Disclaimer: I do not own or profit from NCIS.
Author's Note: A major development at the end of this chapter that should please many of you! And I did want to mention that you shouldn't forget about the letter Tony wrote to Gibbs; it still needs to be read, doesn't it?
As always, you guys were lovely to me after the last chapter! I couldn't keep doing this without you. I hope to hear from you again this time. Thanks!
"Rise and shine, DiNozzo. Car pulls out in thirty minutes." A pillow landed on his face.
Tony sat up from where he had fallen asleep on the couch. "What? I haven't even packed."
"Did it for you," Gibbs dropped a green duffel bag in the floor. "Got you some sweats, jeans, t-shirts, some of that hair-glop you use, a jacket, socks, and clean underwear. You do wear underwear, right?"
He saw a small grin. "Only when I know I'm not getting lucky."
Gibbs snorted. "Then I guess you'll be wearing some. Don't think we'll need much else where we're going."
Tony scrubbed a hand through his spiky hair. "Do I have time for a shower?"
"Make it quick. But first, here." The ex-marine handed him the cup of pills and a piece of toast. "There's some orange juice on the table."
"Boss…" Tony began.
"Non-negotiable, DiNozzo. Ducky agrees." He didn't know if he could stand watching Tony endure the headaches and seizures again; if Ducky thought this was necessary to stop that from happening he'd hold Tony's nose and shove the medicine down his throat if he had to.
Tony reluctantly swallowed the pills and nibbled the toast. He felt like he'd completely lost control of his life. "I hate this," he said.
"I know." Gibbs ran his own hand through Tony's hair trying to lighten the younger man's dark mood. "Go take a shower. We got a long ride ahead of us."
"Are you sure you want to do this, boss? Really, you could just stay here. I'll call every day, we can text." He paused and tilted his head. "Well, maybe you can't text, but McGee could help you with that, he could probably even set up a webcam, I actually already have one, but you probably don't want to know about that since I got it to talk to this girl who moved to New York…"
"DiNozzo! I'm going along, so you can shut up now."
"Shutting up, boss."
Tony knew he was fighting a losing battle; Gibbs wouldn't be talked out of going with him, so he had to figure out a way to get Childers out of their lives as quickly as possible.
NCISNCISNCIS
Tony slept during most of the ride through the Virginia countryside, unaware of the beautiful scenery passing by the window. When Gibbs finally arrived at the end of a long gravel road that opened up to an expansive green field, even he had to appreciate the view from the top of the hill. An impressive building, similar to a Swiss chalet, was nestled back among the trees. A small pond glistened in the distance; dense forest surrounded the area. The result was absolutely stunning.
The lead agent nudged Tony to wake him up. "We're here, DiNozzo."
"Where's here?" He looked out the window. "Oh."
Tony wasn't completely sure he had been here before, but his hazy memories created a sense of déjà vu.
His stomach tied up like a pretzel; now that he was here, Tony felt pretty sure he wouldn't be going back home anytime soon.
Gibbs had eased his throbbing arm back into the sling. Driving all the way here was probably not a good idea, but Tony was too drugged to drive and there was no way he was giving Childers control of the car. So he dealt with the pain. He opened the passenger door and waited for Tony to get out. Walking along the sidewalk, DiNozzo stumbled slightly. The lead agent reached out to steady him. "I'm tripping boss, in more ways than one."
"That wasn't even funny in your head, was it?" Gibbs asked.
"Gotta try. Those drugs have me so whacked out I can't even walk a straight line, let alone tell a decent joke. I feel like a damn junkie."
Gibbs' phone rang before he could respond.
"Slow down, McGee. Did you say Abby's at the hospital? In the ER?" Gibbs listened to the response. "Ok. Call me as soon as you know something."
Tony was holding his breath listening to the conversation. "What's wrong with Abby?
"McGee doesn't know. She got sick last night after leaving my house; since she hasn't gotten any better he made her go to the emergency room. Ducky's on his way to meet them; McGee said he'll call as soon as he knows something."
Professor Childers was standing at the top of the steps leading to the entrance of the house. "I hate to hear that the lovely Abigail isn't feeling well. Aren't you, Tony?"
DiNozzo felt every hair on his body stand on end. He knew without a doubt that whatever was wrong with Abby was Childers' fault. The son of a bitch had hurt his friend, just to prove to him that he could, and would, do it.
Tony was sick and tired of being manipulated by this man; it was time for Childers to pay.
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"I am not wearing this McGee!" Abby complained. "I look ridiculous!"
"Abby, please. The nurse will be back soon and they expect you to be in bed. I promise not to look at you," he cajoled.
Abby coughed. He could hear her moving around in the tiny bathroom adjacent to the ER cubicle. The familiar sound of retching came through the door. In all the years he had known her, Abby had never been sick before, and he hated to see her so weak and vulnerable.
"Are you alright? Do you need me to go find someone to help you?"
He waited a few moments before she finally replied. "No…..no, I'm ok. Just give me a minute."
The sound of running water was a sign she was rinsing her mouth. McGee stood nervously by the door waiting on the Goth. When she finally appeared, he sighed and smiled supportively at the sight of her.
Her dark hair was hanging down out of her usual pigtails, draping softly over her shoulders. There was no make-up on her face; the dark black lipstick and eyeliner she normally wore had rubbed off during the vomiting episodes. She was wearing a white hospital gown covered in blue flowers and light blue hospital issued socks.
She was decidedly un-Abby in appearance.
"I haven't puked since I was twelve and my best friend and I had a gummy bear eating contest. This isn't fun."
"No, Abs, I'm sure it isn't. Why don't you get back in bed?" He placed his hand on her arm as she slowly tottered toward the rumpled gurney. She groaned as she climbed in. "You don't know what I'd give to be at home in my own coffin."
"Coffin?" An ER doctor stood between the curtains separating their area from others in the room.
McGee attempted to explain. "Yeah, um, Abby she sleeps in a coffin, which isn't nearly as weird as it sounds. It's actually kinda comfortable once you get used to it, you just have to remember where you are when you wake up or it's a little scary….."
"McGee!" Abby swatted at him, trying to get him to be quiet.
"Sorry, Abby. I was just trying to explain…" He pointed at the doctor who had started to smirk. "But it's not what you think, Abby and I, we're not like that…I mean we were, sorta, but not anymore…"
Abby buried her head in her hands and prayed he would stop talking.
"Definitely none of my business," the physician commented, shaking his head and trying not to laugh. "Are you feeling any better?"
"A little," Abby replied, tucking her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. Ducky and Ziva entered the cubicle. "Hi guys," she greeted her friends softly.
"We're sorry to interrupt. I'm Dr. Donald Mallard and this is Special Agent Ziva David. How is our young lady?" Ducky gave Abby a comforting smile.
"Well, her blood tests are inconclusive but I'm guessing she has food poisoning. As long as the vomiting stops I think she should be able to go home in a few hours." He looked at Abby. "I would like to give you an IV of fluids before you go. I'll send a nurse in to get it started."
Abby's eyes grew wide. "I hate needles. I really, really hate needles."
"But Abby, you are a scientist. This should not bother you." Ziva said. "And what about all of your tattoos? They had to use needles for those."
"It's different when the needle is sticking inside you, Ziva. Do I really have to do this?" She looked pleadingly at Ducky.
The elderly Scot took her hand. "We'll stay with you, Abigail. You'll be fine, my dear."
She sighed and frowned. "I really wish Gibbs was here."
"So who won?" McGee asked, trying to distract her. "The gummy bear eating contest?"
Abby graced him with a small but tired smile. "I did, of course. I ate 500 and she only made it to 424 before we both blew chunks on my Mom's new couch. It was such a great day." She rested her head on her knees and grinned. Ducky patted her hair soothingly.
Her dark eyes grew wide when a nurse entered to start the IV. McGee winced as her grip on his hand tightened. "This is not going to be a great day at all," she whispered. "Not at all."
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Tony barreled up the steps and into the professor's torso before Gibbs had time to react. The two men tumbled to the stone floor. DiNozzo rolled over on top of him and started throwing punches, which the doctor did his best to block.
"You did this to Abby! I know you did!" Tony wrapped his hands around Childers' neck and squeezed. The professor curled his fingers around DiNozzo's wrists and pulled weakly.
"You're trying to kill my friends, but I won't let you do it!" Tony's thumbs pressed into the soft skin of the man's throat which turned bright red under the assault. The older man's face took on a blue hue as Tony dug his thumbs into his windpipe.
"I love Abby, do you understand me? I'd rather spend the rest of my life in prison than let you hurt her!" Tony's voice was low and menacing. The professor gurgled and tried to move his head, but Tony continued to bear down on him with all his weight and fury. Any exhaustion he had previously felt was driven away by the overwhelming urge to kill this man once and for all.
"DiNozzo, let him go!" Gibbs commanded.
"I can't, boss! He's trying to kill Abby!"
"We don't know what's going on yet, Tony. Now get off him!" Using his stronger arm, Gibbs grabbed DiNozzo to pull him back, but Tony shook him loose, determined to end this now. Childers smacked Tony's forearms with his hands; his eyes bulged in his now purple face.
Three men ran out onto the veranda; the two large individuals raced forward and grasped Tony, pulling him away from the professor who leaned forward and gasped while rubbing his darkly bruised neck. Gibbs knelt down to check Childers' injured skin.
"He's a murderer, a damn murderer! He doesn't deserve to live!" Tony jerked free and started forward once more, clearly intending to continue his attack on the doctor. The two men surged ahead and quickly grabbed him again.
"Hold him still!" The younger man yelled, fumbling with a syringe. One of the guards locked an arm around Tony's neck while the other held Tony's forearm as tightly as possible before the lab assistant inserted the needle.
"What are you doing?" Gibbs yelled when he observed their actions. He stood and shoved himself into the skinny man's chest and grabbed the man's shirt in his fist. Tony was still struggling to break away from the larger guards.
"I'm trying to stop him before he kills someone!" the boy pushed his glasses back up on his nose, attempting to stand his ground in the face of Gibbs' anger.
The lead agent shook his head, trying not to pound the little man, before turning back toward his friend whose face was so red with exertion he looked ready to explode.
Gibbs moved close to his agent. "Tony, please, settle down. Please stop. Getting this upset isn't good for you." His main concern was getting Tony to calm down.
DiNozzo was sweating heavily and panting. His eyes were wide and filled with pain. "Why don't you believe me, boss? Why don't you trust me? It's Abby! You can't let him hurt Abby!"
"Tony, I won't let him hurt Abby. What do you think Childer's has done? How could he have anything to do with what's wrong with her? Tell me what it is you're talking about!"
Tony's legs collapsed out from under him, putting most of his weight on the men holding him. "I won't let him hurt her," he repeated, his voice becoming thick and slow; his chin dropping down onto his chest.
Childers stepped toward the quickly fading man. "Bring him in the house." The professor continued to rub his neck. The men half-carried, half-dragged Tony inside, through the great room and down a corridor. When Tony peered up at a hallway leading off the corridor, he planted his feet firmly on the ground and refused to budge.
"Don't take me in there! I won't go back in there!" He turned his head, blinking rapidly until he found Gibbs standing behind him. "Don't let him put me in that room again, boss. I won't go!" The large men forced him onward despite the fact Tony was pushing himself back and away from the long passage. "No!" he screamed. "No!"
What the hell? Tony was having an extreme reaction to just being in this place; he would have to check the passageway out as soon as he could get away. For right now, though, he couldn't leave Tony.
By the time they got the struggling agent past the hall and into a bedroom he was panting for breath. His eyes held a glassy and unfocused look that nearly made Gibbs sick. The guards had to lift him onto the bed since his body was limp and uncontrolled.
"Boss?" he asked fearfully. The sudden thought of being in this house alone with Childers overwhelmed him. "Boss?" He had to make sure that Gibbs hadn't left him; that he wasn't hallucinating again.
"I'm right here. Just relax." Gibbs touched his hair to reassure his friend that he hadn't gone. Tony grabbed his wrist and refused to let go.
The agent didn't seem to notice when Childers lifted his other wrist to take his pulse. His eyes opened and closed sluggishly. The doctor gave the young assistant a perturbed look. "How much did you give him?"
"I….I don't know, I was just trying to get him to stay down."
Childers shook his head in exasperation. "With the other meds he's on you've given him way too much. Get some portable oxygen in here; this is depressing his breathing rate."
In the middle of the chaos, Gibbs' phone rang. Tony was still desperately holding onto the older man's right wrist like it was a lifeline while he took slow and halting gulps of air; Gibbs eased his left arm out of the sling and found his phone. With one hand he flipped the device open.
"Yeah, Ducky, how's Abby?"
"They're sending her home, Jethro. It appears it was a bad case of food poisoning but in a few days she'll be good as new. How is Anthony settling in?"
The lead agent frowned as his nearly unconscious second-in-command was fitted with an oxygen mask. Tony continued to clench his wrist tightly. "He's had better days, Duck. I'll call you back with an update."
Childers folded his arms. "As you can see, Agent Gibbs, he's quite unstable and prone to unpredictable acts of violence. This should make it clear just how serious his condition is." The professor touched his bruised neck. "He could've killed me."
Something in Gibbs' gut made him wonder if they would have been better off if Tony had.
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When Tony woke it took a few minutes for him to recall what had happened. He tugged the oxygen mask off his face and tossed it aside. Outside the windows it was fully dark; Gibbs was asleep in a chair on the other side of the room.
He lay in the bed as his recollection of the day's events became sharper. Abby. He had to know what Childers had done to her.
Quietly, he crept from the bed, realizing he was at least still dressed in the sweats and t-shirt he'd arrived in. He grabbed his jacket from where it had been placed on a chair and retrieved his cell phone which was tucked in one of the pockets. Taking a few minutes to pull on tennis shoes, he glanced over at the lead agent who continued to snore softly. It was a testimony to the older man's exhaustion that Tony's muffled movements hadn't caused him to stir. Even the great Leroy Jethro Gibbs had to sleep sometime.
Silently, he moved and stood over the chair, looking down at the man who, for all intents and purposes, had changed his life. He picked up a throw from the end of the bed and carefully draped it over Gibbs' legs. For the first time, he noticed the dark streaks that had been a part of Gibbs' hair just a few years ago were gone, and there several more lines etching his face. To him, the older man was invincible and would live forever. Life without Gibbs to guide him would be unimaginable.
"I'll think of a way to get us out of this, boss. I give you my word on that."
Going back across the room, Tony gently eased the door open and slipped outside.
Finding an exit to the wide back porch, he stepped into the cool night air and flipped open the phone, dialing McGee. He knew it was late, but didn't really care.
"Tony?" the sleepy voice on the other end answered.
"How's Abby?"
"She's fine. They sent her home to rest, but said she should be ok in a day or two. I'm sleeping over just to keep her company," McGee explained.
"Thank god. What was wrong with her?"
"They aren't totally sure, but suspect food poisoning. The only weird thing is why she was the only one to get sick. We all ate the same food."
"Yeah, weird," Tony agreed. A shadow moved into place behind him. "Tell her I called. I gotta go." He hung up without waiting for a reply.
"How is dear Abigail?" Childers asked.
"I know you had something to do with this. Were you trying to prove a point?"
"Yes, I was. Did it work?"
"Gibbs should have let me kill you," Tony responded coldly.
"If you don't get yourself under control, Gibbs is the next one I'm going to target. And I won't settle for a mild case of salmonella. You're making him too suspicious of me."
Tony turned and pushed himself into the man's chest. Without warning, the doctor grabbed Tony's wrist and whipped his arm up and around, twisting so his limb was painfully pinned behind him. DiNozzo gasped in surprise.
"You might not realize this, Tony, but in order to survive in the dangerous company I keep, I've learned a lot of things, one of which is a variety of martial arts and other fighting techniques. You caught me off guard earlier, but I won't let that happen again. Next time you attack me, I will fight back, and I won't go down easy." The professor released him. "Now, come with me. We have some things to do."
Tony rubbed his arm and watched the doctor warily.
"You don't seem to be listening, Tony. I'm not wasting any more time with you."
DiNozzo hesitantly followed Childers into the house. He wondered if he should go wake Gibbs and get the hell out of there. But where would they go? Childers would have the FBI and Homeland Security all over his ass. Gibbs didn't deserve to become a fugitive for his sake. So Tony let the doctor lead him back down the hallway he so clearly remembered from his earlier stay in the house. Simply being back in the space made his heart beat faster and his skin turn clammy. They stopped outside a locked door; Childers punched in a code to the familiar room.
Inside, Tony could see all the same equipment he recalled from before: the chair, the screens, the monitors, everything.
"Why can't you just leave me alone?" he asked.
"The techniques I've used on you are worth millions. I can sell them to any number of countries interested in creating a unit of home grown terrorists. You are my proof, my evidence of the possibilities. A live subject is so much more convincing than documents in a file or recordings. You are going to make me wealthy beyond my wildest dreams and at the same time turn all my theories into reality."
"You're never going to let me go, are you?"
"Eventually, Tony, everyone outlasts their usefulness. You will too, I'm sure." There was no compassion, no sympathy in the professor's voice. He could have been talking about an inanimate object instead of a living, breathing human being.
Feeling like a condemned man on the way to his own execution, but seeing no other option, Tony walked inside.
NCISNCISNCIS
Gibbs awoke with a start, feeling as if something was wrong. He stood and glanced at the bed, finding Tony curled up asleep. The young man's face was more ashen than it had been the night before, but there was no sign he was in pain or struggling to breathe. Since it was still early, the lead agent decided to let him rest.
He had wanted to explore the house last night, but had been afraid to leave Tony alone. For several hours he sat on the edge of the bed while his agent kept his hand firmly wrapped around his own arm, refusing to let go even in sleep. Eventually DiNozzo's grip relaxed and Gibbs had eased his own tired body into the chair, finally succumbing to sleep. He would have to find time to check the clinic out today; Tony's reaction to being here had been too bad for him to wait very long.
Grabbing his own gear he headed out into the living room. Childers sat on a couch reading a newspaper; he was wearing a polo shirt and khakis, appearing refreshed and relaxed. He removed his glasses and smiled brightly. "Agent Gibbs! I'm sorry you spent such an uncomfortable night sleeping in that chair. Let me show you to your own room where you can freshen up. The cook should have breakfast ready shortly and we can discuss the rest of our day."
Gibbs nodded his agreement; after a quick shower and change of clothes he joined the professor on the deck where breakfast was already being served. He took a seat as the skinny young man walked up to the table. "I didn't get to formally introduce you last night; Agent Gibbs, this is Andrew, my research assistant."
The two men eyed each other warily but shook hands. "Andrew, would you stop in and see if Tony would like to join us? And prepare my office; I want to have a therapy session with him as soon as possible."
"Yes, sir," Andrew agreed and turned away.
Gibbs drank some black coffee while they waited for Tony. "So what kind of session are you talking about?"
"We'll start by seeing what he remembers and how he handles discussing his experience. His reactions have been all over the place, so I'm honestly not so sure what we'll be able to get accomplished. I'll decide what to do next based on the way he responds today."
DiNozzo entered the deck wearing jeans and a light sweater. His brown hair was still damp and tousled from a shower. Normally, Tony would have it fixed and styled before making an appearance, but today he didn't seem to care. Gibbs noticed that the black circles under his eyes were more pronounced than when they arrived. He actually looked a lot worse than he had just yesterday morning. Tony took an empty seat and stared at the bacon and eggs sitting in front of him. Childers had also placed a small cup of pills next to the orange juice and coffee.
The field agent glanced over at Gibbs, who gave one of his nonverbal head tilts of approval. Tony silently took the pills, drank some juice, and picked up a fork to poke at the fluffy mound of eggs. Gibbs cleared his throat. "Abby's going to be fine, Tony. Ducky said she had food poisoning."
"I know. I talked to McGee last night."
Gibbs didn't hide his surprise. "Oh."
Tony shrugged and put down the fork. "I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep. You were out cold."
Gibbs picked up a knife to cut into the steak that accompanied his eggs. Suddenly, Tony saw Gibbs pointing the knife at him. You better not go to sleep tonight, DiNozzo. I might use this knife on you. Tony stood up, knocking his chair loudly to the floor.
This can't be happening again. I can't do this again, he thought desperately.
"What is it, Tony?" Gibbs asked. "You ok?" Childers scrutinized his response.
"I'm fine. I, uh…" His hand ran through his wet hair. "I thought I saw something," he finally added weakly.
Childers stood. "Why don't we head to my office? I don't think anyone's in the mood for breakfast anyway."
Gibbs stayed close to Tony's side as they passed through the house. Tony's eyes flitted from side to side, revealing his anxiety.
The dark wood and soft leather chairs in the office should have been inviting, but Tony felt anything but relaxed. He nervously sat down on the couch, unsure of exactly where this "session" was going. It was all for Gibbs' benefit anyway; Tony already remembered almost everything that happened here and Childers knew that.
"Let's start with something easy. Do you recall how you were taken?" Childers turned on a tape recorder.
Tony shifted and scratched his head. "No…I just woke up….there."
"Where?"
Tony licked his lips, not certain how much he should reveal. "A room. All white, nothing but me and a toilet." The doctor made some notes.
"How long were you there?" he asked.
"A while….I don't really know….days, I guess."
"Days?" Gibbs interjected.
Tony shrugged uncomfortably. "I couldn't keep track of it, but it was a long time."
"Did you see or talk to anyone?" Childers again.
"No. Not until…." He stopped.
"Until what?" Gibbs pressed.
"I guess I was dehydrated, hallucinating. They came then. I was pretty out of it; I hadn't slept any either."
"Did you accept their help? Or did you try to resist?" Childers asked.
Tony shot him a scorching glare. It was obvious he wanted Tony to admit in front of Gibbs that he had given in to him. This man was a true sadist. "I had to let them help me; it was that or die; what else should I have done?" His hands curled into helpless fists.
"What happened next?" Childers continued to press him for information he already held first-hand knowledge of.
"You know what happened next! They beat me up, drugged me, and threw me back in that fucking room! Look, I'm done talking about this. I'm going for a walk."
Childers moved to stop him, but Gibbs stepped in front of the doctor.
"Let him have some time alone. There's nowhere for him to go and he needs to think."
"What would he do without you, Agent Gibbs? Who would take care of things when he can't do it for himself? No wonder he's spent half his career at your side." There was a mocking tone to Childers' voice that irked Gibbs.
"He'd do just fine without me. DiNozzo's his own man."
"Really? Now who's lying to himself?" Childers left the agent standing in the office alone.
NCISNCISNCIS
"I know you're behind me, boss," Tony said softly.
"You're pretty good at that," Gibbs pointed out. Tony sailed another rock out over the sparkling water; the rock bounced four times across the choppy surface before sinking out of sight.
"We had a lake house one summer; it's amazing what you can become good at when you don't have much to do."
"You ever fish on that lake?" Tony turned to find Gibbs had removed his sling and was holding two fishing poles in his left hand and a tackle box in his right. "Found this stuff in the shed out back."
"Why am I not surprised you were rummaging through the shed? Should you be using your arm like that?" Tony shared his concern.
"The arm's feeling better. I need to stretch it some or it gets stiff."
"Sure it does." Tony took the poles from his hand. "And to answer your question, fishing wasn't high on my dad's list of things to do. There was a groundskeeper; he took me a couple of times, but it was so long ago I don't remember much about it."
"It's a great way to relax; ranks right up there with building a boat."
"I always thought it was a little boring—fishing, not building a boat," Tony corrected quickly. "Waiting hours for a fish isn't very exciting," Tony explained. "It's definitely not what I would consider an extreme sport."
"Another word for that is patience, DiNozzo. It's a quality you could try to use more often." Gibbs was walking out on the small pier, expecting Tony to follow. He sat the tackle box on the weathered grey decking. "Help me out here. I'll tell you what to do."
Under Gibbs' instruction, Tony managed to ready the fishing lines and bait the hooks. After a few tries Gibbs had him casting. Tony took off his shoes, plopped down on the deck, and let his feet dangle in the water while they waited for something to bite.
"I feel like Tom Sawyer."
"You act like him, too," Gibbs agreed with a laugh. About that time Tony's line jerked.
"Hey! I think I got something!" the senior field agent cried.
"Reel it in slowly," Gibbs directed. A few minutes later Tony was laughing while he tried to hold onto a decent-sized trout wiggling in his hands.
"What do I do with it?" Tony asked, wearing a silly grin and holding the fish in front of him as it slapped back and forth.
"What do you want to do with it? I guess we could have it for dinner." He chuckled. Gibbs knew that Tony joked about getting his job because he smiled, and in one way that was true. Gibbs had never seen anyone who could display so many emotions with his smile. For a while, the lead agent had been worried he'd never see the totally happy kid-like grin of Tony's again. DiNozzo's ability to completely enjoy a moment, no matter how silly, goofy, or inappropriate, was a trait he loved in the younger man. It was one of the things that made being around Tony a pleasure.
The smile faded as quickly as it had arrived; Tony considered what to do with the squirming fish. "I probably better throw him back, boss. I doubt he wanted to get caught by us today, besides he might have a nice fish family to go back to."
"Whatever you say, DiNozzo," Gibbs allowed. He helped Tony remove the hook from the mouth of the fish and toss it back in.
The afternoon sun had moved across the sky which was quickly turning black promising a drenching thunderstorm. Off in the distance streaks of lightening chased each other through onyx clouds. Thunder crashed and rolled ominously; small peaks of water beat harder against the pier as the wind picked up. Tony noticed Gibbs rubbing his injured bicep. "We probably should get back inside. Childers will have his two goons down here looking for me soon."
They gathered up the gear and headed toward the house. "Tony," Gibbs said as they walked. "Why did you get so upset yesterday? What made you believe Childers had anything to do with Abby getting sick?"
Tony took a deep breath. "I don't know. I guess everything just overwhelmed me and I kind of lost it." He shrugged at the poor explanation.
Gibbs wasn't convinced his senior field agent was being honest, but realized he would have to get at the truth another way since Tony wasn't talking. "You don't have to be ashamed of what was done to you. No one knows how they'll deal with the kind of situation you've been in; you didn't do anything wrong."
Tony was quiet. "I don't know, boss. I doubt if you would've broken so easily."
"I'm sure you held out as long as anyone could, even me. You're alive, and that's what matters most."
Tony stopped walking and sighed. "Thanks, boss, for, you know, today, and….the other night in your basement….and everything."
Gibbs gave the younger man an unreadable stare, and then held the fishing rods out to him. Tony took them without thinking. He flinched at the light slap Gibbs brushed against his head.
"What was that for?"
"For thanking me for doing something you should expect me to do! I'm here for you Tony; I have been for ten years and I always will be. You don't have to thank me for that; I do it because I want to. There will never be a time when I won't. Get that through that thick skull of yours."
A half-smile crossed his face at the gentle rebuke. "Right, boss," Tony replied. Gibbs took the rods from his hand and they continued to trudge up the small hill to the shed. They made it just as the first drops of rain started to fall. After storing the fishing equipment they ran through a warm drizzle and a light wind back to the main house, Tony unable to shake the feeling that the storm was an omen of bad things to come.
NCISNCISNCIS
After a light dinner, Childers gave Tony his meds and suggested he go to bed. The younger man started to argue, but the tightness closing in on his head made him decide to go along with the request. He hadn't slept much at all the night before, and it was likely Childers would have him back up again tonight. A few hours sleep would help to keep him thinking clearly. He hoped. He still hadn't figured a way out of this mess.
He loved Gibbs. He loved the team, all the way down to McGee, even though he would never admit it out loud to any of them. They were his family, and they were all that mattered to him now. His own life was forfeit; he had decided that even before he went down to Gibbs' basement. He might not take his life with his own hand for Gibbs' sake, but he would hand it over willingly if it was what he had to do to keep them from harm.
He lay down on top of the covers, his head throbbing in time with the rain pounding on the window, choices, options, and decisions chasing him into his dreams.
"I never should have wasted my time on you, DiNozzo! You're a liar and a screw-up. I'm going to make you pay for always letting me down." Gibbs smacked him in the face and punched him in the stomach. "I'll show you what a bastard I am!" The silver-haired man wrapped his arm around Tony's neck and closed off his supply of air.
"No, boss, don't!"
You have to stop him Tony. You'll have to kill him before he kills you.
"No!" Tony screamed and sat up in bed, shaking. A clap of thunder accentuated his cry as he woke from the nightmare. This would not happen again; he wouldn't let it. And he would never, no matter what Childers did to him or how many visions intruded his dreams, ever be convinced to turn against Gibbs.
The professor opened the door to his room. "It's time to join me again, Tony."
DiNozzo looked around the quiet room and wondered where Gibbs was. It was going to be a very long night.
NCISNCISNCIS
"So, Mr. Palmer, are you ready to call it quits?" Dr. Mallard questioned, his blue eyes holding a hint of a challenge as they met the young assistant's.
"I'm staying if you are, Dr. Mallard," Palmer answered.
"Good man! It reminds me of a series of unexplained deaths a colleague and I were investigating in Sri Lanka. I was an assistant myself then; it was many years ago. The medical examiner and I worked nine days straight before discovering the cause of death and nabbing the nasty killer!"
Palmer waited, but Ducky didn't elaborate. "Who was the killer, doctor?"
The ME laughed. "A parakeet. Seems he had a form of virus that was quite deadly to humans. The poor bird succumbed to the disease himself. We never got a chance to put him in a cage for his crime!"
"So what are we looking for, Doctor?" They were once more reviewing the autopsy results, charts, and x-rays of the four men who had exhibited similar behavior to Tony.
"I don't exactly know, Mr. Palmer. Anything unusual that might shed some light on dear Anthony's condition." The Scot picked up a file and skimmed it. "I can't put my finger on it, but I suppose you might say I have something similar to one of Gibbs' gut instincts. I have a nagging sensation there's something we've missed."
Palmer hoped the "nagging sensation" wasn't the corned-beef sandwich the doctor had eaten for lunch.
The two men quietly studied the various pieces of documentation before them. "Doctor Mallard, what do you think this is?" Palmer was staring intently at two x-rays.
Ducky moved in next to his young helper. "This, right here. There's a similar spot on both x-rays." He pointed at a small round dot visible behind the ear of both men. Ducky's eyes narrowed.
"You are quite right, Mr. Palmer!" His tone conveyed excitement. The elderly physician grabbed x-rays of the other two killer's skulls. "The same anomaly appears on this image as well! Of course, poor Lieutenant Dunham's skull was too damaged to be of much help." He displayed all three x-rays together. "Good work, my boy! But what exactly have you found?"
Palmer frowned. "Professor Childers didn't mention any sort of issue when he examined Tony."
Ducky froze. "Oh, heavens. Tony did have such a bump. I felt it myself. Childers claimed it was a result of Anthony falling in the courtroom."
The ME's lips thinned into a grim line. "He was lying. He was lying, Mr. Palmer!" The older man rushed to his computer and logged in. Jimmy followed and looked over his shoulder.
"The professor authored an article several years ago describing the effects of magnetic stimulation on certain areas of the brain to enhance susceptibility to behavioral suggestion. He researched the effect on several groups of mice." The doctor scrolled down a list of titles. "Ah, here it is. It was quite innovative and well-received in the research community. Childers suggested human clinical trials to determine if the effect would carry over, but despite the possibilities, the idea was not approved."
"Is that what he was doing to these men? And to Tony? Experimenting on them?" Palmer asked.
Ducky shook his head sorrowfully. "Professor Childers is the one responsible for the deaths of these men, their victims, and Anthony's dire situation. And I welcomed the man into our midst! I'll never forgive myself, Mr. Palmer." He stood. "I must call Jethro at once. He and Tony are in grave danger."
NCISNCISNCIS
Tony was seated in the chair again staring at the ceiling. Childers had started an IV and Andrew was attaching various monitors to his chest and forehead. The professor placed a lead directly on the incision behind Tony's ear. He winced at the pain that spiked through his head.
"This reminds me of a movie. "Little Shop of Horrors" with Steve Martin, 1986. All we need is a singing plant. Or maybe you could fill in for that role, Andrew."
"I'm glad you still have your sense of humor, Tony," Childers commented dryly, placing Velcro straps across his wrists. Tony watched him before making eye contact with the professor.
"I know what you're trying to do this time. You want to see if you can get me to kill Gibbs. It won't work. I'll never do it."
"After the last few weeks, how can you be so sure, Agent DiNozzo? With just the right combination of drugs, electrical stimulation of your brain, and imprinted images, I believe I can get you to do anything I want. I am the one with the doctorate in neurology. We'll see who's right."
"I won't do it. Nothing could ever make me." He repeated his vow even as he could feel the cold burn of the medication in his veins, the throb of electricity coursing into his brain, the pictures flashing in front of his eyes, and the voices whispering in his ears. "I won't. I won't."
One of the security guards entered the lab. "Agent Gibbs is not in his room. And it appears the silent alarm in your office has been tripped."
Childers smiled. "Andrew, you carry on here. I have to go see how Agent Gibbs is enjoying his private tour of my office. I'll be right back."
NCISNCISNCIS
Gibbs smiled when he heard the click of the lock to Childers' office and slid the small tools he had been using back into his pocket. Turning the knob he stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. So far his search of the clinic had been less than informative. The rooms in the passageway that had freaked Tony out were locked with a keypad and he had no way of knowing how to get inside. None of the rooms he had searched held anything incriminating. That was when he decided to see what he could find in the professor's office.
He also chose to use the privacy of the office to make a call. Taking out his phone he found Kort's number and dialed. The CIA operative answered on the second ring.
"It's about time you called."
"What have you got?"
"A start. You've uncovered quite an operation; it's been going on for years. I haven't found the head of the serpent yet, but I will. I did find out something about Tony, though."
"What?" Gibbs was opening drawers and thumbing through filing cabinets. He tugged at one that was locked; pressing the phone between his shoulder and cheek, he used his knife and jimmied the drawer open.
"The project was called…" Kort started.
"Snake Charmer," Gibbs finished.
"How did you know that?"
"I'm looking at a file on it now." The information Gibbs had found described the overall project, subsequent dossiers profiled over twenty individuals who had been subjects of the research; the last manila folder was an outline of Tony. They had started gathering information on him over five years ago. While I was in Mexico, Gibbs realized.
"From what I gathered the op started out as sanctioned by the CIA and Homeland Security; individuals were approached to volunteer for the project. They tried to stick with military men to make things less complicated. I assume they got wind of Tony after crossing paths with NCIS," Kort continued. I was off indulging in my self-pity, Gibbs thought.
"Someone from the op approached Jenny about getting Tony involved. For whatever reason they felt his background made him an ideal subject."
Gibbs sucked in a breath. "Did she approve it?"
"Not as far as I can ascertain. She approached Tony about volunteering for a military research project; he said he would consider it, but I doubt he had any idea of the true nature of the op. Once Jenny found out all the details she said no." I should have been there, Gibbs chastised himself.
"It seems whoever is running this show never forgot about him or some of the others they were recruiting. When government funding ran out it got taken underground. My superiors are very interested in discovering who's behind this action." Kort paused. "It's this Professor Childers isn't it? He's a damn shady character, hiding right in plain sight. I couldn't find much on him besides what he wants people to know. But I can assure you, I'm not done yet."
"He's been planning this for years." Gibbs skimmed the background on Tony. Weak family ties; neglectful and possibly abusive father. Mother deceased. No siblings. Difficulty establishing lasting relationships. Highly intelligent but often unmotivated to succeed. Excellent physical condition. Unusually strong bond with current co-workers, specifically Lead NCIS Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Emotional attachments can be used as leverage to establish control.
"Gibbs!" Kort's voice broke through his increasing worry. "Where are you?"
"I'm with Childers. I have to call Vance."
Gibbs ended the call, but hesitated before contacting the NCIS Director. What the hell was going on here? If Childers was in command of this operation, why had he allowed him to accompany Tony here in the first place? The phone in his hand started ringing. Gibbs looked down at the screen. Ducky.
The ME's frantic tone greeted him. "You have to get Tony out of there, Jethro! It's…."
"Childers. I know."
"Hand over the phone, Agent Gibbs." The professor stood in the doorway holding a gun. Seeing no alternative, Gibbs cut off Ducky's concerned voice and tossed him the phone. Childers caught it in his left hand while maintaining a steady hold of the weapon in his right.
"I'm actually rather glad my secret is out. It was getting more complicated to keep you in the dark than I had anticipated. This will make things much easier for all of us."
"I won't let you get away with this. I won't let you get away with hurting Tony."
"As far as I can tell I already have gotten away with it. I don't see where you have many choices, Gibbs. Now come on, Tony is waiting for us."
With his gut clenched tight as a fist, Gibbs walked out into the hall.