Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS or its characters.

Chapter 9 - Shocks & Surprises

When Tim first came too, he was confused between the past and the present as he slowly became aware of three very distinct sensations the first and main one being pain – the most severe of which was emanating from his leg ~okay nothing I haven't dealt with in the past~ he thought sarcastically to himself, then there was the pain in his lower back – that was different, if felt odd, normally when his back hurt, it felt like it was on fire after receiving a belting. This pain was, however dull in comparison and if he thought about, similar to that in his leg, but to a lesser degree, the third pain was coming from just above his right eye giving him a splitting headache.

The other two sensations were new and made him realise that he wasn't back in his youth having received a belting from the Admiral. The first of which was, the awareness that his feet where cold – wet and cold to be more precise – which he thought of as odd. Despite the protest he received from his brain for doing so, he managed to open his eyes. He could barely make anything out in the dim and dusky light ~must be evening~ he thought though he wasn't entirely confident with that assessment. Once his eyes finally adjust to the light he could see that he was still fully dressed with the exception of his shoes and socks. His feet were barely touching the stone floor which for its part was covered in light coating of water.

The second sensation was understood as he realised the position of his feet and that his arms where aching, especially his left shoulder, through the fact that they were supporting his entire bodyweight, looking up from his feet he saw that his arms, or rather his wrists were securely attached, above his head, by what looked like his own handcuffs, to a metal pole, which itself was suspended from a very high ceiling.

He had barely taken his predicament when a door opened above his head height revealing a staircase that lead downward and a group a men walked in, unfortunately with the dimming light all Tim was only able to make out was the height of the individuals as all but three of them formed a circle around him. The other three stood in the corner by the stairs observing as the grilling started

"Glad you've finally decided to join us, Agent McGee" the said the first man in the group as he walked up to Tim, now he was closer Tim could make out some of the features of his face, especially the scar that ran down one side "You're going to tell us exactly what we want to know"

Tim rolled his eyes at the assumption that had just been made "So you know who I am - why don't you finish the introductions" he replied calmly – even if he didn't feel particularly calm, the backhander he received, told him the guy wasn't in the mood for games, but Tim just gave him an 'is that all you got look.'

"You don't need to know, you just need to answer" the guy retorted

"Haven't heard a question yet" Tim replied sarcastically, that earned him a fist into his stomach, from the next guy of group, who was standing just right of the man doing the talking, but he managed to stifle the groan that threatened to escape.

"Tell me what's on the hard-drive" the guy demanded.

"How do you now about the hard-drive?" The question slipped out, before a confused Tim even realised he had said out load what he was thinking. This time something hard struck him from behind, low on his back.

"We're asking the questions, not you, know tell us what's on the hard-drive!" this voice came from behind and Tim tried to twist to see the owner, but didn't manage it.

"Can't tell you what I don't know" Tim replied evenly, though his mind was racing – this wasn't a good situation to be in at the best of times but now he knew what they wanted it made it worse. The kick into his ribs, had him gasping for breath.

"I would strongly suggest that you don't play games with us!" The first man bellowed into Tim's face, he was almost nose to nose with Tim now and Tim could see pure hatred in the man's eyes.

"Who say's I'm playing games…..Anyway even if I knew what was on the hard-drive, what makes you think I would tell you?" Tim responded, this triggered of a flood of fists and kicks, which went on for some time, but it wasn't until someone hit Tim with something hard against his already throbbing leg that Tim actually screamed, which he stifled by clamping his mouth onto his upper arm.

"Enough!" Ordered one of the three men that had been in the corner of the room observing, as he broke away and moved towards the group surrounding Tim.

"Oh come on Karl, we were just starting to have some fun" one of the members of the larger group whined

"It's my turn" Karl stated in a no-nonsense tone before he turned his full attention to Tim his voice was threateningly calm "Now Agent McGee, you have a choice you can continue pretending you don't know, but I warn you my team here will continue the beating until you submit or you can take your chances with the high-tide, that regularly floods this room"

Tim looked at the man as he continued to bring his breathing back under control "Not much of a choice either way" Tim muttered

"Your right, but each tide is different and I cannot predict how high the sea water will get, it has reached the top step before now" The man stated evenly, indicating behind him, Tim's eyes followed the gesture to realise the top step was way above his head

"Even if I could tell you what you want, after I had, you wouldn't need me anymore" Tim quantified

Karl studied Tim for a long time, grabbing him roughly around the face "What makes you think that, you may prove very useful. So are you really are telling me you don't know what's on that Hard-drive?" his tone told Tim that he wasn't about to believe him anytime soon.

"Haven't even finished decrypting it yet" Tim replied evenly.

The final two members of the group, that had been watching from the corner moved closer "Then why would you have left?" a familiar voice sneered

"Nat…..Nathan?" Tim said surprised

Instead of receiving a verbal reply, Tim felt something sharp against his neck "Answer me!"

Tim remained defiantly quiet as the knife slowly moved down to his chest, before crossing the left side and onto his back, as Nathan slowly circled around him, lowering the knife so it now hovering to the just a couple inches above the waistline, with no warning the knife penetrated into Tim's back and slashed its way a across. Tim battled to prevent himself from screaming as the new pain ambushed his senses.

"Tell us what we want to know!" Nathan demanded

"Can't….tell….you…..what….I…don't…..know" Tim gasped out, blackness threatened to overcome him.

Nathan continued to circle Tim so that he was again standing in front of him where he pressed the knife more firmly into the area that would lead to his heart, though not actually penetrating the skin.

"You really think you have a choice?" Nathan sneered as the knife started to penetrate the first few layers of skin, Tim gritted his teeth as he prepared to suffer the pain that was about to happen

Suddenly the knife disappeared, as someone pulled Nathan back from Tim

"I think we should let Agent McGee take his chances with the high tide, you never know it might just loosen his tongue"

Tim tried not to show his shock as he looked to the man standing off to the side and slightly behind his cousin, he would have known the voice anywhere, and in the dim light made out the distinctive figure of Trent Kort. For a moment Tim thought his mind was playing tricks on him, that was until he noticed Trent using his free hand to send the coded signal, he and Gibb's team had come up with long ago indicated that the person sending it was working undercover.

Nathan considered Trent's recommendation for a moment before looking at Karl, who was obviously in charge, of the whole group, who indicated with a nod that he agreed with Kort.

"Yes, and if that doesn't fully loosen his tongue the electric cattle prod will, and it will work especially well, if we use it whilst there is still a few inches of water in the room, particularly as he will still be covered in the sea water"

The threat of what Karl had implied hung heavily in the air, whilst Nathan appeared to be mulling something over

"Okay - but I'd like some private time with my cousin" looking at Karl for approval

"Two minutes and you won't be needing this" Karl stated firmly as he removed the bloodied knife from Nathan's hand. With a jerk of head to give the order, the rest of the group, including Kort, followed him upstairs. Nathan watched them leave making sure the door was closed before he turned his attention back to Tim, studying him for just a moment before speaking.

"Imagine my surprise, when I tried to visit Sarah at the university, only to be told by her campus roommate, that she wasn't there" Nathan said as he again made his way behind Tim

"I told you to stay away from Sarah!" Tim replied as forcefully as he could considering the pain he was enduring.

Nathan grabbed Tim's hair and bent his neck back hard, making him gasp at the sudden movement "Don't think you in any position to be telling me what to do Tim-Tim" Nathan mocked before turning angry "Tell me where she is!"

"I don't think so" Tim replied as best he could

"Sarah belongs to me!" Nathan shouted into Tim ear before roughly shoving his head forward, letting Tim's hair go in the process.

"Sarah doesn't belong to anyone" Tim shouted back evenly "And I'm not going to tell you where to find her!"

Nathan, who was now back in front of him, suddenly threw out two punches hitting Tim squarely in the face and stomach before leaning in threateningly.

"Oh I think you are" Nathan sneered to Tim's face "one way or another you're going to tell me and I might even consider sending you a video of the two of us together if you survive any of this" indicating around the room.

Tim felt sick at the very thought of what Nathan was implying, but to his relief the door opened and he heard Karl's voice "Nathan!"

Nathan looked up at the door way and then at Tim, who believed he saw a moment of insubordination cross Nathan face, before he obviously thought better of it and made his way upstairs. However just as Nathan reached the top of the stairs he turned and looked down at Tim

"You know this would have been a whole lot easier, if you had just died with your interfering mother, like you were supposed too"

"What…What are you talking about?" Tim questioned clearly stunned by the comment

"If you had been in the car, like you should have been, Sarah would be with me like the Admiral has always wanted!"

Before Tim could fully register what was said, Nathan was out the door and the room fell into pitch darkness, as something cold and wet tickled against Tim's feet.