Warnings: This story deals with child molestation, sexual harassment and assault but no graphic descriptions. It also deals with homophobic behaviour.
A/N BuckeyeGirl00000 is kindly beta-ing this story and it's great to be collaborating with her again. Thax BG :D Remaining mistakes are my bad.
Just a quick thank you again to everyone for their reviews, favs and everyone who is following Betrayals. Hope you enjoy :)
Just to clarify the time line for this story, it takes place in season two and Don't Ask Don't Tell was still in effect.
Betrayals
Chapter 10
Several hours later Ducky heard a knock on the door and placed his book down on the bed, knowing that the FBI agent on guard wouldn't let anyone in without permission. Sure enough, Tobias entered the room looking highly agitated. He looked at the supposedly sleeping form and raised an eyebrow questioningly at the elder ME.
"Not asleep Fornell, just meditating, Tony quipped without opening his eyes.
"Good to know, DiNozzo, good to know. I always thought that you could do with more meditation. Let me know when you're done and we'll talk." Fornell replied, playing along.
"Already have Tobias, what do you got?" His forehead wrinkled in pain at the familiar words that were usually a prelude to a serving of verbal diarrhoea accompanying any forensic report by Abby.
Unsure of what had caused the dark expression to cross his features, Fornell grabbed the free metal framed and plastic chair with his foot and pulled it close. Sitting down, he pulled out a collection of photos which he handed over to the NCIS agent.
"You recognise any of them, DiNutzo?"
Tony looked at each photo carefully before moving on to the next one. He pulled out one. "I didn't see who attacked me, but I think I've seen this guy before but I just can't remember where. Who are they?"
Fornell tapped the photo he'd singled out. "His name is James Anderson and he's officially a professional body builder although the cops suspect he's selling steroids out of the gym where he works out. He could see that none of this was ringing any bells. His sister works at NCIS her name is…"
Tony groaned remembering where he'd seen Anderson before. "Sarah Anderson from accounts."
"Yeah DiNutzo, you ever met him?"
Tony shook his head. "Nah I saw his photo on her desk. We went out a couple of times but it was nothing serious. So what's the story; what did I ever do to him or his homies?"
Tobias shook his head. "Seems they're twins. He saw that damned photo of you and apparently decided you'd been using his sister for cover and he got it in his head to defend her honour. Got four of his gym junkie buddies together and they decided to teach you a lesson. So, even if you hadda been up to par Tony, five muscle bound Neanderthals hyped on roids, well even a bad assed Fed like you didn't stand a chance, so stop beating yourself up. Okay?"
Tony nodded slightly. "How did you get them?"
Fornell snorted. "Criminal masterminds they ain't DiNutzo. We collected DNA samples off your leather jacket and got a hit. Declan Rymes seems to have a conviction or two for dealing steroids and various performance enhancing substances and Anderson dropped something at the scene with his fingerprints all over it. When Rymes realised he was going down he dropped his friends into it for a lesser sentence quicker than rats deserting a sinking ship. We arrested all five of them earlier and they were charged with attempted rape and murder of a federal agent. Your neighbour managed to ID one of the others. They are going down, don't worry," he urged seeing the panicked look on Tony's face.
"Attempted rape?" he managed to get out, looking at Ducky.
"Don't worry, Anthony your Good Samaritan of a neighbour, drove up at the most fortuitous moment although I guess it would have been luckier if he come before you were rendered unconscious." Ducky reassured him.
"So how do you arrive at attempted rape then, Fornell?" he questioned.
Tobias looked across at Ducky, doubting that it was a good time to be having this conversation but then again, it probably never would be. He took a deep breath.
"Enough evidence, Tony. Anderson dropped a half full box of condoms beside you when he fled the scene and they'd slashed your clothes. Mr Singh claims that when he pulled into the parking bays the men were all partially clothed and we have a statement from two of the gang that nothing had happened but that they had planned to…" he looked at Ducky and Tony before continuing "… all take part."
He watched as DiNutzo's mask slipped into place and he couldn't really blame him. To know that but for the random luck that a neighbour happened to come home at the right time, he would have been gang raped and totally vulnerable and unable to fight back was terrible for anyone. For a law enforcement individual used to being a saviour rather than a victim, it was completely shocking and would be extremely difficult to come to terms with. But if what they suspected about what had happened to him in the past was correct, then this wasn't going to help him deal with the attack either.
"Guess I owe Gupta a bottle of Scotch then. Not only saved my life but my ass too," he said neutrally, referring to his neighbour who had turned up at just the right time. "Thanks for tracking them down, Tobias. Did Sarah know?"
"She claims not to and Anderson swears he never told her. There's no evidence to suggest that she knew what her twin intended to do." He looked at Tony who was sounding rather strained.
Ducky could see that he was about ready to shut down on them to try and process everything he'd heard. "Unless there is anything pressing, perhaps we should let him get some rest for now. Thank you for finding those monsters and making sure they will pay for what they did Tobias."
"Sure Ducky, I still need to take his statement but I'll go and grab a coffee before we do that. Can I get you two, anything?" he asked politely.
Tony looked up. "Yeah, can you get me my knife, Fornell?"
Fornell was going to make a sarcastic remark when he caught the ME giving him an intense look, and then shake his head very slightly. "I think that his knife might help him relax while he's here Tobias, otherwise he will be tempted to collect a whole bed-full of cutlery.
"Ah well that could be a problem since it is still being processed by the lab but DiNutzo, I'll get one of mine that I have in the car. I'll bring it back later." He noticed the tension drain a little from the agent and couldn't really blame him. He'd feel vulnerable too in his situation and would want to have his trusty Glock with him if he was in hospital after someone tried to beat him to death. He'd make sure he had one of his back-up pieces when he went home tomorrow.
He made a mental note to check with him where he had them stashed in his apartment because as a seasoned undercover cop and agent, he would have a veritable arsenal stashed away in case he ever needed to disappear suddenly. He wondered if he should involve Gibbs in that little errand to make him feel needed, warm and fuzzy. Then again, give the guy an inch and he'd take a mile and try and to force himself upon the kid. Now that they had both sets of scumbags and he was less under the influence of all the drugs, it was hitting him just how close he'd come to bleeding out.
Knowing that it was all the fault of his teammates and his superior's refusal to listen; must be devastating to him and he obviously didn't want or need to face Gibbs right now. Fornell couldn't change what had happened to him, but he and Ducky could make sure that Tony didn't have to face any of them before he was strong enough. He'd swing by and retrieve the gun himself tonight after he checked to see if DiNutzo wanted one when he was discharged, to take to with him to Ducky's home. Although he doubted that he would need it, it would make the kid feel safer and that was equally important after the week he'd had to endure.
He nodded to Ducky, "I'll bring you back a tea Ducky although I can't promise it will be Earl Grey."
Ducky nodded gravely. "That's what I get for living in a coffee obsessed country, dear boy. None of you have any appreciation for the finer things," he teased.
~Betrayals~
Ducky had reluctantly left the hospital when Tobias returned to take Tony's statement about the assaults at NCIS and the brutal attack on his life outside his apartment. They had not talked when Fornell had gone off to get a coffee as Ducky could sense Tony needed to deal with everything that had happened in the last day or two and contrary to people's beliefs, he didn't feel the need to fill every silence with allegories and anecdotes. Donald Mallard could do strong and silent moral support when it was required and when he left Tony for the evening, he assured the young agent who he'd slowly come to regard as family, he would return in the morning to arrange his discharge.
Tony had protested rather weakly, that now that his assailants had been caught he didn't need babysitting any longer and would be fine to return to his apartment on his own. Ducky had quickly scotched that thought, pointing out that he was being discharged several days early purely because he was under the supervision of a doctor. He also pointed out that if Gibbs discovered he was home alone, he would try to drag him off to his own house to look after him. Surprisingly, he gave in with very little protest and Ducky would have felt more comforted if he'd managed at least a pout or whine but he seemed resigned and un-Tony-like.
As Ducky made his way from Bethesda he resolved to get Anthony's spare key to his apartment from Jethro tonight so he could pick up some of his gear that would make him feel more comfortable whilst staying with Ducky. The medical examiner decided to make sure to grab some of his classic movies from his rather eclectic collection that they could all enjoy. Perhaps Casablanca and the like would trump his mother's constant obsession with that blasted episode of Jeopardy. If he had to listen to Alex Trebeck again anytime soon, he would pitch the bloody television out the window.
As his grand old dame Morgan purred her way towards Alexandria, Ducky's thoughts drifted back towards the conversation that had taken place between him and Gibbs newest recruit last night before he left. Truly he'd never intended to have a heart to heart with the two junior agents. Yes he'd been driven to confront Abigail and find out why she'd done what she had but then he also had known her a lot longer and had much more of an emotional investment in their friendship. Like Jethro, he had paternalistic feelings for the young Goth but even knowing that there could be no justifiable excuse for what she had done to her friend, he still had hoped she could say something that would explain the inexplicable. Of course she hadn't and his heart had hardened not just towards her but the rest of the team, including the young probie Timothy.
~Flashback yesterday evening~
Ducky decided to call in and see if anyone was still in the bull pen from Balboa's team as he made his way out and down to Bethesda to visit Anthony. Tobias had called and told him that DiNozzo had consented to Ducky being added to the list of approved visitors and was gradually becoming more lucid as he recovered from surgery. Tobias had also observed that he could probably do with having a friend close by so Ducky was impatient to leave. Unfortunately he'd forgotten to mention to the team leader that Susanna Clausen's mother and her sister where coming in from out of state to identify her and claim her body. Ducky was hoping that one of Balboa's junior agents could meet them at the airport. On the way out, he noticed McGee stabbing at his keyboard with a sour expression on his young face. Stopping, to say goodnight, he enquired as to what was the matter with the young agent.
"I don't get why I'm in so much trouble, Ducky. I didn't have anything to do with the photo, so why is Gibbs pissed with me."
Ducky regarded the young probationary agent with a frown. "It concerns me that as a federal agent, you would need to ask that question Timothy. You are supposed to know the law and that photo and its distribution was fraudulent and therefore unlawful. The fact that you knew that it was a fake and even after it was distributed you remained silent, knowing full-well that it was damaging someone's reputation, makes you an accessory to the fraud after the fact. You had a duty to speak up and you didn't. That is what Jethro is so angry and disappointed about."
The young agent blanched, as he considered the consequences of pissing off the legendary Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Ducky noticed how his former expression of pique was rapidly being replaced by one of horror as it became apparent that something else occurred to him.
"Oh my goodness Ducky, I never stopped to think that the dummied up photo was fraud. I just didn't think. Tony comes from some serious old money and he could sue us all for damage to his reputation and possibly wilful endangerment if that attack proves to be a hate crime. With his family's money, he can hire the best attorneys and tie us all up in litigation for years. He could bankrupt us without raising a sweat and my father will be so disappointed at the shame and probably even disinherit me. Apart from that I can kiss goodbye to my plan to be Gibbs new senior field agent in 2006 and the Director before 2015. How could I have been so stupid?"
Ducky stared at him, disgusted that Timothy had been party to a situation that had nearly cost his team member his life and he was concerned with how it affected him. He almost admonished the young agent but decided not to bother disavowing him of the notion that Anthony had the vast financial resources of his father's empire behind him. If it gave the Probationary agent the screaming hebbie jebbies about what they had done, then at least Timothy was punishing himself, even if it wasn't for the noblest of reasons.
"Of course, that wasn't the only thing that upset Jethro, You are supposed to be a team and watch each other's backs. Alone you are vulnerable and have to rely on each other to do your job, which can be dangerous. It is important that each team member knows that they can depend on the team to watch out for them when they can't do it for themselves. Just imagine if you will, that when you were in trouble and your team was supposed to be watching out for you and keep you safe, they suddenly saw that you needed help and they turned their back on you. Worse still, instead of helping, they decided to join in and help the people who were trying to harm you. How would you feel then Timothy?"
"I guess I'd feel that I'd been betrayed by my team Ducky."
"Exactly, Timothy, exactly."