Ducky had fallen asleep, DiNozzo was still asleep. McGee was still out, but hopefully on his way back soon. Ziva was alternating glaring at him and throwing perplexed looks in DiNozzo's direction every time he rolled over. Gibb's had turned his attention back onto the case files looking for any overlooked details. He finally addressed Ziva's restlessness when she slammed the same folder down on the table for the third time.
"Something on your mind?"
"Nothing case related." She huffed, her gaze drifting back to Tony.
"You no for Mossard you're not being very subtle." Gibbs commented quietly.
"I'm worried. He's my partner and he's sick."
Gibbs looked up at her, sensing there was more, but refusing to ask with words.
"A few months ago I thought he was having a relapse," she paused and Gibbs nodded.
Her concerns had had him concerned. Hell, truth was, he'd been downright terrified. The reality of the undercover assignment hadn't sent that fear away either, but for other reasons.
"I remember," was all Gibbs was willing to say however.
"Well, now he might be and we are stuck out here, with no access to medical supplies-"
"He has pneumonia." Gibbs interrupted her, hoping to halt the argument before it could really get going.
Ziva smacked the table in frustration, knocking over an empty water glass. Gibbs didn't even flinch.
"He should be in a hospital." She said, practically vibrating.
"Yeah he should," Gibbs admitted.
If for one minute he believed that was for the best he'd have escorted DiNozzo there himself, in handcuffs if necessary. Gibbs knew Tony hated hospitals, if the first two times he'd checked out AMA weren't evidence enough, his general aversion to seeking any kind of medical attention was a dead giveaway.
Ziva visibly deflated. He could see that she was clearly confused by the entire situation. Gibbs didn't blame her, DiNozzo was a surprisingly complicated person, but the bottom line was, Tony had pneumonia because of him. Gibbs wanted to believe he wasn't taking the risk out of guilt. Though knew that was probably what Ziva was thinking.
"Gibbs," she sighed, sounding completely wrung out, "if he's not here as an Agent, why then did you bring him here?"
Turning to look at DiNozzo, shifting restlessly on the bed, coughing and taking short struggled breaths Gibbs thought maybe he could offer an explanation for his actions. If his many failed marriages had taught him anything, it was that women like Ziva never give up.
"Well the last time he stayed in hospital didn't work out so well…"
It was late in the day and Gibbs was sat at his desk, trying and failing to concentrate on the case at hand and not his missing agent, when his phone rang.
"Gibbs," he barked into the receiver.
He listened intently to the unusually anxious voice on the other end of the line. Not hearing beyond the words 'he's here' Gibbs immediately slammed the phone down and ran out of the bullpen to the elevator, hitting the button for the basement with such force the plastic cover cracked. The ride down was agonisingly slow and once it came to a stop he was out the doors before they'd even fully opened.
"Where is he?" Gibbs shouted as he stormed into autopsy.
Ducky greeted him at the door, knowing him well enough to predict he wouldn't be in a forgiving mood.
"He seems fine," Ducky started, stepping aside to reveal Tony, sat on the floor, leaning against the body draws.
Fine was not a word Gibbs would have used to describe Tony right now.
"Jethro, you really should-"
"Get up!" Gibbs strode passed Ducky without a glance and zeroed in on Tony. "I said get up!" He repeated when Tony didn't move.
He looked like crap, dark circles surrounding glassy eyes, thin as a rake and still with that bluish tint to his skin even without the bug zapping lights. His anger rising at the very sight of him Gibbs grabbed Tony by the collar and yanked him up off the floor, spinning him around and away from the draws for fear he'd try and push DiNozzo's thick head through the solid steel and add concussion to his list of current injuries.
"Boss I'm sorry!" Tony yelled, surprised by the rough treatment.
"Sorry? You're sorry?" Gibbs yelled into his face.
Tony backed up as soon as Gibbs loosened the grip on his shirt and bumped into one of the autopsy tables. They stood facing each other, Gibbs visibly seething with anger and Tony looking dishevelled, his shirt bunched up around the collar thanks to Gibbs' rough hold, and barely daring to breathe.
There was no way to describe how he felt right now, only two days ago he'd been out of his mind, shouting at Ducky and Abby, holding security guards and scientists a like at gunpoint. The Director had not been pleased with his conduct as an NCIS Special Agent and made it clear that threatening potential witnesses was certainly not condoned by the agency. If it wasn't for the fact Morrow had shook his hand and smiled while he said this Gibbs would have thrown his badge at him right then and there.
"Really sorry," Tony whispered softly, eyes like glass as he met Gibbs' furious gaze.
Gibbs didn't know what to do. Right now, Tony probably felt every bit as weak as he looked. Gibbs doubted he looked much better himself after the stress Tony had put him through today. As if surviving the plague wasn't challenging enough, Tony had to go and run away from the hospital, leaving them with no idea how to find him or even knowing if he was alive.
He instinctually raised his hand and pulled back, preparing to deliver the mother of all head slaps. Gibbs watched Tony screw his eyes shut and turn away, bracing for the hit. His hand connected roughly with the back of DiNozzo's head, but didn't hit it. Instead he roughly pulled him forward, causing Tony to stagger and practically fall against him. Wrapping his other arm around Tony's thin back and squeezing him tightly Gibbs just held on. Tony was his friend and he couldn't believe how much it had hurt to think he might never see him again.
"Don't you ever scare us like that again," Gibbs spoke quietly into his ear, but in the same furious tone he'd just used to shout at him.
Feeling Tony's hesitant nod on his shoulder he held onto him even tighter as the tense trembling body started to relax in his arms.
Back in the motel room, the rain still falling heavily outside, Gibbs smiled sadly as he told Ziva the story of how Tony left the hospital while recovering from the plague. He didn't divulge every detail to her, but it was surprising how easy the memory of seeing Tony sat on that floor, looking alive yet eerily like one of Ducky's corpses, came rushing back to him. He'd been so angry at the time and really had wanted to smack him when he'd raised that hand. Gibbs knew a good smack around the head got DiNozzo thinking straight, but something had stopped him at the last second. Tony had looked scared.
Gibbs' still didn't know the full story behind why he had left the hospital that day. Maybe, had the events that unfolded shortly after not occurred, he would've found the time to ask him. But Ari happened, Kate died and everything changed.
"So the only reason he isn't in hospital right now is because you're afraid he'll leave without treatment again?" Ziva qualified, interrupting his thoughts. "Gibbs, I can't believe I need to tell you this, but he needs to grow up."
Gibbs started to nod in agreement, but stopped. He wasn't so sure that WAS what he wanted. Out of all DiNozzo's most defining qualities, abilities and annoying traits, it would be his juvenile immaturity that he'd miss the most.
"Well," Gibbs looked steadily at Ziva, "he is who he is."
…
Ducky had not been as asleep as the room's occupants believed. He may be old and needed more rest than his younger counter parts, but he always kept his senses about him when he rested his eyes. He listened to Gibbs telling Ziva the story behind why Anthony was with them right now instead of in hospital. Unsurprisingly, Ducky concurred with Ziva, but like Gibbs he too remembered the last time Anthony DiNozzo had been forced to stay in hospital and understood why that would have to be a last resort if they didn't want a repeat occurrence of those events. Of course, had he not been the one to discover Anthony that day and not learnt what he had then, he too would have said it was well past time the young man grew up. But he had been there. And he had seen. Far more than Tony was probably comfortable with.
When Ducky walked back into autopsy after returning from their most recent crime scene he was in a deep state of thought. Tony had been missing from Bethesda eight hours and no one could tell them where he'd gone after signing himself out AMA. Gibbs was sick with worry, even though he was trying his best not to show it. Ducky wanted to give the staff that allowed Tony to sign the forms without calling them a piece of his mind, but kept reminding himself that Tony was a grown man and thus why would the Nurses think they needed to call his work colleagues of all people? First thing tomorrow Ducky was getting himself declared as Anthony's primary physician. At least that would ensure his full involvement in any medical decisions in the near future. Ducky smiled sadly to himself, acknowledging it wasn't only Gibbs who was having a difficult time trying not to worry about their missing young friend.
That worry practically trebled when he turned on the lights.
"God lord!" Ducky grabbed his chest. "Young man, it is not a good idea to frighten a man of my years."
There was a beat of silence before Ducky heard the quietly spoken 'sorry Ducky' emanate from the young man slouching on the floor.
"My dear boy we have been worried sick about you." Ducky advanced towards him. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
Tony didn't meet his gaze, his head held so low Ducky felt a churning in his own gut at the sight.
"I have a head ache." Tony admitted quietly.
"Well that's no surprise. You are recovering from the plague." Ducky gave him a once over, satisfied for now that he could see no obvious signs of injury.
"Is he really mad?" Tony did look at him then.
"He's worried." Ducky answered succinctly, not needing to ask who Tony was talking about. "We all are." Ducky crouched down, which was no easy feat and tried to make eye contact. "Why did you leave the hospital?"
Tony shrugged and remained silent. Ducky could hear the struggling breaths he took as oxygen starved lungs tried to function at full capacity. His lips still held a tinge of blue, as did his finger nails, a sure sign of hypoxia. He really needed to get a mask over him.
"You ever get the feeling that if you stay in one place for too long people will forget you're there?" Tony spoke eventually.
Duck felt a stab of fear at not only the words, but the belief Tony put into saying them.
"We would never forget you Anthony." Ducky put as much feeling into his words as he could muster. "I'll call Jethro now, let him know you're okay." He said as he walked quickly over to his phone and dialled the number.
Gibbs stormed through the autopsy doors mere minutes later, looking angrier than Ducky had ever seen him. He was prepared to jump in when Gibbs grabbed Tony by the collar, but everything happened so quickly, and by the time Ducky had opened his mouth to shout some sense into his friend Jethro was already hugging Tony so tightly Ducky feared he might cut off his already struggling air supply. Watching Tony lose the ability to stand, Gibbs guiding them both to the floor behind one of his tables, Ducky quickly retrieved the oxygen tank and a mask from one of the suits they used for contagious autopsy's and was on his way over to the pair when the doors swished open unexpectedly.
"Timothy my boy, what brings you here?"
"Ducky, is Gibbs here?" McGee ran in and asked breathlessly.
Ducky hesitated a second. "He's-"
"Right here McGee." Gibbs appeared from behind the furthest autopsy table. "What you got?"
Ducky watched Gibbs walk purposefully up to McGee, giving no hint that Tony needed immediate attention.
"Boss, what where you doing on the floor?"
"Looking for a contact lens." Gibb deadpanned.
"Didn't know you wore lenses boss." McGee responded.
Ducky watched the exchange and shook his head.
"I don't! What. Have. You. Got, McGee?" Gibbs shouted, snatching the file folder out of McGee's hand to look himself.
"BOLO came back on the car." McGee stammered.
"Good, you and Kate go check it out." Gibbs handed the file back, but McGee simply stared at Gibbs. "Something else?"
"Have you heard anything from Tony yet?" McGee asked.
When Gibbs didn't reply, his lips thinning into a tight line, Ducky stepped in.
"We have Timothy, he is alright and I'm going to see to him right now in fact, I'll call as soon as I know anything." Ducky eyed Gibbs with a meaningful look, telling Jethro it was ok to leave, he would take care of him.
Gibbs paused in his response, unusually hesitant and Ducky was glad for McGee's sometimes ability to ignore the obvious that happened in front of his face. Gibbs finally took a step to leave, taking a stunned, but happy McGee with him. Ducky caught the offered 'thank you Duck' as the doors closed behind them.
Ducky breathed out a sigh, he noted Anthony had yet to emerge and wondered as he walked the length of autopsy and rounded the last table if he had fallen asleep down there. One glance at the stiff posture, eyes shut tight, head resting on bent knees and Ducky knew he didn't need a psychology degree to know this young man would not be sleeping well at all tonight.
"They've gone." Ducky spoke softly, crouching down yet again.
Tony tilted his head and regarded him with a look so hopeless Ducky would never forget it.
"I'm a basket case."
Ducky frowned before he very quickly covered it with a tight grin.
"We all have our moments my boy. Some more than most, but what's very important here is you knowing we all love you, very much."
Ducky saw Tony swallow.
"Even Gibbs?"
"Especially Gibbs," Ducky nodded.
"That's what I'm afraid of." Tony muttered quietly.
Ducky hadn't understood what he had meant by that at the time. When he'd spoken to Jethro later that very night he'd repeated the conversation and had seen no surprise in his friend's reaction. Ducky had asked if he may know the reason why Tony would be so upset at the prospect that he had friends who cared deeply for him. Gibbs had avoided answering and Ducky didn't press him further. He never stopped wondering though, which is why when the opportunity presented itself earlier he had asked Tony the same question. Now he had his answer, he almost wished he could go back, for once he thought he would be more content not knowing something.
He heard Ziva say Tony should grow up and he heartily agreed. In a perfect world, where parents did not neglect their offspring, maybe Anthony would be a more mature and balanced individual. However the world was not perfect and Anthony DiNozzo grew up not unlike many other children who had ended up in far worse places. Yet, despite not wishing such a life on him, Ducky couldn't say he'd want to change him, so when Gibbs summed things up nicely with 'he is who he is' Ducky couldn't resist adding…
"And that is why we love him."
…
"Don't you ever scare us like that again," Gibbs' fury mixed absurdly with his caring words.
Tony kept his face pressed firmly against Gibbs' supporting shoulder as his legs jellied out on him and he felt himself unable to stand any longer. He felt Gibbs set him gently on the floor without letting him go and Tony wanted to ask how someone could sound so angry yet not hurt him. He felt more scared right now with the strong arms supporting him than he had when waiting for the smack around the head. At least the smack would be something he had experience in to deal with. He'd screwed up monumentally and right now couldn't blame anyone, especially Gibbs, for wanting to kill him. He deserved plenty more than a quick shake for being such a class A idiot.
Tony heard the doors swish open followed by McGee's voice and tensed up. He knew Gibbs had felt the change since the hand that had been running up and down his back stilled and the arm around his shoulders tightened ever so slightly. Tony pulled his head away from Gibbs' shoulder and looked at him pleading that he not be caught like this. Gibbs put a finger to his lips and grasped Tony's cheek in his palm briefly before standing and walking away as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
The conversation that followed with McGee left little to the imagination and Tony unknowingly echoed Ducky's thoughts at just how clueless the Probie could be sometimes. Not daring to move too much Tony drew up his knees and rested his aching head until he heard a shuffling and looked up to see Ducky standing over him.
Tony continued to dream, his mind conjuring up episodes from his passed mixed with images he did not think part of his memory. As consciousness slowly returned he dreamt about the Jenkins house that he'd visited earlier. Tony could see himself walking down the hall, unsteadily grabbing at the walls for support. The noise in the kitchen, then him by the door, there was someone else there! Behind him, approaching him out of the dark. In his dream he could see himself looking into the kitchen as the shadowy figure got closer, Tony shouted at himself to turn round, but it was too late. The man was behind him now, sharp knife getting ever closer to Tony's throat. He screamed-
Tony shot up in the bed, a scream dying on his lips and for a moment completely forgot where he was. Hands grabbed him from behind and he tried fitfully to fight them off. It wasn't until he heard the firmly whispered 'DiNozzo' in his ear that he calmed down.
"Boss?" The shadow with hands, still pinning his wrists across his own body, nodded against his shoulder. "Where are we?"
"It's okay Tony, just a dream." Gibbs spoke letting Tony go and moving around to sit in front of him on the bed.
Tony looked him dead in the eye. "Not what I asked."
"We're in a motel." The confused looked on his agents face was nearly enough to make him laugh. "We're on a case, cut off in the storm?"
"I'm sick." Tony said with trepidation. "I remember." He punctuated his proclamation with a coughing fit.
Gibbs handed him a tissue which Tony took gratefully.
"You're doing okay."
"Really?" A hand to his forehead said all it needed too.
"You have a fever." Gibbs offered, dropping his palm. "You've been a bit restless."
That was a lie. Tony felt like he'd run a marathon. He smiled his gratitude at the effort anyway and realised when his smile was returned that Gibbs was being nice to him again.
"Am I dying?"
"I hope not."
"You're being nice."
Gibbs grimaced, misinterpreting the meaning.
"I had good reason to be pissed with you earlier."
Tony thought back to what had happened just before he'd fallen asleep. The similarities to his stunt today and two years ago were a little freaky.
"Can I blame it on the plague?"
"Nope."
Tony nodded, fair enough. He'd been stupid to leave without back up. Though if it wasn't for being sick then this would never have happened, of course his reason for being sick was saving his boss's life so he couldn't begrudge that either. Tony felt like he'd been down this road already and that he'd forgotten something really important.
"You should have sent me to hospital." Tony said resigned when, try as he might, he couldn't put his finger on what he needed to tell Gibbs.
"That where you want to be?" Gibbs asked sounding surprised.
"Hell no, but I'm being a pain in the ass."
Gibbs laughed and Tony wanted to look insulted, but even he had to admit to the irony in that one.
"I don't think we need drastic measures yet." Gibbs gripped Tony's cheek, giving him a reassuring pat.
They slipped into silence and Tony took the time to look around him. The room wasn't very big so he was sure everyone was trying their hardest to listen without making it too obvious. Ziva was sat on the other side of the room at the table, stacks of file folders surrounding her. She got up occasionally to make a note on their fake plasma wall with his trusty permanent marker. Who knew it could be used for good instead of drawing on McGee's face? Ducky looked to be asleep on the other bed, but Tony knew that looks could be very deceiving with Ducky. McGee he couldn't see, so assumed he was in the bathroom.
Tony weighed up his predicament. He'd woken up screaming from a nightmare and there was no way anyone had missed that or Gibbs comforting him. He'd been publically chastised, locked in a car, grounded to the bathroom and sent to bed. Twice. Lest he not forget his most shining moment, losing consciousness by the docks after his heroic rescue, only to come to with Gibbs hugging the crap out of him and everybody staring. He really had tried not to let that one bother him too much. So he had an image to uphold, it was one blip, big deal. Only now, thanks to fever induced dreams, he was beginning to realise that it was more than one blip. It was dozens of them. And DiNozzo's don't pass out? Who was he kidding?
Putting it all into perspective he figured it really was too late to do anything about any of it, any dignity he had left was shot to hell by now. Thinking about the conversation he'd had with Ziva, about being victims, he realised it really was true, he did know what it was like to be a victim. His father had made him feel like one every day after his mother died. Why deny that part of him now? Ladies and gentlemen this was the real Anthony DiNozzo, funny, fearless, immature, all round pain in the ass according to Gibbs, and in desperate need of hugs. Live with it.
With his current frame of mind, which he was sure once he was feeling better would be wholly denied, Tony decided to discard worries about all those listening in and speak freely, for once not caring who heard him.
"You were right by the way." Tony announced breaking the silence. "You have hugged me before yesterday."
Gibbs merely raised his eyebrow. Trying to recall the conversation they had had upon returning to the bullpen after they 'talked' the other day. It seemed so long ago now.
At Gibbs' querying look Tony explained with a shrug. "I was dreaming, about a lot of things, but mostly about the time when I left the hospital, when I had the plague?"
Gibbs nodded, wondering if he and Ziva had had anything to do with that.
"You mean you'd forgotten?"
Tony chuckled lightly, hiding his embarrassment at the whole conversation.
"I'd think Ducky would say I chose not to remember." He paused, taking a deep breath, "I'm sorry boss. For back then and now… all of it." He winced at the uncompromising glare he was receiving, "I'll be a good Very Special Agent and as soon as we get out of here I'll go to hospital, so you can stop worrying and concentrate on the case."
Gibbs breathed deep and shook his head.
"DiNozzo, it comes with the detail. You know…" He paused, speeches were not his thing.
Gibbs tended to let his actions speak for him and always felt secure in the knowledge that those he cared about would just know he did without needing it to be said. Since day one DiNozzo had been the exception to that rule. It ranged from him going out of his way to get Gibbs' attention, be it negative or positive, to outright demanding Gibbs to tell him that he cared. He'd meant it when he told Tony he was irreplaceable. That was why he had gotten them in this mess to start with. The thought he may lose Tony, not on the job, but due to his own fool hardy actions, was something Gibbs knew he couldn't live with.
"…a hospital would treat you, but I want to keep you safe and frankly I'd prefer to be able to see you."
Tony took a moment to consider that.
"Really?"
"Yes really." Gibbs snapped, a little ticked with everyone questioning him.
He gave Tony his best 'what the hell did you think?' glare for good measure.
"My Dad went out of his way not to see me." Tony laughed again, as if something about that was funny.
Gibbs notice him immediately close his eyes as if realising he'd said a little more with that statement than intended and unlike usual when Tony dropped a hint or two about his past, probably thinking that if he shared the memories they wouldn't feel so wrong. This time Gibbs didn't think he was feeling particularly emotionally secure enough to deal with it right now. Whether that was because he hadn't meant to say it out loud or just not in front of an audience he didn't know. Conversations like this were few and far between for them, and took place either in the elevator or in Gibbs' basement. Never in front of people.
Knowing there was little to be done to take things back now, and that Tony had started the conversation aware everyone would be listening, Gibbs felt now was as good a time as any to get the answers he'd failed to look for two years ago.
"Why DID you leave the hospital that day?"
"What day?" Tony whispered, the watery echo of his voice giving him away.
"You were scared of hospitals before the plague."
Tony laughed. "I was not scared… I…" he took a breath, "I was scared. But not of the hospital. I didn't want to be around strangers. I panicked and… left."
"You didn't go home."
Gibbs confirmed because he remembered that had been the first place he had looked upon being told Tony was missing. Second place had been his house, thinking it was a possibility, and had been disappointed at not finding him there.
"No I was a little confused, think I was still oxygen deprived or dehydrated or something."
"You were missing for over eight hours DiNozzo."
"See confused." He chuckled again. "Don't ask me why I did what I did. I don't know. You didn't ask me then, why all the questions now?"
Gibbs sighed. Though that was true, it wasn't for lack of interest like Tony obviously thought.
"Boss, can I ask you a question?" Tony spoke hesitantly.
Gibbs nodded and waited as Tony opened his mouth to speak.
"Boss I got something!" McGee banged through the door, bringing wind and rain in with him.
"Where you been McGoo?" Tony asked.
Gibbs winced at the timing, the moment was gone. Not that he relished the idea of answering whatever question Tony wanted to ask him, but Gibbs sensed it was going to be important.
"Library. Didn't Gibbs tell you?" McGee removed his jacket and hung it in the bathroom. "I got a hit on Earl."
"Bag boy Earl?"
"One and the same." McGee smiled at Tony and Gibbs still sat next to each other on the bed. "Turns out Henderson is his mothers' maiden name. The name on the birth certificate is Jenkins."
"Jenkins? That's the lady who lives near our crime scene." Tony's excitement diminished at the reminder of what happened at the house between him and Gibbs and again he got the feeling he'd forgotten something important. "She wasn't home."
"What else McGee?" Gibbs asked.
"I found an old newspaper article; Earl Jenkins was arrested in Baltimore in 1998 for assault and battery. Released in 2003, returned to his home town, Lake Barcroft and got the job at the store thanks to mom. Apparently Mrs Jenkins was an item with Fielding's grandfather before he died."
"Why did Fielding not tell us this?" Ziva asked from across the room.
"Well we didn't ask. But he may not have known, he-"
"Hold up McGoogle." Tony held up a hand to interrupt him, "you got all that from a newspaper article?"
"No," McGee met Tony's suspicious look. "Thankfully there were some people around." He added hesitantly.
Tony narrowed his eyes at McGee.
"Who?" He asked, drawing the word out.
"A ladies knitting group." McGee muttered, dropping his gaze.
"What?" Tony laughed, interspersed with coughs.
"Well at least I didn't have to break in. The library is a big old building and a few of the locals are taking shelter in there from the hurricane."
"Earl is looking like our guy. But what about motive?" Tony asked Gibbs once he got his coughing under control, completely ignoring McGee's explanation of his 'source'.
"That's what we're going to find out." Gibbs answered as he stood up from the bed.
"Boss?"
"Your knitting circle give you any idea where Earl might be?" Gibbs asked McGee, ignoring Tony's call.
"No boss, but they don't think he left town before the bridge was closed so he should still be here."
Gibbs nodded and reached for his coat, tossing McGee's back at him.
"Ziva gear up."
"Boss what about the hurricane, if the TV's still right it'll right on top of us in hours." Tony flicked on the TV and pointed at the message that was still present on every channel.
Ducky had chosen to remain quiet until now. He'd tried not to pry on Jethro's conversation with Tony, but it was impossible not to hear what was being said. Then when McGee came in he'd sat up and taken note of the information he'd procured in case he could be of help.
"Anthony's right Jethro. Surely the killer can't do much of anything in the meantime."
Gibbs turned to face him.
"You want to bet on that Duck? He knows we are here. Fielding knew exactly who we were, so does the waitress at the diner. He isn't going to hang around. He made a mistake in '98 that got him caught, he knows if we get him this time it'll be the death penalty."
Tony dropped his head, gaze locking with a spot on the floor.
"Ready Gibbs," Ziva said, McGee by her side.
Gibbs turned back to Tony and grasped his chin firmly in one palm, forcing him to make eye contact.
"You will not leave, got it."
"Got it boss," Tony spoke solemnly.
Gibbs felt a little bit of the understanding they reached slip away at the harsh treatment, but he was never one to worry about being delicate and DiNozzo knew that.
"Ducky!" He shouted.
Ducky stood and walked with Gibbs over to the door where they spoke quietly.
"You get him down to that storm cellar as soon as that alarm sounds. We'll try and make it back before, but if not we'll seek cover elsewhere and meet up once it passes." Gibbs handed Ducky the walky-talky he'd kept.
"Be careful Jethro." Ducky nodded, knowing there wasn't a chance of convincing his friend that this was a bad idea.
With one last look over at Tony still sitting on the bed, head hung low, Gibbs let out a frustrated breath before stepping out into the rain.
TBC…
…
A/N: I'm going MALAGA (whoo hoo!) this Friday, so they'll be a short break in my updates. Just wanted you to know I'm not abandoning the story or anything;) Also THANK YOU FOR THE REVIEWS! Am very chuffed to receive them and will hopefully have replied to each one once I've finished the story;D