. He fought to stay awake and to ask again what Gibbs was doing, but he found himself incapable of doing both.
It was only a couple of minutes later that Gibbs heard and felt Tony's breathing even out and he knew that Tony had fallen asleep. Gibbs let out a sigh, but didn't stop his hand from moving. He really didn't know why he had, impulsively climbed into Tony's bed again, but it seemed that his instinct hadn't let him down.
The speed in which Tony relaxed and had fallen asleep, let him believe that he was right in knowing what Tony's problem was, and that he had done the right thing. Gibbs completely ignored the warm feeling and his inner voice mumbling something he didn't quite catch, as he slowly drifted off to sleep as well.
Ha! Cuddling again! :D
So Ducky and Palmer are in the ''know''. If you're asking yourself why Ducky had to examine the scars, then I answer with, that he had determine how old they are, and possibly know how much time there was between them. Though so many years ago, that will be hard, or even impossible. But yeah.
In next chapters I hope I will put some more Palmer/Tony conversation into it. I want to, I have fun writing those! whaha.
Though I ask you for your oppinion on something also. Here it goes, I plan to put some word time of Ziva, McGee and Abby into this story, but I am, next to the fact that Ziva will be great in this fic, still undecided what to with McGee or Abby! So give me your oppinions on it! What do you think will be good for this fic? A little drama can't hurt, though, after all NCIS is also a Drama series! XD
Please leave a review, I love reading those! just be nice!
Update soon, Leonie!
