A/N: A bit of fluffy exposition, because I'm a Gibbs/Tony father/son junkie and can't help myself...don't worry though, we're not quite done yet and will get back on track with Tim and Tony interaction in the next chapter. My writer's block seems to have passed (knock on wood) and I'm rolling now. Lots of references to my previous story Vanished...this story has unintentionally turned into a sequel of sorts. Sorry about that. If you haven't read Vanished you may want to take a few minutes to catch up. Go ahead, I'll wait. :) By the way, I unfortunately still don't own NCIS, am not a medical or legal expert, yadda yadda, don't sue me. -abby

Tony watched, paralyzed with shock as Peter stalked towards him. Moonlight glinted off the large ceremonial blade in the elder's hand. His eyes glittered in the darkness, and Tony was disturbed by the evil he saw reflected there. Unable to move, unable to run, Tony opened his mouth to yell for help but found that he could not. Boss! Ziva! Where are you?

Peter raised the knife high above his target's head, and again the senior field agent tried to scream, with no results. He attempted to lift his arms to defend himself but it seemed as though his entire body was frozen in place. Why can't I move?! The panic was all-consuming, pouring over Tony like an icy waterfall. He shuddered involuntarily, unaccustomed to feeling so helpless, so terrified. I'm about to die. And there's nothing I can do about it. Tony prepared himself for the end, waited for the inevitable agony of a blade connecting with soft flesh.

Just as the knife began its swift descent, Tony awoke with a start. Sweat poured down his face, his heart pounded in his chest and he was trembling all over. Jesus. Just a nightmare. Take it easy, Anthony. Tony took a few deep breaths and felt his heart rate begin to slow. Cautiously he looked around, relieved to see that no one was there to witness his panic. His relief dissipated with the realization that he was alone in a small hospital room. Suddenly all the memories came rushing back. Tim.

Acutely aware that he had no recollection of getting to the hospital - or really anything after Tim was stabbed - Tony fumbled for the nurse call button. Desperate to know his friend's condition - please be alive - Tony cursed vehemently when the small remote slipped out of reach, landing between the mattress and the bed rail. "Shit!" Tony swore, gasping when he caught his injured hand in an attempt to retrieve it. "Gahhh!"

Gibbs entered the room at that moment, and quickly set his coffee down as he rushed to Tony's bedside. "DiNozzo! Take it easy," the silver-haired man ordered, worry sharpening his tone more than he intended.

Surprised by his superior's sudden appearance, Tony jerked violently. He yelped as the movement tugged painfully at his IV. "Boss!"

"Yeah. Take it easy, Tony," Gibbs repeated, watching the younger man with concern. "You okay?"

Tony closed his eyes briefly in an attempt to pull himself together. After a moment he managed, and wasted no time in getting to the point. Though a part of him feared the answer, he knew he had to ask. "How's McGee?"

The response was far different than Tony had expected. "He's gonna be fine."

Barely willing to believe he'd heard correctly, Tony gaped, "What? Are you sure?"

"Saw him myself about an hour ago. The damage was minimal, considering. His lung collapsed and he needed a blood transfusion, but he's out of surgery and resting comfortably. Ziva and Abby are with him now."

Tony searched Gibbs' face, looking for any indication that his boss was sugar-coating the facts or hiding the whole truth. Finding none, the senior field agent allowed himself to relax slightly. "Really? He's really gonna be okay?"

"Well yeah, DiNozzo, have I ever lied to you?" Gibbs retrieved his abandoned coffee and took a sip. Without waiting for an answer he continued, "How are you?"

There was a pause as Tony took stock. "Okay, I guess. Hungry. How long have I been here? I don't really remember much."

Gibbs looked at his watch. "About ten hours. You were pretty out of it when we found you, I'm not surprised you don't remember."

Tony was pleased to discover that for the first time in a long time his ankle was not throbbing mercilessly, in fact he could not feel it at all. As he looked he noticed that his foot was slightly elevated under the covers, tenting the blanket at an odd angle. "Is it broken?"

Gibbs shook his head. "Nah. You tore it up good though, snapped a few ligaments. You'll be out of commission for a while."

While disappointing, it was about what Tony had figured. Continuing his self-exam, he eyed the familiar heavy bandages covering his left arm. He still did not remember getting knifed in that particular spot. "How many this time?" he asked, knowing Gibbs would understand.

"Only fourteen," Gibbs replied calmly as he took another sip of coffee. He recalled all too vividly the last time his agents had gone missing. That time Tony's injuries had nearly proven fatal, and it had required more than sixty stitches to repair the significant damage to his arm.

Tony sighed as he glanced at his right hand, the one that Peter had slashed for the bonding ceremony.

"Five in that one," Gibbs commented without prompting. "Could've been a lot worse."

"Yeah, I could have taken a huge-ass knife to the chest," Tony said flatly. The guilt was overwhelming, and he still didn't understand what had possessed McGee to dive in front of him. What the hell, kid? Tony lapsed into thoughtful silence for several minutes.

Gibbs studied the younger man, taking in the dark circles under Tony's eyes and the fragile set to his features. Even though he suspected he knew the answer, Gibbs asked quietly, "What's on your mind?"

Slowly Tony seemed to come back to the present and he looked his boss directly in the eyes. "He was willing to sacrifice his life for mine. Without a second thought. Why?"

Gibbs raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"

"Well, I mean, um...he's like a kid brother, you know?" Tony fumbled, suddenly feeling strangely vulnerable.

"So...?" the older man prompted, staring at his agent expectantly. He supposed that he should no longer be amazed at how dense DiNozzo could be when it came to matters of friendship and loyalty, but there it was. He still doesn't get it, Gibbs thought wearily, no matter how many times he sees the proof.

"I mean, well...I would do it for him, but..." Tony stared at his hands, picking at the bandage wrapped around his palm.

"You did do it for him, DiNozzo," Gibbs reminded his friend gently.

Abruptly, Tony looked up to meet his boss' gaze and was baffled by what he saw there. Is that...pride? "I did?"

Ice blue eyes rolled slightly, and Gibbs gestured at the bicep of Tony's bandaged left arm. "Where'd you get that scar?"

"Oh," Tony replied meekly.

Gibbs took another swig of coffee before replying simply, "Yeah, oh. Maybe he thought it was time to return the favor."

Tony sighed heavily and unconsciously traced the fading scar on his upper arm. "Can I see him?"

"Sure," Gibbs responded, noting the disappointment on his agent's face as he continued, "but not right now. You both need to rest."

The frown on DiNozzo's lips spoke volumes, but his only audible response was another dramatic sigh. Suddenly something else occurred to the senior field agent. "Did you get them?"

It was Gibbs' turn to sigh. "All but one." He did not have the chance to finish the thought as Tony interjected.

"Peter."

Gibbs confirmed Tony's guess with a sharp nod. "The rest of them will be going away for a long time. Besides kidnapping and assaulting federal agents, we've got them as accessories to murder. The local LEOs found Lance Corporal Haagensen's body - along with several others - in a mass grave."

"Yeah, so did I." Tony pointed at his injured ankle.

"Ah," Gibbs murmured. "I wondered about that." The two men lapsed into pensive silence.

"Now what?" Tony's voice was soft, and Gibbs could swear he heard a note of uncharacteristic trepidation.

"Now we keep you both under 24-hour guard until we find this Peter," came the reply. "And we will find him."

"I know you will, Boss," Tony said without hesitation. And he did know, but could not ignore the voice in the back of his mind. The voice that kept saying, But what if he finds us first?