Gone

Chapter 10

A/n I just wanted to say thanks for all of the reviews and alerts for the last chapter. I can't say how much it is appreciated. Please enjoy the chapter!!! Sarah

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10 minutes before

Tony had finally started to wake up. The first sensations he felt was pain everywhere, especially in his head, back, shoulders and the bright light that burned through his closed eyelids. He automatically raised one of his hands to his face and realized his arms were untied and that the blindfold was gone. He slowly cracked his eyes opened. He quickly shut them again when the light caused his head to throb more. Tony knew he had to fight past the pain. He opened them again to see the light in the room where he had been kept. The light made his head explode in agony. He waited a moment to let his head settle. He then gradually tried to move into a more comfortable position which caused sharp pain in his back and shoulders. He moaned as he forced himself to push past the pain. That would be the only way he could move more freely. Tony knew he had to figure out where he was and the light would make it easier to escape. He had to get out of this place and was thankful that it wasn't dark in the room.

He moved his legs and realized that someone had cut the ropes around them. His first thought or hope was that Gibbs had come and freed him from the binds that imprisoned him. But he knew that it was just wishful thinking on his part. Tony looked around for something to pull himself up with when he bumped something cold with his arm. As he reached over and picked it up, he realized that someone left him a bottle of water. He couldn't remember the last time he'd had something to drink. He greedily took a couple swallows and felt the cool precious liquid flow down his parched throat. He knew better than to drink the whole bottle. He probably had a mild concussion and if he drank all that water he would only bring it back up, something he didn't relish. Knowing that he set the rest aside for later.

Now, Tony wondered who the mystery person was that had helped) him out. He knew it couldn't be Gibbs or someone from his team. He also knew that there was no way the help had come from Captain Reynolds. So that left Agent Carlson, because he was pretty sure that no one else would even have known where he was. He knew that due to Carlson's help that the man could already be dead. The thoughts he had were fuzzy, but deep inside he knew with Carlson gone there was no chance of rescue, he'd have to do that, himself.

Tony still felt lightheaded and dizzy from blood loss and the concussion. He continued to move around to find some thing he could use to pull himself up with. He finally was able to see a ledge that looked low enough to use. Tony grabbed a hold of the ledge with his good hand and started to pull himself up. The pain spiked and almost caused him to lose his balance and slide back down the wall. He again, ignored the terrible pain as he managed to make it to his feet. Once he was able to stand up and, stay up, he knew that he needed to find a way out of wherever he was and contact Gibbs.

Tony gave himself a few minutes to rest before he checked out the rest of the room. His hand, without a thought, went straight to his belt. He laughed at the forgotten rule number nine and unbuckled his belt to get the knife. He slipped the knife into his pocket and hoped to use it to pick the locks on the doors in the building and get out. When he walked over to the door he was surprised to find it unlocked.

When he started to head out the door he felt something hit his foot. Tony looked down to see a cell phone at his feet that clearly wasn't his. He automatically reached into his back pocket and for the first time he realized that his wasn't there. He felt light headed and nauseous again. This had him slump against the wall. He knew he couldn't sit down, because he'd never get up again.

Tony flipped the phone open and saw that it was a burn phone. He again wondered why someone would try to help him escape from the building. After he caught his breath and held back the nausea in the few minute he rested. He decided to try and find his way out. He stepped into) the hallway and noticed that there was enough light for him to be able to see where he was going. After he slowly checked several doors he finally found one that was open. He fought his fogged brain too slowly put two and two together. He realized that the open doors would lead the way out of the building. Tony went through the doorway and again checked more of the doors until he found the open one.

He went though several more doors before he had to rest again. He chose that moment to try and call Gibbs. Just as he brought the phone up to use it, he felt someone else was by him. He looked up and his stomach twisted when he saw the familiar face that appeared right in front of him.

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Outside of the building

Outside of the building Agent Gibbs waited impatiently for his team and Agent Jensen to arrive. He was about ready call DiNozzo. He stopped when he heard) a vehicle pull up somewhere on the other side of the building. Gibbs cautiously walked around the corner and hid from sight. He noticed a car that looked very out of place. He wrote down the license plate number so Abby or McGee could run the number. His gut told him that Tony was in trouble and that Captain Reynolds was close by. Gibbs quickly ran around the corner of the building to find out who was inside. He was about ready to sneak inside, alone, when he heard another vehicle approach. Gibbs quickly turned around and pulled his weapon out. Three familiar faces joined him as they ducked along side of the building to keep out of sight.

"Boss" McGee said "Director Vance asked me to have you call him immediately. He suggested that you call him now or you'll be looking for a different job." McGee told his boss and knew what the answer would be, but he had to try one more time.

"Right now, we need to get inside and find DiNozzo" Gibbs barked out quietly, "I'll take care of the director later. Ziva you're with me, we'll head in this way," He then pointed out another door, "McGee I need you to go with Agent Jensen, go in through that way. Let's bring him home, now!"

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Inside the building

Tony shook his head in surprise as he rested against one of the walls. He felt the betrayal of his weak body and cursed it. He also knew shaking his head wasn't a good move, that only made it hurt more, but he tried not to show it. Tony's turned to disgust when he stared into the eyes of the man in front of him.

"What in the hell are you doing here?" Tony spat out the question, "You damn traitor."

At that moment he really wished he had his weapon. He would have loved more than anything to put a bullet in the head of the man in front of him. Right at that moment, a sharp pain in his side caused him to lose his balance. He fumbled around yet couldn't get himself stable. Just as his head was about to hit the ground he felt someone catch him and then carefully sit him on the ground. Tony opened his eyes and saw Agent Carlson standing in front of him. The man started to try and check the bandages on his arm and back. Tony immediately pulled away.

"Damn it DiNozzo" Carlson said "Let me help you out here."

"Why should I let you?" Tony snapped back with as much bravado as he could. He fought the waves of agony that went through his head and shot down his back and arm.

"Tony" Carlson pleaded "Look, I'm so sorry for what I did. But please let me help you out. I can get you out of here. But you aren't going to get out of here without help."

"No" Tony yelled "I can take care of myself. You're a damn traitor." Tony fought to get back up, he needed to get a hold of Gibbs or Abby for help. He shakily tried with everything he had to get up. Carlson tried quickly to help him, but it wasn't quick enough. Tony slid down the wall and hit his head.

Carlson bent down to check on him. He started to check his injuries once again. He pulled a bag out from behind him. Then he took off the bandages that covered the lump on the side of Tony's head as well as the shoulder and back. He shook his head when he saw that the gunshot wound on the shoulder had started to bleed again, he was also worried about infection.

"Damn you, DiNozzo" He scolded softly, "If you'd just let me take care of your wounds Id be able to get you the hell out of here."

Carlson paused as if he expected an unconscious Tony to respond. He quickly started to work clean the wounds and then re-bandage them. He then started to clean the caked on blood off the abrasions on the agent's face. While he gingerly kept working he noticed that Tony had started to regain consciousness. Carlson pulled his hand away. He expected the other man to panic and start to fight him. When Tony did open his eyes, instead he turned weakly to the man that he had considered a friend with a questioning look.

"Why are you trying to help me?" Tony weakly asked.

"Because I screwed up," Carlson answered and handed him a fresh opened bottle of water from inside of his bag, "Drink just a little, don't want you to puke." He explained and then waited until Tony had drunk a little bit of water before he continued to talk.

"If I hadn't done what I did last year Reynolds couldn't have blackmailed me. Then Reynolds would be in prison right now. I just want to help you DiNozzo and, get you back) to your team safely. I don't want to be responsible for you dying." Carlson sighed with shame at the truth.

"So you think that helping me out will make up for what you did?" Tony spat back, "I just want you to know that helping me out won't give you a get out of Jail free card." Tony admonished.

"Don't you think I know that?" Carlson pleaded with his friend, "If I was doing this just to help myself I wouldn't have gone to Agent Gibbs for help…."

"Gibbs knows where I am?" Tony interrupted while he tried to remain conscious.

"I called him to let him know exactly where you were in case I couldn't make it back."Carlson replied, "Reynolds knows what I have been doing by now. And I am sure that he is on his way back here or already is here looking for us. But we need to get you out of here now before he kills the both of us." He urgently told Tony.

Tony nodded wearily at his friend and allowed himself to be helped up. Carlson put his arm around Tony to help steady him as they hurried through the maze inside of the building. They were just about to turn one of the corners when DiNozzo turned around to see a gun pointed at them.

A/n I know it's another cliffhanger but I wanted to get something up this week. If I didn't there could be a long wait. Thanks again!!

Sarah