A/N well… since I have 22 reviews (yay! Go me!) here's Chapter 9. Warning… tis Tony Whump Galore
Lady Alder, has once again proven that the (red) pen is mightier than the sword and carved this into a readable addition to the story. Chapter 12 has finally submitted to being written… so hurrah!
Disclaimer: If they were mine I would just film it… Rhiannon says she belongs to no-one.
Chapter 9
Tony woke to find himself strapped to a gurney. Peeling his eyes open slowly he bit back a groan as the light triggered a splitting headache. The accompanying dry, sticky mouth and nausea let him know that he had indeed been drugged. He tugged at the straps holding his wrists and ankles to the sides of the bed, there was no give at all. Struggling for several minutes just made him feel even more trapped and chafed his skin. Raising his head he could see a good portion of the room, or rather, cage. It had thick bars and looked like it was a jail cell from an old western, the type with John Wayne as the tough talking sheriff.
"Ah, Agent DiNozzo…so glad to see you are awake," Tony whipped his head round, trying to see the owner of the voice. They were out of sight, somewhere beyond the bars.
For the first time Tony noticed the IV taped to his elbow, he stared in horror as an automated release allowed a purple fluid to start making its way down the tube and towards his trapped limb. Automatically tensing his arm Tony's eyes widened in panic.
"No…! No no no no, you don't need to do this! What is that stuff? Hey, what are you doing to me?!" he yelled, thrashing in the restraints until blood started to seep from wounds at his wrists and ankles. "You do realise kidnapping, drugging and murdering a federal agent is just gonna cause you a whole heap more problems? My boss…my boss doesn't like people messing with his people…last couple that tried it? Let's just say they are rather less…alive…than they were."
The hidden figure chuckled, amused by the frantic man's pleas and threats. The sluggish substance was now entering the NCIS agent's body. Tony stilled, his eyes wild and still, focused on the point the mysterious fluid entered his vein. He could feel it, a cool, soothing sensation followed by a horrible burn, like orange juice on a mouth ulcer.
"What is it? Why are you doing this?" His voice lost the anger that had previously infused it, now it was closer to terror. Tony's fear and loathing of hospitals was thoroughly working against him and robbing him of rational thought.
"Oh, just a collection of herbs and things, an old recipe. Traditionally taken orally, but then it requires many doses and an element of luck for it to work - this way leaves nothing to chance, Agent DiNozzo. May I call you Tony? This method also means it only requires three days… Oh you are so lucky Tony. I will make you so much more than the pathetic creature you are now," the voice continued, the educated French accent carefully modulated and precise.
Tony screwed his eyes closed and gritted his teeth. It had been less than five minutes and his entire body felt like it was on fire, with ground glass in his veins. His breath came in sharp pants as he tried to fight the agony, to hide his weakness from his enigmatic foe. His eyes soon flew open though.
"As for your boss… I do hope he comes for you. In a few days I will even let him know where you are. To see his face when he realises what you have become…that he will be duty bound to kill you…!" the voice was sounding almost maniacal, even through the fog of pain his mind was trapped in Tony could hear the madness. For the first time in a long while, Tony was truly scared.
As the pain grew in intensity Tony started keening in distress, his jaw still clamped shut against the screams that fought to escape. After what seemed like an eternity he fell into blessed darkness, his thoughts spinning away. Just before it fully claimed him he managed to gasp out a short plea.
"Gibbs, find me…."
*****
NCIS headquarters were a hive of activity. Gibbs had commandeered two more teams to help in the search for his senior field agent. McGee was tracking down all electronic leads he could think of, including all cell phones in the area at the time of Tony's kidnapping, Ziva was…persuading…all local businesses along the street to hand over copies of any sidewalk footage on security cameras, Abby was going through the mess of coffee, pastry and Tony's cell looking for any trace. Gibbs was pacing the floor between his and DiNozzo's desks and growling at people.
Tim was carefully not questioning Gibbs about the presence of Rhiannon, sitting in Gibbs' seat, and the young agent was working away as fast as he could. All of them knew they had only three days in which to find Tony alive, possibly less.
"Boss, I've left that search running, as well as sending a request for any information on similar crimes to Interpol, and the Police Forces in France, Germany and Britain… Boss, I know Ducky says that the killer kept them alive for three days after capture…but Tony…well, you know how Tony is with people…he tends to upset bad guys…" McGee stuttered to a halt at the murderous glare in Gibbs' eyes.
"We will find him, alive - I haven't given him permission for anything else McGee… I'm heading out for coffee. Red, with me," Gibbs stormed out of the bullpen with Rhi close to heel, it was getting close to oh-four-hundred… almost twenty-four hours from Tony's initial disappearance and they still had nothing.
*****
Tony woke with a jolt as a bucket of icy water was poured over his head. He desperately tried to gulp down as much as he could, he was parched and his throat raw from the screaming he had done the previous afternoon. The Voice, as Tony now thought of him, had returned several times through the previous day…days? He was no longer sure how long he had been here… At each appearance the Voice had mocked him, tormented him with ideas of what would happen when Gibbs came. The bag attached to his IV was switched for one containing a dull green fluid, that one brought a different pain, a headache beyond anything he had ever experienced.
Tony gave a croaking cry as he saw a fresh bag of the purple fluid, he was verging on delirious and barely holding onto coherent thought. His wrists and ankles were now just crusted sores where the restraints had held him, his skin covered with sweat. He noticed that whilst he was unconscious his captor had changed him into a pair of scrubs pants and nothing else, though several electrodes were now stuck to his chest and arms.
"Tony, so glad you have joined me again…it's time for your second round of treatment! I have to say I am very impressed with you so far. The others were all begging for mercy by this point, you…you have just come up with some very interesting ways to punish me… Oh, and threatening me with your precious Gibbs…you will soon see him for the Monster he truly is, that you will also be… See you soon Tony!" The Voice faded into the distance as a click signaled the release of the compound. Tony whimpered before bracing himself for another round.
*****
Gibbs stormed into the Director's office.
"What do you want Vance?" he snarled "I am rather busy trying to find my missing agent."
"Gibbs… I know you are worried about DiNozzo, the rest of your team has barely slept since he was taken, hell, you even have your damn witness helping out – we will be having words about that after we get your man back... I called you in to say you have two units of marines at your disposal to run searches. We will find him Gibbs." Vance looked coolly at the silver haired man as he paced frantically. He had never seen Gibbs this obviously agitated.
*****
Tony let out a silent scream. His voice was long gone…the restraints had also been replaced with new bands, softer and placed further up his arms and legs to avoid the damaged flesh from the old restraints. They were now pretty much decorative anyway, Tony was too weak to make any serious escape attempt, the raised metal rails more than enough to keep him on the bed.
Tear-blurred eyes watched as the last of the third batch of purple liquid emptied from the IV tube. He would have sobbed if he could, the pain rapidly fading to a dull ebb as the drugs were absorbed. His murky green eyes were dull as he relaxed into the damp mattress, they struggled to focus on the figure in doctor's scrubs and surgical mask as he came in. This was the first time he was conscious as The Voice came to him. His head was gently raised and a bottle of cool water held to his lips. Drinking thirstily, Tony began to sink once more towards oblivion. He was briefly aware enough to wonder if he was acclimatising to the drugs, since he had remained conscious for the entire bag this time. The thought was soon lost to the swirling, comforting peace of unconsciousness.
The man watched Tony sleep. The smile that formed was a horrible parody of joy, a true glimpse at the madness within.
"Soon…soon your revered 'Boss' will be forced to try kill you, I don't think he will do it. In fact, my wonderful beast…you will probably kill him for me! Oh, it will be just wonderful…when you can't disobey me of course." He almost danced with glee.
*****
Rhi was searching the wooded area she had been assigned with three marines. As she padded gently through the undergrowth she carefully evaded her team mates. Dropping to her knees to inspect a half hidden canister, she realised her mistake when it started to hiss - within moments she was collapsing into an insensible heap, surprised shouts from the marines ended by gunfire. An unfamiliar voice approached.
"Ah, perfect…the little annoyance that has followed me across the globe…you will prove an ideal subject too. Even better, you won't require the medicine…"
A/N 2: I know I know, 2 chapters ending on kidnappings is a naughty… chapter 10 goes up when I reach 30 reviews (or tomorrow, whichever comes first)
